SUBTITLED: Oprah perhaps you do not understand the extent to which LGBT Americans are impacted by the denial of basic Civil Rights.
With permission I am exerpting from a friends blog. But before I begin quoting and thus changing the POV, I, LOrion, am hurt that Oprah Winfrey could even fathom that such a show should be produced. I understand to many 'More Money' is the only reason for living, but for some of us that is not the case. We live more, as Martin Luther King said, knowing "we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny." and that "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
So, quoting her now,
"Oprah’s Lifeclass site asks its usual weekly question “Are you hurting an important woman in your life? Or is an important woman in your life hurting you?” I choose the second question, and Oprah and you have my answer: Oprah, you are an important woman in my life and you ARE hurting me and this is why:"
I have a family – once married to my same-sex partner and now divorced. My right to equality was as important when it came to marriage as was when it came to the divorce. Being able to marry, in California, before Proposition 8, enabled my already existing family to feel like all American families, at least to some extent. Regardless of their parent’s sexuality my family of 2 daughters became legally real, even without the imperative federal rights that would have made us truly equal. What made my marriage even more important to my family was when the breakup came, as the law recognized our respective rights and obligations towards each other. And we complied.
'So how did Oprah Winfrey hurt me, my cause and my feelings? A hero of great integrity, Oprah just invited two people onto her show, who actively preach against these rights that belong to my family and my community and all Americans. While marriage may not be important to Oprah it is treasured by millions of Americans who need its construct for so many reasons." .... see more below the squiggle.
According to the Advocate‘s recent report
Oprah's Latest 'Lifeclass' Stars Antigay Rick Warren, Joel Osteen
Oprah Winfrey’s Lifeclass program, where viewers “get the lessons we can all use to lead our best possible lives,” just taped an episode featuring the wisdom of two antigay pastors.
The episode starred Joel Osteen and Rick Warren and was shot on Friday in Houston. While it’s not clear what the specifics of the episode focus on, one thing is certain: Osteen and Warren hold seriously homophobic views.
Osteen, a megachurch pastor in Houston, claims he doesn’t hate gays, only views them as sinful. California pastor and author Warren is proudly against marriage equality. He also campaigned for Prop. 8 and declared support for Chick-fil-A and its antigay policies.
'What hurts me immensely is that Oprah should know better. Her forum is one that should be all inclusive and should not provide a voice for those who would deny all Americans equal treatment under the law, nor for those, albeit inadvertently, spread untruths and hate about fellow Americans.'
If I were to draw my reluctant analogy you all know what it would be – sorry but here goes:-
Oprah how would you feel if we were back in the day where interracial marriage was prohibited and you had a partner of another race whom you wanted to marry? Imagine Olsteen, in that day, being one of the pastors who spoke out against interracial marriage. Imagine an iconic figure, such as your good self, and her Life Class show, inviting that very pastor to participate in the show “where viewers ‘get the lessons we can all use to lead our best possible lives?’” Would that not hurt your feelings and your cause?
'By inviting Olsteen and Warren, Oprah you have kicked me and my family in the heart. It pains us to note that you endorse these pastors in any way shape or form.
Same-sex couples even if married under state law do not share in equal rights under Federal law. This will not change until The Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, is repealed. For example, even if a same-sex couple share children, who are born in America, and even if that couple married legally under the law of a state, if one is from another country, the American same-sex spouse does NOT have the right to sponsor his/her partner for a green card. This has resulted in LGBTI families spending tens of thousands of dollars more to stay together, than heterosexual spouses. That is if they are lucky enough to have the money to support being exiled to foreign countries, travel, career loss, legal expenses etc. And that does not make mention of the huge emotional toll to all.
Oprah perhaps you do not understand the extent to which LGBT Americans are impacted by the denial of our basic civil rights. I urge you to show support for LGBTQI American’s plight and NOT to air the show.'
HERE is the screen shot of her posting... as it may not 'be accepted.'
I will be letting her know this is posted here. I'm not sure she is a kossack (though she would be an SF one if she were), but I will be glad to share questions/comments/messages from you to her and vice versa.
Thanks for reading. I know not many may see this here, but I wanted a larger audience for it, and she deserves some support with her pain... knowing the message is seen will do that. Oh, for those who want the original it is here.
LESBIAN MOM ANSWERS OPRAH HURT ME TO OPRAH’S WEEKLY LIFECLASS QUESTION