George Clooney Slams Prop 8

George Clooney has spoken out to E!'s Ted Casablancas about the passage of Proposition 8, banning gay marriage in California:

"At some point in our lifetime, gay marriage won't be an issue, and everyone who stood against this civil right will look as outdated as George Wallace standing on the school steps keeping James Hood from entering the University of Alabama because he was black."

Clooney joins a growing list of stars speaking out including Melissa Etheridge, Harvey Fierstein, Ellen Degeneres and more. Drew Barrymore and James Franco also joined a crowd rallying against its passage.

Comments

[TrueThis]

Clooney went a little.... too far. Gays weren’t forced to drink from different water fountains, forced to sit at the back of the bus. The organization that was AGAINST Proposition 8 was very organized. So don’t blame this on African Americans. Blame the ones who provided the money to fund their causes to get their message out there to the religion bases. George Clooney should’ve known this, he supported Obama thoughtout his election it's called: M O N E Y!

Protesting is not going to resolve this problem and the media will eventually move on to other important issues. Get a better organization set up. I’m African American, I’ve religious and I feel that we have our own personal relationship with God so who are "we" to judge so I believe in gay marriage but if you don’t have a message who’s going to listen?

Think outside the box and get your message throughout your states, start getting people to do donation to your cause now and be heard in the future because times are changing which you have some that have a difficult time changing their moral views but it can happen.

[fyi08]

I don't think Clooney was blaming black people for the passing of Prop 8. And, although I'm straight (and black), I think gay people have to pay A LOT of taxes for civil rights they don't have access to. All the parallels aren't there, but I do think this is an issue of Civil Rights similar to the discriminations blacks faced (especially around marriage).

Peace.

[TrueThis]

I'm sorry, I should've said the people FOR Propostion 8 was very organized but how is this considered a civil right issue? Should it be gay rights issue? I mean not being able to eat in restaurants, sleep in hotels, pursue an education along with other society simply because of the color of one’s skin - which is always evident.

Gays can ‘pass’ as straight, but African American can't but gays should have the rights to adopt or marry as they chose but Clooney trying to make a point just as Keith Olbermann made his teary point earlier and I'm reading through the lines and I don't like what they're saying when one of them don't even vote.

[purplefishies]

No but they have been beaten to death, been discriminated against in regards to on the job performance ratings, and have been ridiculed for being themselves. It seems like you don't seem to acknowledge that their struggles are very similar to those of every minority and that the way to get equal treatment is by not backing down but by fighting harder and making everyone aware of the discrimination that exists.

The only reason we are discriminating is because of (once again) religious fundamentalists ascribing criticism of homosexuality to religious figures who never made such any such statements in the first place.

[TrueThis]

I'M FOR GAY RIGHTS!! I've worked in a gay community for over 20 years and have plenty of friends and family that are gay that are married and have adopted beautiful children which their children are very happy. You are missing the point! There should be an organization set up so therefore you can avoid these type of proposition kicked out of the supreme courts each and everytime.

B i t c hing isn't going to get you no where but money will. THINK!

[movingforequalrights]

do you have any idea what is done to Christians both historically and presently? They have been beaten, derided, verbally abused, made to look ignorant and stupid...um, does this sound like any other minority group to you? In your quest for "equality" you are failing to give it to the other side. It was the majority opinion voted in twice in 8 years. I'm sorry to have to tell you this but Christians are not the majority in California. So obviously there are other people who felt this was the right decision for them to make. And to be clear, the majority of the voters who voted for Obama voted for 8. Once again, the majority of Obama votes did not come from Christians. Get your facts straight before you go "ascribing" anything to group out there that you know nothing about.

[slaxx]

no one here "blamed" this on blacks.

i agree that more should have been done beforehand. i think that most people are just misinformed as to why gays want to get "married," not understanding that they don't get the same rights under civil unions and that in order to get them, they either have to get "married" or all laws pertaining to marriage will have to be changed to civil unions.

they're not looking to destroy a "sacred institution", they just want equal rights and treatment.

[tregibbs]

You missed the point - it's the SAME as separate but equal, which is what blacks faced prior to segregation. The California Supreme Court WILL invalidate Prop 8, so no organization "set up" will be needed. This has nothing to do with morality. Hatred and taking away rights of fellow human beings is NOT moral.

