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| Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy Weighs in on Prop 8 The Fall Out Boys stopped by Total Finale Live on Sunday - minus Pete Wentz; Ashlee will never have that ef-ing baby! - and even performed right on the Times Square streets. Now FOB is a gay-friendly band if there ever was one - Pete's totally OUT and The Advocate's favorite cover boy - but the whole crew is just as progressive and outspoken in support of the LGBTs. In fact, after the band's set I got in a question with lead singer Patrick Stump on his thoughts on Prop 8: "Prop 8 is a load of crap, and I'm really bummed that it passed. It's in the hands of some people who are going to decide if it's constitutional, with the constitution of California, and hopefully they find in favor of civil rights.
The thing is, obviously we're heterosexuals - nothing negative is going to happen to us - but any threat to anyone's civil rights is a threat to everyone's civil rights." You said it, Patrick! What a cool, intelligent guy. I didn't get much time with the FOBs, but the very cute and (recently?) large-haired Joe Trohman also wanted to get a word in gay-wise. On Prop 8: "Obviously there's a gigantic amount of protesting going on. I think that's the next step." On Pete hogging the gay press: "Hey, I used to live in Boystown in Chicago! It was so good: there's a lot of vegan restaurants and a great martini bar with transvestite strippers... I loved it." Aww... OUT totally needs a Joe cover now, right? [source]Small sections of this article referring to embedded MTV videos of Kim Stolz have been cut. | |
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| Celebrities And Voters React To The Passing Of Prop 8Published by MTV News on Friday, November 14, 2008 at 7:23 pm. By Garth Bardsley Election ‘08 marked a dark day for gay rights. Since several states passed ballot initiatives limiting the rights of same-sex couples — including Proposition 8 in California — protests have erupted from coast to coast. Celebrities have been quite vocal about the issue, from Christina Aguilera telling MTV News, “I think [Prop 8] is discrimination,” to Joe Trohman of Fall Out Boy saying, “It’s interesting how forward-thinking we come off by electing Barack Obama, but then how in the dark we still are by voting ‘yes’ on Prop 8.” Pete Wentz, Whoopi Goldberg, Keith Olbermann and even Spencer Pratt have all weighed in on the issue. The effect that the large African-American voter turnout in California had on the passing of Proposition 8 continues to be debated throughout the media. A report from The Associated Press states that seven in 10 black voters in California supported the prop, along with 52 percent of Latinos. Other reporters and bloggers have been more reticent to indict any one racial group, saying the divide was more generational. The Web site FiveThirtyEight writes, “If nobody over the age of 65 had voted, Prop 8 would have failed by a vote or two.” MTV News hit the streets in California, talking to African-American and Latino voters who favored Prop 8. Here’s a sampling of what they had to say: “I like to describe myself as a fiscal Democrat and a social conservative,” says Meron Begashawa, a black American. “I find the economy and health care and the war more important than social issues, so I voted for Obama on that, and I voted ‘yes’ on Prop 8.” “I come from a very traditional Hispanic family, so marriage is very sacred to us,” said Nicole Ponton. “It definitely was a difficult vote for me, just knowing that I have friends who will be affected by this vote, but definitely my religion and my family, culture and history came into major play.” Kai Kelley said, “I voted ‘yes’ because I feel like it’s going to affect the kids in some way, and I believe [marriage] should stay tradition, like man and woman.” [source] | |
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| T.I., Fall Out Boy, Jay-Z And Others Keep The Love Coming For President-Elect Obama'How do you even describe this feeling?' Busta Rhymes asks MTV News. By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Jocelyn Vena On November 4, 2008, many people around the world were struck with renewed faith, pride and relief. In New York's Times Square, it felt like the Yankees and Mets had both won the World Series ... on New Year's Eve. All through Africa, people ran through the streets in a celebration that hasn't been as big since Nelson Mandela was released from prison. In Europe, Asia — same thing. A resounding number of people shared united merriment: Barack Obama had been announced as the president-elect. Some of music's biggest artists shared in the revelry. ( More )[source] | |
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| Gay-Marriage Ban's Passage Incites Protests, Riots In California'It's a real shame people are mixing up their church and state,' Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump says of Proposition 8. By Chris Harris, with additional reporting by John Norris The passage of California's Proposition 8 — a ballot measure that sought to amend the state's constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry — has sparked outrage and sadness among gays in that state. It's also provoked protests, riots and lawsuits. According to The Associated Press, thousands of people took to the streets of Los Angeles and West Hollywood, California, on Wednesday night for an hours-long, mostly peaceful rally protesting Proposition 8, which passed with 52 percent of the votes (close to 5.2 million). What began as a small protest of 1,000 swelled to more than 4,000 before the night was through. Protesters blocked traffic, and reports suggest that up to seven people were arrested for disturbing the peace. Aerial footage of the protest also seems to indicate that police used force against at least some of those who attended the rally. Other footage shows at least one marcher standing atop a police car. He was wrestled to the ground by police. An additional group of about 500 protesters gathered outside CNN's Los Angeles bureau, where they were seen banging on the doors and walls and hoisting signs protesting the ban. The Los Angeles Police Department issued a tactical alert in response to the rally, which called on all the department's officers, and some from surrounding precincts, to respond. Meanwhile, hundreds gathered outside San Francisco's City Hall, with some holding candles and carrying signs with messages like "We all deserve the freedom to marry." Statewide, three legal challenges were filed Wednesday, with others still being prepared by Prop 8 opponents. According to one person who attended the