In a panel discussion at the 2016 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), out Fox News contributor Guy Benson participated in a debate about gay marriage, and his remarks about the “so-called open-minded” supporters of same-sex marriage will definitely ruffle a few feathers.
In his remarks, Benson takes aim at the gay rights “heretics” he thinks are too intense when it comes to shouting down antigay discrimination and those who don’t believe in marriage equality.
He said that activists on the left:
“are hounding heretics ruthlessly from their midst to the point that if you’re a Democrat, if you’re a liberal and you might hold traditional views on marriage, you probably don’t want to talk about it very much for fear of the wrath and judgment of your fellow so-called open-minded leftists.”
We’re not going to say we’re with him, but it’s certainly unfair to frame his remarks as saying that gays “should be more tolerant of discrimination.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Whether you agree or not, it’s not exactly a bad thing to have an out gay man in support of marriage equality calmly debate the issue face to face with people who aren’t on board.
Watch below — the good stuff starts at around 8:00 and picks up again at 12:35 — and make the decision for yourself: is Benson an advocate that we need in a party that needs to be pushed past their homophobia, or a misguided gay wasting his breath on people who will never get it?
Luis H. Lopez
Another self loathing gay shit bag!
DCguy
Isn’t it funny that I never hear the FOX News defenders admit that the anti-gay folks should lighten up on their discrimination and anti-gay attacks. Or I never hear them call out Ted Cruz on air for attending meetings by groups wanting to legalize the murder of LGBTs.
Nope, it’s just the complaints from the people who DON’T want to be legally murdered that they complain about.
What a shock, somebody working for FOX attacking people speaking out for civil rights.
Creig Stearne
I think this ass hike should not work for Fox but clearly is suited for a backward bigoted news agent.
Amaurys Arias
Seriously?
James Freeman
He’s found his niche as being someone who speaks out against their own people. It’s an easy way to make money.
Michael Sofield
To answer the question posed on the Queerty website (since I’m not inclined to register for another website just to make a comment):
Benson is an advocate that we need in a party that needs to be pushed past their homophobia who is unfortunately probably wasting his breath on people who will never get it. The two choices offered in the question are not mutually exclusive.
scotshot
If I sound like them they’ll love me and accept me. Turnco
Jim Robert
People will do anything for a few dollars……
scotshot
@scotshot: *Turnco = didn’t delete.
James Rumsey
Perhaps people against marriage equality should ease up their rants about how all gay people are pedophiles etc…
Alexis Barros
Randy Judd
I think we shouldn’t. At your fingertips.
http://www.cc.org/user_submitted_news/gay_agenda
Greg Marmai
F*ck off!
AtticusBennett
Gays at CPAC be like…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R6jqMysHaA
John Malin
Seriously? Then he most likely believes blacks should ease up on those who still want slavery to make a comeback? Civil rights are either universal, or they are a privilege for a special caste of people. You simply cannot have it both ways. Keep fighting for full equality!
AtticusBennett
dear gay republicans, this is why your party doesn’t respect you, and self-respecting gay men don’t associate with you. you’re wimps. you’re cowards. you have neither integrity nor spines. you’re not supported. you’re not accepted. you’re not loved. you act like doormats, and your bigoted family and “friends” wipe their s**t-covered boots on you.
we gay liberals don’t have that problem. just remember; you’re not loved and supported. you’re conditionally tolerated. and that’s the best you’ll ever get, and you know it.
#quisling
Alex Rothwell
Be against, poverty, war hunger, the Flint water crisis that has yet to be fixed. This guy is an idiot.
Louie Mars
No, I won’t.
Antony Nguyen
He should have a seat
James
He is an idiot.
Tyler Harris
Sorry forever dragging y’all to hell
Memo Blanquet
I vomit every time I hear such things as gay conservatives. Paul Germanotta
David Pickersgill
It’s Fox…
Stilinski26
Gay republican, gay Christians or gay Muslims don’t know which is the worst
Dan Pisko Jr
Well, that’s one way to get attention.
