| Dear Harold,
welcome to New York. Make yourself comfortable. Have a bagel.
Okay, now that we have the pleasantries out of the way, I have a few questions for you. It appears you're considering running for the Senate from my state, and you know what that means? It means that you answer to people like me, voters, bloggers, that kind of grubby folk. And it appears you're speaking tonight to the Stonewall Democrats, the largest LGBT political club in the state.
So let's get started. I do have some questions. |
| Harold, you're African-American, your wife, caucasian. Until the Supreme Court decision of Loving v. Virginia, you could not have legally married in your home state of Tennessee. This was clearly a grievous moral wrong, albeit enshrined in law. Did you consider this at all before twice voting for the Federal Anti-marriage amendment?
Speaking of Loving, the respondent named in that case, Mildred Loving, had this to say about same-sex marriage:
Surrounded as I am now by wonderful children and grandchildren, not a day goes by that I don't think of Richard and our love, our right to marry, and how much it meant to me to have that freedom to marry the person precious to me, even if others thought he was the "wrong kind of person" for me to marry. I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people's religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people's civil rights.
I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard's and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That's what Loving, and loving, are all about.
Dear Harold, given that you twice voted to enshrine a single definition of marriage in the constitution, you must presume that Mrs. Loving speaks in error. Why?
Speaking of errors, we know from historical experience - cf. Prohibition - that overturning constitutional amendments is a rather difficult task. If the amendment you twice voted for had been adopted, and we assume, arguendo, that you had changed your opinion on the civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans, what remedy would you offer us to correct your mistake?
Going over to your legislative record, you also voted for the 'Defense' of Marriage Act. Again, why? What goal of rational government policy does DOMA serve, in your opinion?
Do you believe that the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution applies to gay and lesbian Americans?
Senator Gillibrand has publicly argued for the repeal of the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. Can we count on you, if elected, to do the same?
In your Times interview with Maureen Dowd you said:
"There were pastors in my Tennessee district who said you can minister to someone and change their sexual orientation. I just never accepted that. I'm a heterosexual. I don't know what anyone can say to me to make me sexually be with a man."
Do you understand that sexual orientation is far more profound than sex, and that having sex with the same gender is not enough to make you gay?
Doctor Martin Luther King famously said that I Have A Dream, and that there was a table of brotherhood open to all Americans. Is there a place at that table for gay and lesbian Americans?
Thanks for your time Harold. I'll see you tonight. Here's the stats for your driver:
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
6:00pm - 7:30pm
The Center
208 West 13th Street (between Seventh Avenue and Greenwich Avenue)
New York City, NY |
