Writing in the Washington Post, Michael Gerson observes:
Just 20 years ago, opposition to abortion and opposition to homosexual rights seemed to overlap entirely. They appeared to be expressions of the same traditionalist moral framework, destined to succeed or fail together as twin pillars of the culture war.
But in the years since, the fortunes of these two social stands have dramatically diverged. A May 2009 Gallup poll found that more Americans, for the first time, describe themselves as "pro-life" than "pro-choice." A February CNN-Time poll found that half of Americans, for the first time, believe that homosexuality is "not a moral issue." This divergence says something about successful social movements in America.
He goes on to note that:
...a generation of thoughtful gay rights advocates, exemplified by Jonathan Rauch of the National Journal, has made the argument for joining traditional institutions instead of smashing them. More radical activists have criticized this approach as assimilationist and bourgeois. But only bourgeois arguments triumph in America. And many have found this more conservative argument for gay rights-encouraging homosexual commitment through traditional institutions-less threatening than moral anarchism.
That speaks to the advancement of gay marriage and other "assimilationist" goals once virulently denounced by "progressive" gays as "rightwing." But going back to Gerson's initial point about abortion, many leading gay political groups still maintain a pro-abortion-on-demand litmus test for candidates they'll endorse, including the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. This effectively eliminates many Republican gays-and gay-supportive but pro-life Republicans (and a few Democrats)-from ever being backed by these officially nonpartisan LGBT groups.
More. Another sign of the times. Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia, a Republican and long-time social conservative, unexpectedly issued a directive barring discrimination against gay state workers. As the Christian Science Monitor reports:
By making that move, the governor "is now projecting the image of reasonableness and inclusiveness," says Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. "This is not going over with the hardcore right-wing elements in the party, but it is a necessity for governing and it tells you where our society has gone. McDonnell has recognized a reality."
Small steps forward are still steps forward, and we'll only fully gain equality under the law when anti-gay stances are anathema among both liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans.
Corvino, John
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White Parties? I thought we were talking about “straight-acting” closet cases who could serve to counteract prevailing stereotypes by coming out.
If you attend a “party” where the entire point is to dance around to Lady Gaga music while wearing nothing but your underwear, in a room with a 100:1 male/female ratio, where all the other guys are also in their underwear, then you are ipso facto a gay-acting stereotype.
“….it’s the rednecks and gun owners that [who] are going to survive while the frapuccino-drinking progressives are gonna be running for their lives.”
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Too funny!
That is, no doubt, true.
I’ve seen such traits over and over again. When someone needs help or an accident has happened, it’s so often the “redneck”-type of guys who will hurry to help someone.
I’ve been guilty of this myself—using the word “redneck” as a short-hand description of someone or a particular situation; however, if one were to use the dreaded and much-ballyhooed “N” word, their lives would effectively come to a screeching halt.
And it really isn’t fair, but that’s how it is.
The gay community moans about being the group that can be maligned freely, but this is such a farce.
Working class “rednecks” and those who the “academic elite” malign in the Tea Party are the only people in this country who get nonstop epithets and malice thrown their way openly without anyone being called on it.
And the hilarious part is that so many of those “academic elite” are from lunch pale families, themselves.
If not for the taxpayer funds—from the labor of those “rednecks”—those people would never have had the education they have.
People who make their livings in education and the arts should really check themselves.
And I’m including myself in this as well.
“White Parties? I thought we were talking about ‘straight-acting’ closet cases who could serve to counteract prevailing stereotypes by coming out.
If you attend a ‘party’ where the entire point is to dance around to Lady Gaga music while wearing nothing but your underwear, in a room with a 100:1 male/female ratio, where all the other guys are also in their underwear, then you are ipso facto a gay-acting stereotype.”
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Throbert exists, I am quite thoroughly convinced, for the purpose of illuminating the “Duh!” moments of life.
And he continues to perform this feat with munificent and lavish generosity!
Moreover…….and I have to ask……
……..what the heck kind of purpose do those so-called “White Parties” serve?
I mean, for anyone over the age of 17?
Is this really a “party” among adult men that is supposed to represent “pride”?
Just one more aspect of gay male culture which provides more ammunition to critics…..beyond what is already so visible.
