I was heartened at the (perceived) acceptance of most Americans regarding this issue. It seems like progress. But on which side of the wide divide will they be on come the next presidential election?
I fear that some of these polls do not divulge some people's deeper reluctance to accept others--and I mean "others." We saw, in 2016 exit polls, that anathema towards Donald Trump was a factor in declared voters against him--in both the primaries and in the general election. Then, late on the night of November 8, Cinderella lost her slipper. We've been hopping around, as a nation, on one foot ever since.
The court-stacking is the worst outcome of Trump's election. The built-in bigotry of the federal bench will not be scoured out until the final quarter of this century--if then. The untold damage simply cannot be imagined. The white, the straight, the rigidly conservative minority is exacting a severe price for the slowly-shifting demographics in the country. If they go under, they mean to take all of us with them. So much for patriotism; it's a badge worn proudly until it's time to wear it with conviction, unlike what black American soldiers did during WWII, begging to serve a master who was nevertheless pleased to scorn them.
For all of our outward progress, America remains an uncompromising and unwelcoming nation for those who do not check all the Republican boxes, many of whom, it must be said, are more Democratic-like in their personal lives than they would care to admit.
342
@Red Sox, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18: but of course, when OBAMA was stacking the Supreme Court and Federal courts...it was perfectly A-OK.
27
@Red Sox, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18
There is no court stacking.
There is simply the normal replacement of vacant seats just as every president has done throughout our history.
That you are not ideologically sympathetic to those currently being confirmed just means its your turn out of power just like it was for me when Barack Obama was appointing leftist ideologues.
26
@Concerned Citizen
Except the GOP (McConnell) prevented him from actually stacking the courts. I remember a nominee for SCOTUS - Garland - whom McConnell scuttled.
170
You’d think that gay people would have had enough of a burden to bear since time immemorial, but it seems that they haven’t been held down and kicked quite long enough. Changing attitudes may have moderated the president’s words on occasion, but when he needs to throw raw meat to his base, all bets are off.
When judges are appointed who are willing to memorialize their ignorance and bitterness in writing, you’d have to wonder what kind of fair treatment an L.G.B.T.Q. individual might receive.
The occasionally open-minded attitude from the president evaporates when it’s necessary to please his voters. He can’t let fairness or the careening arc of history interfere with some fleeting benefit to be had from his supporters. And if his actions might overturn something from the Obama era, well, that makes his shallow and bitter edicts all the sweeter.
We’re in the 21st Century, and yet we’re still pandering to the religious right, making laws that restrict the freedoms of gay people and effectively prevent them from exercising the rights enjoyed by straight Americans.
When the rights of our citizens are determined by our ignorance of normal human biology, we’re not a free country. A president who takes advantage of that ignorance for personal or political gain is not worthy of his position.
817
@gemli
In 2008, Obama was opposed to same sex marriage.
23
@gemli
"... straight Americans". As a gay man who has never had the instinct to reproduce and who has had to fight just for my sense of dignity, I place responsibility for global warming (aka population explosion) fully in the "straight" folks laps.
Life is just too easy for some people to do what comes "naturally". But that will change soon.
13
In June of 2016 I met my sister at the US Embassy in Rome where the pride flag was flying. Later that evening, we walked to the Via del Pellegrino, which is an ancient street. There, the pride flag was flying and it felt like even in Roman Catholic Italy, all was right with the world. Live and let live seemed to be the operating assumption.
Before our trip ended, the Brexit results had come in. On our last day in Italy, we sat stunned as we learned as we learned the results. They were a harbinger of worse things to come, specifically, the election of trump, also at the behest of Putin.
186
@NJLatelifemom This comment seems like a stretch and totally unrelated.
18
@NJLatelifemom
Putin wanted Hillary to win. That's how she got hold of the Steele report.
13
@ebmom What are you talking about?! The Steele dossier was originally assembled for a Republican group. Furthermore, everybody but those with their head in the ground knows that Putin wanted Trump. Trump is an imbecile and that suits Putin just fine.
87
I'm gay and in my sixties. During my lifetime I've witnessed a complete revolution in everything gay. As a child in the late sixties and early seventies there was no greater curse than being born gay. Every day was open season for any man displaying feminine traits. Gay bashing was common and basically approved by a society that looked the other way with a smirk. Today there is gay marriage, Ru Paul a smash hit on TV, gay politicians and celebrities, the prospect for a gay President...and a society where the majority sees gay people just like everybody else. So I'm thankful....really thankful. I'm also grateful for Trump's supportive words. They are a lot better than nothing. I understand that it is important to keep fighting for equality, but it's also important to acknowledge the huge progress that has been made. Finally I think we need to stop the tendency to be prejudiced and bigoted toward conservative people. Let us not become the intolerant oppressors.
94
@rpe123
I'm with you, and being of your generation, have seen all you describe.
I'm a devout Catholic,straight,fiscally and politically conservative,
and a big supporter of LBGT rights, including marriage.
We are not the enemy .
People have the right to their religious beliefs, as long as they do no harm to another.
What a sad world it will be when we all become the same....
39
"Sometimes I wonder whether I was 10 or 20 years too early," mused President Obama in May 2018. Mayor Pete who is the most compelling of the 2020 Democratic candidates may very tragically say the same at this point among a large swath of silent white homophobic men in this country along with unabashedly vocal Evangelicals, the judges and the Mike Pences. Trump's disapproval or approval of the LBGT community will fluctuate when needed to appeal to his base or to try to grow it shamefully using this demographic without any conviction in his beliefs.
Sadly Mayor Pete may have to accept President Obama's thoughts albeit not for the color of his skin but rather for the beauty of the rainbow he represents today to a sizable generation of homophobes in the America of today.
8
Trump doesn’t suffer from “flabbiness of conviction” as much he’s duplicitous - weapons-grade duplicitous. One has to read a little bit to know of his court appointments, but come election time, the sound bites of “my handsome ambassador” will serve him quite nicely...
7
Both the LGBT community and the evangelical fundamentalist Christians have agendas. My gay agenda is informed by a quest for equal treatment under the law.
When it comes to LGBT issues, the Christian agenda involves pushing for so-called religious freedom, an Orwellian name for turning sectarian beliefs about sexuality into law.
At the moment, the evangelical fundamentalists are enjoying unprecedented success in advancing their first agenda item, banning legal abortions in America.
However, LGBT Americans know that we're on the fundamentalist agenda too. The longer Trump and Trumpism are in the ascendancy, the more likely it is the religious-freedom agenda will bear fruit.
I fully expect that Christian fundamentalists will attack marriage equality and the decriminalization of gay sex.
Just as Alabama has criminalized abortion, other Bible Belt states may well enact laws that seek to nullify Obergefell v. Hodges, which made marriage equality the law of the land. It would only be a matter of time before litigation opposing such statues ended end up in the court room of an anti-gay judge appointed by Trump.
Recently, a southern sheriff's deputy made international headlines when he spouted hateful rhetoric in support of violent ways suppressing "sodomy." It's not far-fetched to imagine that this could incite rogue law-enforcement personnel to intrude upon the privacy of LGBT people in order to take the law into their own hands.
21
"Don't want to give us medical care or bake us a cake."
What an odd pairing. One, seems to be a right worth giving one's life fighting for. The other, seems to be a case of overgrown adult whining that doesn't advance the cause. Could we just respect the rights of people to choose in which celebrations they want to participate?
Cakes are different than housing, employment, health care. Why is that hard for some people to understand?
Do you want to perform your music at the DJT re-coronation? He is, after all, an employee over age 40... a protected class.
If Mayor Pete is elected, does he have the right to compel anyone he wants to sing for him? Come on folks.
But, on a more substantial topic, the tabloid playboy with many bankruptcies chosen to lead an absurd coalition of business interests and evangelicals is too nutty to even believe. Don't let yourself imagine he does anything because of a particular belief system. No court appointments, no executive orders. All just playing people, all just to advance the cause of DJT. Still I wonder, how did this election happen? You couldn't dream up this sort of ridiculousness.
15
This a pluralistic society and not all agree with homosexuality. Most major religions have taken that stance. You and I may not agree with them, but those are central beliefs to many people. Most people, even those with heart felt religious beliefs, have taken a stance of live and let live. They recognize and know many gays who are great people. That said, they do not want to bake you a cake for your celebration because of their beliefs. Your approach is dictatorial, not only accept me, you need to celebrate my identity, like it or not. The transgender in the military is another problematic issue. It is not simply that transgenders want to serve, they are undergoing government paid conversion procedures that effect their ability to serve. I don’t think the military should be in that business. Health care and housing are others issues where the LGBT community needs protection, there you are right. This anti-Trump hysteria that somehow gay rights are eroding under Trump is hard to support with facts and the narrative is only supportable by taking a warped view that if you don’t bake me a cake, you are bad person. think about that a bit. The acceptance of gays in our country has never been higher. As recently as a few years ago, Obama belated supported gay marriage. The country is on the right vector here, don’t make stuff up because you don’t like Trump.
20
I think an important thing for us to remember is that there are two Trump's operating here, though they are similar.
On the one hand is the personal Trump, who (perhaps) is genuinely supportive of LGBTQ individuals. But that Trump, like the other, is a narcissist who cannot see anything except as it relates to his own sense of superiority in the world.
But then there is the political Trump, who sees all issues, from civil rights to immigration to individual identity as nothing more than tools to manipulate for his own political gain. In this context he appears to care not a whit for any position one way or the other except as it furthers his own pursuit of power. Unfortunately for us all, it is the evil Mr. Hyde that always wins over Trump's rather weak Dr. Jekyll.
Perhaps I am too kind to this schizophrenic leader in allowing for any glimmer of goodness. But no matter, I have no confidence that the good part in him, however small, will ever win.
Power corrupts...
5
Mr. Bruni’s closing sentence, “Trump is on the wrong side of history. But he doesn’t care — so long as it’s right for Trump“, tells all. It’s a thoughtful piece, but I’d say that the clear implication is that Donald Trump is a panderer. He’s always been. His expertise is in trolling for votes no matter the morality.
This morning he was asked, on Meet the Press, about the fact that he lost the popular vote in 2016. His coached answer, that Ms. Clinton failed to secure several key states like Michigan, illustrates how adept he is at rallying his base with red herring-like banalities which demonstrate why it’s necessary to shape the thinking of Americans to a more humane - and intelligent - view of the challenges to our country.
But, then too, it’s necessary to get out the vote to defeat this despicable person whose talent for the poison tongue is so appealing to so few.
6
Trump is a blip, an historic accident that will disappear eventually. Before, during and after Trump, there is the Republican party. For my entire life, this organized hate machine has been demonizing me as a gay person, cynically fanning the flames of hatred to boost turnout among people who delude themselves into thinking they are Christian.
Any vote for a Republican is automatically a vote for homophobia, among many other noxious things.
20
I sometimes wonder if the LGBT community knows how much many, many of us try to understand you.
Most of those that I know are trying to understandthe differences between straights and the LBGT community. Even to the point of not going out of our way to highlight the differences, and to accept them as what God created.
My wife and I ( of 62 years) were recently sitting next to four gay men in the plaza outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art and were as comfortable as if they were our sons.
But then why does the NYT constantly portray the LBGT community in such bizarre fashion ( see today's Metropolitan Section?)
Are you purposefully trying to keep us apart?
16
Recognizing Lori Lightfoot as the first gay mayor of one of the most populous US cities downplays the fact that Anise Parker was the openly gay mayor of the fourth largest city- Houston, Texas - from 2010 to 2016.
8
Who cares what Donald thinks about any particular group of people. He will say anything at any given moment. The issue is that his policies and personality and ignorance are undermining our democracy. ALL groups of people are suffering because of him.
12
To expect Trump to commit to any principle is the fault. At his core, Trump is a narcissist who only is concerned with his own status. Everyone else is just an audience for his center-stage performance. Any gay person who was taken in by the kind words of the 2016 campaign has learned the ugly truth. Just as Trump may marvel at his good-looking Ambassador in Germany, it reveals how shallow his take is on anyone not named Trump.
8
Yawn ... LGBTQ people were also cheated and swindled by the New York conman. So were the other 300+ million Americans.
Just remember, "actions speak louder than words".
7
"His treatment of gay people perfectly reveals the flabbiness of his convictions....". That's putting it too mildly, Frank. He has NO convictions at all is the reality of the charlatan-president! His entire life is a sham - his commitment to his wives, his pandering to his base that he has openly despised by remarks such as "they'd vote for me if I shot someone in the middle of 5th Ave" and so on. His one and only talent has been his ability to tap into the unhappy lives of his mindless minions and prey on their fears, bigotry and insecurities and convince them that he's on their side. It's a ludicrous supposition. The man who gold-plates everything and disdains the "common, working man" has nevertheless found his supporters among them. Mostly it's through his delivery - his sneers and contempt for the educated elites is what drives them flocking to him. He has, to his undeserving credit, unequivocally shown the religious evangelicals in this country to be 100% morally corrupt and devoid of anything resembling Christian values, which will have a lasting impact on marginalizing them into irrelevance at some point in the future. When Ed Koch was asked if Giuliani was racist, he replied "no, he hates everyone equally". The same sort of reply would apply to Trump. Does he care about LGBTQ issues? No, he doesn't care about ANYTHING or ANYONE that doesn't provide him with some immediate benefit, period.
11
Thanks to Mr Bruni for another enlightening article.
Trump is an OPPORTUNIST extraordinaire in all the spheres of his professional, political and personal life. His “Raison d’être” has always been and will always be: “What is in for me”.
Trump’s above solipsistic streak gets extended to the “Gay Rights” area as well. He can endlessly praise the physical characteristics of Ambassador Grenell or can carefully pronounce the abbreviation of L.G.B.T.Q. and yet can concurrently and viciously trample over the rights of gay and transgender citizens, as enumerated by Mr. Bruni.
Trump’s political persona is defined by extreme political pandering. Additionally, from his selfish and vulgarian mindset, he fails to understand or acknowledge that notwithstanding the differences in sexual orientations - we are ALL HUMAN BEINGS.
Trump is a presidential enigma in our political history for his dangerous and divisive demagoguery. In reality, he is a “Shock Jock” provocateur masquerading as a politician. He specializes in extemporaneous verbal rants or tweets with malapropisms, garbled syntax and sophomoric insults. Yet he is being aided by his sycophantic cadre of GOP politicians full of unctuous ingratiation and with their display of utter disregard to the rights of our fellow Gay Citizens.
From the Freudian perspective. Trump represents the “Id” of our national psyche yet GOP has selfishly adopted the mantra: “Trump over country”. Infuriatingly, shameful indeed!
5
Everyone will see what Trump really thinks about Buttigieg being gay should Mayor Pete become the Democratic nominee.
Trust me -- Trump will go after him for being gay and will use Buttigieg's name in one of his gross, cheap "jokes" that will have his followers howling like hyenas.
First principle when speaking about Trump -- he has no values, scruples, positions, etc. He cares about himself and whatever benefits him and if trashing gays and Buttigieg benefits him, he'll do it and then lie and say that he didn't.
15
Does anyone think that the NY Times or Frank Bruni was ever going to support the re-election of President Trump, whatever judges he may have appointed or whatever policies his administration may have promulgated? Bruni and the NY Times are against him before, now and forever. They just try to justify their visceral hatred in some way.
16
Oh, so we don't count the fact that Houston, the 4th largest city in the country had an openly lesbian mayor elected almost a decade ago...
10
Please he's a racist, sexist,bigot. The latest woman to come forward with allegations of sexual assault. Only prove how horrible of a person he is. His record speaks for itself. Of course he denies the latest allegations. Claiming she is only trying to sell books. But, the list of women coming forward continues to grow. And how women can support and vote for him is astounding. He claims to respect and love women. But,his actions speak louder than his words.
8
Much ado about very little, this opinion piece. Buttigieg said it best when he expressed that not only was his sexual preference not an impediment to his campaign, it was HELPFUL. Bottom line, nobody cares about who a person prefers to have sex with. Or why they feel that way...
5
Trump speaks out of both sides of his mouth. Trusting anything he says is dangerous. Like believing he was concerned about the possibility of injuring 150 people . . . hogwash.
All you can count on him doing is lying.
7
As a married gay man, I’m fortunate to live in a state that protects me from discrimination in housing, employment, and accommodation. Unfortunately, my fellow LGBTQ citizens living in more than half of the country that doesn’t offer such protections are not as fortunate. Given the fact that the Trump administration and GOP-led Senate have signaled that they will not support an Equality Act that will remedy this situation, I urge all Americans who believe that our country should treat all of its citizens equally to NOT vote for Trump (or Mitch McConnell) in 2020!
