Personally, I find it difficult at times remaining pleasant to self-styled "moderate Republicans" who proclaim that they are not anti-gay and yet will happily cast their vote on November 6th for candidates of the Republican Party, a political party which seeks to undo years of progress in LGBT civil rights and that would keep LGBT citizens less than full citizens indefinitely. You know who I am talking about: your neighbors who invite you over for cocktails, dinner or a party, greet you with a smile but then plan on voting for anti-gay candidates like Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and here in Virginia, George Allen. Some of these "friends" and neighbors likely have Romney signs in their yard at this very moment as well sending a clear message as to what they really value. Pulitzer and Tony winning playwright Doug Wright summed it all up well and laid bare what really matters to these people:
"I wish my moderate Republican friends would simply be honest. They all say they’re voting for Romney because of his economic policies (tenuous and ill-formed as they are), and that they disagree with him on gay rights. Fine. Then look me in the eye, speak with a level clear voice, and say, 'My taxes and take-home pay mean more than your fundamental civil rights, the sanctity of your marriage, your right to visit an ailing spouse in the hospital, your dignity as a citizen of this country, your healthcare, your right to inherit, the mental welfare and emotional well-being of your youth, and your very personhood.' It’s like voting for George Wallace during the Civil Rights movements, and apologizing for his racism. You’re still complicit. You’re still perpetuating anti-gay legislation and cultural homophobia. You don’t get to walk away clean, because you say you 'disagree' with your candidate on these issues."
As I've said before, two of the pillars of today's GOP are greed - i.e., lower taxes - and hypocrisy. Like it or not, these "moderate Republicans" put money in their pockets ahead of basic civil rights for their friends, neighbors and, in some cases, family members.
Note: The image above is of my blogger friend Jeremy Hooper marrying his husband Andrew.
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