James Randi: Of course I accept you

James Randi has come out of the closet at 81 years old.  

The original story is on his SWIFT blog, here is a portion...

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/914-how-to-say-it.html

Quote:

 

Well, here goes. I really resent the term, but I use it because it’s recognized and accepted.

I’m gay.

From some seventy years of personal experience, I can tell you that there’s not much “gay” about being homosexual. For the first twenty years of my life, I had to live in the shadows, in a culture that was — at least outwardly — totally hostile to any hint of that variation of life-style. At no time did I choose to adopt any protective coloration, though; my cultivation of an abundant beard was not at all a deception, but part of my costume as a conjuror.

Gradually, the general attitude that I’d perceived around me began to change, and presently I find that there has emerged a distinctly healthy acceptance of different social styles of living — except, of course, in cultures that live in constant and abject fear of divine retribution for infractions found in the various Holy Books… In another two decades, I’m confident that young people will find themselves in a vastly improved atmosphere of acceptance.

Before publishing this statement, I chose to privately notify a number of my closest friends and colleagues — none of whom, I’m sure, have been at all surprised at this “coming out.” I’m prepared to receive the inevitable barrage of jeers and insults from the “grubbies” out there who will jump to their keyboards in glee to notify others of their kind about this statement, which to them will be yet further proof of the perfidy of the rationalist mode of life that I have chosen. Those titters of joy will be unheard over the murmur of acceptance that I confidently expect from my friends.

Read the entire column on his blog, bookmark it, promote it, and support a hero to the skeptic community for an admission that is long overdue. Of course we accept you Amazing Randi.  Why wouldn't we?  Your sexuality has nothing to do with your ability to use science, expose irrationality, put frauds and liars in their place, create Penn and Teller, or any of the other things you have done to make the world a wiser and more sane place to live.  I support you, respect you, and will always have your back.

 

 

 

 

See also: http://www.rationalresponders.com/james_randi_debunking_the_paranormal

 

Sad he felt the need to wait

Sad he felt the need to wait so long.  Much love though, the man is one of the greats!

 

Everything makes more sense now that I've stopped believing.

mellestad wrote:Sad he felt

mellestad wrote:

Sad he felt the need to wait so long.  

Agreed, reminds me of the atheist closet that several readers of this site feel the need to stay in.

Wonderist's picture

That's amazing!  Randi was

That's amazing!  Randi was my first rationalist hero, and this revelation does nothing but increase my respect for him. Congratulations on coming out, Randi! I'm glad we've collectively moved society to a point where you finally felt safe enough to do so.

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NoDeity's picture

Reading the comments at

Reading the comments at randi.org, it seems that many people have suspected this for a long time.  I didn't -- but I've never met the man in person.  I was surprised but it's not really something that matters to me one way or the other.

Reality is the graveyard of the gods.

Brian37's picture

And blacks can marry whites.

And blacks can marry whites. What is important is that fundies think that outsiders will want to,by proxy of being outsiders, want to fuck their cats and dogs. We must support their bigotry by never rocking the boat.

"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers."Obama
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