Conservative Dixie Carter on her gay fans

Timothy Kincaid

April 11th, 2010

The incomparable Dixie Carter was not much like her character Julia Sugarbaker. Julie was outspoken and liberal, while Dixie was conservative and more reserved. And Dixie Carter was a Republican and endorsed some Republican candidates.

But, like many Hollywood Republicans, she was not anti-gay. What follows is a quote from a MetroWeekly article in 1998.

MW: Let’s get some opinions from you. Do you have any thoughts on gay rights?

CARTER: I think that gay rights should exist.

MW: Let me be more specific. What about the possibility of gay marriage?

CARTER: That’s hard for me, because I’m very old fashioned, very old-timey. So that idea is hard for me. On the other hand, maybe the most loving marriage that I’ve ever seen is a gay marriage. It has not been codified as such by the church, but it is a marriage. And has been for years and years and years. But to answer your question, I have to work through what marriage means — and the first thing in my mind goes to is that marriage is for the procreation of the race. It’s a sacrament to unite people so that they can begin a family and have children. But Hal Holbrook and I got married at an age past when we can expect to have children. So here I am in a very happy marriage that I think is fine. So if I feel that way about my marriage to Hal, why would I have a problem with a gay marriage? Still, it’s hard for me. I’m very traditional.

MW: Another issue that’s been raised recently in a big way is called “reparative therapy,” where gay people are saying they’ve been cured through various ministries led by the right wing.

CARTER: I think the word cure is insulting, isn’t it?

MW: Yes. And of course the danger is that it suggests homosexuality is a disease, which it’s not.

CARTER: Tell me, are these people who are “cured,” are they ever going to be happy?

MW: It’s hard to say.

CARTER: Well, down the line, it will be discovered whether or not they will be happy. I hate to use this corny expression, but everybody has got to find out who they are and what their needs are. And putting yourself in a straight jacket for appearance’s sake is not going to get it. …. But as I’ve said, I’m old-fashioned. … I feel like such an anachronistic person, but I am slowly coming around — my children are slowly getting me close to where I should be. Maybe by the turn of the century, I’ll be up with everybody else.

Carter may have thought of herself as old-fashioned and anachronistic. But think of how much better life would be if today’s conservatives had the wisdom that Dixie Carter had 22 12 years ago.

Evan Hurst

April 11th, 2010

Yep, that’s exactly what I was thinking. In 1998, conservative Dixie Carter from Tennessee had already wrapped her head around THAT much. Not only that, but she expressed a willingness to learn and listen.

Donnchadh

April 11th, 2010

That’s twelve years, by my count. A minor mistake, but a rather jarring and maybe significant one.

Kelly

April 11th, 2010

::sigh:: I remember when you could be like Ms. Carter and be a Republican. That was before “RNOs” and “purity tests.”

TampaZeke

April 11th, 2010

I wonder if she ever came around as she seemed to suspect she would.

Lindoro Almaviva

April 11th, 2010

This little section is so amazing and so rich in insights to the human mind and how we thing I just love it. Let’s boil it down:

DC realizes her thinking is old fashioned and in doing so acknowledges that the young generation is having to teach her to update her views.

She contrasts her beliefs to her own personal life and concedes that she herself would not pass muster to her believes and concluded that something must be wrong with them.

She realizes that the scope of what we call humanity is too broad to be understood by small labels and openly questions the need for them. (Have we realized that her words came to be all to true 12 years after when it came to reparative therapy and people speaking out against it?)

She realizes that some of her thinking is way out of line with what it should be and says “I’m work in progress; I’ll get there.”

Now compare and contrast her attitude to the attitudes of many in her generation wanting to impose their beliefs in the rest of the population and accusing us of being the ones who are trying to impose something on them.

How pathetic and backwards a 70 year old conservative just made them all look. Thanks Dixie.

Stone

April 11th, 2010

Job well done! I love your article.Mrs. Holbrook was indeed a part of the lives of many. There isn’t much left to say except. R.I.P Dixie Carter…and thank you.

Patrick

April 11th, 2010

Very thoughtful comments by her. Thanks for posting this interview.

Frank H

April 12th, 2010

“… putting yourself in a straight jacket for appearance’s sake …”
I always thought the correct spelling was “straitjacket,” but this unintentional pun seemed more appropriate.
(Then I looked it up and found that straightjacket [one word] is an acceptable variant spelling.)

JFE

April 13th, 2010

@Frank H: “Straight jacket” is a great play on words.

@BTB: I click on “Straight Allies” related links and I see that this is the only one. I would like to see more: Straight Allies influencing other straights I believe are the predominant way those that are anti-gay will come around.

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