By Mike Morris

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In an interview that's sure to raise eyebrows in the Bible Belt and elsewhere, Elton John says he believes Jesus was gay.

The part-time Atlantan made the comments in an interview for Parade magazine. The comments appear in the online version of the article, but do not appear in the version appearing in Sunday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems," John told Parade interviewer Dotson Rader.

"On the cross, he forgave the people who crucified him," John said. "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."

The musician also discussed love, drugs, friends and fame.

"Princess Diana, Gianni Versace, John Lennon, Michael Jackson, all dead," John said.

"Two of them shot outside their houses," he said. "None of this would have happened if they hadn't been famous. Fame attracts lunatics. I never had a bodyguard, ever, until Gianni died. I don't like celebrity anymore."

He said that "just about every relationship I ever had was involved with drugs. It never works."

On love, John discusses his relationship with longtime partner David Furnish.

"Every Saturday for 16 years, we've sent each other a card, no matter where we are in the world, to say how much we love each other."