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The D.C. area's most vocal gay marriage opponent, Maryland's Bishop Harry Jackson, spoke to a crowd of social conservatives over the weekend at the annual Values Voter Summit, a convention that serves as a 'merger of mainstream Republican Party rhetoric and the priorities of "Christian right" activists.' Video of Jackson's speech is posted above, courtesy YouTube.
Jackson's remarks were notable to those of us who have been following his anti-same-sex marriage crusade locally for several reasons, key among them that he was aligning himself with an entirely right-wing agenda even while he tries to appeal to District of Columbia voters, who are 90 percent Democratic. We also couldn't help but chuckle at Jackson's weak attempt to deflect the fact that he's been claiming to be a D.C. resident only recently, in order to be able to file petitions with the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics.
"I've been living in this city for about 20 years," Jackson asserted, then qualifying that with, "predominantly on the outskirts of the city." Jackson is the pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Md., and owns homes in Silver Spring, Md. He continued to describe how he "already had plans to move to D.C." and "had an apartment all picked out" before he decided to launch a campaign against the D.C. Council's attempts to extend marriage equality to same-sex couples in the District. Maybe the Values Voters were buying that line, Bishop Jackson, but we sure ain't.
Later in his speech, Jackson went after who he calls the "K Street Lawyers," a class of people he equates with gays and lesbians who are "disproportionately educated, and they have all kind of opportunities, make more money than other folks, they're living in these new condos," and so on. Jackson said he doesn't believe that his "K Street Lawyers" could ever understand the life of a single black mother living in one of D.C.'s poor neighborhoods, which ... somehow makes it OK to be against same-sex marriage? This line of argument is pretty fun to pick apart, actually. See, Bishop Jackson is suggesting that LGBT people are singled out for better educational opportunities (we presume in high school?), while at the same time assuming that a poor black person could never, ever be attracted to the same gender. Also, every lawyer on K Street is gay!
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Ummmm...doesn't *he* claim to live in not one, but *two* of those "new condos"?
No his first name ain't "Bishop," it's Harry. Mr. Jackson if you're nasty.
An excellent point! Yes, first he claimed to live at the Whitman condo building near the Convention Center, and now he says he lives at the Onyx on First over by Nationals Park.
Also, having now watched the clip..."Bishop" Jackson can f*ck off back to Maryland, thank you very much.
I'm glad that the Values Voter Summit has been able to provide a forum for the great minds of our generation like Carrie Prejean and Harry Jackson. By great minds I mean, assclowns.
That's the great thing about forums like this Value Voter circus: it gives folks like Jackson a venue to actually say what he thinks.
Whenever they're up in front of decent folk, or on WAMU show, or whatever, they're very circumspect about outlining their actual beliefs. It would be like pro-choice leader going to a NARAL conference and talking about how much they just looove to kill babies.
I'm assuming that's because, like most social conservatives, they're hypocritical little shit-weasels.
Speaking of shit-weasles, someone needs to convince the good "Bishop" that you can't catch teh ghey from a toilet seat. Fear of an alternative lifestyle is no excuse for defecating in the sink.
Peace,
+++JMJ+++
Also, every lawyer on K Street is gay!
Where you been, Sommer? The entire legal industry is gay. Eh, aerospace, too, and the railroads. And you know what else? Broadway.
"Disproportionately educated..."
-Seriously?!?
Well, as a gay man who has been assaulted on K Street -- by a Republican -- I guess I'll try to not to "compare" myself to the civil rights movement. But, don't tell me I don't know what some real, violent, in-your-face discrimination feels like.
Don't believe me? Roll the videotape:
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1108/567706.html
Dedicated To The Lawyers Of K Street: Keep Reaching For That Rainbow
Let's respect the possibility the reason he's going after K St lawyers is not because they're gay but rather because all their disposable income is driving up the cost of his new residence.
...so then wouldn't it make more sense to discuss the underlying societal institutions that allow for such wage disparities to exist, rather than the lawyers themselves? I don't know about you, but if I were a K St. lawyer making tons of money I wouldn't be like, "no, do not give me so much disposable income because this is not fair to Harry Jackson." Especially because Harry Jackson is clear that he doesn't care about things like fairness.
end rant.
