>>> THE NEWEST MEMBER OF
>>> THE NEWEST MEMBER OF CONGRESS RIGHT NOW IS REPUBLICAN
CONGRESS RIGHT NOW IS REPUBLICAN DAN BISHOP
DAN BISHOP HE NARROWLY WON THAT SPECIAL
HE NARROWLY WON THAT SPECIAL ELECTION IN NORTH CAROLINA
ELECTION IN NORTH CAROLINA BISHOP HEY NOT BE A HOUSEHOLD
BISHOP HEY NOT BE A HOUSEHOLD NAME BUT HE DID MAKE HIMSELF
NAME BUT HE DID MAKE HIMSELF SORT OF RIGHT-WING FAMOUS BY
SORT OF RIGHT-WING FAMOUS BY WRITING HIS STATE’S TRANSGENDER
WRITING HIS STATE’S TRANSGENDER BATHROOM LAW, WHICH OF COURSE
BATHROOM LAW, WHICH OF COURSE SPARKED THOSE BOYCOTTS AND
SPARKED THOSE BOYCOTTS AND BLOWBACK FOR THE STATE BUT IT
BLOWBACK FOR THE STATE BUT IT ALSO PROPELLED BISHOP’S
ALSO PROPELLED BISHOP’S PROMOTION.
PROMOTION. A SIGN OF HOW TODAY’S PITCH
A SIGN OF HOW TODAY’S PITCH POLITICAL BATTLES OVER EQUALITY
POLITICAL BATTLES OVER EQUALITY AND GENDER IDENTITY CONTINUE TO
AND GENDER IDENTITY CONTINUE TO BASICALLY STIR UP ALL KINDS OF
BASICALLY STIR UP ALL KINDS OF ISSUES
ISSUES THEY ALSO ECHO, I COULD NOTE, A
THEY ALSO ECHO, I COULD NOTE, A MUCH OLDER CULTURAL WAR.
MUCH OLDER CULTURAL WAR. TR HOW A CENTURY AGO WOMEN
TR HOW A CENTURY AGO WOMEN WEARING WHAT WAS CONSIDERED
WEARING WHAT WAS CONSIDERED MEN’S CLOTHING FACED FORMAL
MEN’S CLOTHING FACED FORMAL POLICE HARASSMENT.
POLICE HARASSMENT. A MAGISTRATE TELLING A WOMAN SHE
A MAGISTRATE TELLING A WOMAN SHE WAS A MORAL PERVERT, NO GIRL
WAS A MORAL PERVERT, NO GIRL WOULD DRESS IN MEN’S CLOTHING
WOULD DRESS IN MEN’S CLOTHING UNLESS SHE’S TWISTED IN HER
UNLESS SHE’S TWISTED IN HER MORAL VIEW POINT
MORAL VIEW POINT FAST FORWARD TO THE CONTROVERSY
FAST FORWARD TO THE CONTROVERSY IN 1983 WHEN SCOTTISH SINGER
IN 1983 WHEN SCOTTISH SINGER ANNIE LENNOX WORE MEN’S
ANNIE LENNOX WORE MEN’S CLOTHING
CLOTHING SHE SAID WHAT HER CLOTHES MEANT
SHE SAID WHAT HER CLOTHES MEANT ABOUT HER BEING A WOMAN OR HER
ABOUT HER BEING A WOMAN OR HER OWN SEXUAL ORIENTATION
OWN SEXUAL ORIENTATION DRESSING TO PUSH BOUNDARIES WAS
DRESSING TO PUSH BOUNDARIES WAS MORE REBELLIOUS IN EARLIER ERAS.
MORE REBELLIOUS IN EARLIER ERAS. IT’S ANOTHER REMINDER OF HOW
IT’S ANOTHER REMINDER OF HOW ANNIE LENNOX’ WORK CONTINUES TO
ANNIE LENNOX’ WORK CONTINUES TO BE SO POLITICALLY RELEVANT NOW
BE SO POLITICALLY RELEVANT NOW WHICH WE DISCUSS IN THIS NEW
WHICH WE DISCUSS IN THIS NEW INTERVIEW.
