Whitney Houston (The Vultures Are Circling)

[onpatrol98]

As the country mourns her passing, the rumors have started.

http://digitaljournal.com/article/319663

Vulture #1: Peter Tatchell. No doubt, he knows that now when you Google for Whitney Houston, his name will come up. People will want to interview him about the singer. Because, who better than this gay activist to tell us everything we didn't know about the singer many of us pretended to be with a hairbrush for a microphone, her CDs, and the songs we loved.

He'll get some face time, feigning respectability. That Whitney Houston said she wasn't gay in 2000, won't mean a thing. Because the goal is attention for Tatchell. That her family is still in the grieving process...meaningless. He's got to get some attention quickly. After a few weeks, he'll be Mr. Nobody again. Regardless of the rumors he spreads.

I'm sorry to give him any attention. But, I wanted to share this with the group. I hope the mainstream media avoids him like the plague. He's just another leech on society in my book.

[onpatrol98]

1. I'm off to battle!

Last edited Mon Feb 20, 2012, 02:43 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=330334

No doubt, I'll be eaten alive.



But, I'm in protect the sisterhood mode!

[SemperEadem]

16. oh. my. god.

Last edited Thu Feb 23, 2012, 08:06 AM - Edit history (1)

how many straw man, non sequitur arguments can "you -know- who" pull out of his behind to try to force you into either silence or into saying what he wanted to hear? all he needed to say was "let's agree to disagree".

You were far too nice with him.

No, I won't delete this.

[nofurylike]

2. "He's just another leech on society in my book." i agree, onpatrol98.

thank you for posting that.

again, passing through, but more reply soon. just had to say ...

thank you.

[MADem]

3. If he is saying that to be mean or salacious, that's just stupid. Who cares either way?

Why would this guy think people would get all excited about that? What's his purpose?

Personally, I don't know a damn thing either way, but I always believed she was bisexual, based on an offhand comment she made on one of the late night talks shows--I think it was the Tonight Show eons ago back when Carson was still hosting. That was a long time ago, of course, so I could have the wrong program. I do remember the comment--it was something like "Girls are great, too," said with a smile and in the appropriate context. Maybe she meant it, maybe she was just being "cute." Who knows? I took it as she was bi, and so what? It never "bothered" me either way and I didn't think it worth dwelling on.

Why anyone would try to smear the woman or make money with that kind of 'accusation' is beyond me. Her personal life, whatever it was, was her business. If she wanted to "share" with her adoring fans, she would have.

Bottom line: Anyone trying to cash in on her death by claiming to have the inside scoop about her private life is pretty damn shameless, IMO--and most certainly, as you say, a leech. The time to have that little discussion/gossip fest about her personal affairs was when she was alive and could correct any errors of fact. Now that she's gone, it's a one-way conversation.

[Number23]

9. I agree. But onpatrol will be branded with the Scarlet "H" anyway

If someone had come out and said that Houston was Jewish or poor or Himalayan or anything five minutes after her death when she is no longer able to confirm or deny it, most decent people would have a problem with it. That this is in relation to sexual orientation does not change that in the least.

Anyone trying to cash in on her death by claiming to have the inside scoop about her private life is pretty damn shameless, IMO--and most certainly, as you say, a leech. The time to have that little discussion/gossip fest about her personal affairs was when she was alive and could correct any errors of fact. Now that she's gone, it's a one-way conversation.

Thank you. Seriously.

[MADem]

12. Honest to Cheerios, 23, if these vultures started telling me about

her favorite TV shows or her penchant for fatty and carb laden midnight snacks, I swear I don't want to hear it. The poor woman was 48 when she died--damn, to me that is a CHILD, barely getting going in the world, old enough to finally know better about a few things, young enough to still have some fun--and anyone "dishing the dirt" at this point is just wanting one thing, and it's green and has pictures of dead Presidents on it.

Whatever Whitney was, gay, straight or bi, this I know is true--she was always respectful to the GLBT (or whatever the order is--if I got it wrong, I apologize to anyone who is annoyed in advance, I either mix up the letters or don't put enough of them in) community, she was always supportive of the community, and the community--to my knowledge, anyway--never had a beef with her. I sure as hell cannot speak for gay people, but I can offer anecdotal evidence, courtesy of my neighbors, my cousins and Barney Frank--the bottom line, from what I understand, is that if someone is gay or bi and doesn't want to come out, and they aren't doing anything to disparage or insult the community, you leave them be. You don't out people who aren't working against you. I read that Whitney was supposed to film a Public Service Announcement for the Anti-Bullying campaign on the day she died. That suggests to me that her heart was always in the right place, on the side of kindness and decency to others.

I understand Whitney's daughter is in rough shape right now. When she gets to a better place, and IF either her daughter or her mother wants to discuss this topic (and we know that if they do, they will do it in a fashion that's respectful to the deceased), I would be much more inclined to listen to them. I just don't see an altruistic motive on the part of this outing guy--I think he's already outlining a salacious book and has dollar signs in his eyes.

I can't speak for onpatrol, but I am gathering that this is the focus of his (her?) complaint -- the profit motive, so soon after her death, the "from afar" psychoanalysis, the "why now?" question -- not any gay-phobia. That's how I took it, anyway.

I've never been a person who worried what people do, who they do it with, or who they care about (unless they are hurting others with hate speech and playing the "Do as I say, not as I do" game like some of these GOP politicians! In those cases, I will note the hypocrisy!). I just think it's sad when folks don't have friends, family or other loved ones around them to offer support and affection as they travel down this all-too-short road called life. I think most of us here share that perspective. I just hope Whitney had "somebody to love" her.

