I Didn't Say It ...

Pete Buttigieg, the outgoing Secretary of Transportation and the first out Cabinet secretary in U.S. history, had some advice, self-criticism, and a couple of mild rebukes for his political opponents in an interview with Rolling Stone:

“There’s a lot to be learned from Sarah McBride’s masterful handling of this on her way into Congress because what she said was: What the speaker’s doing is wrong. But I didn’t come here to fight over that. I came here to make life easier for people in Delaware who elected me. It immediately demonstrated [that Republicans] should be dealing with issues of utmost world-historical importance [rather than where] colleagues get to go to the bathroom.”

It’s not about bathrooms just like it wasn’t about drinking fountains or where you sat on a bus. It’s hate and fear used to keep people down and send fear out into the political landscape.

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Sarah McBride, the first out transgender member of the US Congress, in her farewell speech to her Delaware Senate colleagues:

"This body is the engine of public policy for Delaware. It's looked out for the unseen and the unheard, it has fought for working families, it's protected children, and it's supported our retirees; with compassion and courage, we have proven time and time again that small states can do big things [and] as I head out and head to Washington, D.C., I take with me all the lessons that I have learned here. I take with me the hope that I have found here that despite the rancor and the toxicity that we too often see in our politics, that we do genuinely have more in common than what divides us; that we can and that we must have conversations across disagreement; that we can have a politics of grace and not grandstanding, a politics of progress not pettiness."

She isn’t stooping to fighting about bathrooms, she’s standing tall and taking ion the old GOP bigoted guard on the issues facing her state and its people , and in doing so is giving a bright new face of what transgender looks like to America.

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João Lucas Reis da Silva, acknowledging he was gay when he wished his boyfriend happy birthday last week on Instagram, and thus becoming the first out active pro player on the ATP Tour, the highest level of men’s tennis:

“I didn’t think about it… I just wanted to post a picture with him … When I tried to love myself, that was something different. It changed my life, changed everything, the relationship with my parents, with my coaches. It was so normal for me that I didn’t think about it. Maybe if I had had someone playing saying, ‘I’m gay, I’m here, I’m competing for the big tournaments,’ it would have been easier for me to accept myself and to love myself. People have told me that. People told me that they admire me. That I inspire people. So it’s a big deal for me and them.”

Welcome out and using love to do it.

And welcome out you hot nugget!

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Tim Bagley, on being an out gay actor for many years in Hollywood who, remarkably, never hid his sexual orientation:

“I'll be honest with you, I've been just rolling up my sleeves and going about my business. I've been out since the beginning, and I always wanted someone to write about me, like anyone else would, but I just figured it wasn’t going to happen, and you know, I’ll just continue to do my job, and be happy that I’m still a working actor after all these years. That’s enough for me. I was advised not to do gay roles; at the time, my agent warned me that I might be limiting myself, that I wouldn't be eligible for the bigger, straight roles. It was common knowledge that they weren’t going to hire an out gay man [and] there were so many opportunities I never got a shot at. But I just kept building a career, making the most of the roles that did come my way, whether they were gay or straight. I’ve been lucky to play everything from a murderous postal worker on Grimm to comedic roles in Southland and Monk, still, many people associate me with my gay characters, and I’ve never backed away from them, unless I felt they were too stereotypical. I was never one to let fear guide my decisions. I felt it was more important to live authentically. I remember being so proud [of playing one half of the gay couple Larry and Joe on Will & Grace, whose characters got married as the fight for equality revved u] It showed people that there was nothing to fear about two men getting married. I’m living proof that you can be who you are and still have a career. I’m proud of what I’ve done, and I hope that in some small way, I’ve helped open doors for others."

I imagine many doors opened for actors who came after Bagley. He stood up and out and proud and open and made people see him for who he is, not “what” he is.

Bravo!

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Kristin Chenoweth, the original Galinda from Wicked, on those One Million Moms who call Wicked 'woke' and loathe the gay undertones of the film:

"Everyone knows the 'one million Moms' are a mere few hundred. Maybe. [Wicked] is entertainment. Artistry. I am a Christian woman [who] originated the role of Glinda and all the silliness that these women spew out of hate. No no no. I can’t help it : I try to love 'em anyways. For they don’t get it. For anyone who wants to see girl power, then go so WICKED. Onstage or in a movie theater."

One hundred Moms doesn’t have the power, so they lie about their numbers. Good on Galinda, er, Kristin, for taking them on.

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Adam Kinzinger, true patriot, on The Felon’s idea of punishing the people who investigated his many crimes:

“I was in the legislative branch. We were investigating, as per the request from Congress to do that. We obviously came up with answers that embarrassed [him]. He was embarrassed by it. It showed that he was completely complicit for 187 minutes while violence happened. He frankly wanted his vice president to be—to have violence against him. And that was embarrassing for the president. Sorry to embarrass you, Donald, but that’s what we were tasked with, was the truth. And history books will record this as the truth. You wanna threaten to throw us in jail for that? It just shows how small of a person you really are. I’m not intimidated. The person that intimidates me the least of anybody in this country is [The Felon].”

He's a tiny, well, not so tiny, gelatinous gasbag of lies and hate; he is not to be feared or revered., but to be mocked and laughed at and called a rapist, and a traitor, and a racist, and a sexual predator because that’s who and what he is.

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