Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyNovember 3rd, 2008
On October 15 I posted an open letter to Madonna… which proved to be one of my least popular posts. Some readers felt that celebrities have no obligation to make any contribution towards keeping discrimination out of the California Constitution, whether or not they live here and have been disproportionately enriched by gay fans. Others felt that Madonna was too busy, that the “tactic” was distasteful, or that gay equality isn’t really her battle to fight.
Certainly few seemed to agree with my decision to base my concert purchasing decisions on whether the artist – who had taken a good deal of money from me and my friends – cared about my equality. And perhaps those who did agree felt that I should not have expressed my intention in quite to direct a manner.
Since that time, several celebrities have stepped up and made contributions, either financially or through public endorsement. Some, like Cher and Eric McCormack, have a significantly gay fanbase and others, like Samuel L. Jackson and John Cho, may not be as closely associated with the gay community. But many do seem willing to put their money and their image to good use in fighting this discriminatory effort.
And now a report from Madonna’s concert on Saturday in Oakland says the following:
Madonna also got in a plug for voting “no” on Prop. 8, and her suggestion was approved by acclimation.
It’s not likely that there were very many of the 20,000 Madonna fans in attendance that night who were planning on voting Yes on the proposition. But if she was able to remind the attendees to vote and to make Prop 8 a priority, then I am very appreciative.
And although Madonna hasn’t given any of her own personal half billion, the company that put on her tour, Live Nation, contributed $50,000 to No on 8 so some of the money flowed back.
Interestingly, Washington Blade’s Kevin Naff, had this to say last week.
There are too many wealthy celebrities out there — Rosie, Kathy Griffin, Madonna to name three — who rely almost exclusively on gay support for their livelihood. It’s time to give something back.
Let’s hope and pray that Tuesday’s vote will endorse equality in California, Arizona, and Florida and it will turn out not to have mattered.
Latest Posts
Featured Reports
In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.
When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.
In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.
On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.
Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"
At last, the truth can now be told.
Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!
And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.
Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.
Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.
Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.
The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.
“Google” is a trademark of Google Inc.
© Box Turtle Bulletin. All Rights Reserved.
Posts 
Posts via daily email:
AJD
November 3rd, 2008
I agreed at the time that Madonna should have stepped up to help (and I still think she needs to do more — with her wealth, she could have afforded to hold a benefit show and rake in a ton of money), and I could definitely see the logic of not attending her concert. However, I just didn’t think that sending a “guilt trip” letter was wise. I’ve worked for non-profits before, and my partner works for one as well, and I know that the carrot tends to be more effective than the stick when requesting money from wealthy donors, no matter how strongly you think they should donate.
Keith
November 3rd, 2008
In one sense, I totally agree with you about celebrities whose bread is buttered by the LGBT community. On the other hand, they also have to be cautious about where/who their money goes to. You want to ensure that the money is used for its intended purpose.
Personally, I like the way Ellen handled it. She put up her own money to produce a YouTube video and spoke out against Prop. 8 on her show. To me, not only did she reach a larger audience, but targeted an entire group of people (her audience) that might not otherwise have given it consideration.
Madonna, with all her wealth could have figured something out…after all that’s what a good publicist is for.
Charles Lanigan
November 4th, 2008
Could she have given but just kept it private?
Timothy Kincaid
November 4th, 2008
Charles,
No. All contributions are required to be reported.
kevin
November 4th, 2008
The anti-abortion “Lifesite” is “outing” Catholics who opposed Prop 8, aka the “homosexualist cause”.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/nov/08110401.html
Pretty interesting read.
CLS
November 4th, 2008
My issue with your last post on this, and this one, is that you use words in very bad ways. If you don’t then I do disagree. There are no unchosen obligations and you say Madonna is obligated to take a position. You also say silly things such as she “had taken a good deal of moeny from me and my friends.†That is nonsense. She didn’t take anything. She offered you something you wanted and you voluntarily bought it.
You got what you paid for. And then, after the fact, you are claiming she has to provide you with other things which were never stipulated at the time of the exchange. Nothing was “takenâ€. it was exchange. And while it would be good, and appreciated, for celebrities to stand with the gay community, they are not obligated to do so.
Leave A Comment