William Meyer
RIck Dean
bite me
James V Carroll
He’s being intellectually dishonest for the sake of a paycheck. People already have the right to believe as they choose. That’s not in question. But nobody should have the right to treat an entire group as second class citizens. That’s the point.
Tom Whitmore
A moron!
Ken Spragg
To adapt an epithet, why should any self-respecting gay person care what this sniveling house-faggot Uncle Tom thinks?
http://kola.cc.columbia.edu:8080/ramgen/mmt/malcolmx/mxaudio/mxa_17.rm
ndspspx
@Randy Judd: warning this link leads to an anti-gay hate site, this user has posted many links on his facebook profile to garbage.
Ralph Vendegna
Are YOU NUTS? Be more tolerant of discrimination? I think not.
BobbyB
It’s funny how little turnout they had at this event, but all of their other events were packed… I don’t know why lgbt people are still defending republicans when they clearly don’t want to defend us. Those people should honestly just switch to the Libertarian party which would more align with them.
David Wickham
Piss off
Georgie Land
Clearly, he’s a fool.
Robert Cuthbertson
Hey dude, lick my ass!
Justin Weeks
No
Don Hanover
working for fox is obscene …
Gio Ortiz
How about Religious zealots just chill out themselves and stop trying to take my rights away?!
Jay A. Scaramazzo
Out and Fox News cannot be used in the same sentence.
Stephen Sottile
This person fails to see the point, we don’t much care if they don’t like it. No one is asking them to engage in such a marriage or even show up. Just leave us alone…
Gary Hecklinger
People against Marriage Equality need to ease up and follow the law!!
Jim Philbrick
Ahh being young, gay and super ignorant
Bauhaus
Marriage equality didn’t just happen. It took decades of fighting tooth and nail. We are still second-class citizens in many ways. Equality in marriage was an enormous victory for us and it paves the way for more rights and protections. We can’t afford to capitulate with bigots.
Xzamilio
Yay… time to shamelessly plug my blog post about this guy:
http://shallowvoices.blogspot.com/2015/05/are-lgbt-becoming-too-militant.html
Note: I don’t care who is pissed off I put this here.
Adam Lingus
I actually agree with Guy Benson. Liberals need to uphold liberal values, even when it doesn’t work for them.
Juanjo
I have an issue with his opinion not to mention how it is expressed. The situation is a little more nuanced than he makes it out to be. First of all I have no issue with anyone who thinks that something I do is a sin. I have friends who are Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs or Jews who consider eating certain food products as a sin. None of them have ever proposed that laws should be enacted to prohibit me from eating a bacon cheeseburger. Some of them probably think it is sinful for two men to marry as well as eat bacon cheeseburgers.
I can and do respect a religious person who says that same sex marriage violates the core values of their religion. I have no issue with that at all. If it is a violation of their core beliefs then by all means they should not be forced to marry a person of the same sex. But that is not the issue at all here.
Certain individuals wish to remove the civil rights of those who do not believe as they do, whether religious or non-religious. They are in fact attempting to force their religious beliefs down the throats of those who do not hold them. if they do that, then I will criticize them. Strongly.
Jeff Braeger
Self loathing douche bag
Josh Ubaldi
No fucking way. Discrimination doesn’t get a pass. Call it whqt you want, but a spade is a spade. Go away, bigotry
Gilbert Baca III
We will ease up when you ease up on the anti-gay rants, the hate crimes, the discrimination, and when your rights have to be fought for.
Gus Anderson
You can’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Will Glitzern
Yeah, well, we don’t claim you any more either.
Rhoderick Gates
Not the worst of them. Most might be ‘fine’ and not emotionally homophobic, but the worst are. And they won’t let up in their vitriolic & lawyer’s tactics
Frankie Trice
He works for Fox! Of course he does!
