Pride & Opinions

I was thumbing through the ads in the latest issue of OUT Magazine this afternoon and just after wiping away the drool after seeing the new David Beckham ad for Emporio Armani when I came across a Kenneth Cole ad featuring well-tattooed and geek chic punk evangelist Jay Bakker - son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.

"We All Walk in Different Shoes" the ad touts, and the company could have found no better poster child for that ad campaign than Bakker, who is the founder and pastor of Revolution Church, a congregation that does not discriminate against anyone, including gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals.

I remember watching what I believe to be the last interview of Tammy Faye before her death, by Larry King on his popular CNN show "Larry King Live".  During the interview her son Jay would often be called upon to step in and answer a question when she was unable to do so. 

One particular question that stuck in my mind was about why Tammy Faye "found it in her heart" to accept the gay community when her contemporaries would not.  The question and answer, along with some special reflections by Jay Bakker are included in this YouTube video:

For his unwavering support of the gay, lesbian, bi and trans communities, and for preaching a sermon of acceptance and unconditional love for all people, Jay Bakker gets the first-ever Pride and Opinions Halo Award.  Would that more people could follow in his admittedly untraditional footsteps.

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