Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including seven number ones in the UK and nine in the US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US. His tribute single "Candle in the Wind 1997", rewritten in dedication to Diana, Princess of Wales, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of the UK and US singles charts. He has also produced records and occasionally acted in films. John owned Watford F.C. from 1976 to 1987 and from 1997 to 2002. He is an honorary life president of the club.
Mississippi Mayor Withholds $110k in Library Funds Over LGBTQ+ Books
Mississippi Free Press this week. She asked Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee why the money had not arrived.“He explained his opposition to what he called ‘homosexual materials’ in the library, that it went against his Christian beliefs, and that he would not release the money as the long as the materials were there,” Johnson told the paper.“I explained that we are a public library and we serve the entire community.
I told him our collection reflects the diversity of our community,” she said. But McGee replied “that the library can serve whoever we wanted, but that he only serves the great Lord above,” she added.One book McGee mentioned was The Queer Bible, “a series of essays by LGBTQ+ figures including Elton John, Munroe Bergdorf, and Tan France on other queer luminaries such as David Bowie, George Michael and Susan Sontag,” the Free Press reports.
He objected to many other books that touched on LGBTQ+ identities, even incidentally, Johnson said.McGee told the paper, “We’re holding [the money] right now because we found a large number of citizens who have complained about displays of sexual, whatever you want to call it, content.
We’re just responding to those citizens’ complaints, and that’s the position we’re in.”Johnson noted that some residents have objected to LGBTQ+ books, but they didn’t go through a formal process the library system has for complaints and apparently went straight to McGee.The Free Press reporter challenged the mayor on whether he has authority to withhold the funds, which have been approved by the Ridgeland Board of Aldermen. “That’s a legal question,” he responded. “I don’t know that I do or do not.