And really, it ain't just about me. This kind of story is pretty common around here:
"It pays to kill D.C. gays"
http://www.washblade.com/blog/blog.cfm?blog_id=27314
The best part of all this race baiting by Harry Jackson is that he's too afraid to admit that there are gays back in his community too.
If there's any class of people in this town who have to worry about getting beaten or killed just for being themselves, it's LGBTs. The stats on hate crimes make this really clear.
And I completely understand that people of color face all kinds of discrimination that some LGBTs might not. But there's no excuse for people like Harry who want to fan the flames, so to speak...
Lemme just fix that third graf for you, spectacle67. "The best part of all this race baiting by Harry Jackson is that he's too afraid to admit that he's gay too." There ya go!
That's not what his "roommate" says.
Don't know his "roommate" could talk with a Harry "Bishop" in his mouth.
Well, he's a very talented "roommate." You can even understand what he's saying after the "Bishop's" "load" shoots out his "nostrils" and he flops back on the "faux leopard skin rug" "in quotes."
Jeez, how does he afford multiple homes on the salary of a preacher?
Actually...don't answer that.
I seem to recall my 'better educational opportunity years' something like this....
My economics teacher commonly referred to people he didn't like as 'fags'.
My shop teacher used the same terminology.
If you were even suspected of being gay you got your butt kicked regularly.
What part of this was my elite 'better educational opportunity'?
"And I completely understand that people of color face all kinds of discrimination that some LGBTs might not."
True. And some gays face all kinds of discrimination that some blacks and others don't face.
Hatred and discrimination comes in all shapes and sizes, and it sucks at all levels. I've never really understood why we have to have pissing contests over who has been pissed on the worst by society at large.
Hillman--and black LGBT face both and are ignored by both.
I agree. That's why I posted a link to the latest story of a gay black man being murdered, while his assailant gets away with 180 days on an "assault" charge. Then the Washington Post comes out with a story on it, entitled "Prosecutors Seek Maximum in Assault Outside Gay Bar" ... as if the US Atty's Office is trying to throw the book at him:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/22/AR2009092203802.html
Actually, it was those same spineless prosecutors who dropped the manslaughter charge. They're doing less than the minimum here. I wonder if Harry would stand up for this black murder victim who is clearly not receiving a full measure of justice?
It's all part of The Plan, I tell ya!
...disproportionately educated, and they have all kind of opportunities, make more money than other folks, they're living in these new condos...
So wait, is he implying teh gay actually works hard to get what they got? There aren't any affirmative action programs for sexual/gender minorities that I'm aware of... oh wait, I forgot about 'The Plan'.
Now, by 'blowing trumpets in Zion' does he really mean sucking dick in the weenie bars conveniently around the corner from his bachelor pad in DC?
And what does he do with his homes in MD? Will he, what, rent them out?
And his car registrations? Will that be DC as well?
And tax returns?
Come on, kids, he first tried to claim residence at The Whitman? 10 Tiers of Queers?
The myth that all gays are rich is a particularly harmful one. It brings out resentment and makes people think it's ok to deny gay couples basic stability provided by marriage.
And, face it, you straighties are already pissed that we took the words 'gay' and the rainbow. Next thing you know the gays will have all the best box seats at the theater.
it's kind of ironic that an american black man thinks he can lecture us all on this subject given the pathetic marriage statistics in the african american community.
plus, gay marriage is good for the economy.
This seems like an appropriate place for a stimulus joke.
I asked Harry "Bishop's" "roommate" about his "stimulus package." Let's just say, he'd be a welcome addition to the "teabag protestors." Like a lot of men of a certain age, he could certainly benefit from a "ball tuck."
Jackson said he doesn't believe that his "K Street Lawyers" could ever understand the life of a single black mother living in one of D.C.'s poor neighborhoods
Was this said by Jackson during the March against Fenty's decision to cut child care subsidies?
i don't know where to start, so i guess i'm just going to say:
take your carpetbagging ass back to maryland, sir. we don't appreciate your kind here.
This is one of the most ridiculous rants I've heard. He actually believes that gay people today are privilaged and aren't subject to hate crimes and all that...I'm sure many gay people would trade a nice condo for a society that didn't treat them like shit.
