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Here's to the Violets: My Thoughts on Gay Rights (Video)
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Civil Rights, Gay Rights, Human Rights Campaign, Patricia Clarkson, Patricia Clarkston New Orleans Speech,
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Here's the text of a speech I wrote with my friend Ron Marasco for the Human Rights Campaign's recent gala in New Orleans. The clip of it is below. Enjoy!
I am so happy to be with all of you tonight. To celebrate the work you do--and to have a bourbon or two later.
The great Tennessee Williams wrote---
--of course I'm starting with Tennessee Williams. I'm in New Orleans, at the HRC gala, and I played Blanche DuBois.
Which is why I never go anywhere without a paper lantern in my purse.
Tennessee Williams wrote a line that I felt was appropriate for tonight. And appropriate to this time in our history, your history, and to the rights that everyone in this room is fighting for. It is a line that meant so much to him, it's on his gravestone.
"The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks."
"The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks."
To me, its meaning is simple. The hard, the cold, the oppressive will--at long last--be broken apart by a force that is beautiful, natural, colorful, alive.
That's what tonight is about, what the people in this room are about. We're a bunch of violets breaking through the rocks.
And it is happening.
The rock is cracking away. The rock of hate and falsehood is being broken apart.
All across this country, regular Americans who were born and bred in towns where a gay couple wouldn't dare walk down a street--all over these American Main Streets--something is changing.
Blue-collar guys are looking up from their work, grandmothers are speaking up at the dinner table; and they are saying something to members of their family, and co-workers, who are against gay marriage.
They are saying in one, increasingly-loud American voice, "Honey, rather than worry about who someone else loves--and why, think about who you hate--and why!"
The violets are breaking through the rocks.
America has always been a country of common sense. A country of innate goodness--although a goodness that is sometimes slow to action. As Winston Churchill said, "Americans are always ready to do the right thing. After they have exhausted all the other possibilities."
We have exhausted all the other possibilities. And it is time to call an injustice an injustice.
It is an injustice that we send a gay or lesbian soldier to die in a war--to give their life for a country that won't let them be legally bound to the person they love.
It is an injustice that a soldier gives their life for a Military--an exemplary Military in every way--except one in which they cannot have the picture of their lover cut-out in the shape of a heart and taped to their locker because that would be "telling." Such a ugly word.
It is an injustice that, in this room, many of you pay your tax money to the very public institutions that deny you rights other Americans enjoy; pay your tax money for public schools that will not accept you as legal parents; pay your tax money for the paper on which they print the goddamn marriage licenses you cannot get.
And while you are paying your tax money for all of the above, a preacher can stand in the pulpit of a multi-million-dollar mega-church advocating the damnation of gay Americans and not pay one thin dime in taxes.
You know, I occasionally watch those preachers on the Christian TV stations.
I always think to myself: How can I believe your theology when I can't believe your hair?
I find it intellectually offensive when people shrink the Bible to fit the small-mindedness of their bigotry.
Leviticus 18:22 and Deuteronomy 22:5...the famous list of the "abominations." Bible verses which, by the way, also list as a mortal sin things like "the wearing of a garment made of two different kinds of fabric."
Yes, the Bible verse they use to condemn homosexuality also calls Polyester-blend an abomination.
Well, in this, perhaps the Lord has a point. But if you took away all the Polyester-blends in those mega-churches....most of the women would be naked.
In my Bible I see no evidence of Jesus telling same-sex couples they cannot love each other.
And he could have. He was a carpenter--if he made good furniture every gay man in Nazareth knew Him.
The fact is: it's happening.
All the violets--gay Americans, lesbian Americans, Bi-sexual Americans, transgender Americans, people of color, and the people of this city forgotten by Washington in hurricane Katrina--we are all are starting to break through the mountain of straight, white, male lawmakers in Washington.
Their time is over. And they know it. Which is why they are looking increasingly ridiculous and beleaguered. To me those guys look like one, big casting-call for the lead role in a very bad production of Death of Salesmen.
Because America is starting to say those lawmakers are wrong about "Don't ask don't tell," and wrong to oppose gay marriage. The way they were wrong, wrong, wrong about the war in Iraq.
A war that was created by who? A straight, white man named George W. Bush. A straight, white man named Dick Cheney. And a straight, white man named Condoleezza Rice.
The rocks are breaking. And it's time to call certain people on the hypocrisy of their stance against gay marriage.
Newt Gingrich: against gay marriage, but on his third wife.
