Gaga Godmother to Elton & David's Son?

In an interview with Canada’s Maclean’s magazine, Elton John’s husband David Furnish discusses gay rights up north and his feelings about family shields while (more or less) confirming that Lady Gaga is son Zachary’s godmother.

“I’m always very proud when people ask me about being a Canadian,” Furnish told the magazine when asked if he felt support from his home country. “I know when [Stephen Harper] was elected he talked about repealing gay marriage—legislation that was already passed in Canada. When it went to the House of Commons, more people voted to keep it than put it in in the first place. That is a sign of society taking a step, walking into unknown territory and realizing that this isn’t going to be the destruction of the moral fabric of our society. This isn’t going to hurt or kill anybody.

Furnish says he feels Canada is “more progressive and more accepting” than America “on all sorts of levels relating to same-sex couples and families,” especially after an Arkansas grocery store recently placed a “family shield” over the Us Weekly cover that featured Furnish, John, and Zachary. “I was disappointed but not outraged,” he says. “They put the shield up and two days later, they took it down. That is progress in its own right.”

When asked whether or not reports were true that Lady Gaga had been named Zachary’s godmother, Furnish replied, “We haven’t publicly confirmed that yet but your sources are very good! I prefer not to comment on it because we are going to make a statement about godparents later on.”

Furnish feels that Gaga is an excellent role model because “she’s all about inclusiveness and tolerance. She believes that you can be whoever you want to be and that we don’t have to live in a world of conformity and that we can all [benefit] from individuality. That’s the best message in the world.”

Elton John Slams Gay Marriage Opponents

New father Elton John has attacked opponents of gay marriage and backed efforts to overturn California's ban at a Beverly Hills event to raise funds for a legal challenge.

"It seems so ridiculous I could be with my partner for 17 years and we have a son, and my partner and I can't get married," Sir Elton, 63, said during the 90-minute set in which he banged out Your Song, Sixty Years On, Levon and other hits he wrote before he came out as gay.

Sir Elton disappointed some gay activists after the California ban, known as Proposition 8, passed in 2008 when he said he had no desire to get married and was satisfied with the civil partnership he and his long-time partner, David Furnish, had.

"If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership. The word 'marriage' I think, puts a lot of people off," he said at the time.

But Sir Elton was singing a different tune at the concert, which raised three million dollars for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

He praised the effort to overturn the ban and promised to do everything he could to support it.

"As a gay man I think I have it all," he said. "I have a wonderful career, a wonderful life. I have my health, I have a partner of 17 years and I have a son.

"And you know what, I don't have everything, because I don't have the respect of people like the church, and people like politicians who tell me that I am not worthy or that I am 'less than' because I am gay."

He then punctuated his remark with an expletive, to cheers and applause from the crowd.

Furnish and Sir Elton became parents to a baby boy on Christmas Day. Their son, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, was born in California through a surrogate mother.

First Pics of Elton John's Son

OK! magazine has the first pictures of Elton John and David Furnish’s son, Zachary, who Elton says “shot out like a rocket” when he was born Christmas Day.

"He shot out like a rocket,” the rock star told the magazine. “There just aren't proper words to describe that feeling. It's indescribable. It was just, 'We have a son'!"

According to the article, Elton and David vow to lavish their son with love, not money. The child was carried by a surrogate mother.

Elton John is Biological Father of His New Baby

When a gay couple becomes parents via surrogate, there’s the question of which guy is the kid’s biological dad.

We recently found out in the case of Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, each is the father of one of their fratneral twins.

Now it is being reported that in the case of the baby recently born to Elton John and partner David Furnish, the famous singer is the biological father.

“Elton really wanted the child to have his genes,” a friend of John and partner David Furnish reveals to the website PopEater. “He has a God-given talent and wanted to pass that on to a child. And after years of discussion and thought, Elton and David decided together that Elton’s sperm would be used.”

Son Zachary was born weighing 7 lbs., 15 oz. via a surrogate mother in California on Christmas Day. This is the first child for John, 62, and Furnish, 48.

Elton John & David Furnish Welcome a Son

It was a very merry Christmas for Sir Elton John.

The singer, 62, and husband David Furnish, 48, welcomed son Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John on Dec. 25, John's rep have confirmed.

The 7 lb., 15 oz., baby was delivered via surrogate in California.

"We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment," the couple, who exchanged vows in a civil ceremony in 2005, said in a statement. "Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents."

