Singer-actress Bette Midler says she
has watched the evolution of the gay rights movement.
Midler, who returns to the big screen
next week with the premiere of Parental Guidance, told
Michigan gay weekly Between
The Lines that she's proud of the gay community's progress.
“I will say that in the old days when
all of this was all so underground, the excitement in the gay
community now about gay marriage and coming above the ground, older
people [must] think, 'Wow, look how far the gay community has come by
sticking together and toughing it out.' You know, gay marriage,
being able to adopt children, being part of the mainstream as opposed
to always being sub rosa – it must be so fascinating and such a
strong validation,” Midler said.
Midler added that she was enthused by
the movement.
“I watch and I'm fascinated and I'm
interested. And I'm enthusiastic. I'm all those things. I try to
help where I can. I just think it's fantastic for the gay community.
Just fantastic. And I know they're happy. I know there's a lot of
joy in the community. I know there are a lot of people who are very,
very excited about the change that all this acceptance has given
them. I know it's a real thrill.”
“At the same time, there's also the
part that was exciting because there was nothing that they were
allowed to do. There was all this stuff about doing things under the
radar that was also exciting in a whole other way.”