The Gist

Radical Right getting pissed about White House photo of Cheney baby


Evangelical Christian activist news services are posting the comments of "ex-gay" Stephen Bennett, radio host and spokesperson for Concerned Women for America regarding a White House photo and write-up on Mary's Cheney's new baby. And more and more religious conservatives are becoming outraged as my email box attests.

The site has the photo of Dick and Lynn holding the baby, but it's the description that is getting fundies steamed. It says that the "parents" of the baby are their daughter Mary and her "partner, Heather Poe." Check it out. I asked listeners to call the White House for comment on whether or not they supporting gay parenting, but, not surprisingly, no one could get a comment. Mary and Heather live in Virginia, where there is no second parent adoption or recognition of gay parents, and one of the most draconian marriage bans in the country, that give the couple no rights and give Heather no rights to the child. But, as one of my listeners pointed out, the baby was born in DC, at Sibley Hospital. In DC a gay partner can be put on the birth certificate, thanks to gay activists work over the years. Once again, Mary enjoys the fruits of the gay activism while helping an administration that actively works against gay rights.