From the annals of Rick Perry’s book: Being gay is similar to being alcoholic
Texas governor Rick Perry today became the fourth GOP candidate to sign the National Organization for Marriage’s anti marriage equality pledge. Tonight Perry will host a fundraiser in suburban Denver , with admission said to be $5,000 a pop
Jul 31, 202030.4K Shares1M Views
Texas governor Rick Perry today became thefourth GOP candidateto sign the National Organization for Marriage’s anti marriage equality pledge. Tonight Perry will hosta fundraiser in suburban Denver, with admission said to be $5,000 a pop.
Of course, Perry’s position on marriage equality is nothing new. In a 2008 book, he wrote:
“„Even if an alcoholic is powerless over alcohol once it enters his body, he still makes a choice to drink. And, even if someone is attracted to a person of the same sex, he or she still makes a choice to engage in sexual activity with someone of the same gender.
Even before Perry signed the pledge to support a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, Brad Clark, executive director of One Colorado, had this to say about Perry’s book, via email:
“Comments like Perry’s simply perpetuate biased untruths and fuel the fires of hatred against gay and lesbian people. Every major medical and psychological association in this country has refuted and rejected comparisons between being gay and alcoholism. Perry’s beliefs are extreme and out-of-touch with everyday people who know, love, and accept their gay and lesbian neighbors, co-workers, and friends for who they are.”
“We have a real problem with that pledge,” One Colorado’s communications manager Jess Cook Woodrumtold the Colorado Independent.
She said that while it may seem smart to play to the fringes now, she’s not sure anyone can be elected president with such anti-equality views.
“We’re seeing a real sea change in public opinionon these issues. Recent polls show the majority of Coloradans support civil unions. Eighty percent of Americans supported the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, but now even some of theRepublicansare talking about going back to that,” Cook Woodrum said.
Already, Perry is drawing unflattering comparisonswith Colorado’s own Ken Buck, whose campaign for the Senate seat held by Michael Bennet flamed out at the end partly because of his own national TV commentscomparing being gay to being alcoholic.
“I think a pro-equality Republican could receive across the board support, but I think taking these real anti-gay positions will prove problematic when they get to the general election. It will be a real problem for them if they continue with these real anti-gay positions,” Cook Woodrum said.
While the invitation to tonight’s fundraiser lists House Majority Leader Amy Stephens as a co-host, her spokesperson said she was out of state and would not attend. She could not be reached for comment.
Paula M. Graham
Reviewer
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