More from the political correct grievance collectors whose self-righteousness only slightly masks their partisan politics. Matt Coles of the ACLU's Lesbian & Gay Rights Project has denounced an exchange between New York Republican Gov. George Pataki (who in 2002 supported and signed a law banning anti-gay discrimination) and GOP state senate leader Joe Bruno. As reported in 365gay.com's hyperbolically headlined "NY Gov Under Fire For Gay Slur," this was the "offensive" exchange:
At a public event [the opening of a power plant] "Bruno turned to the Gov. and said that they "make love" - most of the time. "I've been proud to partner with this governor - most of the time," said Bruno, drawing laughter from Pataki and several others in the audience. Bruno, who has had some notable battles with Pataki over the state budget and other issues, told the audience that "like all good partners, occasionally you don't partner. But you kiss, you make up and you make love most of the time."
When Pataki took to the podium he carried the references to gay couples further. "I don't mind making love to you. Just don't ask me to marry you," the governor said.
And the response:
"Governor George Pataki was way out of line in his disparaging comments about same-sex marriage," said Matt Coles director of the [ACLU] project. "The governor may think it's funny that he can't marry Senator Bruno, but after he stops laughing he can go home to his wife. The joke isn't so funny for people who get turned away when their partners are in emergency rooms -- or people who pay for "family" insurance but can't include the love or their lives"
Now, the issue of marriage equality is one that we fervently
support, for the reasons Coles notes, among others. But to take the
banter between Pataki and Bruno as a "slur" meant to disparage gay
marriage is ludicrous. If anything, the fact that two straight
politicos feel free to joke about making love to each other is a
sign of cultural progress. But recognizing this would hardly score
points with Coles' political constituency.