Is Tom Daschle Gay?

I have no doubt that there are many gay politicians. I’m also convinced that many of them are secretly gay. Some are married and may very well have children. How can I make such a statement? It is easy. It has been true hundreds of times before. People have come out from every walk of life in the past and admit their true sexual orientation to themselves and others. Some came out on their own, while others were caught in some scandal or another. Personally, I think the healthiest way for everyone concerned is to simply accept and admit the truth.

I haven’t heard of any new scandals, though I’m sure they exist. But I wonder about some politicians because of the strong words around the issue of giving sexual minorities equal rights when it comes to marriage laws in this country. The idea that gay marriage may be accepted scares many people, and I wonder if the reason it is so scary is because they are secretly gay and they don’t want their secret to be revealed.

In response to the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision requiring that state to give equal rights to people of the same sex, Tom Daschle has made some surprising statements. He doesn’t do the usual political song and dance and avoid the issue he dives right in. On Meet the Press November 18, 2003, Daschle said, "I oppose gay marriage. I support the Defense of Marriage Act." He also said, "Marriage is a sacred right between a man and a woman, and I think in our society that ought to be protected." on the same program. What does the Senator think is the threat to marriage? Allowing same sex unions will not stop opposite sex unions. Sexual minorities have always been minorities and the majority of people will not suddenly turn queer. There is no legitimate threat. If anything marriage will be more protected because it will be available to all people and include all of society.

Those who support the Defense of Marriage Act and seek a Constitutional Amendment to ban same-sex unions of any kind usually make statements about marriage being sacred between a man and a woman. Well, this is simply not true. Just under half the heterosexuals who get married end up divorcing. Those who divorce most often get remarried, and chances are greatest that they will be married a number of times during their lives. According to George Barna, a conservative Christian pollster, the highest incidence of divorce is among conservative, self-identified born-again Christians. If heterosexual marriage is so sacred, why is it treated in such a profane way by the most devout?

The Apostle Paul wrote, "In Christ There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28) Sounds like the truly sacred ideal is one that is against racism, slavery, and sexism. There isn’t room for a sexist view of marriage in the New Testament. Sexual orientation should never prevent someone from being united with the one they love. If the government chooses to give benefits and recognize opposite-sex unions, it is clear that they must do the same for same-sex unions. On this the Massachusetts Supreme Court agrees with the Bible rather than the politicians.

Perhaps the reason Tom Daschle, the practical head of the Democratic Party and George Bush, the practical head of the Republican Party, can agree on this issue so easily is that they have a secret fear. Maybe they are afraid for their own marriage if same sex unions are allowed. What does Tom Daschle really do while driving through South Dakota alone every year with no staff and no schedule? Maybe the real reason Tom and George get all upset about the issue is that they are afraid for their own marriage because they are struggling with their own sexual identity. Its fine with me if they are both gay. What is not acceptable is that their fear of being gay could very well take away rights of others who can honestly admit the Creator’s diversity in making some of us to love those of the same gender.

Robert Buchanan is a minister of the Ecumenical Catholic Church and a psychotherapist who lives with his partner of many years in Durham North Carolina.  He is the author of  Love, Honor & Respect: How to Confront Homosexual Bias in Christian Culture and serves as director of the Institute for Inclusive Christianity. a training program for ministers and clergy who do not discriminate against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, or because of financial, familial or social status.  Additional resources for inclusive Christians can be found at our Resources page.

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Last modified: 07/09/05