Ever self-loathing gay political group the Log Cabin Republicans have rushed to the defense of a proposed Florida law that would bar teachers from discussing non-heterosexual sexual orientations or transgender people. The group has also attacked activist Chasten Buttigieg for a recent interview in which he denounced the bill.
Dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the proposed law would bar teachers from “encouraging discussion” around gender identity or sexual orientation in primary schools. On January 26, Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Transporation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, appeared on CNN to denounce the bill, warning that it would endanger the lives of young, queer students.
“You’re essentially pushing kids back into the closet. You’re saying we can’t talk about you, we can’t even talk about your families,” Buttigieg said.
“I think this hurts kids,” he added. “This will hurt families and this isn’t about education or parents’ rights, I think it’s about using the LGBT community as a scapegoat, which we’ve been used as a scapegoat multiple times throughout history. And I just don’t agree with it.”
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Now the Log Cabin Republicans have rushed to the defense of the bill and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has endorsed it. The group claimed that Buttigieg purposely mislead viewers in his statement, asserting that the bill would limit discussion only among students Grade 3 or younger. The Log Cabin Republicans further called Buttigieg’s comments “negligent at best and propagandistic at its worst.”
“Contrary to Chasten Buttigieg’s LGBT fear-mongering and attempt for attention on CNN, Florida’s ‘Parental Rights in Education’ bill will not silence gay people. It certainly will not kill them. All it does is reinforce the commonsense belief that teacher-led classroom discussions around sexual and gender identity do not belong in primary schools,” Log Cabin President Charles Moran said in a statement. “Apparently Pete and Chasten Buttigieg are so far to the Left that they’re OK with Florida kindergarteners learning about gender fluidity and sexual preferences in the classroom.”
“Parents are free to discuss these issues with their children as they see fit, but that decision is up to the parents and not to agenda-driven Leftists like the Buttigiegs,” Moran added. “You can be gay and also believe that parents have a right to control their young children’s education, especially when it comes to sexual identity. Log Cabin Republicans won’t stand by while the Left engages in dishonest attempts to smear conservatives as bigots, as Chasten is unfortunately trying to do here.”
Of course, Moran fails to mention (or possibly realize) that sexual orientation is already taught to young children in schools. Every time a teacher mentions a married couple, childbirth, or falling in love, the comment subtly denotes sexual attraction. The proposed Florida bill would, however, limit discussion to heterosexual orientation, as well as cisgender gender identity.
The Log Cabin Republicans, despite being comprised of gay and lesbian people, have a long history of supporting anti-LGBTQ causes and candidates. The group endorsed Mitt Romney for President in 2012 despite his opposition to marriage equality. It also supported Donald Trump despite a platform calling for a constitutional amendment to end same-sex marriages, and opposition to transgender rights. The group also continued to support the Trump Administration despite a host of anti-queer policies.
JUST NOW: ""What kind of state are you building where you're essentially pushing kids back into the closet and saying we can't talk about you? … [Kids] take that trauma to heart."@Chasten on what is being called the "Don't Say Gay" bill in FL.pic.twitter.com/M1Qiz9Zt9f
— John Berman (@JohnBerman) January 25, 2022
Jaquelope
So, it’s only supposed to be used in schools for classes from grades 1-3? How soon would it be that it was extended for a few higher grades, and then another few, and so on? It is at the younger ages when these things are more deeply lodged in a child’s brain, so starting to teach them how things actually are at a younger age might be vital. Chasten may be right about the potential for deaths that could come from this “law”. It may not increase the number of deaths right away, but it won’t reduce the number of mental problems such attitudes causes, and it might even increase the number. I’d hope that the Florida voters vote it down, soundly, if it ever comes up for a public vote, and if it doesn’t, they’ll call for a public referendum about it.
James Hart
I’m not a Republican or Democrat. I’m a gay man and a registered independent.
I am philosophically a libertarian. I used to be a registered Democrat until liberal Democrats decided to be as closed-minded as evangelical Republicans.
I’ve voted for both Republicans and Democrats who support freedom for everyone – economically and socially.
Sadly, the Dems have become the “nanny” party because they want to regulate everything – including our thoughts and words. Cancel culture comes to mind. Poor Whoopi Goldberg is getting a taste of her own medicine. Be careful when “cancelling” someone else because you may be the one cancelled when your buddies are no longer in power or when they are no longer popular.
