Melissa Etheridge: My Songs 'Aren't Gay Enough' for 'Glee'

By Nicki Gostin Posted May 17th 2010 01:34PM

Melissa Etheridge's eleventh studio album, 'Fearless Love,' is dropping at the same time as she's rebuilding her love life from the ground up. The 48-year-old songstress recently broke up with Tammy Lynn Michaels after nine years and having twins together in 2006. Etheridge spoke extremely candidly to PopEater about the painful timing of the split, the "sexphobia" behind the 'Glee'/Newsweek debacle and the absurdities of being called "too gay" or "not gay enough."

Did you separate from Tammy before writing this album?
It was written before we actually physically separated, but you know, breakups just don't happen overnight.

It must suck having the album and the separation emerge at the same time. Do you wish the timing was different?
[Laughs] Absolutely! When I saw these things were about to collide for a while there I thought, I don't want this to come up on top of the album, and then I started doing interviews and they're like, "You're such a family girl, your marriage is great, what's the key to a great marriage?" and I was like, "Oh, I can't sit here and lie." But I would have definitely made the timing different.

So is the song 'Miss California' about Tammy?
That's a political song. It's about California passing Proposition 8.

Watch the Video for 'Fearless Love' >>

Have you been following the Newsweek controversy?
No I haven't. Give me the scoop!

A Newsweek writer said Sean Hayes was too gay to be in 'Promises Promises.' Kristin Chenoweth wrote a letter in his defense and Ryan Murphy from 'Glee' called for a boycott of the magazine.
Oh, the gays are getting miffed! Don't tell us we're too gay or not or whatever. Oh lord, what is gay, anyway? Find me the line -- find me the defining line between gay and straight. Find me the defining line between male and female. There is no line. You cannot draw this line in the sand. Yes, there are plenty of people way over there who will never partake in anything straight and there are people way over there who will never partake in anything gay, but there's a whole lot of gray in the middle. Where's the line? Behind all of it is sexual insecurity. It's sexphobia.

Have you been accused of not being gay enough?
Oh sure. I've had the gay community say, "Why don't you write a song saying 'her'? Your lyrics are non-gender." They're never happy. And the straight folks, they just assume the lyrics are about a woman, and they assume that if they go to a concert it's going to be all gay people. There are stereotypes we all have. But there's no us and them. Good God, we're all the same.

Have you ever been approached to have your songs on 'Glee?'
No, I don't think they're gay enough. [Laughs]

You're a greenie.
Yup, no plastic bottles in my house. My car runs on bio-diesel, which is reclaimed vegetable oil from restaurants.

Do you compost?
I did for a while, but I was horrible at it. I had rats.

I reckon someone could start a business in LA tending compost heaps.
I can see it! Compost-For-You. Let's do it! I'll invest.

Do you like touring?
Touring is the payoff after all the days of being alone in my room writing these songs. I get to see people singing them. It's wonderful.

You must have tons of groupies.
Well, this will be the first time I'm touring and I'm single. But I am not interested in groupies. I don't need that in my life right now. I have my oldest kids with me on tour -- they're 13 and 11.

How do you embarrass them?
It's funny because they've drawn a line between what I do for a living, getting up there and singing for people. They allow that because they know that's my work, but if I'm standing around at school and I hum or sing something, they're like, "Oh mom, don't!"

I think you are quite the sex symbol.
Aww, you're sweet, and you're helping this gal. Thank you so much.

Aren't you best pals with Brad Pitt?
Not for a while. He's a family man. I haven't spoken to him in a while.

How's your health?
My health is great. I've been six years free of cancer. I figured out health is about balance. It's what you eat, what you feel, how much you sleep. It's really common things that western society doesn't teach us how to do. You've got to take responsibility; you've got to say, "You know what? I don't need to work that hard. I don't have to buy this." It's not what it's all about.

Tags: Melissa Etheridge

Comments

(314)

Saturday 22 May

By dido248834

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LOL. You got all turned on just typing that, didn't you, Frank?

By Ali P

You're not very enlightened. I've seen two male dogs humping each other. I've seen bunnies do it to -- the same sex. Many animals also practice homosexuality, although they do not couple the way humans do. Therefore, you're wrong thinking that only people are gay and/or bisexual.

By magicdog39

Larry The Cable Guy had it right in his ME skit...

By Bob

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shut up already! who friggin cares or needs to hear about your bizarr0 lesbian sexual freakshow?

By sandra cannon

I am not gay or gender confused in any way. I have listened to M.E.'s songs since she came out with them, I love her music. With that said, Im also really tired of this being shoved down my throat. How can you say being gay is normal? Men and Women have parts that go together for the purpose of reproducing to keep our species alive. Thats the facts. If gay were ok, it would have been adam and steve instead of adam and eve and also, humans specifically were NOT made gay because it would eventually eradicate our race. Simple enough. Im not a hater, I just think what I think.

