**UPDATE: Some of the comments below are bringing us down. Let's celebrate PRIDE! For every PRIDEFUL comment we get below, Sasha and I will donate $1 to the Center on Halsted. Comment away, and we'll see you at Sunday's parade, rain or shine!**
It's Pride Week! Before we all go out and celebrate, let's look at this list of eight infamous anti-gay activists and politicians who turned to be -- surprise -- gay. (Does it still surprise you when the most vehement anti-gay personalities turn out to be gay themselves?) If they had had more pride, perhaps they wouldn't have been embroiled in such scandals.
For a bonus ninth, check out this article about George Alan Rekers, the right wing Christian leader -- who opposed gay adoption and taught that gay can be cured -- who was caught on a European vacation with a boy he found on Rentboy.com. Um, he had surgery, ok? He needed someone to carry his bags!
West opposed gays and lesbians working in schools & daycare centers, and even opposed a bill that barred government distribution of pamphlets to help people protect themselves from HIV and AIDS. In 2005, he was investigated for sexual abuse against minor boys and offering unpaid internships to men in exchange for sex. He was recalled from office. In his time in the House, Schrock staunchly opposed same-sex marriage and gays in the military. In 2004, he was caught on tape soliciting a male prostitute and dropped out of the race for his third Congressional term.Haggard actively lobbied against gay rights and supported the same-sex marriage in Colorado. He also taught that homosexuality was a sin. In 2006, he was outed by a prostitute (Mike Jones) with whom Haggard had sex (and purchased and used crystal meth) for three years. He still won't admit that he's gay...he says he's "heterosexual with issues." Perhaps one of the most infamous hypocritical activists, Foley spearheaded the effort to protect Americans against sexual predators. It turned out that he had been sending sexually explicit emails and IMs to (and alleged sexual liaisons with) several teenaged Congressional pages. While a member of the Washington House, Curtis voted against a bill that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation and against same-sex domestic partnerships. After an encounter involving a gay porn star and Curtis' penchant for wearing women's clothing went wrong, Curtis resigned from office.
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Craig supported a federal ban on same-sex marriage, and voted against changing the federal definition of hate crimes to include sexual orientation. In 2007, his "wide stance" got him arrested for lewd conduct at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and pled guilty. To this day, Craig and his wife maintain his heterosexuality. Ashburn has voted against every single gay rights measure before him since taking office. In March he was arrested for a DUI leaving a gay night club with a male companion. He's since come out of the closet, but maintains an anti-gay voting record in the Senate.Allen supported the Florida ban on gays adopting children and enhanced penalties for "unnatural and lascivious acts." In 2007, he was arrested for offering an undercover cop $20 for oral sex in a men's bathroom. He resigned from the Florida House a week later.
Oscar Wilde (who was an expert on all this) said: "Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue."
Our society is breaking apart because we no longer expect that tribute to be paid.
We are all sinners and we all fall short every day. Decent people feel shame, not pride, when they fall short.
What kind of society celebrates the wicked and ridicules men who try to overcome their weakness but sometimes stumble?
These men tried to be better than they were. Most of the time they succeeded. We should all try to be better than we are, better than we think we could possibly be.
Let me guess... you don't really understand the point I am making but you can see that I am using words like "sin" and "virtue" so you know that you hate me. So now you will post something ugly about me and then feel good about how enlightened you are. Instead, why not try to be better than that?
I don't hate you; I don't even know you. I see our fundamental disagreement as this: you believe that these men were trying to better themselves or overcome some kind of weakness, whereas I don't think homosexuality was a weakness they needed to overcome. I also don't see how not only denying their own sexuality, but actually speaking out against homosexuality--and often actively working to deny equal rights to gays--brought them any closer to "better."
I don't understand the point you are making at all? Who is celebrating the wicked here? How were these men trying to be better? It seemed to me all these men did was lie and decieve people and there is nothing admirable about that?
darling, don't post something ugly and then try to preemptively tell us that we're the ugly ones for calling you out on what is inherently and ugly message. These men are LIARS, pure and simple. They aren't noble men overcoming some flaw in the personalities, they are almost universally people who have dedicated their lives and careers to depriving an entire class of people, that they ironically belong too despite their protests, of full participation in the promise of freedom and equality that makes the US the beacon of these democratic virtues. Any time anyone parcels out these values they have dimmed that beacon and perverted the very notion of equality.
