04/10/2009
Dr. Laura: Same-Sex Commitments 'a Beautiful Thing, a Healthy Thing'
Dr. Laura Schlesinger appeared on Larry King Live on Wednesday night and was asked about the recent marriage equality victories around the nation. Schlesinger, who nearly ten years ago called homosexuality a "biological error" (among other things) and was the target of nationwide protests for it, said she still believes marriage is between a man and a woman.
Said Schlesinger: "I'm very big on human beings finding love, attachment and commitment and being faithful to it, because there's more to benefit when there is real true commitment and faithfulness to it. I still believe, as just every president has, and all the people who ran for office, that marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman. So not calling it marriage works for me. But that two people would have that sort of commitment to me is very healthy and very positive thing in their lives and society as a whole....That's a beautiful thing and a healthy thing."
In a separate question on gay parenting (she has a new book In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms) she was asked if she would praise a stay-at-home mom if that mom was in a committed relationship.
She answered: "Children need the contact of their parent, whether they are a lesbian or not. They need their mommy there. In that situation, the child is bereft of a dad. Dads are important, too."
You may also remember that Dr. Laura came under fire in May 2007 when a repulsive MySpace page linked to her son Deryk was unearthed.
Watch the Larry King clip, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 8:17 AM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, Gay Parents, Larry King, Laura Schlessinger, News | Permalink
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hmm. well, i guess she doesn't think of us as errors anymore...?
Posted by: liz templin | Apr 10, 2009 8:34:46 AM
Someone tell me, Am I still supposed to hate her?
Posted by: carl | Apr 10, 2009 8:48:19 AM
I just did a spittake. Talk about the rats deserting the sinking ship!
Posted by: Scottevill | Apr 10, 2009 8:52:15 AM
Dr. Laura started off being supportive of gays and lesbians. Then went through a period where she was uber-hateful and a poster child for socially acceptable homophobia. Now, she's back to being somewhat supportive. Here's my take: her 'opinions' are dictated by ratings and focus-groups, so it's impossible to tell what she really believes. Given that she's pushing a retrograde view of parenting, she doesn't want to muddy the waters with her past bigotry (which she never admits to)
Posted by: sableonyx | Apr 10, 2009 9:00:25 AM
Yes Carl, you were supposed to hate her 10 years ago. Which is why she's being careful now...she knows we'll send here back to her cave for another 10 years if she doesn't watch it. She shouldn't worry so much about how other kids are raised when obviously her own son wasn't raised properly. Check out THIS link:
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5934072
Posted by: Josh | Apr 10, 2009 9:02:49 AM
This is the same strategy that the bigots down South adopted back in the 60's when they realized that no one wanted to be associated with such openly hateful and bigotted groups like the Klu Klux Klan; so instead they tried to act as if they were not really hateful and they supported a so-called policy of "Separate But Equal" once again trying to promote the idea that they were never really racist bigots, they just had "strong religious beliefs" that mandated a segregated society.
Sound familiar?
Posted by: Wayne | Apr 10, 2009 9:05:04 AM
Be very very cautious of the RATS!
Posted by: Rocky | Apr 10, 2009 9:06:04 AM
Assume she's the enemy. A lot safer.
Posted by: Roscoe | Apr 10, 2009 9:08:50 AM
Economic issues matter and marriage is an economic issue. Studies show that married people are slightly healthier (less costs) and wealthier (pay more taxes) than their single counterparts and this is true for gay people as well. Therefore, it is in the state's best economic interest to grant marriage equality. This is because, the contract of marriage comes with thousands of rights and responsibilities.
Posted by: boarderthom | Apr 10, 2009 9:22:46 AM
"Dr." Laura is a dirty birdie:
http://www.pencilnecks.com/Laura.htm
Posted by: JohnInManhattan | Apr 10, 2009 9:26:15 AM
First of all, paraphrasing a previous comment: Don't trust her, her comments are dictated of focus groups and ratings. Second, I think her comment: "So not calling it marriage works for me..." is I think interesting. As far as I am concerned she or anyone else can call it anything they want. Just don't tell me what to call it - and don't take away my right to the institution. It is all very silly actually since you aren't suppose to be able to push your religious beliefs on someone else. It is incredible that more people don't see it... but I think what is happening is more people do get it. It is just a EXTREMELY VOCAL minority who don't - and they are being manipulated by lies of organizations who don't want to lose a fund-raising tool.
One other thing... we should really get moving on more and more parodies of the "Gathering Storm" ad. We have an opportunity here I think to show through comedy just how ridiculous all this actually is... remember Tina Fey and Sarah Palin... I know - the original is so bizarre it is hard to improve on it. It already looks like a parody. Funny how NOM got YouTube to pull the audition videos via Copyright infringement. Guess they knew the damage that was causing.
