100 years on from Lucille Ball's birth, People magazine have
revealed an interview from 1980 that shows the entertainer's
support of gay rights.
When asked by People magazine what her views were on gay rights,
the I Love Lucy star replied: "It's perfectly alright with me. Some
of the most gifted people I've ever met or read about are
homosexual. How can you knock it?"
One of Ball's gay friends, Lee Tannen, wrote a book about his
friendship with the Hollywood legend in which he mentions her
support of gay rights, according to Advocate online.
Speaking of Ball's character, Lucy Ricardo, in The Lucy Show,
Tannen said: "Lucy Ricardo was the true gay icon. Lucy Ricardo was
the underdog who was always trying to prove herself, and I think
gay men can identify with that."
Ball passed away in 1989.
The Lucy Show boxset can be bought from
amazon
Lee Tannen's book,
I Loved Lucy: My Friendship With Lucille Ball is available from
Amazon's marketplace sellers.
