Thank You, Tammy Faye
It's a bit off-topic and perhaps not why you come to GayGamer, but with the death of Tammy Faye Messner, the LGBT communities have lost one of our very first and most adamant supporters. As a minister, minister's wife, and Christian televangelist, we had a most unlikely ally in Tammy Faye.
Since not everyone may want to include this aside in their daily game news, I've put my words after the jump.
Whether you look today or 25 years ago, you'll be hard-pressed to find a Christian leader in the United States who's supported gay rights, let alone embraced the gay community with the kind of mutual abandon as Tammy Faye Messner. It's off-topic (although maybe less than you'd think), but like many gay men I've got a soft spot for the woman who was a loud and early voice in an environment otherwise hostile to gays; Tammy Faye lent her big bright eyes to support gay rights and bring loving attention to the young days of the AIDS crisis.
She was hugging AIDS patients on national television almost half a decade before President Reagan could bring himself to speak the name of the epidemic aloud.
I have never cottoned to Christianity, but I was always amazed that when Tammy Faye talked about her faith, I didn't shudder in prophylactic revulsion like usual. That takes a kind of spirit that goes beyond the pages of any book, holy or otherwise. It takes good people, and it takes big heaping spoonfuls of fun. If we're about anything here at GayGamer, it's those two things: good people and good fun.
Anybody who saw Tammy Faye in her last days could see that she was not long for the coil, that her physical suffering had nearly consumed her: so close was she to that transitional energy we call "Game Over" or "Death." And yet anyone who heard her voice could tell that as far as Tammy Faye was concerned, the game was most definitely not over. Her last words were of loving fries and ketchup and of hoping the rest of us found happiness in our lives, regardless of whom we love and where (or if) we pray. Amen, Bravo, and 1Up.
There was always something indefinably gay about Tammy Faye (in addition to her very definite gay appeal), and something of the spirit of the game as well. In her trademark way, no matter your spiritual inclinations, Tammy Faye made you feel loved. Without obligation or compromise. Maybe because she was herself so outlandish, so totally beyond any conception of conformity, and yet at every step of the way her message was so simple it transcended her own religious affiliation: be good to each other; take care of each other; enjoy each other.
That's a directive that's hard to argue against. Whether you knew her from her tragic days with then-husband Jim Bakker and the irredeemably evil Jerry Falwell, the gaytastic documentary The Eyes of Tammy Faye or from her kooky turn on The Surreal Life, Tammy Faye was as hard to forget in life as she will be in death.
And Buddha's belly, was she fun!
tiny dancer
Posted to Hot Stuff, Miscellany on 23 July 2007
· Comments (7)
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Aww...that's really sad. She's the only televangelist I didn't hate. A lot of "Christians" could have learned a great deal from this lady. The world's a tiny bit less fun now without her.
RIP, Tammy Faye...hope you got what you wanted.
so sad when someone seemingly so genuine passes.
i hope she finds the peace in heaven she often wasn't afforded here on earth.
I'm glad I was able to get to know about this woman, through watching the second season of Surreal Life. She was amazing.
Rest in Peace, Tammy Faye, I'll be thinking about you.
I grew up watching Tammy Faye on the Jim J. and Tammy Faye show. Such a bizarre pairing of individuals, but they made it work with their over-the-top antics and constant laughter. She always impressed me by her direct tear-drenched openness, and her willingness to love and accept people regardless of type. She didn't label anyone, but saw everyone as one and the same. As she put it, "Make of the same dirt, and God don't make junk."
As a testament to her steel will and her need to give back to her fans, she managed to gather the strength in her frail body to make one final appearance and address her fans the day before she passed. As difficult as it was to see her in such a state, I couldn't look away. She was still her optimistic and wonderful self, even at 65 lbs and at death's door.
Tammy we will miss you dearly. I hope your gilded throne is nestled within a field of fake eyelashes, so you can pick fresh ones every day. Bless you dear.
After watching the documentary "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" I have to say I almost became a fan. This woman really tried to make the best of her life, and she had more life, energy, and good will than 1000 other "church-goers".
Rest in Peace, Tammy Faye!
That's a great send-up Tiny, gj!
I agree with the sentiments, Tammy was a true god-send. The world is a sadder place with her absence.
Great write up. I'll miss hearing that laugh. I actually wrote her a few times at her site and always received a response that wasn't a form letter. She actually took the time to be good to her fans.