What do Alaska Republicans think about the 1,000-ish rights and benefits gay and lesbian couples lack under current law? About the fact that some of the most basic protections are missing for gays and lesbians in committed relationships? About the idea that people have actually died without their partner by their side because of their standing under the law? Well, if you're wondering, here's what they think in a nutshell:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
The mere idea of Alaska's gays and lesbians being afforded even some of the most minimal rights and benefits a civil union or domestic partnership would provide is enough to send high-profile Republicans into a laughing fit. Hilarious! Equal under the law? LOLZ!
They're not even gracious enough to spout their usual talking points about "protecting" marriage or whatever other bullshit they're getting from the Religious Right. No, they'd rather just laugh in the faces of the gays and lesbians living in Alaska. Literally.
It happened when Mark Miller, a reporter at the Juneau Empire, asked Alaska House Leader Lance Pruitt if the "Guiding Principles" the Alaska Republicans would consider taking up civil unions or domestic partnerships, since only thirty percent of Alaskans oppose legal recognition of gay and lesbian relationships. Seems like a legitimate question, no? After all, Alaska Republicans just rolled out their "Guiding Principles" last week. Seeking basic rights for gay and lesbian couples seems like a good thing to consider a "Guiding Principle."
Well, here's how that went down:
MILLER: I’m looking at a recent Public Policy Polling survey of Alaska that found that only 30 percent of respondents believe there should be no legal recognition of gay couples’ relationships in Alaska. I was just curious, would the caucus support the idea of having domestic partnerships or civil unions open to same-sex couples?
[LOUD LAUGHTER]
PRUITT: As you'll notice, most of the discussion that we had in here was related to...They all inter-tie. Whether it's economics and its impact on helping communities or whether it's Road to Resources...I think what's important about this caucus is that we focused on things that really allow people to have a great life. We didn't have a discussion here about what happens inside your home. We had a discussion here about whether or not you can make money, whether or not there is a great economy, and whether or not you’re going to have the opportunity to live in Alaska with a great future. Now, your discussion on that, we didn’t talk about that.
Watch:
Yes, because apparently the 1,000+ rights and benefits gay and lesbian Alaskans do not have all fall under "what happens inside your home." And equal protection under the law has nothing whatsoever to do with "allow[ing] people to have a really great life." And by the way: ROFLMFAO at your rights!
The Republican Party, ladies and gentlemen.