Just last year, Furish said they were going to wait to start a family until John was ready to come off the road.

"We don't want to put the raising of children into the hands of nannies and housekeepers," said Furnish. "We want to be active parents. We have godchildren [and] kids that we support in Africa, so we're fine."

Elton John Putting Adoption Plans On Hold For Now

David Furnish and Elton John have been trying to adopt a baby from another country for a while now, and have been very disappointed after some big letdowns. The Canadian filmmaker and his musician husband tried to give a home to a Ukrainian child last year, but the adoption didn't go through because Elton, at 63, was deemed too old and because of their gay marriage.

Speaking at the Butterfly Ball in London's Battersea Park, David told BANG Showbiz: "We did take age into consideration but we're both like teenagers anyway so it wasn't an issue for us."

Although Ukrainian law stopped them from becoming parents, the 47-year-old star has revealed the couple will try again. He said: "We were both just so heartbroken by what happened last year, we just want to have a break and enjoy the summer."

David insists he and Elton will look at adopting from other countries but admits it is difficult for gay couples all over the world, even in the UK. He said: "It's very difficult even in Britain. I think we're going to look at different places in the future, but not for now."

The star-studded Butterfly Ball, which was held in to raise money for the Caudwell Children charity, was also attended by Elizabeth Hurley, Peter Andre, Dame Shirley Bassey, Lulu, Sarah Ferguson - the Duchess of York and Princess Beatrice.

The charity supports children with over 300 different conditions.

Elton John & David Furnish Fell in Love Very Quickly

If guests at Elton John's legendary Oscar bash need some juicy fodder to prep for this year's party, they've got it – straight from the host himself.

In the most recent issue of Parade magazine, the British singer shares intimate details about his love life before and after he met his longtime partner, David Furnish.

John, 62, says his previous romances, always with "someone younger," were lopsided. He confesses he would "smother them with love," exotic trips and expensive gifts like Cartier watches and sports cars.

"They didn't have jobs. They were reliant on me. I did this repeatedly," he says of his former flames. "In six months they were bored and hated my guts because I'd taken their lives and self-worth away. I hadn't intended to."

But he's in a much better place with Furnish, his partner since 1993.

"He was very well dressed, very shy," John says of their first meeting. Noting that he was "instantly" attracted to Furnish, the singer says their relationship took off from there. "The next night we had dinner. After it, we consummated our relationship. We fell in love very quickly."

Still, the pair work to keep their relationship strong. "Every Saturday for 16 years, we've sent each other a card," he says, "no matter where we are in the world, to say how much we love each other.

Elton John & David Furnish to Produce Gay Broadway Play

Gay singer Elton John and his civil partner David Furnish are reportedly planning to put on a Broadway production of a gay-themed play.

Furnish is currently producing John's musical Billy Elliot at the Imperial Theatre and the pair will join the production team of Next Fall, the New York Daily News reports.

Next Fall tells the story of a gay couple in a five-year-relationship who struggle with their religious differences. It will play at the Helen Hayes Theatre from March 11th, with previews beginning on February 16th.

Furnish and John said in a statement: “We are excited to join the team bringing Geoffrey Nauffts' extraordinary play to Broadway.

“After fulfilling experiences bringing new musicals to the stage, it was seeing this inspiring and timely new work that attracted us to take on our first play."

It is hoped that their assistance will see the play brought to a wider audience.

The news follows John's duet with gay-friendly singer Lady Gaga at Sunday night's Grammy Awards.

The pair performed on a double-ended piano while smeared with dirt and have been tipped to sing together again soon.

Elton John & David Furnish Vow to Find Home for Ukrainian Children

Elton John and his partner David Furnish couldn't get permission to adopt a 17-month-old HIV-positive boy from the Ukraine last year, but they aren't giving up just yet. The couple are committed to finding the boy and his three-year-old brother a permanent place to live outside of the orphanage where they are now.

David told Closer magazine: “We are going to find a home for those boys in the Ukraine. We will get them a home as it would be a long uphill battle to bring them over here.”

Elton, 62, and 47-year-old David’s adoption bid was halted because same-sex marriages are not recognized by the Ukrainian government, and according to the country’s laws, Elton is too old to adopt. However, they pledged to support the youngsters by paying for their education and healthcare.

