Commentary: Self hater 2.0

One of the great things about achieving a modicum of equality is the ability to have a choice about how you lead your life. Equality means no more hiding and basically you are judged based upon your actions not prejudice. Equality was clearly on display with the Jeb Bush Campaign when he selected openly gay Tim Miller, executive director of America Rising PAC, to be his presidential campaign communications director. Bush’s desire to hire the best person for his team highlights the hypocrisy within the Republican Party.

The Republican Party is no friend to LGBT equality. Whether its members are refusing to provide same-sex marriage licenses in Arkansas or to provide medical care to children of same-sex couples, one does not have to look far to understand that a substantial portion of Republicans don’t care for our “lifestyle.” Yet, when it comes to hiring Republicans will do anything to win. Not surprising. What is surprising is the number of LGBT people who are willing to sell their soul for a buck.

Remember Ken Mehlman, campaign manager for the George W. Bush 2004 re-election campaign and subsequently the Republican National Committee chair? Mehlman helped put 12 anti-marriage equality initiatives on the ballot in 2004 to gin up the anti-LGBT Republican vote to help garner a George W. Bush victory. Then closeted Mehlman put his career and love of George W. Bush before his community. When he finally decided to come out in 2010, Mehlman was not held to account for his self-hating actions that exploited the anti-LGBT prejudices of the American electorate. Prejudices the LGBT community is still fighting today in part due to Mehlman’s actions. By the way, I am not interested in what Mehlman has done since his gay epiphany to help LGBT equality. There is nothing Mehlman can do to make amends for his unconscionable actions.

Now we get Tim Miller, Mehlman 2.0. Miller is openly gay, in his early 30s and a lover of Jeb Bush. Why else would he sign on to be the mouthpiece of the Bush Campaign, and by proxy, the Republican Party? One of Miller’s jobs will be to make Jeb Bush’s anti-LGBT positions as palatable as possible. Maybe Jeb will surprise everyone and come out for full LGBT equality. Don’t hold your breath.

That means openly gay Miller will be responsible for effectively communicating opinions that are not in line with his own equality. I have a name for Miller, he‘s a Skittle; rainbow on the outside, self-serving on the inside. Miller’s earlier version, Mehlman, said he could not, as an individual Republican, go against the party consensus. So will Mehlman 2.0, Miller, be different? Will Miller say to Jeb Bush, I can’t communicate that anti-LGBT message about same-sex adoption or transgender rights? Doubtful. Miller has signed on to do exactly what Mehlman did; make a lot of money in the Republican Party and the rights of his community be damned. Isn’t that great? I mean the concept of equality means that Miller has the same right as everyone else to advocate for those who don’t believe in LGBT rights. So when Jeb Bush makes an intolerable statement about LGBT rights in the coming campaign, remember it is a gay man who is in the background making the message as palatable as possible. Don’t forget to send Tim Miller a thank you note.

STAMPP CORBIN

PUBLISHER

San Diego LGBT Weekly

LGBTweekly.com