Jackson Free Press

In the wake of U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's remarks this past week that some critics feel equate homosexuality with bigamy and incest, a Mississippi state senator has come out against a potential appearance by Democratic presidential candidate Dr. Howard Dean, who, as governor of Vermont, helped that state enact the first "civil union" legislation in the country. Richard White, who represents the 29th district (Hinds), told an Associated Press reporter, "Any candidate talking about gay rights might as well not even visit Mississippi. The people down here, they are not going to put up with that kind of stuff. We're not prepared for all that in Mississippi or anywhere else in the southern states."

Equality Mississippi Director Jody Renaldo responded by calling the senator to express displeasure, according to a press release circulated by the group. "He stated that he had just left a Rotary Club meeting and was on his way to attend to some matters at his place of business and would get back to me to discuss the matter later," Renaldo wrote, who described the senator as "somewhat somber" when confirming that he'd made the statement to the AP.

Renaldo went on to say "I want Richard White to know that he does not speak for or represent gay Mississippi and that Howard Dean, as well as anyone else who believes in equality, is welcome in Mississippi."

The Associated Press quoted Dean as saying, "It'll be harder in the South, but let's not forget that there are a lot of southern folks who are suffering in the Bush economy and who need better health care and better education for their kids, too."

Dean, a medical doctor who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination on a platform that pushes universal healthcare, balancing the Federal budget and opposes the "Bush Doctrine" of pre-emptive, unilateral war, sees himself as fiscally conservative and socially liberal. But his position on civil unions—if elected president he would extend them at the Federal level, allowing same-sex partners rights under the tax code, for instance—has been called "ultraliberal" by the Republican National Committee.

"[Supporting civil unions] seems to me the fair thing to do, and I think most Americans are fair-minded," Dean told the AP. "So I can't wait to engage the Republicans on that issue."

Previous Comments

ID

63909

Comment

Speaking of Santorum's comments, he recently met with two families that have gay and/or lesbian children. They had actually scheduled the meeting before Santorum's comments had been publicized and examined. According to the families, Santorum showed no signs of empathy and was "condescending, belligerent and arrogant. He filibustered us." (source) What's up with these representatives being so angry and speaking so negatively in the public forum? Seems they could have been given a class on etiquette and basic tolerance of other consensual lifestyles besides heterosexual, missionary-style sex for procreation. Am I the only person that finds these types of comments and actions inappropriate for an official on the clock (especially where church and state should be separate)? If I were to say something like this at my workplace, I would be reprimanded and/or fired! Seems my employer must have higher standards than our own government.

Author

Knol Aust

Date

2003-05-09T14:37:29-06:00