That recent convert to an anti gay-marriage stance, Rudy Giuliani: third wife. Rush Limbaugh: vehemently against gay marriage and....yep, third wife. A third wedding that was performed by none other than Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Clarence Thomas: second wife.
4 men, eleven marriages, and you must be lectured on love by them? This Mount Rushmore of Divorce!
Ladies and gentlemen, as all of you in this room know so well, political activism tells us now what history will tell us later.
The people who support "don't ask don't tell;" and who oppose "gay marriage" are wrong. And their children and grandchildren will know they were wrong.
This is the age of Obama. And the people who oppose these causes need to realize that. But there is someone else who needs to realize that this is the Age of Obama.
Obama.
It is time, Mr. President. Do not fall behind others on these issues. My God, Dick Cheney announced that he is in favor of gay marriage.
And on that very day, the National Weather Service reported hell froze over.
So Mr. President, please catch up. Or you are in danger of being considered "just to the right" of a man who is "just to the left" of Vlad-the-Impaler.
Newsweek magazine just said about gay marriage--and I quote: "This train's left the station. Time to get on board."
It is happening.
Something is changing.
Oh--there is still a lot of work to be done. But it will happen.
And when it does--when "Don't ask don't tell" is scrapped, when gay men and women can marry the people they love--when that day comes, people across this great land will be looking for a place to party.
And I say: Come on down to New Orleans! I'll be so happy I might swing naked in a window on Bourbon Street!
Me and Rachel Maddow!
Yes, across America we will celebrate because, at long last, that day will have arrived. But to the people in this room--that day will not only have arrived for you, it will have arrived because of you.
Thank you HRC. Here's to the violets.
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For those that want to judge people based on their Bibles I think its only fair that we have a chance to judge you also. From now on anyone that brings up the Bible to judge others, please, list your sins also. We deserve a dialog about that also.
For some reason "He who is without sin cast the the first stone," has turned into a whole lot of people casting the first stone. "Sin no more" you say? How can we apply it in your case?
"Judge not lest you be judged." Let us also judge your sins. Its in the Bible, you are basically giving consent for us to judge you too..
In others words, fess up. Its a two way street.
If you want respect, play by the rules that are clearly in your very own rule book.
Who wants to go first?
The 1st Amendment makes the Bible irrelevant to law. Marriage is secular. Atheists can get married.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..."
Further, the 14th Amendment gives gay people the same rights, right now. It's the responsibility, not the option, of our President, Congress, and judiciary, to recognize those rights.
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Here, here!
Being in California, I noticed that the Yes on Prop 8 demonstrators were almost always overweight. I'm like hello! Gluttony! I was always taught that that was a mortal sin, because its eating more than you need, while others are starving. But do you see anyone screaming at fat people for their sin? NOOOOOO. That would be mean, right?
This is all beside the point, because loving someone and wishing to marry is NOT a sin.
Regardless of how I feel on the issue, I think it is really unfair to classify all those who are opposed to gay marriage as "haters." Those who disagree because of religious beliefs are not haters. They are simply voting their conscience based on what the bible says. Being called 'haters' will not make/help people opposed to gay marriage change their views. People on both sides of the issue deserve to have their views acknowledged, if not respected. Only then will it be possible to have a real dialog with any hope of understanding and acceptance.
If you 'disagree cause of religious beliefs' you can observe your religion and not do it.
If you try and defame and oppress others cause you feel you, as a heterosexual, are 'superior,' ... and try to enforce your scorn uon a free country, ...
Yes, you're a hater.
Even if you think you're being nice about it.
We can debate this when we're equal citizens in a free country and I don't have to fear for my job and home and future and family for speaking up.
Until then, enough excuses.
Well said! Might I also point out that a 2000 year old book saying that something is wrong is not enough justification to live your life believing that it is wrong.
myvoice09, I do agree with you that very little will probably change from "calling people haters", but she does considerably more than that, as all pro-gay rights speakers have done.
Actually, you have the right to live under Liberty as you choose, and so do I.
You would claim to have more say in my life than I do, and that's not 'disagreement' ....that's the very definition of.. bi got ry.
Fine. Would you prefer "hypocrites," or maybe "selective punishers"?
People whose purported biblical devotion prompts severity with gays but then countenances divorce after divorce in their own families and communities aren't credible--biblically or otherwise.
The bible accepts slavery as in the nature of things and even admonishes slaves to obey their masters. So should someone who believes some people are only worthy of being slaves get a pass because he or she justifies it with their belief in the bible?
My Voice is true that not all people opposed to gay marriage think they are not haters - the sin, not the sinner - however, to the gay people of America, it translates into the same message.
