Issue Number 997 | Frank Rich: Cool Columnist | Advocate.com Frank Rich: Cool Columnist  |  | Advocate.com

Advocate.com health Channel
 
Frank Rich: Cool Columnist
From The Advocate  November 20, 2007
Frank Rich: Cool Columnist

As one of the leading op-ed columnists for The New York Times, Frank Rich can be counted on to write about gay issues with authority -- fitting, since he also served as the theater critic for the Times when theatrical productions were tackling gay visibility in unprecedented ways. “To a certain extent, I discovered my own ignorance about the whole subject on the beat in the 1980s because of the explosion of gay theater, a fair amount of it ultimately prompted by the AIDS crisis,” Rich says, noting that attitudes have shifted considerably since, particularly when it comes to gay marriage. “I have two sons who are in their 20s now, and I think they are sort of representative of a generational change. They find it hilarious that adults are still arguing over what, to them, is just so obviously a civil rights issue that should have been resolved.”

Rich’s scathing theater reviews have earned him a reputation as the “Butcher of Broadway,” and he is no less harsh on antigay politicians in the editorial pages of the Times. “I think the panic you see in the religious right about the Republican primaries right now reflects the fact that -- to use The Advocate's term -- it’s just not ‘cool’ to be outwardly bigoted,” he says. As for the closeted politicians who nevertheless vote for antigay legislation, Rich points to Angels in America, which tackles that hypocrisy via the controversial figure of Roy Cohn. “Look, there are gay people -- no differently than straight people -- who support some Republican ideals, such as a smaller government or a strong defense,” Rich says. “How, though, they can go to work for a party that still demonizes homosexuals for political gain while pretending not to -- that, I don’t understand.”

Photo: Fred Conrad, New York Times

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Be the first to comment on this story.

Back to top

Submit a comment for this story:

*Type your comment here (Required, 1000 characters max.):

*Name (Required): 

*Hometown (Required): 

*E-mail address: (Required, but will not be displayed)

Is this comment for publication? 
Yes   No

Daytime phone number: (Required for print publication only and will not be displayed)

Please enter the words you see in the box, in order and separated by a space. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this service.

  

If you would like to submit a comment for posting, please fill out the form above. 

All comments submitted via this form are subject to posting or publication. (To send a private letter to an Advocate editor or writer, please use the e-mail button at the top of the page, or use snail mail.) If you would like your comment considered for publication in The Advocate magazine, please include your full name, your city of residence, and a phone number where you can be reached during business hours so that we can confirm your identity. Your e-mail address and telephone number are strictly confidential and will not be shared or used for any purpose other than to contact you about your comment.

Comments that do not concern specific articles in The Advocate or on Advocate.com will not be posted or published. See the Contact page for sending comments for reasons other than responding to Advocate editorial and news stories.

Please note that comments sent by fax or snail mail are unlikely to be posted, although they will be considered for publication along with all letters received via e-mail or via this Web page. Comments that chiefly concern Advocate.com content will be considered for posting only on the Web site. The Advocate reserves the right to edit submitted comments for grammar, spelling, obscenities, or libel; we will, however, do our best to preserve the original comment's style and intent. Comments considered for publication in The Advocate magazine may also be edited for length.