Discussion: SC Town Retaliates Against Mayor Who Fired Gay Police Chief

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Discussion for article #224350

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Wow…rationality wins!

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…and, in South Carolina no less!

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It gives one hope, doesn’t it? Changes in attitude happen (even if slower than we would wish)

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I’d like to see him fire the Town Council – which just might happen in 3… 2…

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This is what happens when people, regardless of their basic ideology, get to know a gay person. Suddenly it becomes not about some scary unknown, and instead about “Ms. Moore, the police chief who we like, who did a good job, who just happened to be gay, and who was fired unjustly”.

That’s why the anti-gay position is fundamentally untenable in the long term - it’s made up of either the uninformed or those who can’t admit their true orientation. Once the uninformed get to know a gay person, the issue vanishes for them. That leaves behind only the self-loathing closet cases, and there just aren’t enough of them to keep a movement going.

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That mayor is in a heap ‘o’ trouble.

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That’s precisely why it’s coming to an end.

My parents, both in their 80’s, talked to me recently about gay marriage. A friend I’d known from childhood (and they had, too) had died of cancer. She was also living, at the time, with her lesbian lover.

My parents thought there was no reason not to let two people who love each other be married (which they couldn’t, in that state).

Coulda knocked me over with a feather; because I agreed with them, but didn’t think they’d agree with me.

Change is coming fast…

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Absolutely. I’ve never seen stats on this but I’d bet anything that in recent years, with more and more people coming out, there’s a snowballing effect. Accepting them is just the path of least resistance once the otherness is removed.

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We–I include myself!–like to stereotype and make fun of Southerners for their combination of ignorance, racism, and hateful “Christianityism.” But this vote shows that there are good people everywhere, even in SC. Still, I am shocked and surprised that SCians would come out to support a gay woman. Good for them. This is the first time I can recall news from SC that didn’t make me want to scream: “Let the idiots secede!”

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Similar experience with my 80+ year-old Dad. He used to be uncomfortable with the subject of gays (“I am not sure I ever knew one.”) But, he is wise and keeps up with current events. He began, instead, to say things like “Well, Helen had that son who never married and he was a great guy.” Now, he argues in favor of fair treatment for the LGBT community by saying, “If we are all god’s children, then we deserve the same rights and respect.” Makes you think we were lucky with our parentage, doesn’t it?

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DarWinning! one haterosexual at a time…

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I’ve got plenty of my own prejudices but I’m a northerner who’s spent a bit of time in the South, and people there can surprise you. Plenty of northerners are awful and plenty of southerners are pretty great. And for every loudmouth bigot there are also truly devout Christians who quietly say “judge not” to themselves. They don’t get the publicity but they’re there.

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And remember, this was in South Carolina. LGBT equality is inevitable.

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I am impressed South Carolina. Why don’t you do this on a national scale with Sen Graham

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I’m guessing this mayor is going to cost them more than just being a public embarrassment. if there was a job offer, and an acceptance, the town may end up having to pay the new guy to not show up for work.

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Well, I’ll be.

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Can we get some love here in Houston for electing Annise Parker thrice?

Can handle the criticism of our pols statewide.
They’re freakishly insane.
Houston OTOH, is an island of moderates.

jw1

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The town is full of carpetbaggers…better than teabaggers, I guess.

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My college room mate was from Latta South Carolina. I remember him for two things: 1) he played football without a helmet and 2) he believed a story I told him about being on the Titanic when it sank. This was in 1953 and at the time we were both 19. I got found out when he told his mom he was rooming with a Titanic survivor. She said “isn’t he a little old to be a freshman” and he replied, no, younger than I am

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