Posted on 07/15/2006 10:18:20 AM PDT by Deadeye Division
Senator's gay bashing decried
By Stephenie Steitzer
Post staff reporter
A day after calling gays "the wrong kind of people," State Sen. Richard "Dick" Roeding continued his verbal barrage on homosexuals, calling a Republican group that advocates gay and lesbian rights "a bunch of queers."
After learning that the Kentucky Log Cabin Republicans had called for Roeding's resignation, the Lakeside Park Republican used the derogatory term to describe the group in an interview with The Post.
The Log Cabin Republicans called for Roeding's resignation after he said that the University of Louisville was wrong to offer health benefits to gay and lesbian domestic partners as a way to make the university competitive and attract talent.
"I don't want to entice any of these people into our state," Roeding told the Louisville Courier-Journal in a story published Friday. "Those are the wrong kind of people."
The Kentucky Log Cabin Republicans, a state affiliate of the national organization that advocates for homosexuals, also called on GOP leaders to denounce Roeding's comments.
After hearing of Roeding's "queers" remark, Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, said he called Roeding Friday. Williams said he told Roeding, "Most people feel that is an unacceptable term to use and I regretted the fact that he used the term and that he should refrain from using that term because it's inappropriate."
Williams said Roeding apologized.
"I accept his apology for using the term," Williams said.
Kenton County Republican Party Chairman Greg Shumate also condemned Roeding's comment.
"Dick Roeding has been a very effective legislator for Northern Kentucky, however, legislators, as we all, should refrain from using derogatory terms," he said.
Roeding's comments in the Courier-Journal were in response to U of L's Board of Trustees' 14-1 decision Thursday to let nonmarried gay and straight partners of employees to participate in health insurance as a way to make the school competitive with colleges that are enacting similar policies across the country.
The decision makes the university the first public college in the state to extend benefits to domestic partners.
Northern Kentucky University continues to research the issue, specifically the cost and how to define domestic partners, said NKU spokesman Chris Cole.
"Community standards must also be considered," he said.
Roeding said he would oppose any attempt by NKU to change its policy.
"It's a financial issue," he said. "How can we go ahead and offer more health care benefits when we can't pay for what we've got now? Let's be realistic."
Extending benefits to domestic partners at U of L would not cost the university because partners would be responsible for paying premiums.
Local Republican legislators had little to say about Roeding's remarks.
"I don't agree with the U of L decision, but it's their decision and they'll have to live with it," Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said. "That's really all I have to say on the matter."
State Rep. Jon Draud, R-Edgewood, said, "I would just say I believe in treating everyone with dignity and respect, all human beings."
State Senators Katie Stine, R-Southgate, and Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, couldn't be reached for comment.
Stine, Westwood and Roeding co-authored a letter in 2002 to University of Kentucky President Lee Todd warning him not to pursue an expansion of employee benefits to same-sex partners at UK.
As a result of U of L's decision, UK officials say they are now considering it.
Some local Democrats said they were outraged by Roeding's remarks.
"The Republican Party needs to remove him from office," Kenton County Democratic Party vice chairman Nathan Smith said. "If not, they are protecting a bigot."
State Rep. Dennis Keene, D-Wilder, said Roeding's comments don't reflect the views of most Northern Kentuckians he encounters.
"That just represents a very small minority of hatred and they try to impose that on the rest of us and I think that's wrong," he said.
In Ohio, a state representative from Ohio has sued Miami University over its decision to begin offering benefits in 2004 to same-sex partners.
Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Cincinnati, said the policy violates Ohio's constitutional ban on gay marriage passed by voters in 2004.
Publication date: 07-15-2006
Why do Republicans apologize for telling the truth?
QUEER: Deviating from the expected or normal; strange: a queer situation.
The truth hurts, but homosexuals are, by definition, queer. Being gay is not normal. Even if they ultimately prove it's caused by genetics, it would be no different than any other genetic abnormality, and scientists would look for a cure.
NORMAL: The usual or expected state, form, amount, or degree.
The queers call themselves queers. What's the problem?
So why do they gush over the show Queer Eye for Straight Guy?
And what about that Queer Nation bunch?
This is how they GET someone. It's something the liberals have done for a generation. Find an "enemy" wait til they say something that gets splashed in the media and go in for the kill.
Sickening, but it usually works.
Only queers can use the term queer :P
*embarrassed*....Its' The Cincinnati Post....Still needs to be asked? KY PING?
I guess it is like the whole N-word thing. Only the oppressed party can use it and be proud of it.
"I-am-an-oppressed-victim
hear-me-whine"
(repeat, repeat)
A lot of the queers use that word to describe themselves and other queers, just like black rappers call each other niggers.
I don't see a problem with the word.
FMCDH(BITS)
I said to my black friend Raphael once, "I don't say 'nigger,' why do you?" And he said (with his dry wit), "You'd better not, or you'll find your @ss hanging from a tree."
Well, Blacks call each other the "N" word; but don't you try it.
It's standard operating procedure for liberals to force Republicans to apologize. Number one, it demoralizes conservatives. Number two, it gives liberals themselves the green light to further bash the Republican in question.
I just wish Republicans, when they make these statements, to make them & disregard liberals who want them to apologize.
They call themselves queers. This is what you call a set-up-condemnation. They use the term but label others who use it as inappropriate. Even if that were not the case (it is), when you make your claim to fame founded on an unnatural act, you shouldn't be surprised if someone somewhere uses the term queer. It is unusual, abnormal, different, queer.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.