A little house cleaning is in order

I deleted a few comments that insinuated the sexual preference of a Georgia State Legislator. No one has the right to “out” another person because he no longer caucuses with the House Democrats. If you are going to lay fault then lay fault with his oversized ego to believe that he still represents his constituents by switching political parties.

Let’s try to stay above the fray in these coming difficult months. You don’t have to play nice here but you do have to play decent.


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25 responses to “A little house cleaning is in order”

  1. Mel Avatar
    Mel

    Thanks Nita for watching out for us.

  2. Random LGBT Observer Avatar
    Random LGBT Observer

    Their sexual orientation is irrelavent to their personal worth.

    What is very relevant for discussion is that they are not being honest with their constituents, they are being hypocritical, and they are holding back those of us who are LGBT

  3. Stefan Avatar

    He is a member of GAE, maybe that’s all that was meant.

  4. Drew Avatar
    Drew

    No, not really. I think everyone – at least around here, including the commenter – can agree that a person’s sexual orientation is irrelevant to their worth as a person, so speculating that a person is gay (or straight) is no different from speculating that they’re Catholic. Your speculation might be incorrect but it wouldn’t be derogatory.

    That said, it might be harmful if a bigot were to hear it and decide that they would rather not be represented by a Catholic, but I don’t know how responsible I’d hold someone for harm done by someone else’s bigotry.

  5. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    Drew, I’m praying that you are kidding, right? Please don’t say you really didn’t see anything derogatory in calling someone gay when there is no proof that the person is gay.

  6. Drew Avatar
    Drew

    Having read the comment, I don’t think I’d characterize it as derogatory. It was simply a statement of fact, like saying he’s Muslim.

  7. Julez Avatar
    Julez

    It’s a really complicated issue. I’m glad you deleted the comments outing him, wasn’t sure why someone would even go there. IMO it’s a form of cyberbullying and not something I’d want this blog to be associated with.

    In most circumstances the closet cases out themselves anyway.. luggage lifters, manhunt postings, massages it all comes out eventually.

  8. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    WHAT HYPOCRISY?!? Did the guy run around in 2004 screaming “I hate gays and I’m voting for this amendment” or this week run around screaming “I won’t caucus with the Democrats anymore because they like gays”. No, he didn’t. The dude has been a legislator since the early 80’s as a Dem and not once did anyone call out his sexual preference until he switched parties.

    So here’s your hypocrisy: it’s ok for the Dems to know a legislator is gay but won’t call him out when he votes against LGBT bills but once he switches to a Republican then it’s ok to out him as gay.

    For the record, I have never met this legislator, spoken to him, or shook his hand.

  9. Gunner Avatar
    Gunner

    I really don’t think that folks have any right to out anyone. It just seems wrong to me for some reason. I can understand your point about hypocrisy but then it still doesn’t seem right to me. That is that persons own personal business and I think it should be left at that.

  10. Random LGBT Observer Avatar
    Random LGBT Observer

    I think any politician, no matter the party or time, who is gay and votes for anti-gay bills should be outed… the hypocrisy should be a concern to their constituents.

    Now, whether or not the member is gay or not is another issue. But your original assessment said “No one has the right to “out” another person because he no longer caucuses with the House Democrats.”

  11. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    The real question is WHY??? Random, your logic fails to hold up…if someone voted for the 2004 Marriage Amendment bill and then switched sides 6 years later then it is ok to “out” them even though no one has showed a shred of evidence saying such person is actually gay. I stand by my removal of those derogatory comments. Dumb is just dumb no matter what side tosses the ball.

  12. Random LGBT Observer Avatar
    Random LGBT Observer

    That becomes the real question… Not so much “if we should” but “if we can”

  13. Gunner Avatar
    Gunner

    How do we know this said person is gay?

  14. Random LGBT Observer Avatar
    Random LGBT Observer

    Who would have predicted that??? Oh wait… me! lol

  15. Drew Avatar
    Drew

    So far, there are three party switchers: Greene, Hanner, and Powell. They all voted for the amendment.

    http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/votes/hv0796.htm

  16. Random LGBT Observer Avatar
    Random LGBT Observer

    All three of the defectors voted for the bill: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2003_04/votes/hv1124.htm

    So yes, they all three are anti-LGBT. I don’t have a problem if someone outs them.

  17. Random LGBT Observer Avatar
    Random LGBT Observer

    The battle over gay marriage here has put African-American lawmakers in a difficult position with voters and placed them in stark contrast to their white Democratic colleagues, most of whom have joined Republicans in calling for a constitutional bulwark against same-sex marriage.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/03/us/black-legislators-stall-marriage-amendment-in-georgia.html

    Like I said, I didn’t catch his name – but the only people who have switched have been white. So… I feel like I there is a good chance I’m right.

    Anyone who know his name want to look it up and tell me I’m wrong?

  18. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    LOL!!

  19. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    so you’re just gonna “guess” huh? Well now there’s a valid reason to “out” someone. Practice witchcraft much?

  20. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    that’s clearly what I was thinking Sara. When did he say he was anti-LGBT and maybe I missed something cuz I never heard anyone call this guy out during the anti-gay marriage amendment debacle.

  21. Random LGBT Observer Avatar
    Random LGBT Observer

    I didn’t happen to catch who it was before it was taken down, but I’m going to bet he’s voted from something anti-LGBT.

  22. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Let the guy show his true colors by voting anti-LGBT before making the hypocrisy argument to justify outing him. The mere fact that he has switched to the R side of the aisle does not mean he “publicly opposes LGBT rights.”

  23. Stefan Avatar

    I suppose that’s the ethical thing to do. I highly disagree with it, of course.

  24. Random LGBT Observer Avatar
    Random LGBT Observer

    As a gay man, I don’t have a problem with outing someone who publicly opposes LGBT rights. In fact, I think it should be done. The same way I think someone who promotes “family values” should be exposed for cheating on their wives.

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