I Didn't Say It ... North Carolina Edition

Steve van Zandt, E Street Band guitarist, on Bruce Springsteen’s decision to cancel his show in Greensboro, North Carolina:

“We just felt the issue was just too important. This really vile and evil discrimination is starting to spread state to state and we thought we better take a stand right now and catch it early and maybe try and stop it. At least set some kind of example for others.”

It starts somewhere, and this was a good, loud place to begin.

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William Barber, NAACP president, on planning a sit-in at the North Carolina legislature until that Hate Bill is repealed:

“We cannot be silent in the face of this race-based, class-based, homophobic and transphobic attack on wage earners, civil rights, and the LGBTQ community. Together with our many allies, we will coordinate a campaign of nonviolent direct action along with other forms of nonviolent protest that will instruct our legislators with respect to the rights of all people.”

United We Stand.

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Charles Barkley, on moving the NBA All-Star game out of North Carolina in light of Hate: 

“I think the NBA should move the All-Star game from there next year. As a black person, I’m against any form of discrimination against whites, Hispanics, gays, lesbians, however you want to phrase it. It’s my job, with the position of power that I’m in and being able to be on television, I’m supposed to stand up for the people who can’t stand up for themselves. So, I think the NBA should move the All-Star game from Charlotte…I know Atlanta wants to host it, but they should move it out of Charlotte.”

Take the money and spend it in places where Hate isn’t legalized.

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Joel McHale, actor and comedian, taking on North Carolina legislators in a show in Durham, North Carolina:

“What the f*** you guys? … This is crazy. There was a moment where I wasn’t going to come tonight, but you know why. What the f*** is wrong with your government here, you guys? I know you guys are cool because your City Council passed a resolution opposing that stupid f***ing bill…It’s crazy. Why did they do it? Were they like, ‘Oh, I’ll feel safe with my dick in my f***ing hand.'"

McHale then donated his fee for the show to the Durham LGBTQ Center and also sported an LGBTQ ally shirt he made out of duct tape.

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Cyndi Lauper, on why she will perform in North Carolina in June:

“In the dark haze of such oppression, people and companies are stepping up to fight back against this unjust law and ensure that all North Carolinians are treated with dignity and respect, especially the transgender community. I have seen time and time again what can happen when people join together to do what is fair and the effort to repeal HB2 is the right and fair thing to do. I am hopeful that all of the current efforts to repeal HB2 will be successful and the True Colors Fund and I will continue to do all that we can to help. 

In that vein, the best way I know how to make a difference is what I have strived to do my whole life and that is show up for my family, friends, and fans in the LGBT community. So, for that reason I think the best way I can do my part is to turn my show in Raleigh on June 4th into an entire day to build public support to repeal HB2. 

I will be donating all of the profits from the show to Equality North Carolina’s efforts to repeal HB2 and I am proud of my manager and agent for joining me in this effort by donating their commissions from the show to this vital effort. I look forward to coming to North Carolina and standing up for equality and fairness. 

If we truly want an inclusive society, we all have to include ourselves in the effort to make that happen. This is the best way I know how to include myself and urge you to join me in the best way you know how.”

Another way to make your voice heard; not showing up is good, showing up and turning it into an event to fight hate is good, too.

I expect no less from LGBTQ ally and icon Cyndi Lauper.

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Would You Hit Hit?

Joel McHale.

He hosts The Soup On E! And he's a standup comedian and actor, on NBCs Community.

But that's neither here nor there.

Would.You.Hit.It?

Yes or No.

I Didn't Say It ....

Kurt Warner, former NFL Quarterback and devout Christian, on gay players in the NFL:
"It's unfortunate that if there were individuals that felt they couldn't be who they were in an NFL locker room or because of the nature of the game that's a detriment to our society and to what we did in the National Football League or in football in general. I'm interested to see what happens because it is an interesting culture when you're talking about a 'man's sport' or a 'man's game' and how that is all gonna be construed, but I hope that the NFL and football in general, and sports in general accepts it the way that they should accept it and be able to move forward. We should never stand in the way of people being who they are and allowing that to affect their career."

More and more past and present players are coming out for the openness of a gay player.
It's going to happen, sooner, rather than later.

Reese Witherspoon, apologizing after being arrested this week for disorderly conduct [Reese gave the officer the ‘Do you know my name? You're about to find out who I am. You're about to be on national news.’ business:

"I clearly had one drink too many and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said. It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. The words I used that night definitely do not reflect who I am. I have nothing but respect for the police and I'm very sorry for my behavior."

I was surprised to hear that she acted and reacted like this, but, again, under the influence of alcohol there is that tendency to say what you might not otherwise say.

