Dear Levi, You’ve Got Mail!
11 12 2009
Our friends over at Bent Alaska have posted an open letter to Levi Johnston, 2009’s most unlikely gay icon. The Playgirl photo shoot enlarged his fan base and Levi, much to his credit, is taking his new expanded role in stride. He is open-minded, and he is learning as he goes.
In his appearance on the Joy Behar show, he mentioned that he has never seen “a gay guy” in Wasilla. I think he’s just been enlightened…
We’re here, we’re queer, and we live on the Last Frontier, even in Wasilla.
Perhaps you don’t think you’ve seen us because you don’t know what we look like: We look like Alaskans. Really.
Did you expect us to shop at the Wasilla Fred Meyer looking like Adam Lambert at the AMAs? Did you expect us to kiss in line at Home Depot? We have strong survival instincts and know better than to look, act, or talk queeny in a town like this. You might not know we’re gay, but I’m sure you’ve seen us.
We live here and shop here and work here. We even have a Mat-Su LGBT Community Center in Palmer and hosted Wasilla’s first drag show fundraiser at the Best Western on Lake Lucille. We have all kinds of jobs, including work you probably don’t think of as gay. We raise children and run dogs, gather round the bonfire, barbeque in the summer and shoot off fireworks in the winter. Some of us go to church, but not the anti-gay churches. We keep a low profile because of people like this Wasilla pastor who says we’re the anti-christ… and the people who like Sarah.
We do appreciate the way you keep reminding everyone that she’s a liar. She tried to use you, to control you, but you stood up for yourself and forged a different path. Good for you. Hopefully, the rest of the country will see through her lies and choose a different path as well.
And for those of you who are wondering… Yes, the Best Western on THAT Lake Lucille in Wasilla. So, if Sarah Palin times it properly, she can see a drag show from her house!
December 11th, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Go Levi!!!
Ok, I’m off to bed now. Six in the morning here.
December 11th, 2009 at 9:26 PM
bravo. bravo
December 11th, 2009 at 9:28 PM
And a hoorah to the gays in Wasilla.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Seconding Fawnskin’s bravos.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:14 PM
3rd bravo from CA! I loved that post. How wonderful if Levi could become an advocate for oppressed – Goodness knows, Alaska needs more LGBT friends.
I am still not over what happened with the anti-gay discrimination ordinance – and how Sullivan vetoed the majority.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Been ages since I posted. Hope this blog opens some eyes.
“”Nothing so liberates the heart when a fool awakes from his folly.”–Cabin Boy
Levi’s growing up. His journey, from the same narrow start, looks to have more potential towards creating a well-rounded adult than anyone who could ever emerge from the hype-filled world surrounding the people in the BIG political spotlight. This means you, Palin. Yes, a person a fraction your age has more potential for maturity than you could ever dream to achieve. Good luck, Levi. Maybe in ten years you will become a spokesperson for the REAL “average joe.”, based on REAL LIFE learning experiences rather than living life in a bubble like Palin and her ilk.
If so, I’ll rejoice in the day years from now when Levi can skillfully rebut any argument Palin throws out there, based on the premise that he’ll learn more about the real world than she could hope to understand. To have Levi shoot down Palin in a debate will be a dream come true.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:28 PM
You hit the nail right on the head Right Reverend. Thanks for that wonderfully written comment!
December 11th, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Right Reverend Your words doth ring true through a clear nite sky.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:39 PM
I am THRILLED to see Levi maturing.
It takes one heck of a secure man, not boy, to accept the role he seems to be stepping into.
Rev – you have it right and I too look forward to that possible day!!
December 11th, 2009 at 11:03 PM
I watched that interview. Levi seems like he is 19. Sometimes he sounds very grown up and other times he sounds like a teen who’d like to settle some scores with Sarah. So, he is acting his age. It would be nice if we could say the same about Sarah, who seems to be stuck in junior high mentality.
To Levi’s credit, when Joy kept pressing him on some of the questions, he seemed to shut down and didn’t go where she was trying to get him to go. Nice choice, Levi. It would be so easy to throw back at Sarah the kinds of things she has been throwing at him. But in the end, he looks so much better, and someday he and his son will be glad that he was the grown-up.
And that letter to Levi is great. I love the Lake Lucille event. So cool.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:05 PM
right reverend it certainly has been a long time. nice to see you. great and good post as per usual.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:23 PM
LOL! Good letter!
Also Bravo!
December 11th, 2009 at 11:52 PM
Levi has taken a big step towards tolerance and understanding of diversity.
Let’s hope his journey continues to bring him much wisdom.
December 12th, 2009 at 12:03 AM
I came out in Alaska. It was in Anchorage, and at the time the bar was under the sign of a dog-washing service. I even visited a park on the outskirts of Wasilla. I was in the Army, and I was Levi’s age.
The tales with which I could regale you (Ron Reagan had been there the week before).
My So. Bapt. Family had also lived right outside Anchorage a few years before.
Indeed the tales. The mind is the last frontier, baby; we just have to land somewhere to play it out.
You go, Levi!
December 12th, 2009 at 1:35 AM
as $’error says, be “bold” Levi ! Keep growing and going forward. Learn from these unfoldings . Good for you !
Big ” i hear ya ” nods to the Right Reverend @6.
Chuckling at the image of a drag show going on down the street from the Palin compound. I’m hearing the muffled thumping bass and the lyrics, “Everybody Dance Now” , drifting down and in to the Palin living room while she’s trying to have a phone chat with Rev. Graham.