13
In a country that demands more conformity in tribal identity we become more and more envious of a group we think has become ever more prideful in its ability to express its difference. I wonder if the reality is the opposite of the perception and that the ability to carve ones own path is being eroded by a need to conform to certain perceptions.
3
"He doesn’t act or speak for the majority, but he accomplishes some narrower purpose, and gets away with it partly because gerrymandering, the structure of the Senate and the Electoral College have led to a government out of sync with the governed."
He represents corporate America, to whom a majority of Americans ceded their governance long ago. Perhaps 2018 was a sign they'd like to take it back; we'll see next year.
1
Won’t be long before the judiciary reshaped by Trump and McConnell overturns the gay marriage decision. Don’t understand why that threat was not explored by Democrats in the confirmation hearings for Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.
16
An excellent opinion piece - what you are describing here is that Trump says one thing then does another - hmm - this could just be typical Trump or more likely people in his administration have full control of the rudder and are steering him away from what he actually believes to what we are seeing play out in his policies. In this one case during the Republican National Convention, when he said, “I have to say, as a Republican, it is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just said”, is likely an honest statement of what he actually believes.
6
It is all so very disheartening. Entirely depressing.
I am a transgendered woman on hormone therapy who has never dared to entirely come out. Why? Employment in public education would surely terminate in such an event. And living in a decades on decades Trumpistan-like town long before Trump pretended to care about anyone other than Ivanka. It is always dangerous to be open amongst social troglodytes.
But then Obama happened and the growing strength a youthful and more accepting America. It all seemed so utterly evolved. With a sun on a horizon. With compassion nearly palpable. But, but....then Trump. And all this. This determined evil. And back into the closet if for no more than self preservation.
This is the world the tg live in if not in NYC, or Miami, or LA. In the real time of now and maybe for many more years still we are the obscure shadows in your world. Waiting, waiting, always waiting for justice to arrive.
11
Trump has two goals in life: (1) to empower himself and (2) to enrich himself. Everything he does is focused on that. Getting re-elected is his current # 1 priority, and he will do or say anything to make that happen. Too bad for anyone who gets in his way!
22
Frank, Your last sentence nailed it..."as long as it's right for Trump."
Talk is cheap.
Once he chose Pence - thanks to his princeling son-in-law - you knew the direction of his policies.
So, he has an ambassador who's gay and also good looking. He probably figured that wouldn't upset his base. The judges at all levels were more important. The anti-abortionists were more important.
If you're not his base, tough and too bad.
122
@doe74
Pence was the first gift to Religious Conservatives. Without that gift he might have faced a floor fight. Never doubt that he serves with the blessings of the Religious Right, without them he gets impeached and President Pence.
21
Anybody who ever relied on any trump promise will always be disappointed. The man is incapable of keeping his word.
15
Trump's election and his subsequent appointments and policies have revealed that a significant percentage, though not necessarily a majority of Americans harbor horrifying malice, resentment and bigotry, masquerading as religious belief.
The 'traditional values' his base wants to revert to are those of the dreary 1950's hierarchies - LGBTQ hiding their true selves; non whites and women stuck in 'service' positions. Show up in the pews on Sundays or experience stigma (still true in the rural south)...
5
Sadly hypocrisy and lies have been the core of American politics and religion for the last century. The insular nature of our society with oceans on two sides keeps us blind to how other societies, even our Canadian neighbors to the north, deal with issues like religion, women's reproductive rights and LGBTQ rights. Political candidates of both parties and the religious right have fought a decades long campaign to scare society with ideas that science and other cultures around the globe have proven not just incorrect but morally wrong. The fact that LGBTQ people in Canada and Brazil could marry and live over a decade before us and exist with the same freedoms as others without the collapse of societal morals and values reveals the vacuum of the religious right's scare tactics and our willingness to embrace them. The American Catholic church's continued campaign against LGBTQ people and abortion persists yet the predominantly Catholic country of Ireland overturned these falsehoods by popular vote. The Evangelical right and Republicans know that if you deny your public education and exposure to diversity you can perpetuate these lies and they've found their mother lode in Donald Trump. Thank you Mr. Bruni for exposing our President's true beliefs. Trump and McConnell long ago sold their souls for money and they will not change until they leave this life and have to answer to their God for their behavior.
11
I think it's important to note that Trump's judges aren't hand-picked only for their homophobia. The Republicans need to make sure Citizens United stays in place; they need to make sure they can continue rigging elections with gerrymandering and voter suppression; and they need to make sure any financial regulation that squeaks through Congress will get killed in the courts. The judges likely to support these outcomes are, as a rule, also likely to be racists, homophobes, and misogynists. So if women lose their right to choose, it won't be only because Trump doesn't think of women as people. It will be also—maybe mostly—because judges who vote against Roe are the ones who have pledged their lives to protect the 1%.
13
I definitely agree with the sexual orientation part. The sexual identity part is more difficult to explain. You have to admit Kacsmaryk has a point. There are biological differences in gender that we cannot ignore. Claiming otherwise is no better than denying climate change. It's science. Males have a different chromosome.
The question presented to the America public is whether and how much this difference should be codified into US law. If you take the politics and religion out of it, bathrooms do actually present an interesting case study.
A male who identifies as female has a right to use a public bathroom just the same as anyone else. However, the person in the stall next her also has a right to a certain amount of privacy and security while using a public restroom. The presence of male genitalia in a specifically female space would appear to violate this right.
However, the self-identifying female could undergo several forms of medical intervention which would alter or remove any outward indication of genetic gender. In which case, the offended party would never know the difference. Does that make it okay? Where do you draw the line?
We can't do away with gender based multi-occupancy bathrooms completely. At the same time though, requiring transgender people to undergo sex change procedures just to use a public bathroom seems excessive. No one, not Trump or anyone else, seems to have a plausible legal solution to this impasse. We have more single occupancy bathrooms.
13
@Andy, no offense but you’ve clearly never used a female bathroom. Unlike men, women’s genitalia are not exposed to one another in a public bathroom – we all sit or squat in stalls. I have no idea the genitalia of the person in the stall next to me so it can’t bother me or make me uncomfortable. As a cisgender, hetero female, I have complete privacy and so does that person. You mention “security”. Are you inferring that a transwoman is a security issue in a female bathroom? I can’t think of anyone who would cause less concern. I don’t think we have an impasse at all; we have a red herring, built on an irrational fear of the “different.” Yes, more single occupancy bathrooms – even for those afraid they might have to wash their hands next to a trans person in a bathroom – and yes, more acceptance of those whose identity doesn’t match the body they were born in, and compassion for their struggle.
9
Hard to believe a sensible comment in the Times. Most people writing here seem to believe that these issues are 95-5 when in fact they are closer to 55-45.
7
Mr. Bruni, I wish people like you would think about the implications of what they write before (in the olden days) sealing the envelope or before (in the modern era) hitting send.
I consider the cake baker in Lakewood, CO to be a friend. In a discussion with Jack, he told me that there are more than 100 other bake shops (specifically) in Lakewood, CO and (generally) in metropolitan Denver who could have filled these orders.
With all due respect to those who have sued Jack, the cakes that he had refused to bake could easily have been baked or decorated by other cake bakers in the region. In a form of Fascism (that I truly believe is practiced by some liberals), it is MORE IMPORTANT for them to silence men like Jack (effectively closing Jack's private business enterprise) than it is to do business with someone else whose beliefs are better aligned to what those who have sued Jack believe.
It is the last sentence in the previous paragraph that captures what some fringe Democrats are actually trying to do.
Ultimately, it is a First Amendment issue. Do the Five Freedoms enunciated apply to all ca. 330 million of us? Or for those of us whose politics is right of center, do these fundamental rights exist ONLY WHEN WE AGREE with the types of people who have sued Jack?
To put it mildly, the answer to the second question asked in the previous paragraph will go a long way to determining what kind of country the USA will be in the 21st Century.
16
@dmanuta
Yes, let's have a set of businesses that do not cater to LGBT individuals or their lawful events, and a separate set of businesses that might (maybe we can identify them with some sort of sign...?).
We can have a mechanic who won't repair your car if you are on your way to an LGBT wedding. Or a doctor who won't set your broken arm because you fell dancing at an LGBT wedding. There are plenty of other mechanics and doctors in the world, so what could possibly go wrong?
Does this sound wrong or bizarre? Because it seems to be what you advocate. And it is the direction many in the right-wing are going for.
Maybe you should empathize with the individuals who are turned away in embarrassment because they have to go around like beggars, pleading with business owners to engage their services (a strange economic choice for the owner) and never knowing when they might be turned out on the street like sub-humans. Never mind that many LGBT individuals have to wonder if their identities will estrange them from their own families.
Your friend was not silenced by his spurned customers. He was silenced by his own bigotry. The freedom of speech comes with the responsibility of the consequences.
11
Come now, why would anyone believe the words out of Trump's mouth or misspelled in his Twitter diarrhea?
That Trump says he has no problem with affection between gays, or that he acknowledges gay rights, is no different than his claim that he he draining the Washington swamp or working for the good of the people. He doesn't speak the truth, he speaks whatever he believes serves HIS interests.
So please, don't trouble us with implications of irony between Trump's words and deeds. The way to understand Trump is to always ask, "What's his motive, what's he after?" Because his entire life has been devoted to taking advantage of others.
12
"His treatment of gay people perfectly reveals the flabbiness of his convictions and his willingness to stand at odds with a majority of Americans if it pleases the smaller number who adore him."
And as Rachel Maddow always says, Don't watch what they say, watch what they do."
Trump views every single issue by how much it helps or hurts him. There is nothing else that matters: I don't think he could define the word principle if his life depended on it. He certainly doesn't act on it.
For a nonreligious and morally bankrupt man, Donald Trump gives in to the religious element in a way that simply highlights his cynicism.
So while I'm glad LGBT politicians are winning more victories, they won't really win long term protections until Democrats win back congressional seats in proportion to what the majority of Americans really wants.
9
I think Trump is awful to/for the LGBT community, especially since he campaigned saying they "have no better friend" than Donald Trump. As they say, with friends like that...
But Trump also campaigned as a friend to women (haha), and his term has produced restricted access to contraceptives and abortion, and a rollback in workplace protections. He campaigned as a friend to working people, and in his entire life he's never done anything to benefit working people -- but he gladly increased their taxes to reduce those owed by the uber-wealthy and corporations. He also campaigned on promises to improve life for blacks, and none of that panned out either.
Trump is an equal opportunity thorn-in-the-side bigot. If he claims to be your friend, run.
10
I am not surprised that the LGBTQ community is just another target for Trump and this administration to use as their political pawn, especially giving the very low likelihood of receiving our votes. I believe the Pence and his gang of radical homophobes, has helped push this mean and hate filled agenda. It was important and encouraging to read of the recent success and affirmation with the LGBTQ community, including from some on the right. Thanks for this. Happy Pride!
6
Trump has redefined the word opportunists---whatever it takes to keep his fragile ego in tact and maintain power he will do or not do--and that can change by the hour.
4
And yet thousands of openly gay Republicans vote for and contribute to GOP candidates who support the Trump/Christian right agenda. The GOP is what's most important to them. Not the USA or other LGBTQ persons.
7
President Trump has not betrayed his promises. Richard Grenell's
good looks are a God given gift, but he represents all of us in Germany. As a lawyer, I know Mr. Bruni's use of judicial nominees is misplaced, they are not chosen on one issue, but on the basis of overall philosophy. He demonizes Christians, citing 'muscle memory' and 'bakers', yet our Supreme Court considers 'religious rights' seriously. Mr. Bruni omits the reasons many gay voters may support the President. He appears too young to recall Stonewall in 1969, but it means the start of gay men refusing to be victims. In President Trump we have a leader who protects gay men from radical Islamic terrorists, those who would behead gay men and throw them from towers (Isis, Iran). Donald Trump is also a real supporter of the Second Amendment, which allows all Americans, straight or gay, to defend ourselves.
6
The Don will be gone ... hopefully very soon. But the Federalist Society judges he and Mitch McConnell have planted in our courts will yield poisonous fruits for at least a generation.
And although the Don doesn’t care about LBGTQ rights one was or another, we can expect decisions based on a certain theological viewpoint to whittle away at these rights under the guise of protecting the rights of the religious right.
5
Today, beside this column on what Trump’s done to offend and threaten LGBT people, there’s sure to be another column on what he’s done to threaten and terrorize immigrants and another column on what he’s done to damage the environment this week or destabilize the Middle East. In fact I’m sure there will be a dozen different columns in a dozen different papers citing dozens and dozens of things he’s done to offend and threaten all kinds of human beings here in the U.S. and around the world.
Meanwhile, as all these journalists are ranting and fuming about this or that, Trump will keep spewing more drama and distraction via Twitter, supplying material for yet another dozen columns tomorrow.
And, with all this going on, who’s really got time to read the Mueller Report with its long list of relatively dull crimes committed by the President of the United States? I mean how interesting is obstruction of justice compared to staging a fake war with Iran or terrorizing millions of immigrants in their homes?
5
At the front-end, you're too kind to Trump. The really scary thing about Trump (well one of the scary things about him) is that he does not appear to have considered "views" at all on most important issues; instead, he has labile, blowhard impulses and an unwavering, narcissistic / solipsistic self-interest. He's willing to throw anyone or any group – indeed, the nation – under the bus if he thinks it's good for him.
3
@Dharmabumcdn posted a great comment:
"It's possible "the arc of history bends towards justice", as people hopefully claim, but we've got to put our entire weight on it for that to happen."
Instead of wallowing in self pity and victimhood, we who are affected by the injustices being wrought by Trump and his minions - whether gay, Jewish, Muslim, black, female, special needs, poor, old, chronically ill - must do our utmost to speak out against Trump, spread the truth against the lies, work for and support a Democratic candidate, get out the vote in November, 2020, and starting in 2021 reverse what Trump did.
I believe it can be done. Nothing in life is set in stone. Time is all we have lost - have we lost or forgotten what is "right?" Of course not.
2
So .. What's the point of this article?
That Trump is appointing judges more conservative vs Obama .. and they may be less friendly to the community ... shocking!
It's not going to matter ......
I'm old enough to remember the Act-up protests and remember who was there. The mainstream LGBT groups were against "gay marriage" for fear of hurting the Clintons ... Obama vacillated when it suited his political base.
Now everybody you meet was at the Stonewall inn back in 69.
The sad fact. AIDS made staying in the closet impossible -- we had no choice but to be visible. Out in numbers we became normalized and unstoppable.
Presidents and groups like the human Right Campaign stood in the way.
4
This complicit attitude is reflected in the below average group that is the Cabinet, other big time jobs in the Trump world. Who else could go along to get along? We all know that creep at work, who keeps opinions quiet enough not to get fired. So not reflective of most places of work. In what world except the White House could Steve Miller have a job?
1
Heretofore presumed extinct, archeologists discover what appears to be the last living Neanderthal presenting incredible research possibilities. Trump is flattered with this opportunity for additional notoriety and vows to cooperate with the scientific community in every way possible.
2
“I love the Dreamers” Trump crowed just as he pledged to be the best friend of the LGBTQ community, with an emphasis on the Q.
He loves these vulnerable communities because they are made-for-Trump minorities who he believes are simultaneously in need of his support but are also subject to the power of his wrath. He loves them because they are pieces of our society who are like pawns on a chess board, to be moved in any direction he wants.
Did Trump see migrant children as human beings to be treated under the Golden Rule? Does he understand the inclusiveness of the rainbow banner or is he looking for everyone to waive a white flag of surrender to his reign of error?
So, here's a question (okay, two questions) for those who want to diminish, block, and remove rights and freedoms from American LGBTQ citizens, based solely on one element of their whole being.
Would they be okay with lowering the tax burden of LGBTQ citizens? Would they refuse help from a gay cop, or a gay doctor, or a good samaritan who happens to be gay?
The LGBTQ community seems to have equality when it comes to paying their share, but have unequal access, by virtue of service people legally permitted to refuse service based on supposed religious beliefs, to access goods and services available to other American citizens.
Some of those non-discriminated-against Americans, by the way, could be truly horrible people. But I betcha they could get a wedding cake baked, or get a needed medical intervention, as long as they are not gay.
1
"Trump is on the wrong side of history. But he doesn’t care — so long as it’s right for Trump."
Trump doesn't know or want to know history. He only wants to know what's in it for him. HIM and no one else. The one exception may be his daughter Ivanka, but not even his sons will rise to the level of his recognition.
It is all about ME, ME, ME. Even a 3-year old recognizes that there is a world beyond him/herself but for Trump the world is Trump.
