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

[jugganaut]

Prince's musical ode to the passage of Prop 8:

"Tonight we're gonna party like it's A.D. 99"

[Rmchairphilo]

I love Prince; he is one of the best and most talented artists in the world. I understand that this is a free country and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it's weird to me to belong to a "religion" that strips you of your individuality - the right to have an opinion and then act on it by participating in the process. It seems culty to me for a "religion" to dictate to someone how they live their personal lives, e.g. not celebrating holidays, etc.

[Dehrenstein]

And I know which parts of the Bible he reads with his gay friends too. All about how David and Jonathan had a love that "surpatheth the love of women."

[mphalen]

Prince is sooooo 1980's.

[hmmmmmer]

Nice how he can use religion as an excuse to not make decisions.

[bujeeboo]

JW. Now there is a cop out religion if there ever was one. Even lapsed JWs I know seem to have some weird notions about stuff, which they love to not explain to you for fear that you "won't understand".

[samlee]

In the JW world, homosexuality is wrong as it is believed to be a choice of lifestyle, therefore, Prince can have a bible study with his gay friends with the end goal of getting them to change their behaviour, however, it would not be acceptable to socialize with them. I am curious about the weird notions that cannot or are not 'understood'.

[tangenjill]

Who are you calling "web geeks?"

[darkblack999]

Way to cop out on your secular responsibilities, but fair enough.

Now, do me a favor and find a bible verse that can curb that door-to-door proselytizing thing, oh purple one.

[Promisin1]

Prince still lives in Minnesota. He could not vote on Prop 8, anyway. The MSM once again won't vet and even think before putting pen to paper. Non story.

[Rmchairphilo]

I thought he had moved to California a while ago. Oh well, maybe you know more than I do, but at the very least he's entitled to an opinion. I don't live in Cali and I have one.

[skeptique]

He lives in LA. I see him out all the time. (Not, out like out-of-the-closet out)

[Liberal Stalwart71]

I am and have always been a huge Prince fan. I am quite disappointed with his recent statements on this issue. The bottom line is that he is a brilliant musician but he needs to keep his politics and religious views to himself and concentrate on making better music. His last few albums left much to be desired. We can expect 3 more albums in 2009, so I'm happy. I hope he just shuts the hell up about his religious and political views, though.

[DebofMD]

I agree. I am quite disappointed to hear he didn't vote/vote for Obama. He coulda kept that one to himself.

[bryand1]

Much like his 80's dance partner, Michael Jackson, what Prince says only matters when it's on a record - the rest of the time it's pretty much dribble. And anytime these two actually focus on their music again, I'll be happy to Witness - until then, you sweet Jehovies, please stop talking.

[mesuki]

This is America,.... Prince has every right to worship the way he chooses without being hassled,just like Gays have the right to live their lives the best way they can. without us hating on them. It's not up to us to judge others,we just need to live our lives the best way we can and respect the decisions of others....in othre words we need ti mind our own business!

[Judyisacutie]

Amen, sister/brother/other. As far as I'm concerned, Prop 8 never should have been on the ballot. It was inappropriate to ask voter to make such a decision and It has divided people along religious lines at a time when Americans need to work together more than ever.

[XCITIZEN]

Your words are appreciated mesuki.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

TAFKAP. Prince. Whatever.

[d00derman]

Big mouth and no action.

[FITNESSSF]

Studying the bible with gay men doesn't make you a supporter of gay issues.

http://hivstopswithus.org/en/CosgroveN

[bujeeboo]

JW doesn't believe in the deity of Jesus, so what the heck "Bible" is he reading? I guess OT only.

[BCALex]

You don't understand the JW religion. One is not even allowed to associate with out gays. They can be in the closet, but once they come out to a JW, the JW MUST end the friendship immediately or they have no chance at all to join a predetermined number (144,000) of souls that will enter heaven. The rest of us won't; sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

I always thought this would be a terrible religion to be part of, since there have been literally millions and millions of members throughout their existence. To me that would indicate that the 144,000 seats in heaven are TAKEN. So why bother listening? Just my two cents.