Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, September 8, 2009
Homo / Hetero Allow Me, Perez...
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Patricia Mauceri of ABC's One Life To Live claims she was fired from the show in late June because her religious beliefs did not allow her to go along with a storyline that involved her character's son coming out of the closet.
Mauceri didn't object to her character's son coming out, only to her character's reaction to the news: the mom Mauceri plays on TV didn't reject the fictional gay son played by some other actor on TV. The Right Wing Christian Gay Haters Club has adopted Mauceri as their new persecuted Christian martyr. Because, as Joe points out, none of us are truly free so long as daytime TV actresses aren't allowed to write and edit their own scripts.
1
"I demand you write my character true to life!"
"We did, Ms. Mauceri, just as you specified."
"No! I don't want my character to preach at her son, I don't want her to tell him he's going to hell or to ostracize him! I want his character to come in and beat me, do drugs, steal from me and then burn down a church or something before getting sick and dying. Now that's a realistic gay character!"
"We did, Ms. Mauceri, just as you specified."
"No! I don't want my character to preach at her son, I don't want her to tell him he's going to hell or to ostracize him! I want his character to come in and beat me, do drugs, steal from me and then burn down a church or something before getting sick and dying. Now that's a realistic gay character!"
2
Just wait until she gets fired from her new job waiting tables because she refuses to legitimize homosexual behavior by serving a gay couple.
3
She's on a show that glorifies fucking and sucking everyone else's partner behind their back on a constant basis and this is where she chooses to draw the line? Ha! It is to laugh.
4
Huh. I've heard that if you refuse to do your job, then you get fired. Guess it doesn't work that way on teevee?
6
Because working on a show in which numerous extramarital affairs take place as a matter of course is already so Christian...
Remember kids: Jesus personally had nothing to say about teh gays, but a lot of vitriol for adulterers.
Remember kids: Jesus personally had nothing to say about teh gays, but a lot of vitriol for adulterers.
7
6
Adultery is sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not that person's spouse.
A lot of homosexual activity falls under that definition.
Adultery is sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not that person's spouse.
A lot of homosexual activity falls under that definition.
8
@7 you're getting your venn diagrams mixed up. Your argument is akin to saying that jesus told us not to have any sex because some heterosexual sex falls under 'that definition' of adultery. False.
9
It wasn't even the son who's gay, but his roommate. The son (Chris) bought a "how to tell your parents you're gay" book for his roommate, who was freaked about coming out to his folks. Chris's mom saw the book and assumed her son was the one trying to come out, wacky misunderstanding ensued, etc. A completely harmless scene and ridiculous for the actress to quit over.
10
@7 so is it the gays' responsibility to not have sex with married people, or is it the married people's responsibility to not cheat on their spouses?
11
This may not make Jesus happy since Jesus may have been gay.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_je…
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_je…
12
10
Many "gays" are married (most to someone of the opposite sex - HOW COULD THAT BE?!) and cheat on their spouse.
8
It is not an argument. It is a statement of fact. A great deal of homosexual behavior would fall under the umbrella of a condemnation of adultery.
Many "gays" are married (most to someone of the opposite sex - HOW COULD THAT BE?!) and cheat on their spouse.
8
It is not an argument. It is a statement of fact. A great deal of homosexual behavior would fall under the umbrella of a condemnation of adultery.
13
Bobbie, you need only look at a woman with lust in your heart and you have committed adultery, per Jesus. Just saying.
14
@12: And apparently many "bigots" post incredibly stupid, baseless "facts" on the internet (HOW COULD THAT BE?) and prove themselves to be fools.
15
Lying is against my religious beliefs, but when I worked for a large telecom company, I knew what they wanted me to tell customers was a lie, but If I didn't say what was expected, I would get fired. And I was a union member.
That's the way it is when you work for someone else. Say the lines, or leave.
That's the way it is when you work for someone else. Say the lines, or leave.
