03/22/2006
Relationships between fathers and their gay sons can often be difficult. Today, Nerve publishes an essay by Michael Joseph Gross (author of Starstruck) in which he discusses how role-playing comes into our daily lives and the role it plays in creating harmonies between gay and straight life, between father and gay son. It's also a touching reminder of how attempting to understand the world through someone else's eyes can make a world of difference.
While defending a lawsuit in New York state banning gay unions, gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer signs on to endorse gay marriage. Spokeswoman: "Eliot is personally in favor of gay marriage but believes that the state law right now doesn't permit it. In his current capacity as the state's lawyer, there's no conflict with defending that claim in court."
New California poll shows growing acceptance and tolerance of homosexuality. Experts say visibility is key: "What's driving that attitude change is that more and more Californians say they personally know someone who is gay or lesbian."
Posted 1:01 PM EST by Andy Towle in Elsewhere | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
The American political left has been castrated for several decades. There has not been a truly liberal Democrat in the White House since November 22, 1963. Lyndon Baines Johnson did indeed put through the Civil Rights legislation ( as Paul Martin did to same sex marriage in Canada ) but he also made Nixon's southern strategy begin with Strom Thurmond in 1966.
Elliott Spitzer is a bellweather politician who supports nothing that will disable him from victory.
Posted by: Raymond | Mar 22, 2006 1:58:32 PM
Mr. Spitzer's in a tough position. As Attorney General he is obligated to uphold and defend the law as passed by the legislature. He should not pick and choose which he will faithfully uphold.
In Michigan, Gov. Granholm faced the same problem when she was Attorney General a few years ago. She is opposed to charter schools, personally and politically, but when an important issue regarding them came before her, she had to uphold the law as it was written and, as a result, incurred the wrath of many anti-charter Democrats.
I don't think Mr. Spitzer would support a ban if he weren't obligated to defend the law of New York. He really is nothing more than a public defender who must provide quality legal counsel regardless of his personal beliefs.
Posted by: JT | Mar 22, 2006 2:09:51 PM
I highly recommend the Michael Joseph Gross essay. I just read it and it is, in a word, lovely.
Posted by: Kyle Childress | Mar 22, 2006 3:00:25 PM
I was under the impression that the best gay and straight legal minds felt that the NY laws supported same-sex marriage, and that the highest court had not adjudicated it yet...?????
Posted by: Raymond | Mar 22, 2006 3:17:35 PM
I agree with Kyle. The article by Michael Gross is charming and touching.
Anyone besides me ever been to Russell, Kansas?
Posted by: Brian | Mar 22, 2006 3:44:26 PM
Last night the classic "Just Shoot Me"-episode where Finch's father realizes his gay son isn't Finch after-all was on. "Pass the salt."
Posted by: Ted B. (Charging Rhino) | Mar 22, 2006 9:51:16 PM
>>growing acceptance and tolerance of homosexuality. Experts say visibility is key: "What's driving that attitude change is that more and more Californians say they personally know someone who is gay or lesbian."
Funny how the truth never gets old. We were saying the same thing 30 years ago. "We are your children, we are your parents, we are your neighbors and your ministers and your firemen."
People are afraid of what they don't know. That doesn't mean they'll like us once they get to know us, but at least they won't hate us out of fear.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Mar 23, 2006 12:26:26 AM
Jay, this is true, and generationally-informed....
For the Boomer who came out Pre-APA and Pre-Stonewall, we share much with our older brothers and sisters who came out in the "Darker Ages".
For individuals who live, earn their living, and socialize totally within the LGBT community have a " no fault, no harm" experience.
In certain venues, the cost of "total outness" beyond friends and family constitutes economic suicide. It is easy to command, rather than suggest, that courageous act, but those are facts to consider.
The beauty of Boomer and Before Generations, is that we paved the way for Gen X and After to live their complete lives wrapped up in legal gay marriage (in my country), full health and insurance benefits, dual parent adoptions, federal hate-crime legislation.
Those of us who are semi-closeted are still engaged in internal warfare within our areas of influence. If many of us left our seat in the halls of power, our influence would diminish and our place taken by someone who would certainly oppose us.
Posted by: Raymond | Mar 23, 2006 5:37:00 AM
Thank you for sharing the Nerve essay on fathers and gay cowboy rodeos. It was really great.
Posted by: Damien | Mar 23, 2006 8:36:14 AM
I really enjoyed the cowboy article. It was very sweet and very well-written. I love this site and all the links to the news that isn't told. Thanks Andy!
Posted by: Tina | Mar 23, 2006 2:26:36 PM