Pawlenty confronted by Edina teen who says discrimination against gays ‘hurts’

Pawlenty – A waste of human skin – along with ALL the Other GOP assholes.

GOOD FOR GABE !!! FANTASTIC! Timmy clearly cannot answer the question because in reality gay-marriage doesn’t hurt anyone. Timmy is a total GOP suck-up.

THANK YOU to ANDY B for this story and video coverage.

Mike’s right, thanks for posting this. Pawlenty couldn’t answer any of Gabe’s objections, but marriage opponents never can. You’d think as often as this issue has come up now, Pawlenty would come up with some kind of answer. the unspoken answer: “I know there’s no rational argument against it, but the people I’m pandering to really hate it.”

I just wish he had asked Pawlenty the killer question: So do your religious beliefs trump the Constitution? No way out from a question like that. Say “yes” and lose a lot of folks who might otherwise have fooled themselves into thinking Pawlenty an effective governor.

I applaud this sort of direct action that Gabe took!

So proud of Gabe!! It takes more guts than most people have to stand up to a bully like pawlenty. Also did anyone else notice that pawlenty really never answered the question..? Once a lawyer, always a lawyer.

As one born in Iowa, I was inspired by Gabe Aderhold’s brave activism. I’m 90, was on Omaha Beach in ’44, was a chief clerk in Ike’s Supreme Headquarters (Reims) during WWII, was at the Stonewall Inn in June 1969, and probably have few views different from Gabe’s. He is at least fortunate to be able to hold hands with another gay, which I could not do during my 40 years of non-monogamous companionship. Mainly, unless we truly want to replace our secular democracy with a theistic one, it is imperative that politicians lead the way to taxing all churches – if their flock will follow their shepherd’s beliefs (rather than facts), they should certainly pay their way. From my vantage point in the East, I am embarrassed that more Midwesterners are not challenging the craziness of every one of the current Republican (as separate from those in the former Grand Old Party) candidates. Warren Allen Smith

More young people need to start standing up and challenging politicians like this brave guy. We overwhelmingly support gay rights and gay marriage, and we need to push back on this issue and show politicians that support for gay rights is just getting stronger, and that discriminating against gay families and couples could very well mean you don’t get elected.

I’m with Gabe. RIght question, right time, right rights!

Slapshot Tim is biased and bigoted. Period.

Jeff Wilfahrt, Rosemount, MN

I am so inspired by this young person’s courage to speak out and ask these important questions. Gabe and his generation give me great hope. My own children, close to Gabe’s age – remind me – that as a nation – we have another generation in the making whose values and ideas will bring us to a more tolerant and inclusive society. I look forward to the demise of the current conservative close mindedness. Republican presidential contenders should remember we don’t hate our gay or Muslim or non-Christian brothers and sisters – we want for them the same as we we want for ourselves – the respect of others, the ability to love whom we love, community and shared prosperity, no matter who you are.

Callous. Cruel and unusual persecution for Gay Americans. Shame on Pawlenty. He’s not the future of American. His brand is the ugly bigoted past.

Young people today are a lot braver than I was at that age (I didn’t know any brave kids, either, though there must have been some, afterall Stonewall happened when I was just a kid). Even when folks like Pawlenty try to use the political process to hurt us, something must be going right that folks like Gabe are brave and proud enough to stand up to the hate.

Why is it that gay people always have to tell the world about their sexual orientation? Nothing against gay people but if it was normal to be gay then the human race would not exist. Sorry but a man acting feminine is just not attractive to anyone other than gay people so get over it.

Growing up gay has never been better or easier. Today’s high school youth endorse same-sex marriage, gays in the military and gay rights. Never before has there been a generation more accepting and supportive of sexual diversity! This homosexual teen had *NOTHING* to whine about.

Pawlenty’s friend and pastor wrote the Manhattan Declaration. Though not as obtuse as other GOP candidates, he is every bit as extremist-fundamentalist as the others.

