community in the United States. Defining what the "gay community" actually is, however, is a subject of great debate. Since it isn't a group defined by something as tangible as skin color or geographical constraints, I would argue that it's something more akin to a religion. Now, before you argue that religion is a matter of choice (and of course it is…) and being gay is not (and of course, it isn't), hear me out. Religious affiliation is a bond that exists outside of the physical realm - a shared belief or values system that one grows up in, is one that can exist long before one searches out a physical location like a church or temple with like-minded people. Similarly, when gay people come to realize that they are, in fact, gay, there is a search that begins. When I figured out that I was gay, I was fortunate to be surrounded by friends who were all supportive and very pro-gay in both their politics and their personal beliefs. As I grew older, and started living on my own, I found neighborhoods that were gay meccas, businesses that were established with the intent of serving a gay clientele and cities sizable enough to maintain an annual Gay Pride festival.As such, I've enjoyed the relative joy and protection of the gay communities where I have lived. In my life (since the late 1980's anyway), I've seen the emergence of celebrities who refused to be constrained by the
public's expectation of heterosexuality. Whether it was someone relatively predictable like Ellen DeGeneres in 1997 (who suffered a career setback as a result) or Rock Hudson, who only came out because he was nearing his final days - as a community we've risen up to embrace, and welcome them. It's the same reflex that we individually extend to our own dear friends and family as something of a pre-emptive strike against the potential negative backlash that may come as a result of coming out. After all, if you're living an unpleasant, oppressed life and there's a community willing to embrace you and offer you safe harbor, without judgment, it makes the decision that much easier. The gay community even offered this safe harbor to George Michael when he was found soliciting a hookup in a park bathroom in Beverly Hills. We may not have approved of his salacious actions (or maybe some did - whatever…) but, when it became public that he was gay, the public at large rejected him as a washed-up 80's pop star, but the gay community opened their arms and welcomed him in. Same with Ricky Martin. Same with Neil Patrick Harris.However, this last week brought us the news that former Republican National Convention chair Ken Mehlman came out as gay. Rachel Maddow posted this video on her blog:
In it, Bill Maher (famous lefty wingnut, natch) names Mehlman as one of several closeted gay people who work fervently on anti-gay causes (see also Mark Foley, Ted Haggard, etc.)… what's most staggering about this video, however, is that it's from November 2006 - only days after the election that brought a Democratic majority to the House of Representatives - a day that was something of a massive blow to the Republicans at the time.
Now, who the f*ck Ken Mehlman, and why care?
- His entire professional life, he has been ardently conservative, and as such gained favor with the Republican Party.
- He was Field Director on George W. Bush's 2000 Campaign.
- After the 2000 election, Mehlman became director of the White House Office of Political Affairs (and was subsequently involved in a scandal involving election tampering)
- He was George W. Bush's 2004 Campaign Manager -- leading the Republican Party on numerous anti-gay initiatives, as well as using the then 18-month old war in Iraq as a tool for fear-mongering.
- From 2005 to 2007, he was the chair of the Republican National Committee, where he worked closely with Karl Rove on the Republican Party's (unsuccessful) ongoing electoral dominance plan.
Now that he has decided to come out, I can't help but wonder what his future holds for him. I'm hard pressed to believe that "it’s taken [him] 43 years to come to terms with this part of [his] life" when it seems that his sexual orientation was one of the worst kept secrets in DC.
Ken Mehlman should not expect the warm embrace of the gay community. If he hadn't spent the last decade of his career working against gay rights, thereby damaging his own personal future, there might be more love and support for Mr. Mehlman. For a while, he will have to say many, many mea culpas and Acts of Contrition to the community that he not only abandoned but actively worked against.
Most religious organizations recognize the offering of Absolution to the Penitent as an essential step on the road to ultimate salvation (whatever that may be). This may be where the gay community is much less like a religion, and more like regular humanity - ultimate "salvation" is more subjective and anything resembling absolution is a hard-won climb back up a rocky hill.
Mr. Mehlman will lose any favor he once had among the righteous Republicans - and he has a long way to go before he's truly embraced into the bosom of the gay community and progressives who support things as simple as gay marriage.
I'm inclined to believe that if he had simply embraced who he was earlier on in his life, he would have a much shorter list of mea culpas to make. In the meantime, however, I look forward to the next former-conservative to scrap their fervent anti-gay biases and come parading out of the closet.
Condoleezza? Is that you?
Now, one last bit for you. I Heart Barney Frank ALMOST as much as I Heart Rachel Maddow.
Enjoy!
