A clandestine organization known as Friends of Abe (FOA) offered a crucial sanctuary for conservative and independent individuals within the entertainment industry during what is described as the era of "Woke 1.0," according to actress Patricia Heaton.
Heaton, known for her role in 'Everybody Loves Raymond,' helped establish the group during the Obama administration. She explained that FOA served as a network where members could identify each other and converse without fear of professional repercussions. "You could ask someone if they are a friend of Abe, or FOA, and if they said yeah, then you know there was another conservative or independent, or someone who is not a Democrat, that you could talk to without feeling like you were going to get in trouble at your job," Heaton stated.
The group, named after Abraham Lincoln, started with a small core of actors, including Gary Sinise and Kelsey Grammer, and grew to encompass thousands of members across the industry, including a New York City chapter that writer David Marcus joined around 2012. Marcus described the New York arts scene during that period as highly restrictive, making FOA an "oasis."
During this time, expressing conservative viewpoints in Hollywood could lead to significant career consequences. Heaton cited the case of actress Gina Carano, who reportedly lost a role in a Disney TV show due to social media posts critical of the treatment of conservatives. Marcus also noted that in the New York theater scene, questioning progressive stances on issues like gender identity or former President Donald Trump could result in professional ostracization.
Marcus recounted his own experience coming out as a conservative in the arts community, where even friends assumed he was joking. He stated that for many in the arts, including those in technical roles, being openly right-wing could result in not getting hired or excluded from professional events.
Friends of Abe's monthly meetings provided members with a space for open dialogue, a freedom that had become rare. The need for such a group, Marcus suggested, highlighted a broader intolerance of conservative ideas within the entertainment industry and its detachment from the realities faced by many conservative Americans.
Heaton indicated that the current climate has thawed considerably from the perceived "censorious ice age." Today, more celebrities are reportedly willing to discuss conservative ideals and their personal faith. However, she cautioned that the industry remains largely progressive, and its output continues to reflect that. Despite these shifts, Marcus expressed hope that conservative influence will eventually be more broadly felt in media and culture.