Elton John calls for Dolce and Gabbana boycott over IVF comments

[inanna]

Source: BBC

4 hours ago

Sir Elton John is calling for a boycott of fashion brand Dolce and Gabbana.

He's criticising the designers after they called children born through IVF "synthetic" in a magazine interview.

<snip>

"How dare you refer to my beautiful children as 'synthetic'," Sir Elton wrote on Instagram.

"And shame on you for wagging your judgemental little fingers at IVF - a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfil their dream of having children.

"Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions.

"I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again. #BoycottDolceGabbana."

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/31896339

[valerief]

1. Well, I'll be avoiding Dolce and Gabbana next time I'm shopping for sweats at K-Mart. nt

[inanna]

3. Yeah.

I've been "boycotting" high fashion my entire life. Not rich enough.

[freshwest]

43. Here too. It's been thrift shops for years, now...

[father founding]

4. they really don't have a very good selection

I prefer buying Michael Kors in K-Mart anyway.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

51. That was my first thought when I heard about this story. I do, however, applaud

Elton and anyone else who boycotts as these assholes deserve it.

[treestar]

72. LOL that's me too

I'd be glad to assist, but I wouldn't have bought any designer stuff in any event!

[mercuryblues]

2. Okay

Elton. No problem for me. Considering the cheapest shirt on their site is $495.00 dollars. A pair of flip flops $675.00. Seems I have boycotting them my whole life.

Now does he think people who spend money on their merchandise actually care about what they said about IVF?

[inanna]

5. See...

I would have had no clue as to the cost of D&G merchandise had you not posted that.

Wow.

A bit obscene considering I'm having to "save" up money for a decent pair of new sneakers for work.

[yeoman6987]

6. Boycott for the 1 percent

Hopefully they heed his boycott. Obviously most of us here already do since the prices are outrageous.

[mercuryblues]

13. exactly

He actually thinks that enough of the 1% even cares about that article to make a difference. The 1% aren't exactly known for their empathy.

[Mike Nelson]

7. Never heard of those clothes...

...I shop during Ross sales only.

[El Shaman]

23. Ross:

My kind of place- welcome to the club. I'm late my property tax again for 2014 and am lucky to afford the internets, even thou, I get 3 pension checks!! I don't see how this, young, 'Koch Bro' generation will be getting by, at my age- 73.
P.S. I still work ,almost, every day!! Maybe, the 'death panels' weren't such a bad idea!!
My current CLW is expecting twins in May , via IVF - much younger then I, of course.

[Mike Nelson]

25. Congratulations!

[dolphinsandtuna]

56. clearwater paper corp?

[colorado_ufo]

54. Love Ross!

I was once in a dressing booth next to two young women:

YW #1: "You mean, that's ALL it costs?"

YW #2: "That's right! Told you that you would love this place!"

YW #1: "I'm going back and get two more dresses!"

YW #2: "Yep! We're 'Ross'in it up!"

It's a treasure hunt - I love to "Ross it up!"

[roody]

8. My first thought: "Who are Dolce and Gabbana?" nt

[Frank Cannon]

9. This guy performed at Rush Limbaugh's wedding.

For a million dollars, as I recall.

Whatever you say, Elton, you massive douchebag.

[inanna]

10. Say what?

I did not know this.

Damn. Love Elton John's music.

[Frank Cannon]

14. I shit you not.

Apparently, they've been friends for a long time.

I was a HUGE fan of his as a kid. His first Greatest Hits album was the first album I ever owned. Now I can't stand the sight of him.

[Tsiyu]

18. Same here

I grew up with the guy's albums, some of the sweetest music of the '70s.

But he has a lot of nerve, after taking $$$$$$ from that pustule of human filth aka Rush.

After all the nasty things Rush has said about women, liberals, Democrats and anyone with half a brain, Elton plays at his wedding? Rush even said that gay marriage causes incest. But that's okay with Elton John? Really?

And now he wants us to feel bad cuz someone said something HE really finds offensive?

Bite me, Elton.

