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PEOPLE & ARTSTuesday 12 April 2016
95 Mississippi authors call for repeal of anti-LGBT law
EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS that a person’s sex is de- they have written out of
Associated Press termined at birth and is un- disappointment, but they
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A changeable. have also written from
former U.S. poet laureate, Mississippi is one of about wonder, and pride, and a
winners of the National 10 states considering bills in fierce desire to see the poli-
Book Award and Pulit- reaction to a U.S. Supreme tics of this state live up to its
zer Prize, and best-selling Court ruling last summer citizens,” the authors said.
authors including John that effectively legalized “It is deeply disturbing to so
Grisham are among 95 same-sex marriage nation- many of us to see the rhet-
Mississippi authors urging wide. oric of hate, thinly veiled,
state officials to repeal “Mississippi authors have once more poison our po-
a law that will let work- written through pain, and litical discourse.”q
ers cite religious beliefs to
deny services to lesbian, In this Aug. 22, 2015 file photo, best selling author and former Gloria Steinem
gay, bisexual or transgen- Mississippi lawmaker John Grisham speaks about his writing to produce, host
der people. process at the Mississippi Book Festival, at Galloway Methodist TV series
The writers said in a let- Church Sanctuary, in Jackson, Miss.
ter released Monday that
House Bill 1523 is an ex- Associated Press
ample of Mississippi’s re-
actionary side, “which has way; National Book Award country may be overreact-
nourished intolerance and winner Jesmyn Ward; Pu- ing to it. That’s my summa-
degradation and brutality, litzer Prize winner Donna tion of it. They need to read
which has looked at differ- Tartt; Grisham and Greg the bill and understand
ence as a threat.” Iles, who write thrillers; and that people of faith have
They said the state also has Kathryn Stockett, author of some rights as well in this
a compassionate side. “The Help.” country.”
“This core kindness, the Republican Gov. Phil Bry- Supporters of the bill, in-
embracing of wildness ant signed the bill April 5 cluding the American Fam-
and weirdness, is what has amid opposition from big ily Association, say it is de-
nurtured the great litera- businesses. In an interview signed to protect people
ture that has come from with WAPT-TV on Monday, from violating their own
our state,” said the letter, he defended the measure deeply held religious be-
whose signatures include that is set to become law liefs that marriage should
those of former U.S. poet July 1. only be between a man
laureate Natasha Trethe- “It’s not discriminating and a woman; that sexual
against anyone,” Bryant relations should only occur
said. “People around the in such a marriage; and
Book Review: Duchovny hits In this Oct. 20, 2015 file photo, Gloria Steinem attends a party for
her new book, “My Life On The Road”, in New York.
home run with new novel
Associated Press
York Times best-seller “Holy dying, loves the Red Sox. NEW YORK (AP) — Gloria of all-female journal-
Cow” with another funny Though they haven’t spo- Steinem will host and pro- ists working on the series.
and heartfelt story, “Bucky ken in years, Ted decides duce a new television series Planned episodes will re-
F------ Dent.” to move in with Marty so he on the Viceland network port on sexual violence in
Ted Fullilove doesn’t have can take care of him. Their about the political impact the Congo, sexual assault
much of a life. He lives relationship is strained, but of violence against women within the U.S. military and
alone, works at Yankee they find solace and com- throughout the world. extremism in Pakistan.
Stadium in a Mr. Peanut fort together with baseball. Viceland said Monday that The network, a collabora-
costume, and is estranged Marty wants to live long the series, which will be tion between Vice Media
from his father. enough to see the curse of called “Woman,” will pre- and the A&E networks, has
Although he works for the the Sox broken. As the sea- miere on May 10. been struggling to find an
Yankees, he’s passionate son progresses, Ted begins As executive producer, audience since launching
about the Boston Red Sox. to steal newspapers and Steinem is leading a team two months ago.q
In the 1978 season, the Sox makes sure Marty hears the
This book cover image re- have a lead that looks in- Sox are winning, though
leased by Farrar, Straus and surmountable, and Ted the Yankees are actually
Giroux shows “Bucky F*cking wonders if this finally will be gaining in the standings.
Dent,” a novel by David Duch- the year the Sox break the Baseball fans will know why
ovny. Bambino curse. Ever since Duchovny gave the title
the owner of the Red Sox to this book, and he does
Associated Press traded away Babe Ruth to a terrific job of blending
the Yankees at the end of quirky and emotional writ-
JEFF AYERS the 1919 season, the Yan- ing in this story that is ulti-
Associated Press kees have had success mately about the relation-
Actor David Duchovny, re- and the Red Sox have wal- ship between a father and
cently seen as Fox Mulder lowed in misery. his son.
on “The X-Files” TV revival, Ted’s father, Marty, who is Duchovny has hit this one
follows his humorous New stricken with cancer and out of the park.q
