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 lobbyPosts Tagged As: Straight Allies
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.
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