There is no question in my mind that he suffers from a severe case of narcissistic personality disorder. And those living in Trumpland are his enablers.
2
"When several United States embassies... requested permission to fly the rainbow flag... in honor of Gay Pride, the State Department said no."
Pretty sure there are all kinds of laws, traditions and rules about how the US flag flies and what other flags it may share a staff with on US government and military soil.
Other countries, states, municipalities and even religious entities such as the Vatican can share a staff with the flag. It's entirely conceivable that the gay pride flag, which represents no state or even official organization does not meet the standards.
There has been a great deal in this paper about the "disrespect" shown to gay pride. Not a whole lot explaining whether it's "respectful" even legal to fly the gay flag with the US flag.
There's also been a great deal in this paper deriding the current president for ignoring traditions and standards.
Before "reporters" and OpEd columnists cast dispersion on the State Department for "dissing" the gay flag, it would be nice if they provided a little color on the subject by including some lines about our long standing traditions regarding the flying of our flag.
7
A lot of us grow up with a few (or perhaps many) stereotyped opinions about others that (fortunately) are usually quick to disappear when you finally get out and meet "them" for yourself. And of course it's always helps to end up in the company of other wonderful human beings who disprove the ugliness of prejudice.
It really seems like Trump is doing it all backwards. Now that he's surrounded by zealots and ideologues, all the truths he knew from growing up in New York are being replaced by the nightmares of the committed ranting about "those" people.
Draining the swamp needs to start with the White House, it's the nastiest one I've ever seen.
2
Mr. Bruni,
May I add that my cousin Ted Osius — like Grenell, openly gay and quite good looking — was appointed by President Obama to be the US Ambasador to Vietnam where he served with distinction until the policies of the current president demanded he either become complicit or resign with dignity. He chose the latter.
4
In his insatiable neediness, the malignant narcissistic Trump depends upon his hateful base which is steeped in the destructiveness of Christian fundamentalism. Without these ignorant fools and the morally bankrupt Republicans on Capital Hill, on some level, Donald Trump must know that the majority of Americans see him for the crooked blowhard he is and always has been, so the way to hold on to his twisted base is to take the advice of the half-wits and Evangelical homophobes always hovering behind him like the two Mikes, Pence and Pompeo, for starters, for without them, he knows his chances for victory in 2020 are slim and none.
3
I could not help but notice that the Vatican has just issued a proclamation against “gender-fluid” people (i.e. trans-folk). Evidently the church felt it necessary even though it has already charged the G’s, L’s and B’s with being intrinsically morally disordered. This comes from an institution that has lost most of its moral credibility by its failure to protect children from pedophile clergy. Its much larger failure is to develop a spirituality of human sexuality that - in ALL its variations - is a gift revealing God’s image as Love.
1
If anyone truly believes Trump cares about LGBTQ issues or PEOPLE, I have got a bridge to sell you. The Donald cares about no one but his own esoteric demographic: very, very rich white men.
The rest of us - and yes, that includes you, MAGA hat-wearers; you’re but a means to an end! - don’t matter at all.
3
Great article, Mr. Bruni.
The LGBTQ community should come out in force against trump; you illustrate perfectly here why.
3
Trump may not speak for the majority but he speaks unfortunately for the 63 million people who voted for him and the vast majority who continue to support him. How people answer a survey and how they vote apparently are two different animals. We are not dealing with a few outliers but millions of people and Mr. Bruni's good tidings must be analyzed in that context.
1
Remember how Trump once claimed that the LBGT community had no better friend than himself? What a fair weather friend! Of all the ways in which Trump has spited politics, support for LBGT rights as a Republican would have been one in which he actually could have made a positive difference. But he instead surrounded himself with bigots like Mike Pence and went along with his party’s reactionary agenda. Turns out, even an outsider to D.C., and one with, um, unconventional ‘family values’ at that, can be just as cynical as any career politician.
136
@NM
A democratic republic is, first, a concept. Then, fleshed out in people. Finally, it is a fragile concept and requires constant attention to its growth and spread. Americans may think that since we are a democratic republic, that is that. No more to do. Education, vigilance, information and, the one action/behavior that keeps this concept going is - to vote. Not just for a president but for mayors, governors, city treasurers, school superintendents, fire chiefs, police chiefs, senators and representatives at the state and federal levels. You may not always get what you want, at first. So you must keep smart and carry on.
37
Donald J. Trump was, is, and will always be a salesman. Anyone who has lived near New York City since the 1970s and pays attention to local media knows this. Only two things matter to Trump: (1) Making deals where he is the "winner," and (2) Being in the spotlight as much as possible.
Any promises he makes and any alliances he enters into are strictly for convenience if they further is his objectives to attain goals #1 and #2.
It wasn't that long ago that Trump gave money to Democratic candidates, supported abortion rights, and generally swung to left of center on politics. But the Democratic Party would never allow him to be their candidate.
And when Obama made fun of Trump at the Correspondents Dinner, he resolved to get even by running for president, a goal even he conceded was probably out of his reach.
That is, until he discovered a large constituency of blue-collar workers and evangelicals who would vote for just about anyone against Hillary Clinton. And he switched to full salesman mode, breaking his previous alliances and making promises these groups wanted to hear. He accomplished #1 by getting elected and #2 by constantly tweeting and appearing on television.
Most of Trump's cabinet members were recommended by advisors. He doesn't really care about anything except his real estate holdings and getting favorable press.
There really isn't anything behind the curtain, folks.
463
@hdtvpete
'He doesn't really care about anything except his real estate holdings and getting favorable press.'
My own speculation does not concur. A person who's had some interest in spiritual matters might have come across the notion that 'you cannot step into the same river twice'. New waters every moment. The Presidency is among other things a big responsibility and changes are inevitable, for the better or the worse.
He's got convictions and he wants his presidency to reflect and validate those. He will be favoring his accomplishments over his rhetoric in assessing that, and probably leaving out the judgements of others.
4
@William Where is your evidence that he has convictions? I don't see it. And even if he does, are those convictions supported by FACTS? Clearly he has some sort of conviction about coal, but utterly unsupported by fact. We all have so-called gut instincts, but that really isn't the same as conviction.
57
@William
Huh ?
47
And yet with all the progress that's been made before Trump this lesbian still doesn't feel safe enough to reveal her sexual preferences at work the way so many heterosexuals do. Employers can still fire or refuse to hire people who are LGBTQ just as they can refuse to hire and still fire people who are too old even if they are fully qualified for the job and ace the interviews.
Trump's words, like those of other politicians, mean nothing if they aren't backed up by his actions. His actions towards minorities speak for themselves. His feelings towards women are apparent as are his feelings towards most Americans. Trump may not be the first president to use America as his personal piggy bank or for his own advancement in financial terms but I hope he's the last.
Since this man won the 2016 election I have not felt like I'm living in an America that welcomes me and my particular diversity. In fact I've come to the conclusion that America is regressing and reneging on every promise and advance it's made in the last 50 years or so. If I were 30 years younger I'd leave for another country, one where I don't have to worry about being lesbian, Jewish, or in need of medical care.
6/22/2019 2:02pm
542
@NJLatelifemom
I agree. I always read hen3ry's comments and note that they are well reasoned and very articulate. Keep them coming, hen3ry.
I hope that you find a greater safety and know that your voice is valued.
67
@hen3ry
This is Pride month, today is the pride Parade in Toronto.
I am so saddened by your post, yet you're not the only person who feels out of place in her country.
I always thought that safeguards for rights in society were "built in" and unassailable, boy was I wrong, this has been an awakening for many people.
Hopefully things will improve in the USA and society will return to the path towards equal rights and respect for all people.
You could always move to Canada, we would love to have you here.
47
To hen3ry:
Your comments are among those I’m always glad to find, not just because they usually agree with my own opinions but also because they are rare models of logical presentation and clarity. So even if you do awaken one day 30 years younger, please stay here anyway. Voices like yours are important in the struggle to regain what has been lost.
56
Frank Bruni - This is what Trump actually said: "I will do everything in my power to protect our L.G.B.T.Q. citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology."
I.e., he only promised to protect LGBTQ American citizens from attack by a "hateful foreign ideology" (read: Muslim extremists). We are still fair game for American home-grown (Christian and secular) prejudice, oppression, hate, and violence, much sowed and harvested by his own MAGA administration.
Don't be fooled by what Trump says, watch what he actually does. Packing courts via the Republican-controlled Senate with lifetime appointment of judges who are vehemently anti-women, anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ is the raw meat he feeds to his (very base) base.
8
"Kate Brown becomes first openly LGBT person elected governor"
That was in 2016. She became governor in 2015 when her predecessor, John Kitzhaber, resigned. She was the (elected) secretary of state.
Before that, in 1998, she was chosen Senate Democratic leader. In 2004, she became the first woman chosen as Senate majority leader. She had already been elected to the Oregon House and then the Oregon Senate.
Reading comments here that Pete Buttigieg can’t win because he is openly homosexual reminds me of not so long ago when my gay brethren were horrified that there was talk about the possibility of gay marriage. I heard remarks like “America is not ready” or that such a push will set back the movement for gay rights. Trying to predict the future is illusionary but the boldness to try is American as apple pie. Don’t sell America or Pete short.
I see Pete as the polar opposite of 45 - intelligent, calm and compassionate.
3
The vast majority of the small minority of people who claim they wouldn't vote for Pete because he's gay 1) live in deep red states that any Democrat wouldn't win; 2) wouldn't vote for ANY Democrat. Whenever someone brings up the beyond-tired argument about whether a gay is "electable," I ask them, "Did you think a black could become president before 2008?" I'm old enough to remember when Kennedy's Roman Catholicism was considered a deal breaker. ¡Basta! Anyone who was born here, is a citizen and is old enough can become president.
2
When I think about the discrimination against gays, I am reminded of of the imposition of the death sentence of gays by Leviticus. I wonder why one of the world's great religions continues to countenance such intolerance.
Frank, Your last sentence nailed it..."as long as it's right for Trump."
Talk is cheap.
Once he chose Pence - thanks to his princeling son-in-law - the direction of his policies towards gays became quite clear.
So, he has an ambassador who's gay and also good looking. He probably figured that wouldn't upset his base. The judges at all levels were more important. The anti-abortionists were more important.
If you're not his base, tough and too bad.
1
History doesn't take sides, please let us once and for all cease the "side of history" metaphor.
Gay folk should remember, as women, Jews and African-Americans and many others have learned to do, that history can appear to flip on a dime . . . or pfennig.
History is sublimely and chillingly neutral.
3
Trump has shown vividly, repeatedly, that he is willing to let Pence and the ADF dictate policy on LGBT issues. That policy is to throw LGBT people under the bus on every major issue, from getting Grimm thrown out of SCOTUS, to the trans military ban, to nominating justices who are eager to overturn Obergefell.
Beyond throwing meat to his base he’s also happy to symbolically throw scraps like not allowing embassies to fly Pride flags this month. It helps emphasize just how willing his administration is to relegate LGBT people to being second class citizens.
And worst of all he has emboldened his faithful to show their hate in bolder and bolder ways. He’s making the country (and the world) a far more dangerous place for LGBT people. And it’s not by accident.
2
I have been listening to the audiobook rendition of Mayor Pete's book, Shortest Way Home, and I can recommend it to people who want to get a sense of who he is. It is read by him, and is clearly not ghostwritten, and that is a good thing.
Strange place, this modern America...I went from having a White House I trusted totally, that of Barack Obama, to the Trump debacle, and I can only hope to one day soon waking to listening to a President Buttigieg or Sanders or Warren.
As a straight man, raised in the strictest of environments, I had no education as to just what a rainbow this America truly is. In fact, when I went to the UofConn in 1964, I was surprised how few African Americans I saw who weren't from Africa itself.
But slowly I learned and I was able to relax and understand that different isn't the same as dangerous. We learn from people, good and bad, and I have a sense we can trust this man, Mayor Pete to lead from the front.
Hugh
1
Frank Bruni: This is what Trump actually said: "“I will do everything in my power to protect our L.G.B.T.Q. citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology.”
I.e., he only said he would protect LGBTQ American citizens from being attacked by a "hateful foreign ideology" (read: Muslim extremists). We are still fair game for American home-grown (Christian and secular) prejudice, oppression, hate, and violence, a great deal sowed and harvested by his own MAGA administration.
Don't be fooled by what Trump says, watch what he actually does. Packing Federal courts via the Republican-controlled Senate with lifetime appointments of judges who are vehemently anti-women, anti-LGBTQ, anti-choice is the raw meat he feeds to his (very base) base.
I had hoped at least one good thing about Trump would be that he's clearly not actually religious and, therefore, would be better on LGBT rights and abortion since he's not a True Believer like Pence, Cruz, etc.
Like the article said, he hasn't been great on LGBT issues, but he hasn't been the absolute worst. Things have been pretty awful on abortion on the state level, and clearly Trump's SCOTUS picks aren't great on that topic either.
1
The closet door has opened for good and America has moved on. Last night, block after block of downtown Houston was lined with thousands upon thousands of beautiful, smiling , cheering LGBTQ individuals, and their families, friends and neighbors, representing the mix of ethnicity and race that characterizes the Petropolis, as groups marched carrying banners of support from Fortune 500 corporations and public institutions. It was an emotional experience great to share the love twith gay, lesbian and gender queer "kids" whose parents weren't yet born at the time of Stonewall.
1
Our Declaration of Independence, written by white men of property nearly 250 years ago reads in part and most importantly We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
These words are carved in stone and cannot be altered in light of historical change or modern interpretation. They are, literally, carved in stone. The words do need to be understood as enlightened for the times the slave-owner and future president Jefferson penned them. Today, a more thoughtful phrasing would be "...all persons are created equal...
It is pitiful that so many of us including members of Congress find this simple understanding so difficult to grasp. No one should have to fight for their rights as a citizen of this country because as Jefferson and the signers pointed out, these rights are self-evident and bestowed by a higher power than men.
3
As a gay man, I've heard Mayor Pete speak and while he's nice enough, he won't be my candidate. That said - I would obviously have no issue with a gay man being president. What concerns me are the people supporting him and willing to vote for him simply because he's gay. I can promise you that selecting a democratic candidate simply based on that person's gender, race or sexual preference will lead to a flawed candidate.
10
@Tpey For starters, it isn't a "preference." It's orientation. Is being straight a preference? And I don't know many gay people who vote for someone simply because they are gay. If so, at least one bachelor senator I can think of would be guaranteed the gay vote, which is not likely the case given that senator's actual record. Gay people who admire Pete Buttigieg see the same things in him that I've read from many senior citizen married people: intelligence, eloquence and a dedication to what's right.
2
He stacked the Supreme Court and other courts with picks who scare minority groups.
4
Trump's attitude is patronizing ("Oh, there’s my beautiful Grenell!"). He doesn't support or respect anyone's rights least of all the LGBT community.
2
Reproductive rights and LGBTQ rites are the Pence Preserve. That is an oxymoron.
2
I suspect this is the pull of the Pence folks (and McConnell) who see that they are able to project onto Trump what they want him to do and Trump will willingly go along. I’m actually surprised that a prominent real estate developer in NYC who certainly encountered lesbians and gays in nearly every walk of life has been this “anti-gay” (and I never believed JarVanka would advocate on our behalf).
Don’t discount FOX News and the hard right media that “shame him” into saying things that are not just dog whistles, but actual whistles to his base. Those of us who supported Hillary did so in large measure to ensure the federal judiciary wouldn’t become as partisan has it has (and will both in the next 18 months and an additional four years). It’s one reason why some of the 23 should either stay in the Senate or choose to run for the Senate from their state (Beto/Castro for example).
Also sorry, Frank, that while you ticked off the “top 3 cities” you left us out down here in Houston where Anise Parker served proudly as our first out lesbian Mayor from 2010-2016.
1
Whether Trump likes or dislikes LGBTQ is really not a concern Mr. Bruni. As long as this group is neither harassed, mistreated or given special rights that the rest of us don't have it's good. If Trumps likes or dislikes matters not at all because guess what. Everyone has the right to dislike and or like who and what they want, we are not the gay states of America. So best advice for writers and the LGBTQ crowd- give it a rest- no one cares.
4
At least Bruni documents that we have two nations. The one we know, and the devices which deny us self-government. Did I say, "at least?" Give him the rest of the day off.
Good on straight America to debate and consider the fundamental civil rights of disenfranchised citizens. And when you all finally decide, and please take your time as you bestow us your grace, do let us know. We're waiting with great anticipation to see what YOU think about us.
Not.
