"The Gay Problem in the GOP"

[GreenPartyVoter]

The tragic opera of former congressman Mark Foley is the revenge of don't ask, don't tell.

Foley, a Republican from Florida, resigned Friday after e-mails and instant messages between him and several teenage congressional pages surfaced. The Republican leadership knew that at least one page had gotten e-mails where Foley admired the body of one of the page's friends, and asked the page for a picture of himself, e-mails the page naturally found sick and a bit creepy.

Republican leaders responded to the potential political problem by telling Foley to knock it off. With respect to the larger issue, though, there was no asking or telling. The boy's own revulsion at the obviously inappropriate attention was ignored, not only by Foley's partisan fellows, but by some news outlets that also had seen the e-mails.

If this has a familiar ring, look in the Catholic Church for the bell. Republican leadership was acting like the Catholic hierarchy, which played shell games with men accused of sexually abusing children. And there's a good reason for the similarity. The inability to deal straightforwardly with gay people leads to other kinds of truth-avoidance when things go south. But that's what comes from not wanting to know something, and going out of your way to remain ignorant.

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1005-25.htm

The Radical Right, the Myth of the Gay Child Abuser, and You

As soon as the Foley story broke, I knew it was just a matter of time. Sure enough, The People for the American Way reported that Tony Perkins, of the Family Research Council, said the real concern about Foley’s sexual predatory behavior toward an underage congressional page is “the link between homosexuality and child sexual abuse.” Not just Perkins, many other right wing mouthpieces are disgorging similar rhetoric.

The radical right, at the helm of its mighty cutter boat, the U.S.S. Wedge Issue, is chipping and tacking its way through the towns and psyches of our country yet again. I’d yawn at such a hackneyed conflation - homosexuality equals child sexual abuse - but those guys’ll take advantage of any opening they can get and I feel sure they’d ram the bow of their boat right through my mouth on its way to the voting booths in November. Besides, I know that cutter can do some serious damage.

Perkins goes on to say that ignoring the “homosexuality issue” got the Catholic Church in trouble and now it’s getting the House GOPs in a big mess.

He’s right. Ignoring issues is dangerous. I’m a psychotherapist who has worked with child sexual abusers, as well as many, many child sexual abuse survivors. I’m legally mandated to report any child abuse, be it sexual, physical, emotional maltreatment or neglect. I don’t have to know for sure, I just need to have a reasonable suspicion. And I only have 36 hours after I suspect or find out to report it. It’s serious business. One that no therapist worth her license could legally, ethically or morally fathom ignoring.

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1005-34.htm

[Laughing Mirror]

1. "This was no one's ``Summer of '42." "

Good article.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Yes, they both are