Gay sentaors?

[NoJo]

As part of BBC4's pink-ish season they showed a documentary about gay memebers of parliament, a few of which have come out over the years. For some others, their homosexuality was common knowledge in parliament, and generally accepted without fuss, though they never came out publicly.

I was wondering if any gay prominent US politicians have come out, or is it still political suicide, as it was here until recently?

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

As part of BBC4's pink-ish season they showed a documentary about gay memebers of parliament, a few of which have come out over the years. For some others, their homosexuality was common knowledge in parliament, and generally accepted without fuss, though they never came out publicly.

I was wondering if any gay prominent US politicians have come out, or is it still political suicide, as it was here until recently?

U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass) is openly gay. There are one or two others and, according to Frank, 8-10 still in the closet.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[shereads]

Democratic congressman Barnie Frank has been around for a long, long time. Not in the senate, but in the public spotlight just the same.

Frank is an advocate of 'outing' gay politicians if they use their power to harm other homosexuals.

The fact is, yes, the Republicans do think [homosexuality] should be a crime. And I think there’s a right to privacy. But the right to privacy should not be a right to hypocrisy ... people who want to demonize other people shouldn't then be able to go home and close the door, and do it themselves.

~ Congressman Barnie Frank in an interview with Bill Maher

 

[shereads]

Sadly, Tinkie Winkie would have to have been born in the U.S. to run for a Senate seat.

 

[flavortang]

I'm sure there's a bunch of closeted gays. Especially the ones who seem the most aggressive at pressing legislation marginalizing gays and their rights.

 

[bluebell]

I'm sure there's a bunch of closeted gays. Especially the ones who seem the most aggressive at pressing legislation marginalizing gays and their rights.

Tang! *pounce*

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Who (outside the tight-ass far right) ever said sexual orientation had anything to do with public service? Yes, Barney Frank is gay and done a good job without any "Public toilet tap-dancing" that I've ever heard of. One of the City Council Members in San Diego is openly gay. Does anyone remember Harvey Milk from San Francisco?

This is true across most of the west coast to my personal knowlege. Have these people done any better or worse than "straights"?

The Homophobes in the Right Wing need to pull their heads out of their asses and get a life.

 

[flavortang]

Tang! *pounce*

Blue, come on. I'm pounce-proof.

 

[shereads]

...and then there's Barney Frank.
























That's about it for openly gay Congressmen. No Senators...Unless we count weekend cross-dressers like Arlene Specter.

 

[bluebell]

Blue, come on. I'm pounce-proof.

Oh botheration.
Perhaps if I got some stilts...?
You and your refusals.
Suffice it to say it's nice to see you.

Sorry for the hijack, peoples.
Please continue to talk about Tinkie Winkie.
(Seriously.)

 

[flavortang]

Oh botheration.
Perhaps if I got some stilts...?
You and your refusals.
Suffice it to say it's nice to see you.

Sorry for the hijack, peoples.
Please continue to talk about Tinkie Winkie.
(Seriously.)

'Botheration'. You make up words, too?! Stupentagious!

You can pounce on me, though... as long as you're a female because I don't play for the other team. Only offense not defense because... I'm not that way!

On topic, though, when I first read the thread title I thought it read gay centaurs. I was thinking 'How cool would that be?' A half-man, half-horse that's flamboyant and loves to give fashion advice. Oh, and they're great with a sword and shield.

 

[bluebell]

'Botheration'. You make up words, too?! Stupentagious!

There's a whole language.
My new quest is creative cussing without actually cussing.
Although I did make up a long string of actual cusses that makes me proud.

You can pounce on me, though... as long as you're a female because I don't play for the other team. Only offense not defense because... I'm not that way!

Do you really still need to wonder whether I'm a boy or a girl?
Would you like some references?

I agree; gay centaurs would rule. We need some in this world.

 

[flavortang]

There's a whole language.
My new quest is creative cussing without actually cussing.
Although I did make up a long string of actual cusses that makes me proud.


Do you really still need to wonder whether I'm a boy or a girl?
Would you like some references?

I agree; gay centaurs would rule. We need some in this world.

Okay, then. You may pounce, ye of unknown sexual identity...

 

[sr71plt]

Who (outside the tight-ass far right) ever said sexual orientation had anything to do with public service? Yes, Barney Frank is gay and done a good job without any "Public toilet tap-dancing" that I've ever heard of. One of the City Council Members in San Diego is openly gay. Does anyone remember Harvey Milk from San Francisco?

This is true across most of the west coast to my personal knowlege. Have these people done any better or worse than "straights"?

The Homophobes in the Right Wing need to pull their heads out of their asses and get a life.

Alas a majority of the voting public seems to continue to vote a belief that sexual orientation has something to do with public service. It's always been less obsessed with politicians who had heterosexual relations/baggage--but Americans have always been more puritanical than most everywhere else in negative voting even on this. The French just shake their heads and laugh at us.

This has nothing to do with how either gays (Barney Frank) or members of congress who run their evening lay off a bridge in a drunken stupor (Ted Kennedy) do their jobs as representatives of their constituents/parties.

 

[Guest]

...and then there's Barney Frank.

That's about it for openly gay Congressmen. No Senators...Unless we count weekend cross-dressers like Arlene Specter.

He'd look really good in a Peter Pan collar.

Oh - and blue open-toed pumps. They'd match his suit splendidly.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/sweetsubsarahh/470px-Arlen_Specter_official_portra.jpg

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Who (outside the tight-ass far right) ever said sexual orientation had anything to do with public service? Yes, Barney Frank is gay and done a good job without any "Public toilet tap-dancing" that I've ever heard of. One of the City Council Members in San Diego is openly gay. Does anyone remember Harvey Milk from San Francisco?

This is true across most of the west coast to my personal knowlege. Have these people done any better or worse than "straights"?

The Homophobes in the Right Wing need to pull their heads out of their asses and get a life.

Jenny, while I agree with the overall thrust (so to speak) of your argument, just so you know, Frank was involved in a sex-related scandal. This is from his bio in Wikipedia.

In 1990, the House voted to reprimand Frank when it was revealed that Steve Gobie, a male escort whom Frank had befriended after hiring him through a personal advertisement, claimed to have conducted an escort service from Frank's apartment when he was not at home. Frank had dismissed Gobie earlier that year and reported the incident to the House Ethics Committee after learning of Gobie's activities. After an investigation, the House Ethics Committee found no evidence that Frank had known of or been involved in the alleged illegal activity.[1] Gobie disputes Frank's account.

Rumple Foreskin