March 11, 2005 - ViewPoint

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth

VIEW Point

At 19 years-old, Maya Keyes, daughter of former Presidential and Illinois Senatorial candidate Alan Keyes, finds herself in a difficult position, but one that is so familiar to millions of gay youth in our country, especially those who have grown up in "right-wing Christian" families. She loves her father, does not want to disappoint him, yet knows that her father thinks her sexual orientation is "sinful" and represents "selfish hedonism." For the young gay daughter of a man who has often cited his religion to denigrate homosexuals, Maya Keyes has had to endure a father who has campaigned for years against her own welfare and equality.

It is always ironic when a high profile public figure in the anti-gay movement is found to have a gay child. Many of these young people are raised in "right-wing Christian" environments, and have parents who campaign against any government recognition of the humanity of gay people.

Yet some of their kids end up gay. If they are very strong, these young people may become well-adjusted adults, despite the self-hatred that their parents and their churches have instilled in them throughout their childhood.

"Right-wing Christians" continue to rant about homosexuality undermining America's families, but actually, it is homophobia that has damaged too many families, including some rather high profile "right-wing Christian" ones. Operation Rescue founder and fervently anti-gay Randall Terry has said of his gay son, Jamiel, that he is "bringing great sadness to our home and embarrassment to our family," and "is no longer welcome in my home." For his part, Jamiel said he still loves his father, and if he could choose, he "definitely would not choose to be gay, especially in the family that I live in."

When Sadie Fields, chairwoman of the Georgia Christian Coalition, found out her daughter Tess was gay, she went to where she worked and told her she was "dead to the family," and called her sick, crazy, and "of the devil." The late conservative Republican state Senator from California, William J. "Pete" Knight, was that state's leading opponent of gay marriage. He was estranged from his gay son David, and never met David's partner of ten years, Joseph.

There are also some high profile right-wing parents that have kept their gay kids close in their lives. Phyllis Schlafly, founder of The Eagle Forum, has for years deftly finessed the delicate balance of satiating her "pro-family" constituents, while trying to avoid assaulting her own family member. Schlafly and her gay son John remain close.

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), has launched an ad campaign highlighting the close relationships of some high profile straight celebrities and their gay loved ones. The campaign's message is: "Stay close to your loved ones because relationships are too precious to lose," and will feature, among others, Ben Affleck and his cousin Jason, Congressman Gregory Meeks and his brother John, talk show host Cristina Saralegui and her brother Ignacio, and Congressman and Mrs. Gephardt and their daughter Chrissy.

In the future maybe we will see our nation's Vice-President in the ad campaign with his wife Lynne and their gay daughter Mary. Although the Cheneys have stated they have tremendous pride in both their daughters, there are some in the Bush-Cheney administration who continue to promote the idea that homosexuals are not as good as heterosexuals, and that positive images of gay people should not be in public view.

In only her second day in office, Education Secretary Margaret Spelling attacked a PBS children's program featuring various families from around the country for including a loving Vermont family of two gay women and their kids. When any member of the Bush-Cheney administration deems gay families as not fit viewing for children, it is an assault on all gay American's, including the daughter of our nation's Vice-President. A Cheney family appearance in the PFLAG "Stay Close" campaign would go a long way to heal the deep wounds left by a Presidential campaign marred by politically motivated attacks against gays, and this most recent display of intolerance by Margaret Spelling.

One family we will not be seeing in the PFLAG campaign any time soon is the Keyes family. Maya Keyes has recently written in her blog that her father has given her two-weeks to leave their apartment, and has terminated her employment, leaving her with no resources. Maya writes, "After all the arguments and tension over the years, I always hoped it would never actually get to this point, although I suppose given our vastly divergent political beliefs it was inevitable." For his entire career, Alan Keyes has promoted his version of "family values." Now he is challenged to show his gay daughter true family values, and not have her sexual orientation be a barrier to the love and support that all young people need and deserve.

Marc Paige may be reached at marcpaige@msn.com.

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 15, No. 2March 11, 2005