Prince On Prop 8 Stance: I Didn't Vote At All

Prince has spoken out about his position on Prop 8, a month and a half after the New Yorker quoted him as against it. He dodged the subject by saying his religion prevents him from voting at all.

From an interview with the LA Times:

He didn't vote at all. "I didn't vote for Obama either," he explained. "Jehovah's Witnesses haven't voted for their whole inception." The controversy over a recent New Yorker "Talk of the Town" item, which Prince feels implied he supported the gay-marriage ban, has upset him. It's the first thing he wanted to discuss when the Web geeks had gone and we were alone. "I have friends that are gay and we study the Bible together," he said. He added that two sides fighting "only benefit the third person" who instigated the fight.

Despite initially saying he was misquoted, the New Yorker stood by their Prince story.

Comments

[harriettubman]

Prince is no homophobe. He's found a religion he seems happy with that's all. I find many things very different and odd with being a JW but they have a right to worship and believe as they want. I had a dear friend who became one a couple of years ago. I couldn't believe my ears when he told me but hey, he was happy with it.

JW are pretty strict in their beliefs. I use to work for an OB and their members would rather die before, during or after childbirth if they needed a blood transfusion. Some leaving behind other children. Crazy? But that's their practice.

Also, they don't believe in the occult either and Michael Jackson was raised as JW; his mother is very devout but he was given a very hard time with Thriller. Some reports say he was kicked out!

We live in a Democratic society and if you don't like it you can't change the Constitution. The teachings of JW should not affect you unless you join.

[Downix]

If michael was kicked out, might explain a *lot* of things. Spiritual crisis such as that, and the need to hide them, often times can lead to erratic and self destructive behavior.

[samlee]

The teachings of JW should not affect you unless you join.

........th­ose teachings can and do affect millions of people even if they do not 'join' the organization. People raised or born in the society are directly affected and many of those will suffer extreme hardship if as a baptized member, they try to leave. They have not joined but become bound by baptism. The relatives of those who 'join' are directly affected, as they are removed from the circle of family, friends, coworkers and society as part of the membership. The homeowner and vulnerable are affected by the knock on the door.

[Wiserone]

Why is this important? Must be a slower news day for HP. Just make your music, Prince. Now, that's worthy of news if he makes another album.

[Shieldmaiden]

I could swear Prince was gay.

[mhess44]

Prince is finally too weird to comprehend.

[mespace]

There's something odd about the statement that Prince and his gay friends sit around and study the Bible. http://mespace.wordpress.com

[Toutlaguerre]

I agree with you. The part that I find odd is that he is a JW with gay friends. That is a definite not heard of. Goes in direct conflict with their stance on homosexuality and bad association.

[ChaoticGood]

Hey, I didn't know that Jehovah's Witnesses do not vote. At least there is something good about them after all.... Who knew.

[dteg]

It is very irresponsible for a Jehovah Witness or anyone to make a practice of not voting. That may be ok if everyone never sinned. But we would have complete chaos with no government or government authorities

[harriettubman]

Hey, that's their belief. The Williams' sisters didn't vote either because they're JW too. I guess that's why people practice certain religions. Some agree, some don't.

[scottowego]

I don't understand. So ..... what if we were all Jehovahs Witnesses. That'd mean nobody voted at all so who would be running the country?

[Tulka2]

I don't want to discount or discredit P., but niether do i look to him for any kind of advice about the real world. He doesn't live in it.

Great music.

[XCITIZEN]

Hmmmm....J­ehovah's Witness? That's interesting - when I first glanced at Prince's picture - an image of Michael Jackson flashed across my mind. Does his religion also tell him he must wear make-up and purse his lips like a little lady?

Most ridiculous lyrics ever written: "Animals strike curious poses...th­ey feel the heat...the heat between me and you...."

[Eric8869]

I have gay friends who were raised Jehova's witness. Once they come out they are abandoned by their families and their communities. It's sad and pathetic.

Either way he's a homophobe.