Clooney DID NOT go too far. He was right on. Discrimination is discrimination. Period.

[TrueThis]

Okay....don't organized because this is one of the reason why it passed. And let see if it be kicked out of the California Supreme Court when you have a governor that 's a republican. THINK!!

[OhBigWoo]

Gays may not have been forced to drink from different water fountains but they were tied to a fence and beaten to death. If you are trying to figure out who has suffered more, you should look in the mirror...it must be hideously painful to be so stoopid.

[Eric8869]

We have to stop the churches from getting involved in politics. It is not their place. Thomas Jefferson was for the seperation of church and state.

Join AMERICANS UNITED FOR THE SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

http://www.au.org/site/PageServer

Make them lose their tax exempt status.

Love you George!

[movingforequalrights]

Stop churches from getting involved in politics? Do you know anything about Thomas Jefferson? He was a Christian that didn't want a church run country like England, he never said anything about the church not being "involved" in the government. It is the right of every citizen in this country to vote the way they feel led. Churches do not demand how their parishioners vote, they give them information about what the bible teaches them and are told to vote how "they feel led". Don't be an idiot here. Churches don't run anything and they have every right to be involved in politics just like any organization does. free speech applies to EVERYONE.

[AmandaBC]

"free speech applies to EVERYONE"

Tax-exempt status, however, DOES NOT.

[IamPhenom]

Churches are forbidden by law from getting involved in politics. If they do get involved in politics, they are supposed to lose their tax exemption status as a charitable organization. They are then a political organization that must pay taxes.

[KieranSD]

You continue to post blatant lies and concrete evidence of your lack of education. The U.S. Constitution clearly states that there is separation of church and state. What the Mormon Church did with Prop. 8 is clearly a violation of that stipulation. It is high time we tax the Mormon Church for being a political organization. And how interesting that a church that most Americans DO NOT TRUST _ exactly why Mitt Romney could not win the GOP presidential nomination _ and is viewed universally with suspicion and disdain has become the biggest bunch of bigots on the planet!

[rastignac]

movingforequalrights: You are apparently the one who knows nothing about Thomas Jefferson. He was not a Christian at all; he was a Deist, as were most of the founding fathers.

"History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes."-TJ Dec. 6, 1813.

"Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law."-TJ February 10, 1814

"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own." -TJ Mar 17, 1814

"Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is the mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus."-TJ30 July, 1816

"... I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State."-TJ Jan. 1, 1802

You obviously know precious little about Thomas Jefferson.

[FCBarca]

Great comments from Clooney...Finding out he's a far more interesting/inspiring person then he is an actor

[SoCalAmerican]

Prop 8 is really simple in its flaw. There are some Americans that don't have the same rights as other Americans.

Our Bill of Rights and Constitution shows no favoritism to any God or any definition to ANY religion defining rights by defining religion from a biased religious belief. Religion has nothing to do with the justice of the law...nothing. Its a no brainer.

Your fellow Americans do not have the same rights because they are gay. Regardless how you feel about homosexuality, they are Americans by definition YET still don't have the same rights.

Also, to those that like to classify 'Hollywood' into one ball, that in itself is an ignorant bigoted statement, but hey, that's what makes this country great, you can believe in whatever you want so long as it doesn't infringe on the freedom of others. In the case of Prop 8, that is infringement.

Yours truly, a heterosexual American that believes in his country and the laws that laid the foundation making it great.

[KieranSD]

Exactly! The U.S. Constitution says we are all created equally, so how can Californians write discrimination in its state Constitution? It is wrong. It is unfair. It creates a second-class citizen.
For the first time in my life, I am not equal to my fellow straight people. I am being denied more than 1,000 rights that straight people have. This is discrimination. And this is the 21st century! How can that be?

[pooh2u]

Where in the U.S. Constitution say we are all created equally? I have seen that phrase written in the bible, but have never read it in any state or us constituion.

