Well, so much for family values: SimianBrain reports that conservative activist Alan Keyes, last seen running against Barak Obama for the US Senate in Illinois, has told his daughter, Maya, who is a lesbian, to hit the road. Here is Maya in her own words:
"Well, it's happened. Finally and officially.
A couple days ago I got my official two-week warning that I have to be out of this apartment; so finally for real I'm getting cut off. I got no severance or anything like that from my sudden termination of employment (don't I have freedom of speech? the right to protest Bush without losing my job? Hehe... most people would think that working under a parent would be security but for me it's quite the opposite.) and so I definitely don't have anywhere near enough cash to find a new apartment; not even one room rented from someone anywhere. I've been searching craigslist but even places where I'd have enough to pay the first month's rent on some room I never have enough for the deposit as well, so so far I've had no luck at all finding a new home, since shelter requires money. Sad boo."
Nice, huh? Maybe I missed the verse in the Bible that says, kick your lesbian daughter out into the streets.
Simain Brain has some wise words for Maya and I echo them:
"My condolences, Maya Keyes, but I thank you for sharing this information. You come from a family whose fortunes have been made by promoting family values, and at this moment your parents are unable to practice them. I suspect they will see the light in time, but even if they don't, you appear to be a person with talents and skills that would take you far even if you didn't have that particular last name.
I hope that word circulates in general and that cooler heads in your parents' social circles sit them down to chat about these things. The overriding responsibility of a parent is to love the child, otherwise the word "parent" means only a biological event that happened once. Your father rails against irresponsibility in all arenas, and his own irresponsibility in attempting to remove you from your family as punishment for who you are will erode him as long as he doesn't learn to mend your relationship.
There will be difficult times ahead for you and difficult choices. Gay rights groups will likely have job offers for you that may verge on exploitation. Be careful not to use these platforms to hurt your father directly. You know, like I know, that we've already won the war for gay equality, and all that remains are a few skirmishes on the way to the Armistice signing. It is undignified to humiliate the defeated, so tread lightly as you go on your way. "
I do worry that some gay groups will use her at time when she needs to be cared for, not to be used a political prop.
All, I can add is that God be with this young woman at this perilous time.
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Posted by: online at May 5, 2005 10:04 AMi find the bush republicans hypocritical. if only they would support bush and hate liberals. then everything would be ok (ala/ jeff gannon)
http://nashuaadvocate.blogspot.com/2005/02/credible-evidence-emerges-that-jeff.html
it seems that they accept gay people if they support the "right person" and aren't getting caught being gay. well, if they are caught being gay, we can prove how "tolerant" we are. (how does a closet gay guy get so much support and an out-of-the-closet gay person can't get it from them.) maybe they have a conversion plan in mind. rove should get right on this, could be useful.
heck, we'll even help them get white house press credentials. we'll even let them ask questions, provided they ask the right kind of questions.
Since every extended family probably has at least one gay member and since homophobes often believe that gays are made and not born, how do they account for their family member's homosexuality? I'm just curious how those who are gay have been treated by their homophobe families and whether or not their families "take the blame" for them being gay, since they think that's how it happens. I hope they are not hounded to "convert" somehow, especially by some wacko religious group, because I see this as the ultimate rejection of a person.
She can stay with my wife and me for couple years, rent free, until we move. The house is getting emptier by the year.
It sounds like he kicked her out for opposing Bush and not because she's a lesbian
which is hardly much better but does seem to indicate in my mind that there's still hope for his soul.
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Posted by: Thorshammer at February 10, 2005 04:41 PMI used to just disagree with Keyes. Now, I think he's scum. I'm sad for Maya that she was saddled with a "man" like this for a father.
Posted by: Brian at February 10, 2005 08:26 AM