Whenever I find myself groping for a topic to write about, I just turn to the Massachusetts congressional delegation for inspiration. That Dirty Dozen of Democrats has almost never let me down -- and this time, more literally than usual.
Congressman Barney Frank is an openly-gay man who represents Massachusetts. He has a rather checkered past with his choice of liaisons. (But not as bad as his former colleague, Representative Gerry Studds, who plied a 17-year-old page with spiked cranberry juice before having his way with the young man -- an act that earned him a censure from the House.) Frank, for example, once shared his home with a gentleman who supported himself through was a male prostitute, listed in the ads as "Hot Bottom."
Congressman Frank ended that relationship, but apparently still has an eye (and hand) for the occasional Hot Bottom.
All joking aside, can you imagine the uproar if this was a heterosexual congressman patting the ass of a woman running for congress? Worse, a heterosexual Republican congressman? Even if the woman were to say that she didn't object to it, the media would go positively apeshit over it in an uproar that would put the Robert Packwood mess to shame. And poor Arnold Schwarzenegger...
I've long been a supporter of gay rights (I've publicly endorsed gay marriage here a couple of times), but it seems here's a case where being gay entitles you to more rights than a heterosexual.
I demand equality. I want to be able to grab asses in public whenever I want to without being pilloried. But alas, I don't think it'll happen any time soon.
Permalink | Linking Blogs | Sphere: Related Content | Digg this! | FARK It!
Filed under:
Politics
Comments (8)
I think I know where you’re... (Below threshold)1. Posted by jmaster | May 11, 2005 11:23 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I think I know where you’re coming from with this. I was having a discussion a couple days ago about some of the potential advantages that would come with being gay. And let me state up front that I am absolutely making gross generalizations here.
One advantage was that as a gay man, you would never have to deal with women again. Now before any women jump all over me for that statement, I do like women (love them actually), but we have to admit that we really are different. And sometimes those differences can be a pain.
Another benefit would be the general acceptance of promiscuity as a lifestyle option. And I’ll refer you back to my statement that I really love women. Lots of em. But I am married and monogamous, and plan to remain that way. But I’m not sure that would be the case if I was playing by a different set of rules. Of course there can be negative consequences to that approach. But it seems with a lot of gay men, the option is there. Its kind of fun to fantasize about what it would be like if that was accepted by the majority of the heterosexual world.
1. Posted by jmaster | May 11, 2005 11:23 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on May 11, 2005 11:23
2. Posted by wavemaker | May 11, 2005 11:46 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I think the way to view it is that they have a "different standard" to adhere to. And the rest of us are supposed to understand that, and "get used to it."
2. Posted by wavemaker | May 11, 2005 11:46 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on May 11, 2005 11:46
3. Posted by bullwinkle | May 11, 2005 2:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I don't remember who said it but it was one of the funniest one-liners of all time. "Teddy Kennedy was 54 years old before he found out that "harrass" was one word". It's not just gays getting a pass on behavior, and it's not all gays getting it. Liberal gays and liberals get a pass from the media on just about everything.
3. Posted by bullwinkle | May 11, 2005 2:14 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on May 11, 2005 14:14
4. Posted by Zsa Zsa | May 11, 2005 2:52 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Imagine what would have happened if Monica Lewinsky had been a man performing oral sex in the Oval Office for our President!...Hmmmmmmm, that would be for some interesting conversation! I wonder if he would have been allowed to remain in the White House after impeachment?
4. Posted by Zsa Zsa | May 11, 2005 2:52 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on May 11, 2005 14:52
5. Posted by Zsa Zsa | May 11, 2005 3:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The bottom line is that if you are a politician and you are a conservative in any way, shape or form! You simply have to get a grip on yourself and keep your hands to yourself!...Thank You
5. Posted by Zsa Zsa | May 11, 2005 3:14 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on May 11, 2005 15:14
6. Posted by Zsa Zsa | May 11, 2005 9:34 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Bullwinkle I have laughed so much about Ted Kennedy and the harass word. I love it! are you sure it wasn't spelled herass? That is soooooooooooo funny!
Thanks I needed that!
6. Posted by Zsa Zsa | May 11, 2005 9:34 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on May 11, 2005 21:34
7. Posted by Maggie | May 12, 2005 8:17 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I'm sure Barney Franks will tell you it has nothing to do with his being Gay....uhm, he just discovered he's part Italian, and ass-grabbing is common place on the streets of Rome!
7. Posted by Maggie | May 12, 2005 8:17 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on May 12, 2005 08:17
8. Posted by Jack Tanner | May 12, 2005 5:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I had to sit next to Frank at a funeral mass once but he did not grab my ass.
8. Posted by Jack Tanner | May 12, 2005 5:03 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on May 12, 2005 17:03