Arts & Entertainment
Samoa bans ‘Rocketman’ over gay sex scenes
The Elton John biopic was also censored in Russia
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Taron Egerton as Elton John in ‘Rocketman.’ (Photo by David Appleby; courtesy Paramount)
“Rocketman,” the fantasy musical biopic about Elton John, has been banned in Samoa by the country’s censor Leiataua Niuapu Faaui over its depiction of homosexuality.
Faaui told newspaper Samoa Observer that the film conflicted with Samoa’s “culture and our Christian beliefs” and that it is “not good for public viewing and violates laws against same-sex marriage.”
“Unfortunately due to censoring issues we have had to cancel ‘Rocketman’,” Apollo Cinemas, located in Samoa’s capital Apia, said on its Facebook page.“It’s a good story, in that it’s about an individual trying to move on in life. He (Elton John) went through a difficult family life and managed to move on and become very successful. But there are acts that are not good for public viewing and against the law.”
According to Reuters, Samoa’s almost 200,000 population is 97 percent Christian. Sodomy is a crime in the South Pacific island country and punishable by up to seven years in prison.
The film also faced opposition in Russia where the country’s distributor censored the film’s scenes of gay sex and drug use.
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The 2024 New York City Pride Parade wound through the streets of Manhattan and past the historic Stonewall Inn on Sunday, June 30.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
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The fourth annual Fredericksburg Pride march and festival was held at Riverfront Park in Fredericksburg, Va. on Saturday, June 29. The event began with a march around downtown Fredericksburg beginning and ending in the park.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Covering Fredericksburg Pride for @WashBlade . City Council member @WillMackintosh speaking: pic.twitter.com/tDdVD2IVsM
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) June 29, 2024
Photos
PHOTOS: Goodwin Living Pride
Senior living and healthcare organization holds fourth annual march at Falls Church campus
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The senior living and healthcare organization Goodwin Living held its fourth annual community Pride march around its Bailey’s Crossroads campus in Falls Church, Va. with residents, friends and supporters on Tuesday, June 25. Following the march, a drag brunch was held with performances by drag artists of SADBrunch: Crimsyn, Sapphire Dupree and Evon Dior Michelle.
(Photos courtesy of Goodwin Living)
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