Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyThis commentary is the opinion of the author and may not reflect those of other authors at Box Turtle Bulletin.
July 20th, 2010
I am generally not a huge fan of outing, but I do make a particular exception for politicians, particularly when they vote against the interests and rights of a community in which they secretly enjoy the, err, benefits from. And so my reaction to the outing of Rep. Mark Kirk by LGBT advocate Mike Rogers was quite the opposite of Timothy’s. I do believe that when a politician who has, in the past, voted against the LGBT community and is subsequently revealed to be gay himself, that political figure then faces a critical crossroads. He can either step into a more honest relationship with his voters and himself, and in the process free himself to truly vote his conscience (i.e. former Arizona Rep. Jim Kolbe), or he can continue to deny to himself and his constituents the truth behind his anti-gay voting record and reap the consequences of reduced credibility (i.e. former Idaho Sen. Larry Craig).
Another more recent outing — this time a sort of an involuntary self-outing — provides the perfect example of why we need politicians who are honest with themselves as they are with their voters. California state Senator Roy Ashburn, who came stumbling out of the closet following a DUI arrest after leaving an Sacramento gay bar, had been a reliable vote against bills to protect the LGBT community. After he was outed, his voting record started to change toward the pro-gay side of the ledger.
Yesterday, Sen. Ashburn apologized for his prior votes and described how the imperative of protecting the closet superseded all other public policy considerations:
I should begin with an apology. I am sincerely sorry for the votes I cast and the actions I took that harmed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Just as important to me, I am sorry for not stepping forward and speaking up as an elected official on behalf of equal treatment for all people. For nearly 26 years, the voters in my area of California trusted me as their elected representative. I look back now knowing there is so much more I could have done to inform the public about LGBT people and to fight for equal rights under the law. Regrettably and selfishly, I took another path in my life and political career—I chose to conceal who I truly am and to then actually vote against the best interests of people like me. All this was done because I was afraid – terrified, really – that somehow I would be revealed as gay.
My past actions harmed gay people. In fact, all people are harmed when there is unequal treatment of anyone under the constitution and laws of our country. I do not believe in discrimination, and yet my votes advanced unequal of treatment of gay people and promoted the suspicion and fear that limits people from being forthright and accepted in society.
…I am no longer willing, nor able to remain silent in the face of unequal and hurtful treatment of my community. It may have taken me a strange, incoherent and long path to get here, but this is where I find myself as a gay Republican Senator. It’s time for Republicans to find our way and fight for equal treatment for all people, especially the freedom to be unique and have our rights acknowledged and protected.
Shades of Jim Kolbe.
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Matt
July 20th, 2010
Bravo. A very sincere apology that seems to come from the heart. Let’s hope that he has the time and power left in office–I am sure the CA GOP is going to try to knock him out or else neuter him and make him into a token–to right the wrongs.
Ben in Oakland
July 20th, 2010
Good for Roy ashburn. He’s starting to understand why freedom is so important.
That being said, I’m a great advocate of everone being outed. Too many people hide in the closet, sometimes damaging others, sometimes only damaging themselves.
The closet is the enemy, not the right wing.
CB
July 20th, 2010
B.S. For over 26 years he was a gay hating Republican. He lost his anti-gay constituency, now he wants to make amends to/with the gay community. If he hadn’t been caught, he would still be shafting gays. Remember, he is termed out of office and now has to re-invent himself, especially since his former constituency has deemed him damaged goods. He’s a typical politician, and sits on the side of the fence that feeds him. He would turn his back on his mother if it meant power.
Stefano A
July 20th, 2010
When I first read his apology, I would liked to have given him the benefit of the doubt.
And, while it is possible, I suppose, he may be sincere and is evolving in his thinking, given his past history and even his more recent comments, I remain unconvinced that, as CB said, this is more political pandering.
Even as late as his 12 June interview with The Los Angeles Times his comments revealed, at least in my opinion, an attitude of — Translation: Now that I’m termed out of office and have been revealed to be the unprincipled politician I truly am, who voted on issues not for principles but to protect my own ass, I have nothing to lose.
Stefano A
July 20th, 2010
Correction:
This sentence: I remain unconvinced that, as CB said, this is more political pandering. Should read: I remain unconvinced that, as CB said, this is [nothing more than] more political pandering.
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