THE ELLEN AND ENDA CONNECTION

It has been a somber observation to witness people, whether they are members of the press or the media, bloggers, or casual conversationalists, rip apart Ellen Degeneres because of what should be viewed as a moment of genuine humanity and conscientiousness.

The aforementioned don't see Ellen's nationally televised conveyance of emotion as a touching moment of genuine humanity and conscientiousness, however; they simply see a dramatic overreaction and a pathetic loss of composure.

http://www.hecklerspray.com/ellen-degeneres-sobs-weedily-about-a-dog-video/200610500.php

It saddens me that our culture is so cynical and so hungry to judge that it would denigrate a woman who, after building a loyal audience of viewers that have supported her very personal struggle to be an authentic person, shared with that audience the very thing they have found appealing about her: her compassion, her soul, her humanity, and the conviction of her sincerity.

The cynics would have us believe Ellen was merely overwrought regarding something rather trivial, but behind Ellen's "outburst" is something pure, more meaningful, and very revealing, in terms of Ellen's own morality:  Ellen caused two young girls and their family pain, and that caused Ellen a tremendous amount of anguish.

This was not about a dog.

This wasn't about using celebrity power to influence the outcome of an
unfortunate situation over which Ellen felt she had lost control. This was
about Ellen confiding in her audience that she had acted in an irresponsible
way and that her carelessness resulted in two children losing what had
become a new member of their family. And, ultimately, this was a deepening of the bond Ellen has built with an audience that, for the first time in American television history, embraced a talented, compassionate, sensitive, and loving out lesbian entertainer. For us to see mere overreaction undermines this and the appreciation and the respect Ellen feels for her audience's own compassion and humanity.

In a culture where we worship and obsess over shameless, superficial celebrity manipulators of the public, it is disturbing that Hollywood shows us four minutes of genuine, heartfelt humanity, and we revel in mocking it.

This time around, the focus of ridicule fell on a member of our community, but when it comes to debasing humanity, this culture does not discriminate.

As a member of the GLBT community, I find it profoundly troubling that part of our fight involves trying to convey our own humanity to a society that is often cavalierly devoid of insight into what it means to be human, not to mention the spiritual price one would presumably pay when one hurts another human being.

In light of the above observation, it should not surprise us that our opponents do not hesitate to hurt us.

It is our knowledge that our enemies do not hesitate to hurt us that often challenges us to control our anger as we attempt to engage our opponents in rational, civil, healthy debate, and, admittedly, we are not always successful.

Currently, that anger has turned inward, and the gay community is at odds with itself as it debates the fate of ENDA, something with which some of our opponents are undoubtedly pleased.

Rather than focus our frustration on those members of the community who argue that, realistically, a non-inclusive version of ENDA is the only way ENDA has a chance of being passed, and that transgender protections will have to wait, we should focus our frustration on a society often lacking in humanity.

Those of us who believe that it is not within the realm of compromise to leave a part of our community behind should not be dismissed as politically naïve, overly emotional, or immature; we should be respected for our commitment to our community and for the conviction we display in voicing our outrage over the necessity of political gameplaying where civil rights are concerned.

Now is the time to unite as a community and to redirect our frustrations to the larger problem at hand: an intolerant, uninformed, and often inhumane society that would put us in a position where we are forced to compromise the dignity of some of our own.

Lula Blanca, Know Thy Neighbor

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Action Alert:  To do all that you can to support an All-Inclusive ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) Go To:            UnitedENDA.org

                     

Comments

[John]

WOW!

I was reading that expecting the byline to read "Tom Lang". Twice I had to stop and think, "When did Tom learn how to write like that"?

Simply beautiful.

[sean]

You totally exaggerate everything you say.

Nothing to do with "emotion"

Just blind hatred of anyone who doesn't agree with your agenda.

[John]

"Just blind hatred of anyone who doesn't agree with your agenda."

WTF?

Where is this hate of which you speak?

[sean]

WTF?

Where is this hate of which you speak?

Hate comes in many tones and colors and innuendos and agendas. Soft spoken words as Lula's can have undertones of hate speech.

like this;

"an intolerant, uninformed, and often inhumane society that would put us in a position where we are forced to compromise the dignity of some of our own."

LOL - calling for unity by branding all his "enemies" inhumane and intolerant.

talkin out of both sides of his big mouth

[John]

"an intolerant, uninformed, and often inhumane society that would put us in a position where we are forced to compromise the dignity of some of our own."

Are you going to deny that our society has been historically "intolerant, uninformed, and often inhumane" with respect to LGBTI people?