I will say it once more...as valueless as this may be. I tire of heating “President” Trump’s Chronic opinions on absolutely everything. In my opinion, as a long- retired Lutheran pastor an Licensed Family Therapist, Trump is a bonafide Sociopathic
Personality Disorder, let loose on the Public Scene because he is the “President” in this Time. As a fragment of his being, one of his diagnostic elements, is his ability to chronicle and publicly, fabricate and Lie, Without reproof. At 82, I still hope to see a day in the daylight of the presence of a President who reflects the
Civility of a candor, again, of the likes of Barack Obama. Meanwhile, we, the People, live under a Shadow.
3
They include the chairman of the Republican Party in Florida
This is extremely misleading. Joe Gruters hails from a liberal leaning area (Sarasota) which still votes Republican, but they want a moderate Republicanism, not what the State Party and National group is giving to the world. Gruters supported legislation because that would help him get re-elected when the time comes, knowing full well the bill(s) had zero chance of any movement at all. He's a phony like all the rest of the "R"s.
1
This is the standard Trump MO, and it works because the majority of his base doesn't seem to care or even realize what actions he takes as President, they are only tuned in to what he says. As long as they continue to willfully remain ignorant of the intentional inconsistencies in Trump's actions, he will continue to con them.
1
Your last sentence sums up his entire Presidency. “...As long as it’s right for Trump.”
Understand that and you understand the man and his motives and his ever shifting policy. He is not some genius with a master plan. He blows with the winds, makes it up as he goes, does what he thinks is best for him today. An administration based entirely on one man’s narcissism.
3
Frank Bruni you are applying litmus tests to Trump. You're saying, in effect, "Unless you agree with me that Jack Phillips should be forced by the government to accept a commission to custom design a wedding cake celebrating a same sex marriage, then you are a homophobe and a bad person."
These kinds of litmus tests are not helpful. I'm a member of a few historically oppressed groups, and I don't go around saying to people that unless they accept my view of issues where reasonable people disagree, then they are haters and outcast.
PS: though I am hetero, I have been active in gay rights for years, as an ally. And I don't know anyone who rejects Donald Trump more emphatically than I.
4
Ok, Trump says he is not a racist, in fact he said, “'I'm the least racist person anybody is going to meet”. Sure. Really? The same thing applies to his support for L.G.B.T.Q. people. Simple –
He will say or do anything that will good for Trump. Nothing new here.
1
I doubt that The Donald personally has strong opinions one way or the other about LGBTQ people. He is so busy trying to make a buck and thinking about himself that he probably has not given them much thought.
What has made him think a lot about LGBTQ people is that a key part of his base is the evangelicals. You probably know that many of the evangelicals absolutely loath LGBTQ people. Naturally, The Donald is now against LGBTQ.
But a question is: why do some evangelicals have such malice and hostility to LGBTQ people?
In the Biblical book of Leviticus (Chapter 19) it lists all of the sexual sins that one should not commit. In Chapter 21 of Leviticus it lists the sins and the punishments.
To cut this short, it says that you should not sleep with: your daughter in law, with animals, with a whole host of relatives, we should not commit adultery, and naturally men should not lye with men. No mention of lesbians.
My point is that the only transgression that evangelicals get hysterical about is men sleeping with men. People are committing adultery everyday and we never hear a peep from the evangelicals. Many Baptists pastors are accused of improper sexual advances toward people in their churches and it is proving difficult to get the SBC to take any action.
What is it about same sex that excites them? After all it is a private matter between two people and it generally has no effect on others.
3
I fear that the struggle to permanently secure LGBTQ equality will not truly be over for a long, long time. If it is true, as many believe, that homophobia is ultimately derived from 50,000 years of evolution -- which has embedded in the human genome (though not in everyone, of course) a "virus" of antipathy toward the idea of homosexual coupling (as a means to encourage breeding) -- then societal and legal advances are not necessarily permanent. Each generation will still be saddled with the "virus" (speaking metaphorically, of course), meaning that we will need to work with each generation to overcome their inborn prejudice and become enlightened. Equal rights for LGBTQ is not a one-and-done matter.
1
In this, or in any other country/state/county/municipality, should you wait to be who you are?
Vote.
Trump is only a Republican bc Democrats wouldn’t have him.
Wait until the party had to put a platform together at the convention; then what?
"Trump is on the wrong side of history. But he doesn’t care — so long as it’s right for Trump. " But as someone who has every trait of personality narcisism disorder he also is gifted at conning a cult following who is also on the wrong side of history. So instead of understanding the variances in our human sexuality at birth, he helps perpetuate the ignorance and hatred of ages past that sows violent discord in America toward the LGBTQ communities. And this is compounded by the religion of hate that feeds of of his conning of all he can use to serve his ego. The office of presidency needs a mental health test requirement. Between the ruin of our environment through the denial of science to the ignoring of human development and human rights, we cannot afford to have demagogues rule, and survive as a nation, let alone a people.
4
On this 50th Anniversary of Stonwall, let's not forget two congressman who paved the way in the 1980's: Gerry Studds and Barney Frank. It was a different world then.
3
One day republicans will have to explain their attraction to bigotry and divisiveness by saying it’s not by choice but by birth and the rest of the country can take pleasure in enrolling them in conversion programs and not giving them the right to marry each other.
3
"That [American acceptance of and support for LBGTQ folk] reflects Americans’ values more accurately than the Trump administration does."
America is better than Trump. Trump is a demagogue who panders to ignorance, prejudice, and fear. When will the Trump base come to their senses? At what point must we simply write them off?
1
One need only look to Trump's Vice President, openly bigoted homophobe Mike Pence, to see where this push comes from. That, and the need to placate the evangelicals, who for some inexplicable reason, still support a President who consistently breaks the commandments, not to mention whose actions, most specifically in regards to immigration, run counter to the teachings of Jesus.
1
This has been Trump's standard M.O. since the election. Before the election he was on every side of every issue, being the con man he is, to convince the audience that he was "on their side". The truth is he's only on the side of the evangelical bigots who function as his VP. press spokespersons (until recent departure), and his secy of state. Trump has no heart, no courage and no willingness to stand up for anyone else unless they happen to be in the room or perceived as a basis for his maintaining power.
2
Trump will soon have ten grandchildren.
Statistics. Sooner or later he will have a gay relative.
That seems to be the pivot point for people who have not given the issue much thought.
1
No Frank. His conservative alliance is the betrayal of us all. Stop acting as though your personal issues are the issue for the whole country. The rest of the country and the rest of the world have other issues with him. The Times needs some op ed writers who are more than just liberal on their own little issues and can take a broader view.
4
@Iced Tea-party Is this the first column by Frank Bruni you have read or does discussion of issues affecting the gay community simply make you uncomfortable? He writes about "broader" issues every week. And if you read this column, he is actually showing how Trump's betrayal of the gay community is illustrative of what he has done in so many areas: saying one thing and doing something else entirely. Believe it or not, there are actually many people who see his treatment of gay people and other minorities as far from "little issues" or "personal issues." Do you see his appalling treatment of refugees or his horrendous comments about women as a "little" issue, because you are not female or a refugee? All of these are issues that affect everyone.
5
@Iced Tea-party
Perhaps you only read Mr. Bruni's columns occasionally, because he does address other issues. Case in point: May 15, 2019:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/15/opinion/trump-fourth-of-july.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Ffrank-bruni&action=click&contentCollection=undefined®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=5&pgtype=collection
I suspect Mr. Bruni was hired to write about a certain range of topics just as the other op-ed writers were, and writing about issues that impact the gay community is one of them.
Be that as it may, your comment seemingly reflects a narrow understanding of what it means to be human. I am a white cisgender somewhat elderly woman, but that does not mean that the issues that impact folks who have different descriptors than I do don't concern me, also. We are all connected.
@Balcony Bill
I read them all, most of his columns where he takes on Trump are mainly on the gay issue. Other than that he is a conservative Republican.
2
All I can say is NO LGBTQ or CIS should vote for Donald Trump in 2020. He lets terrible things happen to adults by means of his horrible appointees and moreover he is absolutely evil when it comes to the children at the border. The buck stops with him. And we are all complicit. The USA no longer has a soul.
5
I’m surprised anyone is surprised by Trump’s assault on civil rights.
3
Election is coming. Trump speaks kind or neutral words. Gays may expect a war on them if he is reelected.
2
When Trump catches the ambassador on TV, he gushes, “Oh, there’s my beautiful Grenell!”
Grenell is considered a diplomatic disaster in Germany, however beautiful.
4
Donald Trump spent most of his life in NYC. He is an urban guy with a fondness for the glitter and glee of it. He is a first class salesman who knows how to develop a market for his oversized personality. One has to wonder what he will do when he is not President of the United States.
1
Trump is pure camp. The policy stuff is all stuff done by people around him as he concerns himself with mainly, making sure he keeps giving us daily President realness.
Yes, I went there. Trump is just a drag queen. If Dems want to win in 2020, they better learn how to reckon with a real talent, Donald J. Trump.
1
Trump is not a pro-gay candidate or a pro-black candidate or pro-white guy candidate or a pro-anything candidate. Wait, check that. He is pro-Trump. Any attempt to ascribe morality and ethical boundaries to the man simply fails on its face.
The narcissism that he is clearly the poster boy for inform everything he does.
All that the LGBTQ community can do is what the rest of us are doing -- wait for this to end in a rousing defeat in the 2020 election -- and then go about fixing all that Trump has broken.
4
Trump said recently he believes he can win re-election just with his base. And he’s going to have to, if he’s to win at all, given that in his two-and-a-half years in office he’s scarcely paid lip service to anybody else.
That likely means the closer we get to the election the more likely he is to make dramatic announcements pandering directly to the prejudices of that base—such as his recent announcement he would be rounding up and “removing” millions of (mostly brown-skinned) undocumented immigrants or last year’s tweet summarily booting transgendered soldiers from the military. He may not go through with his announced action, but it nonetheless revs up his base—which is all he’s really after. And his targets feel the pain regardless and are put further at risk of crazies acting out on Trump’s direct appeal to their hostility.
In some ways Trump’s apparent apathy makes his use of the LGBTQ community as a red flag to a bull that much worse. It’s not like he feels the same antipathy as his base. The LGBTQ community is nothing to him, just one more rallying cry to further his own prospects.
4
Trump is interested only in what feeds the empty hole in his psyche where most of us have souls. That hole appears to be appeased by only two things -- adulation and money. And those who offer both, like Vladimir Putin and the Saudis, get special bonuses. Tax cuts that benefit him give him money. But money without adulation and publicity only provides partial nourishment for the malevolent little shop of horrors that goes on in his head. The real nourishment is attention and adulation -- and he gets an unlimited amount of that from his racist and evangelical base.
The evangelicals are about two things: abortion and shoving LGBTQ people back into the closet. Its roots are in preserving a white male patriarchy. But THEY are the ones attending the rallies, cheering him, treating him as if he is Jesus Christ The Return. I suspect some of them believe he is. He NEEDS that adulation. Without adulation, it's as if he ceases to exist, in his own mind. So of course he's going to feed THAT particular gaping maw with racial hatred, misogyny, and demonozation of the other in order to get what keeps him alive.
6
Here’s what Trump said at the Republican Convention: “As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology[.]” He said nothing about protecting the LGBTQ community against any domestic ideology.
2
Trump cares about...Trump. There are fewer LGBT than there are in his base who are anti LGBT, so he swings towards them in his appointment of judges.
Trump scavenges for wins, and tolerates no losses along the way. A person with morals or convictions takes little losses on the road to a greater good.
This is simply who Trump is, and to his credit he is quite open about it.
4
Frank: Please get yourself elected to office! Any office is a start. Gay people NEED more thinking- less religious people in office. I would vote for you and I’m sure I’m not alone. Thanks for you opinion pieces. Most often they are “spot on”.
It is my understanding that Mar a Lago is one of a handful of private clubs in Palm Beach that admits married gay couples as members.
3
What you seem to be saying in this overly-long opinionnaire this morning, Frank, is what's right for gays differs from what's right for non-gays.
When, oh when, will we ever be able to look at and care about and work with someone else without our own diversity checklist? If cut, do we not all bleed? If hurt, do we not all cry out? If loved, do we not love in return? If teamed with, do we not work together?
No, not yet! And it's columns like your own that block the door of tolerance irrespective of humanity.
3
As the population increasingly supports gay equality, watch Trump take credit for LGBT advances.
2
In Manhattan there are academic elders with an informed perspective battling bigotry by education & artistic expression. Notable is Playwright/Playwrights Sanctuary theater foundation Director Dr. Larry Myers who is mentoring newer & younger poets & dramatists about how to dramatize LGBTQIA issues. Professor Myers (recently retired from 40 years of university teaching - 30 at St. John's U) has tracked down a 69 year old -- the only African American youth alive pictured in the 2 extant group photos of Stonewall. History & investigative journalism intersect with poetic activist theatrics in his work. LA, San Francisco, Houston, Provincetown & Fort Lauderdale wish to participate in this activity (which the late Edward Albee authorized).
1
Did gays really think Trump supported them? I'm a white straight married Christian and have always known he doesn't care about me. He cares only for himself and is perfectly willing to throw over any person or group if it is expedient. The man can't be trusted.
5
My take on it: Trump doesn't care one way or the other about LGBT rights, so he's outsourced the homophobia to Mike Pence. That way, Trump can make a few bland pronouncements about equality, while his administration makes life difficult for LGBT people in ways that still please his base.
6
Encouraging article! The younger, more open-minded generations will propel us towards fairness in many ways, as well as countless people of all ages standing up against homophobia.
Donald says whatever he thinks will impress people at the moment. His words mean nothing.
Let’s keep focusing on millions of people with clear convictions about civil rights, and speaking out against those who don’t have those convictions.
2
Thank you for the millionth identification of the difference between Trump's words and actions. Ho-hum to that. When will you figure out that hypocrisy and lying are not a concern for the BASE?
You are exactly where the "Commander and Carnival Barker" wants you to be. Although your essay is elegant and mostly the truth, do you think that you have moved a single vote?
When you write, "Trump is on the wrong side of history. But he doesn’t care — so long as it’s right for Trump." You have missed the target. It should read, "so long as it's right for the Base."
Many Americans have shifted their cultural values, but not all.
In a poll conducted this Spring, 32% of Americans stated they would not vote for a gay presidential candidate. Although this is a huge percentage gain from just ten years ago, anti-LGBTQ actions appeal to nearly 1/3 of the American vote. This is the BASE...and they will vote.
And as much as I really like the person and the positions of Pete Buttigieg, do you not realize that he is the "unicorn" that Trump wants to trot out into the center of the circus?
In "Mayor Pete's" last election, he garnered a whopping 8,515 votes to become mayor of a large town/small city. Being a mayor that wins an electoral landslide with 8515 votes is far from qualifying to be an elected President.
Yes, most of us care about the difference between a person's words and actions, but don't let this be a distraction in your analysis of Trump.
3
@Steve Kremer There are gay Republicans, and they endorsed Trump because he gave lip service to equality. There were cheers when Trump spoke those words at the convention, and they poo-poohed the warnings before the election. His true deeds need to be emphasized until pro-LGBTQ Republicans see that their party will never have their backs if the base demands their sacrifice to wolves.
2
Trump's only convictions are self-aggrandizement and chasing profit.
10
Essential all hands on deck to defeat Trump and signal a rebuke to racist ,homophobic,sexist factions backing Trump to make America white again. Going backwards is not a worthwhile goal nor is coal the fuel of the future as Trump wants to live in a time birtherism was admired and molesting women was acceptable.
6
On the larger question of words conflicting with deeds, or why Trump represents a bundle of contradictions not only on LGBT rights but other issues as well is rooted within the man. Seldom does principle or the lack thereof attach to a President. An unprincipled man rises to fame unencumbered by such restraint. Trump the embodiment of the aberration elected without regard to issues of principle or character.
Not so difficult to figure out or comprehend the tweets, insults, chronic lies, attacks on the media, or his silly nicknames. Unprincipled.
1
As with his white nationalist constituency, Trump avoids alienating homophobic voters by talking a good game, but not a good enough game to make the bigots doubt he is one of them.
Recall Andrew Gillum's judgment of Ron DeSantis: the racists believe he is a racist. Comments I've read from Trump supporters about Pete Buttigieg tend to be a sordid assortment of tasteless jokes and graphic insults, and it's easy to conclude that the homophobes think Trump is a homophobe.
The "both sides" prism through which he sees every situation is the hallmark of a person who, as Nancy Pelosi observed, "doesn't know right from wrong." Trump does and says whatever is necessary to "win" the moment, and his supporters love that he is a man of no fixed principles.