When you deny someone rights that you have: the right to adopt children; the right to name their same sex partner as a benificiary on their health insurance; the right to have their same sex partner's photo on their desk; the right to hug their partner in public; the right to hold a job because of whom they love - because you don't approve because the Bible tells you so it seems like hate. It is unfair. It is not just. I have found that most people who take the stance that homosexuality is wrong don't want to have any real dialog with someone who is. It has also been my experience that not much will change someone's mind on the belief that homosexuality is wrong except if it hits really close to home. If it hits in their family, and they are close to the person - they might try to understand then or they may just try to force them to act "normal".
Part I
Patricia Clarkson is inspiring. Her mother, who has served as President of the New Orleans City Council and is an at-large member, used to be the representative of a district that included the French Quarter. When the first attempt to pass a gay rights bill came up, Councilperson Clarkson voted against it. She was defeated at the next election in a bitter race at which gay rights was a central issue. Jackie Clarkson apparently learned her lesson because when she subsequently became a supporter of gay issues. I like to think her daughter helped her in her evolution.
What an amazing speech. Patricia Clarkson rocked the house! Here's to the violets indeed.
It is pitiful how the mega churches have fostered hate. I was speaking with my kindly, intelligent, and beloved minister today and he would marry two gay people, he understands that a woman hooked on drugs may be trying to help the child she loves when she saves it from a life of addiction and violence. (I read the story of a woman who was regularly beaten by her husband and if he had found out she was pregnant he would have considered the child a new thing to batter. My minister certainly understands why Dr. Tiller aborted a dead twin in the womb to save the still living twin. If you choose to attend a church please look for one that does not use you for their evil ends. You can become part of a loving family. Watch out for hate. Think of all of us as woven together because we are. Violence can multiply tenfold until no one is safe. People who grow up in loving, safe homes do not commit crimes... help someone. Do not let your church teach crime. Every human being deserves to be cared about. Find a place that will do only that, and not use you. One clue, if they tell you that if you do not believe a certain way then you will not be "raptured up" or you will be left behind in the "end times", these are just tricks to teach hate. Plant the violets.
There is no excuse for the murder of Dr. Tiller , regardless of whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, by a deranged lunatic killer. ----To clarify your post---why is it that people who disagree with homosexualtity and the gay lifestyle are branded as promoting hate! Since when is it disagree to hate!! This is the same nonsense used in the presidential election by liberal democrats!!Using the race card by saying that to vote against O'bama is to hate blacks!
To speak the TRUTH regarding Historical Basis Moral Principles of NATURAL LAW, instituted by Almighty God Himself inopposition to homosexuality and UN-NATURAL LAW has absolutely
NOTHING to do with hating gays,but revealing Historical Sacramental Biblical Truth to a supposedly educated, but uniformed society!
Perhaps you are not hating -- but your beliefs also have NOTHING to do with my civil rights as a tax paying citizen.
P.S.>I don't mind what you do in the privacy of your bedroom (pray) but please don't flaunt it in my face!
Hojo,
The fact that you are even around today, tells me you have failed miserably at following and upholding those truths from which you regard as Historical Basis Moral Princples of NATURAL LAW.
1) Is your head covered?
2) Are you currently, or have you ever, eaten:
A)shell fish?
b) Pork?
c)Animals that do not chew their cud?
d) Fish on Friday? Wait! the Pope said that was ok, now.
3)Are you currently, or have you ever worn blended fibers?
The point is, those Truths were for a specific time and a specific reason.
Seriously, have you ever tried to keep shell fish or pork fresh while walking in the desert for 40 years... or was that 40 days? i forget.
Ms. Clarkson,
You are awesome!
Marriage = 1 man + 1 woman
2 he terosexual males cannot get married +
2 ho mosexual males cannot get married = EQUALITY.
CAN WE GET SOME HEALTHCARE??
You're living in the wrong century. Marriage is a man made concept, it is only a word, and it can be re-defined. It already has in several US states and several nations.
I care as much about you getting healthcare as you do about my human rights.
See how that works?
kamauoo6 obviously can't grasp the idea that gays and lesbians have all the same things as everyone else to worry about PLUS the attainment of equality under the law. Unfortunately, he's got plenty of company among posters at this site.
In the name of all things holy! I have never seen such an illogical twist on reality.
Why would two heterosexual men have any desire to be married? Oh forget it.
The violets in the mountains will break through people with rocks in their heads.
