Elton John's Russian concert will go on as planned

I imagine if you are a member of the LGBT community in Russia, you have to take your victories where you can. Chalk this one up as win, guys: Elton John will be allowed to perform his Russian tour dates as planned.

It was previously feared the openly gay musician (whose name is practically synonymous with out-and-proud on-your-sleeve male homosexuality) would run afoul of Russia's strict, highly publicized anti-propaganda laws.

"Despite the groundless rumors spread by the internet and media that Elton John's concerts in Russia could be cancelled, the organiser assures you that Elton John's shows in Moscow and Kazan will go ahead as planned," a statement from promoter SAV Entertainment said.

Elton John expressed his desire to show support for the Russian LGBT community earlier this year.

"I'm supposed to be going to Moscow in December," he told the Guardian . "I've got to go. And I've got to think about what I'm going to say very carefully. There's two avenues of thought: do you stop everyone going, ban all the artists coming in from Russia? But then you're really leaving the men and women who are gay and suffering under the anti-gay laws in an isolated situation. As a gay man, I can't leave those people on their own without going over there and supporting them. I don't know what's going to happen, but I've got to go."