Hence, I believe that gays – who are taxpaying American citizens – must never be scapegoated, nor should their sexual orientation be disparaged in tax-payer supported environments.
That being said, parents have religious rights and should be able to control what their children are taught in taxpayer-funded environments (public schools and libraries).
Therefore, parents – as the fundamental teachers of their children – should be permitted to have their children either opt in or opt out of classes where discussions of human sexuality are planned, whether it pertains to heterosexuality or homosexuality.
We must balance the rights of gay Americans and religious Americans who oppose these discussions with their children. The children belong to their parents and not the state/government.
Ideally, if we followed this course of action, gay Americans’ rights and parents’ freedom of religion would both be respected and upheld.
Fname Optional Lname
The Dems want to regulate everything ?
Was it not the Republicans who created this bill? Didn’t they start banning books from school libraries and passing laws to prevent trans folk from well doing mostly anything. Yes – the Dems are the “Nannies” for sure.
Kangol2
Here comes James Hart, who I believe previously claimed he was a Democrat. Now he’s neither. Whatever he’s claiming, he’s a right-wing troll, which means, promptly ignore him.
James Hart
To: Fname Optional Lname & Kangol2
My view is the only truly American view espoused here because I am trying to balance everyone’s rights; both the rights of gay people and religiously conservative people.
You only want your rights upheld, and to Hell with everyone else’s rights. Now that’s un-American!
Is that now the official position of left-wingers, such as yourselves???
If so, I pity you both.
friendlymcface
Sigh. This country is run by religious extremists. What happened to separation of church and state?
James Hart
friendlymcface:
This nation was built on the backs of religious extremists: The Pilgrims.
Bosch
@James Hart
-discrimination is not a “right*
-your country was built on the backs of slaves
ShiningSex
@JamesHart, you sound like a fool. You’re blaming democrats for “doing wrong”???? Have you been reading what republicans are constanting doing wanting to take away gay rights women’s rights, voting rights, etc. What in the hell has democrats done to rise to that same level of stupidity?
James Hart
ShiningSex:
I understand why you’re so agitated: The Republicans will be retaking control of the House and Senate in November.
Cam
Log Cabin Republicans haven’t been a gay group for ages. Most if not all of their state offices have closed, and they were exposed as being a funnel for right wing donors to place huge ads in the NYTimes and hide who was really paying for them.
LCR is a group that is funded by right wingers with straight people on the board that only exists to come out and defend the GOP any time it attacks LGBTQ people.
DarkZephyr
I didn’t know any of this. Well, my contempt for them has simply increased. Do they at least have legitimately gay spokespersons or are those all straight people as well?
SamB
Who cares about this guy’s opinion. Shouldn’t he be home taking care of his babies?
DarkZephyr
So you admit that you hate gay people. Finally.
SamB
What a ridiculous thing to say. I am gay. I am in a relationship with, shockingly, a gay man. So no, I do not hate gay people. This guy wasn’t elected into any official office, he’s the husband of someone who was elected so he should stay back and let his husband do the talking.
Mack
ROFLMAO, another dumb comment made by the queen of screen names.
Bosch
You’re gonna give yourself a brain tumour with the cognitive dissonance caused by your internalised homophobia.
Which homophobes are you trying to impress, and why?
JohnnyBoy2
What planet are you from? CNN asked Chasten onto their show to discuss this, so they obviously thought they had an audience for his opinions. He doesn’t have to be elected to an office to offer an opinion. Understand?
SamB
Bosch: What am I internalizing? I live my life with my partner very openly.
Cam
And as always, the right wing troll proves it hates anyone who is out of the closet and proud.
Bosch
Internalised homophobia has nothing to do with whether or not you live openly. It’s more about whether or not you live hatefully. We all know that people who are mean to others are also mean to themselves.
My guess is that you’re trying to prove to someone from your past that you’re not a sissy. How’s your relationship with your father?
SamB
Bosch: LOL Are you a psychiatrist? I can answer all your questions but you still wouldn’t believe me because you’re sociology degree taught you that someone with an opinion contrary to yours, is angry and hate filled and lashing out because of something missing from their past. But no, that’s not the case. I think this guy, who no one voted for, needs to stay out of the camera. He’s not an expert at anything, he’s not saying he has a background in this kind of thing, it’s just him doing PR for his husband.
