Search Salon

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Recently in Salon Health & Body

Column
Crashing the Black Rose
In a suburban Ramada Inn, 1,500 players gathered to teach and discuss the sexual art of power and pain.
By Virginia Vitzthum
[11/30/99]

Urge: Naked World
Are witches stealing Zimbabwe penises?
A prostitute is accused of magically stealing a deadbeat client's privates, then returning them on payment.
By Hank Hyena
[11/30/99]

Star sickness
Celebrities speaking out about their afflictions can raise awareness and money.
By Mark Ebner and Lisa Derrick
[11/29/99]

Health Urge: Nancy Chan
Saved by the silence
A lesson in deception after a quickie threesome prepares me for my probing boyfriend.
By Tracy Quan
[11/29/99]

Urge: Naked World
Crippled masturbator sues and wins!
When a Florida phone-sex worker developed carpal tunnel syndrome in each of her busy hands, she took the case to court. Now she gets her satisfaction from workers' compensation checks.
By Hank Hyena
[11/29/99]

Complete archives for Health & Body

- - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Was it harmless high camp, or a pedophiliac assault on wee campers?

Sir Elton John infuriated British scouting leaders on Sunday night when he performed with six strip-teasing teenagers attired in Cub Scout uniforms. The boys grabbed their crotches and bared themselves down to their skimpy shorts to the tune "It's a Sin" by the Pet Shop Boys.

"It is pretty deplorable and in bad taste what they have done, in terms of denigrating our uniform and what it stands for," fumed Scout Association spokesman John Fogg to yesterday's Press Association Newsfile, Agence France Presse and Scottish Daily Mail.

A spokesman for John explained that the sexy-scout spectacle "was a bit of high camp in the great British tradition of comedy like Benny Hill. It was meant to be a bit of fun for an appropriate audience."

The controversial act occurred at a glitzy Albert Hall extravaganza that was celebrating the 10th anniversary of the gay rights group Stonewall. Titled "The Equality Show," it's the largest annual gay and lesbian indoor event in Europe. Celebrities in the audience included Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife, Cherie, who was "stunned" by the lurid scout-spoof, reports the Sun tabloid.

"I think what Stonewall have done is to link again homosexuality with pedophilia," Fogg continued. "There are messages behind what Sir Elton John and Stonewall have done onstage that people can pick up on. We do not think they have done themselves any favors."

British scouting isn't half as homophobic as it's American cousin: An equal opportunity policy was embraced last year that incorporates gay scouts and gay leaders. Unfortunately, child-sex satires like John's do add ammunition to the public's suspicion that pedophiles seek prey through scouting positions.

Fogg lastly announced that the Scout Association would send a written protest to Stonewall and that John would be urged to express an apology.
salon.com | Dec. 1, 1999

- - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - -

  Get a printer-friendly version

  E-mail a friend about this article

  Backflip this article to find it again

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Search Salon