Elton John 'wants religion to be banned'

Pop legend Elton John has said that he would like to see a ban on all organised religion, because he believes that it promotes homophobia.

His comments were made in a special gay edition of the Observer Music Monthly Magazine where he was interviewed by Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears.

He said, "I think religion has always tried to turn hatred towards gay people. But there are so many people I know who are gay and love their religion."

The 59-year-old performer then went on to say that the solution would be to "ban religion completely, even though there are some wonderful things about it".

John said that he intended to continue to fight for gay rights: "I'm going to fight for them, whether I do it silently behind the scenes or so vocally that I get locked up."