Withers: Outing is a gimmick best left in the last century
Blogger Mike Rogers has gone nuclear against Illinois Rep. Mark Kirk. The politician earned Rogers’ ire because of his pro DADT vote last week—only five House Republicans voted for repeal.
“In an effort to move the base in the Illinois Senate race , Kirk decided to tack right and that means throwing the gays (like him) under the bus.”
Rogers talks about anonymous sources who insist Kirk is gay (2 of them allege they had sex with the guy). The blogger recounts his own Kirk past (no sex involved). The two met at a 2004 Washington, DC party, and the Republican outed himself in a casual conversation. Kirk apparently was into the male friend who brought Rogers to the soiree. Between 2001 and last year, the Republican was married to Kimberly Vertolli.
Rogers airs all of this because he thinks Kirk’s DADT vote stinks with hypocrisy. Fair point, but the reporter never explains why supporting DADT is problematic. He kicks open Kirk’s alleged glass closet because of pique over a vote. When the Republican was OK on gay issues, at least according to the Human Rights Campaign, there was no need to share any of this. In the world according to Rogers, vote right and you can stay on the closet. Cross him and your laundry will be made public.
I’m in the minority about this, but outing is an ineffective political strategy. It gins up our moral outrage, but where are the tangible political gains? Are we closer to the repeal of DADT? Marriage rights? An ENDA vote?
Outside of seeing someone squirm under the media glare, the freedom movement, such as it is, is not advanced by sifting through supposed closed door habits.
Withers: Senate bill would end DADT
Yes I’m behind on this (thanks New York Democrats), but Sen. Joe Lieberman introduced a Senate bill that would repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
“Today Sen. Lieberman made history. We applaud the Senator’s unwavering commitment to a strong national defense and civil rights,” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal …
Withers: NY rep accused of harassment
New York Democrats are having a lousy week. Gov. David Paterson is hanging on by a thread. Rep. Charles Rangel lost his powerful committee chairmanship due to ethical lapses. Lastly Rep. Eric Massa announced he was not seeking reelection because of health reasons.
The western New York representative does have non-Hodgkin’s …
Withers: Ford decides not to run
After weeks of speculation, Harold Ford decided not to challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. In a New York Times editorial that reeks with self satisfaction, Ford admits what we all knew when he announced his “thinking tour.” A bitter primary between him and the incumbent would have made the eventual winner …
Withers: Ford meets with Stonewall Democrats
I’ll give Harold Ford credit for moxie. Sure there have been some major gaffes in his “I’m thinking ’bout running for Senate” tour, but he’s a gamer. He went on The Colbert Show and got savagely mocked. Last night he walked into a hornet’s nest by meeting with the New …
Withers: Diaz talks silly….again
Once again Ruben Diaz, Sr. spouts something senseless. The New York State senator has a history of typing out rambling releases, epsecailly when the topic is gay, and then trying extricate himself from some of his own daft mess.
Yesterday Diaz issued a release, wondering why gays and lesbians are not supporting Gov. David …
Withers: NY senate expels Monserrate
Hiram Monserrate has been expelled from the New York Senate. The Queens Democrat, who was convicted last fall on misdemeanor domestic assault of his girlfriend, had little support from his colleagues who voted overwhelmingly, 53 to 8, to give him the boot.
The Monserrate saga is another black eye on a …
Withers: New York Times’ article focuses on “transgender court”
The fundies have another reason to say New York City is “not real America.” An article in yesterday’s New York Times focused on a Manhattan court that has turned into the place where transgender New Yorkers go to have their names officially changed.
“Changing a name might seem like a minor …
Withers: Glenn Beck is an idiot
The new year has barely started and I’m about to break a resolution, wasting brain space on the loony man Glenn Beck. First he starts an interview with Sarah Palin by reading his “journal thoughts.” Aside from being a wee bit creepy, the Beckster makes the interview about him and …
Withers: RIP Dennis deLeon, 1948-2009
This story might get lost with all the attention focused on Washington DC, but let’s take a moment to remember Dennis deLeon. The 61 year old activist died on Monday of heart failure.
“He was a pioneer and a visionary, and in his lifetime he sought to curb and eliminate health …
