James Randi Comes Out - Amazing!

For someone who is as well known as James "The Amazing" Randi to finally come out of the closet after so many years is truly an astounding feat.

For years I have been a fan of James Randi and loved both his performances as a magician and his debunking of alleged psychics. He picked up the mantle of Houdini in his campaign to defeat the parade of bunco men and women who foist off simple parlor tricks as psychic power. Uri Geller and his silly spoon bending comes to mind!

Though I do not concur with Randi's atheist beliefs, I applaud his work on behalf of critical thinking and the advancement of reason. His coming out s another step towards that goal.

His own words on his blog speak volumes:

Written by James Randi
Sunday, 21 March 2010 12:37

Well, here goes. I really resent the term, but I use it because it’s recognized and accepted.

I’m gay.

From some seventy years of personal experience, I can tell you that there’s not much “gay” about being homosexual. For the first twenty years of my life, I had to live in the shadows, in a culture that was — at least outwardly — totally hostile to any hint of that variation of life-style. At no time did I choose to adopt any protective coloration, though; my cultivation of an abundant beard was not at all a deception, but part of my costume as a conjuror.

Gradually, the general attitude that I’d perceived around me began to change, and presently I find that there has emerged a distinctly healthy acceptance of different social styles of living — except, of course, in cultures that live in constant and abject fear of divine retribution for infractions found in the various Holy Books… In another two decades, I’m confident that young people will find themselves in a vastly improved atmosphere of acceptance.

This declaration of mine was prompted just last week by seeing an excellent film — starring Sean Penn — that told the story of politician Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. I’m in excellent company: Barney Frank, Oscar Wilde, Stephen Fry, Ellen DeGeneres, Rachel Maddow, are just a few of those who were in my thoughts as I pressed the key that placed this on Swift and before the whole world….

Here is a link to the James Randi Educational Foundation Website for more info.