# Elton John loses adoption bid because he is too old and "not married" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 17, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438 "2009-09-17T13:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/1 "2009-09-17T13:28:00Z")
Elton and his legal husband David Furnish are trying to adopt a 17 month old HIV positive boy from the Ukraine. The government has said no for the above erasons. I am very very pissed. Most men of Elton’s age could father a child, but he tries to help a child who really needs it and is refused. This is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/2 "2009-09-17T13:35:13Z")
In fairness, the law of Ukraine is the law of Ukraine, and requiring that a prospective adoptive parent be 45 or younger does not seem like a particularly bad idea (especially since David Furnish is also over 45). If they make an exception for Elton John, they have to make an exception for lots of other people. Naturally, I think it sucks that he’s also not allowed to adopt because they won’t recognize same-sex marriages, but it’s not like the State of New Jersey does either so you might want to focus _that_ outrage a bit closer to home. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/3 "2009-09-17T13:36:51Z")
Ukrainian law requires adoptive parents to be 45 or younger. I don’t agree with it but it was already in place before Elton considered the adoption. The not married part is ridiculous as is the Catholic Church weighing in on the issue and providing several bigoted remarks for the press. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/4 "2009-09-17T14:06:03Z")
That’s it? Not because he’s a coke head? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/5 "2009-09-17T14:09:15Z")
You sure it’s not because it would be a violent atmosphere? After, Elton believes that Saturday night’s alright for fightin’. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/6 "2009-09-17T14:13:09Z")
Maybe they’re still pissed off about that video for _Nikita._ ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/7 "2009-09-17T14:23:38Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > …Naturally, I think it sucks that he’s also not allowed to adopt because they won’t recognize same-sex marriages, but it’s not like the State of New Jersey does either so you might want to focus _that_ outrage a bit closer to home. Neither does the United Kingdom they have _civil partnerships_; New Jersey has _civil unions_. Granted even if Sir Elton and Mr Furnish were actually married it’s doubtful the Ukraine would recognize the marriage so it’s a moot point. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/8 "2009-09-17T14:43:49Z")
He is _technically_ unmarried. Is there a particular reason they couldn’t do what most people do to combat this, and, um, go somewhere where he _can_ get married? ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/9 "2009-09-17T14:51:26Z")
I think it’s important we rant about how less important countries resist our moral and cultural imperialism. I mean really, _what is_ the matter with these people! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/10 "2009-09-17T14:54:51Z")
> [@](#): > > He is technically unmarried. Is there a particular reason they couldn’t do what most people do to combat this, and, um, go somewhere where he can get married? Doubtful. I think the point is that they don’t recognize his marriage because they don’t recognize SSM in general, not because his marriage is officially a “union”. New Jersey has civil partnerships? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/11 "2009-09-17T15:04:10Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > You sure it’s not because it would be a violent atmosphere? After, Elton believes that Saturday night’s alright for fightin’. And he’s a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/12 "2009-09-17T15:09:03Z")
Its actually refreshing to see a celebrity treated the way ordinary people are in adoption. The age thing IS a big deal. The gay thing I don’t agree with, but marriage is a pre-req in the Ukraine and they have the right to make those decisions. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/13 "2009-09-17T15:25:30Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > And he’s a bitch. But he’s better than you. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/14 "2009-09-17T16:05:22Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > And he’s a bitch. But is he back? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/15 "2009-09-17T16:06:58Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > But is he back? Apparently. I’ve heard that he’s quit drinking too. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/16 "2009-09-17T16:15:05Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Apparently. I’ve heard that he’s quit drinking too. While standing up? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/17 "2009-09-17T16:37:47Z")
Evil nitwit Ukrainians! ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/18 "2009-09-17T16:45:45Z")
Ya’ know, I’m conflicted with shit like this. On the one hand you got a sick baby that could use the help. OTOH you’ve got yet another celeb that wants to jump on the “Oh look at me adopting the poor third world kid. Aren’t I just too cool?” bandwagon. I hate saying that as I am a big Elton John fan. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/19 "2009-09-17T16:47:41Z")
I’m not sure that’s the case. EJ and Mr. Furnish can’t have their own kid, for obvious reasons. Plus he doesn’t appear to be publicizing this adoption himself, \*a la \*Angelina Jolie and Madonna. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438/20 "2009-09-17T16:55:55Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > That’s it? Not because he’s a coke head? Still? > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Doubtful. I think the point is that they don’t recognize his marriage because they don’t recognize SSM in general, not And if you’re talking about the Ukraine, I think it’s gonna be a long long time before they do. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-loses-adoption-bid-because-he-is-too-old-and-not-married/510438.md?page=2)