Posted by: Mike | Apr 10, 2009 9:29:28 AM
Wait a second guys - if someone who attacked us several years ago is now saying that us being in committed relationships is a "Beautiful thing" I really think we need to appreciate that and accept it for what it is. Maybe, just maybe, she is coming around. Remember, we need to accept even the smallest of steps. People like Dr. Laura are not going to take a huge leap but I really see this as something very, very positive.
Posted by: BC | Apr 10, 2009 9:37:20 AM
Kinder, gentler cunt? I see.
So I'm really supposed to believe her this time? Until she decides to *make it sound like* she's changed her mind again?
The cunt is still against same-sex marriage. Camouflaging her bigotry with flowery language because this time she has better PR people who think they know how to manipulate The Gays.
I don't need Dr. Laura's approval on ANYTHING.
Go sell crazy someplace else you shriveled cunt. I SEE YOU.
Posted by: Mark | Apr 10, 2009 9:54:22 AM
BC, those rose-colored glasses look fabulous! Are they D&G?
Posted by: crispy | Apr 10, 2009 9:55:41 AM
We fucking SEE YOU bitch.
How dumb do you think we are?!
Make it "YES" or "NO"...and then shut the fuck up.
Against Gay Marriage? Then don't get one and SHUT THE FUCK UP.
Posted by: Mark | Apr 10, 2009 10:02:18 AM
Do a search on her son, Deryk Schlessinger, to see how well he turned out by having one mom and one dad.
Posted by: Josh | Apr 10, 2009 10:19:52 AM
Sure it's good, in a sense, and mildly praiseworthy that she's improved, but her past statements and actions are very difficult to forgive. It's just hard to feel too good about semi-positive statements from a sanctimonious sociopathic fundamentalist faux shrink who has truly harmed the culture.
Nonetheless it is fascinating to see how people are backing off of and even lying about (e.g., Rick Warren) previous homophobic statements and actions. Compare what's going on to Richard Dawkins' comments about how the moral zeitgeist shifts over time (e.g., racism was shockingly common, even in progressive people, 100 years ago).
While, at this point, Dr. Laura has not come anywhere close to owning up to her vicious past.
Posted by: Joshua | Apr 10, 2009 10:35:57 AM
What a filthy cunt! Boycott it!
Posted by: mike | Apr 10, 2009 10:53:56 AM
All this week Larry King has had homophobes on his show. WTF? Where is the counterpoint? Where is any sense of objectivity? I have completely given up on any of the major news networks.
Fox with its bogus Teabagging Parties.
CNN with its Larry "I am older than god and as out of touch" King.
MSNBC...well at least it has a glow around Rachel Maddow. Not much else.
And there is absolutely no use for CBS, NBC, or ABC.
Posted by: guttersnipe.76 | Apr 10, 2009 12:10:05 PM
Why do liberals always attack viciously? Come on...we're better than that. We are WAY better than the people who have attacked us. Lets show them that.
Posted by: BC | Apr 10, 2009 12:13:49 PM
Was this interview on April 1st?
Color me shocked and amazed. As someone else noted, if Schlesinger has actually moderated her views, well that's nice. And I mean that unsarcastically. But I'm not going to pay much attention unless this apparent change of heart is sustained and reinforced over time.
Posted by: Smartypants | Apr 10, 2009 1:36:49 PM
She is reviled by gay adoption.
Posted by: Love her | Apr 10, 2009 3:56:36 PM
She should be run over with a truck. A big truck. She's a fake.
Posted by: TyInTenn | Apr 10, 2009 8:48:36 PM
It's so common to see how the most authoritative voices turn out to be the most cowardly. Schlessinger, Rick Warren, etc. are turning their backs on their most dearly held principles and beliefs because of a few bad ratings and the change of public opinion.
It's always nice to see a foe change their tune, because it means you've either changed a mind or intimidated one into submission. But I'd respect them more if they weren't such cowards. Fred Phelps really, really believes what he says. These others are just weak.
Posted by: Yeek | Apr 11, 2009 10:54:14 AM
Anyone who opposes to same-sex marriage is just a bigot. Can we amend laws s.t. Jews don't eat shrimp or pork? Let's put that in the legislation. Let's vote for that! And how about for Christians - NO Sex before marriage? What's that in god's eye? Why aren't Christian punishing these evil spawns of their own? Let's vote to veto pre-marital sex!!!!! Can any of the gay politicians out there at least throw these ideas out in the parliament/congress?
Posted by: Alfred | Apr 11, 2009 7:31:26 PM