16
@10 Homewrecking's pretty unethical from either side.
@12 if it's simply a statement of fact, then it's totally off topic. What connection does it have to this post?
I believe that you were trying to say that Jesus did have vitriol for gays (contra @6) because (and this is an argument) some gays are adulterers. In which case, he also had the same vitriol for heterosexuals because some heteros are adulterers.
@12 if it's simply a statement of fact, then it's totally off topic. What connection does it have to this post?
I believe that you were trying to say that Jesus did have vitriol for gays (contra @6) because (and this is an argument) some gays are adulterers. In which case, he also had the same vitriol for heterosexuals because some heteros are adulterers.
19
Is it too much to hope for that her character is written out to have died from auto-erotic asphyxiation?
23
So did they kill her character off? If so, how? Did she fall into a hydroelectric dam, or abducted by aliens?
25
@23: Massive rectal trauma that was depicted live on screen. Very realistisch.
It explains why she's so butthurt.
It explains why she's so butthurt.
26
According to Mauceri's warped logic, fictional TV characters can only do things that the actor portraying the character believes and would do in real life.
27
...and this is why - in future opera casting - unless you're a Japanese woman, you need not audition for the role of Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly. Sp8, please note! Also in Traviata, Violetta must not only be a whore, she must also be tubercular.
28
"Remember kids: Jesus personally had nothing to say about teh gays, but a lot of vitriol for adulterers. "
Well duh, that's why he came back! To save the souls of the adulterers and hate all the homosexuals.
Obviously.
Well duh, that's why he came back! To save the souls of the adulterers and hate all the homosexuals.
Obviously.
30
I'll admit that when I was pregnant I did watch this, I had morning sickness for 9 months, and I don't remember her character speaking out against the premarital sex her character's children were having, or their involvement in the mob.
She's an actress, her job was to play a character, no one asked her to believe what her character had to say. Just act well enough to entertain fans, and any sick pregnant women stuck on bed rest and unable to reach the remote.
If she wants to preach, she needs to get herself a job in ministry.
She's an actress, her job was to play a character, no one asked her to believe what her character had to say. Just act well enough to entertain fans, and any sick pregnant women stuck on bed rest and unable to reach the remote.
If she wants to preach, she needs to get herself a job in ministry.
32
Her character (according to Wikipedia) had no problem supporting her gang banger murder son (who was actually her drug lord older brother's son?), but oh God...not teh gayz!
35
The OLTL scene is on YouTube, at about 2:40 in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVhGlRI2k…
I must say, however, that the reaction the mother (Carlotta) mistakenly thinking that the son (Christian) was gay was slightly unrealistic. There should have been a slighty "taken aback" reaction on her - a look of bewilderment - then go on to be accepting and loving. A tad more believable perhaps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVhGlRI2k…
I must say, however, that the reaction the mother (Carlotta) mistakenly thinking that the son (Christian) was gay was slightly unrealistic. There should have been a slighty "taken aback" reaction on her - a look of bewilderment - then go on to be accepting and loving. A tad more believable perhaps.
36
Has it ever occurred to ABC that a good portion of their soap followers are women with strong and solid faith values? Of all the major networks ABC used to be the one most geared to the family, what has happened to it now? Do they honestly believe that homosexuals will view more their network with actions like these? They will be well advised to seek out the numbers first because alienating the bigger population of women in favor of gays (7 to 10 percent at most) seems to be a very poor commercial and financial strategy.
It's refreshing to see women in the arts like Ms Mauceri who hold moral values above everything else. It does away with the image that sometimes is promoted of all actors and actress being libertines in favor of promoting non traditonal values. We people of faith need to let the networks know that a refusal to respect and accommodate people like her will be met with a repudiation of their programing and their sponsors on our part.
It's refreshing to see women in the arts like Ms Mauceri who hold moral values above everything else. It does away with the image that sometimes is promoted of all actors and actress being libertines in favor of promoting non traditonal values. We people of faith need to let the networks know that a refusal to respect and accommodate people like her will be met with a repudiation of their programing and their sponsors on our part.