[mercuryblues]

21. My first

reaction. I knew I wouldn't be able to say it as well as someone else, so I skipped it. He has the affliction that effects many of the upper crust. It is okay to support and give legitimacy to people who say despicable things. Which he did when he accepted a million dollars to sing for rush. Except of course when it affects them personally. Then they want everyone to support them in their personal crusade.

Nah, I ain't got time for that.

[freshwest]

42. TY!

[delete_bush]

49. Mega dittos, Tsiyu!

Well said.

[DonViejo]

27. The story...

Elton John Discusses Controversial Relationship With Rush Limbaugh

Why does Elton John have a relationship with Rush Limbaugh?

John sat down with Darren Walker of the Ford Foundation this week to discuss a range of topics, including race and sexuality. At one point in the interview, John's controversial relationship with the anti-gay talk show host became a point of conversation.

"I’ve been sober for 24 years now, and one of the best lessons it taught me is to listen," John told The New York Times. "When it comes to people like Rush Limbaugh, or people who might enrage you sometimes, dialogue is the only way. You have to reach out... Whether you make an impact in one year or 30 years, it doesn’t matter. You have to put your foot in the water and start the process."

John and Limbaugh have been friends for a number of years and the the piano great performed at the conservative media personality's fourth wedding in 2011. John previously spoke out about this performance, saying that he hoped to open a dialogue about queer issues with Limbaugh.

-snip-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/01/elton-john-rush-limbaugh_n_6249360.html

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

33. and since then, thrice-divorced Rush has compared same sex marriage to pedophilia

Last edited Mon Mar 16, 2015, 06:54 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/rush-limbaugh-gay-marriage-pedophilia-normalized_n_2431805.html



Way to go, Elton. Taking that million bucks from OxyBoy really made some inroads.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

69. Yeah, Sir Elton. But what about the horrible things he says daily about black people.

He offends and targets black folk each and every day and you have nothing to say.

And women?

It's not just about gay men.

Sigh...

[treestar]

73. I can respect that as I don't think refusing to speak to people

is going to influence them. But then he could extent that more easily to the employee of Dolce and Gabana, whose pronouncements about IVF are far less offensive to most I would think, that what Rush would advocate for gay people.

[StopTheNeoCons]

12. I agree, EJ needs to return the money, and reject limpballs

Until he does, he is a reich wing 1%er to me.

This guy performed at Rush Limbaugh's wedding.
For a million dollars, as I recall.
Whatever you say, Elton, you massive douchebag.

[Frank Cannon]

16. He didn't even need the money.

Any decent person would have taken the money up-front, played badly, "accidentally" knocked the cake over, shat in the punchbowl, and donated the cash to charity. But no, not, Elton.

[Bluenorthwest]

39. All proceeds from each and every private or corporate concert performed by Elton John goes to

The Elton John AIDS Foundation,which is one of the world’s largest HIV grant-makers having raised more than $321 million for the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS since its inception in 1992.

Most people who are neither in show business nor extremely wealthy are not aware that most entertainers will do private or corporate events for high fees. Most entertainers simply do such shows to generate income. A few do them for charitable purposes.

As a gay man, I do not accept that some conservative has the right to refuse my business because I am gay. I would also not refuse service to them for being conservative. I do not expect restaurants or hotels to refuse service to Rush, in fact I oppose the very notion in part because I do not think they should be refusing service to Rachel Maddow.

One has to wonder how this 'refuse to play his wedding' theory relates to the 'refuse to make a gay wedding cake' movement......

[Monk06]

58. I cut Elton slack on the Limbaugh gig too. He is a big charity giver and you can't fight bias and

indulge in prejudice yourself. His performing at a wedding does not constitute approval of the Limp one's
politics.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

61. but lying, whitewashing Rush's record and claiming he's not anti-gay is an endorsement

and Elton did just that, going to great pains to legitimize him

[Monk06]

62. He did no such thing. He played the part of a wedding singer and played it with an ironic subtext,

"I respect all weddings. I respect yours, you respect mine." Actions speak louder than words. Plus he got a huge payout that he could put to charity.

Better than stamping your feet and trying to grab a headline.

[msongs]

20. obama eats dinners with international criminals, are you going to boycott him too? nt

[840high]

29. You're a brave soul.

[DeSwiss]

38. He does that even when he eats alone.

- I'm not letting go......

