Patricia Clarkson speaks at 2009 HRC New Orleans Dinner

[kidneythief91]

A genuine actress with a genuine heart!!!!! I love you Patricia!!!!

[chambersdawn84]

What an amazing, encouraging speech. Thank you, Patricia <3

[AvalonJoyous666]

Shes awesome!

[Aleja741]

I love this woman for her acting, sense of humor and open mind!! Thank you Patricia Clarkson!!

You Are fantastic!!!

[Talljim01]

I love every character she plays. She was good as Ms. Ness and in Green Mile

[warriorsoul79]

I love her!

[simplystreeptacular]

Patricia Clarkson is a flawless human being and I adore her beyond reason.

[library1966]

Does she write her own speeches? She did a great job of weaving the same visual image throughout the speech. That was a very moving speech.

[cto69]

I love this woman what a great speech what a great actress what a great person.

[actuallyadam]

LOVE her

[alyvvie]

I love her! White straight man George Bush (...) white straight man Condoleezza Rice. And yes, she is so right in this speech.

[HugoIStayHere]

is that emblem for bi sexual people??

[TheIceyeddy]

Wow, Patricia is an amazing woman. Her speech is magnificent. If only this was shown to the bigots.

[jammyjo610]

blah blah blaaaah

[funsize]

I love this woman

[TreblePop]

@funsize -

Me, too. She's got a lot of class, both professionally and as a human being.

[pgruver]

She had me right up until the "AGE OF OBAMA" He has nothing to do with gay mariage, in fact he publicly admited being against it. However everything else she mentions is very good and I agree with her 1000% People need to stop putting false hope on Obama, he's also a st8 white man just like condoleezza rice. Which is the only reason he is where he is. Not because he has the experience or the skill.

[DancinDiva925]

Well, that's what she said. She said that Obama himself needs to start living in "the age of Obama." She acknowledged that he needs to get on board with the issue.

[Thewaiter525600]

pgruver, that's why she said "The person who needs to realize we are in the age of Obama IS Obama. He can not fall right on this issue."

[wsguyinsf]

The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks. - great Tennessee Wms quote, i had not heard previously. thanks, Patricia, for being there for us!

[beazkneaz]

When it comes to an injustice there is no such thing as relavance. Any human being, gay or straight, who speaks out against opression is surely relevant. Comments debating whether she is 'qualified' enough is the only thing of irrellevance. Proposition 8 was passed because a majority of the public, who were seemingly irrelevant to the issue of gay marriage, voted for it. Everyone who can vote, EVERY citizen of America, is therefore relevant. I am happy that such a respected woman is on our side.

[MrTwilightone]

I don't really know her as an actor and for me this speech sounds more like a Jay Leno monologue but she makes good points and she appears to be using her status to help us so I guess I agree that anyone who speaks up is relevant regardless of why they decide to make a speech.

[RapscallionRebellion]

You speak the truth, bea.

We ALL have a voice, so USE IT! That is how things get changed. We may be a small group, but we are a vocal one. And we will not be silenced.

[MrTwilightone]

I have to agree with FortunateSon87. This actor appears to be taking bows before the speech! Perhaps, this is a PR thing for her. Who knows...anyway, glad to have someone rooting regardless of motives.

[Devalmont2]

She is a native New Orleanian and just happy to be home again. She had been mingling with EVERYONE and chatting ... You'd have to get to know her to make such a judgment about if she did or did not use this speech for PR. Fact is, famous people get heard .. and her message was pro-US gay people and therefore made a positive impact.

[Uliprc]

Just watched one of her film also..you're right. She is a fantastic actor and can bow whenever she wants to. with that talent she's allowed!!

[MrTwilightone]

Algiers is not in another country it is a section of New Orleans. Ms. Clarkson is from New Orleans.

[bronzjag]

Hate is Un-Christlike. Hiding behind God to support violence against anyone is Un-Godlike. Men wrote the Bible and all men are flawed. We need to come out of the dark ages as a society and strive to evolve into people who love and behave peacefully. Any other goal as a society to exclude a type of person of basic human rights is a stifling us to stay in the dark ages. Love...pass it on!