Meanwhile, David has also revealed he and Elton did not have an extravagant Christmas, despite their reputation as big spenders. He said: “I got Elton a piece of art. We have a one present rule at Christmas. We don’t want it to be about stuff. We like to spend time with one another. We need the rest!”

Adoption Might Still Be Possible for Elton Johnand David Furnish

Ukraine's family, youth and sports minister, Yuri Pavlenko has had a change of heart in terms of Elton John's adoption bid.

He had previously said Elton was too old and too homosexual to adopt 14-month-old Lev from the country (the Ukraine doesn't recognize same-sex unions), but for whatever reason, Pavlenko corrected himself yesterday.

He said (via The Telegraph): "Sir Elton John has the right and opportunity to invite the family of this boy to visit him, take them under his guardianship and help him grow into a good person."

The other kink in Elton's plan is the fact that Lev isn't actually up for adoption. Although he lives in an orphanage, his mom is still alive. Both he and his mom are HIV-positive.

Pavlenko continued, "I'd like to ask everyone to be tolerant to the boy. This is not an orphan, the child has a mother and an elder brother and so he cannot be adopted by law. He has a difficult fate, like his mother. Help has been provided to his mother to find strength to bring the family back together."

From what it sounds like, Lev's family would have to officially put him up for adoption for the process to begin, but if they did, Elton wouldn't see too much resistance from the Ukranian government.

Elton announced last weekend that he and his partner David Furnish wanted to adopt Lev, saying the little boy had "stolen his heart."

Elton John Cannot Adopt Ukrainian Orphan

The Ukrainian orphan Elton John wants to adopt will not go home with the singer and his longtime partner David Furnish, a Ukrainian family minister said Monday – citing a national law that prohibits unmarried couples from adopting, the Associated Press reports.

John and Furnish entered into a civil partnership on Dec. 21, 2005, the first day such unions became legal in John's native England.

John, 62, met Lev, a Ukrainian toddler, while touring an orphanage where many of the children's parents have died from AIDS.

"Having seen Lev today, I would love to adopt him," John said over the weekend. "I don't know how we do that but he has stolen my heart. And he has stolen David's heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home."

Ukrainian laws are very strict when it comes to adoption. Not only do the laws ban same-sex couples from adopting, they also state that the parents cannot be more than 45 years older than the child. Their only hope would be a presidential dispensation to take home 14-month-old Lev.

On Monday it was also revealed that, according to the country's law, should Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko grant John and Furnish's wish, the pair would also have to adopt Lev's brother, who is also in care.

Elton John Considering Adopting Ukranian Orphan

Sir Elton John has revealed that he wishes to adopt a 14-month-old boy named Lev who he met at an Ukranian orphanage.

Lev, whose parents died of AIDS has "stolen" Sir Elton's heart.

Sir Elton said he and his civil partner David Furnish were now thinking of adopting: "David and I have always talked about adoption, David always wanted to adopt a child and I always said 'no' because I am 62 and I think because of the travelling I do and the life I have, maybe it wouldn't be fair for the child.

"But having seen Lev today, I would love to adopt him. I don't know how we do that but he has stolen my heart. And he has stolen David's heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home. I've changed my mind today."

Elton John & Partner are Too Busy to Be Parents

Sir Elton John may be set to play his 250th and final performance of his show, The Red Piano, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas Wednesday night, but that doesn't mean he and partner David Furnish will suddenly settle down to build a family.

"I don't think our lives are suited to raising children," Furnish, 46, told People at last weekend's GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles. "We're busy flying places all the time."

Said Furnish, "Elton is not really going to come off the road. We don't want to put the raising of children into the hands of nannies and housekeepers. We want to be active parents. We have godchildren [and] kids that we support in Africa, so we're fine."

Furnish, 46, and John, 62, have 10 godchildren, including the offspring of pals Victoria Beckham and Elizabeth Hurley.

After dating for 12 years, the two were joined in a civil partnership in December 2005, under a then-new British law for same-sex couples. So while Furnish and John are not married, they enjoy similar benefits to married couples.

Reflecting on their time together, Furnish says, "When all the dust settled, we looked at each other and said, 'Wow, this feels really nice.' We did it in Britain in a civil partnership, initially for human rights reasons. We recognized it as ground-breaking legislation we wanted to send a message out to the world that we felt it was something that deserved recognition and support."

But civil partnership is more than a political statement, says Furnish: "Your love and union has been ratified and accepted by society, and that's a really nice feeling."