in conclusion, I have the most appropriate icon in the world
From Joe. My. God., via Michelangelo Signorile:[T]oday SiriusXM radio host Michelangelo Signorile and DC-based LGBT activist Mike Rogers jointly revealed that Mark Buse, John McCain's chief of staff, is a gay man.
What to do with this? Now, I know that I, having a compassionate heart and a respect for the privacy of individuals, should frown upon outings of public officials ... but I don't, not when those officials have cast their lots with people firmly on the side of making sure the faggot-American caucus remains in its marginalized state. If you want to keep your sexuality to yourself, that's your choice, but if you're benefitting from your closet at the same time you're trying to punish me for being out of mine, I officially withdraw all sympathy.
In other words, once you start stepping on my lawn, I get to play dirty.
People like Mark Buse -- and Roy Cohn -- are a spectacular vindication of the principle that what you fuck doesn't have to mean who you are, and in a sense, I can respect them for that. However, their ability to ignore identifying with queer culture has a great deal to do with their other forms of privilege. If you're the chief of staff for a Republican presidential candidate, you're probably making enough money that you can secure for yourself all the benefits things like marriage and anti-discrimination laws might afford you, and no amount of anti-gay legislation short of an outright pogrom is likely to touch you. And if others can't do the same, it's not your problem.
Most Republicans, especially those in political power, don't actually hate gay people -- and if you need more proof, consider that nearly six years of Republican control of all branches of the federal government produced nearly no federal gains for the anti-gay folk. When Sarah Palin says she has gay friends, I have no trouble believing (for once) she's telling the truth. However, it's in their best fundraising and electoral interests to make a certain percentage of the population see them as anti-gay crusaders, and it's that population who won't take well to the news that one of McCain's top people is a happily coupled, semi-openly gay man.
In a way, it's not even hypocritical for people like Buse to work for people who support anti-gay legislation, because they're certainly not working against their own best interests. I'm sure, however, that a certain section of the electorate sees a contradiction when John McCain presents himself as the defender of the American people from the homosexual activists, but seats a member of the lavender menace at his right hand. So really, who just got outed: Mark Buse or John McCain?
What to do with this? Now, I know that I, having a compassionate heart and a respect for the privacy of individuals, should frown upon outings of public officials ... but I don't, not when those officials have cast their lots with people firmly on the side of making sure the faggot-American caucus remains in its marginalized state. If you want to keep your sexuality to yourself, that's your choice, but if you're benefitting from your closet at the same time you're trying to punish me for being out of mine, I officially withdraw all sympathy.
In other words, once you start stepping on my lawn, I get to play dirty.
People like Mark Buse -- and Roy Cohn -- are a spectacular vindication of the principle that what you fuck doesn't have to mean who you are, and in a sense, I can respect them for that. However, their ability to ignore identifying with queer culture has a great deal to do with their other forms of privilege. If you're the chief of staff for a Republican presidential candidate, you're probably making enough money that you can secure for yourself all the benefits things like marriage and anti-discrimination laws might afford you, and no amount of anti-gay legislation short of an outright pogrom is likely to touch you. And if others can't do the same, it's not your problem.
Most Republicans, especially those in political power, don't actually hate gay people -- and if you need more proof, consider that nearly six years of Republican control of all branches of the federal government produced nearly no federal gains for the anti-gay folk. When Sarah Palin says she has gay friends, I have no trouble believing (for once) she's telling the truth. However, it's in their best fundraising and electoral interests to make a certain percentage of the population see them as anti-gay crusaders, and it's that population who won't take well to the news that one of McCain's top people is a happily coupled, semi-openly gay man.
In a way, it's not even hypocritical for people like Buse to work for people who support anti-gay legislation, because they're certainly not working against their own best interests. I'm sure, however, that a certain section of the electorate sees a contradiction when John McCain presents himself as the defender of the American people from the homosexual activists, but seats a member of the lavender menace at his right hand. So really, who just got outed: Mark Buse or John McCain?