AADA81 said: "GavestonPS said: "Mike Barrett said: "I hate Lindsey Graham as much as the next person but what a distasteful and ignorant comment on her end. There's no proof he's gay, and everyone has a right to come out when they want to. Frankly this is incredibly distasteful and disgusting of her."
Frankly, I find your homophobia far more "distasteful and disgusting".
How is calling Graham gay any different from calling him fair, honest or good at his job? He may be none of those things, but neither are they insults."
What in that statement is "homophobic"? And let's be realistic: you may believe calling a mangay is no different than calling him fair, honest and good but that's not true. Fair, honest and good are words that have only positive connotations but calling someone gay is not a benign term. There are plenty of people who will respond to someone labeled by that wordwith discrimination, hatred or worse. That is why some people, possibly Graham himself, are closeted. Fair, honest and good don't have inherent risks tied to them for the recipient of such compliments.
I will add, just look at the way Lupone used that word. It was not in a warm, acceptingor welcoming way. It was used as a means to "out" himin a snide, mocking, accusatorymanner intended to embarrass him, i.e., in a negative way. She was not being fair, honest or good when she chose to do that."
"Gay" is as benign as "fair" or "honest" to me; and it should be to all of us.
And hypocrisy has always made closeted pols fair game for outing. LuPone is merely following a long-established tradition in mocking the hypocrisy of a man--who gay or not, at the very least has always appeared quite effeminate (another word that should be benign to us by now)--who behaves one way but votes to the detriment of people like himself.
Sort of like the hysterical response to outing. If gay isn't a bad thing, how is calling someone gay a bad thing? I realize you are posting from 1982, but it's time to unclutch the pearls and reflect a little.
(Oops! That reference to the phrase "clutching one's pearls" might be seen to imply YOU are gay! I actually have no idea and don't care. But if you care, by all means set the record straight. In my view, I haven't defamed you.)