Elton John claims Jesus. Just claims him.

It's really great that Elton John has used an interview with Parade to raise the terrible situation for lesbians in the Middle East. It's a serious and important issue, and one that really needs an airing in the Western press.

Let's just hope Elton doesn't blow the moment by saying something that will just cause a bunch of sillies to get all upset, eh?

Oh.

"I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems," he said. "On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving.

"I don't know what makes people so cruel. Try being a gay woman in the Middle East ­ you're as good as dead."

But, of course, by the time he got to the point, it was already being drowned in howls of protest.

And so it is that instead of 'lesbians killed in Middle East', the headlines are all 'Elton says Jesus is queer'.