So I try to keep this blog as light and fun as possible. I don't usually talk about serious issues that stir up controversy or drama. I just like to have a good time with this place and with you!
However, today I am bringing something different. I would like to say a couple of things before I start.
1. There won't be very many posts like this ever on this blog. I like my blog to be quirky and crazy just like me.
2. I don't want to impose anything on you that you don't feel comfortable with and this post is in n way meant to do that.
3. Whether you have the same opinions on this issue or not, let's be respectful and open-minded, as I know you all are!
With that being said, here we go. I'm sure that if any of you partake in news watching, a little or a lot, you have been seeing stuff about Ellen DeGeneres in the news. I think it's safe to assume that we all know she is gay and has a partner and also has kids. If you didn't know that, well...now you do. Here's the story.
She was recently hired by JCPenney to be a spokesperson for their retail chain. Since word and ads got out, there has been a crazy amount of backlash. A group called One Million Moms has come out and began bashing her and the company and have accused the company of "jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon." They have been protesting and even boycotting the store in hopes that JCPenney will rethink their decision and fire her. I read online where one lady was quoted as saying something along these lines: "JCpenney is a traditional store and most of the people and families that shop here are also traditional. They may stop shopping here because they don't believe that being gay is ok." (Don't quote me exactly on that, but just know that it was basically that in a nutshell.)
It's no secret to anyone that I really love Ellen as a person, advocate, and even talk show host. She has been around for a good while now and her show was gotten excellent ratings despite her sexuality. She never uses her show as a platform to preach about equal rights for gay people. She simply does a talk show and a rather good one, might I add. When she got wind of this madness and the potential of her losing her position at the company, she addressed it on her show.
"Normally I try not to pay attention to my haters, but this time I'd like to talk about it because my haters are my motivators."
"First of all, being gay or pro-gay isn't a bandwagon. You don't get a free ride anywhere. There's no music. And occasionally we'll sing 'We Are Family' but that's about it."
"I want to be clear. ... I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated, and helping people in need. To me those are traditional values, and that's what I stand for."
She is taking a stand and using her show to let people know where she stands on this issue. Luckily, for now, JCPenney is sticking by their decision and they have no thoughts about letting her go.
This really burns my biscuits. I'm not an avid church goer. I can't quote the Bible. I can't argue and use verses to back it up, but I do know that this is wrong. Doesn't the Bible teach tolerance and love for others? Aren't we supposed to love all people and embrace them and pray for them? Maybe I've been reading and learning things from a different Bible all these years, but if the Bible these people read from tells us to hate people who are gay and put them on a blacklist so they are incapable of living their lives like we all do daily, they can keep it. I'll stick with my own Bible.
I was raised in Georgia, a state that falls in the Bible belt and around here we are all Southern Baptists. I was taught good morals, values and to have compassion for everyone no matter what and that's what I try to do everyday. Do I fail sometimes? Of course, I'm human and that's just something that happens. But I won't use the Bible to justify plain hatred for no reason at all. I just won't do it.
Sure, I may be biased because I love Ellen and her show. But have you ever watched it? She doesn't pick and choose the people she helps daily based on their skin color, religious preference, class, or sexuality and I would hope that others wouldn't do that either. To me, this group is full of a bunch of ignorant, selfish people who are so unhappy with themselves that they need to stir up trouble to feel accomplished. I have no respect for them.
I dream of a world where people can do what they want and be who they want without having their intentions or motives questioned. If Ellen wants to be gay, then, dang it be gay. If she woke up tomorrow and wanted to be a stripper, then that's her decision. How does her doing ads for a company affect us in any way, shape or form? It doesn't.
I think we need to realize that humans are humans and there are far worse things happening in the world than being gay. If they want to start a movement, how about focus on something that matters like homelessness or sex trafficking of young girls. They could do a million other things that would be better and more influential. This is just a witch hunt to prove something and it's STUPID.
Being gay is not a handicap. It's not an end all. It's not a deal breaker. It's not something that other things should depend on. It's not your business or mine. You can't catch gay by watching her on TV no more than you can catch cancer by standing next to someone who has it.
I'm not sure what is right or what is wrong. It's not my choice to decide that. I don't have the power to control someone else's life like they are trying to do. I don't know if they have checked lately, but they aren't God.
Ellen, if you read this, YOU GO GIRL. I hope you laugh at those fakes all the way to the bank, honey!
If you're still reading this long, thank you. This concludes the soap-box portion for the day!
Have a fab weekend, dolls!
Thanks, Ellen, for being a role model and showing us all that being gay doesn't mean your life is over. That you can still do whatever you want to do. If you have haters, you are doing something right!
