Ukrainian Orthodox Church: Thank God 'Sinner' Elton Can't Adopt

Following news that Elton John, who visited a Ukrainian orphanage recently and expressed interest in adopting a young HIV-positive 14-month-old boy named Lev, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine saw an opportunity to attack gays, and issued a statement branding Elton a "sinner" and thanking God that he can't adopt.

Said Spokesman Father Georgy Gulyaev: "Thank God it's impossible under Ukrainian law for Elton John to adopt a child. The Church is strictly against same-sex marriages and the damage they cause. It's written in Holy Scriptures that homosexual marriage and relations is a sin. It is a sin, it is against nature, and it represents the dead end of human development. People pretend to have good intentions, create semi-marriages and so-called families, and moreover they dare to adopt children. Unlike people who are blessed by God to create natural families, these are people who succumb to their passions. This is definitely a sin, there is no other word for it, and the church will never agree that people who have created same-sex 'marriage' could also dare to adopt children. This applies to all, including Elton John. He is a sinner."

Earlier this week, a Ukrainian official made clear that the country does not recognize same-sex marriage and forbids anyone 45 years older than the child from adopting, and therefore would deny any request. Elton has not officially made one.

Ukrainian Official: Elton John Too Old and Gay to Adopt

Elton John's adoption hopes have been quashed by a Ukrainian official. Elton was visiting and performing at an orphanage in the town of Makeyevka outside Donetsk as part of the work he does for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and expressed interest in adopting a young orphan named Lev.

The AP reports that it won't be possible: "The country's Family, Youth and Sports Minister Yuriy Pavlenko told The Associated Press that adoptive parents must be married and Ukraine does not recognize homosexual unions as marriage...Pavlenko also said John was too old. The singer is 62 and Ukrainian law requires a parent to be no more than 45 years older than an adopted child. 'Foreign citizens who are single have no right to adopt children ... and the age difference between the adopter and the child cannot be more than 45 years,' Pavlenko said. 'The law is the same for everybody: for a president, for a minister, for Elton John.' ... Pavlenko said Ukraine was grateful for the singer's charity work and expressed hope that his desire to adopt Lev would spur the domestic adoption of more children with health problems, which is still rare in Ukraine."

Elton John and David Furnish Want to Adopt Ukranian Child

Elton John and David Furnish say they want to adopt a Ukranian child named Lev (below)they met while on a recent orphanage tour in the town of Makeyevka outside Donetsk:

"The singer told reporters in Ukraine on Saturday that Furnish has long wanted to adopt a child but that he was reluctant until he met Lev at an orphanage where many of the children's parents have died from AIDS. 'David always wanted to adopt a child and I always said 'no' because I am 62 and I think because of the traveling I do and the life I have, maybe it wouldn't be fair for the child,' John said. 'But having seen Lev today, I would love to adopt him. I don't know how we do that but he has stolen my heart. And he has stolen David's heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home. I've changed my mind today.' He acknowledged bureaucratic hurdles may make adoption of a Ukrainian child impossible."

Elton was visiting and performing at the orphanage as part of the work he does for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

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Ukranian Drag Queen is Favorite to Win Eurovision Song Contest

Via Idolator comes news that Ukranian drag queen Verka Serduchka is the current favorite to win the Eurovision Song Contest. The contest has been running since 1956. Each country in the European Broadcasting Union submits a song and casts scores for the songs of the other countries, until a winner is named. The finals are this Saturday.

In early April, Ukranian nationalists staged a demonstration to stop Serdyuchka from performing: "They put on theatrical shows and collected signatures for a petition. They claim that Serdyuchka is a grotesque stereotype of a stupid Ukrainian villager. The protesters want the country to pull out of the Eurovision Song Contest this year. They say that the drag act will damage Ukraine's international reputation when Verka Serdyuchka takes part in the competition next month. But they are unlikely to get their way."

And now, they may have a winner.