amlit338

amlit338

Current language from Congress on homosexuality:

I thought I'd put together a few recent comments by elected representatives on the question of homosexuality and see how they compare to those we read today in class. I fear they're not much more tolerant, in some cases:

Here's Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma:

Coburn on homosexuality: “The gay community has infiltrated the very centers of power in every area across this country, and they wield extreme power … Why do you think we see the rationalization for abortion and multiple sexual partners? That’s a gay agenda.”

Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania:

Every society in the history of man has upheld the institution of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Why? Because society is based on one thing: that society is based on the future of the society. And that's what? Children. Monogamous relationships. In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be. It is one thing. And when you destroy that you have a dramatic impact on the quality —

AP: I'm sorry, I didn't think I was going to talk about "man on dog" with a United States senator, it's sort of freaking me out.

SANTORUM: And that's sort of where we are in today's world, unfortunately. The idea is that the state doesn't have rights to limit individuals' wants and passions. I disagree with that. I think we absolutely have rights because there are consequences to letting people live out whatever wants or passions they desire. And we're seeing it in our society.

OK, those guys are Republicans. Here's a Democrat, Sen. Robert Byrd of W. Va:

Perhaps what was most disappointing for a liberal watching events unravel was the fact that so many Democrats joined the Republicans in supporting DOMA. Senator Byrd (D-WV), was a cosponsor. He said, "the drive for same-sex marriage is in effect an effort to make a sneak attack on society by encoding this aberrant behavior in legal form before society itself has decided it should be legal." He also went on to link the fall of Greek civilization to homosexuality. Implicit in his argument is the belief that homosexuality is intrinsically evil, and the feeling that the legalization of gay marriage would somehow push America down the slippery slope towards apocalyptic doom.