Doug Pitt Addresses Jane Pitt's Anti-Gay Letter On 'Today:' VIDEO
Doug Pitt, brother to actor Brad, showed up on The Today Show this morning to discuss his new Virgin Mobile Australia ad — you know, the one in which he plays himself, "the second most famous Pitt" — but the conversation soon turned to another Pitt, their newly infamous mother, Jane, and the anti-gay letter she published in the Springfield News-Leader last week.
Asked about the letter and its opposition to marriage equality, something Brad Pitt supports, Doug Pitt handled himself like a pro, simply saying that parents and kids can agree to disagree and that their family endorses health discussion.
“Moms and dads and kids agree to disagree all over the world, so why would our family be any different?” he told Matt Lauer. "There can be healthy discussion when people disagree with you, and I think there should be. The bad thing is when it turns into venom and negativity and we don’t have that in our family. It’s open discussion, we can learn from each other … maybe you learn something."
Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP.
My mom, who at the age of 75, was going to college to get a PhD in Religious Studies -- she hoped to become a minister-- and was a staunch Christianista....that is until she found out I was gay. When she died a few years later, my sister found all kinds of books on homosexuality and how to start up AIDS hospices within the confines of the church.
I wonder how Miz Pitt would handle the "first" or "second" most famous Pitt if they were Gay. Methinks, she is extremely closed minded and doesn't "learn" anything. My mom is a hero...Brad's mom isn't.
Posted by: woodroad34 | Jul 9, 2012 5:30:33 PM
Christian values?
So, how does she feel about couples who live together and have had children and adopted children without the benefit of marriage? Don't traditional christians have a problem with that...yah know, living in sin?? Does she have a problem with exposing those kids to that lifestyle? Sarcasm.
Side note: the Today Show is interviewing Brad's brother because he was in an Australian commercial only because he is the brother of someone famous? Maybe Anne Curry wasn't the problem at Today!
Posted by: WHAT? | Jul 9, 2012 8:26:52 PM
Lots of interesting comments here. I totally agree that being forced to listen to a lot of bigoted crap under the guise of a 'difference of opinion' is nonsense. When people spew out hatred of others, you can't expect those 'others' to accept it as merely an alternative political or religious view. You can't say "hey, it's my right to hate (gays, jews, women, whoever)" and expect this to be treated as freedom of speech, when it is precisely those views which add to the net total climate of hate, violence etc. towards those groups.
On the other hand, I'm not sure it is ALWAYS necessary to cut people out from your life when they spew this crap. When he was 60+ years old, my father (of the WWII generation) used to occasionally say outrageously offensive things about "poofters" because it was his cultural and generational default setting. As soon as I was old enough, I kept asking him where this stuff was coming from, and why he would he even care about two “poofters” he didn’t even know? And indeed, why should any straight person should give a toss about whether two random people chose to get married or not? And how would he like it if a bunch of ignorant, religious nutjobs decided to dictate his life for him in the same way? Where would it end?
Over time, he came to the realisation that he had never really thought about the issue for himself, and that, really, he didn't even know any gay people upon which to make such stupid assumptions. (Disclaimer: I’m straight). Eventually he came to agree with me that supposedly straight people with a rabid anti-gay agenda are morons and/or seriously self-deluded. Now, at 80+ years old, he is a big fan of many of our local gay politicians and, when he even bothers to think about it, thinks that anyone who wants to get married (or not) should have the right to do so. The point is, a bit of education goes a long way for some older people who have been conditioned to think one way.
The shocking thing to me is that (a) Jane Pitt is not that old; and (b) she cannot claim to be ignorant of the world or of people from different backgrounds or with differing views. Unlike my father, who had the intelligence to change his views when presented with the evidence, she shows herself to be wilfully stupid, mean and intolerant, wrapping up her bigotry under the cloak of ‘Christian values’ (Oh the irony!) I wouldn’t want someone with such poisonous views around my kids, to be honest.
Posted by: Kath | Jul 10, 2012 3:16:11 AM
I personally would take my mother to task for those homophobic statements. But I understand Doug's mild response. It is his MOTHER. That puts a man in a difficult situation like no other.
Posted by: andrew | Jul 10, 2012 3:26:08 AM
Some of the best comments/discussion I've seen in quite awhile! (and the usual few - making us wrong). Our Rights are for Right Now. Period. We are all clearly aware of the primary obstacle - in this country and others like ours still sitting on the peak of full equality. Religion. The conversation about WHO we are remains alive, in spite of being completely false - continues to be pushed and funded via religious groups - teaching others how to think of people they know not at all.
Today, life long partners were lost. That alone is a difficult moment for anyone. Fellow citizens who do not respect our being as equal and worthy of our civil laws and what they provide - protections for our families and our homes - is doing so by Choice. Bigotry is a choice. Like it has been. Again, and again.
The language - purposefully created and used - by the Maggie Gallagher & Her Thugs, Tony Perkins - etc etc, drips with intention - and it is intention which harms us - and our families. Tolerate? Never.
Posted by: RexT | Jul 10, 2012 5:08:39 AM
Some of the best comments/discussion I've seen in quite awhile! (and the usual few - making us wrong). Our Rights are for Right Now. Period. We are all clearly aware of the primary obstacle - in this country and others like ours still sitting on the peak of full equality. Religion. The conversation about WHO we are remains alive, in spite of being completely false - continues to be pushed and funded via religious groups - teaching others how to think of people they know not at all.
Today, life long partners were lost. That alone is a difficult moment for anyone. Fellow citizens who do not respect our being as equal and worthy of our civil laws and what they provide - protections for our families and our homes - is doing so by Choice. Bigotry is a choice. Like it has been. Again, and again.
The language - purposefully created and used - by the Maggie Gallagher & Her Thugs, Tony Perkins - etc etc, drips with intention - and it is intention which harms us - and our families. Tolerate? Never.
Posted by: RexT | Jul 10, 2012 5:08:41 AM
Jane Pitt being villified, intimidated,
hated and fearful. Hmmmm! even death
threats. Who are the haters????
Jane, I join you as do millions of others
We are not all Obama puppets dancing
to the government tune. We are independent
beings entitled to independent opinions.
Freedom (used) to allow us Free Speech
without fear.
Freedom of religion. Don't back down,
pull out the rest of your supporters
with a web site..we are all given a voice.
God bless you.
Posted by: Ann American | Jul 10, 2012 3:40:31 PM
The Today show invited someone on their show to speak about a commercial they were in? Or was it a front to just get him on to ask him about his mother's letter?
Posted by: JAMES | Jul 10, 2012 7:04:12 PM
Ann American: Oh bugger off. Yeah, YOU'RE the victim here. Sheesh.
Posted by: Kath | Jul 10, 2012 9:58:53 PM
Sounds like you people need to grow up, look around see that our Country has gone in the tank...its because of all the stupid uneducated libs that want somthing for nothing.....
including all of you little bitchy FARIIES!!!!! get some Morals
Posted by: Penny | Jul 11, 2012 5:45:58 PM