Why don't we focus on Rick Santorum's Gayness?
Who is Rick Santorum, and why is he on a blog about black gay life, you might ask...well Mr. Santorum is a republican senator from Pennsylvania, who ranks #3 in the senate. He is also one of the fiercest opponents to GLBT issues, and has spoken out against our community and our lives countless times. Well, it appears that one of his senior staffers, Robert Traynham has been outed as being a gay black male. Of course, with this revelation, the news media has been in buzz mode of course questioning Santorum's record on GLBT issues, but also spending much time on Mr. Traynham, exploring questions like "How can you work for a politician like Santorum", etc. Of course, initially I asked myself the same question, and I have avoided commenting on this issue, until I was clear on my own position on the matter. On one hand, I question how any of us can question Robert Traynham, when most of us work for corporations or individuals, who are not exactly staunch supporters of our causes, black or gay in most cases. So what makes his scenario so wrong? The primary issue here in the hearts and minds of gays and especially black gays everywhere is that when you enter the political arena, no longer are you simply "doing a job". When we look at prominent black figures in the political arena, (Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, etc.) we view their affiliations, and support of their respective employers as representative of their own beliefs. It has been reported that when confronted on this issue, Mr. Traynham sys he is supportive of the Senator. Now, whether these are his genuine feelings, or his attempt to save face professionally, we may never know, but for our agenda to advance, those of us who are in positions of influence must stand up. As long as we stay hidden in our closets...we are right where they want us.
posted by eastcoastbrutha at
12:14 PM
3 Comments:
Frist we need as a community to be accepted by our family and friends BEFORE we can take on the society as a whole. How can we begin to fight injustice WHEN we are treated with with malice even within our church.The fear and hated that we face in our own community has even kept gay men in our community AT LEAST 10YRS behind in HIV health, education, and prevention.This deep seated social problem is so prevelent that black men will face poor health and death RATHER than admit they are homosexual to themselveS OR THERE familes.
10:56 AM
I have to agree 100% that in order for things to change, we have to speak out. That's the same thing Black people had to do during the civil rights movement. I also agree that issues like these are harder (but not impossible) to address when there is no support - not even from the church. But I have to disagree with the implication that anyone who works in society is working for organizations that don't support different lifestyles. What they do instead of outright condoning or rejecting different lifestyles is try to pretend they don't exist. Which, to me, is better than telling me who I can and can not be and what I should and should not do. I would rather not discuss it until BOTH sides of the party are willing to listen....
4:40 PM
Really nice site here. Glad I found it.
As to your post, I believe Mr. Traynham has every right to work for any Senator who will have him. That being said, to support Sen. Santorum is to support an active and influential homophobe, so any GLBT staffperson in Santorum's office would have to make their peace with that as they work for him.
It's not surprising though. I doubt that Traynham's racial or sexual identities have much to do with his support of the Senator and his agenda. It's incredibly easy to ignore the political demands of such identities to focus on issues like free trade and feminist bashing if one is paid enough.
But perhaps that's too cynical of me, since I don't know Mr. Traynham.
10:20 PM
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