Elton John

[Mallrat]

Elton John pleads with Florida governor to not cut funding for HIV/AIDS patients

By The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – Wed, 1 Jun, 2011.. .
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Singer Elton John is urging Florida Gov. Rick Scott to protect a program that helps low-income HIV/AIDS patients get medication needed to control the virus.

John, founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, wrote to Scott on Tuesday after hearing the Department of Health was considering changes in income eligibility.

A department spokeswoman says there are no immediate plans to change the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, though it held hearings to discuss the possibility of lowering income requirements to participate.

In their letter, John and foundation Chairman David Furnish say lowering income eligibility could mean 1,600 people will no longer get help obtaining antiretroviral medication.

[Mallrat]

Community opera by 'Billy Elliot" author called off in UK over gay character's lines

By Jill Lawless, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – 2 hours 15 minutes ago.. .

LONDON - A community opera involving hundreds of children written by "Billy Elliot" playwright Lee Hall has collapsed after he refused a request to remove words spoken by a gay character.

Education officials said Monday they had objected to offensive and derogatory language, but Hall accused the school of having dated and homophobic views.

The writer said he had refused to remove the lines "I am queer" and "I prefer a lad to a lass" from the opera "Beached," which features music by composer Harvey Brough.

Writing in The Guardian newspaper, Hall said he had worked with the school to make other changes — including removing the use of "stupid" as an insult — but that the request about the gay character's lines "seemed to come from an entirely different era."

Mike Furbank, head of learning at the local authority, East Riding Council, said the school "did not have an issue with having a gay character — it was the language and tone of the scene that were problematic"

He said the school had objected to phrases including "fat little queer." Even after the language was toned down, "it was still deemed as unacceptable for 4- to 11-year-olds to be exposed to," Furbank said.

The school withdrew the 300 pupils involved in the show.

Opera North, which commissioned the piece, confirmed that its July 15 premiere in Bridlington, northeast England, had been scrapped.

The company said Hall's libretto "was presented in the early part of the year with acknowledgment that it would need negotiation with the community."

Opera North said it had tried to mediate between Hall and the school and regretted that "both sides have been unable to move forward."

Hall specializes in tales of artistic endeavour set in England's working-class northern communities.

He is best known for "Billy Elliot," the 2000 movie about a coal-miner's son who yearns to dance. It was adapted into a hit West End and Broadway show featuring music by Elton John.

Hall's play "The Pitmen Painters," about a group of amateur artists in a mining town, also had a Broadway run, and he has co-written the screenplay for Steven Spielberg's forthcoming movie "War Horse."