[sarahshi8]

she is hot.

[DivaForeverDiana]

Right ON RoxyLucy... this Algiers idiot thinks that because she stood up for something she must be it! What a total fool! Like she is supposed to fix everything all over the globe... reality check Algiers you are obsessed is right, with your own experience... it's not about Algiers here it's about the U.S. and it's Human Rights Laws... get with the picture you dope.

[ROXYLUCY]

Algiers Obbsessed, there are injustice issues around the globe, and it isn't Patricia's job to fix them all, maybe it's yours. She is starting with one issue, and I would suspect it's better than you are doing ranting on and on about Algiers... that country has it's own resources and occupants to fight it's own issues, Patricia is fighting the ones within her OWN country... so get a grip...

[utubefavorsdems]

Obama will have us in another war real soon.

[sftenderloin]

I love how she stood up to religious pastors in their "multi-million dollar mega churches advocating for our damnation!" They can suck it!

[ROXYLUCY]

Well said sftenderloin... very well said... it's amazing isn't it how these religious people pay no taxes and then preach hate and intolerance and yet gay people get no break on their taxes yet have less equal rights? It just somehow doesn't seem "right?" I think maybe the religious right should lose their rights and pay double taxes... that might be a solution?

[maxxatl]

Gay and lesbian rights groups have voiced increasing dismay that their high hopes for the Obama administration remain unfulfilled so far.

The president has yet to follow through on a White House promise to end the ban on gays serving openly in the US military.

Obama has also said he believes marriage is a sacred union between a man and woman, though supports same-sex civil unions, and that he is a "fierce advocate" of gay and lesbian rights.

[ROXYLUCY]

If he's a fierce advocate, then he should fiercly defend gay and lesbian people their rights to marriage otherwise give them half their taxes back... simple!

[maxxatl]

WASHINGTON (AFP) President Barack Obama will Wednesday extend some federal benefits to same-sex partners of US government workers, in a nod to an increasingly restive gay and lesbian community.

The president will sign an executive order in the Oval Office making the change, an administration official said on condition of anonymity, noting that the move would not extend to total health benefits.

[maxxatl]

PERFECT!

Now If everyone will PLEASE pay attention to Obama... and these issues. Cause he's LOSING me fast, he's NOT behind this the way he said he would be! THIS IS IT...SPEAK UP EVERYONE...BE A VIOLET, OBAMA IS TURNING TO STONE. YELL,SCREAM ,CRY , SMILE , LOVE LOUD ON THESE ISSUES! MAKE SURE OBAMA HEARS YOU!!!

[ROXYLUCY]

Look North of your border U.S.A. and around the globe. Stop being so insular. The world has grasped the reality that just because YOU don't approve doesn't make it right to deny someone else their rights. It just doesn't. Time to get on the train and make your leaders pay the price if they don't.

[JackFertig]

I don't trust HRC since their betrayal of Transgenders, and I always wonder at our fawning over movie stars rather than trusting in our own voices, but I've long loved Ms. Clarkson and she totally rocks here! Go, Patricia!

[crazitenniskid]

Amazing.

[fashionista444]

Brilliant. She and Newsweek are right - the train has already left the station on the issue of gay marriage, and Barack Obama has missed it. He wasn't even paying attention, and now because of it, hundreds have been discharged from the military. What a shameful thing to live with.

Bravo Patricia Clarkson. Such brilliance, compassion and humour all over that speech! And that funny remark about Condi Rice: "And a straight, white man named Condoleezza Rice." - a riot! Laugh out loud - for real!

[cclovesyoutoob]

She really is brilliant.

[brandoneggar]

That was a great speech. If only more people thought like you do...

[alohalondon]

Love the violets story!!! Way to go Patricia!! I posted this on my blog, shared via twitter, MySpace & Facebook. Great speech

[Mams31383]

Fantastic speech!

Rock on, violets :)

[ROXYLUCY]

I live in Canada where human rights have long been a much more fair issue... blacks, gays, etc. We never had segregation here, although some people may have thought we should have... it still was not "right," therefore it was not done. Gay people in Canada have equal marriage rights as of 2003, and although many a paranoid right winger thought it would deteriorate their family rights, their religious rights, and more... it hasn't changed a damn thing... so get with the times U.S.A. for equality!