[onpatrol98]

13. Damn, to me that is a CHILD

I am definitely female. In retrospect, I should have picked a better username, like MrsOnPatrol, or OnPatrolWoman. I can't even remember why I picked that username. Maybe I was watching a police show at the time or hadn't had my coffee.

She did die awfully young. Forty-eight....good grief. Life can be short.

[MADem]

14. Yes ma'am, I will not make that mistake again!

Perhaps you are "onpatrol" against cruelty and unfairness? Not such a bad username in that context, I don't think!

Any one of us can be gone tomorrow, from illness, an accident, or just plain bad luck. I try to remember that, and behave as if life is short, because all too often, it is.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. As is always the case . . .

BTW - you don't come across as homophobic to me . . .

I guess - eh? I'm thinking of another black woman or latina woman who is 'automatically' gay because she is successful and/or not married.

Granted - Houston WAS married - but once again . . . A woman of color is defined by her sexuality. So sad . . .

[onpatrol98]

5. Homophobic

I don't believe I am homophobic. But, some days after DU, I also wonder if I'm sane. I just think it should have been alright for a black woman in America to be buried by her mother and daughter without some (forgive me) white man deciding he's found a way to make a buck off her by digging into her past. So, maybe I'm racist. I don't want to be. For me, it doesn't have nearly as much to do with sexual orientation as it does with just being able to be black and die in peace in America.

Hopefully, I'm not homophobic and racist. I'd be just as mad if a black man, white female, or black female did it. Let these people bury their daughter and mother. Go make an honest living at a job. Not being a leech on society. I mean...when does it end. This extremely successful and talented black woman can't even be buried in peace.

After we die...haven't we given up enough, already. They won't let you live in peace and then they won't let you die in peace. What the heck is wrong with us? Why is her value to some on DU and Peter Tachell so tied into what she can do or mean for them, even as a dead black woman?

Does this mean, even in death, the world gets to use us?

I may need to grow out my afro again.

[JustAnotherGen]

6. Oh nooooooooo!

I may need to grow out my afro again.




For the record - I agree. I think everyone should be allowed to rest in peace.

And I wonder - will this man give 'juicy details into the so-called Lesbian 'sapphire's' life? Whitney Houston kept to herself a great deal. Maybe that was the addiction - maybe that was a sense of "I just want my privacy".

Now - sooner or later Lindsay Lohan is going to do herself in with her behavior - most likely sooner - she's a train wreck. I hope the exact same lack of respect is applied to the Disney Queen as has been applied to Whitney Houston. Since she really HAS exploited her sexuality for financial gain . . .

[onpatrol98]

7. Lindsay Lohan

I know. I hate to see people get all messed up with the "Rich and Famous" lifestyle. Does anyone survive it?

As for afros, hey, if you Google, "best afros", you'd be impressed. There's even an article about the best 20 Afros in soccer.

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-02-02/sports/31016092_1_afro-list-football

Or, Google for Afro images...you'll be thinking...hmm, a "fro". Might be just what I need for a day like today. I'm not sure why an afro was such a powerful statement. My mom told me just a few weeks ago that she had one all during college, it was nothing special at the time. But when she to work for the state of Mississippi, her boss told her she would have to get a new style. They didn't want anyone radical working for them. This was almost 40 years ago.



The hair patrol was apparently alive and well.

[nofurylike]

10. crux (imho) : "Let these people bury their daughter and mother." i agree, onpatrol98 .

thank you for presenting your feelings about this, and the eye-opening perspective of

After we die...haven't we given up enough, already. They won't let you live in peace and then they won't let you die in peace. What the heck is wrong with us? Why is her value to some on DU and Peter Tachell so tied into what she can do or mean for them, even as a dead black woman?

btw, from what i have read of your posts on this emotion-tweaking subject, and in my humble opinion, i do not think you are homophobic. (speaking as a lifelong lesbian, and four-decade+ activist.)

[onpatrol98]

11. I may grow an afro, just for you.

[nofurylike]

15. o! what an honor you gift me, onpatrol98!

Fro-Powah!
DJ Jamad

"i stopped combing my mind so my thoughts could lock"
Saul Stacey Williams

dear onpatrol98, you post outstanding consciousness-raising OPs all the time; you inform me, and your courage inspires me, constantly!!

i am deeply, deeply touched by your your encouranging words and your cherished embrace!!

looking forward!

Gratitude!

*edit misspelling

[Number23]

8. "As is always the case.." You could have ended your post there

Because that one sentence sums up the entire sorry, disgusting and offensive situation perfectly.

[SemperEadem]

17. that's about as offensive

as the ldr's baptizing folks of other faiths after they've died. Let the dead rest in peace.

Maintaining that one is heterosexual is not being homophobic.

It's not like if Whitney had admitted that she was a lesbian that her record sales would have plummeted so that's why she kept quiet. She made more than enough money to where she didn't have to live in economic fear of anyone outting her WERE she a lesbian.

She said that she wasn't. I'm inclined to take her at her word. I'm not so inclined with someone who spent no appreciable time with her during the course of her life. He is no position to make such declarations--and really, if this was such a fucking burning issue with him, why did he take the cowards way out and make his accusations after she'd died? Why wasn't he beating this drum on twitter during the course of the last 5 years over this, since it burns so hot in his soul?

He's a rapacious, greedy-grasping jackass.