Don Imus and Roseanne Barr. Oy!

Uh. The Roseanne comment makes me so mad. Yes, I can admit that there are many hopelessly shallow and self-centered queer folk... but I literally spent all night thinking of the many, many queer people I know who passionately combat racism and poverty, who fight for environmental protections and women's choice, who advocate for health care and immigration reform. I couldn't stop thinking about an aquaintence of mine who has spent years and a great deal of money travelling to Africa to work with orphans.

If all she's basing her impression on is Hollywood types and professional queer activists, she knows far too few people. Does she criticize women as a whole because NOW focuses almost exclusively on women's issues? Is she tired of all black people because Chris Rock won't stop talking about race?

As for comparing us to Evangelicals... well, I can certainly see the similarity. After all, Evangelicals are not allowed to marry their parter in 49 states, can be legally fired for their religious views in 33 states, and if anyone finds out about their religious orientation the military is legally obligated to fire them. Yup, totally the same thing.

As a professional queer activist, yes, I spend a lot of time talking about LGBT equality. It's my job. It's also something I care about, a lot. At the same time, I have donated time and money and talents to homeless people, victims of natural disasters, anti-racism training, women's rights and choice, arts appreciation and funding, and environmental awareness.

The comments are just so dumb they don't even warrant refutation.

Maybe, but I felt compelled all the same.

Jere 

...when two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity, the truth does not necessarily lie exactly halfway between them. It is possible for one side to be simply wrong.

--Richard Dawkins

tyreseus.livejournal.com |

to be honest, I knew people would spin what Roseanne said out of control.   To be honest, fundamentalists of all walks of life get a little too "so what do we benefit out of this?".  Doesn't matter if you're gay, African-American, Jewish, Christian, Hispanic, female, whatever....   there is a bit of "I don't care about those people, how do WE benefit" from all of the fundamentalists of each group, and I agree with her to an extent.    The same year Matthew Shepard was murdered for being gay, there was a black man who was killed brutally for no reason than his skin color, and many gay people were indifferent about James Byrd, but considered Matthew the tragedy of the decade, instead of realizing BOTH were tragedies and shames.  The same went with a lot of African-Americans who dismissed Shepard's murder as lesser because it didn't apply to them.

I agree that the only way the world will become a better place is if we all unite.  There's too much divisiveness between all of the groups.   People need to realize that racism, homophobia and sexism are all hatched from the same evil instead of thinking the one that applies to your group (or two, or three if you're an African-American lesbian) are the only ones that matter.

Roseanne may have phrased things wrongly, and she overgeneralized, but I understand her sentiment.   This is not Anita Bryant, she's shown she is generally pro-gay, just watch the latter episodes of her sitcom, it was as gay as TV got before Ellen, and even in her recent HBO special, she did the obligatory Margeret Cho-esque 10 minute "gays kick ass" monologue.   I still like her and the sitcom is one of my favorite shows ever.

this is from her blog at RoseanneWorld

Call me up today and let me have it! I will apologize and try to make clear what I really meant to say... which was that everybody needs to unite right now, and step outside of their own neighborhoods, groups, races and classes to stop Bush's war on our country and our people. I love gays and I hate division. I am just a big idiot with a big mouth sometimes. I will learn to be more careful! Please forgive me, I am so sorry!!!!

I want Imus gone.  This is the final straw.  He has gotten away with too much.

John, you are too quick to believe that gay people are only concerned about their interests.  Roseanne's claims are absolutely basely without exception.  Gay people all too often forego their interests for that of others.  Look at Ellen Degeneres, she came out and was so beaten down that the only way she could have a career was to not speak about her sexuality.  Rosie O'Donnell is a strong advocate for children.  John Barrowman works for animal rights.  I think gay people do the exact opposite of what Roseanne said.  What gay celebrity is as attached to a gay organization as they are other organizations?  I don't know one.