American politicians who aren’t religious may claim they are, out of fear or pandering. But comedian Eddie Izzard will run for mayor of London an an atheist, and he expects no fallout.
That’s because Brits aren’t so religiously punishing to candidates now, partly because World War II killed millions of people and many people’s faith, Izzard said.
“We had a Second World War happen on our land mass. Of the 50 million that died, probably about 35 million died” in the region, he said. “And I think we noticed God wasn’t there or didn’t care.”
Izzard is a beloved comedian worldwide, not despite of the strong stances he jokes about, while wearing pretty dresses as a straight transgender, but because of all that. He is a funny, fearless, silly intellectual who never dumbs down his act.
Izzard has been his true self in public for decades.
“I decided to come out as transgender years ago, before my career took off,” he said. “I just thought, ‘(Expletive) it, I’ll do that and see what happens. It’s been great.”
Man can you even imagine a transgender atheist running for the mayor of anywhere in the USA?
That campaign would have the religious right in the streets with torches and pitchforks from the get go.
Izzard is not planning to run until 2020, so maybe by that time we will see attitudes in America change somewhat. Well, one can always hope.
If you unfamiliar with Izzard, well shame on you. Here is a brief video of him on stage to get you up to speed.
"I'm covered in bees!" My favorite bit of his, also catch him in the Hannibal series as a straight mass murderer Dr. Abel Gideon. If I lived there and was a British citizen, I;d vote for him.
ReplyDeleteIzzard is awesome. Every time I see a James Mason movie I remember how Eddie uses his voice for the voice of God...and Sean Connery for Noah. Plus, Hitler didn't play Risk as a child ( inside joke for his fans).
ReplyDeleteM
“We had a Second World War happen on our land mass. Of the 50 million that died, probably about 35 million died” in the region, he said. “And I think we noticed God wasn’t there or didn’t care.”
ReplyDeleteThere is a southern baptist church not three miles from my house and their modern digital street screen always invites people to "Come and see what god is doing." I have to physically restrain myself sometimes to keep from hanging a sign on that sign that says "NOTHING!" His comment about god not existing or not caring reminds me of that sign.
"Cake or death??!"
ReplyDeleteHe's a riot! I love his bit on the cafeteria on the Death Star:
"I'm not Jeff Vader, I'm Darth Vader!!"
Little red cook book. Little red cook book. Tea and cake or death?
DeleteM
Damn, but he is good looking! Good for him and I hope he wins.
ReplyDeleteHe is awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
I think Eddie is coming to Alaska to do some shows this year. If so you can wish him luck!
ReplyDeleteIzzard is a brilliant comedian! I have an old VHS tape of one of his appearances and it is nearly worn out from repeated viewings. He never gets old!
ReplyDeleteActually we had a transgender mayor in a town in New Zealand decades ago. Georgina Beyer - google her. Born George, she was a former drag queen and sex worker. After transitioning, she became the Mayor of a smallish town, Carterton, for 5 years and was then elected to parliament in a right-leaning electorate (but this is NZ so our "right wing" is more socially and fiscally liberal than your Democrats). She was the worlds first transgender member of parliament. Also one of the few former sex workers to hold political office. I love how enlightened NZ is about this sort of stuff. Religion and religious puritanism is just not part of politics there - the political parties that invoke religion are on the fringe (where they belong, and should be in the US too). I have no idea what the religious beliefs of the former and current Prime Ministers of NZ, not any other prominent politicians. It is just not part of their public persona or anyone's business.
ReplyDeleteWe've had a couple of female PM's too, one of which I'm pretty certain was an atheist and possibly gay (although not openly). Oh and we too, have legalized gay marriage plus we have proper gun control! God, I miss the place. You'd love it Gryphen - the great outdoors etc, but you'd have nothing much to blog about there - we have no outrageously crazy politicians, minimal gun violence and sensible attitudes and laws regarding gun control, a pretty liberal society (we wee ahead of many countries on things like women's right to vote, gay marriage etc), universal healthcare (which is great), no one trying to ban abortion or close down clinics or restrict access to contraception, and we are a very secular society so the religious nuts don't get to ram their archiac ideas down everyones throats like they do here. Also no moose or bears - so that wouldn't leave much left for you to blog about.
I always thought Eddie was a proud transvestite. i must have missed that. my daughter adores him and i think he is quite funny as well.
ReplyDeleteIzzard IS a transvestite / cross-dresser.
DeleteHe is not transgender in the sense that he was born one sex and self-defines as the opposite.
I'm thinking he is using "transgender" in its much broader sense, as an umbrella term to describe "persons whose gender identity, gender expression or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth."
He is, his own words, an EXECUTIVE TRANSVESTITE, unlike say, J. Edgar Hoover.
DeleteLove Izzard.
M. from MD
Eddie says he is a "male lesbian" as he like dressing as women but also likes sex with women.
DeleteSp check:
ReplyDeleteBut comedian Eddie Izzard will run for mayor of London an(AS) an atheist, and he expects no fallout.
Thanks, Gryphen. I saw him once on a British talk show debating a few strict bible thumpers, and he was relentless pointing out that most of the stories admonished "straight" people, because, you know, God made man in his own image, Now THAT;S one superpower I'd love to have. I'm paraphrasing from memory, but Eddie had everyone roaring with laughter. My husband had it on video tape from a British colleague. "Mayor Izzard" has a nice ring to it.
ReplyDeleteHe is a transvestite , not transgender gryphen . do correct ur headline. but yes , he is a brilliant actor and comic
ReplyDelete