It allows them to indulge both their own prejudices and the belief that Trump shares them.
7
Trump is the useless word. It is Republicans and Conservative thought that is evil and used by evil men to control women and minorities for centuries.
Until Conservative thought is stamped out as anti-democracy, then you will have what you see - fully half the people are deplorable people with terrible opinions that were given to them.
2
Why is it ok to hate women ,love unborn fetus ,but not care about starving children, accept men who assault women as
Somehow special, parents who beat their children and on ,and on, and on.could this be the result of some religions, some parents actions?can we insist that violence against these
Will not be tolerated ,can we educate these things ,will we ever
Say it is human to care not to harm!!
5
Personally, I doubt that a Gay person can yet win the presidency. I say that sadly, as I know many LGBTQ people.....and like and respect them.
I think perhaps, if we're lucky, in a few years???? Or as another poster here said, perhaps a high level cabinet post would fit him best?
1
It's surprising that this piece doesn't mention the likely author/instigator of a lot of the anti-LGBTQ actions and measures emanating from the White House: Mike Pence.
9
@HV "It's surprising that this piece doesn't mention the likely author/instigator of a lot of the anti-LGBTQ actions and measures emanating from the White House: Mike Pence."
True enough, but don't forget the other odious voices whispering in Trump's ear - Steven Miller, primarily to form the measures, and Mitch McConnell - secondarily to approve of it all and get them through the Senate.
2
Mr Bruni I think your President rightly believes in meritocracy. I again get a feeling of resentment, and maybe even silly jealousy on your part. Sometimes, it´s just good to recognise the good in others. And Donald J. Trump has done a lot of good trying to correct the wrong path of sefdom left behind by BHO. It was a road to serfdom and BHO had the US kneeling and begging for respect. Thank God that road has been detoured and the right road is being taken. I see another 6 years, so better wake up and smell the coffee!
1
@Roberto M Riveros A He can't believe in meritocracy. He was given everything on a silver platter.
3
Pete Buttigieg will be the Democratic nominee for President and he will eviscerate Trump before the whole world.
For all the naysayers who say, Well, I like him, he is great, blah blah but Americans will never elect a gay man and we need to beat Trump, I would counter, And I heard you saying the same thing regarding Obama - America is not ready for a black president.
It will come as a surprise then when you discover that America is ready for someone who is the most talented, intelligent, verbally competent, honest, authentic person running.
The fact that he is in one of the most stable, All American relationships and that he is dealing with facts on the ground in South Bend that no other candidate has much less could handle while simultaneously running a national campaign, speaks volumes.
He went home to South Bend to be verbally assaulted by a mob of black protestors on camera, held his own, did not give in but was also supportive, and then the local head of the NAACP and one of his former challengers for the position of mayor there, a black woman, both said that he is doing a great job. Well, to me, that is simply amazing. Speaking of being in combat.
Pete never ceases to impress me.
His calm demeanor in the face of being attacked is truly impressive.
He will take down Trump one lie at a time and leave him writhing before an international audience.
2020 can't come soon enough.
12
This column is far too nice about the sentiments of the right wing evangelicals and the Liberty Institute, which is trying as hard as it can to fund as many anti-gay cases as possible to get them before the Supreme Court, including a hope to overturn gay and lesbian marriage. A pastor who worked as a deputy just called for the execution of gays. And a friend of mine who lives in KY told me that the hatred towards gays was virulent in some of the people.
Finally, the experience of lesbians is different as we face the ever old hatred towards women as well. In fact, hating gays has its roots in hating women (gay men act like women! The horror!). And as we have seen in so many other issues, protests don't affect outcomes when it comes to the Trump administration.
Trump is a misogynist, for sure, but Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, and the stealth evangelicals in the white house and the stacks of hateful judges they have confirmed means nothing is safe. And you ought to read some history; before the Nazis, Berlin was an open city for gays, but it did no good when the Nazis came to throw gays and lesbians into the concentration camps - over a million perished, but even today, many people don't even know that history. Rights obtained civilly in one era can be obliterated in the next at the point of a gun.
7
I was born in the late 30’s. Back then, gays were called “Homo’s!” Science really didn’t have a clue what caused some people to be “Queer.” They were “Outcasts, plain and simple!”
That was my enculturation along with most Americans. I believed in God, Country and Apple Pie, although I always liked Blueberry better!
In the 60’s, after dropping out of college, I became a professional musician & entertainer. That’s when I met my first “gay” friends. I didn’t want them to be gay, because I really liked them as friends.
Soon, science started to talk about “chromosomes, both X & Y” and for the first time, society started to realize that being gay could be in their DNA. Almost out of nowhere, many parts of society started to accept gay people as “normal.”
Today, with people like Mayor Pete running for major offices and being openly gay has opened many new doors for the LGBT community and that’s a good thing. Hopefully in time, LGBT will fade into society and will not become an object of fear or concern.
Time has an amazing ability to make things normal.
8
Hard to believe, but about 14% of LGBT voters voted for Trump. Mostly about guns, it seems.
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/meet-lgbtq-voters-who-backed-trump-n684181
3
So let's see. We have Trump, someone the left constantly refers to as a fascist bigot white supremacist, openly praising Butigieg and telling the country to celebrate LGBTQ month. If that's a bigot then America is in a pretty good place.
Also with transgender rights to bathrooms and the military, it's totally reasonable to take a go slow approach to see how these things work out in practice. Gay and transgender are not the same thing. Will we soon see separate sex bathrooms as an odd cultural artifact? Or is there some innate desire to use single sex bathrooms? Is it possible that transgress people have emotional and biological transition issues that make them more problematic to have in the military? These are legit questions and the answers can only be learned with a decade or two of trial and error and learning.
1
Well, as the familiar phrase reminds us, you can put lipstick on a pig -- but the critter is still a pig. Soothing lies are a central part of Trump's everyday make-up routine.
2
Trump famously had a gay mentor: Roy Cohn. That sentence is not to be construed as indicating anything positive about either man. Cohn was a gay man whose only use for other gay men was food for his appetites. Trump is a man whose only use for other people is food for his appetites.
6
And let’s not forget, if it has not been mentioned already, that our justice department is backing a case they hope goes to the supreme court that will re-define the recent interpretation of “on the basis of sex“ to not include LGBTQ.
2
The Constitution doesn't require that judges be appointed for life. For many reasons the life-time appointments must become a legal thing o f the past. And no grandfathering in of the current crop.
And this includes SCOTUS.
Buttigieg has spoken of this issue also.
12
"Can they do the job? Will they do the best job, for the most people?" Those are the questions I ask myself about candidates. Why should I care about the rest? If "character matters", then -what- are we doing with Trump?! Of course, he's failing the 'can he do the job' question miserably, so that apparently was not a consideration for many of those who voted for him, because anyone who looked could see he was unqualified well before November 2016. And Trump fails the second question, too, as his policies and actions since taking office amply prove. But his personal life (the shambles it is) aren't a consideration. Why should I care about his divorces, his infidelities, his predatory sexual behaviors, all the sordid details of a classless, reckless, dishonest, and miserable life? Trump is a lifelong "loser", and he can't do the job he's been elected to do. But his sordid personal failings aren't relevant to my vote; he fails on qualifications alone.
12
There is a pattern with these kind of hit pieces. A few days ago writers were calling Biden a racist. Now Trump anti-gay. These people wil say anything to get their way. It’s all negative Nellie stuff without one bit of truth. Just stop.
5
@J what in this article is not true? I’m so sick and tired of right wingers who hide behind “fake news” claims. Trump’s rhetoric and his actions don’t add up. Show the courage of your true convictions. You think it’s fine to discriminate against gays: say it, own it. Otherwise you are a coward.
9
While it is a good thing a state legislature has authorized its citizens to change the sex on their birth certificates, I have a larger question: why is sex on the birth certificate at all? Why not just remove this millstone from the document all together?
In so doing, the problem of being cis-, trans- or gender fluid disappears.
2
Frank Bruni is correct in pointing out that the LGBTQ people will be exploited by the Artist of the Con as surely as populist red America was in 2016. We will lose any fight that pits minority or working class people's welfare against corporate financial interests or Trump's personal interests. Count on it. Promises, assurances, or even indifference from the mouth of a liar might seduce the stupid to trust, but, in fairness, there is a requisite dimension of complicity to every con. We have been warned. He has shown us who he is. At this point abiding trust in Trump looks about as ridiculous as the unshakeable faith of those old bachelors on the Dr. Phil Show that have wired thousands of dollars to Nigeria to help their future spouses secure a visa or whatever.
3
This year our 3rd largest city elected Chicago's lesbian mayor. 10 years ago, back in 2009, our 4th largest city elected Houston lesbian mayor Annise Parker. She won re-election in 2011. And way back in 1997, Travis county, home to Texas state capital Austin, elected lesbian sheriff Margo Frasier. She also won a second term.
5
Thank you. Quite a bit of maneuvering to avoid mentioning openly-gay, two-term Houston Mayor Annise Parker in the piece. And many of us voted for her in 2010 (her first win) at least in part because we were appalled by her opponent trying to use it against her in his campaign. That’s right - Houston, Texas. Ten years before Chicago.
1
Wait, did you completely miss the fact that Trump chose Mike Pence, notorious homophobe, as his vice presidential candidate??? Homophobic judicial appointments became a central Republican campaign promise the instant Pence joined the ticket.
15
Everyone I know well has at least one gay relative that they are aware of. The point is, these are people we know. They're good people, bad people, smart people, dumb people, and anything else you throw into the mix, but in essence, they're us. So why should their innate sexuality be an issue?
I think it boils down to a need for superiority. Men like Donald Trump look at women as objects to be used or feared because in order to be 'bigger'. Here in Tennessee, many religions are cliquey and feel they alone have a monopoly on heaven, and deride or scorn outsiders. Color, age, size … pick any aspect of humanity, and you'll find those who look down on it.
No matter what he really thinks about anything, Trump is brown-nosing. Admiration and applause are his lifeblood, and those who hate most passionately scream the loudest. And they're screaming for Donald Trump. And if he need to feed them our civil rights to keep them aroar, he will do it.
11
He gushes over anyone that looks good on TV. It has nothing to do with Grenell being gay and Trump being accepting.
5
Once evangelical Christians get the sectarian theocracy they want, they'll be erasing inalienable rights for everyone but themselves.
Already, this administration is changing the words "inalienable rights" to "natural rights", to build a foundation for religious Sharia law.
That way, they can decide what's unnatural (against their god). They allow trump to put his richly clad feet all over the Gospel that warns us about people like him.
American Christians have made a pact with the devil, stretching reality with their silly King Cyrus bleating.
I am an American who values our Constitution, and a follower of Jesus who values his actual words. Trump is disgusting on many levels, but I don't expect him to behave any better. But his adoring, faux Christian base, whose hypocrisy seems limitless.......How can a liar and a hater like trump bring us closer to truth and love?
9
to those Americans who are not followers of Jesus, the answer is obvious: they demand we convert to their preferred brand of Christianity or die. we are not saved, so we are dead to God anyway is their reasoning. evangelicals are dedicated to converting or eliminating anyone not their clique.. it is frightening and it is disgusting and its public face is Pence.
4
Trump likes attractive people.
He doesn't like brown people, black people or gay people generally, but if they are attractive and preferably rich, then they are A-OK in his books. Prince Mohammed bin Salman -
a murderous dictator, is very rich. Kanye West, who may still have some money, and Richard Grenell who is undeniably handsome.
He likes people who are just like he perceives himself to be:
beautiful / handsome, and wealthy, of which he is neither.
7
Of course your observations are correct. The shear political stupidity of Trump is that he could have taken the high road and properly supported a true pluralism and liberal approach, and would have made up for any loss of far right intolerant "members of society". Additionally, he would/could have dragged members of the GOP with him. Oh well just dreaming....
Frankly, I have no problem regarding gay rights. Gays have the same right to a life as all of us should have. Live and let live.
2
There are a few million so-called Christians who give all of religion a bad reputation with decent, fair, kind people, just like their counterparts all over the world who discriminate -or even kill - in the name of God. People who get a thrill from self-righteous anger no matter who gets hurt. WWJD??
Christian, Muslim, Jew, or Buddhist, if your religion comes with hatred, intolerance and cruelty attached, you deserve no special rights. Many of the founding fathers of America were deists. ‘Traditionalist’ judges should not take their names in vain.
7
Why soften the critique of the Trump Administration, beginning by writing that you'd never buy Donald Trump "gay positive" but maybe as "gay blasé". Donald Trump's indifference toward the Queer-community, if that is his personal view, became irrelevant from the moment he became President-Elect if not when he chose Mike Pence to be his running-mate or made public a list of jurists from which he would choose nominees for the Supreme Court.
A President of the United States does not get to be viewed as ther person and as "the Office" -- not when, as described in the column, "the Office" appoints judges who are anti-Queer, issues executive orders that are anti-Queer, endorses candidates who are anti-Queer, supports legislation that is anti-Queer, and plots a re-election strategy that relies heavily on an appeal to the part of the electorate that is anti-Queer.
Donald Trump is the President. He is a liar, a racist, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, Islamophobic and has shown himself to be unapologetically hostile to the Queer-community.
No matter how far we have come as a society, even if voted out of office in 2020, because of the Trump / McConnell impact on the judiciary, it will take years to fully undo the prejudice of the Trump presidency, much of the weight falling on the Queer-community.
5
Gay people at times make me uncomfortable. When you're raised a certain way, Hugh Hefner is G_d as far as you're concerned as puberty hits you right between the eyes. That is, until I get to know them. Then there's really not much adjustment involved- and little effort. So the laws and regulations (based on Biblical "truths") are completely unjust. And anyway, loneliness is a rampant social disease often leading to alienation and depressive illness, so finding a friend, or better yet- a partner- is truly a blessing, and why should I resent that? Because perhaps I'm the one that's weird, and not being accepted into certain social groups builds resentment- and worse. I laugh at other people, and in turn I get laughed at. School does that to you. And occasionally someone wants to pick a fight with you. That whole part of growing up really stinks, doesn't it?
Trump is a hollow shell, devoid of conviction except the absolute necessity of putting self-interest above all else at all times. LGBTQ rights are seen by him through the prism of the Evangelicals because they are in the ascendancy in his base. He is utterly transparent about his lack of any guiding principles, and yet millions of his supporters defend his self-absorption- aka narcissism as something to be celebrated. It is incomprehensible.
8
Trump wooed gays like he wooed Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal: When he wanted them and they could do something for him, he turned on the charm. When he was done with them, he stopped coming around and went out to find the next thing he wanted.
4
Richard Grenell isn't much of a resume. Richard Grenell, precisely the kind of gay man well adjusted gays detest. Described by Der Speigel as "the little Trump", narcissistic, a man that Germany categorically wants out of Germany. Trump's record for choosing the worst of everything remains untarnished.
1
I find it morbidly ironic that the “so-called religious right” stand with a man who has so openly violated commandments.
8
I see Trump's attitude toward the LGBTQ community as part of a "two sided argument" to his "base" in psychological parlance. It is when you take an unpopular stand on a small issue to make one look more credible and principled on other bigger issues.
Even among his base tolerance of LGBTQ community has increased. Although hardly open-minded this is not a central issue for them. So by taking this unpopular stand among his base he, ironically, becomes more authentic on issues they do care about (immigration, globalization, etc.). I will say one thing, Trump instinctively understands human nature, even if he appeals to the worst of it.
4
Fine line between Trumps lifetime federal judge appointments and Alabama abortion debate.
3
Trump is a well documented sexual predator. As such, his lack of real animosity towards homosexual men stems from he perception - accurate - that gay men have no interest is competing for female favors.
And, as he revealed in the Access Hollywood tape, he understands that it is not his sexual attractiveness that enables him to grope and molest women. It's his money. And that means that he doesn't ever have to reject advances from gay men.He has been rebuffed by successful women - Carla Bruni comes to mind - and his wives have used him for their own purposes.
As he would tweet - SAD. He's more to be pitied than censured.
Democracy one day will finally win out. People like Trump,his hateful minions, no matter how many racist gay haters Trump puts on the courts, they wont be there for very long.
The country has moved on and we are not going back to the days of backwardness of white men in charge. Those days are gone. No matter how many more judges are appointed by Trump. They are out of step the next election will bring about justice for once again for everyone.
I don't pin my hopes that the GOP and Blue Dog politicians will do right but the will of the people will force the issue. We all continue to mentally grow some of us a little faster but people like Trump are in the corner of there own making.