Alex Rothwell
LGBT people yes have to fight for it all. And not ease up.
CalgaryBill
Article’s worthless in concept. Just what can the Log Cabin Republicans claim as achievements?
Bill Beaton
So if the republicans aren’t so bigoted then point to some positive changes in society that the Log Cabin republicans. Have got embedded in the republican platform.
Peter George Rogers
Really…hmmmm
Alistair Wiseman
@AtticusBennett:
In your ongoing leftist quest to smear anyone who disagrees with you, you have turned reality and commonsense upside down.
Who are the “wimps” and “cowards” and the ones who “act like doormats”, the ones who constantly go along with the crowd (like you) never making a slight deviation from the pre-approved narrative from our politically correct overlords, or the ones who take an independent, principled stand and voice an opinion that is outside of the approved mainstream?
There are certainly “wimps” and “cowards” and people who “act like doormats”, but it isn’t who you think.
José Loyola Barragán
He should really ease up on people against bigots.
GC1985
@Alistair Wiseman: Thanks for showing how much of a cowardly wimp you are. You are someone who has no backbone and no real identity. You are a drone who has no real place. Your own political side won’t even accept you as they hate you.
Yes, you’re a cowardly wimp. You’ll always be a doormat. Someone who conservatives and republicans step on.
GC1985
When a gay conservative exists… I ask… why? Are you such cowards that you can’t even be your own person? This isn’t about “being outside the mainstream”. It’s about being a shameful self repressed sell-out, willing to kiss @$$ of people who hate your guts.
Invert
Lick the brains off the jackboots of your oppressors when they kick your head in, queen.
Mathieu Faguy
Maby he isnt geyting lsif enough
M J Martinez Crogan
People, it’s Fox phucking news #smh
Tom Coleman
career killer
DCFarmboy
Benson has a point, and we need to treat individuals who disagree with us with the dignity and respect owed to every member of humanity. However, two observations:
1. I have friends and relatives who don’t believe in ssm, others who don’t believe in divorce and some who don’t believe in either ssm or hetro marriage b/c thy think marriage is an oppressive institution. I’m friendly and non-combative with them. But it is odd when Benson writes “you’re a Democrat, if you’re a liberal and you might hold traditional views on marriage..” If you are describing people in political terms, it implies their views extend into the field of civil law, not just a personal belief.
2. Benson raises the issue of a religious exemption from public accommodation laws. I would favor the LGBT community stepping back from this debate. Let the proponents of a religious freedom exemption have a dialogue with the leaders of other protected groups under public accommodation laws (say the NAACP and the National Urban League). If they can come to a common agreement that allows a sincerely held religious belief to exempt a business from the laws against discrimination based on race, religion and sexual orientation, then we should accept that consensus.
GC1985
@DCFarmboy: Why on earth should we accept some consensus? If a government worker cannot do their job they need to resign. This has nothing to do with religion. Benson has no point except from being a conservative brownnoser. If a business cannot follow the laws, we shouldn’t accept that. Should have African Americans accepted second class treatment? Sorry but you don’t compromise with civil rights.
GC1985
Oh and I can’t be friends with someone who thinks I shouldn’t be afforded the same rights they have.
Alistair Wiseman
@GC1985:
Seriously, Giancarlo? Why would anyone have a desire to be friends with you?
o.codone
There is so much anger expressed here. The name callers should just be deleted bc they don’t contribute even one clear thought to the discussion, they just shame and hate. The others, half of the commenters don’t even get that THEY are the ssm nazi’s that Benson is talking about. Yes girls, it’s YOU he’s talking about. Intolerant, lawyered-up, screaming fascists who cannot and will not have a discussion about ssm, will not co-exist, will not tolerate any other opinion, will not live and let live. You’re motto is “either you support ssm or we’re coming to get you”.
Benson IS ” a misguided gay who is wasting his breath on people who will never get it”, and I’m not talking about the CPAC folks never getting it, I’m talking about ssm nazi’s on this site. Girls, you will never get it. (here comes the beatdown from the screaming fascist gay liberals).
