Conservatives, gays assail Britney

Strange bedfellows protest pop star's 'cavalier' wedding

 
Commentators and activists on both sides of the political spectrum issued condemnations today of pop singer Britney Spears and her spur-of-the-moment marriage.

The 22-year-old pop singer, whose early squeaky-clean image has given way in recent years to a blatantly sexualized portrayal of youth, was granted an annulment Monday after 55 hours of marriage to Jason Allen Alexander, also 22, a childhood friend. The two were married early Saturday morning at a Las Vegas wedding chapel.

"In their struggle to tear down the institution of marriage and the family, the forces of liberalism and humanism have won another round," said Liberty University founder Jerry Falwell.

"Marriage is supposed to be for a lifetime," added the former Moral Majority head. "You're supposed to stick with it, for better or for worse. I've had hangovers that lasted longer than her marriage."

Falwell said the quickie marriage and even quicker annulment was "another blow to the God-given institution of marriage.

"This cavalier treatment of a 6000-year-old institution will further undermine America," Falwell said.

Conservatives weren't the only ones outraged at the behavior of Spears, whose latest album, "In the Zone," was climbing into the Top 10 amid the publicity.

"This tacky, trashy kind of behavior is exactly what we hope to change when we are granted full legal marriage," said Bruce Meltonson, director of Gays, Lesbians for Marriage and Other Useful Rights (GLAMOUR). "A wedding chapel in Las Vegas -- really! Honey, when I get married, I'm going for the church, the bridesmaids, the whole thing. None of this breeder dreck."

"Britney's so-called wedding is a disservice to all women, whether they are straight, lesbian, or bisexual," said Shiara Prax, coordinator of Women of All Stripes for Equal Laws (WASEL). "Our relationships should be honored and maintained, and things like this just make it harder for society to take us seriously."

The incident had spoiled the positive effects of the same-sex kiss exchanged by Britney and Madonna last year, Prax said. "That was visibility -- this is imbicility," she said.

 
Episcopalians call truce

One positive effect of Spears' matrimonial flip-flop was a cooling of tensions in the Episcopal Church-USA, which has been torn by controversy since the election of an openly gay priest to the post of bishop.

Episcopalians who opposed the consecration of V. Gene Robinson as bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire, as well as those who favored the controversial decision, were united in their criticism of Spears.

"Compared to this (Spears' wedding and annulment), the election of Canon Robinson doesn't seem like such a big deal," said Rick Hasslett, rector of the 5000-member All Saints Parish in suburban Dallas. "Here we are trying to teach our children that sexuality and relationship are sacred matters, and Britney pulls a stunt like this.

"I don't know what this society is coming to," added Hasslett.

Joining in disapproval was Tammy Cox, leader of Procession, a gay-rights group within the Episcopal Church. "To do this with no ceremony, no preparation, just like it was a haircut," said Cox, "and then reverse it as if it never happened. And they say we're tearing down the institution of marriage!"

Bouyed by their agreement on the Britney issue, both sides in the gay clergy controversy said they should sit down and "discover more common ground," as Hasslett put it.