Another election is coming and Trump will be shown the door. His judges may live on in the red states but smart people need not live there. Let them feed off their own hate and loneliness. Chris Mathews did a town hall meeting and a hater called a veteran a cupcake, Chris pulled the mike from them and stated their is no place for hate. Small but big steps of importance.
Life is to short and we are not going to give up to hate.
1
@Tony
Tell me how "democracy will win out" when we live in a country with predatory capitalism? USA is all about money and greed. Not about any fairness anywhere when we look around.
It's scapegoating of minorities, oldest trick in the authoritarian playbook. See also: immigrants, jews, anyone with darker skin. Used to distract from his own (and his government's) incompetence whenever necessary. It's nothing personal; it's just that he doesn't care.
4
So depressing. I don't know what else to write.
2
All true of course.
The Republican party is the party of the 1 percent, but 1 percent doesn't win elections. You've got to throw in some cultural doggy treats and some dog whistles to get to the electoral majority that put Trump in the White House. Guns, God and Gays with a solid dose of xenophobia and you're there.
3
If you govern like you are opposed to gay rights, you are opposed to gay right. Trump governs like a homophobic person. Who cares what he says?
2
Explain please. I agree with Bruni—Trump is gay blasé like most of the rest of us.
In 2016 we had some real profiles in weakness and gullibility in the gay community. Some sat home thinking Hillary was a shoo in. Some sat home because they were just oh, so busy. Some went bananas and threw their precious ballots in the trash for Jill Stein. And some went completely nuts and voted for Donald Trump (and Mike Pence!) because they actually believed his nonsense.
Let's try not to repeat those mistakes next year.
7
Unfortunately, red meat still works in plenty of red states. And red states control a disproportionate part of the Electoral College.
To predict their actions, just listen. Anything they claim about Democrats or others is a projection of their own desire. The LGBTQ community attacks children! Now look and see who cages them. If you live near a reactionary who roars about pedophiles, keep your kids far away.
3
I remember a scene from the 1978 Holocaust tv mini-series, where a mass of Jews had been lined up before a deep trench, to be executed. One German officer noticed a particularly striking prisoner – young, tall, blond, strong. The officer appealed to him – Are you not a good German, an Aryan? The prisoner acknowledged his Jewishness and the officer, clearly with regret, was obligated to continue with the execution. What’s in our minds and hearts – what the Libertarians call victimless crimes – love, belief, is somehow so triggering to so many disturbed people that they assume it is a criminal offense. A little self-reflection should enable these offended people to grasp that the problem is their own. But self-reflection is not the adult way. Or at least not the Republican way.
2
Historians have noted that when Hitler contradicted himself or presented an illogical argument, the public would often give him a pass because of the cognitive dissonance his utterances produced. It's easier to agree with something that makes no sense than to try and figure out what was said or meant. Could this be another of Trump's many strategies?
3
It really does not matter what the cowardly liar says or does. His percentage of the gay vote will be pretty near to his percentage of the black vote. Next to zippo overall.
Bruni's argument reduces to a simplistic "You have to support the Democrat agenda to be pro gay." I do not agree, but we'll see.
2
@Ambrose Rivers -- It isn't so much that you have to support the "Democratic agenda," but if you think there is not a fundamental contradiction between being pro-gay and supporting the Republican agenda (as that agenda currently exists), you are fooling yourself.
3
ok to support gay rights. OK to support black reparations.
BUT, let's start first with payment to Native Americans for taking their land, massacring most of them, and confining the rest to impoverished reservations.
That was our worst crime.
Calf Robe, adopted into the Blackfoot Indians in Montana
in 1937 (for $7 paid by my Daddy.)
2
If Frank Bruno can decipher Donald Trump’s warped, insane mind, he wins the $64,000 question.
No matter the topic, gays, Iran, the border, the man wants to confuse, convolute, cover up. He then thinks no one will notice he’s not quite a genius after all. He’s just a plain old liar.
3
Appearing all things to all people is always part of the Trump con. Perhaps some might say this is true about all politicians, but Trump takes it to an art form. He says a few nice things about gay people, but caters to the people who nurse silent fears. After all KKK members don't where their sheets all the time and may appear as up standing citizens during the day then burn crosses at night. Prejudice of all sorts exists in this country not only among Trump followers. That Trump caters to this often hidden prejudice is his path to power, and we can only hope that we as a nation have progressed far enough to see Trump's con for what it i, catering to the worst in people's natures to win an election.
2
Mr Bruni’s real complaint appears to be that acceptance and not advocacy simply isn’t good enough for the gay lobby.
2
All to the list" Megan Rapinoe, an openly gay star athlete on the world stage, leading the USWNT in the World Cup, as well as in the lawsuit for equal pay.
Sorry, Don, but your words are empty fabrications, hiding your true bigoted self.
1
It's very simple: Evangelicals made a pact with the devil to put him in office. Queer people don't have that political clout. He's purely id, purely transactional, purely mercenary. A beast.
3
Why focus on Trump? He doesn't run domestic policy - his right wing conservative Christine lackeys do -- look at Pence, Miller, Mulvaney and the slew of other who do the serious work. Trump is their useful idiot. What he says and feels (if anything) really doesn't matter.
3
What do you honestly expect from a man who governs by the seat of his pants and takes his queues from fox news? A man who is devoid of knowledge and tweets on his phone 24/7? A man so completely out of his league in his current position. You are dealing with a narcissistic deranged man. The sooner he is out of office the better for us all.
4
Given his previous behavior, I think Trump hates nursing moms alot more than he hates gays.
2
This column is ok as far as it goes, but an in-depth analysis would have to examine Pence’s role in pushing these policies, and McConnell’s role in irrevocably damaging the Judicial branch of government. Pence contributes ugliness (no Pride flags, e.g.) and Mitch is stuffing one Judicial moron after another into life long appointments. Trump probably doesn’t care about gays, he hardly cares about anything other than himself. But he’s quite willing to give Pence and McConnell free reign to damage the nation in ways we’ll never recover from.
34
The media is losing all credibility and integrity with me.
They can't call DJT's statement lies.
They can't call him a liar.
Maggie just loves "interviewing" DJT, when everyone on the planet knows what he is going to say: Economy--best ever. Unemployment--lowest ever. Wall--already built. North Korea and Irab--best peace ever. . . .
They can't call him incomptetent and unqualified to be President.
Apparently ONLY Hillary Clinton van do that during the vampaign and in the race between Obama and Clinton the media trashed Hillary and blackballed B. Sanders.
Now, once again, yet again an apologist with an "analyst" of how DJT is gay tolerant.
Will the media give DJT another estimates $4 billion in free air- time.
ENOUGH ALREADY!
13
How come no mention of Trump's distancing himself from Roy Cohn when Cohn got AIDS?
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/06/donald-trump-roy-cohn-relationship
9
Remember that Hitler never publicly endorsed the final solution. He left that to his henchmen.
It's called plausible deniability.
14
Who is your gay ' us'?
My black African American LGBTQ family and friends tell me that white European American Judeo-Christian majority LGBTQ are as white supremacist bigoted prejudiced racist as their non-LGTBQ peers.
While the white European American Judeo-Christian majority LGBTQ occupy the socioeconomic political educational demographic pinnacle of power and privilege in and out of the closet.
There is no closet that any black African American LGBTQ or straight can hide their color aka race aka ethnicity aka national origin.
9
Frank, it’s hard for me to believe that you actually *believed* 45 when he said that. Any of that. He’s been a shyster his whole life, why would this be any different?
5
Of course he doesn't have anything against gay's, after all his mentor was Roy Cohn the swinger depraved "provocateur",but the fact that he is now courting the "christians" makes him seem against the gay people, with him everything is transactional.
5
Progress is not inexorable. It is hard-won. And it is reversible.
Whether Trump leans one way or another, the GOP are preparing to roll back progress. The appointment of judges with anti-LGBTQ views will tip some of the scales in the opposite direction. Gerrymandering will add a thumb to the political weight on the right. Political contributions from right-wing zealots will add more force, usually hidden from public view. Underground social media will continue to seep in to poison minds and hearts. Unforeseen events will push some moderates back into fear and bigotry.
Justice is not the default state of the world. Justice is earned in labor, anguish, and pain. Most terrifying of all, it is temporary. There is no rest. There cannot be.
13
As an elder member of the LGBT+ community and a sociological researcher, I view our present society as being in a very tumultuous time. On the one hand we have the millennials and subsequent generations being more openly accepting, although we have to be very cautious about generalizing and attentive to where in the US they live. On the other hand, I detect we're entering (or have entered) a period of 'pinkblind' heterosexism, similar to colorblind racism. It is something hidden, not spoken about, but exists and is very real and very harmful. As Mr. Bruni noted, Trump, himself, is blasé in public appearance, but beneath the surface, the battle rages.
What I find in my own work is that for gay, white men, being gay is inconsequential due precisely because we're white men and have both the patriarchy and our race privileging us. But I see no improvement in the lives of LGBT+ people of color, or even in the lives of gay, white women. In short, the liberatory movement of Pride seemed to have only positively impacted the white (male) LGBT+ community because our society is unable to fully contemplate the intersection of LGBT+ and color. This arises because we haven't dealt with either the patriarchy or colorblind racism that is being reasserted more overtly.
24
@Eyes Wide Open
True, but to a lesser extent because the patriarchy remains intact.
2
@Peter Hornbein
+
Thank you. "Queer" always hits a sore spot, 2 fractured ribs to be exact.
Anti-gay violence is colorblind.
3
Frank, I wish you could have been in my city, St. Petersburg, Fl. last night! We stood with thousands in the sweltering June heat to be part of the largest Pride celebration in our state. For many years this event has been an integral part of our community, but this year feels different. From corporate sponsorship of the parade itself, to the huge number of large corporate participants ( Delta Airlines, Wells Fargo, and many more), we all said that the entire event felt like a grand, glorious, and positive repudiation of all the negative, backward policies that we see happening all around us. So many days I feel exhausted and hopeless. Yesterday I felt hope all around. Hope and love for the city we call home!
14
Sorry, Mr. Bruni. I don't know one queen who ever thought Donald Trump was for LGBTQ rights, or own their side.
Especially when he picked a mid-West evangelical crusader like Mike Pence who would only be heartbeat away from the Oval Office if "something" happened.
As for Richard Grenell, I can assure you as a Berliner I that all that gushing from Trump is one-sided, because all the Germans I know can't stand him.
Maybe it's because those of us here in New York City are already too familiar with Trump's penchant for expanding the truth or ignoring it altogether has made us wary of all those flowery campaign promises -- But there was never any doubt of his "straight" agenda which would come to include the sinking any legislation for transgender rights, and banning them from the military.
It doesn't get more macho than that.
And any day now you can expect him to take his focus off assumed front-runner Joe Biden, and set it on openly gay Mayor Pete, especially if he starts to gain more traction in the polls.
In the meantime, walk with Pride. Enjoy the festivities.
And welcome to the Resistance.
23
I know Trump's actions don't match his words and that could be problematic, but I think in the long run, times have changed. My kids are both in their early 20's and even after growing up in conservative, mostly Mormon Southern Utah, they and their peers are surprisingly open about LGBTQ rights and people. In fact, being gay, bi or trans is really not an issue for them. They know people that are gay, bi or trans and these young people are just getting on with their lives. Hopefully, the older ones will get with the program.
39
@Janice Crum
As the mother of teenagers, I agree. They’re surprisingly thoughtful and educated on matters of orientation and identity and flexible on all matters of the spectrum.
23
@Janice Crum
Yes, but judges are being appointed now and hurting people now. We need a strong, moral president now. I agree our children are far more open to accepting all people as equal. But we need acceptance of LGBTQ rights now.
30
@Janice Crum
I do agree with you, more or less. As both a high school teacher and university professor, I see that our young people are more accepting; however, I caution against over-generalizing. One must be very aware of where in the US one is. While I find hope in your experience with your kids and I applaud your parenting (the key to their attitudes), I have experienced quite the opposite both in the street and the classroom.
13
I tend to agree with those who support but are doubtful about the likelihood of either Elizabeth Warren or Pete Buttigieg defeating trump. But then I remember how Democrats pulled together and managed to elect Obama and also push gay marriage through the courts.
Sadly, however, I have pretty much run out of any vestige of the optimism and excitement I once had about the progress the US was making towards liberty and justice for all.
30
Mr. Bruni is correct in pointing out all of the progress we have made as a country in LGBTQ rights. If we remain a democracy, I fully expect this to continue.
Right now, much to my chagrin, that's a big "if."
21
It seems very unlikely that Trump is personally hostile to gays and, in all likelihood, his attitude on a person's sexuality (like more and more people nowadays) is probably one of couldn't-care-less. But I feel that the presence of fervent Christian religiosity in America still has a pervasive influence on many aspects of American government and society, in a way that it does not, for example, in the UK, where I live, and that this is the real source of the problem.
My husband is American (he's lived in London for 10 years now) and, naturally, we visit the US regularly to see friends and family, and we travel all around the country, which we love to do. I must say that if you think focussing your ire on Donald Trump when it comes to gay rights/attitudes in America is the right approach, you're barking up the wrong tree. A closer look at churches in America will be far more productive, albeit a much thornier issue, if our experiences and encounters in the US are anything to go by.
58
@Ian Burton
It is not only located in the churches. Wherever and whenever I see the words, 'populist', 'nationalist', or other similar terms, I frame them as 'white populism', or 'white nationalism' and those positions also include heterosexism, homo- and transphobia, and, of course, xenophobia.
5
@Ian Burton -- Whether Trump is personally hostile to LGBTQ folks is largely irrelevant. For the fact is, as we have seen, Trump will make common cause with ANY group, no matter how hateful, if he thinks doing so serves his purposes.
5
@Ian Burton
Ian, you are correct.
The problems with advancing gay/LGBTQ rights to extend our 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause – equal justice under the law for all – to each and every person in the nation, stem from Christian dogma and orthodoxy.
Our nation was founded by the Puritans and we have been struggling to throw off the yoke of their narrow minded, white patriarchal bigotry, sexism, and racism ever since.
Look no further than the sad reality that Roy Moore, a bible thumping, bigoted zealot, running for the Senate in Alabama again. He will get a lot of support from these 'Christians' who judge harshly, and are as far from the compassion of Jesus the man as could be possible.
Obviously, I am not a Christian. Nor do I subscribe to any faith. Still, I am utterly baffled by all of those who seem eager to abandon their own logic and reason to follow such a restrictive and mean spirited interpretation of the man, Jesus, who loved everyone.
5
When Trump goes, and I no longer care how he goes just that he does, we need to emulate the ancient Egyptians and erase his name from our monuments, record books, and history as if he never existed.
112
@Michael
I so agree with you except about history. He must be mentioned for the horror he inflicted on this country. We must always hope to not repeat history by learning from it.
But his portrait must never be in the White House and no statue must be erected trump.
34
@Michael. The real test is to see what happens after Trump leaves office. If he is convicted for the felonies he has committed, I suspect many items on your list will be automatic. If it doesn’t happen, and he gets a pass the way Wall Street and the banking industry were able to escape any convictions, then we will know there are two different Americas— one for the rich and powerful, and one for everyone else.
10
Words don't matter when you are appointing judges for life that will vote against social progress.
82
@Lisa Spinelli
So true. The Federalist Society has been playing the long game for more than 30 years and its agenda for rolling back social change via the appointment of judges itching to do just that is working all too well.
Add gerrymandering to the mix and it's "one step forward and two steps back" in terms of being able to elect leaders dedicated to preserving and defending all our rights.
20
Trump may be perfectly fine with the LGBTQ community, with gay rights, with the continued recognition of equal rights.
That just doesn't matter, because he will sell everyone else out to remain in the White House. He has no beliefs or mores other than "Look out for Number One."
So, the LGBTQ community will lose, because he wants the cake bakers votes. He makes a large contingent of his base happy with his judicial selections - including a huge chunk of the Senate who will not impeach him as long as he is useful.
Trump may be fine with gays - but he'll sell them out. There is really no difference between things he supports and things he doesn't. He pollute the earth until the floods come, as long as his donors can extract carbon; he'll sell out the civil rights of his own citizens by undercutting protections African Americans, LGBTQ, and every sick and underemployed American; he'll endanger non-citizens' lives egregiously.
As long as he wins.
59
"he gets away with it ...." not only because "gerrymandering, the structure of the Senate and the Electoral College have led to a government out of sync with the governed"
He gets away with it because the media specifically cable TV is so busy covering nonsense and irrelevant matters such as Biden's comments on civility that it's 24/7.
Cable TV will also replay Trump's tweets or lies at a presser or while he's shouting over a helicopter nearby endlessly.
