The sophisticated (or merely pretentious) among us loved to
mercilessly mock Tammy Faye Messner (formerly Baker), who died this
weekend after a long battle with cancer. 
But as the Washington Post
obit notes, she grew up in a house with no indoor plumbing and
where makeup was considered a sin-and in a life marked by scandal
and renewal, ended up something of a gay icon and a speaker at gay
pride rallies.
And it wasn't only drag queens that seemed to take her to heart.
Scoff all you want, but it's Tammy Faye's audience that we need to reach out to and convince if we are to secure gay equality outside the bluest precincts. And she, in her waning years, tried to help do just that.
11 Comments for “Remembering Tammy Faye”
posted by Randy on
After I saw the doc, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”, my opinion of her changed completely, and she has earned real respect from the gay community. It is sad that she is gone, as I find her a truly remarkable woman.
posted by Richard T. Nolan on
With some degree of embarrassment, I’d like to confess my ignorance. I don’t know specifically why Tammy Faye, Judy Garland, and Cher are often referred to as gay icons. What does that mean? My partner and I (both 70) have never been drawn to any one of them. (Perhaps we’re not gay enough?!)
posted by Lori Heine on
As a lesbian, I’m afraid I’m out of the loop on the “gay icon” business. My “icons” are WNBA players.
I do kmow that Tammy Faye showed a tremendous amount of courage in standing up for gay acceptance. Some of the Christian media stars who say nothing about us (as opposed to bashing us the way the others do) actually keep quiet because they would like to support us and don’t dare.
Well, Tammy Faye dared.
It’s too bad she had to suffer so much toward the end of her life. Though we may hate to lose her, at least now she’s at peace.
posted by Last Of The Moderate Gays on
While I was sad to hear of Tammy Faye’s passing, I cannot help but also remember the thousands of people who gave PTL money in good faith, only to have that trust totally abused by BOTH Bakkers. I also feel that people like them gave Christianity a black eye and fuel for Christian haters. If she ever expressed true remorse about bilking all of these people (and also made any kind of substantive efforts to make remunerations to the people), I never saw it.
While I agree with Mr. Miller that there needs to be a far better understanding of and outreach to the “red state crowd,” I think it’s quite a stretch to say that Tammy Faye was a major “ambassador” in this effort (a minor “ambassador,” perhaps). I think it also shows Mr. Miller’s lack of real knowledge about evangelicals. In the fundamentalist church I grew up in during (and a few years after) the PTL scandal, the Bakkers were considered just as bad as gay people, and there was never any talk about forgiving them or about moderating their position on gays.
Nevertheless, I think it’s great that she was able to grow to learn to accept gays as time went on. May she rest in peace.
posted by ReganDuCasse on
This is for Richard Nolan: Keith Boykin floated that same question. Why recording artists like Diana Ross and Jennifer Holiday and Patti LaBelle were icons as well.
He concluded, and I concur-is that these are public figures who acknowlege, respect and return the affection of their gay fan base.
They go beyond just being entertainers, but also speak up and out in defense of gay people and their equality in this country.
There are obviously many famous people out there. And political figures especially will be silent or reticent or just plain ignorant about how to articulate the needs and intentions of their gay constituents. Which is strange considering how many candidates have LAW DEGREES-they are woefully inept when dealing with gay issues.
While at the same time courting money and votes from the gay community until legal things that concern gay citizens comes up.
The entertainers out there that know their money and support comes from gay fans as much as straight ones, are at least recognizing that gay people have participated in making them rich and famous.
And it’s only fair and right that they do so.
As a straight ally myself, I know that it’s very difficult to bring up the subject of gay people (even innocuously) without giving offense. The hostility and discomfort extends to those of us who people know aren’t gay, but are willing to articulate and deal with the subject in a more realistic and non prejudiced way.
As long as those who are religious don’t want to posit the subject NEARLY as with the same objectivity they are willing to deal with anything else, we are hard pressed to reach out to those who tend to use their religious faith as license to ignore civil liberty and protection. (Something they are willing to also use, but restrict for gay people selectively.)
At any rate, Tammy Faye Messner WAS a different kind of televangelist in regard to gay issues.
She didn’t ignore gay people, nor use her public life to vilify them.
Quite brave really, considering who she was up against.
posted by Richard T. Nolan on
To ReganDuCasse Thank you! Helpful. Dick Nolan
posted by Craig2 on
I think it had a lot to do with her display of compassion and concern during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. And then she developed colon cancer herself, and displayed her own courage in the face of adversity. I suspect many gay men may have identified with her for that reason.
Rest in peace, Tammy Faye.
Craig2
Wellington, NZ
posted by ETJB on
I do not feel that she was especially powerful within evangelical Christain circles. Being neither, I cannot really say, but I doubt she would have much crediblity.
I think I did read somewhere (Advocate?) that one of her sons has been trying to change the Church’s treatment of gay people.
posted by Lori Heine on
Jay Bakker, Tammy Faye’s son, is indeed a minister, heading a church called Revolution Church. I believe it has locations in both New York City and Memphis.
Jay represents the up-and-coming demographic, which is present in the Church, just as it is in our overally society. These younger Christians at least want less of an emphasis placed on gay-bashing, and at best — as is the case of Jay Bakker’s church — they want to open the door to full gay acceptance.
Tammy Faye was special in that she was a rare member of her own generation. Most of these people have to become worm food before the opposition to gay inclusion in the Church comes to an end. Had Tammy Faye lived a hundred years, that would only have meant good things for us.
posted by Regan DuCasse on
I think Tammy Faye leaving her son, and HIS compassion and respect for gay people behind, is a tremendous legacy. He’s carrying on with what she started.
Does it get better than that?
posted by pacjoe on
Sorry folks, even though it’s sad for anyone to suffer from any ilness, Tammy Faye was still a criminal. For years she and her husband stole callously from thier ministry, bashed homosexuals as sinners and lived a surreal life of gross indulgance. She later married Roe Messner who was also convicted of fraud and was sent to prison like Jim Bakker, both times claiming ignorrance or collusion. Realty check here babes! Tammy Faye was a Svengalli who had an amazing talent for appealing to large audiences, especially sad, lonely and isolated people. After she and Jim Bakker were knocked off their guilded perch, she reached out to the GLBT community (oddly the only community who actually reached out to her) and saw an opportunity to return to the spotlight. Sad thing is, alot of people bought it and she became loved again. Tammy Faye may have marched in and marshalled Pride Days around the country advocating for tolerance, but I always questioned her motives. If Michael Savage lost his hate-mongering radio program and later decided to rally in support of the GLBT community, would everyone run to embrace him? Doubt it. Please stop heralding Tammy Faye as some kind of tragic hero. She never lifted a finger to return any of the money she and her husbands stole from investors and desperate people and only offered mascara soaked tears in return. There are far more inspiration people that the GLBT community can look to and praise-everyday people who don’t crave attention or feel the need to surround themselves with expensive junk and air conditioning for thier dog houses. She was very lucky that she never went to prison herself. The real question is, did Tammy Faye really benefit the GLBT community? The Christian Right is more steadfast than ever against equality for anyone except themselves, the military is still expelling gays, politicians either bash or sheepishly back away from equal rights issues. Basically, Tammy Faye spent most of her time speaking to the GLBT community and not the Christian right. I never saw her appealing to the masses in the Bible Belt or the Red States, but she sure had enough time to parade around as D-list celebrity. Please consider these realities about this woman and ask yourself, “what has Tammy Faye really done to further equality for the GLBT community?”