General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDolly Parton comments about her LGBT fans:
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Speaking of favorites, Parton was asked about her fan base in the LGBT community, who have long admired her. "The guys all want to look like me," she admitted. "I've always said it's a good thing I was born a woman or I would have been a drag queen.
I think they definitely relate to my flamboyance. I've always been so outgoing. But, I think more than anything, everybody realizes I've been through a lot myself. I've been persecuted for looking the way I looked in the early days, for saying what I think and feel.
They know I understand what it's like to be me, and to fight for being myself, and overcoming a lot of things. I think they also know that I just love them.
I don't judge or criticize anybody. God loves us all. I look for the God-light in everybody, and I want the God-light to shine through me.
I understand them. We're just people. We just do what we do, love who we love, and can't help who we are. We should be that -- proudly."
<snip>
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-615/6084841/dolly-parton-blue-smoke-album-willie-nelson-bon-jovi-cover
She has consistently had this message for years. Have yet to hear anybody try to jump her about it.
Her comments about a God never bother me. She doesn't use her religion to judge. She uses it to love.
Loves me some Dolly!
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)she has always been a first class lady (and a damn smart one at that!). I think she's wonderful.
Julie
okaawhatever
(9,462 posts)a very savvy businesswoman by the music industry and the regular business world.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)I really love that promoting literacy is a major cause of hers.
Julie
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)she is brilliant and a beautiful singer. she taught at a community college how to write songs. she is a treasure of our country, this good lady
Samantha
(9,314 posts)I have the same philosophy about judging others as she. I totally think people have the right to be who they want or were born to be and it is not our place to evaluate that decision.
But I also love her music too.
Sam
Tsiyu
(18,186 posts)who receive books once a month from her foundation.
They are really nice books, too.
Boomerproud
(7,955 posts)"Satan must make you look like that."
Dolly replied "Oh no Grandpa, Satan had nothing to do with it. I do this all by myself."
Another one is when Tammy Wynette was worried that people would say she slept with Porter Waggoner.
"Don't worry Tammy, half the people will think he's lying and the other half will think we've got bad taste."
You go girl.
LuvNewcastle
(16,847 posts)The world needs a lot more people like her.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)A national treasure.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)She came from nothing and used her talent and her intelligence to get where she is. AND her views on the LBGT community is in sharp contrast to many of her fans who don't share her, let's say, magnanimous views of others.
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)Songwriters' Hall Of Fame not just the country one. She has written a lot of music and kept the rights.
She could probably retire just from the residuals from "I Will Always Love You. "
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)(She wrote the song, "I Will Always Love You" for him) Well, years later, Wagoner was broke and he was trying to sell his catalogue to raise money. She bought his ENTIRE catalogue of music and then gifted it back to him. Talk about doin' the right thing. You can only admire people like that.
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)Not surprised at all that she gave it back to him.
mopinko
(70,135 posts)iirc, she actually holds the record for the most recorded author credits.
she has an absolutely phenomenal number of songs and albums to her credit.
and ya know, the thing i love the most about her is that there is just no better example of what can become of a child raised with love. she had nothing else. and look what she became.
shenmue
(38,506 posts)pintobean
(18,101 posts)I'm not a fan of her music, though. She has talent, it's just not my cup of tea.
Smarmie Doofus
(14,498 posts)1. All gay guys want to "look like" her. (Who knew?)
2. Gay guys are "flamboyant." (Right. Naturally.)
3. Being "persecuted" for being Dolly Parton is roughly analogous to being persecuted for being gay. (Yikes.)
4. No one should ever "judge" anyone. For *anything*. (Really?!?!) That apparently is the best thing that can be said for gay people. ( Talk about a back-handed complement.)
OK: She's a great singer, funny lady and probably a nice person. But she's no tabernacle of socio-political wisdom.
Maybe we should exercise a little judgement and employ a little discernment about whom we choose to enshrine.
daligirl519
(285 posts)anyone was proposing starting a religion around her! Sheesh! Sometimes people are just on the right side of things - that's all you need to take from this.
justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)Of course, she could be over generalizing the ENTIRE gay community but I doubt that. And I think she was trying to say that she can relate to the gay community for being persecuted for just being who you are. However, you can read it any way you like, just as I read it the way I liked.
I'm "offended" (sarcasm) she didn't even mention lesbians since she's been accused of being one for many, many years.
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)Nobody asked her to be a fount of socio-political wisdom.
The most important comment she has about gays is "I just love them." That is straight from the heart and unequivocal. You don't hear that level of inclusion from a lot of LGBT supporters. That is the highest level IMHO.
So go ahead and deconstruct her every statement. Have at it.
The LGBT community loves her too and so do I.
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)daleanime
(17,796 posts)Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)Scruffy Rumbler
(961 posts)2. Gay guys are "flamboyant." (Right. Naturally.)Actually, I and many of my friends are quite flamboyant, when we are allowed to be ourselves. But having learned from a very young age that being flamboyant is somehow shameful.... well look at your statement
3. Being "persecuted" for being Dolly Parton is roughly analogous to being persecuted for being gay. (Yikes.)Her statement: "They know I understand what it's like to be me, and to fight for being myself, and overcoming a lot of things. I think they also know that I just love them." I believe she understands what it is like to be persecuted.
4. No one should ever "judge" anyone. For *anything*. (Really?!?!) That apparently is the best thing that can be said for gay people. ( Talk about a back-handed complement.) Well, I would like to live in a world where I am not judged. Period. So I can understand her feelings.