AtticusBennett
@o.codone: we screaming fascist gay liberals are openly gay, proud, and visible. you losers complaining about “us” (HAHA!) are the trolling cowards who never have, and never will, have a positive impact in the world at all. so shove it.
if you allow someone to disrespect you they will never have a reason to NOT disrespect you. this is something liberal-minded homos have known for ages.
your wimpy cowardice is not our problem.
same with Alistair – dude, you are a wimp and a coward. wanna prove you’re not? become as visible as me. get your amazing family with you on youtube, make a video sharing your incredible lives as conservatives. but you won’t. wimps never can.
GC1985
@Alistair Wiseman: why would any self respecting gay man want to be friends with a self absorbed closet queen like you? I am sorry, but I have more respect for myself. None of my friends are conservative and for good reason. I can only hang out with people who don’t want to destroy the country.
@o.codone: The only screaming fascist here is you. Fascism is a right wing belief system so you seem to be more prone to it. Oh and nobody is screaming here except you. More like screeching.
Alistair Wiseman
@AtticusBennett:
“Get your amazing family with you on youtube….”
Yes, of course! If my life is on youtube, then it would have meaning, substance and significance!!!
Gosh, I wish I could “become as visible” as you, Atticus. You are a superstar and because of your “visibility” you bring light, love and affirmation to the world via youtube.
Perhaps the most narcissistic and delusional post I have ever read on Queerty.
GC1985
@Alistair Wiseman: You think everything is about you little Alistair. Why don’t you take a long look at the mirror and not throw stones from a glass house? You gay conservatives are a really sick bunch of people.
AtticusBennett
@Alistair Wiseman: it’s not my fault you’re a coward. but you have my pity.
Alistair Wiseman
@GC1985:
A “closet queen” like me, “GC1985”?
Hey, “GC1985” (aka Giancarlo), why did you change your username? Dirtied up your last one or the Queerty staff kicked you out? Just curious.
By the way, “GC1985”, this “closet queen” uses a real name as their user name. Do you understand, “GC1985”?
AtticusBennett
it’s not brave to toe the line with your bigoted family. i feel so sad for gay conservatives; you’ll never know what it’s like to have people that care about you enough that they could never, and would never, support a political party or politician or group that actively works against you. and you think you’re “brave” for not…uh…. standing up for yourself like we Gay Leftists? you’re not brave. you are the wimps your fathers always told you you were. and sucking up to him to earn his pithy tolerance just proves us right.
we liberal gays? we make it clear – we have no room in our lives for people who cannot, and will not, afford us the support and respect and love that we deserve. and that mindset works – there’s a reason all the straight people in my life are determinedly vocal and visible advocates for the LGBT community, and there’s a reason that NONE of the straight people in your life are.
o.codone
@AtticusBennett: You said: “if you allow someone to disrespect you they will never have a reason to NOT disrespect you”. You mean the way you are disrespecting me right now? You can go all preachy about what other people should do but when somebody holds up the mirror you cannot see yourself for who you really are. Let me just tell you again, you are a screaming fascist gay liberal. You are not helping the gay agenda because nobody can hear you, you are screaming too loud. I would advise you to go back across the pond, but, America actually suits you. Second grade education, meth user, hillbilly and all.
Everybody either celebrates gay marriage, or, we’re coming to get you. Says Atticus.
@GC1985: Ah yes, Giancarlo, our resident Guatemalan drag queen has re-surfaced after a short break. Hey buddy, this is your THIRD screen name, having been kicked off Queerty twice already. Good luck this time. Please don’t post on every single article, don’t put everything in CAPS and don’t do multiple, multiple, multiple responses to the same post, and guess what? you might actually survive for a while. Just a word of advice to my little buddy. Glad you’re back Gilligan.
