IMHO "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" (5.8): Norma Gay

One of the frustrations I experience when discussing why I favor marriage equality over civil unions comes down to the fact that so many people have the argument down to talk points rather than understanding what lies underneath the issues. I thought Kathy Griffith's clip about Frank and Joe was the best I have seen on TV for capturing the problem of why civil unions are not marriage equality in our own talking point moment. It is not about abstract ideas. It is about something as simple as being able to obtain your spouse's health insurance when you are sick. But, no one discusses that. Part of the problem is that the national spokespeople for this movement are not from different economic classes. Therefore, they do not often speak of real world issues that arise from inequality. That a commedian has to go where national gay groups have not says a lot about those national gay groups.

I agree with kathy griffin. when it comes to talking about mathew shepard, i still choke up.

even though i was outted in college in south dakota, i never admitted to anyone until matt died. i decided i had to be honest and admit who i truly am. i lost many friends (including my close buddy, Nate. He chose to be born again than to be my friend) but those true friends came out and loved ME ... flaws and all.

The episode hit a nerve. It made me both tear up and laugh at the same time. 

I wish the people who needs to understand why it has to be marriage and not just a civil union would watch that. But how likely is that anyone who is so dedicatedly against such basic civil rights for gay people will watch Kathy Griffin's show? :(

This was one of the best episodes ever. Kathy and her team fighting for Marriage equality was important. It shows that there are staright people who will right for equal rights. Not just say they support, but will go out and do something about it. I also liked how Kathy went and talked to the LGBT youth at the center. She wants young GLBT people to fight too. And really they didn't know who Matthew Shepard was? I'm 20 and totally know his story.

All in all I loved this episode and hopefully it'll raise awearness for the repeal of prop 8.

P.S.- Was it just me or were Bill and Merlon who are Tori Spellings "guncles" at Kathy's show at the center? I swear Merlon was the one getting a picture with her.

I hope that gays across the state of California will join a local grass roots organization to canvass and phonebank for marriage equality.  If Kathy Griffin can do it, so can everygay.  Kathy's example and passion for marriage equality make her a true friend of the community. Perhaps people who voted for Prop 8 will soften their hearts because of this important highlight in the show.

I loved the lighthearted way in which Kathy highlighted the utter ridiculousness of opposing marriage equality, but the really touching thing about thing about this episode was Kathy taking it upon herself to educate her "gay youths." We are in a unique position of being perhaps the only subculture in this country for whom it falls upon every one of us as individuals to tell the stories of our history to the younger generations, because otherwise they won't be told.

There is no gay history taught in schools, and there won't be for several years to come if the fundies have anything to say about it. Hell, my own high school didn't even celebrate Balck History Month because there were only about four African-Americna students out of 300 so they just figured, "Why bother?"

Also, I don't think a lot of people realize just how insulated the conservative (read: most) areas of this country are from media coverage related to LGBT people. It's 2009 and neither the local cable provider or any of the satellite television services in my area even offer Logo or here!

Matthew Sheppard was only five years older than I was. I was a senior in high school when he was murdered and I don't remember anyone talking about it or seeing anything about it on television. The first I learned of it was when the Westboro loonies declared jihad on his memory.

I was in my mid-twenties before I first heard about Stonewall. I knew it was the name of a gay rights organization in the UK, but no one had ever told me about the 1969 riots. If we don't see to it that our "gay youths" hear these stories, no one else will.

This episode will probably win Kathy another Emmy. For a: bringing laughter to an important issue of equality and b: making me cry about Shepperd, laugh about a serious issue, and then cry for making me realize how old I've become.

Kathy Griffin, for all her follies, has more heart and class than most anyone on the A-List. I don't see Destiny Hope Miley Ray Cyrus or Beyonce Giselle Sasha Fierce Knowles or even Joanne Stefani Lady GaGa Germanotta doing anything remotely close to this, not even for other causes. Good for Kathy. :-)

Even though this wasn't the dirtiest, funniest or most over the top "D-List" ever it was still the best. Who knew Kathy could be so DEEP? I've always hoped to see her more vulnerable side, and it came out in this episode. Great show!