Gov. Perry Invites Gays to Leave Texas

When Rick Perry, governor of Texas, recently signed a proposal that would define marriage as between a man and a woman, some might have thought that he wasn't considering the impact to gay and lesbian citizens of Texas. In fact, he really doesn't care about the impact on them - he'd be just as happy, if not happier, if they simply left Texas completely.

The Washington Blade reports:

"I'm going to say Texas has made a decision on marriage and if there's a state with more lenient views than Texas, then maybe that's where they should live," the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Perry said Sunday.

Perry's comments were in response to a question during a news conference about what he would tell gay war veterans returning from Iraq.

"More than 66,000 lesbian and gay veterans make their home in Texas," said Sharra E. Greer, SLDN’s director of law and policy. "Their service has defended the freedom of every Texan, including Governor Perry. The governor’s remarks dishonor their service and he should immediately apologize. We should be thanking these brave men and women, not asking them to leave."

It's not just that Gov. Rick Perry invites gays to leave Texas, but he specifically invites gay veterans to leave Texas — the same veterans who, unlike Perry, have been willing to risk life and limb in defense of the civil liberties of all Americans. It's ironic that people willing to defend freedoms they aren't permitted to enjoy are being invited to leave by a man who isn't willing to take the same risks for the freedoms he is allowed to enjoy.

This strikes me a good example of the ethical and intellectual bankruptcy of the Christian Right in America today.

Read More:

• Gay Rights, Gay Marriage
• Evangelical Christianity & Homosexuality
• Catholicism & Homosexuality