Wouldn't it be informative if there was just one network and one column in every major newspaper devoted to revealing on a daily basis the changes the agencies and departments are making which are destroying our freedoms and our protections as we know them to be?
Deregulation, for instance. EPA, HHS, DOJ, HUD, Transportation, DHS, CFPB, CBP, Interior. And what about the court cases being fought against the Trump admin? It's hard to keep track. It would be great to see them compiled and updated - all in one place.
63
@mimi, let's not forget that Joe biden dragged Obama into marriage equality. I like your first sentence
1
Frank,
This is an informative column, but falls a bit short on analysis. Pretty obvious analysis, at that. Trump, and the entire GOPs’ prospects, are built on Evangelical and conservative Christian support. The higher the rise in Gay standing in the US culture, the bigger the reactionary backlash. Judges are key for they will rule the future. It’s scary, but hardly a secret.
42
@Dave d
Well put and an interesting point: one need only look at abortion and the rise of state statutes that outlaw abortion. My concern is this: once the GOP has finished packing the Courts and cementing their hold on governance in this country, making it a one-party government, the GOP will overtly and directly come for us.
6
@Peter Hornbeam First they came for the women's healthcare...
2
While a majority of people may not mind if their neighbor or co-worker is gay I would like to to see the results of a very simple one question poll: Would you be okay with a gay man or lesbian as president? That, to me, would be far more telling
then all these feel good stats and polls presnted in this editorial. As a gay man I'm betting the majority would not be.
11
@Mr. Mike
President is fine for me especially in light of some of the recent incompetent presidents we have had.
If that person is a Transgender, however I would not want to see him/her in the locker room that does not correspond with his/her genital appearance.
@Mr. Mike
I love Mayor Pete. I find him eloquent, thoughtful, honest, gentle, compassionate and love his quick wit. I have sent his campaign money and will likely send more. My only reservation is he is a bit young and "wet behind the ears". If not president I'd love to see him as the Democratic candidates vice president. The pairing doesn't matter. Biden/Pete, Warren/Pete, Harris/Pete, Bernie/Pete. Any combination works for me if he doesn't win the primary.
And I say this as a straight 60 year old mother of five straight children. We raised our children that the only thing that matters is character. Not race, not gender, not sexual preference. It's sad that for so many character lags way behind in attributes when "judging" people. Our son has several gay friends. One I see fairly often is one of the nicest young adults I know. He always asks after the family, asks how all are doing. Just an all around nice kid you would be proud to call your son. Mayor Pete is the same. An all-around nice young man that I'd be proud to call my son and MY president.
2
@Mr. Mike If the alternative is a narcissistic, cruel authoritarian wannabe who puts children in concentration camps, I think voters with qualms about electing a gay man, especially one that is decent, intelligent, and respectful, will set such concerns aside. Please remember that nearly 3 million more voters chose a woman over Trump and that it was only a tiny number of voters spread over three states that gave him the Electoral College.
3
Unfortunately, the only people who care about History are Professors or Journalists. Certainly Trump's base does not care.
We will all be dead when the History on the Trump Administration is written. Maybe it will matter in 100 years, but what matters right now for most Americans is an level playing field and it is never going to come to pass in the Trump Administration, no matter what is written.
The only alternative is to vote out the Trump Administration and the Republican Congress, not that there aren't some Democrats who feel the same way about the LBGT population. But they are greatly outnumbered.
22
@Jean The piece references more than one politician saying their sexual orientation played no role in their election. Sounds like a level playing field. My impression is that you don't want a level playing field - but want one slanted in your favor.
@Bill D
Dear Bill
I am not just referring to LBGT issues
I am also referring to Americans who live in poverty, Gerrymandering, the Tax Reform bill that favors only one Economic class, the lack of Separation of Church and State that is guaranteed in our Constitution and all of the other issues and freedoms that are threatened with this Administration
The real role of Government is to level the playing field for all, not just the precious few.
5
Once and for all, what Trump says doesn't matter. What he thinks matters even less. All that matters is what he actually does. Conditions for the LGBT community are getting worse under the current administration, and we mustn't be duped into thinking otherwise simply because certain individuals are treated with a modicum of respect. We mustn't be duped into thinking that a failure to pass anti-gay legislation is the same as a move toward LGBT equality. I don't see this changing until Trump is out of office, and even that will not be a return to the status quo. Vote.
50
@syfredrick
What Trump says does matter. I think poor countries of the world were probably upset when he used a scatological term to describe them. I think intelligent people probably cared when newspapers reported that the President said that they were stupid. When he said that the murderous rioters in Charlottesville were "fine people" it told the American people a lot.
2
Good op-ed. I have been sad as a gay man to hear so many gay friends or gay-friendly straight friends say how much they think Buttigieg would be a great president and then in the next breath say that he can't get elected due to being gay. It echos similar statements made years ago about the electability of an African-American to the presidency. Sadly, nothing seems to be learned from history.
20
@DJK.
The country has a long way to go. Still this year, a hundred years since Congress passed the 19th amendment, we hear the same fears about the women candidates.
26
@DJK.
I was one of those who didn't think the American people were ready to vote for an African-American as president. I was pleasantly proven wrong when Obam won. At present I'm not sure the American people are ready to vote for a gay man as president. If chosen to be the Democrat's candidate, however, I will happily vote for him to become our next president. If he loses the race for president I am reasonably certain he will have a long, successful and productive career in whatever political endeavor or office he may choose to become involved in.
If Buttigieg is not chosen to be the Democrat's candidate for president in 2020 at least we can be thankful that so many well-quaified and able people are in the running.
So many good choices to choose from! What is most important, of course, is the defeat of Trump.
19
@DJK. Well, the election of Barack Obama made the right wingers insane with rage. Their revenge was Donald Trump. Can you imagine what they will resort to when Buttigieg is elected?
3
Most people of both parties, honestly, are indifferent to the sexual practices of others. Most people view the minority of LGBTX population, to the extent they are "different" no differently than they consider evangelical Christians, druids, people who "believe" in extraterrestrials. People who have harmless eccentricities that make them unique in some way.
Obama ran for office asserting he was opposed to same sex marriage. There was and is a small minority of the aggrieved who see it as an important issue on both sides of the spectrum. It is not a litmus test for Republicans either way in evaluating candidates. There weren't protests at SCOTUS when it decided to overturn the law in 40 states, including California which had just voted in a Constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage.
There has been a backlash, and hard feelings on the right, for the vicious demand on the part of activists who have targeted bakers, florists and other artisans demanding that they participate in same sex marriages.
A fundamental issue with attempting to grant protected status to the LGBTX community is that the characteristic is self identified, unverifiable and varies over time, which creates the opportunity for false legal claims of discrimination
21
@ebmem
"There was and is a small minority of the aggrieved who see it as an important issue."
I remember in 2004 when gay activists kept screaming for attention from the Democrats. That kept ranting about nonexistent "gay marriage bans", when the important issue at the time was the Republicans' warmongering. All that this accomplished was to create a backlash from evangelicals that put Bush II back into office where he could continue conducting his wars..
3
@ebmem so, basically, we queers need to shut up and go back in the closet, right?
4
@ebmem
Oh please,
"the vicious demand.....of activists who have targeted bakers, florists....demanding they participate in same sex marriage"
It's called discrimination.
No one is demanding the florists go to bed with them.
The sky is not falling.
4
In spite of an out presidential candidate, there's still a very long road ahead. Today, I turned a corner of a quaint residential suburb and saw two men walking down the street, hand in hand. As soon as they heard my car coming up behind, they nervously let go of each other.
24
It's possible "the arc of history bends towards justice", as people hopefully claim, but we've got to put our entire weight on it for that to happen.
44
well said
2
Great Comment!!
2
"His treatment of gay people perfectly reveals the flabbiness of his convictions and his willingness to stand at odds with a majority of Americans if it pleases the smaller number who adore him."
Flabbiness of convictions and hypocrisy defines very many politicians, of all parties. As for "majority of Americans", Mr. Trump and Mr. Bruni do not read the same polls.
5
disagree...vehemently.
trump’s exceptional moral and political flabbiness has infected what used to be a party of conscious convictions rather than peripatetic politics of expediency. mcconnell preceded him in this and has enabled him at every turn. given this, good ole mitch deserves to be placed in the company of calhoun as one who has destroyed our comity out of personal fulfillment and our Union out of self-service and self-dealing.
nice try though....
2
With Mike Pence as VP, how could it be otherwise than the LGBTQ community would be sacrificed to ensure the votes of the Evangelists and conservative "Christians"? These judges will shape legal interpretation for a full generation and will prove that they are further and further behind the majority of American opinion on gay rights.
45
He was never for you, Frank. He is only for himself. He will certainly keep the con going with his evangelicals, which means appointing extreme judges with gay rights and other things in their cross hairs. The only good news here is that Americans, especially youth, as a whole grow more accepting. But that doesn’t stop republicans from seizing control and turning back progress.
60
Trump believes what his core supporters want him to believe. In turn, they believe what he wants them to believe. It's a closed system endlessly running in a loop.
42
@LauraF
Is that in comparison to Hillary and Obama who had private beliefs that differed from their public beliefs?
1
@ebmem
No, it has nothing to do with that. How did you take that away from my post?
2
"and gets away with it partly because gerrymandering, the structure of the Senate and the Electoral College have led to a government out of sync with the governed."
That's the nub right there. Thirty-five percent of the population is controlling our government right now. It's difficult for me to see anything changing until this changes. that and the state media called For News.
97
Whenever I have heard Mayor Pete speak, he is articulate, clear, and erudite in a way that reminds me of Barack Obama. He crystallizes thoughts. His words have import and meaning. He edifies. This gravitas is completely lacking of course in Trump's utterances. I particularly love the way he is trying to "take back" from the holier than thou the concepts of "values" and even Christianity itself. One reason so many of us are "evolving" at this time, is the example of a marriage such as his, especially in the face of the destruction of families at the border, the failure of priests, rabbis, youth leaders to protect the sexuality of youth in their care, the hypocrisy that is rampant among church leaders of all stripes, not to mention the breakdown of so many heterosexual relationships, the desperation evidenced by suicide and addiction rates. Pete Buttigieg does not need to be "more seasoned". Why not have a person at the peak of his or her strength, whose wisdom is already evident, so much so that his gender or orientation is of no concern.
92
@Boomer:
I liked Mayor Pete to begin with, but now, I have to wonder, what is he FOR?
What are his plans for nationwide medical care and what will he do about big pharma, the big corporations (being encouraged by the tax cut bill) to outsource overseas?
What are his plans for college kids with lifelong debt due to
the confused/ purposeful changes in loan laws allowed by this administration? What about the environment which Trump/GOP/ Mitch seem to want to destroy to benefit the 1%?
And so on and so on.....being young and energetic and photogenic can only do so much.
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@Boomer Pete's wisdom may be so obvious to you that it transcends political considerations, but please don't assume that everyone will see the great strength in him that you do. I see in Pete a bright, articulate young guy without much political experience who is probably not "at the peak of his strength." That will come with more seasoning and years of experience. And sadly, don't assume all American voters are as able as you to accept his sexuality. Maybe when he is in his fifties we will have continued to evolve on LGBTQ issues, while he has also become a stronger candidate. Pete's time has not yet come.
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@RLiss
What is he for?
Everything you mention he has addressed in question after question including at all the townhalls and on his site Pete for America.
You might be impressed with his positions, which are very well stated and researched....if you bothered to take a look.
He is the real deal.
6
Thank you Mr. Bruni for all of this information you've pulled together into this informative essay.
Having come of age in the 50/60s in the mostly-great state from which Mayor Pete hails, I celebrate his visibility and welcome his success. It was not so easy for my generation - the bullying from the evangelical "Christian" culture left deep scars.
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It is rare for me to disagree with Frank Bruni. But in this instance I find no significant inconsistency between Trump's favoring gay rights in words and nominating Supreme Court justices who will find reasons to deny those rights. Why? Because LGBTQ rights really don't matter to him. He just doesn't care on way or the other. Abortion, gun rights, and low taxes are the most important issues to his base and to the McConnell crowd in the Senate. He has to be "pure" on those issues when nominating court appointees and LGBTQ issues are whatever comes after tertiary.
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I will start by saying I LOVE Mayor Pete. He is smart, articulate, politically astute, a centrist while being progressive and someone to watch. That being said, I wish he would have waited till he was a bit more seasoned to run for office. Perhaps, if he is looking for name recognition for a run in a few years, that is great.
But right now, I want someone who has the best chance of beating Trump. He is not it.
22
@Diane L. Personally I’m hoping he gets the Governor’s office in Indiana. That’s the greatest way to prepare for the Presidency. And going back home to face the difficulties of race relations in his town is the right thing to do. It’s a chance for him to learn needed lessons. I’m definitely thinking of his future. We need people like him.
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@Flaminia
While Mayor Pete's practical approach has earned him some support from Republicans in South Bend, Indiana remains a very red state and Pete is a liberal Democrat. I don't think statewide office is in the cards for him, and I suspect if he thought it was, he might not be running for president today.
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@Diane L.
agree!
Declining to participate in the transition surgeries and prescribing of transition medications is quite different than refusing medical care for someone who is ill or injured. Transition surgeries are elective scheduled events and transition medications and supportive care are likewise not emergencies and should be managed by physicians who are specialists in this area. No physician should be forced to surgically remove sexual organs that are not diseased or create sexual organs electively. That can be done electively by another physician who is comfortable and competent with that surgery. Refusal to treat an LGBTQ patient with an illness or injury is unacceptable. While some may feel that being transgendered is a medical problem, the transgendered themselves may actually take great offense at calling this situation a medical problem at all. You just can't win sometimes. As a society, can't we find adequate care situations for persons who require this treatment rather than force physicians to participate who find it so foreign to what they consider the practice of medicine.
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@DocG - I agree you’d be crazy to seek transition care from someone who didn’t have the interest and expertise to do it well. Most of the noise in this area though seems to arise from a handful of far-right physicians & surgeons whose specialty is searching for personal offensive in any matter they disagree with and then working with a few religious/legal groups in inflating the matter. I don’t recall LGBT advocacy groups advocating that every physician in America be personally required to provide this care.
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@DocG
No one wants or would try to force a physician who does not specialize in transgender issues to perform a surgery for which the physician is not qualified. And your supposed concern is a strawman argument. Because what is being advanced as policy by the Trump administration is allowing medical personnel to deny serving someone who is gay or bi or in transition even though qualified to treat the issue or problem, such as the flu or appendicitis.
No one in the medical profession (plus pharmacists) when qualified/licensed for a given service should be permitted to deny treating a person just because that person is gay or bi or transgender. That is a violation of the Oath taken by medical personnel, the license to practice and common human decency. It is immoral and, for those professing to be Christians, wanting to deny their services is in contravention of the teachings of Jesus as recording in the Gospel books for Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
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@DocG Physicians who specialize in gender reassignment surgery do so voluntarily, and have pursued the field as any other specialist would. No one is "forcing" their PCP to "remove" sexual organs -and your description of it as such is very telling, in that you clearly have no idea what you're talking about. Whether or not it is elective isn't up to you or anyone but the patient and their physicians to determine. It should be noted that a very small number of transgender people undergo full gender reassignment beyond hormonal treatment (and yes, it is a medical issue, I challenge you to find a transgender person who would actually "take great offense" at calling it that. I can almost guarantee you won't -again, no idea what you're talking about). Many are perfectly fine with the genitalia they were born with, while living the gender identity they feel fits them best.
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Frank, I was taking photos of the tv when that speech was given (to help me see him as a man in a box). Anyway I've always been astonished that not one single person had brought that up. To me it was significant and another betrayal as you say.
I wish I could be more articulate and expansive on the subject, but you've articulated it beautifully. The sheer fact that you write an article about it is satisfying.
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Frank does a nice job of summarizing LBGT progress and is right about Trump's indifference and harmful policies toward gay people. I believe, however, that Buttigieg and probably Frank Bruni are misreading all this progress as an indication that the American public is ready to put a gay man and his husband in the White House. Buttigieg says the subject hardly ever comes up in interviews. The media's silence on the subject is a result of political correctness, not an indication that the country has beaten homophobia and it is now a non-issue for voters. Chuck Todd, in one of the few discussions I've heard on the subject, described it as "the elephant in the room." Barney Frank has said he is "skeptical" that Pete could win a national election. The election of 2020 is as important as any we have ever had. Would Democrats take the enormous gamble of making a gay man their nominee? Yes, LGBT people are winning many more elections on the local and state levels. But the Presidency and White House are sacred institutions to many voters. Can Pete win over millions of swing voters, older voters, religious voters, voters with more traditional values? When it comes to pushing that button for a gay man to be in the top office, I fear many would hesitate - a chance Democrats should not take in their enthusiasm for gay progress.
