Actress Alyssa Milano has apologized for calling herself transgender and gay after a swift internet backlash.
Milano, known for roles on Who’s The Boss and Charmed, has long championed the queer equality cause. Last week, when a fan somewhat snarkily asked if she identified as transgender, Milano tweeted out: “I’m trans. I’m a person of color. I’m an immigrant. I’m a lesbian. I’m a gay man. I’m the disabled. I’m everything. And so are you, Kirk. Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know or understand. No one wants to hurt you. We are all just looking for our happily ever after.”
My transgender sisters! I am celebrating YOU this #NationalWomensDay!
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 8, 2019
I’m glad this tweet invoked conversation. I’m so sorry it offended some. I see you and hear you. But just a reminder, empathy is not a bad thing. Nuance is important and literal interpretation is not always intended. And I can identify with and not identify as. Both are powerful.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 9, 2019
The actress had intended her words to show solidarity with disenfranchised groups in honor of International Women’s Day. Instead, she ended up issuing an apology to those that expressed offense. “I’m glad this tweet invoked conversation” Milano tweeted over the weekend. “I’m so sorry it offended some. I see you and hear you. But just a reminder, empathy is not a bad thing. Nuance is important and literal interpretation is not always intended. And I can identify with and not identify as. Both are powerful.”
Related: Alyssa Milano Calls Danny Pintauro “Very Brave” And “A Beacon Of Light”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Milano, however, did not delete her original tweet, nor did she express shame for cultural appropriation. And nor should she: Milano nails her point about empathy and the key difference between identifying as something as opposed to with someone. She realizes what some members of the queer community have forgotten: allies matter. Even if her initial words lacked a certain context, Milano deserves praise for her support of the community, and for her unanimity with people who face daily attack for the color of their skin, for whom they love, or for the physical challenges they face. In that same regard, there are many other more prominent targets that deserve ire before someone expressing support and empathy.
True equality for all people is still a long way off…but we’ll get there much faster if we all go together.
Milano was later asked how she felt about the backlash to her comments.
She responded:
1. I learned it doesn’t matter how pure your intentions are, or your 30 yrs of advocacy work & activism, if you use well established poetic license & nuance the very people you passionately fight for will be uspset because you didn’t say it the literal way they’d prefer. https://t.co/zzhPOPvGLn
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 12, 2019
2. When we try to silence those that fight the loudest for us, what are we telling those that fight against us?
Every time those on the left eat one of our own, the Right sees this as an opportunity to discredit the entire progressive movement. And the media covers it.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 12, 2019
3. I’ll keep fighting for ALL. Because I love ALL. I believe everyone deserves the right to equality & opportunity & a happily ever after.
I may not always find the words you prefer. But please give me the benefit of the doubt. My work should prove my intention & heartbeat.
?
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 12, 2019
4. Again, I apologize to those who were offended by the words I chose to show my forever allyship.
With so much respect,
Me— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 12, 2019
QueerTruth
Alyssa Milano has a long history of supporting many causes from children to women’s rights to LGBT rights, to HIV & AIDS.
Her statement was a metaphor for all of us being human and ultimately being “one”. And it didn’t need to be clarified.
I’m just really grateful to have Alyssa as an advocate.
Thanks, Alyssa!
strix1
I (((SEE))) her comments more than most, they have substance and she is not afraid to speak up for people. And she can rant better than anyone and make it meaningful. Keep tweeting Alyssa, WTG!
TheMarc
We really do need to stop going nuclear about EVERYTHING. She was trying to express her solidarity with marginalized communities. We knew what she meant. People are actively saying far worse things about the trans, gay, bi, POC communities and they are doing so very purposefully, very directly and there is no alternative meaning in their words. I could give a flying f about a flub from someone who has actually spoken in support of the LGBT community in the past and has continued to do so.
@HarryB at q-meet.us
You are absolutely right.
iamru2
But she is a complete nut case!
DCguy
Oh look, a Trump troll.
iamru2
LOL you really are kinda of funny you know.
Imjustsaying
She had absolutely nothing to apologize for. It is a lovely statement. People seem to need a villain in their life to make themselves feel better. Ms. Milano is no enemy.
QueerTruth
Alyssa Milano has a long history of supporting many causes from children to women’s rights to LGBT rights, to hiv/aids.
Her statement was a metaphor for all of us being human and ultimately being “one”. And it didn’t need to be clarified.
I’m just really grateful to have Alyssa as an advocate.
Thanks, Alyssa!
Polaro
Alyssa has been putting herself out there for all the right causes for two decades now.
iminheatlikeacat
I understand her point about solidarity but she is not trans, she’s not a person of colour, she’s not disabled, she’s not a lesbian and she’s not a gay man and she shouldn’t be claiming she is any of those things. I’m a feminist but I wouldn’t state that I am a woman or I know what it’s like to be a woman because I don’t.
