Valerie Jarrett, who just got done telling the Human Rights Campaign’s A-Gays the White House cares very much about these dead gay children, probably just didn’t know how the proper way to refer to a gay teen’s sexual orientation. But calling it a “lifestyle choice” certainly wasn’t it.
[flv:http://media.queerty.net/jarrettlifestyle0.mp4 https://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs-null/2010/10/jarrettlifestyle0.jpg 650 400]
Speaking to Jonathan Capehart, the gay journalist at the hate publisher The Washington Post, Jarrett describes meeting the family of Justin Aaberg (the 15-year-old who hanged himself), who were comfortable with the “lifestyle choice” of their son.
I sure hope so. Because it was their genes and DNA and nurturing and whatever else it is that makes you gay that, uh, made him gay.
How about we take this to the next level?
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UPDATE: Jarrett says she “misspoke” and “meant no disrespect to the LGBT community, and I apologize to any who have taken offense at my poor choice of words.
[via Petrelis]
Kev C
A lifestyle choice is deciding whether to buy curtains or blinds. Deciding whether to beat up gays in school is a lifestyle choice.
AL
This goes beyond sexual orientation. Kids get harassed for their lifestyle choices: the group of people you hang out with, how you like to dress, the sorts of activities that interest you, those are all lifestyle choices. Straight boys get bullied too.
Anyway, even if being gay were a choice, people should be free to make choices that are eccentric or strange. The fact that sexual orientation seems to be largely out of our control is irrelevant.
Gay teen suicides are nothing new. I don’t know why the media has been all over this recently. I went through high school in the 1990s and there were 2 guys at my high school that I can remember who committed suicide. I’m sure the same thing happened all over the country. Both were gay, but neither of them were really harassed for it and neither of them were very open about it either. Being gay in a homophobic environment is challenging, and probably contributed to their suicides, even if you aren’t harassed for it. Their sexuality wasn’t discussed after their death, it was just another sad story of a young guy who killed himself. It didn’t matter if he was gay or straight. It was never national news.
the crustybastard
However, Valerie Jarrett loves it when folks call her a “colored gal.”
SoylentDiva
If they consider it a “lifestyle choice” they obviously weren’t that comfortable with it. Ally fail.
Anyway
Not just a flunky: an ignorant flunky. Awesome for us.
Jason Dancin' to the Beat
This reminds me of when people still used the term “alternative lifestyle”.
Oh wait–the Philadelphia Visitor’s Bureau STILL uses that term…right in their Philadelphia visitor’s center. Their online “help you get to know our city” computer terminals with all the city information. Yup. I’m an alternative to the normal. Go check it out. Crazy.
peteNsfo
The ignorance coming from this administration is no less than absolutely staggering.
Any public official that gets anywhere near a mic would have to know that the term is sexual orientation. This is not a “PC” language issue; it undermines the equality of gay Americans by suggesting they “could” conform and by not doing so, prove their unworthiness to the rest of ‘normal’ society.
And seriously, am I to believe she has never attended a sexual harassment employee training seminar??? Ever???
Jake the libertarian
My heart aches for these kids and the thousands that died before them. I know that the “lifestyle choice” that I made was that I decided a few years ago to be myself. I decided to love myself. I decided that the FACT that I was gay was part of me and ok. It saved my life… If was only after making the CHOICE to accept myself that I finally stopped wanting to die.
Being gay or straight is a simple fact about who we are. No different than being black or white or tall or short… Accepting that fact is the “lifestyle choice” that those of us lucky enough to grow older and see the world for the accepting and loving place that it can be get to make.
Take it from me. I wished I was dead. I went to war and killed other men. I have been bullied and I am sorry to say there may be those out there who felt bullied by me… Being gay is no lifestyle choice… you self righteous cunt… the lifestyle choice is understanding that its ok, and loving yourself and others not in spite of it, but partly because of it.
ewe
I disapprove of Valerie Jarrett hating as her lifesytle choice.
Kieran
As a normal right-handed person, I am very happy to report that I have come to accept, and am comfortable with the lifestyle choice of my left-handed brother. My attending PFFLHP meetings has helped me enormously.
Devon
A slip up is usually just someone accidentally telling you what they really think.
