Brown Out
When Senator Scott Brown came out — I mean, came out for the repeal of DADT, I thought it touching, and almost did a gushing post entitled "You're a Good Man, Scotty Brown" (sad but true).
I checked myself, knowing as I do that gays are apt to go over the score with praise for the merest tolerance, especially when it comes from a former nude Cosmo model.
This is how it starts. Freshman year in high school, and we're crushing hard on the captain of the football team. He's handsome, strong, and popular, with a winning smile, and even though when he's with his buds, it's "fairy" this and "faggot" that, we're in awe of him. We know he's not like that, see. Not really.
Because he's not like that when we're all alone, tutoring him. He doesn't call us "little faggot" when we're writing his term papers. Just when he's with his buds. And that's not so wrong, right?
Even as adults we see it all the time. And we sympathize, because as hard as it is to be gay, its infinitely harder to be straight and speak out with decency and directness for the dignity of gay people. I mean, I can't imagine how hard it must be for poor Scott Brown, so burdened and conflicted.
So when Senator Brown tries to score points for decency, but then turns around when he's with his buds in the GOP and sides with those who deny the dignity of gay Americans willing to fight and die for them, I guess we shouldn't be too hard on him.
It's probably not reflective of his real views on human dignity and the inherent equality of all men and women. And anyway, even if it is, the fact that gay men and women are willing to fight and die for this country and just want to be treated like everyone else... well, whatever.
When Scott Brown visits injured troops at Walter Reed and attends funerals of our fallen heroes, it has never mattered to him whether they are gay or straight, whether some who have fought and died were forced to lie because it wasn't important to people like him in positions of power that the nation they fought and died for viewed them as second-class citizens — he's never given it a thought.
I mean, hey, what did they expect?
I wrote a quick entry on my blog earlier this week too. Brown's inaction as I described it was really very frustrating. I recognize that his vote alone would not have changed the outcome, but when I think about the state he represents which has a long history of social justice - not to mention the fact that MA is clearly a state that has taken a lead in GLBT Rights it really sets my blood boiling.
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Even though he was only a year behind me, I always knew there was a reason I couldn't remember Scott Brown when I was at Tufts. Then I saw on his bio he was in one of the frats. Which one joined only if one wanted to party. And the parties weren't even that good. I mean, let's see, head out to 15 Landsdowne or drink Mickey's with the boys? Well, which would you choose every time?
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