Bosch
…psychology and sociology are two different fields.
Oh Sam. If you don’t realise why people perceive you as hateful, then maybe you shouldn’t be on the internet. Explain to me how your comment is any different from what misogynist men in the 50s said about women.
There is not one article here where you’ve commented something happy, uplifting, or positive. You just complain, about liberals, trans people, feminine men, anyone who doesn’t appreciate lying doctors… Even under humorous articles, you post something bitchy. It has nothing to do with “different opinions”.
Bosch
Not to mention the fact that you fight with everyone here, except for other trolls, who may or may not also be you.
SamB
Bosch: I know they’re different, it was supposed to be a joke but it didn’t land. Does it make me a misogynist because I don’t want to hear from the spouse of a politician? Should I burst into my partner’s work and start telling his group my opinions and give them direction? Where else is that permissible?
Bosch
He has a degree in global studies, but you don’t think that gives him the right to discuss politics? He has a master’s in education, but you don’t think that gives him the right to discuss education and teaching? What did you study?
Ha. You’re actually pretending that the phrase “women should stay home and take care of babies” isn’t dripping with misogyny? Go home you’re drunk.
SamB
Bosch: I said HE should stay home and take care of their babies. Since Pete is bringing in the money, this guy could afford to stay home and raise the kids. Or should they hand the babies over to nannies to be raised, is that your preference?
You said you’re not even an American so what do you care?
Bosch
I’m pretty sure someone can give a short interview without hiring a full-time nanny. I heard that the world’s top scientists invented something called a “babysitter”.
What does me not being American have to do with you being a b!tch?
SamB
Bosch: I don’t like their pandering. They’re trying to be the new Bill & HIllary and we all know how that turned out.
Now who’s being a misogynist calling me a b!tch?
Where are you from? I’m going to guess Canada because you’re good at writing, but I guess you can be UK too. There are problems in those countries as well you know. Look at the trucker protest in Ottawa now, barely any mention in the media in the US and when they are mentioned they’re called fascists. The world is going crazy, that’s ultimately my issue, I think.
Bosch
Who exactly is he pandering to here?
“Should I burst into my partner’s work and start telling his group my opinions” – giving an interview on education is not Pete buttigieg’s job.
“He’s not an expert at anything, he’s not saying he has a background in this kind of thing” – literally has a master’s in the subject.
The truth is you just like complaining about anything you associate with liberals: Buttigieg, “Bill & Hillary”, Sharon stone, Whoopi Goldberg, India Arie, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, feminine men, loving fathers, 270 medical professionals… Now here’s a list of conservatives you’ve complained about:
This is why a two-party political system is bad for the populace: it guarantees polarisation.
SamB
OK, you’re from the UK then, Canada is not a 2 party system, in the literal sense but it might as well be in practice.
I don’t like a lot of conservatives. I don’t like Ted Cruz. I don’t like Madison Cawthorn, HATE Mitch McConnell. I don’t like all the old politicians and think there should be an age limit. I think members of congress should have term limits for reps and not be allowed to trade on trade on the open market. But that stuff isn’t going to change anytime soon, unfortunately. But aside from the whack-job religious right, many conservatives seem to be willing to make some concessions, but the democrats are going further and further into socialist territory.
Bosch
Oh yeah, that’s right. The Red Scare made a comeback.
DarkZephyr
“What a ridiculous thing to say. I am gay. I am in a relationship with, shockingly, a gay man. So no, I do not hate gay people.”
Is it “ridiculous” though? Your words suggest otherwise. Plus, plenty of gay men who are in relationships are still absurdly homophobic, as others here have pointed out to you.
“This guy wasn’t elected into any official office, he’s the husband of someone who was elected so he should stay back and let his husband do the talking.”
I wasn’t talking about your feelings about Chase Buttigieg, yet. I was addressing your words regarding young children in school. By your words, you are exposing yourself as someone who thinks being gay is some how dirty or x-rated. Some filthy secret or frightening thing that must be kept from innocent children or they might be traumatized if there parents aren’t present. This is what the bill ultimately means and this is what you are both defending and even stating yourself. This is why I see your words as an admission of hatred for gay people.
