Musician Rob Thomas supports gay marriage and challenges those that oppose it

[t0dd]

From Marriage Equality New York
http://blog.marriageequalityny.org/2009/05/musician-rob-thomas-supports-gay.html

Musician Rob Thomas supports gay marriage on Twitter, engages his fans on the Miss California debacle



Over on his Twitter page Rob Thomas took a stand on Miss California's (aka Carrie Prejean) being in a new ad against gay marriage, calling her views (as expressed at the Miss USA pageant) bigoted and expressing frustration at the praise she was receiving from conservatives:


Rob Thomas: i'm so tired of people saying that the miss usa contestant, Carrie Prejean, had courage to speak her mind. she's a bigot. i'm sorry, but i think if you're against gay marriage, you are a bigot and you shouldn't be applauded for sharing your bigoted views. she is starring in a $1.5 million ad against gay marriage. i don't understand how it's ok to stop on human rights so blatantly. this statement, by the way, was more about the fact that people are spending millions of dollars to make ads to stop gay marriage. fail.


This gets more interesting to me, however, when Thomas gets come critical responses from the people following his feed and he decides to engage with them. Here are a few sample exchanges:


Suzflaca13: why is okay then to say that you are for gay marriage? this is still America correct?
Rob Thomas: i'm for basic human rights, FOR EVERYONE. are you not? in fact, anyone here who doesn't believe EVERYONE deserves basic human rights, please explain.


Thomas, for example, shows that Freedom of Speech does not include freedom from having your speech criticized.


prepchik07: I respect you for your views, but get off her back. she stuck up for her beliefs and was honest. Stop harassing her. Thanks
Rob Thomas: if someone (michael richards, mel gibson) has the "courage" to make a bigoted statement, they should be called on it.


He also points out that being against gay marriage isn't standing up for your beliefs but insisting that your beliefs should control other people's lives.


Marc Scott: What about my right to believe in the biblical definition of marriage? I'm not a bigot. I just believe something different.
Rob Thomas: but your bible can't tell me what I can do i MY home. your religion is for YOU.


...

More here: http://blog.marriageequalityny.org/2009/05/musician-rob-thomas-supports-gay.html

Text is re-printed below in case the images are too hard to see... But yeah, I always did like his music! BTW, I highly prefer him to Perez Hilton as an advocate. After all, he can intelligently challenge those with opposing views and isn't a childish phony that spends all his time gossiping about celebrities.

[donheld]

1. I see Robbie rocks in more ways than one!

[Skittles]

2. good for him

he is correct - those in opposition of gay marriage are BIGOTS

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Can't stand your music, Rob

...but thanks for standing up against the bigots!

[Divine Discontent]

4. I always found him gay-friendly. Glad to read this, and to hear him espouse sane thoughts.

As a Christian, I am refreshed when I hear people I admire stand up for us Gay people. I believe the right-wing, as has been done through the ages by the powerful in churches, has used the uniqueness of Gay people as a tool to separate and stir up the masses, and to keep us down, like they used to keep down people who were not Christian, who were slaves, who were minority in their region/country, who were female.

I think he's married to a lady, dang... he's a great guy and I love many of his songs including hand me down, the difference and problem girl, back to good, and bright lights.

[Rhythm]

5. Thanks for sharing this :-)

It's refreshing to see a celeb who's willing to do more than just say yea or nay, but instead willing to engage the other side so thoughtfully and eloquently.

Glad to have this talented gentleman on our side!

[sui generis]

6. Rob Thomas - thank you for your voice! Awesome.

You nailed it in one:

"being against gay marriage isn't standing up for your beliefs but insisting that your beliefs should control other people's lives'

You have a new fan today.

:yourock: