The Gospel According to John

Ellen: Quickly becoming my hero

Hey there, my little cabbages (it's a French term of endearment. Take it up with them).

I'm not one to squawk about gay rights here on the blog because, well...if you're reading this blog, I would imagine that that would be preaching to the choir. And I'm also not one to idolize Ellen DeGeneres as a gay icon. But give me a moment.

If you've been following Ellen's marriage plans with de Rossi, you've witnessed some rather stupid and in some cases downright ugly things being said. Examples of both can be viewed here and here if you care. 

Yesterday, Ellen had John McCain on her show, an interesting prospect of course given their obvious political differences (one assumes). I was pretty much expecting the gay marriage/gay rights topic to be avoided at all costs in an effort to keep the show light like usual. Depending on your viewpoint, you might say "what's the point anyway?" We know they don't see eye to eye on the issue, so why bring it up?

But Ellen eventually launched full speed ahead into discussing "the elephant in the room," and I gotta tell you: she handled it PERFECTLY. Here's a quick clip:

Wow. Could there even BE a better way to handle this? I was really surprised--how many of us would have just let the topic lie once McCain did his "we have a respectful disagreement on that issue" song and dance?  

I sat in front of my TV swelled with admiration for this woman. Because there were two alternate ways this could have gone. 

One is the road I feel is the one most traveled--taking McCain's "respectful disagreement" as the end of the discussion. The problem with this is, beside the fact that Ellen's views wouldn't be heard, it also carries with it an undertone of "well, fine, you're an idiot, and will never see sense, so we'll end it here you homophobe." It is, in my view, a passive-aggressive copout.

The second was to come back at McCain with a bit too much zeal. Which, of course, would have painted Ellen as a rabid, man-hating lesbian and only pour gasoline on the Right's fire. But Ellen took the road less-traveled. Instead of tripping over the possible pitfalls, Ellen chose to stand her ground but did so with respect and grace--without mitigating the truth for one second. 

But it goes further than that. Because many of Ellen's viewers--as I mentioned before, the Conservative hausfrau contingent like my stepmother--are the ones who need to hear this point. Shouting about gay rights and gay marriage at a rally is preaching to the choir. Painting placards and dancing at a gay pride parade is preaching to the choir. 

But calmly, cogently expressing your view on a platform that is rarely political and has a sweeping coverage of many demographics, some of whom "don't agree with her lifestyle" but watch her show anyway because "she's just so funny!"? That's reaching out to the ones who NEED to hear the truth from someone they've grown to trust. 

I'll go to the sanctimonious place: I'm proud of her and inspired by her. 

THIS is the way to engage the debate. THIS is the way to make people see the heart of the matter. THIS is the way, hopefully, to change things. For good.

Say what you will about California...

This is really amazing. You've probably heard by now, but California overturned its state constitutional ban on gay marriage. And while the new law may not last long--it will most likely be on the California ballot in November--for now, things are looking pretty good for the homosexual gays of California.

And one in particular, homosexual gay lesbian Ellen DeGeneres, things are looking particularly festive:

Hooray for Ellen and Portia! Seriously, how touching was it to see them both all teary-eyed? I've always loved the DeGeneres, and I have to give her tons of credit for announcing it on air. I don't watch Ellen's show often, but it seems like for the most part, her homosexual gay lesbianosity is usually only slyly alluded to, if at all--which is not a criticism, simply an observation. For her to announce with pride on her television show that she intends to marry her girlfriend so that even people like my Bible-thumping stepmother (who loves Ellen's show) can hear I think is pretty awesome. It's cheesy and cliche, but I really think that when a celebrity of Ellen's nature--one who is able to cross all sorts of demographic lines and appeal to everyone--can represent a cause and an idea like this, it really does have an effect on those who might not be as comfortable with homosexual gays and their homosexual gay "lifestyle."

I'm going to send them a salad spinner and a set of steak knives.

More on the CA decision here and here