[coaragdlm]

Besides being an accomplished and fascinating actress, a great human being.

Thanks Miss Clarkson for being yourself.

Thank you for sharing beauty!

[Eltoca21]

great speech, very stiring...

[Androjai]

She is just brilliant.

[ROXYLUCY]

Rango you are so right... they hypocrasy is amazing with the religious right... they restructure everything to suit their hate and then spew it at everyone hoping to control them... what is then that they are really afraid of... YES YOU GUESSED IT... THEMSELVES...

[Rango9]

"The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks."

This is a sentence that anyone and everyone needs to repeat themselves and SEE, day in, day out, as they continue to lobby and forward this cause. To acknowledge a nay-sayer is to give him strength; I don't give him or her that right.

[Rango9]

To want to reason with someone that sociologically damaged is to attempt to extract honey from Africanized bees---and that is how I see the religious mass. just because, and never seem to have a clear answer as to WHY we cannot be 100 per cent citizens of a quasi-modern country.

[Rango9]

She strikes another truth that you and I and everyone who has the capacity to think have pondered about: it is appalling that the biblical-folk of all religions have a habit of twisting words to fit their own needs, but (as I said earlier) never have a clear answer on how to defend their beliefs because they "leave it up to God or Allah or Mohammed or even /Bubbles the Clown."

[Rango9]

How it is possible that the Bible has all the horror that it has in its pages and allows the nonsense that it allows (check Deuteronomy for a chock-fulla examples, as well as Genesis) but then no one who preaches addresses them when questioned? Talks about stoning to death, concubines, slaves, even borderline child-brides (pedophilia) and incest, yet I, a gay man, cannot marry?

[Rango9]

Why?... Read More

Because marriage is defined by 'state' as that of a man and a woman?

Nope.

Love is love. And religion is eyeball-deep in the wrong, eyes wide shut.

[Rango9]

"The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks."

Such power in a simple poetic sentence. It's the sole reason I cannot---and no gay men, no gay woman, not you, not me, not ANYONE who acknowledges the simple rights we ask for---see this small loss of Prop 8 as a loss.

To acknowledge a loss is to magnify it.

This shall happen. I see it as a tangible FACT. While I may not ever marry---then again, who knows---I see my friends married all around the country, not just a smattering of states.

[Rango9]

The essence of this video is summed up in one neat little phrase:

"The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks."

[meszolis]

this world is changing w/ a doubt.. I am not sure i am ready for it.. I want to love those who do not agree w/ my politics and hope they will me - but i am not ready to drink the kool-aid.... Patricia needs to go back to Bible school.. Romans is clear about Homosexuality.. I will love the people (always) but not the sin - i am sorry... IF it is an abomination to God - it is to me as well... With that said - God is LOVE and He loves regardless of the sin!!!

[tkdcoach]

Home run, amazed at someone who does righteous indignation so much better than my (far more obscure) self.

[friscowala]

One of the greatest speeches on gay marriage I've ever heard, and one of the most FUN serious speeches I've heard period.

[ROXYLUCY]

Thank you so much Patricia, for laying the facts on the line... we pay taxes, we get pissed on in return and denied our human rights... enough!

[johnbohl]

I'm glad she mentioned the hypocrisy of divorce. The Bible is much more outspoken (and quite clear) about its opposition against divorce - particularly in 1 Corinthians - yet nobody's even thinking of trying to ban THAT.

[championxeneixe]

"Straight white man...CONDOLEZZA ..." hahahahahahahahahh

[CarlaFreakFreak]

WOW! Patricia Clarkson has always been my favorite actress! And for her to stand up to speak for human rights just shows how incredible and wonderful this woman is! She certainly have "balls"! Even took on Obama. What a gal!

[jlpogwc]

Oratory Update: Reagan and Obama kicked to the curb.

[sms1777]

Wow, what an amazing speech. THANK YOU PATRICIA!!!

[danijel223]

the speech is too good!

[CarbonFilmsInc]

I heart Patricia.

