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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE November 10, 2006

You know what the Bible says Broadway legend Carol Channing shares some startling views about her gay fans

by Kaizaad Kotwal

This was not the story I thought I would write. This wasn't the interview I was expecting.

When I heard that Broadway legend Carol Channing was coming to Springfield with her one-woman show, I was excited at the opportunity to see this long-lasting performer and to possibly interview her about her legendary life and iconic work.

The 85-year-old chanteuse has a large gay following, and has done events with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and West Hollywood Pride Day. She has praised

her gay audience in the past.

"Gay people are my favorites," Channing told the Windy City Times last year. “Gay people just know people that are talented. They just know. I'm their queen!"

So it was a surprise when she shared some not-quite-friendly views on gays and the Bible.

Channing's publicity agent Harlan Boll insisted afterward that she did not know that she was speaking with publication,

to a miscommunic

between his agency

and their client. But when I called in for the interview, I gave the man who answered my name and publication, and as she came on the phone I overheard him tell her, "This is Kaizaard [sic] from the Gay People's Chronicle."

A third of the way through the interview, Channing asked, "Oh, dear. Is this for a gay publication?" Even after I reconfirmed that

it was, she later reiterated her ideas about gays and the Bible.

This is a transcript of the interview, done by phone October 31 from one of her homes in Rancho Mirage, California.

Kaizaad Kotwal: You have had a very long and illustrious career. To what do you attribute your longevity?

Curbside

Carol Channing: Do you really think so? My, I don't know. To tell you the truth, the most important work is what I am doing now. What we're doing is bringing the arts back.

Can you say more about that?

When Harry [Kullijian, her current husband] was in World War II and the Korean

War, it took ten years out of his life. In those days they tried to eliminate all necessities when things got really bad. They even tried to eliminate the arts. Harry was in an audience [in England] when Churchill was told that due to the financial constraints they were eliminating the arts and Churchill said, 'What are we fighting for?'

Do you remember your introduction to the arts?

Yes. My mother asked me if I wanted to help her distribute the Christian Science Monitor at theatres and I agreed. I don't remember how old I was then, but I must have been very little. We walked into a darkened theatre and I instantly felt, "I'm on hallowed ground. This is a church. A mother church. A mosque. This is how you get a

RETURN FROM THE PASTO OG I HEARD NATHAN ARGUING WITH

WASN'T SURE WHETHER THE BONK I GOT ON THE HEAD WAS INTENDED TO KILL ME OR NOT, BUT IT DIDN'T. WHEN I CAME TO I WAS PLENTY SORE BUT OBVIOUSLY BREATHING.

SOMEONE AND I HEARD CAL TOO. ONLY HE WAS CRYING AND PLEAD ING "DON'T PLEASE DON'T" I STAYED ON THE FLOOR AND TRIED NOT TO MOVE A MUSCLE.

OW ON OW

glimpse of creation. If children were exposed to art the way we used to be then they wouldn't have troubles with drugs because that's just not as exhilarating [as art].

You have performed prolifically. Have you ever felt that acting and singing and dancing got in the way of other things you wanted to do in your life?

Actually it helped me to understand many, many things I wouldn't have. I'm a Doctor of Fine Arts you wouldn't believe it and I am traveling to college campuses to talk to students and my life is more important now that it has ever been. Imagine at this state being so needed.

As revealed in your biography "Just Lucky I Guess," you found out later in life that your father was of AfricanAmerican origins. Did you ever feel betrayed that you weren't told that right from the start?

No. I didn't even know it would matter, that reporters would ask questions. [It did] not change my relationship with him at all. But I did finally realize why I sang so well, why I danced do well. Everyone's race is something to be proud of. I'm terribly proud of it. I was very close to him and loved him dearly. He was the kindest, most spiritually knew..no one-woman show,

In your new to person I kil

which you are bringing to Springfield, what are you trying to say to the audience?

My life story.

You seem to have a very large gay following. Have you ever thought about why?

I don't think about them. I'm grateful that they seem to like me. They're terribly loyal to me. But I'm knee-deep in the Bible and you know what it says about that. Alright.

Oh, dear. Is this for a gay publication? Have I offended you?

Yes. For the Gay People's Chronicle. Right now, it's really not my job to be offended or not be offended. I am just asking questions and reporting answers. I Continued on page 10

By Robert Kirby

I'D COME HERE TO NATHAN'S PLACE TO TELL HIM THAT A GANG MEMBER HAD INDEED BEEN LOOKING FOR HIM RECENTLY AT THAT NEW YORK COFFEE JOINT HE'D WORKED IN. HORJESTLY? DEEP DOWN I HADN'T THOUGHT IT WAS LIFE OR DEATH THAT NATWAN KNEW THAT, BUT I'D WANTED THE INTRIGUE TO CONTINUE, MAYBE FOR NATHAN TO ENLIST MY SPYING PROWESS TO CRACK THE MYSTERY...

ever

MY HEAD HURT LIKE HELL. I PECKED OPEN AN EYE AND SAW CAL, TIED UP LIKE A CATTLE AT THE RODEO; AND NATHAN, HELD AT BAY BY SOME BIG HULKING DUDE. WHO HAD A GUN POINTED AT NATHAN.

NATHAN CALLED THE DUDE "ATOM" AND THROUGH MY FOG I MADE THE CONNECTION: ATOM, THE LEADER OF THE GANG HIMSELF! BUT CAL HAP SHOT ATOM DEAD, HADN'THE??

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHICH ONE OF YOU DESERVES TO Go FIRST

EITHER ATOM WAS A WALKING COLDSE, BACK FROM THE GRAVE TO EXACT REVENGE 8 OR HE SIMPLY HADN'T BEEN KILLED ALL THOSE MONTHS AGO. I FIGURED THE LATTER WAS MORE PLAUSI-

BLE. EITHER WAY, THIS WAS BIG TROUBLE. OK, New WHAT THE HELL AM I

GONNA DO?!

CUZ I DON'T

EVEN KNOW

WHICH ONE of You FBMERS I HATE THE MET

#350

RODAT KIRBY 2006