[sean]

yes

get off your soapbox

a few bad apples do not constitute "society"

[sean]

and stop with the ridiculous acronyms LGBTI, GLBT, QGLBTI

It makes you guys look wacko

JUST SAY HOMOSEXUAL

[John]

Homosexual is a clinical word that should be used with care.

Do you really have no sense of decency?

[John]

sean, if you truly believe that prejudice against LBGTI people is the work of a few bad apples, then you are just plain ignorant.

[mamcwifey]

Though, a few 'bad apples' in Germany managed to do quite a bit of damage years ago, didn't they?

[The TRUE Patriot]

it was just one bad apple in Germany. Hitler was nothing more than a bad apple. he didn't cause that much harm, did he?

[sean]

"Homosexual is a clinical word that should be used with care"

you are incorrect

"Do you really have no sense of decency?"

of course I do, do you?

Shut your pie hole and come down off your holy secular mountain and join the REAL world of heterosexuals and homosexuals.

you are fooling no one Aaron

[ryan charisma]

OK,

my turn.

Sean - shut the fuck up.

[John]

Aaron is practically young enough to be my son.

[sean]

Whats the matter Ryan?

you bigot

[John]

I think Ryan's problem is that he doesn't suffer fools gladly.

You, sean, have displayed a remarkable amount of astounding ignorance.

[sean]

of course I have

to you bigots - anything we say is "astounding ignorance"

Why not try to build bridges like Obama;

Uproar Over Obama's Gospel Tour Continues

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's campaign held a hurriedly put together conference call Thursday night with gay and lesbian leaders in South Carolina to discuss the candidate's gospel tour, which includes a singer who says homosexuality is a choice.

"Snell said the call ended with the 15 gay and lesbian leaders making a final appeal to Hildebrand and DuBois to talk to Obama. "Please ask him one more time to stop Donnie McClurkin's appearance at Sunday's event," Snell said.

Griffis said McClurkin won't be booted from the program.

"The Obama campaign is trying to bridge real divides and bring people together. Two things are certain: We will never be able to bridge those divides if we are unwilling to listen to voices we don't agree with, and we will never change anyone's mind if we refuse to talk to him," Griffs said in a statement."

But I guess Obama is a bigot

[sean]

Lula is a raving lunatic who will threaten and intimidate those in his way.

no credibility, no clue and no brains

just hatred

[John]

I would not call Obama a bigot; I'd call him a fool.

[ryan charisma]

First off Sean

Kiss my ass.

Second, This McClurkin claims to be an ex-gay. And if YOU - SEAN - ever knew a gay. You would know how absolutely revolting that is. There is no such thing as an exgay. Gay is NOT a choice. This is not 'up for discussion.' If you're not gay, then you wouldn't understand. Or rather, you don't want to if you or anyone you know purports the lie that gay is a choice or that gay can change.

I'm done with you. Be gone now.

[sean]

if you ever knew a heterosexual you would have a clue

Gay IS a choice

and you are revolting

go to hell

(oops, you are already going to hell)

well go to hell anyway

[Mikey]

Gay is a choice. Ho hum. SUCH a surprise. So, Sean, as I and others have asked of anyone telling us we chose to be gay, please share with us your experience in choosing your (assumed hetero) sexuality. Did you weigh both choices, evaluated the pros and cons of each? Stylish apartment, fashionable clothes, plenty of money and eternal damnation vs. a sofa bed, Sears wardrobe, modest income and the Pearly Gates? Oooh, and throw in sizzling but dangerous sex (airport rest rooms excluded) vs., hmmmm...what DO you people do in bed? I'm almost afraid to ask.

[John]

I chose by smell.

[John Hosty-Grinnell]

"and stop with the ridiculous acronyms LGBTI, GLBT, QGLBTI

It makes you guys look wacko

JUST SAY HOMOSEXUAL"

That is similar to saying, "Just say oriental" when dealing with Asians.

It is rather ignorant to call someone who is transgender a homosexual, but ignorance is part of the problem we need to address, so it's good you brought this up.

[ryan charisma]

"if you ever knew a heterosexual you would have a clue"

you piece of trailor trash shit, you. Both my parents are straight as well as my siblings. So I can say that I do know heterosexuals and they are so above you in the evolution chain, it would baffle a simple bigot like yourself. So fuck you and your nasty response.

"Gay IS a choice"

I am NOT debating this. You're wrong.

"and you are revolting"

oh yes? and you're the all encompassing personification of the compassion of Jesus Christ our Lord. You fucking pud.

"go to hell"

Hell? I can't go to a fictional place. You go to Hogwarts you fucking piece of Paul Jamison shit.

Now go!