Melissa Etheridge talks Prop 8 on "The View"

Melissa Etheridge was a guest on ABC's The View on December 16. She discussed the passage of California's Prop 8. That part starts at about 1:40. Here is the clip:

Comments

[kb]

Way to go, Melissa! Too bad they cut her off because Elizabeth was too desperate to spread her hateful, narrow minded, completely ignorant opinions.

[DJL]

So, I guess Elizabeth would be opposed to "activist judges" deciding that it was OK for blacks to get rights? and for interracial marriage to be legal? She doesn't get it, does she?!

[Jonathan Sweet]

Im so tired of this issue! Im exhausted! It should be such a Non-Issue in this day and age!
We all deserve to be protected as citizen's of America! It is only Bible Thumper's that have such an adverse agenda to deny Gay People their Civil Rights! It will change, I'm sure of it! Everything takes time! I'm Gay, and I just don't care anymore! I don't need a marriage license to proclaim my love! Until America looks upon everyone as equal Citizens, Race Color Orientation, we will be as backward as third world countries!

[Jonathan Sweet]

I guess they just didn't want to get into it with Melissa, cuz she was ready to debate! They usually don't do that with their guests! Wonder Why! I would have liked to see a Big Discussion as Melissa had the facts & usually the guests don't! Always short on time when you have a guest on that is knowledgeable! Guess they just didn't want to see the Idiot Blonde get Bitch Slapped on Network TV!

[Cheryl]

The view brings up the subject then cuts her off when she tries to express it. What do the know about this love anyway we should all be treated equally that includes marriage.

[Judy Miller]

Melissa got to her point, however, which was what Jefferson called the tyranny of the majority. She got right to the intellectual, legal point. We cannot allow democracy to turn into a popularity contest, if you will, which is what prop 8 called for--a tyranny of the majority. No rights for minorities without the vote of a simple majority, very dangerous for any group that is a minority in any geographic or legal entity---including Elisabeth in a radical lesbian area--oh, the outcry!

[arthurmelton]

dear barbara,

when you get rid of elizibeth so i can watch your show again?

arthur melton

[Laura Chandler]

As always, Melissa carried herself with knowledge and class. I think it might have been both that Elizabeth was obviously frighteneed of! Go Melissa...continue speaking the truth with dignity and integrity!

[Shirley Williams]

OH Please - what is with Elizabeth. Is she for real? I do not understand why is she even on the show. Shes a nut.

[Eric Boykin]

Attention Elizabeth Hasselwhore: Maybe Americans should have the right to vote whether dumb blonde heterosexual reality show rejects who happen to wind up on a talkfest with real celebrities, should have the continued right to remain married to her hubby, I assume the person of her choosing. If you're lucky some "activist judge" would consider such an action unconstitutional. The problem is that as long as we don't have the right to marry, our relationships will always be seen as "less". We have to fight and demand for our rights because no one else really gives a crap. All they really wanted Melissa to do was to give a quick yay or nay on The Big Gay issue as a courtesy to her. They didn't want depth or insight, or an attempt to enlighten the audience to our plight. They got her stance on the issue and then they wanted her to do what they really wanted her there for: to perform.

[Christina Smith]

I have faced adversity many times and hate by my own family and many other people for being a lesbian. Therefore, I will debate anyone on the issue of being a lesbian so I am glad that Melissa stands up for what is right for our community. As she states be strong and speak true.

[Tammara Smith]

You hate your own family for being gay??!! What?! Gay rights issues are just simple human rights issues. It's the same battles that were & are fought by women, ethnic minorities, etc.. Preceisely the same struggle to be equal - nothing else & certainly nothing that imposes anything on others - including you.

When the law was first discussed regarding the equality of women & whether to allow them the right to vote, you would have said what? 'No, theyre not equal, keep things as they are'? Or even, 'Sure let them vote, but we won't call it a 'vote' we'll call it something else'. ??

The importance of recognizing everyone as equal in the eyes of the law is what can actually have us move towards world peace! And you'd prefer to hold so tightly onto what you call 'values' that you will let go of the people in your life and even your family - who you once held so dear and loved with all of your heart? You now treat them with hatred because they had the nerve to stand up and be proud of who they are?! What kind of worthy 'values' would have you do such a thing? It is certainly and fully your loss, and that of those otherse who try to force their beliefs on the people around them. Gays arent trying to make you gay - why would you force your straight views, beliefs & lifestyle on them? It's pure ignorance. I hope you one day learn that the love you offer to others only makes you more loved.

Life is about growing, accepting & supporting others for being just who they are. Isn't that all you want from your friends & family? For them to be proud of you for being just who you are? But even parents don't know how to support things they don't understand - right? It's about letting go of fears about things that are different & that we know nothing about & actually learning somethign about them so that we're not just sitting there in our puddle of fear about what's new to us. That's no way to live. The more you learn about the amazing world around you the more you realize you're capable of making a huge difference in it. YOu learn about what scares you that you know nothing about - and you learn how to fill your life with more & more love so you can have lifelong happiness. There's no way you can live a happy life when you're full of hate. We get defensive when people challenge what we feel is right because it's all we know. So go learn about what scares you and you'll no longer fear it because you'll understand it. Learning how to move on from silly fears will give you the ability to love as fully as you can, but until you do, you're just holding yourself back - and that's your own loss.

[Karen Ann]

Well, I guess, this just proves the point that I had to move out of the U.S. to live in New Zealand with my partner of 10 years, in order to feel like I am a full citizen of a democratic nation. Just happens that being a U.S. citizen wasn't enough to ensure me that I would be guaranteed my basic civil rights as set out in the U.S. Constitution. I find it curious that something as basic as this issue, has been suggested that we use the Constitution to define marriage. What else should we define with a Constitutional amendment? Maybe we need to find a way in the Constitution to define what can be defined as the true "religion" or maybe even what definition we use to identify true "people". I just thought that the Constitution was to been seen as broad based masterpiece to define our government as a true democracy made that was made "by the people for the people",of the United States of American.

[ChaoticMelancholy]

It's interesting how people can say that we should have respect for the democratic process and take the good with the bad. If 90% of the population can vote about the lives of the other 10%, where's the democracy? If the vote for yes on prop 8 had a prop written to abolish their marriages, or right to marry, would they change their tune?

Speaking of tunes, Melissa is as fantastic as ever!!!!

[Joshua Van Cruise]

I think that blonde lady should start thinking outside her box. She is so narrow minded, and the fact that she didn't get what the singer was saying about minorities rights should not be voted on by the majority...