You certainly lived up to your name.
nolabear
(41,987 posts)And what's the point of smarming up what's clearly meant to be a bunch of affirming, loving statements by a person who has actually lived what she's saying? It's absurd and reductive and adds nothing.
genxlib
(5,528 posts)I'm not gay so I am always careful about whether I am qualified to judge. But all those things jumped out at me too.
I think it is ok to recognize both. Considering her age, background, livelihood, etc.I think her attitude is remarkable.
But I can also say that the attitude falls short for all the reasons you stated. The lgbt community deserves better overall.
I feel the same way about pope Francis. Du has spent a lot of time and energy arguing about him and everyone seems to fall on the extremes of the great-evil scale. It is ok to recognize nuance. Considering who he is and the history he represents,, some of his statements are downright remarkable. However, he is still the leader of an organization that is wrong on too many issues.
So let's recognize the progress and push for better.
Response to genxlib (Reply #35)
Post removed
genxlib
(5,528 posts)Congratulations on the overreaction of the day.
I was raised in a Dolly loving household and I love her to death. But clearly, her language struck a few people as stereotyping. I don't think she meant any harm but I think it could have been done better. She's a nine but don't hate me for striving for a 10.
But here is what I find the most interesting. You and I are on the same side. So I am not sure why you felt the need to denigrate me. This place has a habit of attacking allies for insufficient adherence to the purity clause. I was trying to respond to someone who disagreed with your original premise by saying you were both right.
Whatever.
Smarmie Doofus
(14,498 posts)... that actually attracts a lot of people to this site.
Hence the barrage of ad hominems. You're "stupid". I'm... well take a quick look up and down the thread. ( A quick look is all it deserves.)
Challenge them on their emotionalism and irrationality and they go postal.
For the record, here's what I said about Ms Parton:
"OK: She's a great singer, funny lady and probably a nice person. But she's no tabernacle of socio-political wisdom."
Any reasonably dispassionate person, reading her remarks, will agree with me.
Relax: this brigade is not the whole site. Hang in there. You'll soon get used to this element.
genxlib
(5,528 posts)I've been here for years. I just don't post much.
I'm literally all thumbs when it comes to typing on a phone so I rarely dive in.
After all, it can be so rewarding
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)Dolly is into love, loving. Sheesh.. smarmie doofus
demigoddess
(6,641 posts)and it doesn't scare her. Unlike Cheney, Bush, etc.
GeorgeGist
(25,321 posts)Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)I love her schtick and a lot of her music. "Hard Candy Christmas" and "Coat of Many Colors" bring me to tears.
yesphan
(1,588 posts)"Imagine" was quite touching for me.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)"Coat of Many Colors" makes me cry every time.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)Thanks
tkmorris
(11,138 posts)Not sure why.
"Hey, is that woman alright?' "Oh yeah, don't worry about her, that's just Slow Ass Jolene..."
FailureToCommunicate
(14,014 posts)Arkansas Granny
(31,519 posts)I've always admired her drive and honesty.
joanbarnes
(1,722 posts)shireen
(8,333 posts)I don't have anything against Dolly Parton, but I winced when I saw the word "flamboyance." It is a stereotype that bothers me. One of my best friends is gay
he and his husband are just regular guys. I had no idea he was gay when I first met him. Since then, I've met many gay men that don't fit that "flamboyant" stereotype.
Modern Family is one of my fav. tv shows, but I think the Cameron character is way too exaggerated.
The bottom line: never assume anything about anyone based on their personality.
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)people among her fans. They are flamboyant as she is.
shireen
(8,333 posts)I didn't read the article. Thanks for clarifying.
toby jo
(1,269 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)More of our entertainers should be like that.
m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)lol. she is cute.
William769
(55,147 posts)She is just that type of lady.
Response to William769 (Reply #27)
William769 This message was self-deleted by its author.
catbyte
(34,404 posts)William769
(55,147 posts)Dolly through the decades.
http://lgbtworld.info/dolly/
AnneD
(15,774 posts)on the Porter Wagoner show. My father dearly loves the other singer, I think her name was Norma Jean. She was very popular at the time Dolly replaced her. Her buxom figure did not help her any as Dad commented...well now I know what he sees in her. You could tell Dolly was scared to death and I think she even sang higher than her normal range. But once she calmed down, we all loved her. As the years progress, she was the best thing on the show. Always had a soft spot in my heart for her. I like Loretta and June too. They were real and strong women singer-song writers in a male dominated business.
William769
(55,147 posts)Although I have to admit I never got use to Porter Wagoner's outfit's (yuck).
I also have Loretta and June in my music section of my site. I am from S.E. Kentucky. want to take a guess at what my Favorite Loretta Lynn song is?
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)She practices what he preaches.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Not exclusion. Regardless of my own opinions on faith, the manner in which she views faith has helped to mold her into an amazingly wonderful woman.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)you said it better.
Tsiyu
(18,186 posts)And if you ever get to Dollywood, check out the nursing rooms if you're a mom. If it's like it was years ago, Dolly thinks of the moms and their comfort.
There is the little cabin there the size of the one in which she grew up ( may be the original ) and you will realize what an amazing woman she is to have made it from a shack to music royalty
louis-t
(23,295 posts)than the entire repug party has.
mopinko
(70,135 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)[center][/center]
Skittles
(153,169 posts)she was lovely even when she was hawking Breeze detergent with towels
fletch18
(7 posts)We do have something in common!!!!! I think Dolly is Terrific in every way!