Polaro
I understand that you do not understand.
QueerTruth
It’s a metaphor for “we are all one”. And it’s a beautiful metaphor.
Didn’t you read the article or any of the previous comments?
No offense, but you’re being rather dimwitted with that comment.
Kangol
I get where you’re coming from. She explained her point, and I think she also gets the criticism. She’s been a longstanding ally and that counts for a lot.
Paulie P
maybe consider supporting issues for well over 20 years and then get back got us.
Brian
I felt the same way when Bette Miller claimed to have wings. As a bird ally, I was sooooooooo angry.
PinkoOfTheGange
Wasn’t there an uproar when Andrew Garfield said something similar 18 months ago?
CobraPowers
Typical white Hollywood liberal trying to virtue signal and display her “wokeness” by using minorities as purse puppies.
Kangol
You sound like a typical right-winger throwing out Breitbartian phrases and trashing someone you can’t and won’t ever hold a candle to. Sad!
Crystix
“2. When we try to silence those that fight the loudest for us, what are we telling those that fight against us?
Every time those on the left eat one of our own, the Right sees this as an opportunity to discredit the entire progressive movement. And the media covers it.”
-Alyssa Milano
CobraPowers
@Kangol- BWAHAHAHA if I’m “Breitbart”, you are Buzzfeed, the lowest common denominator for the “woke” left. By the way, did you see how Lisa Page testified yesterday that former president Obama ordered them to protect HRC from investigations? And more importantly that under president Obama’s direction the DOJ was bringing the “Russian collusion” narrative as “insurance” against Trump being elected president, and it turns the real Russian collusion, from HRC+DNC+Obama+NeverTrumpers+Russian spies was not from the Trump administration at all, BWAHAHAHAA, so I ask you again, what are you going to do now that the Mueller report will come out soon announcing NO collusion evidence after 2 years of investigation? Will you keep screaming at the sky in your pink kitty hat? Or will you grow up and try to help move the country forward in a positive way instead of wishing for the captain of the ship to sink it?
CobraPowers
@Crystix – What has she done for me? For us? Was she doing any activism for LGBT/Human rights before getting loud on twitter? Given she has been an activist for the AIDS cause, sorry, I don’t think we should equate AIDS=LGBT, unless you want to also praise the Trump administration for announcing last year they’d fight to prevent and find a cure for AIDS.
DCguy
Awwww, sweetie, if you’re going to try to pretend you aren’t a fake Right Wing troll account, you might want to try to avoid “Breitbart” words like “Virtue signal”.
It really gives you away too easily.
CobraPowers
@DCguy – No, I am a conservative. LGBT people who are conservatives do exist, even though 7/10 are far left (not liberals, FAR LEFT). Now, are you gonna pretend you aren’t a leftist with Trump derangement syndrome and you only care about petty single issue policies instead of the major issues and policies affecting all Americans?
nitejonboy
I’m a seagull, no, I’m an actress,no…..Just kidding, we know you love and support us Alyssa, and we appreciate you!!
ShowMeGuy
Quit acting like being offended is a paying job and you signed up for overtime.
If you lack the reading comprehension skills to properly understand Alyssa’s comment, you shouldn’t be on TWITTER since it is a word based communication platform.
Crystix
That’s literally twitters whole schtick. Giving a voice to everyone, to comment on anything, offer absolutely zero accountability, and destroy any semblance of real life sentiment.
Donston
I definitely get where she’s coming from as far as not fearing what you don’t completely understand, us all being human and ultimately being connected, and how you are more than a singular thing (I feel gay, pan-sexual, queer, black, mixed, male, “genderfluid”, top, bottom, etc.). But perhaps those types of statements are both a bit schmaltzy and they do often come off as “empty statements” when it’s delivered by someone who is of “privilege”.
However, people are too damn quick to jump on everything. Someone is ultimately coming from a decent place and gives you a well-rounded and seemingly sincere apology. Yet, there’s still bytching.
CanadianGuy62
So, should we be expecting apologies from all those people who tweeted #JeSuisCharlie a few years back?
Crystix
Maybe if we stopped pretending Twitter isn’t a shithole, but a failed social experiment, we could move on to some more productive. Twitter just magnifies everything wrong with ANYTHING ANYONE says. When Trump can use it to rise to power and govern a country, we should move on to something new. No one is ever going to improve the conversation when the system is built to amplify trolls’ voices – on all sides.
Be social – LOG OFF
CobraPowers
You cannot in good consciousness pretend Twitter doesn’t have a clear left leaning. They even admitted it on Joe Rogan last week.
Heywood Jablowme
@CobraPowers: And so what? It’s a private company. Under their rules they could ban that POS Traitor Trump if they wanted to.
