All Bettes are off: Bette Midler has been adored by gay audiences for her entire career. So why is she so wishy-washy about supporting same-sex marriage?Once upon a time, before it was chic to befriend be·friend tr.v. be·friend·ed, be·friend·ing, be·friends To behave as a friend to. befriend Verb to become a friend to Verb 1. gay men, Bette Midler Bette Midler (born December 1 1945) is an American singer, actress and comedienne, also known to her fans as The Divine Miss M. She is named after the actress Bette Davis although Davis pronounced her first name in two syllables, and Midler uses one. worked in gay bathhouses Gay bathhouses, also known as (gay) saunas or steam baths (and sometimes called, in gay slang in some regions, "the baths" or "the tubs"), are places where men can go to have sex with other men. Not all men who visit such bathhouses consider themselves gay. and went on national TV and talked about it. Gays swarmed to her side, and not long after, the Divine Miss M was sashaying her way to throngs of gay fans and quickly becoming an icon and advocate for the community. But that was then--nearly three decades ago. Nowadays the vivacious entertainer does what she can to dodge questions about gay marriage, seemingly seem·ing adj. Apparent; ostensible. n. Outward appearance; semblance. seem  ing·ly adv. more concerned with not making waves than with the equal rights of a good chunk of her fan base. Case in point: On Larry King Live Larry King Live is a nightly CNN interview program hosted by broadcaster and writer Larry King. The show premiered in 1985, and is CNN's most watched program, with over one million viewers nightly. last November, Midler failed to lend her public support to same-sex marriage Noun 1. same-sex marriage - two people of the same sex who live together as a family; "the legal status of same-sex marriages has been hotly debated" couple, twosome, duet, duo - a pair who associate with one another; "the engaged couple"; "an inseparable , questioned gay men's interest in monogamy monogamy: see marriage. , and spouted her prudish, parental remarks regarding the famous Britney-Madonna kiss. Soon after the King interview, a letter in support of gay marriage surfaced on the Internet, supposedly written by Midler. She quickly denied being the author. Midler, who gave the following interview during a recent press junket for her upcoming film The Stepford Wives, seems to have forgotten that her most loyal fans--those whose support has given her four-decade career its success and buoyancy--are gay. It seems we've lost Bette's wind beneath our wings. --Ryan MacDonald Can I get a gay marriage quote? As soon as I'm gay I'm going to get married. What do you want me to say? You want me to talk about my letter that I didn't write? What was up with that? I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. . I got the history of it: This wonderful guy who runs my Web site found out this girl had written a blog. It was on her blog, and then either she or somebody else posted it on Melissa Etheridge's site, and from there they signed my name and sent it all over the country. I thought it was a really nice letter; it was beautifully written. But I didn't write it, and I was taken aback because it is shocking that someone can take your name and assign something to you that you didn't say. That's not American, really, so it was shocking to me. But I thought it was fabulous.... It was a great letter. Does its sentiment stand? Do you agree? To tell you the truth, I have not done the due diligence Research; analysis; your homework. This term has caught on in all industries, because it sounds so "wired." Who would want to do analysis or research when they can do due diligence. See wired. on it that I should be doing, l don't know.... I understand the laws and wanting to be ... I don't understand rely of the politics and any of the benefit timings, health insurance, the children taken away, and all that. I haven't done that part. I haven't done enough research or reading on it to have an informed opinion. So I have to do that and tell you the truth: I've been on the road and wouldn't want to say the wrong thing. I don't want to offend anybody. I like everyone; I want everyone to be happy. I just don't know what it means. So I'd like to do the reading and then figure out what all these people are talking about. After you do that I do look forward to your coming out and saying something. We need you, Bette. I don't think you do. I think you're doing just fine. |
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