Gay Marriage and Kennedy Center Horrors--I Mean Honors

I haven't written about the horror show known as the Trump administration for a while. But two major developments have cropped up which call for immediate comment--the first major challenge to the Supreme Court's gay-marriage ruling and Trump's first roster of Kennedy Center honorees after he has taken over operation of the venue and its formerly highly-cherished life achievement awards. 

Both these events are indications of Trump and Trumpism's attempts to take over the culture and set it back to the days before DEI, multiculturism and being "woke"--the right's latest bogeyman phrase (succeeding the L word and politically correct). 

I had thought there wouldn't be a challenge for gay marriage because there would have to be lawsuit, not just a red-state legislature passing a wish SCOTUS would overturn Obergefell. Kim Davis--remember her, the Kentucky county clerk who refused to marry a gay couple and liked to wear Grranimals--has filed a suit that she should not have to pay the $125K fine for her refusal because it violates her religious beliefs. She is also suing to have the entire gay marriage decision overturned. Evidently her religious rights are more important than my rights to equal treatment under the law. 

I was worried about this, knowing the the current court is capable of anything. They overturned Roe v. Wade and are allowing Trump to do whatever he wants even if it's a criminal act, as long it's official business. Then I saw that in 2022 the House and Senate passed and Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act codifying non-discrimination for gay, interracial and international marriages. This law makes gay marriage federal and not just a state-by-state thing, backing up the SCOTUS' Obergefell decision. Also, if I read the law correctly, it says that even if the Supremes do reverse Obergefell, states that have no gay-marriage laws on their books must recognize gay and interracial unions from those states which do have such laws. In other words, if a gay married couple from NY moves to Arkansas which has rejected gay marriage, Arkansas still has to recognize this pairing. I think it can also be interpreted that a gay Alabama couple could go to NY or a gay-friendly state, get married there and return to their home red state and still be legally joined. They just couldn't get married in Alabama or Arkansas or wherever. 

This made me feel better. But cynical friends have said the House and Senate could pass another law canceling the Respect for Marriage Act. I don't think Congress has an appetite for overturning gay marriage across the country. The Supremes might because they don't need to worry about re-election. I'm not a lawyer so I don't understand all the intricacies of the cases. Apparently not all of the right-wing jurists agreed with Clarence Thomas when he called for a revisiting of Obergefell, which is kinda hypocritical since he himself is in an interracial marriage and if it weren't for "judicial overreach" his union would be declared invalid. 

I feel badly that nationwide gay marriage might be taken away, especially since most Americans are fine with it. If they do overturn Obergefell, what will be the reaction? Will game and reality shows still feature gay couples as contestants?

The 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees.
I may just hate-watch the show in December
to see how awful it will be.

The Kennedy Center Honors are not as overwhelming an outrage and Trumpy's selection of honorees could have been a lot worse (There was no Scott Baio, Dean Cain, or Roseanne). What's really horrible is that Trump announced he is going to host the event himself, claiming "they" begged him to over see the proceedings (however "they" are). What a nightmare. I'll bet he'll bitch and moan when he doesn't receive an Emmy Award. And at the press conference, he tossed off that next year he'll give himself a KCH. BTW, the new fascists in charge of the Kennedy Center have fired Tiffany who designed the medallion and rainbow ribbons for the Honors (probably too PC, woke and LGBT for them). I dread to think what the new, tacky design will be and if they'll incorporate Trump's name into it somehow. Maybe they'll even announce renaming the Center for Trump and his plastic bride at the ceremony. I might just hate-watch it to see how truly awful it will be.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Tom Cruise declined the honor, citing a scheduling conflict. That's probably a nice way of saying "No thanks, Trumpy. I don't want to damage my career any further." The five honorees were no doubt asked first if they would accept before the announcement to avoid embarrassment for Trump. 

But they are an embarrassment to America and its culture. Gloria Gaynor? She had one disco hit "I Will Survive." Ironically her other big hit was Jerry Herman's "I Am What I Am" from La Cage Aux Folles, an anthem of gay pride. (She has declared herself a Christian and has stopped short of condemning her gay fans. This won't help.) Sylvester Stallone is not the greatest actor alive and his sole qualification for the award seems to be his support for the Orange One. BTW, how is the Ambassadorship to Hollywood going, Sly? Michael Crawford is on the list because he starred in Trump's favorite musical Phantom of the Opera almost 40 years ago. He also appeared as the juvenile in the film versions of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Hello, Dolly. His only Broadway credit after Phantom was the floperoo Dance of the Vampires, perhaps the worst musical I have ever see (and that's really saying something). George Strait--a country-western star with whom I am unfamiliar. I only know KISS from their appearance on the legendarily campy Paul Lynde Halloween Special. (This reminds me I should buy Bruce Vilanch's book about his experience on that show and other TV train wrecks.)

I just realized in two years, the Honors will celebrate their 50th anniversary and if Trump is still in office, I shudder to think how they will celebrate.

KISS with Paul Lynde and Margaret Hamilton
on Lynde's Halloween Special (1976).