If women filmed themselves with their c**ts turned up to a camera for people to watch and get off on in places like YouTube……and those women were professionals or students or just “ordinary” people instead of the dregs of society……..
………they would not survive civilized expectations.
Their futures of “respectability” would be null and void.
Yet gay male culture expects society to accept their gross habits and actually issue surprise when people recoil and when people are shocked at just who places themselves inside such an environment openly.
Just review the gross past and present lifestyle of someone like Andrew Sullivan….as he rhapsodizes about Catholicism and pushes fabrications about Sarah Palin’s (of whom I’m no fan) past pregnancy and her family. And he’s never corrected his lies.
For illustration, check out this channel as just one example.
It’s total exhibition of appendages and azz……with “come hither” looks.
LOL!
And the same middle-aged men who ripped the dumb Carrie Prejean apart—a women half their age—subscribe to this encysted dry rot openly.
And one wonders why people wonder?
I really should have linked to this guy as an example.
He seems to be a “White Party” ambassador and someone who is obsessed with briefs.
LIS!
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, Deb, but there are also tons and tons of straight guys showing off their boners on sites like XTube, and though they may hope against hope that some horny single lass will see the videos and get in touch, most of them are quite happy to get compliments from other men, as well. It’s a guy thing; most of us really really want to be told that our erections are beautiful to behold and our ejaculations inspire awe and envy.
LOL!!!
To funny, Throbert.
And what you say is true; however, I would argue that the straight ones don’t engage in that kind of dialogue and set up a network of raw male porno using web cams that they share privately when they subscribe to such seemingly benign sites.
It’s all a cover for a whole other world.
Kind of like the web cam activity of child molester Frank Lombard.
Lots of kids participate in that environment.
Middle-aged, “respectable” men aren’t uncomfortable with that?
In the locker rooms of gyms, all guys always compare “sizes”…….just as women check out the fashion styles of other women with grand curiosity.
I understand that you can’t quite comprehend my point-of-view, but what I’m saying really is that it’s also hypocritical for middle-aged men to go after a heterosexual woman half their age like Prejean…….when they sit back on their computers and jack off by looking at the bodies and genitalia of both straight and gay men her same age.
Prejean is actually their competition for the twinks. LOL!
It’s just so creepy for a man to “crave” matrimony with another man and go after a hetero woman who disagrees with them.
The whole scenario makes such men look so…..how do you say?…..effeminate and womanly, themselves.
I don’t consider men with such a mentality real men.
“……..what the heck kind of purpose do those so-called “White Parties” serve?”
The operative word is ‘parties”, and most people attend with the objective of having fun. I’ve never been to one, but I’ve been to Fantasy Fest in Key West, a grand Bacchanal and fun for all.
The temerity of those boys to throw a party! Oh, the humanity!
And today, do people really dress in green, quaff green beer, wear tacky hats and beads to honor their Irish heritage or to simply have fun? A combination of both, I’m sure. Someone who never heard of St. Patrick may observe this to be a very odd spectacle with no discernible purpose.
Erin Go Bragh
Jimmy, St. Patrick’s Day gives me the creeps.
It’s mostly celebrated by goofy, bird-brains in this country.
In Ireland it’s celebrated with much less fanfare.
“In Ireland it’s celebrated with much less fanfare.”
So, Americans bastardize everything with their characteristic bourgeois commercialism. The materialistic, youth and beauty glorifying gay man at white parties are just being good Americans.
I need to make a little spelling correction above:
Should have been (lunch “PAIL” families).
Just had to correct that one. LOL!
“So, Americans bastardize everything with their characteristic bourgeois commercialism. The materialistic, youth and beauty glorifying gay man at white parties are just being good Americans.”
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Of course, your “Bonfire of the Vanities” allusion is appropo.
But I would argue that an enormous percentage of those “glorifying” youth and beauty are so malformed and out-of-shape that not celebrating with such enthusiasm would be a gift to the world.
Well, I’m off to join the bird brains, with my crockpotted corned beef brisket and my freshly ironed “official” St. Patrick’s Day kelly green stripped J-Crew oxford.
Speaking of birds, 5 out 10 trending topics on Twitter right now are St. Patty related. That’s a lot of twits. (I couldn’t resist)
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