The always candid Dolly Parton has revealed that she's in favor of granting gays and lesbians the rights to marry."Sure, why can't they get married? They should suffer like the rest of us do," the outspoken superstar told CNN show host Joy Behar. When Behar suggested Dolly's Southern roots might not mesh with the idea of marriage equality, the singer agreed, "I know that's true."
Dolly's not alone. This year, Reba McEntire surprised some of her conservative fans when she spoke in support of her gay fans and "many gay friends." "Don't judge me and I won't judge you," she said. "Keep an open mind."
Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, too, recently celebrated her gay fans. "I've always had a large gay following," the singer, who has performed at Gay Pride in Atlanta three times, said. "Particularly in the lesbian community. I am grateful for that ... It also means that I'm a cute girl singing a rock song in an alto voice!"
As for Dolly, the flamboyant entertainer admits she feels a certain kinship with her many gay and lesbian fans."I think it's because they know I'm different too, and it took me a long time to be accepted," she reasons.
"Plus, a lot of my gay guy friends love to dress up," she adds. "I think they just appreciate the fact that I love everybody for who they are."
Dolly did have some strong words, however, for Houston megachurch pastor Joel Osteen, who earlier this month stated that "homosexuality is not God's best work." "I don't want to talk about him," she said with a laugh. "I think God made us who we are and how we are, and I don't think if [Osteen] was a religious person, he would be judging people."
Dolly herself has weathered gay rumors. She and assistant Judy Ogle are constantly spotted together, and their close friendship (they've also been best friends since the third grade) eventually fueled speculation about whether the two were romantically connected, as well.
"We're totally honest, open, and comfortable with each other," Dolly told AARP magazine of her friendship with Judy. "We've been accused of being lovers. We do love each other, but we've never been like that."
Dolly shrugs off the rumors and insists that the "I dos" she said 43 years ago with husband Carl Dean were meant for life.
"I know we'll never divorce," she says. "He always knows I'm coming home."
Dolly's 'Live from London' CD/DVD was released last week.
Reader Comments(1 of 21)
rchefhoagieat 11-17-2009
Even if the idea of homosexuality makes you sick and goes against everything you believe in, The fact remains that Gay and Lesbian people are Citizens of the US. They deserve all the rights everyone else has and gets. The corrupt Churches and Tv Preachers need to shut their holes. Personally, the idea of men sleeping with men or woman sleeping with woman makes me sick, but they are citizens. Hell this damm country gives more to those piece of trash illegal scumbags, who by the deserve to rot in hell
mhphammesat 11-17-2009
Hate to disagree with you but being a citizen does not matter to me as much as I hate to say so. To me, being a homosexual is twisted and evil. I do not buy the fake so-called research which now claims sexuality is based on genes. I can not imagine a gene which would tell a man to allow himself to be sodomized or give another man a BJ. I am also sick of the fake comparisons to the homosexual movement and civil rights movement. Who you sleep with is a choice not a civil right. Why don't we let everybody do whatever they want as long as it is between consenting adults.
We can let drug addicts kill themselves using drugs, alcoholics can drink themselves to death as long as they do not drive, and anybody else who wants to choose an alternative lifestyle can do whatever they want and it be accepted by society. That way we can allow people to kill themselves or do anything as in Sodom and Gomorrah. Oh but God destroyed these cities because they allowed evil and hedonism to run rampant in their cities. Dollie prbably had one too many implant in the wrong place.
akaanonymousat 11-17-2009
mhphammes
"alcoholics can drink themselves to death as long as they do not drive, and anybody else who wants to choose an alternative lifestyle can do whatever they want and it be accepted by society."
Don't we already do this? I honestly don't understand the relation between two men or women wanting to spend their lives together. Since when has it been society's place to police its people and attempt to control what they do behind closed doors. If you think the whole world should bow down to your own code of morals and ethics just because you like them then, you're a fool. If it doesn't unwillingly hurt anyone then who cares. If someone wants to take heroine, they're going to why waste money stopping people from hurting themselves. If two men or women want to live together or have sex together who cares its not affecting you?
boricuarojoat 11-17-2009
The concept of Marriage, as instructed in the Bible, is a man and a woman, now all the LGBT crowd can argue with that, but ultimately, they want the bible to except their status, and that is not going to happen. Am I a homophobe, I don't think so, do I approve of LGBT people, it doesn't matter whether I approve or don't, I have the option of associating or not associating with LGBT people.
bob bobobat 11-17-2009
This just in! Research has proven that mhphammes is bat$#!+ insane and doesn't know what they're talking about!
What do you mean 'fake so-called research'? Have you read any of it? If so, then which of the 20,000 human genes are they talking about?
Oh, and gay people are akin to dead people and pets?
Wow.
Just wow.
weirdmenagerieat 11-17-2009
@mhphammes: So it's evil and twisted to be in a completely open and willing relationship just because it's not man-and-woman? Wow, that's news to me. I always thought evil was, like, torture, rape, cold-blooded murder, and that kind of thing. I didn't know you could be evil just by showing love!
@boricuarojo: Listen up - Marriage has existed long before the Bible and Christianity. Before that it was just used to combine households and coffers. Sometimes the married couple didn't even love eachother. Obviously, marriage has evolved a great deal - but it is still NOT unique to Christianity. So the fact that it is marked as man/woman in the Bible is not an argument against it, as there are other religions and even SECTS OF CHRISTIANITY which would be perfectly fine with performing these ceremonies for male/male and female/female couples.
eblspookyat 11-17-2009
The whole reason for people being against homosexual relations is because of the bible, am I right? People believe it is evil and against the morals taught to them in the bible. Therefore, they act on behalf of the bible, and attempt to interfere in other people's lives to fit the Bible's sense of the world into reality.
