Jackson Free Press

MTV News reports: "In a wide-ranging interview with Playboy magazine, 50 Cent has let his feelings on homosexuality be known, in language sure to draw the ire of gay-rights supporters. 'I ain't into f----ts,' 50 says in an interview in the April issue of Playboy, which hits stands Friday. 'I don't like gay people around me, because I'm not comfortable with what their thoughts are. I'm not prejudiced. I just don't go with gay people and kick it – we don't have that much in common. I'd rather hang out with a straight dude. But women who like women, that's cool.'"

Previous Commentsshow

There is a story on foxnews.com about a small town in TN seeking to ban homosexuals, or something of the like. I know it is an important social issue, but I'll be damned if this ain't funny. I would link the story but I have no idea how to do it.

jimjam

Mar 17 2004

That reminds me of the city in Florida that banned Satan... Literally, "Welcome to _________! Satan not welcomed." If you can link, jimjam, I'd appreciate it.

kaust

Mar 17 2004

Hilarious because they're so stupid, I guess, although I find it hard to laugh at stupidity designed to hurt other people. As if one could "ban" homosexuality. Maybe 50 Cent can go retire in Dayton, Tenn. The gay-marriage issue is definitely bringing hate out of the closet. The irony, of course, is that this kind of idiocy will only show more similiarities between the gay rights movement and the black civil rights movement, not fewer. Segregation is segregation. Here's the link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,114467,00.html Rhea County commissioners unanimously voted to ask state lawmakers to introduce legislation amending Tennessee's criminal code so the county can charge†homosexuals with crimes against nature. "We need to keep them out of here," said Commissioner J.C. Fugate, who introduced the motion. County Attorney Gary Fritts also was asked by Fugate to find the best way to enact a local law banning homosexuals from living in Rhea County. Commissioners asked Fritts to bring a resolutionced drinking alcohol and county zoning. Could be 1955 in Jackson. There was a great interview yesterday on the Tavis Smiley show with a black UCLA professor, Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, who warned blacks not to fall for gay marriage "wedge issue" that Republicans are trying to use to divide them. Regardless of your feelings about homosexuality, she said, this issue is being used to obscure important issues that affect everyone every day, like education, jobs, the war, etc. Listen to it here (scroll down about halfway): http://www.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.php?prgDate=16-Mar-2004&prgId=14

DonnaLadd

Mar 17 2004

Except, Knoll, banning Satan makes a bit more sense. I don't think he's subject to the constitutional rights and equal protection that the rest of us have, regardless of whom we choose to marry or sleep with. (grin)

DonnaLadd

Mar 17 2004

Crimes against nature? And I thought Mississippi had some backwards cities... Are they really stuck back in Oscar Wilde's time? I guess we know which city/county/state won't be ranking in the top 25 of the Creative Class listing... I feel a road trip to Rhea coming on... A caravan of flamboyant drag queens is exactly what that county needs. ;-)

kaust

Mar 17 2004

Unless I misread, Rhea County's seat is Dayton --- famous in history for The Scopes Monkey Trial!!!!! Go Figure!

Philip

Mar 17 2004

Funny. When I read Dayton, I knew there was something. For a second I thought that was the Klan birthplace, but that was Pulaski, right? At least they're consistent there in Dayton, eh. ;-) Actually, maybe they just miss being in the news.

DonnaLadd

Mar 17 2004

Rap musician 50 Cent used several anti-homosexual slurs in an April interview with Playboy magazine, but even so, a homosexual advocacy group has restrained its criticism of him and even invited him to "get to know the LGBT community." Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation offered a relatively mild response to words uttered by rapper 50 Cent, in marked contrast to GLAAD's relentless attack several years ago on conservative radio talk-show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who never said the words that 50 Cent did. "We applaud his honesty in talking about the murder of his bisexual mother and appreciate his acknowledgement that he is not comfortable with gay people. We know that confronting homophobia can indeed be uncomfortable," said C. Riley Snorton, GLAAD's "People of Color Media Manager." Full story....

kaust

Mar 17 2004

This is an interesting point. What do you think about it, Knol? Is the gay community being inconsistent with lukewarm criticism of 50 Cent? I broke the story nationally about the StopDrLaura.com Web site for Salon, and had talked a lot to the players involved with that then (Aravosis, etc.). I do wonder if they're going to take a similar tactic with 50 Cent -- are his comments as bad as Dr. Laura's "biological error" slurs? I'd track down Aravosis and ask him, but I'm not sure I have time at the moment. Too much else going on right here in Jackson. But I would be interested in hearing what y'all think about 50 Cent's anti-gay comments vs. Dr. Laura's. Similarities? Differences?

