Elton John: Shout Down The Bigots

Sir Elton John has challenged the world community to “shout down” bigots in an article written for the New Statesman.

The singer, who turns 60 today, wrote the piece highlighting the violence suffered by gay people around the world.

Relating to his own experiences he wrote: In December 2005 I was legally bound to the man I love. It's my legal right and my human right.

“And I wanted everyone to know, I wanted to shout about it. In some countries my voice would have been drowned out ... in some European countries the bigots have a loud voice."

"Men and women are persecuted and attacked every day all over the world, just because of who they love and who they make love to."

He added that the criminalisation of gay sex in more than 80 countries was encouraging the persecution of gay people and helping to spread to HIV/Aids by suppressing information about the virus in those countries.

He finished by saying: “Whether the bigot is in our local pub or a thousand miles away, we should all stand up and speak out for these basic human rights."