[StillIRise]

I know of a straight young man who's a Jehovah Witness, and he took my daughter to his junior prom. He too was banned from his church and disowned by his family and the church community. As I later learned, Jehovah Witnesses are not allowed to date anyone outside of their religion, and even when dating is allowed, the date must be properly chaperoned. I also don't think they are allowed to attend proms. I didn't know this when I gave my daughter permission to attend his prom, and I was devastated for him when I was made aware of this information and the consequences he suffered. Maybe the Jehovah Witnesses are just provincial in their worldview on many issues ... and are not simply "homophobes" because they have a different point of view on this one issue (i.e. gay lifestyle), which is only one among many others.

There were many people who opposed and still oppose interracial marriage for example, not because they hate blacks, but maybe because it conflicts with their faith foundation. As a black woman myself, I can conclude that perhaps they're ignorant, as in not being informed or not seeking to be informed, but not necessarily racist. Reducing everyone who disagrees with your point of view as a homophobe is not only immature, but it does nothing to serve the cause of the LGBT community.

[RomanFingers]

Isn't it the Webster's definition of racism that any interaction with a non-member is prohibited because the "other" is not of your ilk? There can be any number of fear-based additions that overlay the original racism, but at its root is the prejudicial fear of the "other" in our midst, right? Would anyone like to point out what they believe my fallacy of reasoning to be?

[harriettubman]

You're right. However, many gays use "homophobe" for every single aspect of their lifestyle, if you don't vote or don't agree or whatever. JW didn't just start their beliefs, it's an old religion too.

I know someone whose husband died and they're on her about dating someone from within the religion. She'll never meet someone at her church who was like her husband but hey, she wants to be part of it so she has to tolerate their beliefs.

[vegasobserver]

The weird thing is, I thought the Jehovahs are against any kind of music that isn't religious.

[readreza]

"There were many people who opposed and still oppose interracial marriage for example, not because they hate blacks, but maybe because it conflicts with their faith foundation­"...

The religious book with which I was raised (the bible) condones many, many things we reject, although many christians do not acknowledge them at all - while using the same book to perpetrate hate. If your religious "traditions" include excluding blacks, whites, asians... they should be rejected, the same way we've rejected slavery, the selling of our daughters, the punishment by death of our neighbors for transgressions like working on Sunday... racism is racism, whether your "religion" backs you up or not.

[XCITIZEN]

Sounds kinda like the Taliban.

[jukesgrrl]

Prince, please, stick to the music.

[sansego2000]

They called him out, why lash out at Prince?

[peskime]

News alert old Prince,
when you don't vote it's almost like you condone the outcome, so in a sense, you did support Prop 8 by your deafening silence.

[SJBrown]

No, he didn't vote because Jehovah's Witnesses don't vote. It's that simple.

[YouDisgustMe]

lol thank you...some people are ridiculous

[PerfumeisToxic]

Of course they don't approve of voting, because they don't approve of government. And the reason they don't like government is because they are angry thet THEY are not the government. Like many religions they are power crazed and want to rule all others. They hate democracy and civil government and power to the people. They only believe in power to themselves. So that's why they don't support government and don't vote. Jealousy and resentment. But they'll still take the goodies that government brings, and Prince is not giving back the money he earns from his "immoral" songs is he.

[StillIRise]

Are you this angry just about Jehovah Witnesses, or about all religions in general? Your comment is so filled with bitterness that it seems personal.

[brooklyncitizen]

I've always thought he was a freak and now he's a Jehovah's Witness it doesn't get freakier than that.
Ehrmmm...i­sn't he gay or bisexual? kind of the kettle calling the pot black....e­tc.

[PippiLongstocking]

Unless you live in his psyche, I wouldn't place money on Prince being gay or bisexual.

[YouDisgustMe]

he's actually straight..­.he just wears makeup and high heels

[XCITIZEN]

Unintentionally Hilarious Statement of the Day award goes to.....

[diogenes1967]

LOL

[inthedesert]

He's another weirdo like Michael Jackson. Strange, strange people. I could care less about what they have to say....abo­ut anything. You should too.

[PippiLongstocking]

And you're a boring square who many could care less about.

[YouDisgustMe]

lol well said

[spiderbucket]

"...like Michael Jackson." But STILL relevant unlike Jacko. And 1000 times more talented.

[firelord5000]

Prince forgot that no one cares bout him and his opinion.

[TheBrizz]

Obviously someone does, since he was asked. And you must care too, since you clicked on the story and took time to comment on it.

[firelord5000]

I took the time to put him in his place, duh!