[center]U.S. airstrike that killed American teen in Yemen raises legal, ethical questions



[/center]

[Jamastiene]

52. Yep.

I have not trusted him one bit since that. He cannot be counted on to do the right thing. Now, he wants everyone to boycott something most of us could not even afford in the first place. Right, whatever Elton.

[MisterP]

11. they also refused to air the last episode of "Max Headroom" in the US since many thought

it reflected badly on IVF/surrogacy

[Tom Ripley]

15. Damn, he's a virtual Rosa Parks!

[christx30]

17. Here's their statement about IVF:

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, founders of the eponymous fashion house, have come out strongly against gay marriage, the notion of gay families, and the use of surrogacy to procreate.

The billionaire pair, who used to be romantically linked, gave an interview with the Italian magazine Panorama, in which they said, “The only family is the traditional one. No chemical offspring and rented uterus. Life has a natural flow; there are things that cannot be changed.”

They also said, “Procreation must be an act of love.”

“I call children of chemistry, synthetic children. Uteri for rent, semen chosen from a catalogue,” Dolce stated.

Gabanna said, “The family is not a fad. In it there is a supernatural sense of belonging.”

[Stryst]

19. Soo....

They're nutter-butters. Got it.

I guess once you start wearing flip-flops worth more than my car you've pretty much already set yourself on a path to be out of touch with 99% of the rest of us, so these lovely folks just decided to go all the way.

[smirkymonkey]

28. Wait, so they are gay and they are against gay marriage?

It seems to me that a huge part of their clientele is gay as well. Doesn't seem like a wise position to espouse.

[christx30]

32. I dunno.

Strong Italian/Catholic background? Sometimes that stuff is hard to shake.

[appalachiablue]

35. If they believe that 'life has a natural flow' then they disapprove of pacemakers to keep

people's hearts working, organ transplants and blood transfusions? So just die? Too rich Nutjobs.

[christx30]

36. That pretty much gets into the whole Christian Science territory. n/t

[appalachiablue]

37. Suppose so, never closely followed their medical viewpoint, only heard of it.

[Cha]

44. Now they're just pissing me off.

[DonViejo]

46. Not too many years ago, they wanted their own "synthetic children"

The question is not so much why they said what they did, and the subsequent boycott, but what changed Stefano Gabbana’s mind so radically. In 2006, he wanted to have children using exactly the same method he now denigrates as a choice of other gay parents.

“I want my own child, a biological child, the fruit of my sperm, conceived through artificial insemination because it wouldn’t make sense for me to make love to a woman I don’t love,” he said then. On Sunday, calls to Dolce and Gabbana went unanswered. Is it their Catholic upbringings? How did these two gay men become so prejudiced against LGBT parents?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026370729

[Politicalboi]

22. Good to know

When the GOP makes us all rich, I will never shop there ever.

[Daemonaquila]

24. What a dumb thing to get this upset over.

So what if a designer said that? Are kids born of IVF in any way affected? Are they in any danger of being discriminated against? Is there any stigma? Is there any way that anyone would know the difference, including the child itself? No, no, no, and no. People think and say stupid things all the time, but if it won't hurt someone it really doesn't matter. But apparently you can get a lot of people excited about boycotting a silly designer over a meaningless comment, but good luck getting them to give their congresscritters hell over something actually important.

[DonViejo]

47. And how sure are you some child born through IVF is not being hurt by the comments...

especially comments from gay men that sought IVF so they could have their own children? Believe it or not, children of IVF do know how to read.

[Coventina]

55. People with ignorant opinions such as espoused by D&G get elected here in the US.

I know this, because some of my state legislators tried to outlaw IVF in my state just a few years ago.

At a time when I was undergoing IVF treatments.

Such things are deeply hurtful and even though my treatments were unsuccessful, I found D&G's comments to be enraging.

[DonViejo]

26. They are a gay couple...

that's part of the outrage.

[840high]

30. They're entitled to their opinion.

[DonViejo]

48. Yep, hypocrites are entitled to their opinion and we are entitled to respond...

to their hypocrisy in a way we deem suitable.