Donnie McClurkin on the campaign trail…Rick Warren at the inauguration…No movement forward on getting rid of DOMA…Absolutely no effort on anyone’s part to pass ENDA…Barack Obama’s continuing, outspoken belief that gay relationships are inferior to heterosexual ones and unworthy of the same recognition…The DOJ’s continued defense of bigoted policies like DADT and DOMA, sometimes invoking pedophilia and incest in that defense…The president’s refusal to stop firing gay soldiers…Now one of Obama’s top advisers calls it a “lifestyle choice”, one of the far right’s favorite anti-gay buzz phrases, and essentially implies that being gay is something people choose despite having good parents.
…All things considered, I get the very distinct impression that within this administration it’s not just Valerie Jarrett who thinks being gay is a “lifestyle choice.”
Casey
The lifestyle choice Valerie Jarrett is making as a coloured gal should be supported, I feel.
greenluv1322
Colored girl…yeah you guys stay classy!
robert in nyc
This is just another classic example of the inept people Obama has in his cabinet and beyond. He’s surrounded himself with political hacks. Isn’t it amazing that when it comes to straights, their lives and orientation are NEVER described as a “lifestyle” or their orientation indicated when it comes to rape or adultery, albeit obvious. Its reserved solely for us which implies that we choose to be who we are, a belief held by many religious nutjobs. Ask a straight when he or she chose their sexual orienation. You’d be amazed at some of the responses. This is nothing more than institutionalized veiled homophobia, even though it might be unintentional in some cases. Its a bad habit that most straights need to shake off and get over, or better yet, educate themselves about it, but I doubt if that’s going to happen because they’ve never faced discrimination and their equality is a birthright, ours isn’t in the land of the so called free where everybody is supposed to be equal under the law but aren’t.
ewe
Someone should demand that when she speaks such hatred, the flag is removed from accompanying her. She is a disgrace.
ewe
@greenluv1322: One commenter said that Casey. Stay classy.
swarm
No. 7 · peteNsfo is correct. Especially if you’re an Obama believer. I’ve been saying for a year- Obama doesn’t GAF about LGBT and here’s is another example if you needed one.
Whoever thinks Valerie Jarrett is a “flunky” you better read up. AGAIN, this is why you idealize Obama. You know nothing about him.
Jarrett is Obama’s most politically entrenched and well connected Chicago mentor, the first documented politician who “recognized” the potential to make him the next big thing. She’s his Svengali.His closest confidant. Or didn’t you notice she even goes on vacations with the family.
She met him when she hired Michelle Obama to work in the Chicago MAYOR’S OFFICE. Then when she left to go run the Chicago Planning Commission she took her with her. She was involved in Chicago politics since the 80’s including being Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Daley when Obama was nothing. She has also spent years in high level positions on the board of the Chicago Medical Center, and [not] ironically on the board of the Chicago Stock Exchange (lol forever considering Obama’s hatred of business and Wall Street).
Perhaps this is why Queerty cannot understand Obama. You should know about the man and his associations before believing the fantasy narrative. eyeroll.
swarm
@13 Robert in NYC is correct. Institutional homophobia is in every segment of society including radio and tv pop culture icons Kimmel, Ferguson and Letterman. They need to be called out every single time and the new narrative of “overly sensitive gays” needs to be ATTACKED not accepted by some Uncle Tom/ Stockholm Syndrome way of thinking. d to things like the Defense spending bill so the actual members votes can be grounds for voting these members out instead of giving them cover to make lame excuses.
Further, Congressional bills for LGBT need to be voted on as a clean bill without being attached to things like the Defense spending bill so the members can be examined on their votes and voted OUT without providing them cover and excuses.
swarm
^^ my post 17 is wonky with stupid google browser, it should read:
@13 Robert in NYC is correct. Institutional homophobia is in every segment of society including radio and tv pop culture icons Kimmel, Ferguson and Letterman. They need to be called out every single time and the new narrative of “overly sensitive gays” needs to be ATTACKED not accepted by some Uncle Tom/ Stockholm Syndrome way of thinking.
Further, Congressional bills for LGBT need to be voted on as a clean bill without being attached to things like the Defense spending bill so the members can be examined on their votes and voted OUT without providing them cover and excuses.