AtticusBennett
@o.codone: it’s not my fault that my straight friends and family members are loud and proud LGBT advocates, and your family remains ashamed of you.
GC1985
@Alistair Wiseman: closet queen. No way is Alistair your real name. Sounds more like something from a cheap porno shot in studio city. I wasn’t kicked out. My old name was associated with an email I don’t have access to so I cannot rest the password.
@o.codone: Says the guy addicted to painkillers and cocaine. Your brain must be at the level of mush. Your post didn’t even make any sense. So have you sought the help you needed for your addiction? You need to admit you have a problem first.
GC1985
And I was never kicked off. Try again little Republican bootlicking trolls. You are falling short on material.
o.codone
@AtticusBennett: well, here you go. making my point. thank you. without so much as a second thought you assume that “loud and proud” is a good thing, the only way to go, and unless you’re “loud and proud” your friends and family won’t be proud of you. Can we deconstruct that just a little bit?
One of the points that Guy Benson is making is that old school “loud and proud” has passed it’s prime, and it’s time for a more thoughtful discussion of ssm (and other issues). Nobody wants to see or hear old school liberal fascist fags like yourself and your friends and family members screaming on the street like it’s the 1970’s. You are not helping the movement, you are turning people off. So, if I could advise you about where to start, I’d say it’s time for you to shut up, and listen.
And, of course you think your way is the only way to do things, because that’s how YOU get things done. Your narcissistic disorder (comes along with gayness, no extra fee), prevents you from seeing any other way to do things even when I hold up the mirror so you can see yourself, still you don’t. Gayness is a narcissistic personality disorder and you’re a classic case study.
GC1985
@o.codone: wow. You are screeching again. The only fascist here is you. You want to hurt people on the left with physical violence. I think it has to do with paranoid delusions brought along by your excessive drug usage. You think people are out to get you. You will have a major realization of how screwed up you are as a person.
Invert
@o.codone: you’re actually, really delusional.
Funny how you mention ‘live and let live’ and then call US fascists. As opposed to, you know, the actual fascists who sent gay men to be tortured, worked to death, medically experimented on and herded into gas chambers.
There’s no ‘live and let live’ with heterosexuals that want to kill us, you buffoon.
Alistair Wiseman
@o.codone:
As “Queerty’s Unofficial Sanctimonious Preaching Homosexual Cheerleader”, poor Atticus thinks he is on a mission.
However, when your primary identification in life is your innate gayness, it is rather shallow and sad.
Perhaps he will grow up. In the meanwhile, he just doesn’t get it.
Cityrat2015
Li’l bitch ass punk.
GC1985
@Alistair Wiseman: Your primary identification is your rabid conservative philosophy. It takes precedent over everything, even over your own dignity.
iggy6666
Giancarlo and Atticus reaching true enlightenment, all while stepping on people’s backs. REAL HEROES………….
scotshot
@DCFarmboy:
You want us to stand back as others have the debate?
Go Troll other places. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at your stunning display of ignorance.
Alistair Wiseman
@scotshot:
In true totalitarian leftist fashion, dissent must not be tolerated. We must silence you.
o.codone
@Alistair Wiseman: For many Queerty commenters, Atticus in particular, their gayness is the end-all. It’s everything, there’s nothing more. It is the primary identity. They adhere to a narcissistic delusion that someone actually cares what they do in bed. And, that’s what they put forward, their whole social, political, philosophical identity is about what they do in bed. And allow me to say it again, girls, the world doesn’t give sh it what you do in bed. I know that hurts you because that’s the core of your identity, but the world doesn’t care. You are so blinded by your gay privilege that you refuse to see anything else, and you demand that the world sees things your way. So, be loud and proud, OMG, and you will never learn that you’re making the rest of the world vomit. It’s all about you, that’s all you can see, is yourself.
scotshot
@Alistair Wiseman:
I imagine you would like to silence everyone else, as your worldly wafflings aren’t receiving the acclaim you desire.