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Ian McKellen Talks Gay Rights and Religion


IAN MCKELLAN WIKIPEDIA FAIR USE X390 | Advocate.com

Sir Ian McKellen sat down with The Los Angeles Times on the eve of the premiere of his new miniseries The Prisoner to talk about gay rights, turning 70 and Gandalf, a role he may well return to next year in planned two-part movie version of The Hobbit.

The Tony-winning, two-time Oscar nominated actor told the Times that adjusting to life as a septuagenarian was rough: "You always think that 70 is the end of the road," he said. "'Somebody died when they were 73; good life.'"

All kidding aside, McKellen got serious when talk turned to gay rights and organized religion. The actor, who came out more than 20 years ago, says he is disillusioned with organized religion. Interestingly, his Prisoner costar, Jim Caviezel, is a devout Roman Catholic and rose to fame when he starred in Mel Gibson’s controversial The Passion of the Christ.

"I increasingly see organized religion as actually my enemy. They treat me as their enemy," McKellen says. "Not all Christians, of course. Not all Jews, not all Muslims. But the leaders. . . . Why should I take the judgment of a declared celibate about my sexual needs? He's basing his judgment on laws that would fit life in the Bronze Age. So if I'm lost to God, organized religion is to blame."

The Prisoner, a remake of a 1960’s British drama about a big brother society that achieved a cult following after it first aired, premieres Sunday night on AMC.

Read the full interview here.
 

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Atheist Bob!
    Date posted: 11/15/2009 11:01:34 AM
    Hometown: Canada!

    Comment:

    My personal take is that I actually like the concept of a just, merciful god- it's the fan base I have problems with.

  • Name: the enemy's flaming nightmare
    Date posted: 11/15/2009 2:26:42 AM
    Hometown: I crawled out of hell, where did you think?

    Comment:

    Yes, I agree as well. Organized religion is the enemy of truth, the rust of unused minds. They who revere dogma are the enemy of life. They fear what they cannot grasp with their small minds and so they try to banish it from the world. But the light of the world cannot be grasped by any mind, and so they know it not. These fools only know words on paper that speak of the light, and in their delusion they believe that the words spoken of long ago are themselves the light. But words are not light, only ink on paper. And because ink and paper words can be twisted in every way, and made to say any thing, these foolish men are ensnared by their own false dogma. Without light to hold the words true, their beliefs become warped and their hearts dark and foul. Such men will commit all manner of evil sin. Of course it is true that the words of the masters speak of light, and also point the way, but we must seek it for ourselves in that place beyond words, and that is where the rigid fear to go.

  • Name: Agnostic
    Date posted: 11/14/2009 9:04:28 PM
    Hometown: Phoenix

    Comment:

    Well said. I agree. Too many people are afraid to say it, but it is true. Organized religion is our enemy. Plain and simple. Enough dialog--the religions aren't ever going to change.

  • Name: Phillip
    Date posted: 11/14/2009 8:55:38 PM
    Hometown: Reseda

    Comment:

    He's okay, but he's no Rumpole.

  • Name: Charles
    Date posted: 11/14/2009 8:13:42 PM
    Hometown: Austin, TX

    Comment:

    Yeah Ian McKellan! What's not to love about one of our more stately public personalities? I love hearing anything this man has to say and have not been disappointed at any time. Here's to a long life, Sir Ian McKellan.

  • Name: Ginelle
    Date posted: 11/14/2009 7:45:52 PM
    Hometown: British Columbia, Canada

    Comment:

    Well, I third the two previous commentors concerning Sir Ian's feelings regarding organized religion. If I could just take it a step further, I would say that no other human being or organized religion has the right to make a judgement call on how we have lived our lives and whether we deserve a seat on the right hand of God. I strongly believe that if we have lived and continue to live the best that we can with what God has given us, then it will be his decision alone as to whether we have met his expectations despite our being Gay or Straight, Black or White, Tall or Short! He has, we believe, created us all, then why would he discriminate as organized religion would have us believe?

  • Name: Nathan
    Date posted: 11/14/2009 7:11:10 PM
    Hometown: Lake Worth

    Comment:

    I second Ian and the previous commenter. We need to face and address the fact that religion is our enemy. I personally believe that the root of the problem is that people form beliefs simply because it is what they are told to believe. This is why I am staunchy against religious faith.

  • Name: BDoc310
    Date posted: 11/14/2009 5:50:29 PM
    Hometown: Honolulu

    Comment:

    Well said, Sir Ian. Thank you for saying what a lot of people in Hollywood and in Washington DC are afraid to say out loud.



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