Elton John backs boycott of Brunei hotels ahead of anti-gay law

Elton John has backed calls to boycott hotels owned by the Brunei Investment Agency as the country prepares to introduce the death penalty for gay people on 3 April.

The popstar posted about Brunei’s new laws—which will also see adultery punishable by death—on Twitter where he said that being able to choose who we love is “a basic human right.”

“Wherever we go, my husband David and I deserve to be treated with dignity and respect—as do each and every one of the millions of LGBTQ+ people around the world,” Elton John said.

He continued: “I commend my friend, George Clooney, for taking a stand against the anti-gay discrimination and bigotry taking place in the nation of Brunei—a place where gay people are brutalized, or worse—by boycotting the Sultan’s hotels.

“Our hearts go out to the good, hardworking employees of properties owned by the Sultan of Brunei, many of whom we know to be gay.

“We must send a message, however we can, that such treatment is unacceptable. That’s why David and I have long refused to stay at these hotels and will continue to do so.

“We hope you will join us in solidarity.”

He then tweeted a list of the hotels that people should boycott. The list is available here.

Elton John and George Clooney have led calls for a boycott of Brunei owned hotels

Elton John’s calls for a boycott come just days after George Clooney penned an op-ed for Deadline in which he said that he would be boycotting the hotels—and called on others to do the same.

He wrote: “Every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery.”

“Brunei is a Monarchy and certainly any boycott would have little effect on changing these laws. But are we really going to help pay for these human rights violations? Are we really going to help fund the murder of innocent citizens?”