Rouson’s anti-gay flip-flop: Evolution or political expeidency?
August 5th, 2008 by Alex Pickett in Activist News, Flashbacks & Updates, Our GovernmentThat’s the question progressive District 55 voters should think about before they vote in their August 26 primary. Human rights activists uncovered a 2-year-old video of State Rep. Darryl Rouson on a local talk show and sent it out to media this week that shows the former NAACP president making some inane comments about same-sex adoptions and gays and lesbians in general.
From the video, which CL’s PoHo posted here):
“I think it is wrong to allow adoptions of children by gay and lesbian couples. It sends a wrong message early to a child during formative years that’s hard to overcome just by sitting down and talking to them. …”
“I think lesbianism and homosexuality is morally wrong. The law is supposed to discriminate sometimes, in some respects, it is supposed to discriminate against social order and anarchy.”
In a response to the video, Rouson told the Times he’s “evolved” since that 2006 taping of Florida This Week.
In an interview with me last month, I asked Rouson if any of his values had changed since he changed from a Republican to Democrat to run for the Florida State House seat 55. Here’s an excert:
Did you switch parties for political expediency or a change in your values?
My values have remained constant and consistent for the last 20 years. The ones who are most harping about the political party change are those who feel the most threatened by it. And that is my opponent. No one in the Democratic Party is angry or criticizing the 50,000 change in registrations that’s been occurring over the last several years. In fact, the Democrats are celebrating that, for the first time in 50 years, because of the influx of new registrations of Democrats, we now lead in party affiliation in this county. So, to me it’s a little disingenuous to try and attack me only on that.
In contrast to Rouson’s past comments, his primary opponent, the Rev. Charles McKenzie, has long advocated for gay and lesbian rights. In my interview with him in May, McKenzie did mention his position on human rights. He’s a longtime fixture in progressive circles and also sits on the board has been involved with the Florida ACLU, which supports same-sex adoptions.
So back to the main question: Do you think Rouson’s newfound tolerance is heartfelt, or just a political ploy?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
He hasn’t evolved from his hateful stance against the GLBT community. He has simply apologized for believing that it is perfectly fine to discriminate.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
No, I don’t believe he’s changed his views. He was careful to apologize for “the pain his words caused” but not for the words. You’re interview with him says it all — he’s held the same views for 20 years. The only thing that’s changed is the label — not the man.
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