One of the most powerful conservative voices in America is speaking out against the Russian government's unjust treatment of LGBT individuals.Television and radio host Glenn Beck, often
derided by the left, said that he
stands with GLAAD against Russia's "hetero-fascism." Beck's statements attack the core of the gay rights issue that state-sanctioned relationships that receive economic and social privilege inevitably are discriminatory. But understanding Beck's stance on gay rights may help provide the best route to permanent equality for all types of couples and families.
This is not the first time that Beck has publicly spoken out in favor of equal legal treatment of gays. Back in 2010, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly asked Beck if he thought that "gay marriage is a threat to the country in any way?"
Beck's response was a clear "No" Beck often
uses history as a reference in his arguments. His concern about government abuses is a principled one; if the government decides what marriage means for one group, it decides it for all groups. Government declaration of appropriate social norms is completely antithetical to the constitutional values of freedom of speech and association. This is the heart of Beck's argument, and is the most powerful position for gay rights that can be proposed by conservatives and libertarians.
Many will automatically discount Beck on the issue by labeling him as a
religious conservative or part of the
Right's fringe. While Beck and these constituencies favor policies in the same orbit, his stance on marriage is decidedly in favor of expanded civil liberties and the separation of church and state.
As an adult Mormon convert, Beck's perspective encompasses a greater
understanding of alternative family styles that should also be a part of the conversation on the Constitution and marriage. His central question is, "
Why is the federal government involved in marriage at all?"
Most people consider marriage as a contract sanctioned by the federal government and endowed with certain benefits for the purposes of taxation and division of property. In late 2012,
a USA Today poll found that among those who oppose same sex marriage, 47% cited religious reasons. The rub on Beck's position is that he is advocating for both same-sex marriage and religious liberty. Religions
have varying points of view on the terms of marriage, but Beck's statements support the idea that the government should not dictate how we choose to express ourselves in a private social or religious contract. If there are contractual preferences set by the government, they should be open to all regardless of religion.
Beck doesn't want the government to destroy his marriage, which it won't do in a world where all 50 states allow same-sex marriage. By coming out and standing with GLAAD, Beck has shown a way out of the marriage debate without public referendums or years of Supreme Court battles. He is highlighting a real injustice against the LGBT community and making an example of abuse of big government.
Beck remarked that while people in Russia live in a world of fear and persecution, they have been fixated on Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson's controversial comments about homosexuality.
Beck may be written off by some of his detractors due to his past associations and former employment at Fox News. However, his stance on LGBT equality is one that many can learn from. His position resolves issues for religious and secular marriage by keeping them in their own public and private forums. In the coming years, we will see if Beck's voice continues to be a prominent in support of true equality. For now, it's a pretty interesting one to listen to.
33 Comments
MilkmanDanjokingly says...What is this, bizarro world? I'm enthusiastically upvoting a Glenn Beck video!
spawnflaggercrazy Glenn Beck calling something crazy, that's some exponential crazy shit going on in Russia.
I gotta agree with Beck, bizarro world indeed.
JanuariGlenn Beck is the voice of reason... dark times indeed.
notarobotI.. er.. um.. I just agreed... with a central argument... made by Glen Beck.. ...
...
ChaosEngineI know. Honestly, my whole world view is shattered and I can feel my brain trying to escape through my nasal cavity.
Glenn Beck is making a sane argument? WTF is going on? Somebody explain this shit to me! I DEMAND TO KNOW!!!
I.. er.. um.. I just agreed... with a central argument... made by Glen Beck.. ...
...
lurgeeHe's a Glennbot!
Jinxsays...Shit. I must be wrong if I am agreeing with Beck. Time to go do some gay bashing to readdress the balance.
ant*talks
siftbotAdding video to channels (Talks) - requested by ant.
deathcowS.E. Cupp
PaybackThis is all just a ruse to get the Left against Gay marriage.
StormsingerEven a broken clock is right twice a day...a conman is usually right more often, right up to the point where you give him your money.
Beck is both.
VoodooVsupport for same sex marriage is already over 50 percent. As it gets higher and higher and more states legalize it, we're just going to see more people flip. Though granted, I don't really recall any particular moment where Beck ever spoke out against homosexuality, but I guess the assumption is that he is fairly religious, thus against it.
But anyway, this is just going to happen more and more as the tide changes. Jon Stewart is going to have a field day showing clips of people saying irrefutably homophobic things in the past who are now suddenly pro-same sex marriage.
The thing is, they probably are still against homosexuality, but it's going to inevitably be a necessity to support same sex marriage if one hopes to stay in elected office or keep their job
so we're going to trade closeted homosexuals for closeted homophobes except this time, we'll want them to stay in the closet because when it comes right down to it, I don't give a shit if you hate homosexuals as long as you can keep it to yourself and treat everyone with equality
Trancecoachwrong. Beck is a Mormon and against government intervention in any type of social or religious contracts.
Do you have any examples of anyone who was against gay marriage who is now "flipped" and now for it? Or are you just making a prediction? If the latter, would you be willing to make a wager?
support for same sex marriage is already over 50 percent. As it gets higher and higher and more states legalize it, we're just going to see more people flip. Though granted, I don't really recall any particular moment where Beck ever spoke out against homosexuality, but I guess the assumption is that he is fairly religious, thus against it.
But anyway, this is just going to happen more and more as the tide changes. Jon Stewart is going to have a field day showing clips of people saying irrefutably homophobic things in the past who are now suddenly pro-same sex marriage.
The thing is, they probably are still against homosexuality, but it's going to inevitably be a necessity to support same sex marriage if one hopes to stay in elected office or keep their job
so we're going to trade closeted homosexuals for closeted homophobes except this time, we'll want them to stay in the closet because when it comes right down to it, I don't give a shit if you hate homosexuals as long as you can keep it to yourself and treat everyone with equality
shatterdrosesays...The world has come to an end and hell has officially frozen over. Glenn Beck sounds sane.
