Elton John’s partner, David Furnish, says the pop icon was devastated
when he learned earlier this year that he wouldn’t be allowed to adopt an
HIV-positive toddler he met in the Ukraine, but he plans to support the boy anyway.

John met 14-month old Lev while touring a home for HIV-positive children in September. His bid to adopt the boy was refused because the Ukrainian government deemed him too old and refused to recognize his civil union with Furnish as a marriage.

Furnish told the BBC that he and John are working to make sure that Lev and his brother "have the best health care, education, and family options available to them."