You can add Harrison Ford’s name to the list of celebrities wondering why the battle for same-sex marriage has been so lengthy and divisive. The superstar actor, best-known for blockbuster franchises such as the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films, is currently in movie theaters in 42, the hit film which depicts the story of Jackie Robinson, the pioneering athlete responsible for integrating professional baseball.
While promoting the film, Ford discussed parallels between Robinson’s struggle and the current battle for marriage equality.
“I think there’s a metaphor you can reach for, according to your own interests and your own understanding and your own issues,” the actor tells Metro. “But trying to create the best expression of the ideals — the most equal society, the best-regulated society, the best-behaving society — depend on attending to equality and inequity whenever it rears its ugly head. Certainly the marriage issue conveniently falls into that category.”
Ford also notes how public opinion on the issue has been rapidly changing over the past few years.
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“Things do change quickly at a tipping point, as it builds and it builds and it builds until there’s a moment where the balance of opinion, the weight of experience and the understanding comes to a point where the scales tip in the other direction,” he suggests. “We’re getting there, we’re getting there. You know, you would hope that it would have happened with less resistance. You would have hoped that everyone would get the point at the same time, but life’s not like that.”
And, come on, who would ever argue with Indy?
2eo
Hans Solo and Indiana Jones has spoken.
End of discussion.
Caleb in SC
@2eo: Very nice!
jwrappaport
“What did he say?”
Name the movie.
Augusto
Personally, I couldn’t care any less than I do about what this
person, Harrison Ford, thinks about gay marriage.
MikeE
It’s a shame that he cares about LGBT rights, but not enough to refuse to participate in Orson Scott Card’s film “Ender’s Game”.
jwrappaport
@Augusto: A public figure supports gay equality and that’s your response? Imperial troll.
@MikeE: How does his caring about gay equality have any bearing on him appearing in a movie version of a book written by a homophobe? It’s not as though he’s in Triumph of the Will – he’s in a gay-neutral movie that happens to be based on a book written by a jerk. I’m all for fighting the good fight, but pick your battles.
@2eo: Hans [sic] Solo? Is that Han’s German cousin?
MikeE
@jwrappaport: Because O.S.C. is one of the producers of the film. And that means that a large sum of any profits the film makes will go back to him, and through him to the Mor(m)on church and to NOM, of which OSC is a financial supporter.
I AM picking a battle, and a damned worthy one.
This is the most insidious form of fund raising by our worst enemies.
And Harrison Ford is de facto supporting them in that.
jwrappaport
@MikeE: I didn’t realize he was a producer. Yikes. That said, I think the real question is this: Is there a causal link between Harrison Ford appearing in the film and a cognizable and negative impact on gay rights? You would have a very hard time showing that – especially considering that OSC is going to support NOM and the Mormon Church irrespective of who fills the role in the film. Likewise, the film is going to be very successful regardless of Harrison Ford’s participation.
In so many words, Harrison Ford’s detriment in not participating is much greater than the direct good (if any) that it would achieve. Thus, I think it’s unreasonable to demand that he be a sacrificial lamb. I’m not so sure I would act differently were I in his position.
BJ McFrisky
In related news, Mark Hamill thinks cookies are yummy.
Lefty
Harrison Ford was always a dude!
He’s been in some great films, too.
Zabriskie Point
American Graffiti
Apocalypse Now!
The Conversation
Blade Runner
Star Wars series
Indiana Jones series
The Fugitive
Frantic
Witness
Love him!
truthteller
Why do we care what they think about our relationships? This is the media version of voting on our civil rights.
I want to be asked what I think about straight marriage. (HINT: I don’t support it)