Slog Aug 15, 2013 9:25 AM

Required Viewing: People Destroying America

by Dan Savage

Comments

1
I was absolutely blown away by this segment. You see "small-town" and "Appalachia" and "gay" in any news segment, you automatically brace yourself for the worst - and here comes Stephen with the good people of Vicco to blow all those stereotypes out of the water!

I have to admit, when that police chief was talking about his years of friendship with the mayor? I totally teared up. People looking beyond the way they are TOLD things are, and just relating to each other as people. That's what it's all about.
Pope Buck I on August 15, 2013 at 9:42 AM · Report this
2
This is wonderful!!!!!!
ScienceNerd on August 15, 2013 at 10:02 AM · Report this
3
Portervile California 's Mayor Virginia Gurrola issued the City's first-ever LGBT Pride Month Proclamation in June this year. But the Council immediately objected and conducted a series of 3 disturbing public hearings attended by Westboro Baptist associates, local Nazi apologists, and no end of bible waving religious zealots. People any politician in America would run from being associated with.

But not in Porterville: In the end, Council rescinded the the Pride Month Proclamation and changed the rules so the Mayor cannot issue Proclamations any more.

Please find us on facebook @Porterville Equality and Fairness for All, while we try to reach the level of understanding level of Vicco KY.

Press and bloggers invited too...
PortervilleNerd on August 15, 2013 at 10:11 AM · Report this
4
Here is the facebook link to reach out and learn about the issues in Porterville, it is actually worse than I described: https://www.facebook.com/PortervilleEqua…
PortervilleNerd on August 15, 2013 at 10:27 AM · Report this
5
Willamette Week has a story about a fellow in Eastern Oregon collecting petitions to overturn Measure 36, which banned gay marriage in the state.
Joe Glibmoron on August 15, 2013 at 11:30 AM · Report this
6
Kind of getting a kick out of the fact that I watched it -- and am writing this -- while standing in line for tickets for "The Daily Show."
Fred Casely on August 15, 2013 at 11:38 AM · Report this
7
people in kentucky feel about smoking in the same way they feel about guns: you will only take the cigarette from their cold, dead hands.
scary tyler moore on August 15, 2013 at 11:59 AM · Report this
8
Watching this piece about Vicco, KY is enough to make you believe in God. Then watching the bile coming out of Russia makes you realize there is no benevolent sky daddy after all.
kwodell on August 15, 2013 at 1:24 PM · Report this
9
Wow! This made me cry. Thanks for sharing.
drcme on August 15, 2013 at 5:00 PM · Report this
10
Even Real 'Merka Gets Better. I want to hug the town of Vicco...except for that loathsome pastor, that is.
Ophian on August 15, 2013 at 5:48 PM · Report this
11
Anybody see "Big Eden"? I flashed on that movie in the middle of this. It's set in a small town that, contrary to its hardscrabble, salt-of-the-earth status, is actually wonderfully supportive of its gay citizens. Corny, but in that heart-swelling way. I never thought I'd see a real-life equivalent. I am very moved.
lolorhone on August 15, 2013 at 6:16 PM · Report this
12
One of the people said at the beginning of the piece, there are only about 400 in the town. That's why they support the mayor. They've all known him for years, maybe their whole lives, and know he is more than the pastor's gay stereotype. Very encouraging.
kuzibah on August 15, 2013 at 7:21 PM · Report this
13
Hulu works in the US only. Could someone give me and other international Sloggers the cliff notes of what is being conveyed?
Aerach on August 15, 2013 at 7:23 PM · Report this
14
@13: I'm seeing a blocked site as well so it's not just US-only. I've garnered enough idea of what it was all about just by the comments so far - small town is friends with gay mayor, throwing stereotypes of the South and of gays out the window (except the pastor of the town, who's a gay stereotype or something)
Drew2u on August 15, 2013 at 8:39 PM · Report this
15
It's just too bad the gays have been pushing themselves on that poor pastor. It would be just too easy to "blame the victim" in this case, for being so irrestible, but lets not do that Sloggers.
Life is probably already hard enough for a guy on flammable oxygen in a town where everyone is constantly smoking!
DanFan503 on August 16, 2013 at 8:04 AM · Report this
16
@ 13 here it is on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy1sCJn5_…
on August 16, 2013 at 8:12 AM · Report this
17
My grinchy heart has grown 3 sizes this day.

Kiwibird83 on August 16, 2013 at 6:20 PM · Report this