Perhaps the most heartening thing about the Weiner scandal is the extent to which it helps restore my faith in my fellow gays. Well, some bloggers may try to excuse his behavior as the new normal or some such, every single gay person with whom I have spoken (or e-mailed) about the matter says the congressman behaved boorishly, that is, as I wrote here, they understand that marriage changes things.
Had Weiner not been married, most of them grant, they would have held him to a different, less lofty, standard. Some of my interlocutors, to be sure, contend that if he was going to engage in online flirtations, he could have made it “okay” by being open with his wife about his internet interactions. Despite their looser definition of martial fidelity, even these folks do acknowledge that a married man has responsibilities which a single man lacks.
Telling this story would certainly strengthen the case for state recognition of same-sex marriage. In the matter of the married Anthony Weiner, there does seem to be a difference in the attitude of the official designated spokespeople for our community and the average, everyday homosexual.
Let me hope that I’m not the only gay man to point this out in a public forum.
“Let me hope that I’m not the only gay man to point this out in a public forum.”
Yes, let us hope.
“Telling this story would certainly strengthen the case for state recognition of same-sex marriage.”
Telling the story may also lead to less resistance. Activism can often block the line of sight to simple truths. Much of America doesn’t see you live your daily life. We don’t know you.