Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Maya Angelou calls for gay marriage rights
As the New York state Senate mulls same sex marriage rights, a few of the bill’s foes are getting phone calls from poet Maya Angelou. The writer of such books as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, is joining other glitterati, former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and actress Cynthia Nixon, to press the Legislature to vote for gay marriage.
Angelou, with the assistance of Empire State Pride Agenda (have you given them any cash?), called state Senator Shirley L. Huntley. An opponent of same sex marriage, Huntley thought the call was a joke. However, once she got on the phone her doubts faded away.
Angelou decided to get involved for a simple reason. Love is complicated enough without the vagaries of the state.
“To love someone takes a lot of courage,” she said. “So how much more is one challenged when the love is of the same sex and the laws say, ‘I forbid you from loving this person’?”
Huntley is still unconvinced but she and Angelou ended their conversation on a cordial note (a rarity in a debate when emotions can run a little high).
Now before any of you start complaining about same sex marriage advocates wasting time and resources courting the famous, state Senator Tom Duane, will hold a press conference tomorrow with gay and lesbian couples discussing how marriage inequality impacts their lives. We’ll cover the press conference on Tuesday.
I, for one, will not be among those complaining. I don’t care how famous or not anyone is, the more allies we kind find who are for equality, the better. Actually, I think I’m rather excited about the idea of famous people rallying for equality; they don’t have to generate notoriety, they’ve already got it. Thanks, Withers. I’ll be following this story in the upcoming days.
Thank you, Ms Angelou. Hopefully your call will do some good for our people’s civil rights movement. Hopefully African Americans will realize that we are the last minority and start to support us in our struggle.
It is always nice to see a member of the black community support us. I don’t object one bit to a famous person giving their support. If I were famous, I would give my opinions to the press. Famous people want to feel connected with the larger community just like anyone else.
Maya Angelou is not only a wonderful writer, she is a person of genuine moral authority. I am very grateful for her support.
Maya is great, but nevermind the celebrity, who cares what straight people think? There are no real straight allies.
We need all the help we can get. It will take everyone speaking out to overcome the stereotypes and lies used to marginalize us.
I wish that those who regularly bash minorities, especially African-Americans, when some individuals oppose same-sex marriage would give credit to the many people of color who DO support marriage equality.
Menstruator, are you serious??? You cannot be serious!!! Where have you been?? Under a rainbow-coloured rock??? There are many straight allies. And some of us do care what some straiights think! My mother, for example, a dtraight and wonderful woman, inclusively-minded since she was in her teens (she is in her 70’s) very much supports the gay community here in Canada. All the straight people I work with care as well. In fact, I am on a diversity committee at work (the provincial govt) that is exceptionally highly-regarded at work and we fully support gay-rights in the States as well. It is hard to remain optimistic in a time of fighting for equality but your words only hurt the cause. Peace and love to ALL who support us in our fight for equality world-wide. And hugz to you cause I think you need one.
Maya Angelou is such an inspirational woman. Now maybe some day, someone from the white gay community can perform such a kind gesture. Then it might start to open up a dialogue between the two cultures.
Sessy Said: “Now maybe some day, someone from the white gay community can perform such a kind gesture. Then it might start to open up a dialogue between the two cultures.”
The white gay community made gestures decades ago when they marched with Dr. King. Shame it took 40 years for some to acknowledge that.
Thank you Maya Angelou.
Many years ago (1996 I think), I was privileged to hear Ms. Angelou as a key note speaker (for lack of a more dignified term) at the Gay/Lesbian Choral Festival in Tampa Forida. As a gay Canadian male, I had not yet heard of this wonderful woman, but later grew to admire and respect her. Her support of the gay community and equality in general is not new-found. It will hopefully become an example to all. I struggle to understand the “racial issue” as it applies to our neighbours to the south, but as I understand it, traditionally the black culture is not pre-disposed to support the gay community. I hope your new president will eventually turn this around! I will continue to hope for your success in achieving equality in every respect, in every state. I hope that our (Gay Canadians) experience and success can help generate hope and inspiration for marriage and complete civil and human rights in all of North America.
God bless maya angelou if more people were open minded in their thinking oh what a wonderful world this would be, people who sit by and do nothing while others rights are being violated are guilty of passing judgment against their own people if we are all made in the lords image this is unacceptable for any person to have to endure this long of a struggle