An important message for supporters of Prop 8
Email This Post
- 
Print This Post
- If you didn’t see the public service announcement by Portia DeRossi that was shown on Jimmy Kimmel Live, here it is. It’s a great tongue-in-cheek apology by Portia DeRossi for being so selfish as to marry Ellen DeGeneres without thinking about the toxic effect it might have on Prop 8 supporters.
[kaltura-widget wid="j7807ej4a8" width="410" height="364" addpermission="0" editpermission="0" /]
Comment by Richard on 27 March 2009:
Deb: I seldom agree with you, and do not on issue of homosexual marriage.
But, I do agree this is a very effective spot. Parody and sarcasm can be effective and persuasive. It is instructive and I am encouraging Proposition 8 proponents to employ the tactic.
Thanks for calling it to my attention.
Comment by Deb Della Piana on 29 March 2009:
Richard, I’m not sure parody and sarcasm work as well when you’re spreading lies and misinformation about one group of people, but good luck.
Comment by Richard on 29 March 2009:
“Spreading lies and misinformation” is a strong indictment especially since you have not even seen the TV spots and mailers. I believe you will enjoy them. Thanks again for calling the idea to my attention
Comment by Deb Della Piana on 29 March 2009:
Richard, I work for the Human Rights Campaign, so I did indeed see what was told to the people of California about gay people in the lead up to the vote on Prop 8. And no, Richard, I will not enjoy them. I don’t enjoy any effort by anyone to oppress one group of people, particularly since my family and my children are directly affected by such activity.
Love and marriage is personal and not part of what the U.S. government should be concerning itself with, particularly with the colossal mess we have here. Perhaps, Richard, if you are helping the prop 8 proponents, you should be the recipient of the next Horses Ass award.
Comment by Richard on 30 March 2009:
As I said I think Portia DeRossi “PSA” is effective rather than the shrill, hate-filled and have commented it.
I accept you are the undisputed expert on being a “horse’s ass” I suggest a “H’ device for Hater in honor of your venom.
I’m writing this very s-l-o-w-l-y just for you.
Comment by Hurricane on 30 March 2009:
Deb, the concept of liberalism has to do with being open-minded, and your comment about Richard’s being a horse’s ass (you missed the apostrophe, by the way) is more appropriate for a bigot than a true liberal. This web site is supposed to be about the civil exchange of ideas, not personal vituperation.
Comment by Deb Della Piana on 30 March 2009:
Dear Richard and Hurricane, sorry if I offended you. It was not meant that way, although I confess that this is not just a ‘political issue’ to me. It goes deeper than that.
I am gay. I have a wife of 17 years and I’m constantly being told that my family is not legitimate. Sorry, my family is just as legitimate as yours or anyone else’s. When we became homeless, it was suggested to my wife that she “dump her and we’ll give you shelter.” Instead, we stayed together and fought for acceptance. After several months of legal wrangling and help from a free legal service, we were placed together.
My daughter has been told that she is a child of sin by Christian kids who attend her school and suffered to the point where we could not get her to go to school. It took several months of therapy to get her back there. Unfortunately, it is not simply a question of being a liberal or a conservative when it comes down to that.
If you go back beyond the past ten years, I have been fired for being gay (even though I spent 23 years with stellar performance reviews and huge raises)and I was also beaten up when I was in my twenties by people laying in wait for me and my friends when we came out of a gay bar in Boston.
I do not tell you this because I want pity. I’m way beyond that. I’m telling you this so that you will understand that this is not the exception to the rule, no matter what you are told. And frankly, we are not doing anything deserving of that treatment. Neither should our CIVIL RIGHTS be denied while we are taxpaying citizens of this country. This is not about religion.
Again, plenty of people who are heterosexual get married every day in civil ceremonies and it is legal. This is a civil right and not something that should be talked about as though it is an “exchange of ideas.” It is oppression, plain and simple. The Constitution does not make exceptions for gays or anyone else. It is written nowhere that only heterosexual people have rights. We ALL do.
Again, I apologize if I’ve offended anyone. I do not apologize for my position.
Comment by Richard on 30 March 2009:
Fair enough.
I do believe the Bible, Torah, Koran, Hindu scripts and maybe others describe marriage as a union of a man and a woman. That’s my view and conviction.
Comment by Deb Della Piana on 30 March 2009:
Richard, that’s fair enough as well. I was born Catholic and you are correct. My issue, however, is that the Bible is not the guiding document for this democracy. The Constitution is. The Bible, Koran, Torah, etc., etc., etc. are the documents for those who believe in religion in general. Many want freedom FROM religion as well. Have a great night.
Comment by Richard on 30 March 2009:
We could debate the value of the Bible or for that matter the Torah, Koran or Hindu scripts. The Constitution is not the Bible any more than the Magna Carta. The freedom FROM religion is inaccurate it is Freedom of religion. Yoor assertion there is no reference to marriage is incorrect.
Hateful attacks on or by you are simply wrong, and we agree on that.