CNN “A ‘Congressional Spouse’ Breaks Barriers”

Daniel Gonzales

October 26th, 2009

(crossposted on ELEMENT, a Denver gay blog I’m paid to write for)

A few days ago I read an article on CNN.com about what life is like for Jared Polis (D-Boulder) and his partner in Congress. Polis’ spouse writes:

Rarely has anyone seen me for what I actually am. I don my “Congressional Spouse” lapel pin proudly and hope each time not to be questioned, yet I still receive sideways glances and orders to produce an official ID. It is as if my story is too unbelievable to be true, that I am an interloper, someone in a place I do not belong.

I believe the focus of the article is supposed to be about brave dear Polis is for shrugging off dirty looks and overcoming stereotypes. Yet, time after time the article mentions a spousal privilege that Polis should be denied because the Federal Defense of Marriage Act and how special exceptions have been made.

The stench of elitist privilege overwhelmed me by the end of this obnoxious article thinking about all the hassles “ordinary” gays get from their government every single day and how that same government pulls aside the velvet rope for Polis.

I don’t see how we can expect leaders, who aren’t subject to the same laws as the employees in their district, to be motivated to change them in a timely fashion.

Burr

October 26th, 2009

Huh? Maybe they changed the article but I don’t see “time after time” examples of any particular privileges they’re getting that’d I’d be jealous of. All I see is a name tag issue and a travel exception. I guess that’s a cushy benefit but it’s not like they’ve been given marriage recognition in all 50 states.

Eric N

October 26th, 2009

@Burr,

Perhaps the couple in the article are not receiving privileges of which you would be jealous. However, the very fact that their concerns seem to be so trivial (name tag issues and travel exceptions) makes it clear that they are not subjected to the problems faced by more ordinary gay couples.

Pete

October 27th, 2009

Well, they wouldn’t exactly be facing the kinds of issues most gay people face anyway — Polis is ridiculously wealthy.

oakland753

October 28th, 2009

The politicians in all of these posts I received today are democrats? The only one that acted like it was John Kerry of Massachusetts. And this now a liberal democratic administration? You could have fooled me. Same as the past eight years and the Clinton years before that as far as I can see.

Get wise to the fact that NEITHER political party is going to do ANYTHING of real substance for us until we start to REALLY demand it with action like the civil rights movement of the 60’s. Where is our modern day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? How we need him to step forward today!

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