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Women In Entertainment … and Politics
In the news in the past week were Bea Arthur, Kelly McGillis, Miss California (Carrie Prejean), Condoleezza Rice and Elizabeth Edwards. Yes, other women were in the news, too. But, I want to comment on these five.
Wide Ranging News Stories
Bea Arthur died. Kelly McGillis came out as a lesbian. Miss California is backing up her ‘marriage’ stance by going to Washington, D.C. to work with NOM (“National Organization for Marriage”, a group that opposes marriage between two adults of the same sex). Condoleezza Rice has denied any responsibility for the waterboarding torture of prisoners of the USA under the G.W.Bush administration. And, Elizabeth Edwards said the news of her husband’s affair made her throw up.
Bravery and Pain
Bea Arthur was tall and had a deep voice. I imagine that she had to overcome a lot of teasing and talking behind her back when she was growing up. She certainly had to deal with a lot of openly stated ‘humor’ at her expense when she was an actress on the “Golden Girls” television show.
Courage and Guilt
Kelly McGillis said she’s known since she was twelve. For years, she believed God was punishing her for being gay. Where in the world would she have gotten that idea? (sigh) From what I can tell, the only real anti-gay sentiment in the world comes from religions. That’s a shame.
What About What God Says?
If you believe in God, and you believe that God created people “in His own image,” then think this one over: Gay people (lgbt) are created by God in God’s image, just as straight people are.
Anti-Gay Teaching, Talk, Behavior = NOT From God
All the anti-gay hate that comes from the pulpit (and from whatever the head person’s place of speaking is called in other religions) is NOT from God. Hating gay people, hurting gay people (verbally, physically or legislatively), disrespecting gay people, rejecting gay people and judging gay people are not from God.
“It’s not political. It’s about morality.”
That’s what someone said to me. She’s female. She’s married to a man. We were talking about Prop 8 in California last fall. I said the organized, networked, well-financed opposition of churches acting to from the highest levels of their organizations to get people to vote for Prop 8, was against the law.
Churches Don’t Pay Taxes
It is against the law for churches to engage in politics. They can encourage their members to participate in politics. They can encourage their members to vote or volunteer for the candidates of their choice. But, using a non-profit (non-tax-paying) organization’s vast wealth and tens of thousands of members to make phone calls and pass out literature to influence people to vote for legalized discrimination against tax-paying U.S. citizens is against the law.
Youth and Idealism
I’m willing to give Carrie Prejean a pass this time, for a short time. I’ll give her a pass on her “pro-marriage” comments because she’s young, and she’s probably grown up in a household with people who say exactly what she said as her pagent answer.
PFLAG Parents Love Their Gay Kids
I’ll give Miss California a pass for a few months. In that time, I hope she meets families where there are two women and two men who are committed partners. I hope she meets PFLAG parents who love their gay kids and want nothing more in this world than for them to be safe, happy and treated with respect.
I Used to Believe What Miss California Believes
I used to believe marriage only meant a man and a woman. It still does in most cases, simply because there are more heterosexual people. Most couples are made up of a man and a woman. But, there are many loving and committed couples who are two men, and there are many loving and committed couples who are two women.
Work, Taxes, Love, Commitment, Responsibility
Those two men and two women couples work just like the man and woman couples. And, those two men and two women couples pay taxes just like the man and woman couples. So, why should same-sex couples not be protected by the same laws that protect opposite sex couples? And, why should same-sex couples not be allowed to make the same commitments to each other and have the same responsibilities to each other as opposite-sex couples? Hmmm?
Not All People Support Equal Rights For Their Gay Family Members
That’s clear to everyone. It does not make sense, but that’s how it is. People choose religious dogma over family ties. They choose discriminatory teaching over love for their own kin. Why?
Everyone Has A Gay Relative
I’ve read that Carrie Prejean has a sister who is a lesbian. Why would she work with a group whose only mission is to keep her sister from being able to live in an openly committed, legal, loving relationship with her partner? Why? This is where I say I’m willing to give her a pass, since she’s young, for a short time. I fully expect her to realize that her love for her sister is what is most important. When she get’s older, she’ll realize that her sister will always be there for her, long after the ‘NOM’ people have turned their backs and walked away.
Faith In America’s “Open Letter to Carrie Prejean”
You can read it here. It includes a quote from Mildred Loving.
Mildred Loving in 2008 issued a statement which answers the question about gay Americans having the right to marry:
“Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don’t think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the ‘wrong kind of person’ for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people’s religious beliefs over others. I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.”
It’s Not My Fault
What did Condi Rice actually say? “I conveyed the authorization of the administration …” She says she did not personally authorize waterboarding torture of prisoners. She simply told the people who were to do it that it was okay.
If Women Ruled the World
I accept that people who work for a sitting President of the USA are probably in sticky situations once in awhile. But, it seems that people would draw a line in the sand at some point. Ms. Rice certainly is a fly in the ointment of my “if women ruled the world” idea that women, as a rule, are less likely to start wars and more likely to show compassion.
A Good Woman in a Bad Situation
Elizabeth Edwards has written a book telling her side of the story. Bits have been released by the publisher, to tease us I’m sure, but I’m game. I like Elizabeth Edwards. She seems like a good woman, strong, grounded, intelligent and compassionate, the kind of person I like knowing as a friend. We do not know each other, but I’m sure she’d be a good friend if we did know each other. 
What Women Did You Notice in the News This Week?
Who do you want to comment on? Feel free to name names and say what you have to say. Just be civil and avoid anything I might have to remove.
