During her confirmation hearing yesterday, SCOTUS nominee Amy Coney Barrett implied that being gay is a choice when she repeatedly used the antiquated term “sexual preference” to dodge questions about marriage equality.
An outrage quickly ensued, and later in the day, Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii schooled the judge for her poor choice of words.
“Even though you did not give a direct answer, I think your response did speak volumes,” Hirono said. “Not once but twice you used the term ‘sexual preference’ to describe those in the LGBTQ community.”
“Let me make clear, ‘sexual preference’ is an offensive and outdated term,” Hirono continued. “It is used by anti-LGTBQ activists to suggest that sexual orientation is a choice. It is not. Sexual orientation is a key part of a person’s identity.”
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Related: Amy Coney Barrett refuses to answer questions about same-sex marriage, says “I can’t, and I’m sorry”
Oh, but she did not stop there.
The senator from Hawaii continued, “That ‘sexual orientation is both a normal expression of human sexuality and immutable’ was a key part of the majority’s opinion in Obergefell. Which, by the way, Scalia did not agree with. So if it is your view that sexual orientation is merely a ‘preference,’ then the LGBT community should be rightly concerned whether you would uphold their constitutional right to marry.”
Hirono went on to say that she did not believe Barrett’s casual use of the term “sexual preference” was an accident.
“I don’t think that you used the term ‘sexual preference’ as, I don’t think it was an accident,” she added. “And one of the legacies of Justice Scalia and his particular brand of originalism is a resistance to recognizing those in the LGBT community as having equal rights under our Constitution.”
Let me make clear – sexual preference is an offensive and outdated term.
To suggest sexual orientation is a choice? It's not. It's a key part of a person's identity.
The LGBTQ+ community should be concerned with #WhatsAtStake with Judge Barrett on the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/4TWyATMX0Y
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) October 13, 2020
After being properly scolded, Barrett issued a half-hearted apology, saying, “I certainly didn’t mean and would never mean to use a term that would cause any offense to the LGBTQ community. So, if I did, I greatly apologize for that. I simply meant to be referring to Obergefell’s ruling with respect to same-sex marriage.”
Meanwhile, Twitter had a lot to say about the matter…
Amy Coney Barrett apologized for using the term “sexual preference” which no one really has used since the 1980s. It’s like if she’d said “colored people” then offered her sincere apology.
Yes, you should be sorry, Judge Barrett. And yes, a SCOTUS nominee should know better.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 14, 2020
When Amy Coney Barrett refers to LGBTQ people with the term “sexual preference”, that’s intentional and it’s doing two things:
1. It’s referring to homosexuality and bisexual as a choice.
2. It’s declining to recognize or affirm trans people.
And she’ll keep doing this. Watch.
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) October 13, 2020
My sexual preference is not to have Amy Coney Barrett decide my rights.
— Adam Feldman (@FeldmanAdam) October 13, 2020
My attraction to men and people of various gender identities / expressions is not sexual preference. It’s sexual orientation. Language matters. People like Amy Coney Barrett use “preference” intentionally, to imply LGBTQ+ identity is simply a lifestyle choice.
— Dana White (@ItsDanaWhite) October 13, 2020
Amy Coney Barrett referred to being gay as a sexual “preference.”
This is code language used to strip LGBT people of their rights.
No gay person says “I think I prefer to be gay,” in the same way they choose between a chocolate chip and peanut butter cookie.
— Michael J. Stern (@MichaelJStern1) October 13, 2020
According to GLAAD’s official Media Reference Guide:
The term “sexual preference” is typically used to suggest that being lesbian, gay or bisexual is a choice and therefore can and should be “cured.” Sexual orientation is the accurate description of an individual’s enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to members of the same and/or opposite sex and is inclusive of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, as well as straight men and women.
Related: Gay Twitter tears into Amy Coney Barrett after she implies being gay is a choice
Liquid Silver
That’s not a “microaggression,” that’s being flat-out wrong.
WashDrySpin
Now everyone is concerned but NOT everyone whose rights were and now ARE in jeopardy voted in 2016; statistics DO NOT lie but people ALL people do
Mister P
She knew what she was saying
Cam
No different than when a Republican does blackface or wears a swastika and then acts shocked that they are called out and offers an apology.
Coney Barrett is an anti-LGBTQ bigot trying to sneak onto the court by avoiding saying anything offensive, so she can spend the next 40 years attacking our civil rights.
cuteguy
If the Democrats don’t pack the court if they end up winning next month, we are all screwed. The only semi upside to this (if you can call it that) is that the lgbt youth today will realize the struggles the rest of us had to endure and they won’t take the current liberties afforded to them for granted anymore.
Rock Star
I am sorry that I am not in a position to call her out on her homophobia and her obvious slap at gay folks. So FU Amy and BTW Jesus was and is as G A Y as they come and she should review the story of the Gay Roman Centurion in her Catholic bible where Jesus saves the life of the Centurion’s gay lover. What a effed up brain you got woman. Just ask Jesus his two lovers John and Lazarus how loving Jesus was to them. Also your frizzy processed hair is annoying. LAAADY you need a hair calming product. I will pray your children don’t end up as effed in the head with as you are, Mz. Stormtrooper. Now go away.
Rock-N-RollHS
Oh grow a pair qweeens. Not a fan of Ms Peeps of Praise. But it is a preference for some, especially all those “queer nonbinary genderf*cks” out there, esp gurls in college wanting be “on the right side” of liberal b.s. Hardly offensive, but she’s clearly out of her element. But probably be the next SC member. So deal.
fur_hunter
When this C UNT gets appointed, Same-Sex Marriage will get overturned down the road. TRUST ME!! I have lived long enough to see how the Gay Community is treated. I want to know what is going to happen to the legality of those who ARE married? Will those marriages be considered null and void? This C UNT B ITCH refuses to accept the legitimate and unbiased information that gays are born gay. She STILL thinks it is a choice.
toddlicious
She’s a piece of trash. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!!!
rockland2u
(so she could understand) ask. “do you think you could choose to have an honest, open, emotional and physical relationship(attraction) with someone who happened to be female?” and when she say “OH my, of course not” then there is your answer it is no more a choice for you to be straight than it is for us to be gay. you just are, who you are, and love is love.
Kevan1
She has been in a bubble too long. She needs to learn you are born with your sexuality. Remember tha t the religious zealots believe we choose our same sex partners because we are weak minded, indoctrinated , child molesting sinners. Her type believes we are sick.
jthomasmpls
I am bisexual, I have a preference.
rbernard
Amy Barrett is known to have ties to Alliance Defending Freedom, the LGBTQ hate group.
Enough said