DonnaLadd

Mar 17 2004

BTW, note that the link to that story is on NewsMax.com, the ultra-conservative news service. No problem with that, but it's good to understand the source's particular biases, being that they have such an innocuous name. They would clearly want to present the gay community (and 50 Cent) in the worst possible light. Just an FYI to anyone not familiar with NewsMax.

DonnaLadd

Mar 17 2004

Comparing Dr. Laura and 50 Cent is literally like comparing apples and oranges. 50 has never claimed to be a doctor. 50 has never claimed to be a religious authority. 50 made his comments openly and honestly and even acknowledged his prejudice. Laura used trickery with the whole "Dr" title which made her words sound official. Laura and her followers felt that she definitely had some religious/moral power. Laura never acknowledged that she was prejudiced but stood firmly on her beliefs. She never once claimed it as her opinion, per se. Oddly, 50s comments are apparantly falling on deaf ears since the studies show the younger generations are more open to equality in general. His audience will probably not be sheeple in this situation.... Unlike Laura's. When I think of Laura, I literally think of propaganda... When I think of 50's comments, I view them as open and honest. He never called gays 'biological errors.' His point was that he's not down with gays. That's perfectly fine with me. I'm not down with glorifying thug-life and bling-bling and I can say that as my own opinion. I will say that if his music began to reflect his attitude regarding gays (does it, already?), GLAAD would be prepared to take him down. Also, could it possibly be with everything else going on that activists are a bit too preoccupied to deal with 50 right now? Just speculation...

kaust

Mar 17 2004

When I think of Laura, I literally think of propaganda... When I think of 50's comments, I view them as open and honest. He never called gays 'biological errors.' His point was that he's not down with gays. That's perfectly fine with me. I'm not down with glorifying thug-life and bling-bling and I can say that as my own opinion. Those are good points. And an excellent point about Dr. Laura's "doctor" title. FYI, here's a link to the piece I wrote for Salon four years ago (has it been that long!?): http://archive.salon.com/tech/log/2000/03/01/drlaura/

DonnaLadd

Mar 17 2004

In the same tense, humid courtroom where Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan battled over the teaching of evolution 79 years ago, eight county commissioners quickly rescinded yesterday an anti-gay motion that had drawn national attention - and ridicule - to Dayton again. The measure, which the commission passed unanimously Tuesday night, would have banned gays and lesbians from living in Rhea County and allowed prosecution of gays and lesbians for "crimes against nature." It was sent to the county attorney, who was directed to write a resolution that could eventually become Tennessee state law. County Attorney Gary Fritts said the commissioners simply had intended to ban same-sex marriage in Rhea County, but the wording of the motion transformed Dayton into the center of an ideological firestorm. Full Story @ BaltimoreSun.com I think this county has proven that evolution does not occur without diversity.

kaust

Mar 19 2004

A new twist on the Rhea drama. Ironically, Duane and I were discussing this very thing the other night... Nice to see it coming to life. Less than a week after Rhea County was forced to back down on calling for the power to jail gays under Tennessee's Crimes Against Nature law the LGBT community is preparing for its first Pride Day. Gays from across the country are being urged to converge on Rhea County on May 24 to celebrate Rhea County Gay Day. Gary A. Eddings, who is organizing the event said it will be held at the Rhea County Courthouse, where the commission held its vote and then following a blitz of media attention rescinded it and where the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial dealing with the teaching of evolution in the schools was held. Full Story @ Rainbow Network Website about the event...

kaust

Mar 25 2004