Yesterday we posted the op-ed by Human Rights Campaign leader Joe Solmonese. Well, now that House Speaker Dennis “Hasturd” Hastert’s taken full responsibility for the Foley cover-up, Solmonese can’t resist the urge to continue with his campaign, so to speak. He writes:
We whole-heartedly support a full investigation into this matter. However, as this investigation moves forward we call on you to ensure the focus remain on those things important to this matter and not allow extremists within your own party to try and divert attention by furthering their anti-gay agendas.
Mr. Speaker, when extremists in your party go on national television and assert claims that a person’s sexual orientation is responsible for immoral and inappropriate conduct, it sends a clear signal to the American people that they are more interested in pushing their anti-gay agenda than they are in holding our elected officials accountable.
But, Joe, they are more interested in promoting an anti-gay agenda than holding people accountable for their actions. That’s the point.
Read the entire letter, after the jump. Oh, and Solmonese basically repeats the whole “As gay Americans” bit word for word. Enjoy!
Related: “Official: Hastert to Take Responsibility” [The Guardian]
Post-Press Conference Letter from Human Rights Campaign President to Speaker Dennis Hastert
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.
Nation’s Largest Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Organization Calls on Speaker to Not Allow Anti-Gay Partisans to Hijack Investigation
WASHINGTON – Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights organization sent the following letter today to Speaker Dennis Hastert after his press conference on the Mark Foley scandal.
The body of the letter is as follows:
The Honorable Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert
235 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Speaker,
Your decision today to accept full responsibility for the inaction of the House to protect the Pages for the United States House of Representatives is long overdue. Mark Foley’s actions are inexcusable and everyone involved should be accountable for his or her actions. We have, however, been deeply troubled in recent days to hear voices in the Republican Party publicly scapegoat gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans for this inappropriate and immoral conduct.
This is not a gay or straight issue; it is an issue of inappropriate behavior that regardless of one’s sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other characteristic is dead wrong.
We whole-heartedly support a full investigation into this matter. However, as this investigation moves forward we call on you to ensure the focus remain on those things important to this matter and not allow extremists within your own party to try and divert attention by furthering their anti-gay agendas.
Gay Americans have watched this scandal unfold like everyone else, but unlike other Americans, we have found ourselves targeted once again by extremists in the Republican Party trying to shift responsibility. Members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community are part of the fabric of our country and to demonize them in the name of politics is disgraceful.
Mr. Speaker, when extremists in your party go on national television and assert claims that a person’s sexual orientation is responsible for immoral and inappropriate conduct, it sends a clear signal to the American people that they are more interested in pushing their anti-gay agenda than they are in holding our elected officials accountable.
Ultimately, this matter is about responsibility and accountability at the highest levels of our government. The American people expect those two words to continue to resonate in Washington. Attempts to shift blame are a disservice to our democracy.
We watched your announcement today with hope that moving forward we will see focus placed on the real issues at hand. If we are ever going to restore the American people’s faith in government and in our elected officials, it falls to you to ensure that this process not be hijacked by anti-gay partisans more interested in their own selfish agendas than doing what is right for our country.
Sincerely,
Joe Solmonese
President
Human Rights Campaign
jack e. jett
where is the human rights campaign fund? or any of those organizations that are always asking money for us to defend us in these situations.
are they too fucking busy trying to set up their next fucking black tie dinner.
jack e. jett
WriteQueer
Irrigardless of repetition. I think he has a point. But I think it’s a bit like asking the Nazi’s to exercise caution when choosing which Jews to throw in the gas chamber.
This should never have come up like this. With everything else going on, and this, a sexual harrasment case gets nationwide coverage.
There was a massive protest in SF today and others accross the country. I don’t hear people talking about that.
I don’t think we should let ourselves get distracted every time a right-winger says the word Gay. We’re so used to being trashed on that I think we’ve gotten hyper defensive, and a little easy to manipulate.
Don’t mind what happened in Iraq today… we’re having a show at the pentagon about banning you from the constitution!… ooooOOOooo Glittery! Shiney controversy!