I will celebrate Pride this weekend knowing that the sad efforts of men like these are on the wrong side of history, and the wrong side of the American values that Matter: freedom and equality!
A blog called "Chicago Hearts Trivia" is not the place where anyone should try to advance a cause. There are several other excellent blogs that do far more to advance the cause of gay rights than this one. I simply provided a list of anti-gay activists who turned out to be gay. I don't even really believe that I used a mocking tone in my post. Except for when referring to Rekers' excuse. Because that was ridiculous.
But since we're talking about it...
1. I don't advocate special rights for groups of people; I advocate Equal Rights for All People. I question the opposition to gay marriage or gays serving in the military as much as I question the opposition of the right of any race or gender to vote.
2. "Supposedly of [my] own disposition" - what do you suppose my disposition is? Why do you suppose that only a gay person would support equal rights or find the actions of the above men reprehensible? I am just one of the millions of allies that celebrate Pride this week and year-round.
Thank you so much for this informative post! It's a shame to see so many closeted bigots still around today, more than 40 years after Stonewall...but the fight continues!
Mark Kirk was outed with absolutely nothing to back up the claims and he has denied them. While he may or may not be gay, he has denied the reports, and he has always been a moderate who has never done anything that should warrant his inclusion on this list. Perhaps he is gay, until he starts lobbying for amendments defining marriage as between a man and a woman, or talking about how evil homosexuality is, I am content to let him be on this issue.
I find these antigay closet cases tragic. I'm proud to be working for full equality, so the next generation of politicians won't feel the need to be closeted and reinforce their closet doors with hypocrisy. Happy pride everybody!
I am all for Team Cate! I am not asking anyone for "special rights" I want to be afforded the same rights as the other dysfunctional married couples out there!
I am for Team Cate!!! I was actually just involved in a very hateful (and ignorant) conversation about this. I won't repeat the things that were said but it truly made me sad that someone felt that way (actually it made me want to throw up a little). I don't think anyone is asking for "special rights" either but just the same rights everyone else has. There is no reason they shouldn't. I support love and say that everyone should be allowed to be themselves without judgment. Have a happy PRIDE weekend!!
I think it just goes to show that pride is an important thing to have. If you look closely, all of these anti-gay activists, they are all conservatives (which is kind of the point I realize). Equality is about people, not theoretical beliefs. When you follow the humanistic perspective you don't get such a fall back on things like this. Then you have these people who deny the human perspective of issues for the ideological ones. WE'RE HERE, WE'RE QUEER....want to join?
I would question blacks who denied they were black, where they stand on affirmative action is for them to decide, however I would question a black person who was against civil rights. To equate equal rights with affirmative action is an ignorant mistake to make, and it is inconsistent indeed to preach against a behavior you yourself are indulging in. Personally I could care less if these men are gay or straight, but if they are going to publicly admonish homosexuality and then are they themselves in the closet homosexuals, that is just shameful.
I hope to see some of these gentlemen at PRIDE this weekend.
Oscar Wilde (who was an expert on all this) said: "Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue."
Our society is breaking apart because we no longer expect that tribute to be paid.
We are all sinners and we all fall short every day. Decent people feel shame, not pride, when they fall short.
What kind of society celebrates the wicked and ridicules men who try to overcome their weakness but sometimes stumble?
These men tried to be better than they were. Most of the time they succeeded. We should all try to be better than we are, better than we think we could possibly be.
Let me guess... you don't really understand the point I am making but you can see that I am using words like "sin" and "virtue" so you know that you hate me. So now you will post something ugly about me and then feel good about how enlightened you are. Instead, why not try to be better than that?
I don't hate you; I don't even know you. I see our fundamental disagreement as this: you believe that these men were trying to better themselves or overcome some kind of weakness, whereas I don't think homosexuality was a weakness they needed to overcome. I also don't see how not only denying their own sexuality, but actually speaking out against homosexuality--and often actively working to deny equal rights to gays--brought them any closer to "better."