Um please list the 1,000 rights that straight people have over gay people, as I am sure that the straight community would love to know what they are? I for one!!!!

on homosexuality being americans by definition yet still don't have the same rights, that goes for everyone in this nation. Their are alot of rights that are not equal towards many americans, be they of different color, religion, homosexual, hetrosexual, crippled, have mental problems, etc.... Just like we had a president that smoked pot, but did not inhale....you didn't see his rights taken away, but their are many in the prison systems in this nation that did the same thing and you didn't see their rights being restored back to them. They are still in our prisons......I could go on and on giving example after example of things that the hetrosexual communities that have been without their rights, I could even quote many examples of where Religious sect have been denied their rights as an american......as this nation is not perfect as some would hope....it all goes with the saying " you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time"

[joannericec]

It's horrible what's happened. In FL we had a similar propsition on the ballot...it, too, passed. But, the wording was very hard to understand and I suspect that many people thought they were voting against the ban. I don't know how it was worded in CA but I think it was a definite factor here. They need to word things in plain English!!!

[armchairQB]

I live in Florida and voted for the amendment to define marriage in it's tradition sense. In my opinion gay marriage affects more than the two people involved, it destabilizes society. I wouldn't expect Hollywood types to grasp this since they are, with a few exceptions, hardly paragons of stability.Gay marriage/civil unions undermine the core unit of society, the traditional family.

I once heard Jesse Ventura, Governor of MN, claim that gay marriage was okay with him because it did not affect his marriage. Using that brilliant logic I could argue that a kid hurling a stone through Jesse's kitchen window is okay with me because it does not affect my window. It complete misses the point that smashing windows with stones is wrong.

But that's the crux of the matter isn't it. The homosexual community cannot have the debate be about right and wrong--morality--so we shift to civil rights and ending bigotry and other such imaginary diversions into minority oppression. Don't misunderstand that statement, I harbor no ill will towards homosexuals as human beings. I do however object to the homosexual agenda being forced upon me.

Your rights, like mine are not innate, they are granted. We get them from the Bill of Rights and from Constitution and subsequent amendments. Having an opinion differing from yours does not necessarily constitute bigotry. People can ponder an issue and come to a different conclusion.

[janinei]

uh, how does granting the civil right of two loving people getting married destabilize society just because they are the same sex?

[goodgravy]

yet another reason to give florida back to spain.

[FrankenPC]

Can you go back in time and give it back to Spain in 2000?

The whole solution to this stupid issue is for LGBT people to form their own religion. Then, marriage will be freedom of religion for that group. Simply put, one religions as good as another. You take away the rights of one groups religious beliefs ALL groups religious beliefs must loose their rights.

As I've stated before...let's start with removing non-profit status for any religion. That should shut all the jerks up. Hit em where it hurts. The pocket book.

[janinei]

yes, I can see the total collapse of society due to gay marriage, certainly I was feeling a little gay once I thought 8 would be voted down... it is a choice to be gay after all, right, I mean, just like being straight is a choice??

[armchairQB]

Although you are making the claim in a mocking way, I see that collapse too. I'm not sitting in judgment of of folks who are born with homosexual inclinations. Unfortunately for them homosexual behavior has been identified as one of those behaviors that is not in the best interest of society or even the persons themselves.

[Damaven]

You are sooooooooo correct.

[PartyPartyParty]

If you want to deny a fellow human being the same rights as you enjoy, you're a bigot. Period.

[totalliberal]

I still don't understand how the civil rights of a minority can be taken away by a popular vote. I thought a constitutional amendment was needed.

[PartyPartyParty]

They can't; in time, Proposition 8 will be found unconstitutional. Just as Jim Crow laws were.

[preemptivelove]

that's right. they tried to "ammend" the constitution by initiative. prop 8 flies in the face of the US Constitution and will be thrown out.

[movingforequalrights]

prop 8 was a constitutional amendment

[LiberalBuzz]

I wish George had been much more vocal BEFORE the voting. It seems like a lot of the people who were against Prop H8 were not so vocal before it won. Especially against all the lies told by the so called "christians" out there who broke several commandants that they claim to hold so dearly.

[movingforequalrights]

what prey tell were those commandments? are you an expert on christians or commandments? the majority of people who voted for this proposition were not christians for your information. and there was very little information put out there in the media by these so called liars. but there were several ads and commercials against prop 8, if that is your logic- this prop shouldn't have passed. it must just be that Californians were of the opinion that they didn't want gay marriage in their state. at some point, you have to respect the will of the people. i don't believe in or support abortion but my belly aching isn't going to do anything about the will of the people. that's why we vote on stuff like this...

