Do queer singers have a responsibility to sing about queer things? According to Jake Shears and his Scissor Sisters, no. The American popsters recently sat down with Me-me-me to discuss the art of queering it up. Or, rather, not queering it up.

Debating whether or not the band's so-called queerness informs their music, Shears insists,

I think it’s shaped our aesthetic. There are no gay lyrics, it’s all totally coded. If you’re looking for a gay message, you totally have to dig.

He goes on,

I’m not interested in singing about gay people... I wanted the music to be accessible. I don’t want to appeal to just a tenth of the population.

The interviewer presses the issue, explaining that straight people identify with "straight" music, so it follows that gay people should be able to identify with 'gay" music. To this the openly gay Shears claims that being gay is but a mere part of his identity and admits that he finds queer-centric tunes to be a bit of a bore...

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You kids may remember an interview between Elton John and Jake Shears in which Sir Elton admonished organized religion, insisting that it should be abolished. Speaking through The Observer, John said:

From my point of view I would ban religion completely... But the reality is that organised religion doesn't seem to work. It turns people into hateful lemmings and it's not really compassionate...

Okay, the statement itself's not that inflammatory, but John fame helped fuel an international stink. While we thought people had forgotten all about it, Andy Selepak from the the so-called media watchdog group Accuracy in Media decided now's the perfect time to rehash the debate. He writes:

One is tempted to respond to this rant with the title of Laura Ingraham's book about Hollywood: Shut Up and Sing.

But there is another thing to consider: Why aren't Elton John's hateful comments as controversial as Michael Richards' anti-black "comic" diatribe? Is it because being scornful of religion is "in" among the entertainment and Hollywood elites?

Um, John's statements can't really be compared to Richards' "nigger"-infused rant because, well, racism in America strikes far deeper than religious animosity. Sure, the two have worked together, but to call someone a nigger's far more offensive than calling someone a gentile. But, whatever...

Selepak goes on to dissect John's every syllable (including a totally unjust comparison between John's words on religion and his regret over not having sex in his teens), after which he concludes:

Elton John's convoluted message to the masses is: Religion should be outlawed because it promotes hatred towards homosexuals, that religious hatred is leading us towards World War III, and the only way to prevent another world war is for musicians to solve all the world's problems.

It is comforting to know that if the world would all hold hands and sing Tiny Dancer we would all be safer. But frankly, I'd rather hear Randy Travis sing Three Wooden Crosses.

Well, we'd much rather have musicians running the country than conservacunts like Selepak, so we're even.

Related: Elton John Not About Organized Religion

As we just mentioned, Elton John's caused quite a stir with a less-than-glowing review of organized religion. In the aforementioned interview with Jake Shears, John chides the ways in which religion's been used to repress the homos. Yakking it up, John points out, "Religion promotes the hatred and spite against gays." He continues:

From my point of view I would ban religion completely, even though there are some wonderful things about it. I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it... But the reality is that organised religion doesn't seem to work. It turns people into hateful lemmings and it's not really compassionate...

...Instead of more violence why isn't there a [meeting of religious leaders]. It's all got to be dialogue - that's the only way. Get everybody from each religion together and say 'Listen, this can't go on. Why do we have all this hatred?'

We are all God's people; we have to get along and the [religious leaders] have to lead the way. If they don't do it, who else is going to do it?

Hmmm, it seems to us that John's got two exceedingly valid points. One, religion has too often been used to fuel homo-hatred. Two, that religious leaders aren't doing enough to fight discrimination. Sure, he's being a bit harsh, but nobody's ever changed the world with conciliatory comments. Right?

An Irish Reverend by the name of Giles Fraser, however, has spoken out against John's statements:

It made me really sad ... because so much of what he said is true... I don’t believe religion does that but it’s a misconception widely held. It reflects the fact that members of the gay community think the church is deeply hostile to them and to their interests. I don’t believe [religion] is homophobic, I believe that’s a mistaken interpretation. And (his comments) don’t help those struggling to change that perception.

That statement, too, rings with validity. Many homos do find the Church to be aggressive and the influential musician's words do add fuel to the fire.

Of course, those are just our brief thoughts on the matter. So, readers, we ask you: do you think John deserves to be censured for his comments or do you think he's right on the money?

As you know, we absolutely adore tips from our readers. It's nice to have a few extra pairs of eyes out in the homonet, because otherwise so many juicy bits'll go unnoticed. For example, we never would have known that The Observer ran an all-gay music issue yesterday had a charming reader not sent us this link.

While the issue's headlined by an interview between Elton John and Jakes Shears (in which John laments all the teenage sex he could have had had he come out earlier and has some choice words on religion, which we'll get to in the next posting), the really juicy bits comes in the form of more obscure topics.

For example, Jon Savage's piece delves into the history of a gay record producer named Joe Meek, who produced the first gay-pop single only to shoot himself six months later. Meanwhile, Stuart Brumfitt takes a tour through the seemingly-contradictory world of gay ragga clubs, Ed Vulliamy tracks the trials and tribulations of the The Village People and a bevy of gay movers and shakers offer their favorite queer pop culture memories. Don't think you'll see any Lance Bass action here, readers. Boy George remembers his first sighting of David Bowie, Peter Tatchell pens a little ditty on the first pride anthem and Morrissey lauds Bruce Wayne Campbell's glam rock alter ego, Jobriath.

Now that's something to sing about. (If that's not a gay comment, nothing is...)

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• Jake Shears & Co. wind up on the cover of Interview, looking as fashion forward as their music. [Interview]

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• In typical fashion, Slate hopes to generate a modicum of buzz by defending M. Night. Shyamalan. [Slate]