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05/29/2009

Audio: Whatever's fair and equal

by Jeremy Hooper

Some late afternoons when we need a break from LGBT rights, we switch our Sirius/XM radio away from Michelangelo Signorile's OutQ show and onto "Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer" on the Martha Stewart Channel (5-7PM, Sirius 112/XM 157). Usually we do so because we need a late-in-day respite from the "pro-family" nonsense, and the frank, often ridiculous chatter from Alexis Stewart (Martha's daughter) and Jennifer Koppelman Hutt (not Martha's relative, but far from anyone's "sidekick") that can go from what the two are having for dinner that night, to "The Real Housewives of NYC" (Jennifer used to live with Bethenny!), to whether or not Alexis was right to take camera phone pics of an anonymous subway rider's facial hair, typically does the trick. Fluffy but not flighty, the show puts a nice cap on our oft-demonized day.

Last night, however, we found unexpected power/inspiration in one of the show's phone calls. During a discussion on Prop 8 and marriage equality in general, a misinformed caller phoned in thinking that she didn't support same-sex marriage. But as you will hear, Alexis and Jennifer ably and calmly gave the other end of their phone line some great food for thought, showing how victims of the far-right's lies really can be taught a thing or two about what does and does not constitute civil fairness. Listen in:

(Hutt is first voice; Stewart is the third)



Excellent. This exemplifies why we have to keep talking: Because our opposition NEVER. STOPS. MISINFORMING. We have potential supporters all around us who have no clue that they've been duped by a well-financed, well-connected, strategically code-worded disinformation machine. We just need to talk to them.

And on that same note: This snippet also speaks to how we can be informative without being textbook, connecting with out would-be, could-be allies in a style that's more conversational than traditionally educational. When we talk like humans, we bring out the humanity.

Now Jennifer: Back to Bethenny...

Your thoughts

Outstanding! These two women were able to explain to their listener in simple language and examples just WHAT the lies she had been fed were really about! Maybe someone should contact that radio station to pass on thanks to them

Posted by: Helen in Ireland | May 29, 2009 6:27:39 PM

I'm still amazed how many people seem to think of marriage as a religious institution only. Do they not realize that atheists and other non-christians can marry? Yet the ridiculous argument always comes up that somehow having the same rights means that specific churches also have to marry us.

Posted by: Ron | May 29, 2009 7:34:06 PM

We need agressive fighters to rail against the institutions and professional bigots who try to deny us our rights and humanity. But we also need patient, compassionate people who can explain the truth about our lives to our neighbors, many of whom are simply misinformed by lazy media or the inertia of ingrained prejudice. My parents and family are just such people - they made a huge change and live in a small conservative town in rural Washgington State. We can't deny the power of respectfully educating our fellow citizens, affording the same respect that we expect, and giving them time to process what can be perceived as a huge shift in their values.

Posted by: Sykler | May 30, 2009 8:41:08 AM

Sad. So many religious people fail to realise that when we're talking about marriage and the right to marry we mean CIVIL marriage - IE. going to the town hall and getting that all important piece of paper that says we're married so it makes those legal things so much easier than they would be if we just had a civil union, which in many parts of the world makes things far more complicated.

Posted by: a | May 30, 2009 10:14:23 AM

You've got to hand it to the hired fearmongering religiots; they are very good at instilling their unsupportable lies in the gullible minds of the religious affected. Their biggest threat if rational truth. And, that one of the minions actually changed her mind as a result of learning the truth, they would call that being beguiled. But the fact of the matter is that it is the professionally employeed religious are the ones who rely on their ability to beguile; it's their bread and butter.

Posted by: Dick Mills | May 30, 2009 5:27:02 PM

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you. :)

Posted by: Davis | Jun 1, 2009 11:28:02 AM

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