How long, if ever, do you think it will be until the U.S. has a gay president?
Asked by
iamthemob (
17196
)
October 26th, 2010
Although we can’t equate civil rights movements with each other precisely, they may offer some means of comparison. African Americans weren’t legally recognized as “citizens,” at least nominally, until the fourteenth amendment – about 150 years ago. Women weren’t until about 80 years ago when they were provided the right to vote. Arguably, homosexuals weren’t until 2003 when Lawrence v. Texas made it illegal to prosecute homosexual activity – but the fact that over half of the states in the U.S. ban same-sex marriage constitutionally, and DOMA is in effect federally for now, it’s debatable whether homosexuality is provided full equal legal recognition along with heterosexuality.
One thing that presidents have had in common almost universally is (1) public adherence to some form of religion, Christianity specifically, and (2) a legal family relationship. Given how recently any legal recognition of the protection of homosexuals has been underway in the U.S., and that there are still social and legal barriers to full participation in place that have been essential to the presidential identity, do you think it’s remotely possible to have a gay president, or even a viable gay presidential candidate, in our lifetime? Why or why not?
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27 Answers
I don’t see it happening because I don’t think America is going to survive as we are now for much longer.
I heard someone once say that Taft was gay.
I think the asker means when it is known to the public and accepted.
I would venture to say when the person running can keep it under covers until the country is comfortable with that person’s politics and agenda.
I assume you mean openly gay. I think it’d be a while, but it could happen.
Oh, hey, this was asked in Social!
Obama is actually half black. Would you settle for a bisexual president? ~
As I have said more than once on this site the big obstacle that an openly gay man (other than within the gay community) who aspires to the office will face for quite a while is the aversion that many people have (regardless of faith or family) to the notion of anal sexual intercourse. For the present and near future, a candidate for president of the United States would have a very tough time getting past the image of him in that kind of relationship, not to mention political cartoons at home and abroad.
Please spare me the lecture about not all gay men engaging in the practice. I have a few gay friends who tell me that some gay men do not, and I have no reason to disbelieve them.
But for many, the image is there and would be tough to defeat.
It will be a long time, I think.
Also, please do not shoot the messenger
I think it could happen. I think it will be when the current generation of children grow up and are voting age. The young are much less prejudiced than the previous generations.
@iamthemob Not quite sure about that one. The issue has been discussed on Fluther more than once regarding why it is that straight people seem to respond differently to gay women than they do to gay men. It is clear that they do, and I think the reason is what I said above. But since you asked, if there ever is a gay president, my guess is it will be a gay woman before a gay guy.
@josie
I’m inclined to agree with you on that one. I almost included that as part of the OP (e.g., if there is, do you think it’s more likely we will have a gay woman president before a gay man?).
What makes you think that there hasn’t already been one?
I think the fact that there are only 3 openly gay people serving in Congress; Tammy Baldwin, D-WI; Barney Frank, D-MA; Jared Polis, D-CO. We’ve had the occasional sleeper gay who was outed while in office, such as rep. Mark Foley of Florida—but they don’t count, since they were not elected as an openly gay candidate. Given those dynamics versus the demographics of blacks in Congress, I would say it will be a very long time till an openly gay candidate wins the Presidency. That said, attitudes on homosexuality are changing faster than I have ever seen attitudes change in previous cases of bigotry.
So I guess what I am concluding is, I have absolutely no idea.
Lol…..I was going to say that we’ll all be dead before that happens, but I also thought the same thing about a non-white being the president. There have already been gay politicians so I don’t think it is that far away, although we all might be very old when it does happen.
@ETpro Lmao @ ‘Sleeper gay’.
@ETpro
I’m with you there…I have no idea either. The way that old bigotries seem to lose hold the more information we get indicates, and historically has been nominally demonstrated, that we’re losing them (hopefully) faster and faster. The civil rights movement of the 60s, for instance, was greatly helped by the television (e.g., people seeing, nationwide, fire hoses being turned on peaceful demonstrators). So who knows?
@all
Gay as in openly gay, so we can put that aside. ;-) Identifying oneself as gay sort of requires that one publicly take on the identity. Considering no president has admitted to any behavior, and it seems wouldn’t identify this way, and hasn’t as long as they’ve been president, I would say we haven’t had a gay president just yet, regardless of what any of them has done behind closed doors.
Well, a very long time. Republicans are conservative and I doubt any republican candidate could win the primary if he was gay. It’s possible that a gay candidate could rise up through the Democrat party, however keep in mind that a major key vote for democrats is the black vote. And as we saw in 2008 black voters typically do not support gay rights. But hey, never say never
@LKidKyle1985
Good points. Considering recent outings in the republican party, though, we may be seeing the increased likelihood of a viable gay republican candidate than thought possible before.
I believe it will be seriously considered in about 20 to 25 years. Thats about how long it willl take for the baby boomer generation to die off. Each generation is becoming more open to everyone, so much so that it has worked its way back to the older generations but not anywhere near the concentration that exsists in this generation.
@thekoukoureport Here is the bad news. My children are in their early 20s. They have learned a few things, some from me, some from their friends, some from their friends parents, and some from anybody who does not work for the Political State.
Among these things is
A. Avoid saying what is politically unpopular so you do not become a target.
B. If necessary to achieve a particular goal, say what is politically popular
C. As long as you can vote in secret, vote as you actually believe.
They, or their friends are not quite as accepting as you believe. Tolerant, perhaps, but not totally accepting.
In a comfortable forum, where they trust their surroundings, they ask the same questions that many “right wing idiots” do, and have the same doubts that many “wing nuts” do. They have not been totally indoctrinated as some believe.
Just saying, when the baby boomers are gone, I bet little will change.
Many baby boomer parents, like mine, learned to be pragmatists. Their message is “do not screw up by being totally honest”. Learn to talk the talk, but do not always walk the walk.
I think, before they died, that I impressed my parents by being totally honest, even if there was a consequence.
Thus, my healthy relationship with Fluther.
OK, I am done.
Do your worst.
@josie
A. Avoid saying what is politically unpopular so you do not become a target.
B. If necessary to achieve a particular goal, say what is politically popular
I have an inkling that Obama is an atheist and just said he was a christian to get elected lol.
Their message is “do not screw up by being totally honest”.
I can’t agree with the above more, unfortunately. Whoever said “Honesty is the best policy” lived in a very, very different world.
we already have one… President Barrack. ah now ill probably have some CIA prick at my door babbling to me how “unAmerican” that was of me to say that.
Not really – considering that (1) there’s nothing unAmerican about what you’ve “said,” and (2) we haven’t had a President Barrack. ;-)
Yes children ask the same questions, have the same hatred, fears and prejudices, but it is no longer the norm. I actually believe it is on the decline due to the rise of information.
Look at this generations heros. None of them live to the standards of our parents. No longer white with crew cuts, our childrens heros and contemporaries are much more diverse than I would have ever imagined when I was a child in the 70’s. Look at TV, music, fashion, art, diet all have broadened the minds to an international diversty, pushing their world above the hatred and bigotry of the past.
Yes there will always be wispers. it’s part of growing up. When children see other people as different they are ging to have the typical reactions. As children grow up it becomes harder and harder to keep those reactions due to the wonderfeul contributions of all people. No matter the shape, size, color, sex, sexual orientation, we have learned over the past generation that we are all one. That knowledge is stronger than all the whispers that are left.
2020.
Hillary Clinton’s German colleague is openly gay.
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