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Make no mistake: I am against homophobia. Yuck! Boo! Sorry, homophobes. TOUGH BREAK. “Cross him off The List,” that’s what all the homophobes are saying right now. “No more anti-Ryan White Christmas cards for this guy.” But wait, homophobes, Ryan White wasn’t gay, he was infected with HIV/AIDS from a blood transfusion and worked hard to advocate against the public misconception that it was a disease that only infected homosexuals. He’s a tragic but noble figure, but not really a gay rights activist. “Shut up, faggot!” Oh brother. (This is getting really weird!) The point is, I’m always very happy for anyone to join the anti-homophobe AGENDA, so I can’t take that much issue with this week’s edition of Goop, although I can take a little bit of an issue with it? I mean, look at it (from the “Be” section, obvs):
Homosexuality in the Bible
A few months ago, in the heat of the tragic teen suicides that came about from intolerance of homosexuality, I saw a man on television who was apologizing for wishing death on gays from his facebook page. This member of an Arkansas school board was contrite for the violence in his words, but maintained that his values pertaining to homosexuality would remain, as he felt homosexuality was condemned in the bible. This concept, while foreign to me, is interesting, as it used to justify so much judgement and separation in our society. When my daughter came home from school one day saying that a classmate had two mommies, my response was, “Two mommies? How lucky is she?!” What does it actually say in the bible that will cause some people to be upset by my line of thinking?
Happy pride.
Love,
gp
OK, first of all, what? And second of all:
Of course, OF COURSE, it all boils down to “her line of thinking.” Good GOD, woman. You can’t even fight for equal rights without it being self-indulgent, self-absorbed, self-congratulatory, and self-aggrandizing. As if the Westboro Baptist Church is particularly outraged about Gwyenth Paltrow’s refusal to be enraged about gay people enrolling children in the same private school as Coldplay Jr. (Actually, they might be. Bad example. But you get my point.) The issue in this country regarding homosexuals is not limited to teen suicides, although that is obviously one of its most horrible outcomes. It also has to do with legalized persecution and social inequality as mandated by the United States government. That’s insane! So in order to combat it people need to not only change their personal opinions, but they need to address these issues at the ballot box. That being said, one of the inroads to doing so is, as Gwyneth points out, to account for the use of religion as a defense of anti-human behavior and legislation. One might, for example, point out the fact that the bible was written 15 million years ago and that there are LOTS of biblical mandates that no longer hold meaning or relevance to a modern society. Even more to the point, one might point out that regardless of the Bible’s position on homosexuality, it has much more to say about kindness, generosity, patience, and tolerance towards other human beings, and that it is these qualities that Christians should focus on and strive towards rather than denigrating their belief system by debasing it to a dogma of hatred and bigotry. These and other arguments are important and move the conversation forward.
The argument is not, however, centered around how “neat” it is for Damien Hirst’s daughter to have two mommies or whoever the fuck Gwyneth Paltrow’s kids go to Private Academy with, and there is definitely no part of the bible that addresses being open to the wisdom and teachings of “Gwyneth Paltrow’s thoughts on the subject.” Again, I surely hope that if there are some horrible hate-mongers who…subscribe to Goop (?)…that this week’s newsletter opens their eyes (and their hearts! LOL!) to the error of their ways and convinces them to think differently about gay people and society. And I’m sure that is a real thing that is definitely happening. But personally:
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Well, consider that nit picked.
Make sure to get this one too!
Yeah he/she is lucky, that they’re not named Apple, that is a fruit not a name for a human. You know I hate you for that mummy right? (Apple goes to her room and blasts Bach since you know that’s what Gwyneth makes them listen to right)
Just wait until she finds out the name of the guy traditionally credited with writing down a lot of those anti-homosexuality laws in the Bible…
Next thing you know, she’ll be playing both leads in “Judy Garland Meets Cher 2″ Burlesque Boogaloo”
“What does it actually say in the bible that will cause some people to be upset by my line of thinking?”
Gwynneth.
Come On.
Crowdsourcing your biblical study to your subscribers?
How about you stop fooling around; have Rabbi Moshe Gervinowitz, Father Benedict, and Mother Stevens – Your Personal Biblical Consortium of Biblical experts – just tell you, so you can tell us in your special way, mmkay, sweetie?
