Elton John won't be able to adopt a 14-month-old HIV-positive. “The law is the same for everybody: for a president, for a minister, for Elton John,” declared Family, Youth and Sports Minister Yuriy Pavlenko, Associated Press informs.

The reason for rejection is because the pop star is too old and not in a heterosexual marriage (Ukraine does not recognize gays unions as marriage). Elton is 62 and according to Ukrainian law, a parent should not be older than an adopted child more than by 45 years.

Pavlenko insists yet there was no official request on the adoption. The singer expressed his intention after meeting the boy, named Lev, while touring an orphanage as part of an anti-AIDS charity project on Sept 14. Thus, on the weekend John and his male partner, David Furnish, announced they wanted to adopt the boy.

“I don't know how we do that, but he has stolen my heart. And he has stolen David's heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home,” John said.