Madonna Finally Talks Prop. 8—but Was It Enough?

Why did it take so long for the Queen of Pop—and the gay community#8212;to say something about the fight to save same-sex unions in California?

By Marc Malkin Nov 07, 2008 9:31 PMTags
Madonna, Proposition 8 ProtestorsAP Photo/Gary Kazanjian; John Shearer/Getty Images

No doubt Madonna has done plenty for gay rights over the years, but where has she been during this year's very heated—and very expensive—fight to try and save gay marriage in California?

Until her concert last night in Los Angeles, the outspoken politically minded Queen of Pop had been uncharacteristically silent about Prop. 8, the ballot measure that overturned the legalization of same-sex unions in California.

She didn't even speak a word of it during her concert in San Francisco—San Francisco!—on the Saturday just before Election Day.

And even when she did finally say something, it was brief—very brief.

"I'm sad to hear we didn't win," she said, according to a concertgoer. "But we will not give up the fight. No, we will not. Never! If we can have a black president, we can do anything."

While her words of support caused a thunderous roar of applause, an informal survey of Madonna fans conducted by yours truly shows most are surprised and disappointed by her lack of public support. "Too little, too late, Madge," one fan said last night at the show. "Where was your money and influence before the vote?"

Celebs who have actively opposed the measure include Ellen DeGeneres, Brad Pitt, Barbra Streisand, Melissa Etheridge, Steven Spielberg, Samuel L. Jackson and Pete Wentz. The list goes on and on.

Asked about Madonna's noninvolvement with Prop. 8, her rep emailed me, "The one thing I do not have to do is defend Madonna's very very heartfelt and extensive commitment financially, verbally and numerous other ways to gay rights in the course of her career."

Very true, but let's just hope we see some of that decades-long commitment again as the battle for gay marriage rages on. This is not the time for silence.

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