Spokesman For Pro Same-Sex “Marriage” Movement?
August 20th, 2007 by Peter
The trick is, gay leaders and pundits must stop watering the issue down–“this is simply about equality for gay couples”–and offer same-sex marriage for what it is: an opportunity to reconstruct a traditonally homophobic institution by bringing it to our more equitable queer value system. Sure, marriage would ensure our inheritance rights, child-bearing rights, visitation rights, and a slew of financial benefits that mere “domestic partnership” arrangements have so far failed to deliver. But it is also a chance to wholly transform the definition of family in American culture.”
–Michelangelo Signorile, “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do,” Out, June 1996
We ran that quote in a little booklet we published in 2002 and we’ve had occasion to mention it in a few debates since then. The response from our opponents has always been something to the effect of “Michelangelo Signorile is an extreme example and is not representative of most same-sex ‘marriage’ supporters.”
And yet I open up the August 14th op-ed page of the Hartford Courant and I read this:
The [Democratic presidential candidate] forum’s organizers [Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s main “gay rights” group] hoped to get the candidates to show their concern for the gay and lesbian community and to see whether their understanding emanated from their consultant-generated talking points or from their hearts. Clearly, [New Mexico Gov. Bill] Richardson’s head needed some work. Even his campaign recognized this – it issued a “clarifying” statement not one hour after the event. And on a gay radio show the next day, Richardson told host Michelangelo Signorile that he didn’t understand the question because of jet lag [emphasis added].
If Michelangelo Signorile is not representative of the pro same-sex “marriage” movement why is a major presidential candidate like Gov. Richardson appearing on his radio show? I’m just sayin’.
“why is a major presidential candidate like Gov. Richardson appearing on his radio show? ”
Because the Dem candidates are desperate to show how “progressive” they are and that was the quickest avenue Richardson could use to attempt to dig himself out of the hole he created. He wants votes, period. Could it be he was scheduled well before he put his foot in his mouth? Why does every gay person have to be looked at as a “representative”. Signorile is one man, who has his own opinions which do not necessarily represent anything but his opinion. As a talk show host he is no different than Hannity, Limbaugh and the others that are worshipped by the right, he says what his audience wants to hear and he gives (or creates ) the opportunity for his guests to do the same. Are the above mentioned venom spewers truly representative of conservative USA, do they represent all Christians? Is everything they say exactly what you would say? Do you support everything they and their guests do? Who does represent conservative Christians – Phelps? Dobson? the pope? Swaggert? Haggard? Doug Giles? Bush? Carter?
If we actually had the unified front that many of you seem to think we have, we would have won this battle a long time ago. The fact is that the LGBT communities are divided on this and many other issues. There’s even some that probably agree with you 🙂
The whole “the gays are trying to restructure society” cry is getting tired. But the anti-gay…I’m sorry…”pro-family” crowd insists on bombarding us with this message because they know that the only way they can justify going ON the attack is by pretending to believe that they and their families are UNDER attack. All but the most vulnerable and naive know it’s just a bunch of BS.
Right on – Steve.