This is what bothered me most about that entire thing too. Like REALLY, Gwyneth? You’ve never heard the actual line that Christians reference all of the time? Really? Because you’re like 40 and you’re just asking about it now? And you’re asking the people of the internet? Couldn’t bother to do a quick google search so that you could make a more informed argument? Nope. Just wanted to let everyone know that you are against homophobia (which, hooray, but seriously)? Okay, cool. You are the worst.
Boo to this post. It’s ok to be self-indulgent if you are also right.
The takeaway here is “Happy Pride.” I am very excited for Pride! Discounted martinis are EVERYWHERE.
Yeah I think her heart is in the right place
The part of her heart that isn’t gazing lovingly into a mirror, at least.
But I agree, I can’t condemn her for this. She’s trying, and she went a full paragraph without name-dropping anyone. Well done Gwyneth! See what you can achieve when you really apply yourself?
You can’t really blame her for having shitty rhetoric (well…).
Totally… I was expecting a diatribe from her dear friend Elton John or some other high-profile London-based gay. Or maybe her very famous NYC hairdresser. Or how she studied being a lesbian by talking to so and so for research in a film or to better understand Glee…
This is actually very sweet. I like her response to her daughter’s comment.
Can’t make fun of her today, sorry.
Her heart really knows how to be in “the right place” while also being in the place where everyone can look at it and commend it for being Gwyneth Paltrow, no?
Good point, Goopo.
Ugh, I have so many problems with that campaign. Don’t get me started…
Gwyneth doesn’t have a heart.
….unless it’s a heart-shaped ramekins she uses to make seasonal garden-herbed foie gras in truffle-brushed filo cups with a wild mushroom compote for the midday Valentine luncheon with Coldplay.
Yes, Happy Pride everyone!
Can you make a list of these places with discounted martinis? I need it. For a friend.
There is a party tomorrow which I was invited to to kick off Pride that has $1 tequila, and all I can think of is that just sounds SO DANGEROUS.
Gabe is totally gay for Gwyneth Paltrow.
Gabe, we know she’s the worst, but at least she’s using her celebrity to address the issue! At the point we finally get our rights, we’ll get a little more picky.
Did you look at the rest of the email?
Gosh! What is it with Gabe’s single-minded devotion to turning Videogum into a Goop-related web log. Why’s he always doing things with regard to his point of reference and line of thinking.
Gabe is the boss.
Here’s a suggestion My Lady Gwyneth Paltrow: have your butler google “homosexuality Bible verse” on the internets, and I’m sure you’ll find the answer to your stupid, dumb, ridiculous, retarded question.
BOOO. (You know what you did.)
The Ryan White thing reminded me of this… there’s a store in Brooklyn where they sell art made by autistic & retarded adults and the proceeds help fund their center, and this one guy makes these greeting cards with random celebrities hanging out with each other wishing you happy birthday, merry xmas, etc. (“Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jackson wish you Happy Halloween!”). They are all amazing, but this is my favorite:
“Mötley Crüe remembering their friend Ryan White, who died of AIDS in 1990, wishing you a happy birthday! Ryan White RIP”
Best $5 I’ve ever spent.
What is this place called?! Seriously, I’ve got some friends’ birthdays coming up and these cards sound perfect. I tried to google “store in Brooklyn where they sell art made by autistic & retarded adults” with bad results…
I forget the name… I think there’s a sticker on the back of the cards with the name/address, so I’ll look at them when I get home. It’s in dumbo somewhere.
found it thanks to some google streetview sleuthing!
http://www.leaguecenter.org/land.html
the artist’s name is Michael Pellew
http://www.openingceremony.us/entry.asp?pid=381
That…is awesome!!!
This is perfect in so many levels.
Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac…. damn
Do you have a high res version of this exact one? I gotta send this to a friend.
“Even more to the point, one might point out that regardless of the Bible’s position on homosexuality, it has much more to say about kindness, generosity, patience, and tolerance towards other human beings, and that it is these qualities that Christians should focus on and strive towards rather than denigrating their belief system by debasing it to a dogma of hatred and bigotry.”
- Thank you Gabe, sincerely. I appreciate this because I love Jesus and Videogum. #JesusGum #YouAreRight
How is “this concept” foreign to her? Does she not exist in the world and see shit like this all the time…? Oh right- she doesn’t.
