Dan Savage today announced the details of his debate with NOM, the National Organization For Marriage President Brian Brown, and you may be surprised at the venue.
You’ll remember that Dan Savage, when addressing a group of high school journalism students became the target of attacks from the anti-gay religious right after he told them, “We can learn to ignore the bullshit in the Bible about gay people.” And then there was that unfortunate “pansy-assed” comment that gave faux license to the right to claim Savage was bullying children — a totally lame attack, but Dan did walk into it.
Enter NOM’s Brian Brown, who challenged Dan Savage to a sword duel. Well, OK, a debate.
Let me lay down a public challenge to Dan Savage right here and now: You want to savage the Bible? Christian morality? Traditional marriage? Pope Benedict? I’m here, you name the time and the place and let’s see what a big man you are in a debate with someone who can talk back. It’s easy to make high-school girls cry by picking on them. Let’s pick on someone our own size!
I’m here, any time, any place you name, Dan Savage. You will find out out how venal and ridiculous your views of these things are if you dare to accept a challenge.
So, back to the details.
Today, on his podcast, Dan Savage shared his journey about where to have the debate, but then said he didn’t want to go the “coliseum” route.
So where is the debate?
Dan Savage’s dining room table.
Sorry, no tickets available.
“So, what I’d like to do is invite you to dinner. Bring the wife. My husband will be there. I will hire a video crew and we will video sort of an after dinner debate.”
“You have to acknowledge my humanity by accepting my hospitality, and I have to acknowledge your by extending my hospitality to you.”
Dan also has invited New York Times journalist Mark Oppenheimer to ensure it’s “fair.”
Oh, to be a fly on the wall there…
The debate will be an hour (why are they always so short?) and will be released on YouTube, unedited.
All this is assuming Brian Brown keeps his word.
Listen to Dan’s podcast for more.