In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Sir Ian McKellen makes some statements that resonate with many LGBT individuals around the world - namely, that he feels that organized religion is the enemy. True, there are some denominations and faiths where that observation does not hold true, but for the majority of faiths and organized churches the statement sadly is true. It's something that ought to make true Christians - as opposed the the professional Christian set and phony hypocrites such as the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy - question what the Hell they are doing. Christ's overall Gospel message was not one of hate, yet from the perspective of LGBT individuals, hate is the main message we hear as we simply try to live our lives with dignity and some semblance of security and happiness. Here are a few interview highlights: *
When the topics turned personal, however -- such as Hollywood's attitude toward gays and his disillusionment with religion -- he appeared to take his own admonition about candor to heart.
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"I increasingly see organized religion as actually my enemy. They treat me as their enemy," said the British actor, who came out 20 years ago. "Not all Christians, of course. Not all Jews, not all Muslims. But the leaders. . . . Why should I take the judgment of a declared celibate about my sexual needs? He's basing his judgment on laws that would fit life in the Bronze Age. So if I'm lost to God, organized religion is to blame."
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McKellen revealed his sexuality at age 49 on a British radio show during a debate about anti-gay legislation. He says it's the most important thing he's ever done, and when he's not acting, he spends much of his time lobbying for gay rights. He visits schools in England as part of a program to prevent gay bullying. When he finds a Bible in a hotel room, he rips out the passage in Leviticus that condemns homosexuality.
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In his view, Hollywood still hasn't come that far in its attitude toward gays. "The conventional wisdom is that if you are gay, you cannot play the romantic straight lead in a movie," he said. "They'd rather have 'don't ask, don't tell.' The proposition from Mephistopheles as you sign the agreement that you will become a Hollywood star is that you will lie about yourself. That's selling your soul. This business may involve disguise, but it's about telling the truth. And I don't think a closeted actor in this day and age can act as well as an actor who is out."
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"I increasingly see organized religion as actually my enemy. They treat me as their enemy," said the British actor, who came out 20 years ago. "Not all Christians, of course. Not all Jews, not all Muslims. But the leaders. . . . Why should I take the judgment of a declared celibate about my sexual needs? He's basing his judgment on laws that would fit life in the Bronze Age. So if I'm lost to God, organized religion is to blame."
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McKellen revealed his sexuality at age 49 on a British radio show during a debate about anti-gay legislation. He says it's the most important thing he's ever done, and when he's not acting, he spends much of his time lobbying for gay rights. He visits schools in England as part of a program to prevent gay bullying. When he finds a Bible in a hotel room, he rips out the passage in Leviticus that condemns homosexuality.
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In his view, Hollywood still hasn't come that far in its attitude toward gays. "The conventional wisdom is that if you are gay, you cannot play the romantic straight lead in a movie," he said. "They'd rather have 'don't ask, don't tell.' The proposition from Mephistopheles as you sign the agreement that you will become a Hollywood star is that you will lie about yourself. That's selling your soul. This business may involve disguise, but it's about telling the truth. And I don't think a closeted actor in this day and age can act as well as an actor who is out."
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