'Most gays share Elton's homophobic religion views'

Elton John’s comments that religion promotes hatred of homosexuals is a misconception widely held in the gay community, a pro-gay church group said today.

Speaking to the Observer Music Monthly Magazine the singer said religion lacked compassion and turned people into “hateful lemmings”.

Sir Elton said: “I think religion has always tried to turn hatred towrds gay people. Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays.

“But there are so many people I know who are gay and love their religion. From my point of view I would ban religion completely.”

Reverend Giles Fraser from the Inclusive Church, a pro-gay group in Church of England said, said those beliefs were all too common in the gay community.

“It made me really sad ... because so much of what he said is true,” Revd Fraser said.

“I don’t believe religion does that but it’s a misconception widely held.

“It reflects the fact that members of the gay community think the church is deeply hostile to them and to their interests.”

Revd Fraser said the comments would only help to perpetuate that view.

“I’m sad because it deepens the perception that the church is intrinsically homophobic,” he said.

“I don’t believe it is homophobic, I believe that’s a mistaken interpretation.

“And (his comments) don’t help those struggling to change that perception.”