The question is not so much why they said what they did, and the subsequent boycott, but what changed Stefano Gabbana’s mind so radically. In 2006, he wanted to have children using exactly the same method he now denigrates as a choice of other gay parents.

“I want my own child, a biological child, the fruit of my sperm, conceived through artificial insemination because it wouldn’t make sense for me to make love to a woman I don’t love,” he said then. On Sunday, calls to Dolce and Gabbana went unanswered. Is it their Catholic upbringings? How did these two gay men become so prejudiced against LGBT parents?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026370729

[Cha]

45. I know,huh.. don't you just love it when people get up on their high horse and get all

hypocritically judgy?

[Tom Ripley]

67. I eagerly await the footage of the Widow Cobain...

doing so.
We're waiting...

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

31. yet he buddied with and took $$$ from Limbaugh, and lied

claiming Rush had no real position on gay issues, when anyone familiar with the fat one's history knew that was not the case.

Elton has no moral standing to criticize anyone's comments now.

[Bluenorthwest]

41. So you feel that providers of a service should refuse the custom of those with whom they disagree?

Congratulations, you agree with the baker who refuses to make LGBT wedding cakes. Moreover, you agree that one should refuse to bake a cake for those you object to even if they offer to donate a million dollars to your charity for baking that cake.


Elton John's private concerts are done to raise funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, anyone with a million can book one. AIDS killed 1.4 million in Africa last year, 36 million worldwide so far. It would be possible for one to feel the funds are badly needed.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

50. so why does Elton lie and say Rush isn't anti-gay?

Limbaugh has a 25+ year record of vile rhetoric on the subject, and , to this day, compares same sex marriage to pedophilia.

[undeterred]

34. I guess more people have heard of Elton John than Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana

So it would achieve more to boycott Elton John.

[Dont call me Shirley]

40. SNL skit...Douchy and Gobyebuh...

https://m.

[Jamastiene]

53. That should be easy enough.

I've never worn them before. I don't care for Elton John and his constant asskissing of conservatives, but I can and will join the boycott.

[Tom Ripley]

57. Word is Dolce and Gabbana are releasing a fragrance that smells like Roy Cohn and J Edgar Hoover

[Wabbajack_]

59. Those guys are gay themselves?

Talk about self loathing. What a couple of shitheads.

[shaayecanaan]

60. If you can't afford the Dolce and Gabbana you can't afford the IVF

This isn't the usual shake and bake. You've got the costs of the actual IVF process, then the egg donor's costs, then the costs of the gestational surrogate (the lawyers prefer that you use a different surrogate to the egg donor so the surrogate has less of a leg to stand on legally if she develops maternal feelings).

Lots of lawyers fees, plus the fee for renting out a third world woman's womb for nine months, although I guess Elton could probably afford a first world woman's womb.

Probably prudent as well to set aside some money for counselling for when the kid starts asking questions.

$200,000 USD easy (per kid).

[Coventina]

63. Clearly you know nothing about IVF.

I've been through the IVF process and just about everything you wrote is wrong.

It is expensive, yes. But many people take out loans (as I did) in order to do it. There are a number of loan companies that specialize in IVF loans.

[shaayecanaan]

64. Clearly you know nothing about reading comprehension

Its not just an IVF process. Its a combined IVF plus egg donation plus surrogacy process.

Ergo, more expensive. Probably more ethically questionable as well.

[Coventina]

65. You stated: "If you can't afford the Dolce and Gabbana you can't afford the IVF"

And then proceeded to conflate IVF with egg donation and surrogate pregnancy, as if they are all one package, which they may or may not be.

Egg donation is often included with the IVF fee, in my particular case it cost me MORE because I chose to use my own eggs.

Your comment about renting a 3rd world womb is also way off base. Most surrogate mothers are here in the US because there is little to no legislation on such agreements and procedures. Most European surrogate babies are born of US birth mothers, for example.

Finally, I don't understand your comment about setting aside money for counseling the kid(s). IVF babies / children are the ultimate in "planned parenthood". There have been studies done that show IVF children have no significant mental health issues beyond normal percentages.