By gregory sutherland

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Well in response to that I would have to say that our world was created with consideration for both types of people. I don't believe that God intended on every man or woman to be able to have children to replensih the race. We definatley have enough who are capable. We have a lot of unanswered questions as to why. I don't know why God gave gay and straight people the same organs just as I don't know why God gave some women organs to have children and then didn't see it necessary to give them the ability to get pregnant or carry a child. I do know that gay or straight, God did not see it necessary to make me just like everyone else and without flaws. I know that God loves me regardless of my imperfections and I have a long life of blessings to back that up. I believe that my own personal relationship with God is what I should use as my guide for the decisions that I make. I have faith that when God is ready for me to go in a different direction then I will be guided onto that path. It may be sexuality, buying a home or changing my career but in whatever way i'm lead, no one will be able to influence my decisions except God. I am more likely to go with what is spoken to me directly and placed within my heart,rather than something society sees as right and wrong. This is what Noah did when he built the Arc and people doubted and made fun of him. Oh, and for those who have issues with my spelling and punctuation, I guess God didn't see it necessary to bless me with that skill as well but I'm happy he did see it necessary for them.

By RVN6768

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She's queer, who cares

By nick

Just brought up my breakfast after reading about MELISSAS split because of not being gay enough, who was the man and who was the women and was Melissa the Monica in the relationship?????

By Mike

God is the one who decides what right and wrong is. He is the only one qualified to do that. People aren't perfect and GOD is! You left wing liberal idiots need to get that through your thick heads. Homosexuality is no worse than any other sin. But it's still a sin. Hollywood and the media do push and promote homosexuality as a normal lifestyle way too much. Just like Hollywood promotes all kinds of other sins as acceptable and normal. No I'm not proposing hating anyone for their lifestyle choices.

By Marie

No one has even mentioned the children... Imagine the confusion of two moms, two women 'married', having children together. That is just sick! Where is the 'male' influence? Regardless of their decision to live decadent lifestyles, there is still a such thing as 'maleness' in our society. Who are they to deprive growing minds of this reality? Let the kids make up their own minds for gosh sakes! They (as many gays do) are 'swaying' children into believeing this atrocity is normal! The world is going to hell in a handbasket...

By Diana B.

Gay,shmay, who CARES?

By ncmisstrish

Gay or not, Melissa Etheridge is a very talented musician and puts on one of the best concerts I've ever attended. She was the opening act for an outdoor Little Feat show in NW Jersey in the late 80's/early 90's. I didn't buy the tix to see her, it was all about catching FEAT, but man, can that gal sing and entertain. Even in the rain...everyone was groovin'. Melissa, you are a gift to others here on Earth. I hope you find as much happiness in your life as you bring to others'. God Bless.

By Dale

POST WINNER OF THE DAY!

God bless you, ncMissTrish, for being a LOVING Christian. You are an example of Jesus' love and you need to be rewarded for it here, and you can send the glory to heaven where it ultimately belongs, but I wanted to say it publicly.

No one should be judging another's love for someone else. God made over 100 types of wildlife exhibit Gay-ness. Why would humans be any different. For those who judge the beautiful soul of another human, I ask you to remember two things - how you treat the least of these, who are judged in society, is how you would treat Jesus the Christ, and two - remember Jesus said, "Whosoever believes in me shall not perish, but have everlasting life". I think some folks here (okay, many) need to be preaching God's love, instead of their programmed hatred.

God bless you, Trish.
D

God didn't make anyone gay!!!!!!!! Why would God say in his word clearly and in more than one place in the bible that homosexuality is wrong, and then make someone gay. Your an idiot! I do believe we shouldn't hate anyone for choosing to be gay, but God didn't make anyone gay. Good gracious where are you people from. Have you ever been to church or do you make this goofy stuff up!

By Mary

HER WIFE? Give me a break! Both gender can be a wife in this screwed up society now? To each his/her own, but enough is enough. Please ..... I hope no children were involved in that "marriage."

By Cookie

You know it's not who you love ,man and man ,woman and woman or man and woman,it's that you have found love and be what it may.For the sin ...let god be the judge, and those who have a problem with it keep your mouth shut,ye shall also be judged.More people need to see people for what is in their heart.Sometimes the cover is not always the best ,but the book is great.Drop all the lables, gay, straight, not gay enough, not straight enough.Her music is feelings,and I thing it's good enough.

I love it when non bible believing people start quoting scripture to try and normalize something GOD never intended to be normal. Folks trying to promote the gay lifestyle are the ones that need to keep your mouth shut!

By irwinrsteffy

the whole thing with gays is, that they think if they can be married, then society would see them as normal, but the truth is, that gays will never be accepted as normal.

By Rebekah Bea

Irwinrsteffy....BINGO! You are so correct. Enough said.:) Thanks

By Woody

As usual, you got it all wrong. GOD judges the sinners. The Bible says homosexuality is an abomination!!! Is that clear enough?

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