In 1991 Hollywood’s one of the largest responses to the AIDS epidemic, a $1 million+ fundraiser was held at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, California. Bette Midler, Carol Channing, Tyne Daly, Melissa Manchester, Lainie Kazan, Richard Dreyfuss, Jennifer Holiday, and others gathered to support the AIDS Project of Los Angeles
Bette received APLA’s “Commitment to Life” award along with MCA Inc. President Sidney Sheinberg and AIDS research specialist Dr. Joel Weisman in recognition of their work in battling discrimination and the disease.
Midler seemed downbeat about Hollywood’s response to AIDS. “I didn’t start running for the hills like a lot of people did,” she said, referring to the mid-80’s when Hollywood responded tepidly and nervously to the epidemic that has ensnared the film community. She said, in a cracking voice, “Nearly everyone I started out with has died.”
In 1991 alone, 29,850 Americans died from HIV infection
Nationally recognized hate group the Family Research Council’s Senior Fellow Peter Sprigg did the unthinkable yesterday when he used beloved comedian Robin Williams’ attendance of substance-abuse-related rehab to defend, ex-gay therapy.
Sprigg’s hateful though process considers rehab and therapy options for individuals who suffer from alcoholism and other forms of dangerous addiction to“sexual reorientation therapy,” which everyone should support since individuals exist who are uncomfortable with their same-sex attraction and who might wish to “change” it.
Whatever the motivation, there are those who have simply made a choice to walk away from the homosexual lifestyle, without clinical help—much like how Robin Williams simply stopped using drugs and alcohol in the 1980’s. Drug addiction and substance abuse is becoming a big problem in the states, if you are addicted or know someone who needs help, please visit this article about http://firststepbh.com/blog/participate-addiction-group-therapy/. Others have sought professional help, perhaps at the urging of family members, in the form of “sexual reorientation therapy”—much like when Williams entered a formal alcohol rehab program in 2006.
Sprigg goes on to list the usual hate group propaganda reasons a person might want to “change” his/her sexual orientation;
Why would someone want to change their sexual orientation? Some such individuals are simply disillusioned by their experiences in homosexual relationships. Some have legitimate concern about the well-documented health problems associated with homosexual conduct (especially among men), such as high rates of sexually transmitted diseases, of whichHIV/AIDS is only one example. Others may seek help in conforming their behavior and lifestyle to the teaching of the religious faith to which they are committed. Some may aspire to a traditional family life, raising children in a home with both their mother and father present.
Whatever the motivation, there are those who have simply made a choice to walk away from the homosexual lifestyle, without clinical help — much like how Robin Williams simply stopped using drugs and alcohol in the 1980’s. Others have sought professional help, perhaps at the urging of family members, in the form of “sexual reorientation therapy” — much like when Williams entered a formal alcohol rehab program in 2006. Whether simply through personal development, religious counseling, or with the help of a licensed or unlicensed counselor, thousands (if not millions) of people have experienced significant changes in one or more of the elements of their sexual orientation (attractions, behavior, or self-identification).
Just like the Family Research Council to seize on any event, and use it for far fetched and loathsome talking point to capitalize on its hateful agenda, They are no better than the Westboro Baptist Church. Only not nearly as entertaining and much more dangerous.
Fox News host and token closeted gay Shepard Smith today asserted that actor Robin Williams was “such a coward” for committing suicide at the conclusion of a touching special report.
Smith relayed a Williams had once told a story about his daughter, Zelda, who asked him to read a book to her in his normal voice.
“One of the children he so loved, one of the children grieving tonight, because their father killed himself in a fit of depression.
It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it?” You could love three little things so much, watch them grow, they’re in their mid-20s, and they’re inspiring you, and exciting you, and they fill you up with the kind of joy you could never have known.
And yet, something inside you is so horrible or you’re such a coward or whatever the reason that you decide that you have to end it”
Smith later apologized his remarks about Williams after outrage over his callous comments reached a fever pitch.
“I spent an entire hour talking about how much this man affected people’s lives and brought greatness to this world, I was just wondering aloud what could have made this man want to end it all. And it reminds us that we all have responsibility as friends and neighbors to help take responsibility to prevent this from happening.”
I was sorry to read online the people who see the world in a black-and-white way, and to suggest that they might have a definitive analysis of why he did such a thing. What I wanted to do is celebrate his life and find some meaning in our own lives, since we often do know someone who is reaching out, and we have a responsibility to help that person — maybe a phone call or a door knock is in order.
But no matter how you process it: Look at what this family is going through. I would never presume to know anything about his private life. And if any of his family members and friends were to have seen me use the word “coward,” I would be horrified. I would just to apologize to the end of the earth to anyone who might think that I meant to openly call him a coward.
To the core of my being, I regret it. It just came out of my mouth. And I’m so sorry. And to anyone and their families who see that, I am sorry.
Shepard Smith is no different than any other of hateful FOX News clowns. In fact he’s worse. A gay man who hides his sexuality when everyone knows he is gay (and believe me its well documented just ask any gay bartender on the Upper East Side of Manhattan) but yet still works for and accepts money from one of the biggest anti-gay, right wind propaganda news stations. He is nothing more than quisling douchebag. And today proved that.
