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People seem, on their pathetic love, peace, cheesecake and grouphugging-mode that: there's NO smoke without fire... and that, for all the talk of her being human and being allowed to be flippant and ignorant that the hurt she caused, for she caused it, seeing she APOLOGISED!, is so much the greater than if someone who we, as a comminity, never supported or endorsed. What she did was magnified by her status and the privileged position she held. Her words weighed so much heavier than if my fairly insignificant baker around the corner would have said something stupid... I personally think she was sorry... very sorry in fact, for her career nosedived and never recovered. A really stupid move to kill your very own golden goose i.e. fags.
Hello...I was headed to the beautiful islands of Hawaii when Donna was at the fore front of the music industry and trust me although there were plenty of activist nay sayer out there I was NEVER one of them. Because what she alledgedly said was nothing compared to the way gays talk about and back stab people about being gay and being HIV+. The minute you are no longer beautiful and - + you are crap to the gay community. Why would I turn my back on a gift such as what Donna Summer brought to all our lives. She made us smile, she made us dance, she made us dream, and yes she made us horney. I for one was devasted the day that I heard the news that she had died. I have cds in my car at this very moment that I have played many times over in the last few years. Those were the best days of our lives and to me she made them even better. I too was in Hawaii, Los Angeles, New York City, Fire Island at the ice palace and the pines. San Fransico at Trucaderas and the elephant walk . Damn what a great life I have been blessed with. The truth of the matter is all those years and all those memories she is and always will be at the epicenter of the best days of my life. Thank you Donna for the gifts you shared. RIP
Donna made a comment at a party to her very close friend Paul Jabara ( wrote Last Dance and other hit songs)basically saying we don't know how this is spread so maybe you should cool it with the promiscous behavor. That's all period, he obviously didn't take her advice because he ended up dying of A.I.D.S. hope they're both in heaven laughing at all this nosense
I was in high school when Donna Summer hit it big, and took a lot of crap for playing disco music and dancing to "Hot Stuff" and the like. Ten years later, I went to the first Orange County Gay Pride march with members of ACT UP San Francisco (I was not a member, but a hanger-on...trying to get myself to a stronger political place). The night before, some of us went to a well-known club in L.A. to dance, and they played "This Time I Know It's for Real." My friends started yelling "No Donna Summer!" and laid down on the dance floor in protest, prompting the bouncers to drag them off and kick them out. I stood on the sidelines, frozen. I wanted to protest with them, and I wanted to dance with the other people, and I got stuck in the middle, in my feelings. The problem for me now, in trying to feel angry at Donna Summer, is that her songs make me remember so many people and times that I loved so much. So...thanks for all of that, Donna.
when a fading artist dies, thats when they get remembered and thats truly a sad situation (ie. whitney, michael). despite all the bad rumors around these artists, i have never ever stopped loving their music. EVERYONE makes mistakes, and as much as artists are most of the time in a league of their own, they are still human beings. i might have been around 10 when i first heard Donna Summer back in 1977. no rumors will ever change my mind about music.. the artist might hurt themselves with thoughtless remarks, yet their music lives forever, and the memories attached can never be erased. i dont have to forgive her or michael, or whitney... only GOD can judge them..
As I look back and have often wondered what makes such controversy relevant I think of Ryan White and how scared people were of getting A.I.D.S. and I just wonder if Donna Summers reborn quest for religion may have clouded her judgement but if so we are all human and I feel she has paid dearly for her choice and I feel it's between her and her God now and if we have any compunction it's time to believe some how someway her spirit is with all of us!
One of the greatest gifts we can give to each other as human beings is the gift of forgiveness. Forgiveness heals wounds that left untreated only grow and hurt all of us. Donna Summer, like all of us was not perfect and said some ignorant things. Have we not all done that or something else we aren't proud of? Should that be the thing that defines us above all else? Forgive Donna for being human and you will find that you will feel better as a result . Today I will listen to Bad Girls and smile, remembering those years long ago and how Donna made them better, if even only for a moment.
Jay
Very well written article, it brought tears to my eyes. I first remember walking into a a disco tech in the 70's. When the club was ready to close her (Ms. Summer) son the last dance would play. I also like her song McArthur Park. Yes I too have her albums and cassetes and yes I still listen to her on my turtable. Thanks so much for weiting this article. She too will be missed but she in Gods hand rocking and dancing with others.
June 8, 2012