INTERVIEW. I WANT TO PLAY FOR YOU A NEW
I WANT TO PLAY FOR YOU A NEW EXCERPT AIRING FOR YOU RIGHT NOW
EXCERPT AIRING FOR YOU RIGHT NOW ON "THE BEAT."
ON "THE BEAT." >> WHEN YOU WERE COMING UP, THE
>> WHEN YOU WERE COMING UP, THE REACTION AROUND THE WORLD WAS,
REACTION AROUND THE WORLD WAS, WOW, HOW CAN SHE DRESS LIKE
WOW, HOW CAN SHE DRESS LIKE THAT
THAT OR DOES THAT MEAN SHE’S GAY?
OR DOES THAT MEAN SHE’S GAY? OR WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT
OR WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT GENDER
GENDER AND YOU’VE SAID -- YOU SAID AT
AND YOU’VE SAID -- YOU SAID AT THE TIME YOU WEREN’T TRYING TO
THE TIME YOU WEREN’T TRYING TO BE A GENDER BENDER, SO WHAT WERE
BE A GENDER BENDER, SO WHAT WERE YOU TRYING
YOU TRYING >> I WANTED TO BE A POWERFUL
>> I WANTED TO BE A POWERFUL PERFORMER, AND I WANTED TO
PERFORMER, AND I WANTED TO RESONATE WITH PEOPLE IN A
RESONATE WITH PEOPLE IN A CERTAIN WAY.
CERTAIN WAY. AND I DEFINITELY BY THE TIME
AND I DEFINITELY BY THE TIME DAVE AND I FORMED THE RHYTHMICS,
DAVE AND I FORMED THE RHYTHMICS, I HAD THE SENSE OF WHO I WAS AND
I HAD THE SENSE OF WHO I WAS AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO AND IT WAS
WHAT I WANTED TO DO AND IT WAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DAVE, WHO
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DAVE, WHO WAS A MAN, AND THE SENSE OF
WAS A MAN, AND THE SENSE OF BEING EQUALS, ALMOST LIKE TWINS
BEING EQUALS, ALMOST LIKE TWINS ON THE STAGE
ON THE STAGE WE WERE EACH OTHER’S MUSE, IF
WE WERE EACH OTHER’S MUSE, IF YOU LIKE
YOU LIKE IT WAS POWERFUL TO WEAR A
IT WAS POWERFUL TO WEAR A MAN’S -- I DIDN’T ALWAYS WEAR A
MAN’S -- I DIDN’T ALWAYS WEAR A MAN’S SUIT, I WORE ALL KINDS OF
MAN’S SUIT, I WORE ALL KINDS OF COSTUMES
COSTUMES THAT WAS ONE WAY TO PERFORM THAT
THAT WAS ONE WAY TO PERFORM THAT MADE PEOPLE THINK AND HAD A
MADE PEOPLE THINK AND HAD A VERY, VERY STRONG POWERFUL
VERY, VERY STRONG POWERFUL IMAGE, IF YOU LIKE.
IMAGE, IF YOU LIKE. >> THOSE POWERFUL IMAGES AND
>> THOSE POWERFUL IMAGES AND THOSE BOUNDARIES, THEY KEPT
THOSE BOUNDARIES, THEY KEPT GIVING WAY
GIVING WAY LENNOX’ UNIQUE SOUND TOOK HER
LENNOX’ UNIQUE SOUND TOOK HER AROUND THE WHOLE WORLD
AROUND THE WHOLE WORLD SHE SOLD OVER 80 MILLION RECORDS
SHE SOLD OVER 80 MILLION RECORDS WITH HITS LIKE "SWEET DREAMS"
WITH HITS LIKE "SWEET DREAMS" AND "HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN."
AND "HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN." SHE FOLDED HIV AND AIDS ACTIVISM
SHE FOLDED HIV AND AIDS ACTIVISM INTO HER WORK AT A TIME WHEN
INTO HER WORK AT A TIME WHEN PAULOLITICIANING WERE DUCKING TH
PAULOLITICIANING WERE DUCKING TH ISSUE.
