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Senator Hatch Did Not Mean To Insult The LGBT Community, Says He Was Giving Us A Compliment

06/12/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Senator Orrin Hatch believes that he gave the LGBT Community a compliment and not an insult when he stated “gays and lesbians don’t pay tithing, their religion is politics.” Well, for the likes of myself and Dr. Rachel Maddow, that might be rather close to the truth. The two of us have a fascination for all things political though she has her degree in Political Science and I have mine in History. Now, Senator Hatch is trying to walk back his statements. “Many gay people are vociferous Democrats who are willing to pony up money for politics. That’s something I admire. I don’t know how I could have been much more complimentary the way I said it,” Hatch told the Tribune Friday. Well, so far, yes, many lesbians, gays and transpeople are, well, Democrats. This comes from the fact that most Democrats are at least willing to appear as if they support our issues and make our lives easier. He also tried to state “There are some very, very good gay people who are very religious who undoubtedly pay tithing. That wasn’t what I was talking about. I was talking about politics and praising them for getting involved.”

Well, Senator Hatch, it certainly did not sound like you were paying us a compliment, nor does it seem like you were praising us for getting involve. I know many religious people who get involved in politics such as, say, those nice Catholic Bishops who were crawling all over the Hill this week. Have you seen what is out there with the Tea Party? Have you seen the ones with the crosses on full display? I would say that the religious were just as likely to get involved as us lesbians, gays and transpeople.

Of course, Senator Hatch, if you are not pandering to them, but noticing just how little money you are receiving from the LGBT Community, then you might want to stop acting like a homophobic moron and stop supporting the homophobic policies of the religious groups which are busy supporting the Republican Party. If you would like to support our causes, then you might just get some of our money.

Of course, Senator Hatch was just trying to get the St. George Republicans to band together like the “unions, environmentalists, personal-injury lawyers, and gay activists” do for the Democrats. Apparently, Senator Hatch has not been around to listen to the various groups snipe at each other and even within themselves over what legislative initiatives are suppose to be moved forward.

Of course, at a time when the Tea Party is starting to realize just how unelectable their chosen politicians may be, the idea that the Republican Party needs a cheerleader like Hatch does not seem all that far off.

Still, Senator Hatch, if you were willing to let go of the homophobia and support a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, well, maybe we would be willing to support you too.

Of course, that means losing out on the support of the Roman Catholic Church and all the other anti-LGBT groups out there which the Republican Party is beholden to.