This leads perfectly into the Ellen DeGeneres debacle.  Many people were horrified after she was seen sitting next to George W. Bush in the Dallas Cowboys VIP suite.  Their seating was happenstance – Ellen and Portia were invited by Charlotte Jones, the daughter of the Cowboys owner.  The more militant members of our community feel she should have protested, walked out, or done something other than spend time with a man who tried to block gay marriage, went into needless wars, and did other horrific things.  Instead, Ellen stayed and socialized.  She said, “I’m friends with George Bush.  In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have.  We’re all different.  And I think we’ve forgotten that that’s OK that we’re all different.”

I was reminded of when Barbra Streisand received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2008 during the presidency of George W. Bush.  She could have turned it down.  She didn’t.  The honor is selected by an independent committee.  So, like Ellen, Barbra was invited to something that thrust her into contact with the President.  Although, unlike Ellen, Babs was careful not to be photographed anywhere near Bush.  Streisand later wrote about the experience: “I have never met George W. Bush, but for the past eight years I have been blogging about him and his administration on my website.  I have relayed my frustration at the direction he has taken our country in no uncertain terms.  So it was just as surprising to me as it apparently was to the press that upon meeting President Bush and extending my hand to him, he said to me, ‘Aw, c’mon, gimme a hug and kiss.’ And then he proceeded to embrace me.  I must say, I found him very warm and completely disarming…even though I think perhaps he was kissing me hello as I was kissing him goodbye…I guess in some small way, he and I proved that we could agree to disagree, and, for that weekend, art transcended politics.”

Here’s what I think – people are never one thing.  If I stopped talking to friends with views or actions or traits that I disagree with, I’d have no friends.  Interacting with different-minded people leads not only to many spirited debates and conversations, but also to broader understanding of another point of view.  As gay people, how many times have we asked, “Why does one part of my life that you don’t understand or agree with define me and scare you?”  We look for acceptance, so it’s hard to argue not accepting others.  I don’t expect to sit down with Bush anytime soon, but I’m sure I’d find him charming.  I may end up liking him more than Ellen, who I find….well, you know.