What its like to be gay in the GOP. Interesting essay

[Philosoraptor]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15170951/site/newsweek /

I am always surprised by people’s naiveté when they learn there are gay Republicans working on the Hill, out or not. We’re everywhere. And it’s been my experience it’s generally not a big deal, except if one of us decides to run for office. Then expect a nasty primary. I've been a delegate to five Republican national conventions, three as an openly gay Republican. Conservative members hire us, as do moderates. But because all these Republican officeholders have hired gay staffers does not mean there's some kind of gay mafia at work. This notion that a sinister cabal closes ranks and protects one another at all costs based on sexual orientation is noxious and homophobic. Right or wrong, people act to protect one another out of friendship. It’s funny how we never hear a word about that “hetero mafia” protecting the even longer list of philandering, college-girl skirt-chasing straight members of Congress.

[Swamp Rat]

1. No big deal unless you are boinking Dubya in the Oval Office.

[dsc]

2. What a heart rending profile

Give me a frigging break. He worked for the biggest homophobe on planet earth. It isn't like that would have been the only job he could have. He chose to work for a man whose views of gays is beyond reprehensible. He should be ashamed to show his face in public.

[Philosoraptor]

3. yes, my heart too was rendered

touching huh?

[dsc]

4. The next profile should be of some kid who committed suicide

or some man who died of AIDS due to the policies this man helped diseminate while in Dornan's office. I won't hold my breath waiting for that profile.

[Bucky]

5. I keep thinking of that Dave Chappelle skit where a local Klan is led by

...an old blind black man. He grew up never knowing he was black and got an old radio show where he started denouncing blacks and the show became popular. Finally one day, when he was really old, someone told him he was black--and the priceless thing in the skit was the look on Dave's face when he goes, "oh" and realizes he's been surrounded his whole life by people who admire his skills, but use those skills against him. He stays with the Klan, but now he just seems dazed about the fact that he's actually black.

[Flubadubya]

6. I have absolutely no sympathy for a "gay republican"...

They may not have a choice about their sexuality, but they certainly do choose their political party. Tough patootie Mr. O'Leary Bennett.

[Solly Mack]

7. He wants to fight terrorism

"Sometimes it’s difficult but terror abroad trumps deeply held personal issues ..."

then says this


"The responsibility for any bull’s-eye on gays and lesbians today falls very near the doorstep of the president."

Hello!!!!! That "bullseye" IS terrorism.

Kill one - scare the rest. That IS the essence of terrorism
Attack one - scare the rest. That IS the essence of terrorism


To terrorize people...into saying whatever it takes to stop the pain, into hiding, into running scared and also to scare people into silence...for to speak out means to become the enemy

But I guess those "deeply held personal issues" (like being the "bullseye" of hate at home) is trumped by terror abroad...and IF that's the case, as he claims it is, then why is he whining over becoming a "bullseye"? Isn't that just the price of those "deeply held personal issues" being trumped?

Isn't he just saying he's willing to risk the hate and attacks at home from a bunch of homophobes as long as "terror abroad" is being handled the George Bush way?

"He(Bush) knowingly unleashed these ugly, mean-spirited homophobic forces within elements of the national Republican Party. Worse, he resurrected the now uncontrollable theocratic armies of religiously intolerant political “bullies” "

"Sometimes it’s difficult but terror abroad trumps deeply held personal issues I can still fight and win at home. I was one of the Austin 12—a group of gays and lesbians who met with Gov. George W. Bush in 2000 in Austin. I liked him then and had great hopes he’d do the right thing. He did."

Well, he got what he wanted...no need to whine about how unfair it is now.

Sorry...you prop up the very power structure that seeks to destroy you, then don't whine to me about how hard it is being different in that power structure.

[Bucky]

8. It's a fascinating read, yes? Reminds me of spousal abuse victims

I'm deeply disappointed that he smacked me around like that. But he's a good man, a good provider. I'm sure next time it's going to be totally different.

[Bucky]

10. Also that section on Bob Dornan was interesting. Called him a 2nd family

Can you imagine that? When he tells Dornan he's gay, Dornan accepts him, kisses him on the cheek, and reaffirms their friendship. Touching scene, if you're not familiar with the Garden of Gethsemane story. When Bennett comes out in public, Dornan drops him cold. Their lifelong friendship ends.

Dornan's deal was "I accept you as a human being so long as you stay quiet while I attack everything you are and preach hatred against everyone who is like you. Then later we can meet for a beer and watch the game, buddy."

[Solly Mack]

13. That's one of the reasons I think it's more like the abused child

and why I commented on "daddy" issues within the GOP/conservative thinking

[Solly Mack]

12. More like the abused child still loving the abusive parent

and needing to know it's wanted and accepted...even as the belt comes out and down. To my thinking anyway

Lot of "daddy" issues in the GOP.

[Skidmore]

9. I found it interesting that this gay man attached the adjectives of

"pro-life" and "conservative" in front of Republican to describe himself. It strikes me as ironic that this man who is seeking just "friendship" from within the group with which he has chosen to associate, let alone the right for same-sex marriage, does so while supporting a political position which demands that women have their right to decisions about their own bodies be taken from them. As a woman, I'm not feeling a lot of sympathy for the choices he has made to get him there.