I’ll post this on the next open thread but feel the need to share it sooner. This is one of those things she will NOT be able to spin away. It’s ANOTHER false Coach Wooden quote and this one is so much more damning :
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/deja-vu-all-over-again-pa_b_389706.html
This one is something else and needs to be widely distributed.
December 12th, 2009 at 2:54 AM
Excellent statements, RightRev!
BuffaloGal – oops on me…….posted that link in O/T, then came on over here and you already had it! I agree, it needs to be widely distributed and I hope it gets sufficient comments to keep it near the front instead of buried further into their site. Are you surviving this awful cold and snow okay? Did you get your big pot of soup made? It is chili weather here so that’s what my family will chow down on this weekend. PS – like the updating on your site!
December 12th, 2009 at 3:16 AM
Love the thread. Love the comments.
Truth that Rev !
And ain’t life grand ? Further more , also , too.
December 12th, 2009 at 4:46 AM
The Rt. Rev – Good to have you back – we missed you! Great post! Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll ever have the priviledge of seeing a Sarah/Levi debate, any more than a Sarah/Gore debate. One thing, though, the next public debate the gloves will come off – she won’t be treated like she was with Biden.
WOW! The Geoffrey Dunn article was uber funny – another misquote by John Wooden. Good sleuthing to find out where she is getting these.
It’s 30 degrees here in No GA gotta go make some chili and bake some bread. Keep warm everyone!
December 12th, 2009 at 6:02 AM
I’m amazed at how he has matured in the last year, compared to Miss Teen-hate machine who hasn’t matured since junior high.
It seems that his world view has becomone bigger—-always a good thing.
December 12th, 2009 at 6:03 AM
becoming—-sorrry, I haven’t had enough coffee yet.
December 12th, 2009 at 6:36 AM
Sarah on Conan O’Brien last night with William Shatner. Sarah come from back stage and surprised Shatner. And then she punked him at his own game. It was funney.
http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/sarah-palin-gets-back-at-william-shatner-on-the-tonight-show–866
December 12th, 2009 at 7:27 AM
Lovely thread..healthy, forward-moving thread..wonderful thoughts. Thank you.
December 12th, 2009 at 8:22 AM
Feeling lousy, fighting a cold, but RR you said perfectly what my foged brain wanted to say. Levi growing up and being a respected voice in AK would be karma at its best!
December 12th, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Thanks for sharing…this is great
Rev and others have said it all…
Levi…learning along the way…unlike others..
December 12th, 2009 at 9:05 AM
see, my brain is “fogged”
December 12th, 2009 at 9:28 AM
I am an older, retired person living in Florida. I have watched the train wreck that is sarah palin since mccain selected her to be his running mate. She is a mess, a fraud, and she is very dishonest. I am a Vietnam veteran who served honorably. I am a father and grandfather, and I am gay. Levi Johnston is a remarkable young man. Obviously, as he himself says, he was raised in a conservative and homophobic environment. Yet his attitude toward gays and his understanding and appreciation of his gay fans are indicative of an open and free mind. I am a fan. I think Levi knows things about ms. palin that will bring her down. she appears nervous when talking about him – as she did with Oprah. Levi is adorable. And all of you who are gay in Alaska, I salute you. I have been around the world. Europe is so gay friendly, as are some areas in the US. I can only give you my love and support as all of you deal with the homophobes around you.
December 12th, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Impressive – she was trying to bait Levi into an aggressive reaction and he handled it with amazing calm and maturity.
December 12th, 2009 at 10:28 AM
I, along with everyone else loved the Right Reverend’s post. Please keep posting, I really enjoy your thoughts.
Also, I was too tired this morning (Justafarmer had me up all night listening to Sam Cook) to really give credit to the people who wrote the above letter to Levi. To the folks at Bent Alaska, well done or bravo as Fawnskin said.
December 12th, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Different strokes for different folks! I am proud of you Levi. Take your time and always remember to think fast but take a minute before you say anything.
Please spill the beans on what you know about Sarah….or at least let it begin dripping out a little faster! Good luci.
December 12th, 2009 at 2:51 PM
laprofesora – This is NOT the time of year that you need to be under the weather! Fix a nice hot toddy and crawl into a warm bed – get better soon!
December 12th, 2009 at 5:38 PM
I like Levi a lot better clean shaven and yes he does seem to be maturing and I just knew Joy would try to goad him.
Great post Right Reverend and thomas.
Also a great open letter to Levi from Bent Alaska .People have know idea who is or is not gay especially when they have to worry about jobs ect.Also by the down right ugliness that some people who call themselves christian treat others.They are not christians at all .Jesus would not treat people like they do.Apparently they don’t read the bible fully only what they want to read.
December 12th, 2009 at 9:42 PM
I don’t believe palin was a surprise to Bill Shatner .IMO it was set up just like the Tina thing was made to look real.Remember Mr.Shatner is a fine actor and I think he knows how to act surprised or whatever.I don’t believe for I second that Shatner was punked.
December 13th, 2009 at 6:12 AM
RR,welcome back and as usual, you bring up the most salient points. Imagine how stunted Levi could have remained under the Heath / Palin wing. I know one of the extended family and it is embarrassing how they revere themselves as the most important family in the State (and country.)
rvdee and Thomas, thank you for sharing such private and important thoughts about yourselves. As much as we treasure our mudpup commeraderie, it’s still a little frightful to share identifiers lest we be outed as anonymous posters.
You all, and Levi, are amongst friends.