VoodooVThat's interesting because the Mormon stance on homosexuality is quite opposed to it
But anyway, bam!
http://videosift.com/video/GOP-Lawmaker-Regrets-Voting-Against-Same-Sex-Marriage
and bam! (could have sworn this Rob Portman bit was on the sift, but couldn't find it)
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/15/politics/portman-gay-marriage/
I remember these two quite vividly because both flipped because they apparently had relatives that turned out to be gay and we were making fun of the common trope of how conservatives don't change their minds until it's something that directly affects them.
and also, depending on how you look at it, Barack Obama. at the very least he was neutral on support for same sex until relatively recently.
And these are just the ones I know about because they were on the sift recently. I'm not even counting the rabid anti-gay politicians who turned out to BE homosexual. While they may not have flipped necessarily, it renders any anti-gay stance from them extremely hypocritical.
so..it's already happened...and will happen more. I'm sure a lot will probably not technically flip...they just suddenly won't pursue any anti-gay agenda anymore and try to whitewash any anti-gay statements they may have made.
wrong. Beck is a Mormon and against government intervention in any type of social or religious contracts.
Do you have any examples of anyone who was against gay marriage who is now "flipped" and now for it? Or are you just making a prediction? If the latter, would you be willing to make a wager?
00Scud00says...I'm sure if you listen closely you can hear the sounds of heads exploding in the background.
Sotto_VoceWait, where did he make an argument for marriage equality? As far as I can tell, he made an argument against burning gay people alive. What a brave stance!
EDIT: Whoops, didn't read the video desciption, which addresses the whole marriage equality thing. Mea culpa.
Trancecoachthat's alright.. You're not the only one who doesn't read....
Wait, where did he make an argument for marriage equality? As far as I can tell, he made an argument against burning gay people alive. What a brave stance!
EDIT: Whoops, didn't read the video desciption, which addresses the whole marriage equality thing. Mea culpa.
Calcul8rTitle and video description notwithstanding - there is nothing in this video about Marriage Equality.
Wait, where did he make an argument for marriage equality? As far as I can tell, he made an argument against burning gay people alive. What a brave stance!
EDIT: Whoops, didn't read the video desciption, which addresses the whole marriage equality thing. Mea culpa.
MonkeySpanksays...Esplain mang! I no get reference.
S.E. Cupp
siftbotTags for this video have been changed from 'Glenn, Beck, Argument, Marriage, Equality, GLAAD, Russia, HeteroFacism' to 'Glenn Beck, Argument, Marriage, Equality, GLAAD, Russia, HeteroFacism' - edited by xxovercastxx
xxovercastxxObama has flipped twice: for > against > for.
O'Reilly flipped last year as well.
Janet Napolitano flipped fairly recently, I believe.
I'm sure there's others.
Do you have any examples of anyone who was against gay marriage who is now "flipped" and now for it?
chingaleraObamas' flipped generally
O'Reillys' a massive ego-fucking-itself dickcheese tool nobody spokesfuck
Janet Napolitino a fucking cunt, and the leader of the fascist police-state criminal organization the Dept. of Homeland/Vaterland/Heimat Security
So what you are saying to anyone with a fucking clue about the world they inhabit is, that you enjoy the flavor of the new brand of artificial colors and sweeteners, Guyana-punch-flavored Kool Aide Brand Ass-Fucking Propaganda Machine Drink.
Oh I'm sorry..Did I wake someone from their nap??
I'm sure there's others.
Oh wait, I'm sorry... CLEARLY (articulated with smarmy, sarcastic tone), there's others..
Obama has flipped twice: for > against > for.
O'Reilly flipped last year as well.
Janet Napolitano flipped fairly recently, I believe.
I'm sure there's others.
StukaFoxsays...I upvoted you just for that.
O'Reillys' a massive ego-fucking-itself dickcheese tool nobody spokesfuck
robdotGlenn beck is an absolute horror of a human being. He spreads ignorance, and feeds off ignorance. He does not endorse or support ,,gay marriage. Or marriage equality. He is also a Mormon, and just look up their history of supporting anything "gay". Glenn beck, Sarah Palin etc, and the ignorant people who follow them are the single most dangerous thing facing America today. Because of the massive amount of blind ignorance they spread. Ignorance, is indeed, the single greatest enemy we have today.
deathcowThat's the woman.
Esplain mang! I no get reference.
xxovercastxxOh, is that what I was saying? Because I thought I was just listing three examples off the top of my head.
Don't preach to me about reality while tripping, thank you.
So what you are saying to anyone with a fucking clue about the world they inhabit is, that you enjoy the flavor of the new brand of artificial colors and sweeteners, Guyana-punch-flavored Kool Aide Brand Ass-Fucking Propaganda Machine Drink.
G-barsays...IT'S A TRAP!
chingaleraTripping?? Perhaps a mirror would be your best friend about now? Times' growing short sir, get without the programming you've cathode-ray-nipped all these years and join the real party...The part of thinking clearly for oneself.
Thank YOU, sir or madam.
Oh, is that what I was saying? Because I thought I was just listing three examples off the top of my head.
Don't preach to me about reality while tripping, thank you.
xxovercastxxHave you confused me with someone else perhaps? These comments seem really misplaced.
Tripping?? Perhaps a mirror would be your best friend about now? Times' growing short sir, get without the programming you've cathode-ray-nipped all these years and join the real party...The part of thinking clearly for oneself.
deathcow> IT'S A TRAP!
S.E. Cupp?
deathcowis nice
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