After Kos' resounding endorsement of Montana governor, Brian Schweitzer I became curious. I tried to find what information I could on him. The more I read the more impressed I became. He truly was "the real deal". He's a populist, ACTUAL rancher and scientist who spent years in the middle-east and speaks Arabic. I thought, "this guy would make the perfect president!"
I couldn't have been more disheartened...
I discovered the awful truth - he supported a state constitutional amendment writing off gay and lesbian Montanans as less then everyone else. Denying them of their dignity and basic family rights and protections that every hetero takes for granted.
So I held out thinking there must have been a rational explanation. I refused to believe a man who I considered educated, "enlightened" and possessing strong conviction could do such a thing.
When I saw he would be featured on Air America Radio I made it a point to listen. Then the topic of same-sex marriage came up and he referred to the plight of glbt equality and freedom as the "gay and lesbian agend". He said he is opposed to both civil unions and gay marriage and said that [paraphrase] "my job is to serve Montanans and the people of Montana voted overwhelmingly against it."
It seems like no one understands, even with all the fillibuster hubbub about preserving minority rights from the tyranny of the majority, that the rights of the minority should NEVER be put up for a popular vote.
I may be accused of being a "single-issue voter", but I'm gay and my dignity, my humanity and my freedom and equality are things that outweigh any other issue.
Straight people aren't affected so why should they care?
You can sell wives to millionaires on TV and post Katie and Tom's scientology arranged marriage all over People Magazine, but somehow it's those evil, depraved fags and dykes' need to protect their families that threatens to shake the foundation of society.
I'm sick of being thrown to the side and told to be quiet and fork over cash for Democrats, Liberals and now so-called Progressives when so few in the public realm are willing to stand up and say, "this may not be popular, but this is right".
So I ask fellow Kossacks and Kosmopolitans this:
Why, as a politically connected gay man, should I support Schweitzer and, should he run for president, make sure he does not lose our money and our votes?