ISSUE. THIS IS A SHORT SHE WORE OUTSIDE
THIS IS A SHORT SHE WORE OUTSIDE NELSON MANDELA’S PRISON CELL IN
NELSON MANDELA’S PRISON CELL IN 2003 OR THE FUND-RAISING CONCERT
2003 OR THE FUND-RAISING CONCERT FOR AIDS RESEARCH IN SOUTH
FOR AIDS RESEARCH IN SOUTH AFRICA
AFRICA SHE HAS ANOTHER SHIRT THAT SHE
SHE HAS ANOTHER SHIRT THAT SHE PERFORMED AND YOU SEE HERE, IT
PERFORMED AND YOU SEE HERE, IT SAYS HIV POSITIVE, AND THAT IS
SAYS HIV POSITIVE, AND THAT IS NOW AMONG HER ARTIFACTS IN A NEW
NOW AMONG HER ARTIFACTS IN A NEW ART EXHIBIT ABOUT HER HER NEW AR
ART EXHIBIT ABOUT HER HER NEW AR EXHIBIT.
EXHIBIT. IT’S CALLED NOW I LET YOU GO AND
IT’S CALLED NOW I LET YOU GO AND LENNOX JUST GAVE US A PERSONAL
LENNOX JUST GAVE US A PERSONAL BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AS PART
BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AS PART OF THIS NEW INTERVIEW.
OF THIS NEW INTERVIEW. >> MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU
>> MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU WEARING THIS HIV-POSITIVE SHIRT.
WEARING THIS HIV-POSITIVE SHIRT. >> I HOPE PEOPLE REMEMBER ME AND
>> I HOPE PEOPLE REMEMBER ME AND I HOPE THAT MESSAGE DID SPREAD,
I HOPE THAT MESSAGE DID SPREAD, YOU KNOW, AS AN ADVOCATE FOR HIV
YOU KNOW, AS AN ADVOCATE FOR HIV AND AIDES I WORE THAT T-SHIRT OR
AND AIDES I WORE THAT T-SHIRT OR T-SHIRTS LIKE THAT WITH THAT
T-SHIRTS LIKE THAT WITH THAT MESSAGING ON THE FRONT AND AT
MESSAGING ON THE FRONT AND AT THE BACK IT WOULD SAY FIGHTING
THE BACK IT WOULD SAY FIGHTING HIV AND AIDES.
HIV AND AIDES. WE’VE ALL GOT THINGS, BAGGAGE,
WE’VE ALL GOT THINGS, BAGGAGE, EXPERIENCES, MEMORIES A LOT OF
EXPERIENCES, MEMORIES A LOT OF THEM WE NEED TO LET GO OF AS
THEM WE NEED TO LET GO OF AS WELL AND WE GO THROUGH THESE
WELL AND WE GO THROUGH THESE FACES.
