Barney Frank On Who Should Be Outed

I really hate to get into anything even remotely political, but this story about Barney Frank is just something I couldn’t pass up. And, it’s not really all that political. It’s more about social comments Frank made on coming out and closeted gay politicians.

Frank is now speaking up about Aaron Schock. I don’t know anything about Schock, why he resigned from office, or how often he goes to the gym. His sexuality is none of my business either. But Frank seems to think it is his business.

This is Barney Frank talking about Schock:

“I will say this, I don’t know if he’s gay or not. But if he is, he’s forfeited any right to privacy because he votes anti-gay. My view is that people who are gay who vote to support the right of other people to do it have a right to privacy, but the right to privacy does not include hypocrisy.

So by this “right to privacy” logic Frank is saying that you can be a closeted gay in politics and it’s okay as long as you’re supporting gay issues. I get that to a certain extent, but I don’t think any gay man in the closet anywhere is being totally disingenuous by not coming out because coming out is still such a HUGE emotional announcement. At least it is according to my logic, whether you support gay issues or not in public. But more important, the right to privacy should extend to everyone, not just one particular group. I’m not an advocate of anyone remaining in the closet, but I’m also not that obnoxious gay guy who thinks everyone should come out just because everyone else did. That’s just too personal and too complicated for some people.

And this is what Frank said about Schock coming out now that he’s leaving office…remember, we don’t know if Schock is gay or not. This is good old Barney blowing smoke up our asses. And I really don’t know anything about Schock so I’m not a fan of his either.

“Of course he should. Yeah, if they’re true, and I don’t know that they are. I have to say, if they’re not true, he spent entirely too much time in the gym for a straight man.”

Now there’s a great way to promote a gay stereotype and slam straight men at the same time. But you have to realize that this is Frank putting a spin on it for his devoted followers. He knows what they want to hear.

You can read the rest here.  

After reading this, it almost makes a person want to run for office just for sport so he or she can call out bullshit like this in public, with a great big smile. Wouldn’t THAT be a novelty in Washington.

Let’s Make A Deal Gays

This is adorable, and in a way it shows how far we’ve come in recent years. We need more of THIS, not Barney Frank and his big mouth.

While you and your partner wear matching lederhosen on television, he gets down on one knee and proposes to you. This sets off an irreversible chain of events.  Wayne Brady is close by, microphone in hand, and naturally begins to serenade you with a personalized love song as you jump up and down screaming for joy. Behind you, two women in banana and rainbow unicorn costumes respectively cheer with enthusiasm.

You can check out the video here.  

Aaron Schock’s Dad

Aaron Schock’s dad recently made a few remarks about whether or not his son is gay. They aren’t what you would expect. They don’t sound overly defensive about Schock being gay or not gay, which is a novelty. Usually you see the parent screaming the kid isn’t gay, especially in these cases. 

Dr. Richard Schock tells ABC News affiliate WLS that the media was ‘out to get’ his son because ‘he is a little different.’

‘Aaron wears stylish clothing and yet he’s not gay – and he’s not married and he’s not running around with women,’ the father said. ‘Everyone’s throwing up their arms because they can’t figure out Aaron. So he must be crooked.’

Again, I haven’t been following the adventures of Aaron Schock so it doesn’t feel right to comment about what he’s been going through. But I do think the comments from Schock’s dad are interesting. In this one case he doesn’t sound as if he would be ashamed if his son were gay, at least that’s how it sounds to me, because people can be different and not be gay. It’s been known to happen. 

You can read the rest here. The comments, however, are what you would expect them to be.