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Tom Ford brands gay marriage ban “disgusting”
Tom Ford has branded as “disgusting” the ban on gay marriage in parts of the United States and elsewhere in the world.
The designer, who is openly gay, used a Venice press conference for his feature film debut “A Single Man” starring Colin Firth to criticize decisions like that in California in November banning same-sex marriage. He did, however, add that his movie, which is in competition at the Venice film festival was not about being gay at all, but about the human condition in general.
“It is, I have to say, quite disgusting that in America and in other countries you cannot have a civil union or something equivalent to marriage,” said the 48-year-old.
“I have someone I’ve lived together with for 23 years. Recently he was in hospital for something. I had to carry papers on me at all times that he had signed saying that I could visit him in his room and make medical decisions for him if anything happened. Our taxes, by the way: if I died tomorrow my estate would be completely taxed and then the remainder go to him whereas if we were a couple his life wouldn’t have to change and my entire estate would move to him. There are things that are wrong with our legal systems in a lot of countries.”
from Environment Forum:
Hollywood’s greenest stars honor U.S. environmental group
Dozens of the world's top movie, television and music stars showed off their green cred on Saturday night at a Hollywood-style fundraiser honoring the Natural Resource Defense Council's 20 years in Southern California.
The event at Beverly Hills' Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel was a who's who of Hollywood environmentalists, including actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Redford, and Laurie David, a global warming activist and producer of the Al Gore movie "An Inconvenient Truth." All three are trustees of the NRDC's Southern California office. In 2003, the group even dedicated its new building to Redford.
It's no secret that the environment and climate change is a hot cause in Hollywood, and it's hard to imagine another social issue drawing as much star power to one event. The party also raised a hefty $2 million.
"Mad Men" star Jon Hamm and designer Tom Ford also attended the party, which was hosted by "Seinfeld" star Julia Louis-Dreyfus and included a musical performance by Grammy-winning rockers Maroon 5. Actress Rosanna Arquette deejayed the after party.
On stage, Redford recalled why he joined the NRDC in the 1970's, saying it was "because they had the power to sue."
Many attendees echoed that refrain throughout the night, with Louis-Dreyfus bluntly stating: "I love lawsuits."
The evening also included a list of the group's legal victories in the region, including helping to stop inadequately treated sewage from being dumped into the Santa Monica Bay and testing children for lead poisoning in the 1990s. More recently, NRDC and other environmental groups last year reached a deal with land holder Tejon Ranch to permanently protect 240,000 acres of California land from development.
Tom Ford is right on target. As a happily married gay man in Massachusetts, my life is a lot more stable and full since I met and married my wonderful husband. Hopefully soon the Federal Government in the US will recognize what our state gave us a license to do 4 years ago and we won’t be (viola!) un-married when we cross state lines to a place where gay marriages are not recognized. How dumb is that? Funny how my husband’s home state of Iowa also recognizes our marriage now. When we visit his folks, we’re not legal strangers to each other.Do states where 2nd cousin marriages between heterosexuals are not allowed check the family trees of all ‘married’ heterosexuals who move in to make sure they’re not breaking the law and living an illegal marriage? Perhaps their marriages could evaporate as well. We must follow the laws, yes?It will be a great day when the majority of the People (and Legislatures, Judges and Chief Executives) in our country get over their baseless fears and acknowledge two men, 2 women, a man & woman all can form a loving couple, are a solid family unit and all have the exact same rights and privileges.At a mere 52% of the vote against us in ‘liberal’ California, that day is fast approaching.