[allisongeddie]

this is great...

[softlandiing7]

Everyone get on the train

[0g0c0b0]

lol "if jesus made good furniture, every gay man in nazareth knew him."

[MendocinoCoastFilms2]

Patricia is phenomenal!

[technicolor444]

i kind of love this.

no, i really love this. end of story.

[roryfreedman]

Um, PERFECTION.

[4thespacebetween]

FANTASTIC, Ms. Clarkson! 4 standing ovations for a funny, dramatically presented speech for EQUALITY! The Violets in the Mountains Have Broken the Rocks - the hard, the cold, the oppressive, will be broken by love and truth! THANK YOU PATRICIA!

I am grateful to have heard her in person!

[sweetbrandigirl]

Bla Bla Bla more words without action from HRC ...only thing missing was the RaRa Ra !!! Another Big HRC Peep Rally ....serving up more of the same ole HRC Kool Aide.

Brandi Parker

[korrdxl]

I don't think mocking and belittling Christians is the best way to get them to accept your lifestyle.

[TecoloteOne]

She was funny.

Christians with a sense of humour will laugh with her, for they will sense her humane sensibility, and her deliciously funny exaggerations.

[Azzenstudent]

We don't want cretins to accept our "lifestyle". We just want you to slink off to your dark corners and nurse your hatred without making life miserable for everyone else.

[GirlsThatWearBlue]

and denying gays their civil rights and condemning them to hell won't make them disappear or "turn" them straight either.

[TheDesperateHodges]

And what do you think hating gays is going to do for you?

[korrdxl]

I don't hate gays.

[AKMCGRATH]

PATRICIA IS INCREDIBLE & if YOU HAVENT SEEN HER IN "HIGH ART"....MMM...YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD!

JO *_*

[blackwaternorth]

"there will be no marriage in the kingdom of heaven."

--j. christ

[mericship]

AWESOME!

[denveraztec]

Witty, classy and incredibly true! Fantastic speach Patricia Clarkson!

[spareaxe]

Another gay speech....boring!!!

[Devalmont2]

Boring? Are you kidding me? Get the wax out your ears! And it wasn't a a "gay" speech .. it was a speech about equality and equal rights.

[JaydeeVonJ]

-_- Another Youtube retard....boring!!!

[postwarbrit]

So who's gotten it to Rachel Maddow...And Big Daddy's to get the swing ready...?

[mrsdalloway0189]

She is brilliant!

[theladyvernotico]

Absolutely unbelievable speech! Patricia nailed all the major issues right on the head. I felt honoured to be in the presence of such an amazing poignant moment in GLBT history.

[postwarbrit]

UNBELIEVABLE NIGHT!!! My partner and I were at the front table of this event. Though I currently work in the civil rights non-profit world, Patricia Clarkson ignited all of us to create the change we deserve and finally correct these injustices. Nowhere more appropriate to say it, to hear it and see it than New Orleans!!!

We love you Patricia!

[postwarbrit]

UNBELIEVABLE NIGHT!!! My partner and I were at the front table of this event. Though I currently work in the civil rights non-profit world, Patricia Clarkson ignited all of us to create the change we deserve and finally correct these injustices. Nowhere more appropriate to say it, to hear it and see it than New Orleans!!!

We love you Patricia!

[PunaGlen]

I attended the dinner and heard the speech. I wasn't expecting to be moved but I was. Her timing was impeccable. She was hilarious at one moment and went for the jugular the next. She was inspiring and, more importantly, she was right. We pay tax money for services but can't get the wedding certificate we pay for.

That was me in the white suit with the pearl tie......

[FortunateSon87]

this is a stupid pointless speech though..

I don't even know who this person is. i googled but it just said she did a couple movies here and there..

this stuff is so stupid. HRC isn't being self-congratulatory. this woman is. she seems to think she's soooo wonderful because she's pro-gay. stupid.

and she quotes all this stupid shit that we all already know.

and fuck her stereotypical bull shit too.

[TheDesperateHodges]

She's an Oscar nominated and Emmy winning actress. The fact that YOU don't know who she is, doesn't make her irrelevant.

