According to the Mirror He raged: “Beautiful Venice is sinking but not as fast as boorishly bigoted Luigi Brugnaro.”

Elton often stays with husband David Furnish and their two sons at a flat he owns in the Italian city. After Mr Brugnaro’s ban on 49 books, he posted an online picture of “one of the Furnish-Johns’ favourites – The Family Book, by Todd Parr”. Elton wrote: “It champions an all-inclusive world...and most importantly that families are about love. Our boys adore it. In the opposing corner is the silly-looking mayor of Venice. He has stupidly chosen to politicise children’s books by banning titles that touch on same-sex families living happily ever after. So instead of encouraging a world based on inclusiveness and love, he’s championing a future society that’s divisive.”

Italy does not recognise same-sex unions and Mr Brugnaro said he is “not intimidated” by critics.

Back to Headlines