"I have no problem

"I have no problem with homosexuality - I have a problem with homosexual acts." It seems that every time some bigot leaves the political scene (such as Jesse Helms or Trent Lott), another one springs up to take his place. Don't get me wrong. I really have nothing personal against bigots per se'. After all, they have their constitutional rights to believe whatever they want. It is their right to believe that Jews should have been exterminated or that gays should be in prison, or... whatever. What I have a problem with is that individual becoming a United States Senator and using his elected power and influence to degrade and humiliate a segment of the United States population, because well... it's "popular" to do so. The Jews went through this, then the African Americans, now it's the gay people's turn I suppose. Well, I'd like to introduce to you Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania). This week, the Associated Press published an interview with Senator Santorum, the third-highest ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate. Referring to a pending case involving sodomy laws, Santorum argued, "If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual gay sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery." It's sure a good feeling to be lumped in with bigamy, polygamy, and incest. Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't add bestiality or wanting to get married to a goat.

So why is it that politicians can get away with saying awful things about gays when no other group would tolerate it? Can you imagine the uproar that would happen if a similar comment were made about Jews or blacks? The simple answer is, there are few political consequences to doing so. Senator Santorum knows exactly what he is doing. He is appeasing the religious right community at our expense. All we can do is bitch about it, write him letters that say "be nice", and hope to appeal to his sense of decency. The reason there isn't a political price to pay is demonstrated on the graph at the right. It represents a vote on if the senator should leave his position of leadership for comparing homosexuality to bigamy and incest. Almost 80% of all people who voted said NO! I'm not surprised. But this just points to why I've left behind the days of being a political activist. It's very discouraging when you want people to know that:
1) You are really just like everyone else in the world, just trying to make your way.
2) You agree that taxes are just too damn high.
3) When you get cut, you bleed just like everyone else.
4) Yes, we are also from the same planet.
5) No, I honestly don't have any desire to have sex with an animal.
6) We have feelings also. We are born, we live, we die, and many times out of ignorance from remarks such as those of Senator Santorum, we are beaten, berated, belittled, or killed.

The bottom line is that anyone in a position of power should view that awesome opportunity to bring people together. Unfortunately, Senator Santorum would rather use his position to polarize those who he feels are unpopular, all for more votes. Yes, I would say he's a true politician. Let Senator Santorum know how you feel about this.

Additional articles on this subject:
Salt Lake City Tribune, The Desert Sun, Slate, ABC News, The Guardian (UK), New York Post

There are a few other stories that caught my eye as I quickly scanned the internet. I thought they deserved mention.
Execution set for Alabama inmate in killing of gay man in robbery. Gary Leon Brown, known on Alabama's death row for his religious evangelism, had no court appeals pending to stop his execution Thursday for the stabbing death of a 60-year-old gay man who was nearly decapitated during a robbery. Prosecutors said the savageness of the attack indicated the killing may not have been simply a robbery, but it was not prosecuted as a hate crime against a gay victim. Some of the stab wounds were notched, showing that Brown actually twisted the knife when it was in the victim's body. The victim was stabbed 78 times.
Opponents vocal against gay rights. RALEIGH -Some lawmakers got more feedback than they wanted Wednesday when they considered a ban on firing state employees because they are gay and lesbian. One opponent at a public hearing said the proposal could serve as endorsement of bestiality, while another said gays and lesbians earn so much more than other workers that it's not possible they face discrimination.
Gay rights ordinance approved in Peoria. Peoria has joined a growing list of Illinois cities banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The city council voted 8-3 Tuesday to amend its human rights ordinance to protect gays and lesbians against discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Board hears homosexual discrimination case. MSU's Anti-Discrimination Judicial Board heard comments Wednesday in a case involving former Mason Hall assistant director Carolyn O'Laughlin. O'Laughlin filed a grievance against Residence Life after officials said her domestic partner, Rebecca Linz, was not allowed to live in the residence hall.
U.S. can detain illegal immigrants indefinitely, Ashcroft rules. Illegal immigrants could be held indefinitely without bond if their cases present national security concerns, under a decision by Attorney General John Ashcroft. The order means aliens will not be released on bond while their cases are decided by immigration judges if the government can show national security issues are involved.
Student kills principal, himself in Pennsylvania. A 14-year-old student armed with three revolvers killed a junior high school principal Thursday morning in a cafeteria packed with teens and then killed himself, authorities said. Red Lion Area Junior High Principal Eugene Segro was pronounced dead at York Hospital, and the student died at the school, about 35 miles southeast of Harrisburg.