As a side note, this nut job (Arkansas guy, not “gp,” ugh I hate her) is part of the problem, yes- but as a young gay man, a sneakier problem is that my boss knows that I’m gay but never asks me anything about my life. Everyone else in the office he can chat with everyone else in the office about kids, spouses and weekend plans. I get ignored.
He’s “church-y” and super nice, and perhaps he doesn’t want to invade my privacy. But the fact that he holds me to a different standard- don’t ask, don’t tell- just shows how far things haven’t come. Even more telling is that most everyone else in the office follows his lead- everyone is always very polite and friendly towards me, but that’s it. I’m reinforcing the situation by keeping my private life “private.”
Do I not want to rock the boat and talk about something like a boyfriend…? How odd is it that everyone in the office knows I’m gay, but never asks me a single question about my life…?
Real change will occur when gay people cease to monitor internal thoughts and feelings because they don’t want to rock the boat. Maybe I should take that step and be so bold.
Anyway, that’s my rant.
How’s your life Chesty LaRue?
My life is pretty rad, thanks =)
Maybe you could use this as an opportunity to build a bridge and help him get over his homophobia? Provided he likes you as a person you could help him realize prejudices are often unbased.
When she said, Two mommies? How lucky is she?!” You know this is what she was thinking:
Meanwhile, this is what you were thinking:
I think he was thinking
Outboard doesn’t make enough motorboats for what I have planned for this pic.
So disturbing
I just created ten more accounts so I could upvote this more.
“Lo, shall no man lie with another man. So sayth the Lord. Two women, though? Yay. Filleth thy storage vessels with pegs of jay.”
“pegs of jay”
I’m guessing that thought came to her head after hearing her husband’s new song. “If only…”
WWJD? I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be picketing a soldier’s funeral holding a sign saying “Dad Hates Fags.”
No, what he would be doing would be using his water-walking and fish-multiplying skills to dominate the shit out of “Survivor: Jerusalem” . (OK, granted he lost that game once, but only for three days, and things were different then.)
I guess my fundamental problem with her logic (?) is that we shouldn’t be using the Bible as a foundational tool for building our laws? I mean, in the United States of America? Just sayin.
Has this woman written a children’s book yet? Out of the what I have to assume was hundreds of potential names for her site/blog/cookbook/social networking soda machine how the hell did Goop win out over everything else? These are questions.
Child Girl: Mommy, Gwyneth Paltrow says when I grow up I can marry a princess!
Child Boy: Yeah, and I can marry a prince if I wanna!
Mother Woman: Gwyneth, explain yourself!
Gwyneth: Umbrella, ella, ella.
I keep reading this site to see when Gabe is finally going to realize what we’ve known all along.
FAKE AND GABE
Bottom line: you can’t claim the concept is foreign to you if you’re aware of it enough to post about it.
“I am completely unaware of the existence of homophobia, but I am against it for some reason.” – G.P.
In defence of Gwyneth, her use of that phrase is sort of justified. “Foreign to me” just means “outside of my personal experience,” not “something that I have never heard of.”
What she means (probably) is that she doesn’t personally see how someone could use the Bible to justify hatred at the expense of its position towards kindness and love. I have a hard time relating to that way of thinking, so the concept is “foreign to me” also.
Altoghether, I don’t think her note is particularly well-written, clarity-wise, but I think that’s what she meant here.
Hmm, you have a point. I guess it’s foreign to me, too (being a lifelong atheist). But there is still a contrast between her bragging about how she totally doesn’t understand it, but still accidentally mentions her delightful ignorance on her widely-read blog.
The paradox (or the lie) is that she knows exactly what to write to illustrate her own “innocence.” It is one thing to say, for example, how wonderful it is for someone to have two parents with different skin colors. But it becomes quite another when you quote yourself on that to prove how you are totally not racist.
Fishmongers are known to be superstitious lot; mayhaps Gwyneth could ask hers about the Bible and other such whatnot.
She can’t even spell JUDGMENT right.
You are being judged, GP.
she’s imbalanced and stalks people who are nobodies because her husband may find them interesting so behind the scenes she cunningly secretly meddling in this nobodies life. So somebody should try and remind her who’s life it is that she’s F-CKING WITH.