The political world is all abuzz with news that former President George W. Bush's daughter is speaking out in support of same-sex marriage. In a video created for the Human Right's Campaign, Barbara announced that she is a New Yorker in favor of "fairness and equality. And everyone should have the right to marry the person that they love." This comes as a surprise to many because George W. Bush pushed an amendment to ban same-sex marriage. However, this follows the trend of a younger generation wanting to promote acceptance and, as Barbara Bush says, "equality." This is a revelation that is crossing party lines and is gaining significant coverage between news sources.
So how does this fit into the conservative climate, which has a history of staunchly opposing same-sex marriage? Well Barbara isn't the first to speak out in defense of same-sex marriage. Even the ultra-conservative Fox News admits that republican figures such as Laura Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney also support gay marriage.
In an article Fox News released regarding Barbara Bush, it is stated that "Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain opposes same-sex marriage, but his wife, Cindy, and daughter, Meghan, also have done public service announcements for the 'No H8' campaign and supported repeal of the don't ask, don't tell rule against gays openly serving in the military." It seems that times are changing, and as more Republicans speak out in favor of equality, it gives other members an example that they may be more inclined to follow.
While many people are looking at this message as a giant step forward, some are labeling it "insincere" and "irrelevant." According to On Top Magazine, "Appearing on HLN's Joy Behar Show on Tuesday, [Howard] Bragman, who is married to Chuck O'Donnell in California and runs the Los Angeles-based PR firm Fifteen Minutes, said the Bush family could go to hell." Bragman stated that his problem lied in the fact that Barbara Bush had gay friends and George W. Bush was quoted as saying "It wasn't a big deal" then went on a campaign in opposition of same sex marriage. All the while, kids were being bullied and some even killed themselves because of the lack of acceptance encouraged by people like George Bush. Most of the opposition to her message lies in people being unable to distinguish between campaigns waged by her father and the feelings of Barbara as an individual.
Luckily, opinions such as these are the minority and most people are embracing the publicity in support of gay marriage. Like it or not, this is one message that has gained widespread attention from people whether they are conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat.
Works Cited
"Barbara Bush Endorses Gay Marriage in New York." Fox News. 1 Feb. 2011. 2 Feb. 2011.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/01/bushes-daughter-barbara-endorses-gay-marriage-new-york/.
"Barbara Bush Gay Marriage Nod Labeled Insincere, Irrelevant ." On Top Magazine. 2 Feb. 2011. 2 Feb. 2011. http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=7460&MediaType=1&Category=26.
"Bush's daughter speaks out for marriage equality." The Portland Press Herald. 2 Feb. 2011. 2 Feb. 2011. http://www.pressherald.com/life/bushs-daughter-speaks-out-for-marriage-equality_2011-02-02.html.
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