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@Joe Langford I could not agree more with you. Put Mayor Pete as our nominee and watch the presidency go south. He cannot win....not now, but he is paving the way for a different future. As an old idealistic hippy when young, i had no idea how slowly this country changes. We are still fighting for the same causes we fought for in the 60's, and McGovern, our nominee got creamed. Sorry, but a vote for Mayor Pete is a vote thrown away. Not gonna happen. I'd like to see Mayor Pete in the cabinet doing some really important work. He will be more effective there.
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Another aging hippie here, who cannot believe we are still fighting the same battles we fought way back when! Mayor Pete would not win...winning is crucial. I, too,would like to see him in the cabinet as well as a few of the others candidates.
Think of Kamala Harris as attorney general and Inslee at interior. We would make great strides. Warren has the best ideas, but I don’t think she can pull it off, either, and we need to win by a huge margin to forestall any challenges.
Please vote for whomever is chosen, however. We don’t need a rerun of 2016. Four more years of trump and there will be nothing left of these United States.
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@Nina In one sense we're already there. Trump has made clear that we are the Divided States of America, of which he is happy to represent the interests of about one-third of the nation.
18
The only thing I can say is that LBGTQ folks better get out and work for any and all Democratic Candidates from the Court House to Town Hall to State House to Congress and the Presidency. Get out and vote for any and all Democrats. (this includes all Democrats as well)
And along with all Democrats need to stop the denigration of our Candidates as we are so apt to do. Anyone remember 2016 and what that gave us?
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@David I could not agree more. One thing that politicians at all levels understand is the next election. If you can help them win they will remember. The people that win elections are involved in making policy; those that lose are not.
Any Democrat would be better than a republican. Can you believe those people in 2016 who said they could see no difference between Ms. Clinton and The Donald? And some of the people who said that were Democrats. Best wishes.
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@David
True. But 2016 did not have a meaningful primary and a candidate was anointed that failed badly in 2008.
1
@CitizenTM Oh please. This is exactly what I was talking about. There was a meaningful primary and Hillary won the votes. Bernie, an independent, was allowed to run in the Democratic Primaries and he and his folks demonized Hillary as much or more so than Republicans did and then took their votes and stayed home or voted for Green or Trump and look what we got.
13
Buttigieg said, “Perhaps the most interesting thing is how often it doesn’t come up — all the interviews in which it’s not mentioned. At this point, it’s safe to say that that’s most of the time.”
I'm not surprised by any of this. It reminds me of Paul Tsongas a bit, the early leader in 1992. His fund-raising was doing well, and when asked why, he referred to the support of the Greek community. That of course is not to belittle Mr. Tsongas, the Greek community or anyone else. It was simply Tsongas' acknowledgement of the plain facts. I would bet anything that the same is true of Buttigieg and the gay community, again with no disrespect intended.
At any rate, as for present application: that one time excepted, I never heard Tsongas or anyone else refer to the Greek community or to his ties to it. There'd have been no point to it. The real breakthrough is, there'd be just as little point to doing the same thing now.
8
Frank, the majority of those of us who don't get a letter (yes, I'm a bit hurt that I'm not L, G, B, T, Q, I or A) have your back. That's so because (1) we can tell right from wrong, and it's flat out wrong to leave our LGBTQ sisters and brothers to the tender mercies of vicious bigots, self righteous believers in a god who despises so much of his creation, and terrified hostiles quaking with uncertainty about their own sexuality; (2) we believe that we are all created equal, unalienably entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; (3) tons of us are like me, father to a B, grandfather to a B, a G, and a beautiful, determinedly happy T. So far.
We aren't just a majority. We are a fervent majority, fully aware that in standing by your side, we are owning up to our own best version of us. We are living up to the pledge we recited in kindergarten, swearing allegiance to one nation with liberty and justice for all. We are manning up to the mandate to protect with implacable love our daughters, sons, nieces, nephews, grandkids, and friends.
We will not falter. They will not win.
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@Victor. I don’t get a letter either, but I am the oh-so-proud mother of an L. And I throw my voice, my passion, my love and protection in with yours. No, sir. They. will. not. win.
21
Meanwhile here in Florida... Our Republican Governor and legislature are on the record wholeheartedly supporting State funded charter schools that expel students who identify as members if the LGBTQ community. Seriously. The Orlando Sentinel has done a great job reporting in this. I sincerely hope some of the reporters coming to Florida this week for the Democratic debates follow up on this story.
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This op-ed is a decent counterpoint to Andrew Sullivan's piece in the NY Mag, where he hails the strides LGBTQ folks have made while victim blaming those who aren't, in his eyes, grateful for progress made. (A shockingly entitled take from a rich white man.) As for Trump, he's being used by (and is using) the evangelical forces that be. They are emboldened and finally see a chance to tear away at our constitutional rights. Many states are trying to enact anti-LGBTQ legislation by religious and political zealots. In my state of Florida you can get married and fired from your job because of your employer's religious beliefs. Also, Tony Perkins was just named the head of the Federal Religious Freedom Commitee. This guy has hated our community for decades and would gleefully celebrate the dismantling of Marriage Equality. While rightfully enjoying Pride this month the LGBTQ tribe needs to stay ever so vigilant.
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@Kanaka
Tony Perkins is angry he can't come out.
Maybe HE should find a pool boy like Jerry Falwell, Jr.!!! That might lighten him up a bit.
12
The secret to understanding The Donald is understanding that anything which affects him (such as 2020 election) is important and he expresses opinions about; the things that don't affect him personally are irrelevant. Generally these days when he comes out for something or against something, it is because the issue pleases his base and hence the 2020 election.
For example: I don't know that The Donald knows or cares anything about transgender people. But many of the evangelicals in his base do, hence he is against them. I wonder what he actually feels about Israel. Many of his base love Israel and Bibi and hate Iran so we have the crisis in the Persian Gulf.
It would be interesting to know if the man has any opinions or beliefs other than pandering to whatever is good for him at the moment.
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I agree with the point of this article. I'm not gay but have always supported gay rights, back when I was in high school and most of the people I later realized were gay were closeted. Things were a little different at university, at least the one I went to. People were more open and accepting. Today I think the LGBTQ community has so much that is positive to report. I attend a class where I've met gay and trans people and everyone is accepting. I'm a little older than some of the students in this class, though, and I am pretty out of the loop with things today so younger people tend to want to get offended when I don't understand things. Once a young woman quickly questioned me when I assumed she had a boyfriend. Oh my gosh. "Why do you assume it's a boyfriend," she quickly said defensively. I responded, "I'm sorry. I'm old and even though I don't care about your sexual or gender preference, I still make mistakes like that. Or misspeak." I think the LGBTQ community has to try to understand and assume goodwill in many places and situations where they might fear haters. Rainbows to all!
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@Anne: My daughter who has many friends in LGBTQ community used to get really upset with me if I got a pronoun wrong. I used to get 'they' so confused! She'd be talking about 'they' when I thought she was talking about one person. That was my biggest learning curve! And as she's gotten older, the more forgiving she is - like all of us.
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“There might be some people who care about it, but they wouldn’t be considered swing voters, so they’re not relevant in terms of who you have to win over. It never comes up in terms of scrapping for the votes you need in the middle.”
That is an important insight that applies more widely.
However, it does not mention the other factor, the effect on mobilizing the two margins. I might mobilize many for, and some others against. The balance of the effect on mobilization of the two extremes is just as important as the balance of the effect on the middle.
Moreover, the middle is not what it is often portrayed to be. The swing voters are not "moderates" in any uniform way in their opinions on all things. They likely don't even agree with each other on all things. They are just those willing to vote either way. They might well feel strongly about different issues championed by both sides, and feel torn. Or they might not really care very much, "my vote wouldn't matter." A gay candidate could impact all of these groups, and in different ways with each individual.
19
Frank correctly reminds that this Republican President has surrounded himself in the White House with Freedom Caucus advisors, pushing the conservative Republican agenda, aided and abetted by Sen. McConnell's Federalist Society Dream Team Judicial Juggernaut - aptly demonstrating why Dems need to win the Senate in 2020 as well as the White House.
That this crowd represents such a teensy slice of all America, is the exact reason they are always always always on offense, mightily striving to create the impression of validity by flooding our news cycle.
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@R. Law
The Freedom Caucus has never done anything positive for this country. They live by Grover Norquist's view that the best government is the one underwater at the bottom of the bathtub. The voters who reelect people like Jim Jordan and Mark Meadows are fools; these men are not "serving" their constituents.
14
@R. Law - sorry to see you even relate to Dems winning the Senate in 2020, a total impossibility, waste of breath, time and effort. I would think it would be more practical to get down in the weeds with McConnell's "base" and try to change their so-called minds.
@willw - With the R's having to defend 22 Senate seats vs. the D's only having to worry about 12 seats, 2020 is a much better opportunity than 2018, when D's had to defend 26 seats vs. R's only worrying over 9 seats.
Still, in 2018 D's came within 2 points of grabbing Ted Cruz's seat.
The rage of the electorate is being seriously underestimated by the R's; D's should capitalize on the 2018 wave which flipped the House. The R's are so worried that they are constantly working at new ways to keep D's from the polling booth, and are trying to find 1 million new R's to register in Texas to keep the largest Repub. Electoral College state from turning blue.
Courage !
9
The momentum for LBGT rights was indeed great - politically, legally, and in public opinion. Cruelly, that may have set the scene for tremendous disillusionment. It felt like the forward motion was such that there was no going back. Unfortunately, there is inevitably a reactionary response to social progress. Same as with civil rights and women’s rights. Nothing can be taken for granted. At the same time, we must also keep our eyes on the prize and not stop fighting for justice to ultimately prevail.
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@NM -- That is an important point.
Supporters of any significant social swing must be alert to signs of a swing back again, as the pendulum of opinion does what it does.
It used to be called "counter revolution." We've seen it here, and everywhere overseas. It is not just sometimes, but rather a constant.
It can be defeated. It will need to be, because it is inevitable it will appear.
35
Trump has no values. He does whatever is expedient. He very well could be a threat to the gay community in that he has no values but to advance himself.
Buttigieg was a consultant for McKinsey and Company. Buttigieg is all about gaming the system to the advantage of his company or himself. Thus, he comes equipped with hubris, thinking he could win over black protesters in South Bend. As one young pundit said, “Pete Buttigieg is what you get when Patrick Bateman decides to pursue politics instead of banking.” Common folk aren't buying Mayor Pete, and it has nothing to do with orientation.
Hence, even though there are vast differences between Trump and Buttigieg, they view human beings the same way, as widgets or elements to be leveraged to advance issues or themselves.
13
@Wordsworth from Wadsworth
"...He does whatever is expedient. .." TO HIM. Whatever benefits his momentary whim, with not a whit of a care to the greater good, and he is supported by his impotent crowd of same.
I was less disgusted with Nixon, and I hated Nixon to my every strand of DNA.
3
@Wordsworth from Wadsworth: I'm a 'common folk', an older white straight woman and Pete is my first choice for president. And I take offense at being called 'common folk' and your slam on a very good person.
5
@Fourteen14: If you think 'passion' only comes from yelling at people, you are wrong. Both Sanders and Warren and Biden and Booker and Harris are screamers. I'm sick of people screaming at me. Watch the S. Carolina gathering yesterday. I had to mute most of it. Is it just microphone technique? I do not know, but the screaming from these people has got to stop! It does not indicate intelligence or passion. It's just yelling.
Pete does not yell. He does not scream. I breathe easier, I feel calmer when he's speaking. Warren may have great policy proposals but I can't listen to her. I can't listen to most of them, each pitched louder than the last.
5
Any minority subject to historic oppression should be wary of Donald Trump. He thrives on scapegoating, marginalizing and demonizing. In the way of all bullies, he operates always on a calculus of power and in a mirror-image universe where Christians and white males are an oppressed minority and the biggest threats come from the least powerful members of society. In Donald Trump's world, there's a constant need for targets. He much prefers those who can't or won't fight back.
100
I am simply going to say that based on my experience with crowd enthusiasm at baseball games, the actual national anthem is not “The Star Spangled Banner.”
It’s “Y.M.C.A.”
I often marvel, and wonder if everybody knows what the song’s even about.
43
@Robert incorrect
@Robert I am absolutely stealing this insight. As you are 100% right!
2
@Robert this is one of the most astute observations ever offered. In my mind’s eye, I see Donald preening on stage at one of his rallies while Macho Man plays with the crowd roaring and I have the same thought about the cosmic joke.
4
Re: “I think it’s absolutely fine,” he said when asked in a Fox News interview about displays of affection between Pete Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten. “That’s something that perhaps some people will have a problem with. I have no problem with it whatsoever. I think it’s good.”
Meanwhile...let's all remember: M. Pence, tried to legally, indemnify homophobic business owner-operators in Indiana, as, (a homophobic), Governor!
Meanwhile...Pence's wife works at what has been described as a 'segregation_academy'!
The term refers to the effort, in the 1960's to 'protect' racial segregation via creating private academies; ...whether said segregation is primarily racist, (Vs. 'homophobic', and/or...
both), remains to be determined...
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Frank, He has no convictions or principles. Everything is transactional, and He must come out ahead, at least in his own
“ mind.” His only reliable, to-the-Death constituency is the Evangelicals. And that’s entirely due to their compromising on their long stated goals of “ character “ and “ family values.” Pastor Pence is his Jesus Whisperer, a combination of a failed Hoosier businessman and a low rated televangelist. No steak, no sizzle. Trump is the star, Pence is the mule.
God help us ALL.
571
@Phyliss Dalmat
Remember that his longtime attorney and advisor, Roy Cohn, was gay. On an individual level, he couldn’t care less about a person’s sexual orientation if that person is on his team.
17
@Phyliss Dalmatian
Yes, you are right about Pence. What kind of Christian advocates locking innocent children in cages? The unchristian kind.
21
I would guess that many if not all of the ant-LGBTQ actions of the Trump Administration are due to Mike Pence's influence. He was the one who pushed through the anti-LGBTQ Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana. LGBTQ people who are agitating for Trump's removal from office through the impeachment+Senate conviction mechanism or 25th Amendment mechanism are acting against their own interest.
28
@CH, don’t forget Pompeo. He’s just as extreme as Pence, just more passive aggressive about it. In some ways, Pompeo is more dangerous, because he has, in many ways, more power. Pompeo’s philosophy is rooted in his christian fanaticism, his supposed memberships is cult-like groups and his fear and anger at “The Other”. In 2014, Pompeo told a church group that Christians needed to "know that Jesus Christ as our savior is truly the only solution for our world". Scary times!
6
If you haven't got it by now, let me spell it out for you: politically, Donald Trump is an extreme pragmatist. Most of his decision making isn't based upon his own moral convictions (assuming that he actually has them), or about what he feels is right for our country; rather it's based upon what he feels will continue to endear him to his political base. Everything which Mr. Bruni cites in this editorial fits in perfectly with the ideology which Trumps core supporters believe in. So while the country, and perhaps the centrists within the Republican Party, may be moving more and more towards inclusiveness with the LGBTQ community, Donald Trump will still act in opposition to advancing the rights of LGBTQ citizens as long as he feels that traditional homophobic bigotry still enhances his support among his base.
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@Al - Agreed. However, where might one find those illusory "centrists" in the (R) party? Diogenes is still looking…
5
@Al
We already know Donald will do whatever it takes to make a sale.
Moral convictions vary from need to need.
5
I appreciate your sentiments, Frank Bruni. I have no problems with a gay US president. I just have my doubts that someone who is LGBTQ can win the general election.
I hope Pete Buttigieg gets a prominent role in the next Democratic administration. And I desperately hope that administration comes to power in 2021.
Such an outcome will be best for America and the world, including us not having to deal with Trump and his self-serving anti-gay policies anymore.
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@Blue Moon Lets have a woman of color and a gay man as president and vice president. The US might get it's soul back.
8
@Blue Moon: I think a gay President would be fine, but that gay President would have to be older than Mayor Pete and have served as a Senator, Governor or at least a Congressman first.
ALSO: I kinda wonder what will happen long term, as Mayor Pete and his partner smooch in public, and when they have kids -- by exploiting a surrogate and abusing reproductive technologies meant for straight married couples. I'd hate to see a poor little motherless child in the White House.
1
@Blue Moon I will be reasonably happy with anyone but Trump, but I think a gay man will be elected before a woman. Misogyny is more powerful and of course is also a component of homophobia. But a gay man is still....a man.
8