Straight people shouldn’t be allowed to marry. That’s what I came to realize that Maggie Gallagher must believe after reading this article of hers, where she suggests that gay marriage isn’t really marriage because—-get this—-some gay couples are non-monogamous.
Less than a decade later, Eric Erbelding from the perch of his legally recognized Massachusetts gay marriage, is quite comfortable explaining to the New York Times that “Our rule is you can play around because, you know, you have to be practical.”
Eric elaborates why he think it works for gay men: “I think men view sex very differently than women. Men are pigs, they know that each other are pigs, so they can operate accordingly. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Still, Mr. Erbelding said, in what to the old-fashioned ear is the most astonishing single sentence in the whole piece: most married gay couples he knows are “for the most part monogamous, but for maybe a casual three-way.”
For the most part . . . except for the casual three-way?
But hey, if the word “marriage” can be redefined as a civil-rights imperative, why balk at lesser ideas like “monogamy” or “fidelity”?
It’s amazing the schisms that have broken open in this campaign season. Bil Browning of The Bilerico Project has an eye-opening post up, “Why is EMILY’s List endorsing anti-semitism, racism and homophobia?” EMILY’s List, an organization that promotes and helps fund women who run for public office, the primary goal is to ensure that pro-choice candidates are elected.
In one Congressional race (Tennessee’s 9th district, which includes Memphis and environs), EMILY’s List is backing a candidate, Nikki Tinker, who is up against a pro-choice, pro-LGBT incumbent, Steven Cohen. Tinker’s campaign and surrogates have engaged in disturbing tactics that show how conflicts between core Democratic constituencies have erupted into ways difficult to paper over.
Rep. Steve Cohen, who is Jewish, was attacked in a flier (left, “Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen and the Jews hate Jesus”) distributed by a black homobigoted pastor from Murphreesboro who is not even from Cohen’s district, Rev. George Brooks. Tinker, who happens to be black as well, and was called to condemn the flier. (WaPo):
[T]he literature encourages other black leaders in Memphis to “see to it that one and ONLY one black Christian faces this opponent of Christ and Christianity in the 2008 election.”
The Commercial Appeal wrote an editorial in Wednesday’s paper condemning Tinker for not speaking out against the anti-Semitic literature.
“What does Nikki Tinker think about anti-Semitic literature being circulated that might help her unseat 9th District Congressman Steve Cohen in the Democratic primary next August?” the editorial asked. “The question goes to the character of the woman who wants to represent the 9th District, and 9th District voters deserve an answer. But Tinker declined to return a phone call about the flier.”
The Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association, an organization of black pastors that has backed Tinker’s campaign as well, has openly criticized Cohen for his support of hate crimes legislation. Why is this not an issue for EMILY’s List? Certainly its resources can be spent more effectively in another race, given incumbent Cohen’s pro-choice record. Why back such a divisive candidate if your primary issue is already supported? Is there something missing from this picture that we should be aware of?
You can read more over at Bil’s pad. He concludes that in this case, for EMILY’s List, it has placed working to elect a pro-choice woman above any concerns about anti-Semitism or homophobia pouring from Tinker’s campaign and supporters.
It’s what you all have been waiting for…this year’s “research” on the International Mr. Leather event by Peter LaBarbera. Long-time readers of the blog know that The Peter has become an expert in this sexual subculture, because every year he returns to the same event to gather even more information for his “Christian” readership—shocking information that has to be documented with photographs and breathless reporting.
He didn’t even manage to put up a photo from this year’s event in this post. Behold…
LISTEN ONLINE: Hyatt Regency Chicago Hosts ‘International Mr. Leather’ Perversion
WARNING: Interview contains highly graphic content describing twisted behaviors; NOT for children
[UPDATE: I have added the NY news that Gov. Paterson has instructed all state agencies to recognize all out-of-state same sex marriages. It’s below the fold. ]
I’m serious—if this is the best foot the opponents of marriage equality can put forward, they are going nowhere fast. The flailing of this guest on The O’Reilly Factor, as they discuss the ruling in California is incredible. Billo actually rakes this loser over the coals for the poor anti-marriage equality argument presented.
OREILLY: “You’ve got to go beyond religion if you want to win the fight against gay marriage. You’ve got to go into a reason why this is not good for the state of California. Now what would that reason be?”
Family Law Attorney Don Schweitzer seem to get a handle on what eats at him about marriage equality (he even doesn’t bother with articulating the whole penis-in-vagina dealie), but O’Reilly actually pushes at Schweitzer to come up with something that isn’t insane. The dude just can’t come up with anything other than the “definition” of the word is in jeopardy. It’s hilarious.
SCHWEITZER (on why it’s bad): “It’s like summer and winter…it’s two different things.”
***
NY Gov: agencies must recognize all out-of-state same sex marriages
A giant step forward, courtesy of Empire State Governor David Paterson. He has instruct state agencies to fully recognize legal same sex unions from elsewhere based on the Feb. 1 ruling that New York must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other countries (I blogged that here). More below the fold.
We need to create a Sally Kern Award for the most batsh*t homophobic comment of the month. Check out Jeff Wagner, a Republican who represents the 81st district in Ohio. He believes that same-sex committed relationships lead to mental and physical illness. When a constituent asked about H.B. 502, the “Equal Housing and Employment Act”, that would cover LGBTs, this is what Wagner said via email (spelling and grammar intact):
“[T]his is a dangerous and misguided bill. The bill is not really about people being denied rights to basic needs, but it is about promoting acceptance of an immoral lifestyle. As much as some people would have us to believe otherwise, this country was founded on Christian principles. One of those long honored principles is the tradition of holy matrimony. One man and one woman joined together in a union that goes as far back as Adam and Eve. As our society has gotten further from that standard (not just homosexuality, but easy divorce, cheating on a spouse, etc.) we see a continued collapse of the basic building block of society the family unit. As that traditional family erodes, we see more sexually transmitted diseases, kids without parents, heartbroken people and I believe a host of mental and physical illnesses. . . . rest assured I can not support a bill in any way promotes or encourages the homosexual lifestyle.”
Wagner’s rant is also a reminder, as one of our PFLAG supporters in Ohio pointed out, of just how much misinformation is out there when it comes to issues like this one, and legislation like H.B. 502.
In fact, one wonders if Mr. Wagner has considered whether it might not be more damaging to “family values” to have a family member fired from their job, or denied a home for them and their loved ones, simply because of who they are, or who they love.
Straight people shouldn’t be allowed to marry. That’s what I came to realize that Maggie Gallagher must believe after reading this article of hers, where she suggests that gay marriage isn’t really marriage because—-get this—-some gay couples are non-monogamous. 
“[T]his is a dangerous and misguided bill. The bill is not really about people being denied rights to basic needs, but it is about promoting acceptance of an immoral lifestyle. As much as some people would have us to believe otherwise, this country was founded on Christian principles. One of those long honored principles is the tradition of holy matrimony. One man and one woman joined together in a union that goes as far back as Adam and Eve. As our society has gotten further from that standard (not just homosexuality, but easy divorce, cheating on a spouse, etc.) we see a continued collapse of the basic building block of society the family unit. As that traditional family erodes, we see more sexually transmitted diseases, kids without parents, heartbroken people and I believe a host of mental and physical illnesses. . . . rest assured I can not support a bill in any way promotes or encourages the homosexual lifestyle.”