Elton John has sounded off against the mayor of Venice, Italy for banning books that feature same-sex families.

The city's newly elected mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, announced the initiative shortly after his election and it outlaws the sale of any picture books showing same-sex families to schools.

"It champions an all-inclusive world where families come in all shapes, sizes and colors. And most importantly, that families are about love.

Our boys adore it," writes John. "And in the opposing corner we have Luigi Brugnaro, the extremely silly looking mayor of Venice.

He's stupidly chosen to politicize children's books by banning titles that touch on same sex families living happily ever after."

He adds, "Instead of encouraging a world based on inclusiveness, tolerance and love," Brugnaro is "championing a future society that's divisive and fosters ignorance.

Beautiful Venice is indeed sinking, but not as fast as the boorishly bigoted Brugnaro."