Willie Nelson Believes We All Deserve the Misery of Marriage

The zen master of Texas has not one but two custom marriage-equality graphics for the Internet war against bigotry. Helms Workshop in Austin produced these custom equal signs featuring Willie Nelson’s trademark braids and his trademark gigantic Rasta Outlaw joints, which also look like his braids, but with one end lit for your meditative pleasure.

Texas Monthly asked Willie about gay marriage and he answered in his usual delightful manner:

Texas Monthly: With same-sex marriage legal in some states and not in others, equality means different things different places.

Willie Nelson: For same-sex couples, taxes are different, benefits are different, survivor benefits are different. It’s crazy.

TM: You’ve been a supporter of LBGT issues over the years. Outspoken even.

WN: I never had a problem with any of it. I’ve known straight and gay people all my life. I can’t tell the difference. People are people where I came from.

TM: But where you came from was small town Texas in the thirties and forties. Was Abbott more forward-thinking than we give it credit for?

WN: We were a lot like New York City. [laughs] With shorter buildings.