37
@ 36,
Soap operas are soft-core pornography for bored housewives. I doubt most of them have morals that strong. She got caned because she presumed to tell her employers (directors/writers) how she should do her job. She forgot she was just another employee and not an 'artist' with 'vision'.
p.s. I'm sure she'll make more money on the speech circuit with Carrie 'Bible Tits' Prejean, Sarah 'Lumberjack Barbie' Palin, and Joe the 'Not Really A' Plumber than she ever did as bit character on a dumb soap....which is probably going off the air soon like most of them are now that the economy has gone down the crapper.
Soap operas are soft-core pornography for bored housewives. I doubt most of them have morals that strong. She got caned because she presumed to tell her employers (directors/writers) how she should do her job. She forgot she was just another employee and not an 'artist' with 'vision'.
p.s. I'm sure she'll make more money on the speech circuit with Carrie 'Bible Tits' Prejean, Sarah 'Lumberjack Barbie' Palin, and Joe the 'Not Really A' Plumber than she ever did as bit character on a dumb soap....which is probably going off the air soon like most of them are now that the economy has gone down the crapper.
38
LC,
Your hilarious, what kind of traditional values is she supporting?
Her character (according to Wikipedia) had no problem supporting her gang banger murder son (who was actually her drug lord older brother's son?), as pointed out by Jen D.
And, her character had no problem supporting permarital and teen age sex of her children. Not to mention her childrens numerous affairs and divorces.
She's a parody of a woman of strong faith values, cherry picking what biblical values her TV character will or will not support.
She's a joke, and a fool to think that her acting gig promoted faith values.
Thanks for the laugh. I do love you, you redundant broken record.
Your hilarious, what kind of traditional values is she supporting?
Her character (according to Wikipedia) had no problem supporting her gang banger murder son (who was actually her drug lord older brother's son?), as pointed out by Jen D.
And, her character had no problem supporting permarital and teen age sex of her children. Not to mention her childrens numerous affairs and divorces.
She's a parody of a woman of strong faith values, cherry picking what biblical values her TV character will or will not support.
She's a joke, and a fool to think that her acting gig promoted faith values.
Thanks for the laugh. I do love you, you redundant broken record.
39
@37, she got caned for disobeying her employers? Heh heh, a lot folks with "strong faith and solid values" would probably get off on seeing that! The Right WIng Authoritarian mindset digs the S&M.
And of course, Loveschild, if you're not a homo, you're against 'em! If you're in a family, you're against the homos! Dammit, I'm tired of these homos hatching from eggs dropped off by Louis Farakhan's friends in the spaceships! When will these family-less people stop attacking US, THE FAMILY PEOPLE?!
All of the other animals on this earth breed without any surly demands for a pat on the back. Why did G-d give us orgasms again? If we truly loved the baby Christmas Jesus, wouldn't we just procreate out of a sense of duty? Shit, we have the technology, let's start surgically cutting nerves to all genitals at birth. Then we'll know that people with families truly are committed, devoted followers of the Lord who want to be fruitful, multiply, and subdue-uh- the EARTH-uh. Untiil then, I doubt all of your motives, you Family naggers. There's wet, lurid humping behind all of your families. Sure, tell us you didn't like it.
And of course, Loveschild, if you're not a homo, you're against 'em! If you're in a family, you're against the homos! Dammit, I'm tired of these homos hatching from eggs dropped off by Louis Farakhan's friends in the spaceships! When will these family-less people stop attacking US, THE FAMILY PEOPLE?!
All of the other animals on this earth breed without any surly demands for a pat on the back. Why did G-d give us orgasms again? If we truly loved the baby Christmas Jesus, wouldn't we just procreate out of a sense of duty? Shit, we have the technology, let's start surgically cutting nerves to all genitals at birth. Then we'll know that people with families truly are committed, devoted followers of the Lord who want to be fruitful, multiply, and subdue-uh- the EARTH-uh. Untiil then, I doubt all of your motives, you Family naggers. There's wet, lurid humping behind all of your families. Sure, tell us you didn't like it.
