Homo-journo James Kirchick certainly doesn’t mince words when it comes to former New Jersey governor, Jim McGreevey.
Who could forget when McGreevey stood before the press and announced his homosexuality and resignation in the same breath? Kirchick sure as shit remembers, and he’d like to remind readers of a simple fact: McGreevey’s main offense is corruption, not cock sucking.
…Jim McGreevey was forced to resign for no other reason than that he was a corrupt politician. He’s more Mark Foley than Harvey Milk. That he was sleeping with a male aide is incidental to his downfall.
By conflating his political demise and his struggle to cope with homosexuality, McGreevey inadvertently hurt the cause of gay civil rights as much as any crusading, socially conservative political activist could have hoped to do. He fed the stereotype that gays are untrustworthy and self-absorbed, and that homosexuality is a personal weakness.
Yes, yes, that’s all true, but, come on, you have to love McGreevey: not even the queeniest soap opera writer couldn’t concoct a villain so perfectly ridiculous, revolting and wacky.
Remember when McGreevey announced his plans to become an Episcopal priest? That was some prime time shit!
How about we take this to the next level?
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Trey07
I have to say that I am just sick and tired of this kind of crass cannabalism of Jim McGreevey. To say that a someone would come out as he did and say that that was a cynical way to “simply” ovveride any concern about corruption or political issues is simply ignorant. You don’t struggle with your sexuality (including marriages and children) and then have the balls to stand in front of the nation and say “I am a gay American” without having some serious reflection about the true nature of your authentic sexual orientation.
There may have been other political issues at hand…but if indeed they were so “corrupt” and/or merited truly illegal or questionable activity…why didn’t those investigations continue post his announcement? Perhaps because they were just that – political rhetoric and discussions? I think so. If there was truly substantive issues that would have merited further investigation – wouldn’t they have proceeded – regardless of his announced sexual orientation and resignation. (Note: Spitzer has resigned – but allegations of structuring funds, transportation of and use of prostitutes is continuing down the path of criminal investigation and may indeed yield legal repercussions.)
People may have had political opposition to McGreevey that had nothing to do with his sexual orientation….but please – dear god in heaven – stop confusing those two issues by slamming his courage to do what was right by coming to terms with his orientation and as a result – moving toward a more authentic life with himself, his wife and family.
In this age of more and more public figures coming to terms with living a more authentic and public sense of who they are in terms of their sexuality – please, please, please – stop the backbiting that serves to only confuse the issue and does nothing but belittle the process that all gay men and women have some degree of familiarity with: that of confronting the powerful force of society to tell us to not be who we are and authentic to ourselves.
I applaud – and support – anyone’s efforts to come out and face the pressure that suppresses our desires to be genuinely true to who we are. Be it marriage, children, economic issues, family relationships or whatever else might be a part of one’s struggle to do so (including political) – they are all separate and different elements that cannot dilute the incredible power, courage and strength to stand up and proudly say, “I am gay.” Or in his unique situation, to declare as a sitting US governor: “I am a gay American.”
todd
Like most politicians, he’s a total narciscist.
Hillary
How come nobody asks why his first wife and daughter left him abruptly and that he knew in order to run and eventually win (he ran twice) he had to marry again. Where is that first wife hiding?
Dom
Yeah, he’s a dick. But who on this site wouldn’t love about 2 hours with him at a Motel 6? (C’mon, be honest!).
Trey07
Dom,
Do you think he’s a dick because of something he did while governor? Or for coming out?
T
devon
i’d hit it.