I agree with you JohnFromCensornati: like all of you who worked hard for Obama's election and contributed generously to his campaign, I get incessant begging letters for contributions to support various "progressive" causes. My response now is absolutely not. As long as the Obama administration ignores gay issues, I will not contribute a cent to any other cause.
CAN WE GET SOME HEALTHCARE??
Do you think you can even catch a clue? Seems EDUCATION is what's sorely missing from your life...
Same-sex marriage is legal in many parts of Europe.
Oh, and they figured out health care, too.
Are you able to do the math there, too?
"CAN WE GET SOME HEALTHCARE??"
Why get cranky with gays on that score?
The details on the president's tentative plan were reported today as leaving 30 MILLION AMERICANS STILL UNINSURED.
Some of whom are probably the long-term partners of gay people whose companies offer "family coverage". Irony.
"Well, in this, perhaps the Lord has a point. But if you took away all the Polyester-blends in those mega-churches....most of the women would be naked."
Oh, no she didn't go there. LOL
Why not, that's where it started, according to some.
you tell em PC! (love this lady)
Are there Academy Awards for great speeches by Actors/ Actresses in real ife?
Then let's create the category.
We nominate you, Patricia!
I agree with all her sentiments 100%--
but this is a really badly written and, frankly, pretty dumb speech. It's disjointed and at about a 12 year old's level--a 12 year old with ADD.
PC: You may be talented (and you are) and I am fully in agreement with your POV--you just need to learn how to write.
I beg to differ. It's a great speech! It doesn't have to be at a philosophy major's level to do exactly what it's meant to do. It was meant to make some major points and to entertain in the process and she did a terrific job.
I beg to differ also. It was a very good speech. She made her major points and she backed up her facts with truths. Loved the Tennessee Williams quote...You need to learn to look at content and not be so critical...
This was much better than a 12 year old - or even anyone with ADD!
The speech is great. Especially if you listen to it, and not read it. Of course it reads as disjointed, because it is designed, hence the name "SPEECH", to be listened to. If you agree with someone 100%, why try to bring them down?
i would rather listen to a politically humorous speech given by a real person with real feelings on real issues, than some canned, dry, bullshit spoken perfectly but with no real soul. 90% of our politicians can give that if you want it. ms. clarkson did an amazing job!!
people be careful, Repugs are going to use GAY Rights as a wedge in Dem party.
Please pay attention. Do you really really think Cheney supports gays other than his daugheter, No!
And if he did, why didn't he say so when he was in office!
Forgive me, but I thought the point of the post is that the days of using us as a "wedge" are drawing to a close.
Cheney did say so in the 2000 vice-presidential debate and in 2004 as well. Unlike Obama, who was for same-sex marriage as a state senator in Illinois before he was against it, Cheney's been consistent in his stance on this issue. I'm a life-long (and increasingly fed up) Democrat and at this point I'm far more worried by betrayal from my own party and President Obama than anything the discredited Republicans might do.
What Cheney said recently, and has always said since the question was ever asked of him, is that it is an individual state issue....
The only ones who need to "be careful" are intransigent Dems who are going to wake up one day and find themselves outflanked on this issue.
Stranger things . . .
Let them try to use Gay Rights as a weapon. I'd love for that to happen. Then let the Democrats FIGHT for our votes and support. Cheney didn't do squat about Gay rights when he was in office. Obama hasn't done squat while he has been in office.
Jesus was an Orthodox Jew!!! He was one Who was obedient to all the Law and teachings of the Jewish Faith. Therefore, in being an obedient Son, He would have never taught nor believed something that goes against what the Jewish Faith taught Him from day one of His existence on earth.
In other words, He would NOT have approved of homosexuality nor homosexual "marriage". It is amazing that people who have no time nor love for the Bible suddenly want to not only quote it, but ferociously become "Bible Only Fundamentalists" when they want to use it to defend their misbegotten ideas on sexuality. While Jesus did not say anything regarding homosexuality, the same Bible that Clarkson tries to use to defend her position, states elsewhere that those who commit fornication (i.e., unmarried sex, homo or hetero) shall NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!!
Sounds quite condemnatory to me.
You see, Patricia, you can't just jerk something out of context from the Bible and hold it up as a proof text for your beliefs, for if you act as if that part is worthy of respect, then the rest of the scriptures come into play with the same authority. In short, you can't have your cake and eat it, too.
Plenty of verses in the Bible condemn all sexuality outside of marriage. This is the traditional view and it includes not only homosexuality, but groping teenagers in the backseat of Daddy's car.
Ms. Clarkson: Well though out, heartfelt, reasoned thouts.
