In describing the passage of Elizabeth Taylor, movie star, and icon of the 20th century, her publicist was quoted as saying:
"She was surrounded by her children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton."
Good.
This is the nicest spin that can be placed on such an event. Death is always a tragedy. And life is but a brief part of the journey. The best we can all hope for to have lived our lives fully, passionately, authentically, experience many adventures on our way, and in the end, find ourselves surrounded by those who love us.
Elizabeth Taylor, it is sure clearly led such a life, and deserved to leave the world in the dignity, surrounded by love.
If you say, "Movie star obituaries have no place on political blog," follow me below the fold.
Jeremy Hooper at Good as You blog phrased it beautifully, "She Showed Up Early."
This AP story ran on August 1, 1985:
From JoeMyGod blog:
Taylor went on to cofound the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and her own Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which raised over $50M in its first ten years.
To place that $50M number in perspective, the Health and Human Services discertionary funding for AIDS was less than $14M TOTAL for the years between 1985 and 1994 (PDF).
From Human Rights Campaign:
“We are deeply saddened by the death Elizabeth Taylor. Ms. Taylor was a true ally to the LGBT community. She was one of the first public voices to speak up about the AIDS crisis while many others stayed silent in the 1980s and she helped raise millions of dollars to fight the disease. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, and to all those whose lives have been positively impacted by the life and work of Elizabeth Taylor.”
At a time, 1985, when PWA, (People with AIDS) where political and social lepers, Elizabeth Taylor led the way. Our Federal Government was indifferent to a plague that was claiming thousands of lives, Ms. Taylor stepped up to action, raising money and awareness. Her bully pulpit doubtless prompted the many red ribbons at Oscar telecasts. Maligned as pointless by some, I personally disagree. I know, without the efforts at that time of people like Taylor, Madonna and Princess Diana, so many more lives would have been lost. The rallying cry was "Silence=Death," it was brief and to the point, but very true. And they were not silent, as so many others were. Those who spoke out saved lives. And raised the dignity of the experience for so many who could not find doctors, or even morticians to care for the afflicted. Taylor, like the other early comers did so much good. God bless her soul.
Though she clearly had no aversion to heterosexual men, Elizabeth had life long friendships with many undeniably gay men, from Sal Mineo, Rock Hudson, Montgomery Clift, Elton John, and more than a few were said to have some ambiguity, Michael Jackson, James Dean. She lived a life that demonstrated sexual orientation did not matter. She saw humanity, love and affection were traits that lived apart from the silly labels we placed upon one another.
Rest in peace, Elizabeth. You made the world a more beautiful and better place while you where here. Many of us are so grateful and will raise a glass of toast in your honor.
Update: Steveningen alerted me to Westboro Baptist's plan to protest her funeral, (of course). I have to confess, my first reaction as, "Good luck with that Fred." I have a feeling the counter-protest he'll be met with will be big. Giant even.