40
The fact that she was standing up for what's right, speaking the truth and was not going along with a culture that seems to be dedicated with promoting unhealthy behaviors is what ruffled some feathers in ABC. Perhaps some need to hear it from some who have engaged and probably still engage in risky behavior to understand it.
"it's healthier to be straight, than to be gay. You're at less risk of certain sexual transmitted diseases" , Dan Savage podcast 150
Is he also a bigot, "Right WIng Authoritarian" or "a joke" for telling you the truth? I think not. In his own way he's letting you know precisely the same thing that Ms Mauceri was trying to by taking her strong moral stand. That's what she was expressing to her fans, that, people's health are nothing to be wishy washy about, sometimes we must stand up for life, whats good, what promotes health for teens and young adults and not death. Even when the mighty Caesers are at the gates ready to persecute us for it. May God bless this wonderful woman for standing up not for whats popular but for whats right, for life itself.
"it's healthier to be straight, than to be gay. You're at less risk of certain sexual transmitted diseases" , Dan Savage podcast 150
Is he also a bigot, "Right WIng Authoritarian" or "a joke" for telling you the truth? I think not. In his own way he's letting you know precisely the same thing that Ms Mauceri was trying to by taking her strong moral stand. That's what she was expressing to her fans, that, people's health are nothing to be wishy washy about, sometimes we must stand up for life, whats good, what promotes health for teens and young adults and not death. Even when the mighty Caesers are at the gates ready to persecute us for it. May God bless this wonderful woman for standing up not for whats popular but for whats right, for life itself.
41
40:
Bullshit.
Murder, organized crime, unprotected sex among minors, teen age pregnancy, drug addiction, prostitution, serial switching of spouses, her character supported all those behaviors without a blink. She wasn't standing up for "what is life, whats good, what promotes health for teens and young adults and not death." She prostituted her values by spending the last 14 years promoting those behaviors, and taking a nice salary for it. Her strong moral stand, is a pathetic joke.
She's just another faux martyr who wants another gold star for her hat. Just another hypocrite, trying to make a buck.
Bullshit.
Murder, organized crime, unprotected sex among minors, teen age pregnancy, drug addiction, prostitution, serial switching of spouses, her character supported all those behaviors without a blink. She wasn't standing up for "what is life, whats good, what promotes health for teens and young adults and not death." She prostituted her values by spending the last 14 years promoting those behaviors, and taking a nice salary for it. Her strong moral stand, is a pathetic joke.
She's just another faux martyr who wants another gold star for her hat. Just another hypocrite, trying to make a buck.
42
Oh, by the way, LC.
You really should examine why, you're here listening to Savage Love pod casts and reading his blog. It speaks volumes, your I'm so pious with such a strong moral stand, yet I can't stop listening to Dan Savage talk about sex. Do you comfort your voyeuristic need, by telling yourself your educating yourself on his proclivities and the proclivities of others? Your either sex positive, and this is all just an act, or your closeted about what makes your swimsuit area sparkle and you want his proclivities for yourself. Either way your a hypocrite. Your presence here contradicts your traditional family values stance.
You really should examine why, you're here listening to Savage Love pod casts and reading his blog. It speaks volumes, your I'm so pious with such a strong moral stand, yet I can't stop listening to Dan Savage talk about sex. Do you comfort your voyeuristic need, by telling yourself your educating yourself on his proclivities and the proclivities of others? Your either sex positive, and this is all just an act, or your closeted about what makes your swimsuit area sparkle and you want his proclivities for yourself. Either way your a hypocrite. Your presence here contradicts your traditional family values stance.
