Now, compare these numbers to those that we described earlier. Whereas a 54 percent majority opposes an amendment to ban gay marriage (versus 40 percent in favor), a 53 percent majority — between the last nine national polls — also oppose allowing gay marriage (versus 42 percent in favor).

What that means is that there’s a “swing vote” of about 10 percent of the electorate that is not yet ready to allow gay marriage, but is also not willing to ban it (at least not Constitutionally). This is enough to tip the national balance on the question of gay marriage. And it may have tipped the balance in Maine. Question 1 did not actually ban gay marriage but rather overturned the legislature’s affirmation of it.

Bill O’Reilly (who I would prefer to ignore 99% of the time) has dedicated yet ANOTHER “news” segment to raising awareness of the fact that one American Idol contestant may be gay.  I will say–without equivocation–that I believe that he is doing this to try to rally the votes of his socially conservative (and sometimes insane) viewers so he can claim that America agrees with his anti-gay sentiments.  Why else would he talk about a show he doesn’t watch and speculate on the sexuality of contestant who he claims to know nothing about?  For that matter, why would he speculate on the religion of the other contestant that he doesn’t watch?

I think it speaks volumes about the state of socially conservative politics in the US now that people like O’Reilly are trying to “win” American Idol for the religious right.  Kris Allen and Adam Lambert just want to sing, and O’Reilly is trying to pin each as a representative of two (not mutually exclusive) demographics.  O’Reilly is trying to rally votes against the “maybe gay” contestant by making sure his conservative viewers are aware of this possible fact (and by showing pictures of someone who appears to be Lambert kissing another man).  When your politics are failing in the face of a progressively younger, more accepting society and your last chance at claiming support in your bigotry is to point to a defeated contestant on American Idol, you know you’ve hit rock bottom.

The first O’Reilly clip (below) is the most recent that this post is in response to (h/t Towleroad) as well as the previous segment on the potential of a gay contestant.  (I have to wonder if he spent time publicly speculating on Clay Aiken’s sexuality, or if this just started when the right was losing the culture wars?).

Finally, I don’t reserve judgment for just Fox News.  I’m disappointed in Newsweek (to which I subscribe) for participating in this, and here’s a link to a New York Times article on speculation online and in the mainstream media on Lambert’s sexuality.  While I get that the NYT piece is about larger societal issues, I don’t think talking about other outlets discussing the topic excuses the NYT‘s snarky description of Lambert:

You are swivel hipped and pillow lipped. You have an outsize talent and a fondness for Cher. You have blond hair dyed black and styled in an asymmetrical shag. At some long-ago moment, you gave in to your inner Maybelline girl.

All of that said, I voted for Kris (who sang, among other songs, “What’s Going On?”–not a song I picture O’Reilly rocking out to).

April 24, 2009

One of the thousands of Mainers who showed up at last week’s marriage equality hearings was my mother.  She arrived at 6:50am wearing red to support me, her gay son.

In an email after the hearings, she wrote, “To sit and listen to the ugly statements that the opponents were making tore me apart.  I wanted to scream, ‘This is my child you are talking about – don’t do that.’  What does this do to my child and others to hear this?  If it is so painful to me, what does it do to the gay person?”

Unfortunately, there is nothing that opponents of LD 1020 said that I haven’t heard before.  Their comments may have offended me, but I have learned to move past them.

Four years ago, at 20 years old, I was finally able to tell my family and friends that I am gay. I knew deep down that my family would accept me and know that I am the same son, brother, cousin, and grandson they’ve always known.  Unlike many gay men and women, I was treated no differently once I told my family and friends.

While I can move past the pain from these comments, my mother is right to react so strongly.  We should all condemn those discriminatory words—not for me—but for everyone that hears them.  For the young adults who feel the way I did four years ago: afraid and alone.

There is nothing worse than feeling that alone.  Feeling that, despite being like your friends and family in almost every way, there is one thing that makes you so different that you fear acknowledging it to even yourself.  Marriage equality won’t make someone gay, but it will make acknowledging it easier.

This is why my concern is not for the man or woman who has summoned the courage to say, “I’m gay.”  My concern is for the teenager who cannot yet say those words.  For the teenager who hears people stand and declare that, despite God’s love of mankind, he opposes the love that two of those people find together.

I remember what it felt like to hear someone rail against homosexuality, not knowing that I am gay.  Some would have been mortified if they knew how they made me feel.  Others would have said my feelings were a rightful shame.  Whatever they believe, I can tell you this: before I came out, I felt worthless when I heard those words.  Today, I do not.

Today, I feel pity.  I pity the narrow-minded that can’t appreciate what I have to offer.  But more than pitying the person who will never benefit by learning from their gay brothers and sisters, I pity the people who hear their hate.  I feel terrible that I can’t reach out and tell every closeted teen and adult that, despite what they hear from some, I have encountered enormous love and support from my family, friends, and strangers, and they can find the same.

When I listened to last week’s hearings, I heard incredible stories of survival, love, resilience, and compassion that often go unheard.

Ministers who want to recognize the love of two gay people.

The World War II veteran who fought for our freedoms and stands up because his son is denied full rights.

The interracial couple who stand and says that they faced this same discrimination 40 years ago based on race.

The 9-year-old child who, through sobs, says it breaks her heart that her godmother can’t marry.

The 8th grader who eloquently stands up for his two mothers.

And the gay couple who—despite the illness that afflicts one of them—stands to demand their rights before it is too late.

The hearings in Augusta showed me the best of Maine.  I saw compassion rise above the refrain of dogmatic narrow-mindedness, and more importantly I saw a cross section of Maine stand up for equality.

I can’t imagine that anyone who watches this debate will forget the courage of James Neiley.

H/T Towleroad

And, because I LOVE Wanda Sykes…