SOUNDBITES — “When I told my 17-year-old son Javier about the reception, he could sense that I was torn. From across the dinner table, he looked straight at me: ‘Papi, you need to go to the White House, and you need to take me. It’s the President.’ Not persuaded by that one, kid. ‘It’s the President, and he needs to see our family, too. To remind him that we’re counting on him.’ … [A]s my son made me realize, commemorating the Stonewall Riots isn’t about, or just about, our own liberation. It is a call to action for each of us to change the world by telling our stories. Speaking up so that Stonewall can become no longer a part of our present, but truly a part of our history.” —Incoming GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios on why he’s going to see the president today
Cam
Will his son be making all the decisions? Perhaps GLAAD should cut the huge salary checks to the son instead of the father.
Wolf
Coming from Boston I know that Barrious is a Famnily Man First, a Dem second, and Gay 3rd.
GLADD made another lame pick
galefan2004
@Cam: He was torn because he doesn’t feel Obama is doing anything more than paying lip service. This dude is actually quite intelligent and has done a lot for this community despite the fact that he is definitely a politician. Maybe he will know how the game works enough to actually play it though.
alan brickman
don’t be rude but glaad should really step up in the next few months and start critisizing elected officals..if any one is going to take them seriously..
Rudy
Interesting bio.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarrett_Barrios
Captain Freedom (HRC doesn't speak for me)
@alan brickman: Give the guy a break, he just took the reigns like… a week ago.
Even so I agree GLAAD should step it up and I believe they will under this guy. He hasn’t been corrupted by the Joe Solmonese Congressional rimjob crew yet.
Cam
@galefan2004: you said “@Cam: He was torn because he doesn’t feel Obama is doing anything more than paying lip service. This dude is actually quite intelligent and has done a lot for this community despite the fact that he is definitely a politician. Maybe he will know how the game works enough to actually play it though.”
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Trust me, I understood the gist of the article. My issue is this. If he wants to do the Typical DC professional gay thing then just admit it, don’t lay it at the feet of your son. I remember reading that years ago during the Carter/Reatgan debates Carter said that his daughter’s biggest worry was nuclear weaponry, she was probably around 5-7 at the time, it struck me the same way. Do your job, stop using your kids as an excuse. He is just using his son to deflect criticism from the community for going to the event. I think this is missplaced since the only event the community was boycotting was the fundraiser.
galefan2004
@Cam: Apparently you completely missed the whole point. You see, his son reminded him that by boycotting events and removing ourselves from the spot light the only thing we accomplish is less media attention and the promotion of the idea that we will eventually go away if you just keep denying us. His son understood that he is a member of an American family and because of that he should promote his family in the eyes of America’s president not hide it.
galefan2004
@galefan2004: Besides this guy has the charisma and charm of Obama in a gayer package. This dude could easily be a presidential candidate if he wasn’t gay. Hell, maybe he will eventually be our first gay presidential candidate and shock the hell out of everyone.
John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)
@galefan2004:
No!! We’re bitter! God save bitternes!