rally, the event came together largely through Facebook and word of mouth. In addition, West Hollywood's mayor, Jeff Prang, issued an e-mail alert, informing residents that streets would be closed off to accommodate the rally. While Proposition 8's passage was a hotly contested issue in California, there was national opposition to the ballot measure. Several celebrities spoke out against the proposed ban, including Fall Out Boy, who, on Wednesday, sat down with MTV News' John Norris to reflect on its approval. "It's interesting how forward-thinking we come off by electing Barack Obama, but then how in the dark we still are by voting yes on Prop 8," guitarist Joe Trohman said. "It's sad how it's an obvious civil-rights issue, and sometimes, it's hard for people to look back in history and say, 'We've made these awful mistakes. Why don't we just man up and realize maybe we're being a little too bigoted?' " "The thing that bums me out is this is a hindrance on same-sex property ownership, the rights of visitation for same-sex couples," frontman Patrick Stump said. "These are basic human rights. It's a real shame people are mixing up their church and state." [source] | |
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| Pete Wentz Continues to Speak Up for Gay RightsWed., Nov. 5, 2008 4:28 PM PST by Marc Malkin Pete Wentz says voters were deceived into voting for Proposition 8, the ballot initiative seeking to overturn California's legalization of gay marriage. "Many people were intimidated on this issue due to the scary misleading communications on the other side," Wentz said in a statement. "I believe that this is, and has always been, a civil rights issue. We should not allow inequality like this in America." The race is so close on Prop 8 that state officials have yet to call it. There are an estimated 3 million absentee and other ballots to be counted. Ellen DeGeneres has also been a vocal opponent to Prop 8. DeGeneres, who married girlfriend Portia de Rossi shortly after the state's supreme court ruled in favor of same-sex unions, talked about Prop 8 on her show and with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show. She blogged on her official website to urge voters to reject it, and she even paid for her own public service announcements to run on television. DeGeneres still has hope that the initiative ultimately will fail. Asked if she'd be making a statement, the talk-show host's rep said she's not talking "until all the absentees and early votes are in." No word if any celeb supporters will be at tonight's No on 8 rally in West Hollywood. [source] | |
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| Pete Wentz: 'If it weren't for Joe Biden, I would not exist as a human being'Fall Out Boy reveals his vital connection to Democratic VP candidate Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz placed his vote in the US general election today, and revealed his connection to the Democrats runs much deeper than just political support. "I would not be standing here actually in reality at all because my parents met working for Biden," Wentz told the [url=Associated Press]Associated Press[/url]. "They met on the campaign, so they have this particular affection for Joe. He came to their wedding. If it weren't for Joe Biden, I would not exist as a human being." Wentz placed his vote at his assigned polling station in the garage of a private home in Beverly Hills, CA and explained his feelings on the importance of having his say in today’s historic election. "I don't usually go out of my way to indoctrinate people or tell people, 'You should do this because of me, or you shouldn't do this because of me,' but I think it's important for people to get out there." Wentz also recently campaigned against Proposition 8 – a bill that could overturn the right to gay marriage in California. [source] | |
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| Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, Patrick Stump Wait In Line To Vote -- Just Like You
'It feels cool to be a part of this right now,' bassist says.
By Shawn Adler, with additional reporting by Yasmine Richard and Todd BrownBeverly Hills, CALIFORNIA — They are members of one of the biggest rock bands in the world, their faces plastered on JumboTrons, TVs and, these days, more than a few tabloid covers. Given their fame and fortune, you might think Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump were more important than you and I.  Not on Election Day. "There is no VIP line when you're voting," Wentz laughed, the early-morning fog still visible at his local polling station in Beverly Hills, California, where the rocker woke up at the crack of daylight to cast his ballot. "It's 8:30 a.m. [People aren't getting out of the way,] like, 'Oh, sorry! It was you!' " And, really, that's all the better, insisted Stump from across town at a Los Angeles polling station, where he was facing considerably longer lines than his bandmate. "I'm nobody," Stump joked from the back end of a line that would take upwards of an hour to navigate. Well, that's not exactly true. Stump is somebody: a voter, of course. He's also 24, which makes him part of this election's most important demographic, the much-discussed "youth vote." "It feels cool to be a part of this right now," Wentz, 29, said of his membership in the youth contingent, which is projected to reach its highest turnout rate since 1972. "I think that it's cool for people who feel disenfranchised. Honestly, when you become a block, it forces people that you're electing to pay attention to you. I think that actually happened this year. Hopefully, everybody who said they were coming out [did]. "I think getting up and putting your money where your mouth is is really important to do," he continued. "It's not only your responsibility, but a privilege as an American." A privilege that comes with many rewards, Wentz said. Having a say in ballot decisions? Affecting the country's future? Nah, Wentz joked, "Starbucks!" But it's going to get even better for the rocker. "I'm hanging out with Diddy tonight," Wentz said. "I don't know what Diddy gives out when he sees the 'I Voted' sticker, [but you know it's] something crazy!" MTV News is at the polls in all 50 states — check out our coverage all day long on MTV and right here on MTVNews.com. Then, tell us why you voted! Comment below, upload video at yourhere.mtv.com, or text VOTE to 66333 with your first name, age, state and a comment about your experience. Your message will appear on our election map and could appear on TV today! [source] - there is also a video at the source. | |
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