43
She is a devout Christian and she could not come to terms in accepting the homosexuality of her (on stage) son.... Quite a narrow view of Christianity don't you think so... And I (deeply devout christian) believed that Christianity was all about love and accepting, again I am not sure if I will not sue her for libel... of the christian faith....
44
of course, she is a devout fundamentalist , no different than the Taliban.....Patricia, honey, in my limited vocabulary , you are simply a human-hater, but I love you and will say a rosary for you tonight so God could enlighten you on the virtue of loving your neighbor and no pun is intended.
45
40, Loveschild, Like you, she doesn't really live by the Bible. You just pick and choose through the scriptures and find things to attack people you don't like, while you ignore what you don't want to follow yourself. This is a truth that you cannot handle, thus you now ignore anyone pointing this out to you.
49
In my short career as a stage actor, I've played an abusive husband, a presidential assassin, and the freaking Marquis de Sade. I didn't play these characters because I agreed with their sense of morality. I played them because portraying someone with a morality that diverges from my own is enlightening, fascinating, FUN, and - perhaps most importantly in this conversation - MY JOB. This woman deserved to get fired, and the people holding her up as a martyr deserve to be laughed at.
50
@ 8 - Actually, it was our ol' Bible Buddy, the apostle Paul, who said we should ALL be celibate.
51
Hey Chaya760,
Reading your comments this morning made my day. I hope your doing well. You are, as always, in my prayers.
Take care.
Reading your comments this morning made my day. I hope your doing well. You are, as always, in my prayers.
Take care.
52
I've decided I don't like some of my users and don't approve of their "lifestyles", so I won't be supporting them. Think that'll fly with my boss?
Um, no. If I arbitrarily decide which parts of my job I will and will not do, I will be terminated. Patricia, honey, they're PAYING you to ACT. Do you know how many tens of thousands of actresses would be overjoyed to earn your regular salary?
Um, no. If I arbitrarily decide which parts of my job I will and will not do, I will be terminated. Patricia, honey, they're PAYING you to ACT. Do you know how many tens of thousands of actresses would be overjoyed to earn your regular salary?
53
So should a Christian pharmacist have to give birth control out? Of course not.
Just like a white supremacist emergency room surgeon should not have to operate on black patients.
Just like a white supremacist emergency room surgeon should not have to operate on black patients.
54
Yesterday a couple of my students said they enjoy harming animals. I don't think I feel like teaching them anymore.
55
A soap opera actress balks at playing the mother of a son with gay roommate? On a soap opera of all things? Last time I saw a soap opera, I saw adultery, homosexuality, incest, transgenders and that was all in one episode (Passions, it was).
Oh and lets not forget murder plots, rape, and arson. Hell, Luke and Laura was a romance formed on rape for chrissakes.
And she draws the line at a son's gay friend? Seriously? Why the hell are you an actor? It's a sad world indeed when homosexuality is deemed the ultimate evil, far worse than murder apparently. God, what is this obsession Fundies have with gays?
Oh and lets not forget murder plots, rape, and arson. Hell, Luke and Laura was a romance formed on rape for chrissakes.
And she draws the line at a son's gay friend? Seriously? Why the hell are you an actor? It's a sad world indeed when homosexuality is deemed the ultimate evil, far worse than murder apparently. God, what is this obsession Fundies have with gays?
56
The fundies are scared of sex. They're scared of their own sexuality which is often contraindicated by their moral structure.
As has been discussed at length on SLOG, the bible is full of conflicts, translation contingencies and outdated mores, so that:
~ The denominations of Christianity number in the thousands, if not tens of thousands.
~ It becomes necessary for every denomination to cherry-pick relevant scripture over passages that are less so, lest we be forced to stone others to death for minor infractions, or commit genocide down to the livestock.
~ Any bit of scripture condemning gays can be interpreted based on situational context to not apply to contemporary gay relationships, or be dismissed as an offense no more severe than noshing on breaded shrimp, or wearing a cotton-polyester blend. As noted by the Kihm Winship notes abominators become instant anthropologists when it comes to those things they do.
