10/15/2004

More on Mary Cheney

Why is it inappropriate to mention that Dick Cheney’s daughter is gay?

  • She’s out.
  • She works for her dad’s campaign
  • The Cheneys themselves have used her as an example to explain their own differences with George Bush on the issue of gay marriage/civil unions
  • When John Edwards mentioned her 2 weeks ago, there was no outcry (thus rendering the current outcry quite disingenuous)
  • I think that what Republican senate candidate Alan Keyes said on September 1st, calling Mary Cheney a “selfish hedonist” is far more opportunistic and offensive, yet I didn’t hear Lynne or Dick Cheney condemn Keyes or his statement

What’s quite evident here is that the right’s argument is patently and fundamentally homophobic. Mary Cheney isn’t ashamed of being an out lesbian in a committed relationship. Therefore, there is nothing about which to get indignant. Only a homophobe would think that publicly acknowledging that Mary Cheney is a lesbian, (while explaining that homosexuality is not a choice), is wrong or inappropriate. In other words, if Kerry and Edwards were trying to set a trap for right-wing homophobes, you all walked right into it, and you’re all trapped.

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