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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
(Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero)
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero should be applauded - no worshiped - for standing up to the Catholic Church's rabid and embarrassing attacks on a new law in Spain allowing gay couples to marry. The Church has gone on an all out PR (Perverted Response) offensive to smear gay people and threaten the careers of wise and courageous politicians like Zapatero. After the Crusades, The Inquisition, the treatment of Jews and women, one would have thought the Vatican has learned something. Alas, it hasn't.
Last month, the Spanish parliament gave initial approval to a law granting gay people the freedom to marry. The Spanish Bishops' Conference, in typical hysterical fashion called on Catholics to break the law and resist implementation.
In one of the most moving and bold political expressions of my lifetime, Zapatero did not cower, but spoke truth to power when he addressed parliament in a state of the nation address.
"I will never understand those who proclaim love as the foundation of life, while denying so radically protection, understanding and affection to our neighbors, our friends, our relatives, our colleagues. What kind of love is this that excludes those who experience their sexuality in a different way?"
How refreshing to hear a politician tell the truth and not pander to ignorance and exploit fear.
After witnessing this act of courage, I'm ashamed of the politicians in America. Few of the GLBT community's allies support marriage. Even pols with gay children, such Cheney and Gephardt have acted like dicks by choosing their own political ambitions over their families. I think it is fair to assume that both men want happiness for their children. But when it came down to it, they selfishly chose timidity and silence, leaving their daughters second-class citizens. It is tragic when presidential and Vice Presidential desires, win out over parental duties.
As impressive as it is surprising to watch the Spanish PM champion equality and fairness, what is really astonishing is to see a politician who actually takes his job description literally, and leads, rather than follows.
1 Comments:
I couldn't imagine a US pol doing this. Look how John Kerry is already sucking up to the right. Makes me sick.
posted by Anonymous, at
5/12/2005 4:40 PM