I don't understand the point you are making at all? Who is celebrating the wicked here? How were these men trying to be better? It seemed to me all these men did was lie and decieve people and there is nothing admirable about that?
darling, don't post something ugly and then try to preemptively tell us that we're the ugly ones for calling you out on what is inherently and ugly message. These men are LIARS, pure and simple. They aren't noble men overcoming some flaw in the personalities, they are almost universally people who have dedicated their lives and careers to depriving an entire class of people, that they ironically belong too despite their protests, of full participation in the promise of freedom and equality that makes the US the beacon of these democratic virtues. Any time anyone parcels out these values they have dimmed that beacon and perverted the very notion of equality.
I will celebrate Pride this weekend knowing that the sad efforts of men like these are on the wrong side of history, and the wrong side of the American values that Matter: freedom and equality!
A blog called "Chicago Hearts Trivia" is not the place where anyone should try to advance a cause. There are several other excellent blogs that do far more to advance the cause of gay rights than this one. I simply provided a list of anti-gay activists who turned out to be gay. I don't even really believe that I used a mocking tone in my post. Except for when referring to Rekers' excuse. Because that was ridiculous.
But since we're talking about it...
1. I don't advocate special rights for groups of people; I advocate Equal Rights for All People. I question the opposition to gay marriage or gays serving in the military as much as I question the opposition of the right of any race or gender to vote.
2. "Supposedly of [my] own disposition" - what do you suppose my disposition is? Why do you suppose that only a gay person would support equal rights or find the actions of the above men reprehensible? I am just one of the millions of allies that celebrate Pride this week and year-round.
Cheers to that Cate!
Thank you so much for this informative post! It's a shame to see so many closeted bigots still around today, more than 40 years after Stonewall...but the fight continues!
Happy Pride!
I don't know about the rest of CHT readers, but I'm on Team Cate.
Count me in for Team Cate as well.
I'm straight against hate and on Team Cate!
I'm on TEAM CATE. Have a great PRIDE weekend, everyone!!
You forgot Mark Kirk who recently voted against repealing DADT. He was outed by Mike Rogers who was the subject of HBO's documentary "Outrage."
Ah, yes...I can't believe I missed that!
Mark Kirk was outed with absolutely nothing to back up the claims and he has denied them. While he may or may not be gay, he has denied the reports, and he has always been a moderate who has never done anything that should warrant his inclusion on this list. Perhaps he is gay, until he starts lobbying for amendments defining marriage as between a man and a woman, or talking about how evil homosexuality is, I am content to let him be on this issue.
Well from the comments it looks like 11-2 in favor of team Cate ;)
I find these antigay closet cases tragic. I'm proud to be working for full equality, so the next generation of politicians won't feel the need to be closeted and reinforce their closet doors with hypocrisy. Happy pride everybody!
i support love :) and cate! wish i could go to the parade this weekend, but i'll be there in spirit!
I am all for Team Cate! I am not asking anyone for "special rights" I want to be afforded the same rights as the other dysfunctional married couples out there!
I am for Team Cate!!! I was actually just involved in a very hateful (and ignorant) conversation about this. I won't repeat the things that were said but it truly made me sad that someone felt that way (actually it made me want to throw up a little). I don't think anyone is asking for "special rights" either but just the same rights everyone else has. There is no reason they shouldn't. I support love and say that everyone should be allowed to be themselves without judgment. Have a happy PRIDE weekend!!
Aw, thanks guys!
I think it just goes to show that pride is an important thing to have. If you look closely, all of these anti-gay activists, they are all conservatives (which is kind of the point I realize). Equality is about people, not theoretical beliefs. When you follow the humanistic perspective you don't get such a fall back on things like this. Then you have these people who deny the human perspective of issues for the ideological ones. WE'RE HERE, WE'RE QUEER....want to join?
Thanks, Marc! Same to you!
I would question blacks who denied they were black, where they stand on affirmative action is for them to decide, however I would question a black person who was against civil rights. To equate equal rights with affirmative action is an ignorant mistake to make, and it is inconsistent indeed to preach against a behavior you yourself are indulging in. Personally I could care less if these men are gay or straight, but if they are going to publicly admonish homosexuality and then are they themselves in the closet homosexuals, that is just shameful.