Dennis Guth, Republican Iowa State Senator, ranting about the media tricking the public into accepting gay relationships and claiming that gay relationships are a health risk to the general public:

"The media, for the most part, has bamboozled us into thinking that having a relationship outside of the boundaries of monogamous, heterosexual marriage is positive, happy and fulfilling. Movies, television shows, articles and magazines abound with this theme, giving partial information to a vulnerable audience: our children …. Just as there are multiple ways that your smoking hurts me, such as secondhand smoke, increased insurance costs, cost to society of days lost for poor health, so it is with same-sex relationships. There are health risks that my family incurs because of the increase in sexually transmitted infections that this lifestyle invites.”

Wow, so the media has made gay relationships acceptable, and here I thought it was just people learning that being gay is just fine, if you’re a gay person.

And then, to learn that I am responsible for every straight person’s bouts with STDs, well, my oh my, I have so much power.

Now, if only being gay gave me the power to have Guth instantly voted out of office, then this whole being gay thing would be more worthwhile than ever!

Matt McCoy, Democratic Iowa State Senator, and an openly gay man, in response to Guth’s idiotic rants:

”I was frankly just a little bit taken aback by some of the things that I heard today, as I know some of my colleagues were as well... Much of what you heard today on the floor of the Senate is warmed-over rhetoric that has been invented by the Christian right, extreme groups. What I heard today was ignorant and I know where it came from, and I think that I am not gay by choice. I am not gay by choice, but I choose not to be ignorant.”

Snap.

One senator who was born gay and one who chose to be ignorant.

Jim Costa, Democratic California Representative and one of seven House Democrats who had not taken a stance on marriage equality, has now come out in support of it:

"In the San Joaquin Valley, family always comes first but what that family looks like is not always the same. While I respect the opinion of those who might disagree, I support marriage for all couples who wish to make this life-long commitment.”

All families look different. They always have. And a family isn’t a mother and father, or two fathers, or two mothers and children. Sometimes a family is two men or two women who love one another and want to make that commitment legal.

Joel McHale, on his boy crushes and how he feels about rumors that he’s gay:

"Ooh, boy, I have so many. Josh Gad. Brian Williams. Patrick Stewart. Nathan Fillion. Kobe Bryant. Chaz Bono. ... Oh I still see that [the gay rumor] on Twitter every day. It’s flattering. I always find it really weird when guys flip out over someone thinking they might be gay. If a guy gets offended by that, there’s something’s wrong with him. I take it as a compliment."

It is a compliment. Someone finds you attractive.

How is that wrong?

Alfred Blue, Louisiana State University football player, on gay players:

“Football is supposed to be this violent sport — this aggressive sport that grown men are supposed to play. Ain’t no little boys out here between them lines. So if you gay, we look at you as a sissy. You know? Like, how you going to say you can do what we do and you want a man?”

Oh, Alfred, gay men can do anything you can do, and do it better because they’re probably doing without bigotry and intolerance and hate.

I think you need to spend less time on the field and more time getting an education.

Alfred Blue, apologizing for being an idiot:

“I understand that my comments may have sounded insensitive to those who read the Reveille article on Friday. I in no way meant to belittle any person’s way of life and feel that everyone deserves a chance to become whatever they want to be. One of my comments that was left out of Friday’s article shows this. I told the reporter that if any person can help to contribute to the team, then that is the bottom line. I apologize if anyone was hurt by my comments and also to everyone that I may have let down."

Scroll back up and reread Reese Witherspoon’s apology.

There were no qualifications; there was no ‘if’ in her I’m sorry.

You offended people, Alfred Blue; you offended me. And I’m sorry you don’t get it; and I’m sorry to think that you probably never will.

Being gay is not a way of life; it’s life.

You need to get one.

Jim Kolbe, openly gay former Arizona Congressman, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, urging them to adopt LGBT-inclusive immigration reform:

“On May 18th—just a month from now—Hector and I will legally marry here in the District of Columbia, surrounded by family and friends. We are immensely fortunate that Hector has now secured an investment visa that allows him to remain here with me. Many other couples, however, are not as fortunate. Even if they, like us, have a marriage, civil union or life-long commitment to each other, their ability to secure a permanent solution that would allow them to build a home, family or business together is elusive and difficult to realize. It shouldn’t be that way, and this Committee has an opportunity to fix this problem.”

It’s just another level of discrimination.

Gay bi-national couples do not have the same rights as their straight counterparts. Since marriage equality is not the law of the land—all of the land—these gay couples are forced to separate, or leave the United States simple because they’re gay.

Once wrong, always wrong.