by Laurie Bernstein, Swarthmore, PA

In 1976 I went to a concert/performance at the Hollywood Bowl to support gay and lesbian rights. The lineup of artists was spectacular, and all sorts of Hollywood celebrities were in the audience, e.g., I saw Paul Newman sitting up front. Richard Pryor did an outrageous routine clearly designed to provoke and even insult the audience of largely well-to-do gay white men. When someone in the audience took it upon himself to heckle Pryor with a repulsive ethnic slur, the comedian stomped off the stage with a parting remark of “You can all kiss my rich black ass!” The audience sat stunned and, as good as he was, Tom Waits, whose act followed Pryor’s, brought everyone down even more. But when Bette Midler bounced onto the stage after Waits, she turned things around by quipping, “Who out there wants to kiss my rich white ass?” For better or for worse, the audience roared in response.