If this AP story is true about
congressional candidate Brett Wagner then maybe we have to have a talk (or at least I am going to rant.)
I've listened to the right and the left yell about homosexuals for years now (and I'm not even 22). And you know the one important thing I've learned, neither party gives two shits about homosexual rights. Sure there are plenty of progressive people out there who support gay rights but that does not translate into politics. There is nothing in the Democratic platform that flat out states its support for gay rights. I'm all for a big tent and am not a one issue voter and clearly I would never become a Republican, but as "a gay" I am pretty tired of the Democratic Party when it comes to gay rights. You talk of equality but all we get is rhetoric. You talk of acceptance but all we get is tolerance. You talk of civil rights but all we get is separate but equal.
Why are Democratic leaders trying to toss out an openly gay candidate in California. Granted it is a republican district but it is California! In my home town, Providence RI, we have the only openly gay mayor of a capital city. (I was going to say major city but
Jim West of Spokane, WA is recently an openly gay mayor). Providence may be thoroughly Democratic but it is also very catholic and has several strong ethnic populations not known for their high tolerance of homosexuality. Yet
David Cicilline won there decisively. Who then can say a straight candidate can run any better than a gay candidate in Southern California?
Also, one last thing. Everyone loves to make fun of supposedly closeted Republicans like David Drier and Ken Melhman. We call them out on their hypocrisy for not being able to be out and comfortable with their sexuality. But if Democrats are honestly pushing out a candidate because he is gay, that is some hypocritical bullshit. It sends a strong message to gays and lesbians from either party: STAY IN THE CLOSET!.
I hope there is a lot more to this story than just this one side. I am willing to believe there is. Maybe this Wagner fellow is a bad candidate. But if it's just because he is gay...California Dems have some explaining to do. Sorry for ranting. But in honor of National Coming Out Day I thought I should speak up.