Interview with gay man who's against gay marriage.

[sonicx]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/05/16/an_unpopular_stance_alienates_a_gay_male/

Brian Brandt, 33, remembers where he was a year ago, when the first same-sex marriage licenses were issued in Massachusetts. ''I was at home," he said. ''I think I had the warshades down and I was listening to talk radio, and I was mourning the loss of an important part of our country's foundation."

It is not the response many have come to expect from a gay man, but Brandt, who does psychology research at Boston University, is proud to buck the stereotypes. He is a member of the Ward 3 Republican Committee in the North End. He keeps a picture of Ronald Reagan on his desk. And he believes the framers of the Massachusetts Constitution meant to restrict marriage between men and women.

''Before I am a gay male, for lack of a better term, I'm an American," he said. And endorsing gay marriage, he believes, leads to a slippery slope and weakens a great institution.

''We do have the right to marry," he said. ''We just have to marry someone of the opposite gender."

Brandt would rather see gay people fight for something broader: protections for domestic partners in all sorts of nontraditional arrangements, such as elderly siblings who live together. ''We all need to sit down and stop being selfish," he said.

snip

:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

[MrScorpio]

1. ''We do have the right to marry," he said.

''We just have to marry someone of the opposite gender."

What else could some up the delusional psyche of a gay republican? He basically advocating that gays live out their lives as a lie.

What about the children that will be heartbroken when either of their parents run off with a gay lover?

So much for family values.

What an idiot.

[Ian David]

12. Once Black people had the right to get married-- just not to White people

Racism: It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

[tuvor]

2. I've known of a lot of gay people against gay marriage.

At least, I recall a lot of such opinion in XTra West, Vancouver's gay rag.

Never understood it. Not so much individual homosexuals being against gay marriage, but that they were against others having that opportunity if they so wished.

Maybe that guy I was eavesdropping on said it best: "Oh, great, now that we can get married, all my committed friends are going to have weddings at the same time. Do you realize how much I'm going to have to spend on GIFTS?!"

[jaxx]

3. I know gays who say the same thing

That survivors rights are much more important. The ability to be the one who is responsible for life and death situations, without family butting in on what they don't know. Getting health insurance as a spouse would. He said getting married isn't as important to alot of people. I think marriage is a commitment, and to those who choose to commit, here comes the bride.....same-sex or not.

[tuvor]

4. Welcome to DU, jaxx!

:hi:

[jaxx]

5. Thanks

This is a good forum. Lots of topics and I've got lots of opinions, for which I've been in deep doo-doo many times for saying out loud. ;-)

[renaissanceguy]

14. I think you're confusing

the "gay liberators" of the 1960s/70s with the self-loating gay republicans.

Basically, the gay liberators don't want any government intervention or involvement in their relationships. They tend to prefer open relationships, and see marriage as following the status quo. Basically, they're free spirits who go against the status quo and "normalcy" of hetero society.

Then you have the gay republicans, who simply hate themselves. Deep down they are struggling with their orientation, for whatever religious or social reasons. They'll bitch about changing the status quo, like getting marriage rights, but they'll be the first in line once people like us achieve those rights.

So, both are "against" marriage, but for COMPLETELY different reasons.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.22307368

[jaxx]

18. They're sure as hell not gay pubs

They can live with survivors rights until the marriage thing is passed in their state, which may take some time....if ever in this life. LOL and these would have been the liberators from the 70s......the marchers and the ones who brought the word gay into mainstream America. Politically active to the max and I think they're great!

[countmyvote4real]

6. Brian Brandt will clearly hate himself until he's no

longer trick material. I don't know his personal situation, but he doesn’t seem to value or equate his relationships at the same level of state (not church) endorsed relationships. I’m guessing that he doesn’t know what it means to be committed to another person in a long-term relationship regardless of their genetic equipment.

For historians, he is the modern day equivalent of the French Nazi sympathizers. He’ll sell-out his ass in order to retain it. (Sorry. Personal filters are down on this very personal subject.)

[GodlessBiker]

17. I think you're right.

If (a very big if) and when he falls in love with another man, and he really, deeply, loves him till he just can't stand it anymore, his tune will change.

[TaleWgnDg]

7. Many times in both my professional and personal life, I've heard

.
Many times in both my professional and personal life, I've heard similar notions from individuals. And, basically, they are all intertwined in one major premise: the inability of getting outside themselves for whatever psychological reason.