You are behaving as if mentioning the existence of same sex couples to kindergartners is tantamount to showing them a pornographic film. But if that were true and you truly consider gay couples to be just as worthy as straight couples, you would also be against straight marriage and relationships being mentioned around children because it would logically have to be just as dirty and pornographic as same sex marriage and relationships. but I TRULY doubt you believe that this is the case.
As for Chase not being “elected”, how absurd. Not everyone who is asked for their opinion by the press is an elected official.
“I can answer all your questions but you still wouldn’t believe me because you’re sociology degree taught you that someone with an opinion contrary to yours, is angry and hate filled and lashing out because of something missing from their past.”
His opinion seems to be that gay people aren’t dirty or X-rated merely for being gay. His opinion seems to be that gay people are worthy of being treated with as much dignity and respect as anyone else. Since you admit that your opinion is “contrary” to his, that means you believe that gay people are the things he believes they are not. And that is certainy what you have been basically saying, so it fits.
“Now who’s being a misogynist calling me a b!tch?”
The fact that you automatically conflate the word “b!tch” with the concept of misogyny actually suggests that you are the misogynistic one. “Misogyny” is the hatred of women. A b!tch is a female dog, not a human woman. He was calling you a female dog. The way you reacted to it comes from your own mind and way of thinking.
SamB
DarkZ: Thank you for analyzing me. Thank you for making me realize how much I hate myself, and most of all thank you for helping me realize that someone calling me a b!tch makes me the misogynist because I called them out on it but it’s really not a woman but a female dog… you were assuming, I think, the dog was cis, but I’ll let that slide. You’re a good man.
Cam
@SamB
Sweetie, you tried to troll, you tried, as you always do, to attack anyone who is out of the closet and famous and you got called out.
It isn’t our fault you are such a terrible right wing troll, I keep BEGGING you to ask Putin to spend more money and hire smarter trolls, but you refuse to do it.
DarkZephyr
The fact that you chose not to actually respond to each point I made and instead made a feeble sarcastic reply just strengthens my confidence in that analysis. 😉
SamB
DarkZ: You quoted Bosch’s comments and are claiming them as your own in your rambling statement, why? I didn’t go quote by quote because you didn’t make any valid points… especially the one on misogyny. It would be futile effort on my part to engage.
DarkZephyr
In other words, you know you’re full of it.
I never quoted anyone’s words “as if they were my own”. I explained within a mere two sentences what it seemed like his *views* were, the ones you said you felt contrary to, and then I gave you my viewpoint about what that meant as it applied to my original point. The one that I have continued to make with you, but you have continued to pretend you haven’t read at all.
You are behaving as if there is something dirty and pornographic about being gay that must be hidden from children at all costs. And since you seem to think being gay is so dirty and of an “adult nature” that it would traumatize children and require parental guidance to even be mentioned around them, you clearly have a very low opinion of what it means to be gay and be in same sex relationships, despite your claim to be in one yourself. I highly doubt that you have the same problem with kids knowing that opposite sex couples can love each other and be married. You just feel this way about same sex parents. One does not have to discuss sexual intercourse to tell little Mary Sue that Kevin and Michael love each other and are married. But you act as if merely doing that is the equivalent of showing them a porno.
SamB
DarkZ: Ok, you give in and reply to your statements:
1. Maybe I should’ve have used “ridiculous” because sure, some people could think I’m angry, so I withdraw that word from my reply. Rest assured I’m a happy gay man in a happy gay relationship.
2. Me: “This guy wasn’t elected into any official office, he’s the husband of someone who was elected so he should stay back and let his husband do the talking.”
You: I wasn’t talking about your feelings about Chase Buttigieg, yet. I was addressing your words regarding young children in school.
What does this mean? I said nothing about young kids in school.
3. As for Chase not being “elected”, how absurd. Not everyone who is asked for their opinion by the press is an elected official. You are correct that not everyone with opinions on TV are elected officials but the only reason they contacted this guy was because of who his husband is.
4. “I can answer all your questions but you still wouldn’t believe me because you’re sociology degree taught you that someone with an opinion contrary to yours, is angry and hate filled and lashing out because of something missing from their past.”
You: His opinion seems to be that gay people aren’t dirty or X-rated merely for being gay.
