Michele Bachmann told supporters at a local Waverly, Iowa pizzeria that same-sex marriage equality is a special right, that all Americans already have the right to marriage — as defined by law, and strongly suggested that same-sex marriage is nothing more than a “sex practice.” Bachmann was challenged by two high school students who asked her several questions about LGBT rights and gay marriage.
Bachmann’s conservative tunnel vision led to her — frustratedly — state, “there are no special rights for people based upon your sex practices. There’s no special rights based upon what you do in your sex life. You’re an American citizen first and foremost and that’s it.”
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Jason Noble, covering Michele Bachmann for the Des Moines Register, posted this transcript of the “debate” between Bachmann and Jane Schmidt, a Waverly High School student and president of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. Noble notes there were about 65 people in the crown, and they were “mostly middle-aged and elderly,” which accounts for the applause.
After, you can watch the video of the exchange.
JANE SCHMIDT: One of my main concerns is government support for the LGBT community. So my question is what would you do to protect GSAs in high school and support the LGBT community.
BACHMANN: Well, No. 1, all of us as Americans have the same rights. The same civil rights. And so that’s really what government’s role is, to protect our civil rights. There shouldn’t be any special rights or special set of criteria based upon people’s preferences. We all have the same civil rights.
JANE SCHMIDT: Then, why can’t same-sex couples get married?
BACHMANN: They can get married, but they abide by the same law as everyone else. They can marry a man if they’re a woman. Or they can marry a woman if they’re a man.
JANE SCHMIDT: Why can’t a man marry a man?
BACHMANN: Because that’s not the law of the land.
JANE SCHMIDT: So heterosexual couples have a privilege.
BACHMANN: No, they have the same opportunity under the law. There is no right to same-sex marriage.
JANE SCHMIDT: So you won’t support the LGBT community?
BACHMANN: No, I said that there are no special rights for people based upon your sex practices. There’s no special rights based upon what you do in your sex life. You’re an American citizen first and foremost and that’s it.
ELLA NEWELL, a junior at Waverly High School: Wouldn’t heterosexual couples, if they were given a privilege then, that gay couples aren’t, like given that privilege to get married, but heterosexual couples are given a privilege to get married?
BACHMANN: Remember every American citizen has the right to avail themselves to marriage but they have to follow what the laws are. And the laws are you marry a person of the opposite sex.
Is it me or does it sound like Bachmann — who displays an offensive lack of understanding of same-sex relationships, which are no different from opposite-sex relationships — is advocating for gay men to mary straight women (0r, vice versa) then cheat?
Color us surprised that she even talked with the kids, as Bachmann has a strong habit of running away from students.
And, really, “sex practices”? Shame on her. I’d say that was one of the most-offensive things Bachmann has said about us, but, well, there’s this list that’s far worse.
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