[Solly Mack]

11. Makes you wonder if the male as dominant over female mentality

is more than just a passing factor in his decision to be Republican doesn't it?

[cally]

26. That's the part that made me roll my eyes

I'm so supposed to feel sorry for him because the party he enables tries to use homophobia to win elections while he wants to be part of the same party that tries to take away my rights. Sorry, I have no sympathy for him.

[Ian David]

14. It's ridiculous to say that they're protecting other gay Republicans.

If they were interested in protecting other gay people, they wouldn't be gay REPUBLICANS.

By definition gay Republicans are the most self-serving, self-hating, self-interested people on the planet.

To assume they have an interest in protecting gay people-- other than their own selves-- is not internally consistent.

[dsc]

15. This is what I wrote back to Newsweek

I know I am supposed to feel badly for Mr. Bennet. Poor Mr. Bennett had to hide who he was to obtain his job. Poor Mr. Bennett lost his friend when he publicly declared his homosexuality. Sorry, but I don't have much sympathy.

Thanks to Mr. Bennett's party, I can be fired tomorrow for being gay. Thanks to Mr. Bennett's party, gay youth can't be conselled about suicide, despite being three times as likely to commit suicide. Thanks to Mr. Bennett's party gay men die from lack of medical care even as their husbands have health insurance. Thanks to Mr. Bennett's party, a lesbian who lost her wife on September 11th lost her house as well.

Mr. Bennett made a six figure salary while working for people who made the lives of every gay and lesbian in America that much harder. Mr. Bennett's boss refused to vote to criminalize the type of crime that Mr. Bennett was the victim of, Mr. Bennett's boss repeatedly tried to cut AIDS funding, Mr. Bennett's boss provided the moral underpinning of the likes for the likes of those who killed Matthew Sheppard.

In short, Mr. Bennett made a series of decisions that not only led directly to much of the misery in his life, but also spread misery to many, many, gay men and lesbians. I will be saving my sympathy for the gay kid who runs away from home because his father rejects him because he believes the crap Mr. Bennett's party spouts. I will be saving my sympathy for the lesbian who gets denied the ability to visit her wife in the hospital thanks to Mr. Bennett's party. I will be saving my sympathy for the gay soldiers and sailors who get thrown out of the military thanks to Mr. Bennett's party. I will be saving my sympathy for those who deserve it. Mr. Bennett is too heavy, he sure ain't my brother.

[Monk06]

16. Maybe the Gay Republicans should take a hint from Gerry Studds

When outed

1) It's none of your business so stick your censure
where the sun don't shine

2) I'm gay and now that it's out I make no apologies.

3) My relationship with the page was consensual and mutual

The difference between Studds and Foley comes down to honesty
and integrity on Studds' part vs dishonesty and abuse of power
on Foley's part. It's not about sexuality which is why Studds'
constituants supported him until he retired from office.

[dsc]

18. Honestly I would have been very uncomfortable voting for Studds

I think any adult who, even consentually, sleeps with a vastly younger employee isn't fit for public office. That said, I do think Studds behaved much better than did Foley.

[Monk06]

24. I'm with you about the old on young thing but the glam seventies were

light years away from the puritanical bog we're
stuck in now. The first time I was hit on by a
man I was sixteen and he was a 50 something politician.

Nothing happened and I didn't give it much thought.
I met the guy later in the public library and a passing
reference was made to hanging out with him in his apartment,
drinking my first beer and him bringing out silly sex souvenirs
he picked up in Tijuana.

It certainly didn't dawn on me to out him when he when he
was made Minister of Finance.

Ultimately a fixation for young men in the 18 to 20 year old
bracket is unseamly but it isn't pedophilia.

[dsc]

25. His page was actually 17 at the time they got together

He was around 30.

[Monk06]

27. Like I said just sayin not excusin. It was the seventies different time

different level of tolerance.

[SharonAnn]

19. He's "pro-life"? Don't discriminate against him, but against women, OK.

[BushOut06]

17. Gay Republicans and Black Republicans...

Both are groups that make absolutely no sense. Why serve a party that absolutely hates you? For the gay Republicans, the GOP seeks to criminalize their very behavior. They want to deny gay people the very civil rights that everyone else enjoys. For black Republicans, the GOP constantly seeks to disqualify their votes, and to keep as many African Americans in poverty as possible.

[SharonAnn]

20. Self-loathing? Stockholm Syndrome? Battered "wife" syndrome?

[sendero]

21. Tell it to someone who gives..

... a shit. You going to join the party that treats you like shit, would like to outlaw your very existence? Fuck you douchebag.

[karlrschneider]

22. Zackly! This guy is a whining little shit looking for sympathy.

He deserves none.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

23. People like this disgust me.

On Edit:

I actually just finished reading this crap. What a pathetic deluded excuse for a man. Towards the end of the essay he actually delineates some of the things that Bush has done to wage war on gays. But then he talks about looking forward to whoever the Republicans put up in 2008.

Fuck him with the world's biggest chainsaw.

[Brewman_Jax]

28. No pity

and I don't know why he's shocked that he'd be treated so badly once he came out. He knew the job was dangerous when he took it. To add insult, he's still a republican. I've yet to hear of a republican that didn't have mental and/or emotional problems.