Again, I’m really not sure what you’re saying here. I’m telling Bosch that I don’t feel answering his questions would be beneficial because his opinion has been made up. Where do you get “dirty” or “x-rated” from?
5. You: Since you admit that your opinion is “contrary” to his, that means you believe that gay people are the things he believes they are not. How did you get this conclusion because we disagree that Chasten Buttigieg is qualified to talk on this subject.
6. The misogynist comment I made to Bosch was “tongue in cheek” meaning it was a joke. How does that make me a misogynist?
Bottom line, I only talked about Chasten, and nothing about if I agree or not with the school’s decision.
JohnnyBoy2
The problem is that heterosexuality is openly discussed and reinforced at every grade level. The kids are not traumatized by that, and neither will they be if gay families are mentioned.
Brian
Precisely. When schools talk about straight people, they’re not discussing the mechanics of sexual intercourse. They’re just reading a story like, “Kevin lives with his mom & dad.”
Republicans say that if you do the same thing but with a fictional mom & mom (or dad & dad) it instantly becomes “sexual.” That’s not what sex is. Their argument isn’t logical.
CNY1983
LCR? arent they the “lonley” guys in that melania trump video?
dario717
I’m over the self-loathing gay republicans. I. Am.
What I’m ready to fight is this slow-drip attack on public education. Republicans want to kill public education so that they can control everyone because they won’t know any better. It is insane for anyone with a shred of decency to vote for the jerks, I don’t care what tax bracket you’re in.
Bosch
“Republicans want to kill public education so that they can control everyone”
This! It’s the same phenomenon as in certain Middle Eastern countries.
cheks
We dont celebrate Christmas and quite frankly I don’t want my kids learning about some fat man who watches to make sure youre a “good kid” and sneaks into homes at night and leaves presents. But I didn’t get to “opt out” of my kids watching the Polar Express at school. They didn’t even tell me they’d be watching a movie in class.
Maybe I don’t want my son reading books about kids discussing how girls have cooties. Or my daughter reading books that reinforce the girls love pink and sparkle.
But my kids have books like this read to them all the time, and they come home and we talk about it. That’s my job as a parent. My job isn’t to control everything they see or hear, it’s to help guide them on how to process and navigate the world around them.
These conservative parents need to learn how to actually parent. But this isn’t really about “parents rights”, it’s about not allowing kids to hear that being gay is ok from a respected adult. These conservatives are terrified their kids won’t embrace their bigotry and don’t want to have to explain to their kids how thier “just and loving god” is actually a bigot. Because then it does become about sex. Mommy, why can’t a man love another man? Well, he can. Then why does god hate gay people? … The only way to explain it is to bring up sex/reproduction or come across as a hypocrite.
But I talked to my kids about reproduction at a very early age. It’s quite simple if you’re a halfway competent parent.
BaltoSteve
Sooooooo.. Where are the Freedom of Speech Trolls when they should be commenting? Their silence is deafening.
James
LOG CABIN CLUB IS A SICK DISTURBED MENTALLY ILL BUNCH OF LOSERS WHO HATE GAY PEOPLE.
MAY LOG CABIN CLUB ROT IN HELL WHERE IT BELONGS.
James
CHARLES T MORAN HAS AN EXTREMELY SICK DISTURBED MIND. THE GUY SHOULD BE IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL.
bobmister250
Shaking my head on this one. Log Cabin Republicans are hated by the Republican establishment and have no reason to say this. Chasten is probably being a bit hyperbolic about the deaths but this bill will definitely hurt vulnerable children.
ShiningSex
If you’re gay and republican, you need mental health evaluation. It’s like being black and in the KKK. Makes NO sense. You’re a part of a group that only accepts you for your money, but hates you out in the open and you’re fine with that???? Gross!!!
IJelly
I moved from the US to Germany and I learned one thing very quickly: there a groups far far far to the left of anything that exists in the US. The idea that the US has anything approaching a radical left is laughable. And even if they did, it certainly isn’t Chasten Buttigieg..
IJelly
And the bill bans discussion through grade 8, not grade 3, so that’s just some made up BS right there.
nunya
“U.S students consistently score lower in math and science than students from many other countries. According to a Business Insider report in 2018, the U.S. ranked 38th in math scores and 24th in science.“ And you would trust these same “educators “ to teach children about something as complex as human sexuality and gender?!