F ounded 1983 » J ay B rown
Vol. 19 N o. 6
and
R enee L a C hance
Bush's benign neglect
January 18, 2 0 0 2
FEATURE
The president s nonactivist conservatism puts the gay agenda in a holding pattern
WHEN INLY THE BEST WILL BO: Finding optimal
ways to feed our furry friends
n 1969, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a Democrat but nevertheless a
domestic policy aide to Republican President Richard Nixon, sug
gested that with civil rights laws in place, the appropriate federal
role toward African Americans was “benign neglect.”
men and lesbians were plentiful in the Clinton administration, holding
powerful jobs in the White House and in the Cabinet departments.
Although President Bill Clinton stumbled on his attempt to allow
gay people to serve in the military, after that, he rarely missed an oppor
tunity to signal his solidarity with the nation’s gay population. He was
Let racial issues recede from the political hot seat, he advised,
the first president to speak at a Human Rights Campaign dinner. He
while black citizens take advantage of their new opportunities. It didn’t
made a recess appointment of James Hormel as ambassador to Luxem
take long for civil rights leaders— who favored more active policies— to
bourg to get around GOP homophobes in the Senate.
denounce Moynihan, who then lost significant support among normally
He gave the green light to the establishment of a major gay operation
Democratic African American voters in his 1976 election to the Senate.
at the Democratic National Committee and appeared before gay groups to
After one year of George W. Bush in the White House, it is appro
help fund it. His administration’s gay minions promoted pro-gay legislation
priate to assess his attitude toward gay Americans. “Benign neglect”
on Capitol Hill and made government rules work for gay people— such as
sums it up very well.
awarding small-business grants to gay community centers.
Gone is the hostility to gay people that characterized
So the Bush administration, suffering by comparison,
On balance,
the Reagan administration— although perhaps not Ronald
gets a mixed review from the nation’s gay community. The
Reagan himself, who was, after all, a veteran of Holly
the Bush presidency president’s neglect of gay concerns certainly doesn’t push the
wood— and the first Bush administration. No Christian
envelope for our community. On the other hand, Bush does
is a fa r cry from
conservatives are lurking in the White House shadows
exhibit a personal tolerance— indeed, even a warmth—
making sure that funding proposals to combat AIDS are
toward gay people that, coming from a conservative Repub
its predecessor
squelched or that the first lady removes the red ribbon on
lican, only can have a positive effect on public opinion.
her dress before she appears on national television.
Whether this glass is half-full or nearly empty probably depends on
On the contrary, President Bush appointed the first gay person to
one’s political values. Those who see the federal government as having
head the White House office on AIDS and an openly gay man to an
an important role in helping move gay Americans from society’s side
ambassadorship— only the second in history. His administration let stand
lines to a position of full equality— and this includes most national gay
the executive orders providing protections for gay federal employees.
advocacy groups— only can feel disappointed, perhaps bitter, about the
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, a Christian fundamentalist
Bush presidency.
with a history of anti-gay politics, made nice with the Log Cabin
Those who are inclined to see the government’s role as peripheral to
Republicans. Bush just signed legislation allowing the District of
the actual day-to-day lives of most gay people, and who essentially want
Columbia to implement its domestic partners program. And the White
a live-and-let-live relationship with straight America rather than a
House has backed substantial funding for AIDS programs, albeit not as
series of confrontations, probably find him to their liking, or at least tol
much as some activists want.
erable. This group likely includes the 25 percent of gay men and les
Along with these positive signs, there has been a downside for gays
bians who reportedly voted for Bush in 2000.
in this administration. Bush declined to issue a Gay and Lesbian Pride
He has three, perhaps seven, more years in his presidency. His non
Month proclamation, is opposed to the Employment Nondiscrimination
activist conservatism, benign or otherwise, isn’t going to move the gay
Act and favors what some activists consider a weaker form of hate
agenda forward.
crimes legislation.
On the other hand, if his heart is in the right place, he might yet
His proposal giving federal funding to certain programs of church
have an opportunity to place his administration more fully on the side
groups would have allowed them to discriminate against gays. The Office
of history with regard to gay people. If such an occasion does arise, let’s
of Personnel Management did not include same-sex domestic partners in
hope he acts on it with at least a portion of the fervor and effectiveness
the federal employees’ long-term health insurance. And although sur
he has brought to governing in post-Sept. 11 America.
vivors of same-sex relationships can apply for benefits from the govern
ment’s Victim Compensation Fund, established after the World Trade
HASTINGS W yman publishes Southern Political Report, a nonpartisan
Center and Pentagon tragedies, the regulations are not totally clear.
biweekly newsletter. He can be reached at HWymanSPR@aol.com. JT 1
On balance, the Bush presidency is a far cry from its predecessor. Gay
I
R 22
NEWS
NORTHWEST. Straight spouses build bridges;
health educator honored
»
7-15
NATIONAL • Gay man joins Massachusetts
ticket; Bridgestone/Firestone under attack
pp 1 7 - 1 9
WORLD • Saudi Arabians executed;
Sir Nigel Hawthorne dies
PP 2 0 - 2 1
CULTURE
EROUPS • Just Out straps them on and hits
the slopes
P 33
FILM • Engage in voyeuristic fantasies with
The Fluffer
p 35
BOOHS • Tickle your funny bone
p 37
THEATER • The Tracks swish into Portland
p 39
DIVERSIONS • Alix Olson slams; new movie kills;
Rose City Softball plays host to World Series;
own the Queer as Folk hotties; SM YRC puts on
a show; gay TV for you and me
pp 4 0 - 4 1
COLUMNS
MS. BEHAVIOR • Brake and in love;
stolen vibrators!
P 31
THE EOSPEL ACCORDINE TO MARC • Hairy,
succinct, homo poet wanted
p 42
SPECIAL
extins i n • Let someone else cook tonight
PP 3 2 . 3 4
NIERTSPBTS . Gay -friendly hangouts
p
REFLECTIONS
s '~
I
41
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