Well, the bible also says that you should kill a virgin who was raped with stones. The bible says that a blashphemer should be stoned to death as well. The bible says if you defy god, he will make you eat your own babies. (Not even kidding about that last one, thats how messed up this religion is. Deuteronomy 28:53-57.)
But people don't do this now. People don't eat their babies and stone rape victims. How many of us use Jesus's name or the name of God as an expletive? Do we get stoned? Why not? Where do you say one rule is ok to fight for and another is wrong? If you're going to hark at people about how you're being a good person and following the bible, then follow ALL its rules, not just pick and choose the ones you like and throw out the rest.
But wait! Jesus says to forget those rules and just love thy neighbor like you love thyself. Aww, how sweet! But wait, you loved yourself enough to get married to the person you loved! IT just so happened to be a person of the opposite sex. Why are you stopping your neighbor from getting married to the person they love? Just because it's someone of the same gender? Is that really what jesus had in mind? Really? If he is the compassionate diety you expect from him, would he really do what you people are doing?
There are two gay rights signs that have really made me think, and I hope they will make you think too.
1. When do I get to vote on your marriage?
2. Who do you think god will punish more? Me for loving? Or you for hating?
Please. Think. Love.
hardrocknoxat 11-17-2009
It doesn't surprise me people like dolly or the rest of the Hollywood crowd say's what she say's , I mean they feed off of fame , what she going to say " I hate gays " especially dolly she committed her life to fame .
pmason7796at 11-17-2009
I have never commented on a forum like this before but I find it necessary. It is essential to remember that all people are just that... human beings... no matter who they love or have relations with. To think that people are "sick and twisted" screams that this individual borders on ignorance and certainly is close minded. "Sick and twisted"- very curious comments coming from an individual who would find fault in those he/she does not know. To make an association between loving someone of the same sex and killing/harming others is absolutely insane- there is NO connection between these two points. Finally, I would highly advise that you check the research from non-partisan medical resources/journals and you will find that genes do play an incredibly large role in our lives. Reading and awareness might help limit the ignorance.
kufratboiat 11-17-2009
The only people who "choose" to be heterosexual are people who secretly want to be homosexual. Cause if gays can choose to be straight then all straights have a desire to sleep with their same gender and just choose not to. So when they go home to their spouce they are thinking of their best friend. I however do not believe anyone chooses their sexuality.
topflyt853at 11-17-2009
What corrupt churches are you speaking of? The church does not cast out gays and lesbians...they know that these people are just like all the rest...but the church does not want to marry them because marriage is between a man and a woman. What happens after homosexuals are allowed to marry? I want to marry my pet dog? Or, all three of us want to marry each other? Where does it end. Christians don't hate homosexuals, but we don't believe that they should be allowed the same rights given a man and a woman. Don't believe in God? Evolutionists do not agree with homosexuality because after one generation, the species dies out.
get at meat 11-17-2009
rchefhoagie
at 11-17-2009
Even if the idea of homosexuality makes you sick and goes against everything you believe in, The fact remains that Gay and Lesbian people are Citizens of the US. They deserve all the rights everyone else has and gets. The corrupt Churches and Tv Preachers need to shut their holes. Personally, the idea of men sleeping with men or woman sleeping with woman makes me sick, but they are citizens. Hell this damm country gives more to those piece of trash illegal scumbags, who by the deserve to rot in hell
You KNow i can Say That There are a Few Fair Human B'einz in the World... I was reading some of the comments and Started too feel some kind of a Way ... I Mean Who the Hell do you Non Living in Reality .. Fu**_- Come From With The Out of this World Sh--... Get a Live You Never Find Land.. That Has Had Same Sex.... Lol Maybe You Should Try It Lick Ass... lol
america16at 11-17-2009
The fact remains that in the Bible it clearly states that the practice of homosexuality is a sin. Yes it is a sin. And the fact remains is that the Lord God says it is a sin and anyone who says that they believe in homosexuality is going against God. And I fear for anyone you is going against God because in this life or the next, you will experience is wrath. I am a God fearing man and I stand by the Bible no matter what. And may God have mercy on anyones soul that disagrees with me. Also the fact still remains that you can not charge a church with a hate crime just because they will not marry a homosexual couple, because in the constitution it says that you have the freedom of religion, and charging a church with a hate crime is unconstitutional. Marriage is between a man and a women. You can also further express your views to this email= kg-mvp@hotmail.com or to this website which is all about this topic ttp://www.compassbiblechurch.org/
BobaLouat 11-18-2009
You call illegals "piece of trash scumbags" and you are right; but how do you forgive those who have committed crimes against nature and insist we show them respect? Gays & Lesbians are an insult to the very fabric of life itself and need to be eliminated; Not by violence, but by psychiatry.
Witchat 11-18-2009
Isn't insane how much the world goes in a cycle. We never move ahead, we repeat. When Hilary Clinton was running for president people were freaking about a woman in office. HELLO! Queen Elizabeth, Cleopatra. etc. Now Gays are such a horrible infliction on the human race? In Ancient greek times a gay couple would be put in the front of the line in battle so when they fought they would defend one another. They knew their love and passion would make them fight. Marriage may be between a man and a woman, but love doesn't always agree with marital rights. Gay men and women should have the same rights. Please stop comparing two men or women to Bestiality and group marriage, thats extremely far fetched. Compromise, maybe They have some sort of civil union that gives them the same rights as a married couple without the Church involved. News flash, Church and Government do not mix. On a side note, god and Christianity isn't supposed to consist of such Hate. You bible thumping activist who tell other people they are bad and should go to hell are the ones who will probably be condemned. :)