You: The ravings of a right-wing, religious nut job.
Enough Said!
I looked up this guy's other posts. More than just a right-winger. It is consistant to be anti-abortion and anti-war. Let's try to understand each other. Or at least be civil.
But no, the words of both OT and NT are not clear regarding the words now translated as homosexual in English. I read both Hebrew and Greek. I'm not Roman Catholic, but I did grad work at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. And no, RCs are not monolithic.
There is confusion between marriage as a religious ritual and religion as a legal status. Since denominations don't recognize marriages of other churches, do people opposed to gay marriage want these made illegal as well?
BTW, someone on another post called me "sick and twisted." For being transgendered and gay? No. For suggesting that we should try to understand that fundamentalists (not same as traditionalists) are often people without economic security. Then being read as defending them.
Actually, He most certainly did approve of homosexuality. Remember the story of the Centurion? The Greek word he uses to describe his beloved slave, his beloved male slave, meant his male sex slave. The centurion was gay, and Jesus understood exactly what he said. So was there condemnation? Repulsion? No. Jesus healed the centurion's slave, and proclaimed the centurion's faith as greater than any he had seen in all of Israel. Sorry guy, you don't have a freaking clue what you're talking about when you say that Jesus would have condemned gay men. He simply didn't. There is not one single word he ever uttered that condemned gay people. Get over your own bigotry and stop using the name of our beloved Savior and Lord to hide your own ignorance and hate.
Jesus rejected much of the old Jewish Law. He proclaimed that he was the new covenent. He comanded us to follow the 10 commandments and told us that all flows from the first two: to love God and to love one's neighbor as oneself. I have yet to have it shown to me how being in a samesex relationship inhibits ones ability to follow these two commandments. Yes, Jesus's death and ressurection broke the hold of the old Jewish laws. So, why do you still cling to it?
The real point is, who cares?
The Bible is a work of mythology written by men over 2000 years ago. It isn't real. Anyone who believes that there is a magical man in the sky, that he created the world, that he had a human son with superpowers who walked on water, cured sick people, and came back from the dead, may as well believe that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with his flying reindeer.
2000 year old views on homosexuality have no relevance in the modern world. We've made progress since then. We might as well still believe the sun revolves around the Earth, because 2000 years ago that's what they believed, and ancient texts say it's true.
Religion can not be used to justify denial of civil rights in the year 2009. We should be beyond this nonsense.
Good God Eahara, go protest a divorce if you want to be a good "Christian." The fact that over 50% of all Christian marriages end in divorce tells me you have plenty of work to do. When you get straight marriages in order get back with us. Until then, blah,blah, blah.
DIVORCE IS A CHOICE!..... Jesus hates divorce...... God created Adam and Eve.....NOT.....Adam and Eve then Cindy. Divorce will lead to animal marriage.
There I even helped you get started.
Ms. Clarkson,
I must applaud you on your speech to the HRC. As always, you delivered a message that was both eloquent and concise. As a member of the gay community in New Orleans, I only wish that fellow members would take your message to heart in addressing the often overt bigotry that exists against minority members of the community. Its honestly sad that in a city of such diversity, that there should be such a tacit acceptance of the mistreatment and exclusion of any person because of a difference in color.
WHERE are all the black homophobes attacking gays on this site?
In the wake of the tragic murders of reproductive rights activist, Dr. George Tiller, and the Holocaust Museum security guard, Steven Johns, I know I was not alone among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans in thinking to myself, "Next it will be one of us."
Armed Gays Don't Get Bashed: http://pinkpistols.org
What do you mean, next WILL be one of us? We have been subject to violence since the dawn of time.
PS Guns don't stop violence, only spread it. Only love transcends.
ah yes more pissed off people with guns - how quaintly american
Wow! Homophobic and racist, your mother must be so proud.
I remember well how the gays in the military issue threatened to destroy the Clinton presidency from the start. We simply cannot afford to let that happen to the Obama administration. We face far greater problems now.
I will trust that President Obama will take action on gay rights issues later on in his presidency when he's made the progress he needs to make on the economy and health care and energy independence and global warming. Those are all issues I care about too as a gay man.
If he leaves office without having risked some of his political capital trying to eliminate "don't ask, don't tell", and to make gay marriage available to as many gay Americans as possible, then I will blame him.
For now, I'm trusting and patient.
Rotsa Ruck. Obama and his crew have already voiced their dissent against gay marriage. It shouldn't take this long to do the right thing.
You have the right to be patient. I, however, feel used and betrayed. I don't think I'm alone either.
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