Rodney King Hearts the Gays
What does it say about a society when the victim of the world's most infamous televised beating finds his best forum for discussing it on Celebrity Rehab? And what does it say, in the wake of Prop 8, when someone who could easily hate the entire world makes what I think might be one of the most open declarations about gays I've seen in a while. Even "No on Prop 8" ads barely mentioned gay people...
Well, I'm not sure what it says about our society, but watching Rodney King open up to Dr. Drew about that fateful night 17 years ago is deeply moving and sadly overdue. Some will argue that King was never an "innocent" but I think we can all agree that he never deserved an ounce of what he got, and his future was basically set in stone from that point on. How does one live with not only the experience, but the ensuing lack of justice and anarchy that followed? That's a huge burden for one battered soul to carry, and as we learn on Celebrity Rehab, King has been barely getting by.
But amazingly, King is not a bitter man, and when he goes out of his way to mention how the gays in L.A. who were out marching in support of gay rights "turned their signs around" to march for him, he is clearly still touched by that. As he says, "gays bring flavor to the world; they're some real people". It's powerful, it's funny and it actually makes you feel pretty good about being gay - which we could all use right about now. (And is Tawny Kitean turned on or just completely stymied? You make the call.)
I don't know if you saw the very moving commentary by Keith Olbermann the other night, but it made me feel very good about the good will that many straight people bear toward us, and gave me a sense of hope that maybe some of our opponents might have their hearts touched. Anyway, here is the link: http://www.gaytvblog.com/2008/11/keith-olberman.html
Posted by: Onlywayne | November 11, 2008 at 05:16 PM
He's such a beautiful guy inside-out. He already seems much better than when he started celeb rehab. And thanks to him for realizing our "flavor".
We will undoubtedly go off on a b*tch. :P
Posted by: Reflector | November 13, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Being someone who was in LA, and around the chaos of the beating, trial, and the firey aftermath, i have to say hearing Rodney King finally get a chance to show the man he is inside, instead of the villain at times society concluded he was, very refreshing. I remember that day like yesterday. My house was burned, along with the neighborhood I called home. In a sense it was a change of the life I had always known. And the King trial was a catalyst to that change. I have seen him in and out of the neighborhood before and after that, so i knew who was being depicted in the news was not the same man. When I heard him say those words to Dr Drew, it made me smile. Because what an example of acceptance. And he has plenty of ammunition if he chose to be hateful and judgmental. But what a gentle spirit he shows by seeing all men as equal, and have their rightful place in this world. Ha! I like being a part of the "flavor" :o)
Posted by: Joshua | November 13, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Rodney King is a very cool guy. I hope he does well. He is an example of an era that no longer needs to exist. I would think that Black men are very proud of him and our new president to give them real hope that the bullshit they have to go through is phasing out.
To this day I still get surges of anxiety when I think about all the events and anger surrounding his horrible experience. I lived in LA at back then and it was a very intense time. His beating, the riots, the earthquake, OJ Simpson and all the gay bashings made LA a strange place to be.
Posted by: JUANJESUS | November 21, 2008 at 09:52 AM
Wow! How moving! I wish Mr. King all the luck in the world.
Posted by: adamant2007 | November 21, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I am very saddened that his life has taken this turn for the worse - that he ended up in rehab.
It is disgusting that someone should have been put through what he did and I am very moved that he has not become bitter towards the world. He certainly has grown as a human being.
I'm proud that the gays stood up for him and I am proud that he now has spoken out for us at a time when it's fashionable and acceptable to attack us.
He chose the high road - I wish him well and hope he is able to get back to having a great life !
Posted by: Glenn Lennox | November 21, 2008 at 02:10 PM