[KieranSD]

"Do not bear false witness against your neighbor"
One must not bear false witness in a court of law or other proceeding.

Prop. 8 supporters brought every lie in the book in the ad campaign to pass this hateful measure that adds DISCRIMINATION to the state Constitution.

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

George, if you were gay and I weren't married (am I still married in CA?!?!?!), I'd ask you out.

[movingforequalrights]

the general information out there is that this is not a retro active law and therefore all the people who were married before this law are still considered legally married. i think it has to do with after.

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

no we don't have to accept this........no one should have exiisting civil rights taken away by a popular vote....and btw, this is the first time in 100 years in this country that that has happened......it was my rights now, but whose rights next?

[newpotusplease]

I don't look to celebrities to tell me how to vote.

My interests are very different from someone who makes $20 million dollars per turkey movie.

But I am sure this puts him in good stead with his industry.

I vote my interests.

[LiberalBuzz]

So who has told you or anyone else to vote the way Celebs do?

I like hearing everyone's opinion and famous people DO have a louder stronger voice and if it helps the cause then more power to them.

[bokiluis]

Then vote your interests, honey. Who's stopping you????

I don't like people who try to discredit others based on their own biases (e.g. money and envy).

You sound like that other empty head Carrie Underwood. You ever heard of the 7 Deadly Sins.

Envy is one of them.

[DundeeNatalSA]

Although I voted No, the public has spoken and we have to accept this.... for now.

[AngryCitizen]

no way in h e l l do we have to accept this. The majority cannot vote to take away from the rights of the minority. This is why we have the courts and they have spoken on this issue. The right to marry will be restored in face of the organized hate and bigotry on this issue.

[FrankenPC]

Yeah, but the public voted based upon outright lies from the proponents. So, the public's decision was flawed. I say we simply re-execute the vote during the next voting cycle and pump a ton of money into counter-advertising efforts.

For the record...marriage is NOT taught in public schools!

[movingforequalrights]

are you serious? do you have kids in elementary school? they most definitely teach children about marriage. they teach the kids about families, adoptive families, blended families, biracial families, step-families, and gay families. they teach children about life in general. what would you think they taught kids in school these days?

[Eric8869]

No we DON'T - there is a DAY OF PROTEST this Saturday!

[watchingthings]

This is unbelievable. People are losing their jobs, their life savings and these fundamentalist Christians can only think of Gays rights as being the worst that can happen. What a sorry bunch!

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

yes, watching...and I think that is real Bush doctrine that Ms. Palin couldn't think of.....ignore the country, and focus on dividing people over nothing

[jlarue]

When they have nothing else they have this. They should have threat levels for social issues in the Republican party......They want to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?-threat level yellow. Queers are getting married? Better crank it up to orange!

[movingforequalrights]

you have to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.. they are allowed the freedoms to think and vote how they choose. no one is calling you names, why do you feel the need to be so hateful towards these particular people...

[rastignac]

Let's see a group succeed in stripping you of some of your civil rights to see what loving things you say about that group.

[Stevie57]

I'm not sure why anyone cares who anyone else marries, as long as they are consenting adults.
It really is not my business...or come to that, the business of the government.

If this is a religious objection,then there is even more reason for government to stay out of it. The whole division of church and state thing got very mixed up in the Republical years. If indiviual churches don't want to marry gays, well that's their business; similarly if other churches are willing to ordain same sex marriages, well, again that's their business.
Love is love, no matter where you find it.

[klandish]

Then they should stop taking Government money and start paying taxes. If they are such a private club; not giving out equal rights to me why should I pay their way with my taxes?

[pooh2u]

You don'thave to pay their way with your taxes, especially if you don't belong to a church, as they receive thier money from their followers

[stgadt]

separation of state & church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and ALL these churches should pay taxes
why are they not paying taxes???

[pooh2u]

because people in this nation have already paid the taxes on the money the churches have received

[walleymr]

Oh look. A shout out for Alabama ...