Carrie Underwood supports gay marriage.

[Anti-Am]

So will Americans give Carrie the Dixie Chicks treatment and boycott her? The country music world is the least understanding of LGBT and the issues. Will Carrie pay for giving her opinion? This will be interesting!

http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/fash-track/carrie-underwood-gay-marriage-barack-obama-335592

Carrie Underwood, the popular country singer and red carpet fashion darling, has come out firmly in favor of gay marriage.

"As a married person myself, I don't know what it's like to be told I can't marry somebody I love and want to marry," she said in an interview with The Independent. "

I can't imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love."

Underwood speaks frequently about her faith and has woven it into her songs, such as the No 1 country hit "Jesus Take the Wheel."

Underwood maintains that her position about same-sex marriage is because of her Christian values. She was raised a Baptist, but she and her husband, pro ice-hockey player Mike Fisher, worship in a non-denominational congregation.

"Our church is gay friendly," she explains. "Above all, God wanted us to love others. It's not about setting rules, or 'everyone has to be like me.' No. We're all different. That's what makes us special. We have to love each other and get on with each other. It's not up to me to judge anybody."

Edited June 11, 2012 by Anti-Am

[Moonlight Graham]

I don't think it will be as bad. Bashing the president at a time of war & thus patriotic fervor would be a more universal no-no IMO. Radio stations banning Carrie would be deemed homophobic and whatnot. Lots of people support gay marriage so I don't think it's as sensitive an issue.

[Michael Hardner]

I don't know how you can say that the country music world is less accepting of such things than, say, the bluegrass community or norweigan death metal. And what is even the purpose of pointing that out, even if it is true ?

[Anti-Am]

Bashing the president at a time of war & thus patriotic fervor would be a more universal no-no IMO.

That is the right time to speak out against war though, right?

Radio stations banning Carrie would be deemed homophobic and whatnot. Lots of people support gay marriage so I don't think it's as sensitive an issue.

The polls say the majority of Americans (60% +) support gay marriage yet it has been voted down in 30 something states.. So I don't know about that

[Anti-Am]

I don't know how you can say that the country music world is less accepting of such things than, say, the bluegrass community or norweigan death metal.

We're not talking about Norway here. We're talking about the U.S. And if you knew anything about the country music world you would know that the demographic and even the artists themselves are not that supportive of the gay community.

And what is even the purpose of pointing that out, even if it is true ?

Carrie Underwood took a major risk here that she didn't have to because it probably will lose her more fans than gain her new ones. It's hot news right now.

[Michael Hardner]

We're not talking about Norway here. We're talking about the U.S. And if you knew anything about the country music world you would know that the demographic and even the artists themselves are not that supportive of the gay community.

I'm sure that *could* be true, but I find it strange that people who are ostensibly concerned about judgemental moralists can simultaneously condemn an entire genre of music and its fans with this statement:

"The country music world is the least understanding of LGBT and the issues."

Carrie Underwood took a major risk here that she didn't have to because it probably will lose her more fans than gain her new ones. It's hot news right now.

I guess it is, but why take the opportunity to bury a genre of music supported by working people across America and the world?

[Anti-Am]

I'm sure that *could* be true, but I find it strange that people who are ostensibly concerned about judgemental moralists can simultaneously condemn an entire genre of music and its fans with this statement:

"The country music world is the least understanding of LGBT and the issues."

I understand your point. I'm not really concerned about judgmental moralists, people can say and think what they want and it wouldn't bother me but I shouldn't have generalized a whole music genre.

[Guest American Woman]

So will Americans give Carrie the Dixie Chicks treatment and boycott her? The country music world is the least understanding of LGBT and the issues. Will Carrie pay for giving her opinion? This will be interesting!

So will Americans Country music fans give Carrie the Dixie Chicks treatment and boycott her?

Better, right?

As for the least understanding of LGBT and the issue in the music world, I would say that distinction has been associated with hip hop, and Jay-Z came out in support of gay marriage before Carrie Underwood did.

[bush_cheney2004]

I understand your point. I'm not really concerned about judgmental moralists, people can say and think what they want and it wouldn't bother me but I shouldn't have generalized a whole music genre.