Why do you hate capitalism? lol
CobraPowers
@Heywood Jablowme – You mean how the gay community has made a big fuss over bakers not wanting to use their skill to bake for a same sex wedding instead of just going to another bakery who would actually cater to them? And it turned out they actually did it on purpose as activism, huh. Or how about wanting to force churches to perform same sex marriages or else they lose their tax benefits? Honey, be consequential with your own beliefs. Just as discrimination based on sex/race/sexual orientation/religion js wrong, discrimination based on political ideology (and the fascist suppression of speech that follows) is wrong. And the fact that Twitter is 1) USA based and 2)Is the number platform for speech in the world 3)It’s being used to influence elections – Should be reason enough for it to be regulated and guarantee freedom of speech FOR BOTH SIDES. Why do you hate freedom of speech?
DCguy
@CobraPowers said……
“”You cannot in good consciousness pretend Twitter doesn’t have a clear left leaning. They even admitted it on Joe Rogan last week.”””
—————–
Except you’re lying. The CEO of Twitter, not only defended Alex Jones, he then went on Hannity to push right wing conspiracies, and to complain that Republicans are the “Victims” in everything.
Again, that is the CEO of Twitter who did that. So your sad little attempt to try to do what right wingers always do failed.
Kangol
@DCGuy, CobraPowers aka MoBro or whatever his older name was is yet another “gay” person on here who defends anti-gay right-wingers without breaking a sweat. He’s obsessed with the “left,” just like MoBro (what was the other name), throws out all the right-wing terms and memes (“virtue signalling,” etc.), and of course defends “Treasonous” racist liar con man Trump. Do you think he’s going to criticize that rabid homophobe Mike Pence? Or all the anti-gay fanatics in the GOP? Or the anti-gay nuts on FauxNews? Nope!
DCguy
@Kangol
I think “MoBro’s” older name was BJ McFrisky.
At this point I’m guessing he’s either not LGBT and just a troll, or so delusional and self hating there should be a really serious discussion about therapy needs.
CobraPowers
@DCguy – LMAO did you watch the latest visit of Jack Dorsey to Joe Rogan? THEY ADMITTED THAT TWITTER HAS A LEFTIST BIAS BECAUSE IT’S BASED IN THE WEST COAST! Go and watch it, then come back and give a more informed reply.
CobraPowers
@Kangol – “Trump is racist, Trump is literally Hitler, Trump is a homophobe, Mike Pence wants concentration camps for the LGBT community” y’all have been spewing that ridiculousness for 3 years now, if Trump was anti gay we’d be in concentration camps already, but no, instead he’s THE ONLY president to enter office in full support for marriage equality, and THE ONLY president to push for global decriminalization of homosexuality, while the left’s chocolate Jesus had the chance and instead chose to bow down to our enemies, like Iran, where we are still tortured and executed for being gay.
You wanna talk about treasonous? Lisa Page testified yesterday that Barry gave the order to not investigate/protect HRC, and that he wanted the Russian collusion narrative to be the “insurance” if Trump got elected, LMAO. So the actual Russian collusion came from HRC+DNC+Barry+NeverTrumpers. LMAO.
CobraPowers
@DCguy – LMAO are you seriously saying I need “conversion therapy” because, according to you, LGBT people who are conservatives, patriots, right wingers, Christians, etc are not supposed to exist? You are a fascist.
i’m real, you can find me on Instagram 😀
Heywood Jablowme
If Twitter had been around 2,000 years ago, all those guys who said “I am Spartacus” would have been publicly shamed!
QJ201
Twitter users need to stop acting like middle school playground bullies.
8 BILLION people on the planet
“Twitter is in a an uproar”
Twitter has 126 million daily bullies who we pay too much attention to.
piriblue
I have always loved her since she was “Who’s the boss” Now I watch her in “Project Runway”.
Sadly I have to say that she should not be in it. She dresses kind of frumpy. She has a mom bod.
Designers should should dress her better or work on her makeup. Still love her but someone give her a complete makeover.
DCguy
The issue is, the exact same accounts that went after Milano, claiming to be LGBT weren’t. If you scanned down their threads, they were mostly defending Trump then did a name switch to attack her.
I don’t know any LGBT people that were enraged by her trying to articulate what empathy is.
Kangol
Thank you!
CobraPowers
@DCGuy – That’s because you live in an echo chamber, and you yourself stated that any LGBT person who isn’t a far leftist like you somehow must have self-loath/self-hatred and need therapy. You are a fascist.
Creamsicle
Next time: Milano explains figurative speech all over again when someone digs up her “Je suis Charlie,” tweet from 2015.
Seth
I’m with Alyssa but then I choose intent over content, not that I found her content offensive, either. I would recommend to those offended that they (re)read The Boy Who Cried Wolf and learn to recognize a true problem/villain.