Dan Savage slams ‘f**king moronic’ complaints that Clinton didn’t back gay rights fast enough
Dan Savage has hit out at the “moronic” belief that Hillary Clinton should be shunned by LGBT voters because of her gay rights record.
Clinton has faced harsh criticism from supporters of rival Bernie Sanders due to her late conversion on LGBT issues – having backed gay rights since 2009, and supporting equal marriage since 2013.
Though she has strongly battled for LGBT equality – making a landmark UN speech as Secretary of State in 2011 – the Sanders campaign continues to focus on her historic record, claiming she “insulted the entire gay community”.
Writing on The Stranger, influential gay columnist Dan Savage tried to dismantle the argument that Secretary Clinton is not an ally on LGBT equality/
He noted: “A lot of progressives are slamming Hillary for her past position on marriage equality and the rather noxious comments she made back then.”
Noting that equal rights champion Barack Obama had a very similar historic record to Clinton before his own evolution, Savage continued: “Here’s what I have to say to those who can’t understand why any gay person could possibly support Hillary over Bernie – or, like me, support Hillary and/or Bernie – when Bernie Always Had the Right Position On Marriage Equality and Hillary Used To Have the Wrong Position on Marriage Equality.
“We’re taking motherf**king yes for a motherf**king answer.”
He added: “Hillary Clinton’s support for marriage equality may be a political calculation. And you know what?
“We worked hard to change the math so that those political calculations would start adding up in our favor. So sincere change of heart or political calculation – either way – I will take it.”
“It’s f**king moronic – it’s political malpractice – to attack a politician for not coming around on your issues fast enough.
“There are lots of other issues the queer community is going to be pressing politicians on, from passing equal rights bills and trans rights bills to defeating anti-trans bathroom legislation and RFRAs.
“If pols who on currently on the wrong side of any of those issues see no benefit to changing their positions – if they see no political benefit -they’re going to be harder to persuade.”
He continued: “Why should they come around on our issues, why should they switch sides or change their votes, if we’re going to go after them hammer and tongs for the position they used to hold?
“(“Please change your mind and support us.” “No.” “Pretty please?” “OK, I’ve changed my mind and I’ll vote to support you.” “F**K YOU FOR NOT ALWAYS AGREEING WITH ME! I’M NOT VOTING FOR YOU! F**K YOU SOME MORE!”)”
Savage summed up:”We’re f**king ourselves over with this sh*t, not Clinton. Stop it.”