[FortunateSon87]

I know who she is, I don't know how she's relevant. Like I said, I tried to find out, but it appears she's never done anything for the GLBT community except say a few nice words.

As many of you are learning with Obama, talk is nice, but action is what we need.

[Gigi8877]

She played a lesbian (Ally Sheedy's lover) in the movie High Art, an iconic lesbian film. Many xs HRC has ppl speak who are not gay in real life but who have portrayed gays/lesbians in TV & film(such as Jennifer Beals who was in the L Word). If they are advocates for the GLBT community in real life they have every right to make a speech & a few nice words can go a long way. yes actions speak louder than words but don't discount the impact that ppl speaking out in support of gay rights can make.

[FortunateSon87]

I don't "discount" vocal support in the arts completely, but I do *compare* them to the actions of those of us who have actually made serious sacrifices and have been in the fray of this civil rights battle.

And of course, I never said anything about her "right" nor HRC's "right" to have her speak at the event. I just prefer substance over lip service.

Even if she did write the speech, which I doubt, it's nothing that any of us didn't already know. She's preaching to the choir. It's pointless.

[Gigi8877]

Alrighty I was mostly just commenting to say why HRC might have found her to be relevant to make a speech.I am really not on here to debate w/ anyone, you are entitled to your opinion. My personal opinion is that anyone who lends their support in any way shape or form to help our movement is doing something positive and productive. And the speech sounded pretty heartfelt and personal to me. I didn't find it pointless, I found it moving. But that's me. Just my two cents.

[FortunateSon87]

Yeah it absolutely is positive. I'm not saying she's worthless; I'm saying she's not *as* worthy as many of the other prospects out there.

To me, if someone's speaking at an event like this it's because that person has real experience and/or some wisdom to impart, and sometimes to inspire. But this was just a speech saying everything we already know. It's a great speech to be given to a crowd of people who AREN'T already 100% on our side.

[marygriggs]

Excellent speech. The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.

[cdavidwilburn]

This was awesome! I was there the room was on fire! Patricia Clarkson was beyond great this is going to be a youtube classic!

[Devalmont2]

Sub, did you even listen to this speech before you posted your vileness? What are YOU doing to make this country a better place?

[SubmarinerAndroid]

No I didn't listen to this speech, I've heard enough empty speeches.

Meanwhile, CNN reports on the HRC's buddies in power:

"A former Army captain who was dismissed under a federal law dealing with gays and lesbians in the military lost his appeal Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court.... The Obama administration had asked the high court not to take the case, and White House officials had said they would not object to homosexuals being kicked out of the armed services."

[Devalmont2]

You didn't listen to the speech .... then your comments on it are completely invalid ... and your comment regarding CNN has nothing to do with this video of a brilliant and poignant speech ...

[SubmarinerAndroid]

They have long since stopped being worth listening to. They are a shitstorm of fail.

They just need to be destroyed so real, grassroots no-corporate activists can be heard.

The HRC represents a few well-to-do smug gays in NY and LA and no one else.

[sunfighter86]

I'm behind you on this Submariner-it is time we stop whining and crying about DOMA laws and prop 8's and start standing up and being heard.

[SubmarinerAndroid]

Thank you.

[Devalmont2]

Patricia calls Obama on his wavering to stand up for us!

[Devalmont2]

This speech was in New Orleans. Maybe "they" are "smug" in LA in New York .. I can only speak for my town ... we are hard-working, equality-loving people, so I don't think you know what you're talking about in the least. No one cried or whined at this dinner.

[Soulkeeper65]

I did listen to the speech and it was great. That being said, I agree with Sub for the most part. The HRC has lost a lot of credibility with average queers. They supposedly have Obama's ear, do something with it. I am saying this as someone who has supported our current leader every way I could and still do but it is time for him to be the "fierce advocate" he promised he would be and it is time for the HRC to be more than just empty rhetoric.

[FortunateSon87]

you're right! HRC should have supported McCain!!!

not really.

[SubmarinerAndroid]

Just more self-congratulatory Hollywood crap from the HRC

The HRC is a parasite whose days are numbered

And btw fuck Melissa Etheridge too