In 1993, Rep. Tim Pawlenty voted to extend the Minnesota Human Rights Act to gays and lesbians. Several lawmakers were booted the following year for doing the same. He recanted his position in 2002, after being criticized by other gubernatorial candidates.

In 2003, Gov. Pawlenty refused to sign a bill that would have repealed the Human Rights Act, and explicitly expressed support for non-discrimination policies for gays in jobs and housing.

Pawlenty’s opposition to equal marriage today reeks of political expediency. He appears to have (or had) the right instincts but no guts. Dinosaurs like him are going to be caught up short in another year or two when this issue swings full to the left among the majority of Americans.

I admire this young man for having the courage to come to Iowa and stand up and ask this question. We still live in an age when gay folks are harassed and bullied and this took a lot of guts to do—especially since it sounded like he was surrounded by a group of anti-gay folks.

After hearing about Pawlenty’s record, I think he is yet another self-serving politician.

Proud to know you, Gabe Aderhold. Hope you give the same to Perry, Bachman and the rest.

I admire gabe’s courage and marvel at what a waste of human life that suck up Tim Pawlenty is….

It’s not in fashion to be a Bigot or a Homophobe. Good for Gabe! The gay community makes substantial and profoundly wonderful contributions to our society.

I know Gabe in real life (having been a recent Edina grad.) and he did a fantastic job with this. He has always been a brave and intelligent individual and it seems like talking to Rep. Keith Downey (I was with him that day, as part of the school’s GSA going to Lobby Day) at the capitol was practice for this (and the one during Bachmann’s speech the following day). I know I’ve praised him enough, but he really is an awesome guy.

OK, turns out this one’s a newer one. He confronted Pawlenty twice apparently (yesterday’s and one from three days before (the one I was thinking of)). That said, Gabe still kicked ass.

At least now we don’t have to care about what Pawlenty thinks about second-class citizenship for lots of us … ’til he decides to run against Amy at least.

[...] placing 3rd in the Iowa straw poll and (Bachmann placed first); in Iowa, a gay teen from Edina confronted Pawlenty about his position on gay marriage; Obama’s midwest tour will make a stop in Cannon Falls, [...]

Grace56: “Growing up gay has never been better or easier. Today’s high school youth endorse same-sex marriage, gays in the military and gay rights. Never before has there been a generation more accepting and supportive of sexual diversity! This homosexual teen had *NOTHING* to whine about.”

Your government isn’t discriminating against you. So, wait a minute, don’t you have it better than straight kids? What are you whining about?

Average.Straight.Guy: “Why is it that gay people always have to tell the world about their sexual orientation?”

Irony alert! Your handle is announcing your sexual orientation! Why do you have to announce it to the world like that?

GABE YOU ROCK !!! The GLBT community deserves CIVIL RIGHTS!!!

Grace 56 :

ONE LGBT MURDER EVERY 9 DAYS IN AMERICA. Really…. so you think its never been easier or better for the LGBT teenagers in America. Amazing what you think of as easy.

http://www.gayamericanheroes.com/

Joe, our “government” still doesn’t recognize same sex marriage b/c of DOMA, so state- enforced laws go no further than the state (tho WHY Republicans want GUNS carried across state lines but not their SPOUSES is another issue). And not every person feel the need to announce his/her sexuality, but WANTS TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO if they want. Some people are NY Jets fans and FEEL THE NEED to wear jerseys and tees and hats to wear their pride publicly, and some don’t. Just depends on the person.

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I’m shocked. What part of Family does the MI Family Council not get? As a woman who took time off to care for and be with my dying mother using my sick time and vacation time, I’ll be the first to say that these so-called “Family” organizations are just a bunch of EVIL twits. Hate is what they preach. They’re so obsessed with the devil in their mythology that they actually worship the character in the end. I see nothing of Jesus in their words or works.