It's not that big a deal..."country music" is not a monolithic block of homophobia. Toby Keith, arguably a much bigger and polarizing "star" than Underwood, has expressed indifference if not support for so called gay marriage.

http://greginhollywood.com/country-musics-toby-keith-on-fight-against-gay-marriage-i-never-saw-the-reasoning-behind-getting-in-peoples-personal-lives-56071

[Guest American Woman]

It's not that big a deal...

I'd say it's only a big deal to those who want to make it a big deal; but it's not an issue about "Americans," in any respect. There's certainly no national expectation regarding homophobia the way there was for patriotism at the time of the Dixie Chick's comment - and badmouthing a president in time of war is certainly going to illicit a more emotional response than a country singer speaking out in support of gay marriage - after the POTUS has already publicly done so.

As a side note, I've never understood Maines' criticism regarding Bush during a concert in Britain; was she totally unaware of Blair's politics?

[BubberMiley]

- and badmouthing a president in time of war is certainly going to illicit a more emotional response than a country singer speaking out in support of gay marriage - after the POTUS has already publicly done so.

You mean badmouthing a Repubican president in a time of war. I didn't see many emotional responses among the same crowd for badmouthing Obama in a time of war.

[bush_cheney2004]

I'd say it's only a big deal to those who want to make it a big deal; but it's not an issue about "Americans," in any respect.

I agree...."gay marriage" is only legal in about a dozen nations, so Americans are hardly unique in that regard, for or against.

There's certainly no national expectation regarding homophobia the way there was for patriotism at the time of the Dixie Chick's comment - and badmouthing a president in time of war is certainly going to illicit a more emotional response than a country singer speaking out in support of gay marriage - after the POTUS has already publicly done so.

The Dixie Chicks spoke their mind and paid the price. Leveraging celebrity for a cause always invites an equal amount of backlash.

[Guest American Woman]

You mean badmouthing a Repubican president in a time of war. I didn't see many emotional responses among the same crowd for badmouthing Obama in a time of war.

Have you seen many emotional responses from the same crowd for supporting gay marriage? - Because that's what my comment was in regards to.

Furthermore, I don't recall any similar statement being made about Obama at any similar (concert) event, so perhaps you could enlighten me? But in case, emotions regarding war in 2003 were a bit stronger/different than emotions 5-9 years later.

[guyser]

As a side note, I've never understood Maines' criticism regarding Bush during a concert in Britain; was she totally unaware of Blair's politics?

Blair didnt live in nor hail from Texas.

[Guest American Woman]

Blair didnt live in nor hail from Texas.

Really? And you think Maines' was critical of Bush because he's from Texas, not because of his politics?

[waldo]

Really? And you think Maines' was critical of Bush because he's from Texas, not because of his politics?

both:

Dixie Chicks Natalie Maines: "Just so you know, we're on the good side with y'all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas."

[guyser]

Really? And you think Maines' was critical of Bush because he's from Texas, not because of his politics?

With her own words?

Yes.

[Guest American Woman]

With her own words?

Yes.

Really. That's what you got out of her statement? - That she's not critical of him politically, but she just happens to be ashamed that he's from Texas. If he were only from some other state, she'd have been fine with him. That's how you take her words?

[Guest American Woman]

both:

Quote

Dixie Chicks Natalie Maines: "Just so you know, we're on the good side with y'all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas."

Once again - was she unaware of Blair's politics? Did she think the British had Blair forced on them? My point is - Why would she feel the need to in effect apologize for Bush to the British? Their PM was right there with Bush.

Edited June 11, 2012 by American Woman

[Anti-Am]

The British were not supportive of Iraq from the get go

The majority of Americans were

[Guest American Woman]

The British were not supportive of Iraq from the get go

The majority of Americans were

Are you really missing the point?? They elected Blair - and then they re-elected him after the Iraq war.

[Anti-Am]

Are you really missing the point?? They elected Blair - and then they re-elected him after the Iraq war.

Same as Bush. They didn't want to but had no better option.

[Guest American Woman]

Same as Bush. They didn't want to but had no better option.

"Same as Bush?" So now you're saying that Americans only re-elected Bush because they had no better option?

[Anti-Am]

"Same as Bush?" So now you're saying that Americans only re-elected Bush because they had no better option?

They didnt re-elect him for his intelligence.

[BubberMiley]

Furthermore, I don't recall any similar statement being made about Obama at any similar (concert) event, so perhaps you could enlighten me?

I didn't realize that making negative statements about the president only counted if it's at a (concert) event.