FACES. I’M IN THIS OLDER FACE IN MY
I’M IN THIS OLDER FACE IN MY LIFE WHERE I’M REFLECTING A LOT
LIFE WHERE I’M REFLECTING A LOT BACK, AND I’VE RE-CREATED THEM
BACK, AND I’VE RE-CREATED THEM IN THIS DREAM SCAPE WHICH IS NOW
IN THIS DREAM SCAPE WHICH IS NOW I LET YOU GO
I LET YOU GO >> LENNOX IS LEAVING MANY
>> LENNOX IS LEAVING MANY OBJECTS BEHIND SHE CONTINUES TO
OBJECTS BEHIND SHE CONTINUES TO WORK AND ACTIVISM ON GLOBAL
WORK AND ACTIVISM ON GLOBAL POVERTY AND FEMINISM
POVERTY AND FEMINISM >> I’M A MOTHER, SO I THINK IT’S
>> I’M A MOTHER, SO I THINK IT’S THE FACT THAT I’M A WOMAN AND A
THE FACT THAT I’M A WOMAN AND A MOTHER AND HAVE BEEN A YOUNG
MOTHER AND HAVE BEEN A YOUNG GIRL AND I IDENTIFY WITH WOMEN
GIRL AND I IDENTIFY WITH WOMEN EVERYWHERE
EVERYWHERE FOR ME MY INTERPRETATION OF
FOR ME MY INTERPRETATION OF FEMINISM GOES RIGHT AROUND THE
FEMINISM GOES RIGHT AROUND THE GLOBE BECAUSE BEYOND THE UNSEEN
GLOBE BECAUSE BEYOND THE UNSEEN BOUNDARIES OF OUR WESTERN BUBBLE
BOUNDARIES OF OUR WESTERN BUBBLE LIE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR
LIE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN AROUND THE
GIRLS AND WOMEN AROUND THE GLOBE, THOSE ARE THE PLACES
GLOBE, THOSE ARE THE PLACES WHERE WE NEED FEMINISM, FEMALE
WHERE WE NEED FEMINISM, FEMALE EMPOWERMENT MORE THAN ANYWHERE
EMPOWERMENT MORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE
ELSE THERE’S JUST SUCH A HUGE GAP
THERE’S JUST SUCH A HUGE GAP THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND FEMINISM
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND FEMINISM ON A GLOBAL BASIS.
ON A GLOBAL BASIS. I COME FROM A WORKING CLASS
I COME FROM A WORKING CLASS BACKGROUND IN SCOTLAND
BACKGROUND IN SCOTLAND I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD WHAT
I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD WHAT POVERTY WAS.
POVERTY WAS. THERE WAS POVERTY AROUND
THERE WAS POVERTY AROUND WHEN I WENT TO VISIT THESE
WHEN I WENT TO VISIT THESE COUNTRIES, WHEN I SAW WHAT WAS
COUNTRIES, WHEN I SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, YOU SEE CHILDREN
HAPPENING, YOU SEE CHILDREN IPRAGS, CHILDREN THAT CANNOT GO
IPRAGS, CHILDREN THAT CANNOT GO TO SCHOOL, YOU SEE CHILDREN THAT
TO SCHOOL, YOU SEE CHILDREN THAT CANNOT EAT, AND THAT’S A
CANNOT EAT, AND THAT’S A POPULATION LEVEL BECAUSE OF
POPULATION LEVEL BECAUSE OF POVERTY, YOU DON’T -- YOU
POVERTY, YOU DON’T -- YOU REALIZE THAT OH, MY GOD, I
REALIZE THAT OH, MY GOD, I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT POVERTY MEANT
DIDN’T KNOW WHAT POVERTY MEANT WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THE SKAGCALE
WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THE SKAGCALE IT, IT IS VERY, VERY LIFE
IT, IT IS VERY, VERY LIFE CHANGING
CHANGING >> AND THOSE LIFE CHANGING
>> AND THOSE LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES LENNOX TOLD US LED
EXPERIENCES LENNOX TOLD US LED HER TO START THE NON-PROFIT.
HER TO START THE NON-PROFIT. THEY PUSH LIVING WAGES FOR
THEY PUSH LIVING WAGES FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS IN INDIA TO
GOVERNMENT WORKERS IN INDIA TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND TRY
FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND TRY TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
IN SOUTH AFRICA. SO LENNOX TALKS TO US ABOUT THAT
SO LENNOX TALKS TO US ABOUT THAT WORK AND HER EVOLUTION FROM
WORK AND HER EVOLUTION FROM BEING A SELF-DESCRIBED DARK SOUL
BEING A SELF-DESCRIBED DARK SOUL TO WHAT YOU SEE HERE, A VERY,
TO WHAT YOU SEE HERE, A VERY, VERY BRIGHT PERSON
VERY BRIGHT PERSON IT WAS A THRILL TO SIT DOWN WITH
IT WAS A THRILL TO SIT DOWN WITH HER AND I’D LOVE FOR YOU TO
HER AND I’D LOVE FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT MORE OF THE
CHECK OUT MORE OF THE CONVERSATION
CONVERSATION YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW
YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW AT MSNBC.COM/MAVERICKS
