10/10/2007
Dear Abby Comes Out for Same-Sex Marriage
As she prepares to accept PFLAG's "Straight for Equality" award, Dear Abby (aka Jeane Phillips), whose syndicated column appears in approximately 1,400 newspapers, says full marriage equality is the only way to go:
"I believe if two people want to commit to each other, God bless 'em. That is the highest form of commitment, for heaven's sake....If gay Americans are not allowed to get married and have all the benefits that American citizens are entitled to by the Bill of Rights, they should get one hell of a tax break. That is my opinion."
It's an issue which puts her at odds with even those closest to her, according to the AP:
"Phillips realizes not everyone agrees with her on gay rights; she and her husband 'argue about this continually,' she said. He thinks civil unions and domestic partnerships 'would be less threatening to people who feel marriage is just a religious rite.' She thinks anything less than full marriage amounts to second-class citizenship."
She also says she'll continue plugging not only PFLAG but suicide lines for gay teens, and a PFLAG affiliate for parents with kids who identify as transgender:
"I'm trying to tell kids if they are gay, it's OK to be gay. I've tried to tell families if they have a gay family member to accept them and love them as they always have."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 8:13 AM EST by Andy in Dear Abby, Gay Marriage, Gay Youth, News | Permalink
Comments
Good for Dear Abby! That is some strong advice for her middle of the road American audience!
Posted by: RB | Oct 10, 2007 8:37:53 AM
I remember being a young kid growing up in Iowa and reading the Des Moines Register from front to back - including Ann Landers' column. The first time I read a gay-positive response to a letter, I sat in my room and bawled my eyes out. It was an epiphanal moment where I realized that I just might be accepted by some people in this world.
I applaud Dear Abby - in this day and age with the Internet and myriad opportunities to do research and read up on topics, some kids' only reach into the outside world is still their local newspaper. I hope that thousands of struggling gay kids read her response in print or on-line.
Posted by: Rey | Oct 10, 2007 10:21:00 AM
Rey is right. The Internet isn't equally available to everyone, and often the least available in homes permeated by the most antigay messaging. Such parents frequently monitor their kids' Net usage like concentration camp guards. And there are actually very few sites geared specifically toward helping LGBT kids accept themselves. [And, I'm convinced that the most prevalent reason so many families insist on "home schooling" is because they believe their kids will hear too much gay-friendly messages in public school, or, Jehovah forbid, actually encounter gay kids.]
The original Abby [Jeanne's mother and Landers' sister] and Phil Donahue did more for helping Middle America be more gay-friendly during their peak years than any other nongay people of influence AND than all gay organizations combined [who then and now are too busy preaching to the lavender choir].
Original Abby's most famous gay-related exchange–from some 30-years ago—went something like this.
"Q: Dear Abby. Two men have moved in next door who we've decided are gay and all kinds of strange people are coming and going. We're really upset. What can we do to improve the neighborhood? - Signed Upset.
A: Dear Upset. You could move."
Posted by: Leland Frances | Oct 10, 2007 11:31:42 AM
Way to go Dear Abby! Your input is a step in the right direction for the Right of GLBT's to Civilly-wed (Marry).
As for "Upset", spend six months of the year minding your own business and the other six months, leaving other people's business alone!
Posted by: Michael | Oct 10, 2007 11:56:30 AM
It's too bad more women, especially mothers, don't hold office. Even moderately conservative women tend to be more understanding of human emotions and sexuality (aside from some extreme religious wingnuts and the rare Ann Coulter type). Male politicians, with all their hangups and traditions, slow progress a lot.
Posted by: Paul | Oct 10, 2007 2:57:30 PM
She's my new (s)hero!
Posted by: Shabaka | Oct 10, 2007 4:39:55 PM
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