[shaayecanaan]

66. If I conflated it, it is only because Elton John conflated it

he referred to IVF as shorthand for the whole process.

Your comment about renting a 3rd world womb is also way off base. Most surrogate mothers are here in the US because there is little to no legislation on such agreements and procedures. Most European surrogate babies are born of US birth mothers, for example.

That's unlikely to be true. The cost for a US surrogacy is $100k, for other countries it is roughly half that amount. A lawyer for surrogate couples in the UK estimates that roughly 25% of her clients go to the US and the rest go elsewhere:-

Families Through Surrogacy, an international non-profit surrogacy organisation, has estimated the approximate average costs in different countries:

US - $100,000 (£60,000)
India - $47,350
Thailand - $52,000
Ukraine - $49,950
Georgia - $49,950
Mexico - $45,000
There are few statistics on how many children are born through surrogacy arrangements, as many countries do not formally record this.

Nicola Scott, a lawyer with UK family law firm Natalie Gamble Associates, says that about 25% of her firm's clients go to the US, often because they feel it is safer.

"The US has a very long history of surrogacy. One reason is that the parents know there are established frameworks in many states, particularly California, so there is safety associated with going there," she says.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-28679020

In Australia, India has recently eclipsed the US in popularity:-



So it appears that the renting of third world wombs continues apace, whatever you might think about it.

[Coventina]

71. I disagree that any of the countries on the list that you provide is "third world".

Certainly countries like India and Mexico have impoverished populations, but then so does the US.


Be that as it may, everything you present still indicates that the US is still a very popular choice for surrogacy.


And, as far as what I "think" about surrogacy....I feel it's a personal decision that's none of my business. It was never something I was personally interested in if I could avoid it. And, I was fortunate in that my sister volunteered to surrogate for me if it became necessary. As it all turned out, it was a moot point so it never happened.

[shaayecanaan]

75. Then you have a pathetic lack of grace in admitting that you lost an argument

The per capita median income for an Indian is $3 per day. That is not a society with pockets of impoverishment; it is a society that is by and large impoverished. $3 is actually somewhat less than the per capital GDP for North Korea - would you like to allege that North korea is a prosperous first world economy as well?

As for altruistic surrogacy (such as what your sister was prepared to provide), that is perfectly legal even in the UK. Elton John preferred to rent a woman's uterus instead, a commercial arrangement that is in fact illegal in Britain even when sought from overseas.

I don't propose to ban commercial surrogacy, but people should realise that desperately poor Indians, Thais and Ukrainians agree to be surrogates for the same reason that they agree to be sex workers. It's just that one involves the rent of sexual organs for nine months whereas the other lasts for half an hour, give or take.

[Coventina]

78. That our exchange is an "argument" is your construct, not mine.

And one I reject, utterly.

I initially responded to you because you posted something that was highly inaccurate about IVF and as someone with intimate experience with it I felt I had to set the record straight.

Now you are resorting to insults because you don't like me not labeling India as third world?

There's a reason why India is the "I" in BRIC, because it is a rapidly developing economy and an emerging global superpower. I never said it was a prosperous "first world" country, I merely disputed it as a "third world" country.

And, as far as comparing surrogacy to sex work, I think that shows more of a lack of grace than anything I have said.

You have a very, very high horse there.

Be careful about falling off, because it will really hurt.

I speak from experience.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

68. But he's friends with Rush Limbaugh who has said far worse. I don't understand Sir Elton.

Love his music. Saw him in Vegas a few years ago. Outstanding show. I don't understand how he can be in the same room with Limbaugh.

[eilen]

70. Didn't Elton John play in Sun City during apartheid?

There was a cultural ban on playing in South Africa if I remember correctly... It was a big deal in the 1980s.

[shaayecanaan]

77. Multiple times

but that's okay because he wasn't personally affected by apartheid.

[olddots]

74. fashion ?

what a concept .

[HockeyMom]

76. NO IVF Child is "synthetic"

that includes for both gay and straight couples. Dear Dolce and Gabbana? Straight couples who cannot conceive use IVF and have for DECADES.

"Synthetic" Louise Brown is today probably older than you JERKS are. Doubt you have ever heard of her either.