1.) The female family law judge who -- although having others help her (including the law) get her to where she was -- REFUSED to empathize with females caught in sordid divorces and child custody cases attempting to better themselves with a college education while raising children as a single mother.

2.) The Clarence Thomases of the world (similarly as the female judge above) who used Affirmative Action assistance and yet REFUSED to uphold Affirmative Action while seated as a justice on America's highest court citing Affirmative Action as being victim-instilling.

However, there's a serious and noteworthy distinction in Brian Brandt's thinking. He's ignorant. Very. So ignorant that Brian Brandt is unaware of his deep and pervasive ignorance. It shines through in his interview. He revels in it. Pity him. Really pity him. Brandt simply does not know what the hell he's talking about. LOL

______________

edited for typo

[NMMNG]

8. Brandt

What a moron.

[terrya]

9. If more people are allowed to legally marry, then marriage itself...

is strengthened.

How can marriage today not be under attack? The cheapening of marriage with reality shows, easy to obtain divorce. None of which has anything to do with gay and lesbian folk getting the same rights, the same benefits...equality...that heterosexuals currently enjoy.

Same-sex legal marriage is fundamental to our fight. Because it finally says, "yes, our relationships are valid. We are not second class citizens". Because if we don't get the same rights as everyone else, then we will always be second class citizens. It's as simple as that.

[Ian David]

13. In the Catholic Church, it is illegal for a paraplegic to get married.

Technically, a Catholic can't get married unless their sex organs are functional.

See related DU thread:

Documentary spotlights Catholic denial of paraplegic weddings
Topic started by rainbow4321 on May-15-05 08:35 PM (47 replies)
Last modified by RPM on May-17-05 07:54 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3662570

Interestingly, the Jewish religion doesn't specifically outlaw gay marriage. It does outlaw marriages between certain family members.

Here's an odd Jewish law: You can not re-marry your ex-wife after she takes another husband-- even if the 2nd husband dies or if she divorces him.

[xchrom]

10. perfect example of a gay individual who does not believe he is equal.

brandt is exhibit a when it comes to describing how the self loathing mind works.

it's more subtle than just cutting one's self or simply being a loser.
it has layers that the culture builds up in individuals -- it's pernicious.

more important -- brandt becomes an enemy to his ''gay community''.
his self loathing causes him to work against the self interest of others.
others who have figures out they are a.o.k. with the universe -- absolutely nothing wrong with same gender love -- and actively work to make the world a better place.

brandt -- through the vehicle of his self loathing must not only abuse his own soul -- he must work to abuse others.

[Ian David]

11. I have a message for Brian Brandt

Brian Brandt, here's your sign:




(Not directed at original poster. Directed at Brian Brandt).

[davidinalameda]

15. selfish?

sorry but wanting the same rights as straights isn't being selfish

I think this guy is the selfish one--if he wants to ride in the back of the bus, don't drag the rest of us back there with him

[kweerwolf]

16. I have mixed feelings about gay marriage ...

... but at least I can make a distinction between questioning whether it would be something I'd personally want and giving other same-sex couples the right of getting married, "civil unionized" or in some other way celebrating and recognizing their relationship.

In the case of Mr. Brandt, I'm curious how much of an option "marriage" of any sort would be for the kind of guy who keeps a photo of Ronald Reagan on his desk?

[Terran]

19. God, what a fool. n/t

[Kerrytravelers]

20. ''We all need to sit down and stop being selfish"

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray:



That's pretty funny... coming from a rethuglian.




:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
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:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray:

[donheld]

21. I sometimes want to smack ALL gay republicans

HARD!

[im10ashus]

22. That's so sick and wrong!

Until we have the same rights as ALL, we are still second-class citizens. He must be comfortable in that role and is apparently selfish and self-loathing. If we can't have the right to marriage, they should lower our taxes. Why should I pay the same in taxes when I am not even afforded the same rights as straight America? My partner and I have been together for what will be 8 years in June. I have five siblings, all of them straight and all of them divorced. None of their marriages lasted longer than 7 years and none of them are in a long-term relationship. And not ONE of my family members congratulate us on our long-term relationship. Pity. This is what divides this country, two people spending their lives together in a loving, nurturing relationship.