I'm sure many gay people would trade a nice condo for a society that didn't treat them like shit.
... or take exception to the idea that prosperity versus security is an either-or proposition.
Harry like many other church leaders seem to think that gay is only a white thing. I think Harry needs to deliver his speech over at the Fireplace one night. I'd pay to see him being tossed out of that building - IN PIECES!!
I love how this guy goes on a rant about how the only people who support marriage equality are rich white lawyers living in fancy K-st condos who wouldn't understand the plight of the single black mom... that's like stating the price of tea in China at a summit on Homeland Security--where's the connection? The ironic thing is that while Jackson is obsessed with demonizing this army of Will's with their fancy degrees and their haute condos... he himself is sitting pretty in a Navy Yard/Waterfront Condo of his own... oh and don't think I've forgotten about those other two homes you own Jackson--you know the one your wife and children are living in while you are off jolly vanting around the District commiting fraud and spreading bigotry? Oh and that vacation "gift" home--yeah don't think I forgot! I got news for Jackson there are plenty of gay black folks out there who are going to give you a piece of their mind if you keep encouraging MD and VA to get their congressional reps to intervene on this--Home Rule and the disenfranchisement of the DC voters IS NOT a small matter--and they WILL turn on you once they realize what you're really doing! Lord allmighty this guy is such a fraud on so many levels it's mind-boggling and I must digress...
Oh, and Jackson, take your hands out of Limbaugh's back pocket... it's not nice to tickle people's asses in public... he can give you his 'donation' later ;-)
I love how this guy goes on a rant about how the only people who support marriage equality are rich white lawyers living in fancy K-st condos who wouldn't understand the plight of the single black mom... that's like stating the price of tea in China at a summit on Homeland Security--where's the connection? The ironic thing is that while Jackson is obsessed with demonizing this army of Will's with their fancy degrees and their haute condos... he himself is sitting pretty in a Navy Yard/Waterfront Condo of his own... oh and don't think I've forgotten about those other two homes you own Jackson--you know the one your wife and children are living in while you are off jolly vanting around the District commiting fraud and spreading bigotry? Oh and that vacation "gift" home--yeah don't think I forgot! I got news for Jackson there are plenty of gay black folks out there who are going to give you a piece of their mind if you keep encouraging MD and VA to get their congressional reps to intervene on this--Home Rule and the disenfranchisement of the DC voters IS NOT a small matter--and they WILL turn on you once they realize what you're really doing! Lord allmighty this guy is such a fraud on so many levels it's mind-boggling and I must digress...
Oh, and Jackson, take your hands out of Limbaugh's back pocket... it's not nice to tickle people's asses in public... he can give you his 'donation' later ;-)
Has anyone actually seen this guy come or go out of that Waterfront condo? I thought someone here said they lived in that building and had never heard or seen him anywhere. You'd figure such a high-profile lunatic would attract some attention, either handling snakes or drinking strichnyne in the lobby or something.
I love how this guy goes on a rant about how the only people who support marriage equality are rich white lawyers living in fancy K-st condos who wouldn't understand the plight of the single black mom... that's like stating the price of tea in China at a summit on Homeland Security--where's the connection? The ironic thing is that while Jackson is obsessed with demonizing this army of Will's with their fancy degrees and their haute condos... he himself is sitting pretty in a Navy Yard/Waterfront Condo of his own... oh and don't think I've forgotten about those other two homes you own Jackson--you know the one your wife and children are living in while you are off jolly vanting around the District commiting fraud and spreading bigotry? Oh and that vacation "gift" home--yeah don't think I forgot! I got news for Jackson there are plenty of gay black folks out there who are going to give you a piece of their mind if you keep encouraging MD and VA to get their congressional reps to intervene on this--Home Rule and the disenfranchisement of the DC voters IS NOT a small matter--and they WILL turn on you once they realize what you're really doing! Lord allmighty this guy is such a fraud on so many levels it's mind-boggling and I must digress...
Oh, and Jackson, take your hands out of Limbaugh's back pocket... it's not nice to tickle people's asses in public... he can give you his 'donation' later ;-)
Where's the Bishop's church? And where did I put those old tomatoes?