In my own observations of religious homophobes, I've come to a couple of conclusions:
~ This fear of gays, of becoming gay, of kinky sex, of others getting more sex than they are and getting away with it (et. al.) expressed by such conservatives does not originate from the bible or from their faith. Scripture is used as a justification to hate and act against gays just as it is used as a justification to hate and act against heathens, Huns and heretics.
~ The commandments to which such folk claim to adhere, whether the decalogue or the ethic of reciprocity or the beatifications are interpreted to apply only to their own parish. As outsiders, especially those who do not conform to their codes of morality, we are the enemy, and are not even issued respect due another human being. We don't count, hence sin against us doesn't count either.
Incidentally, a couple having sex together is only fornication until one of them is married to a third party, at which point it becomes adultery. If one looks at this from a contractual perspective, it's still only fornication if the spouse consents. For the rest of us, do you really want the state, or an institution to control those (amongst healthy, viable adults) with whom you can or cannot have sex? Why does that skirt too close to eugenics for my taste?
More...
As has been discussed at length on SLOG, the bible is full of conflicts, translation contingencies and outdated mores, so that:
~ The denominations of Christianity number in the thousands, if not tens of thousands.
~ It becomes necessary for every denomination to cherry-pick relevant scripture over passages that are less so, lest we be forced to stone others to death for minor infractions, or commit genocide down to the livestock.
~ Any bit of scripture condemning gays can be interpreted based on situational context to not apply to contemporary gay relationships, or be dismissed as an offense no more severe than noshing on breaded shrimp, or wearing a cotton-polyester blend. As noted by the Kihm Winship notes abominators become instant anthropologists when it comes to those things they do.
In my own observations of religious homophobes, I've come to a couple of conclusions:
~ This fear of gays, of becoming gay, of kinky sex, of others getting more sex than they are and getting away with it (et. al.) expressed by such conservatives does not originate from the bible or from their faith. Scripture is used as a justification to hate and act against gays just as it is used as a justification to hate and act against heathens, Huns and heretics.
~ The commandments to which such folk claim to adhere, whether the decalogue or the ethic of reciprocity or the beatifications are interpreted to apply only to their own parish. As outsiders, especially those who do not conform to their codes of morality, we are the enemy, and are not even issued respect due another human being. We don't count, hence sin against us doesn't count either.
Incidentally, a couple having sex together is only fornication until one of them is married to a third party, at which point it becomes adultery. If one looks at this from a contractual perspective, it's still only fornication if the spouse consents. For the rest of us, do you really want the state, or an institution to control those (amongst healthy, viable adults) with whom you can or cannot have sex? Why does that skirt too close to eugenics for my taste?
57
Actors are paid to recite lines and act, not to tell the writers how to write their lines. If she was not happy with her lines and refused to perform she should be fired. I am so tired of holier than thou types complaining they have been discriminated against just so they can drum up publicity for their cause. If I don't perform my job I would get fired. What's the difference? Maybe Carrie Prejean and Patricia Mauceri should get a job at Dennys or Walmart.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
Foie Gras Tastes Like Cat Food by Callan Berry
-
SL Letter of the Day: The Tell-Tale Handjob by Dan Savage
-
Pizza Update: Breaking the 5-Minute Barrier by Goldy
-
Cap Hill Is Becoming a Little Like What? by Charles Mudede
-
Today in the Surveillance State: The "War on Reality" by Brendan Kiley
-
Slog Bible Study: Leviticus 20:9 by Goldy
-
President Obama Says NSA Spying Is "Transparent" by Paul Constant
-
The Monday Morning News by Goldy
-
Egyptian Theatre to Close at the End of This Month by Paul Constant
-
NHL Could Move Phoenix Coyotes to Seattle in Time for 2013-2014 Season by Goldy
Stranger Personals
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (57) RSS