Loved her Tony broadcasts as I grew to love her show, and admire her on many levels. She had a very painful period after 9/11, and for many of us in NY who watched her daily, she guided us through a very difficult time, when we were angry, hurt, scared, and very reactionary. I refuse to appraise her because she's loud and demanding and complicated. (Or because she was too confident about a mediocre show, TABOO.)
More importantly, she's passionate, she taks a stand, she cares deeply about children, about parenting, about adoption, about kids having a shot -- and especially about gay people being FIRST CLASS PARENTS in this troubled society -- one that in some states (FLORIDA!) thinks foster care beats the love of any gay parent. She cuts through the insanity of such thinking, and puts her money where her mouth is -- and her mouth is, thank God, in front of a mic at key moments. When he finally came out, it was to help something besides sell a book (her profit were donated) -- it was to assist two gay men in Florida fighting to keep children they'd sheltered and loved.
The thing about Rosie is, warts and all, and it's a bottom line for me: She truly exemplifies the old 60s adage that if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
Updated On: 2/12/05 at 04:38 PM
