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Sen. John McCain’s recent comments on gay adoption created an uproar that some say was unfair and exaggerated. (Photo by Carolyn Kaster/AP)
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Editors’ note: The following comments about the gay issues of the day or stories published in the Washington Blade were made by readers online at www.washingtonblade.com or by telephone at 1-800-485-6907.
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HOME > VIEWPOINT > SOUND OFF!
COMMENTS
 
Re: “Parsing McCain on gay adoption” (op-ed by Dale Carpenter, Aug. 15)
It is really irrelevant what Sen. McCain actually thinks about gay adoption. The point is that in a national forum he dismissed gays as suitable parents. The question is, why would he do that? If he did it to pander to religious conservatives, then that alone should cause us concern about his suitability to govern fairly on behalf of gay Americans. The real question is whether or not in his effort to become president, McCain is willing to sell his soul to win.
Campaign clarifications aside, McCain’s positions on gay issues seem to change with the wind. He opposed the federal marriage amendment, but supports state amendments. He opposes adoption of children by gay couples, then changes his mind.
Maybe McCain’s positions change so often because he can’t remember where he stands on issues. It’s not politically correct to talk about, but age brings legitimate health concerns and if McCain is suffering from a short or faulty memory due to his age, then American voters deserve to know about it.
Re: “D.C. clinic’s HIV case numbers surge” (news, Aug. 15)
In no way do I mean to minimize the serious HIV infection rate in D.C., but wasn’t 2007 the year that Whitman-Walker Clinic merged with and absorbed the client population from the D.C. Free Clinic? If so, might the jump in newly diagnosed cases be explained, in part, by this? If all those new clients were tested when they began their care with WWC, wouldn’t this look like a huge increase? It seems to me that we won’t know the true HIV sero-prevalence in D.C. until name-based reporting has been around for several years. Could it be that many of the new HIV cases at WWC had been previously reported by the Free Clinic or other testing agency, but were reported again after testing positive at WWC?
This is disheartening news that reminds us yet again the fight is not over. How sad that this younger generation has failed to learn the lesson of the ’80s.
Anyone who parties in D.C. is aware that the HIV infection rate is sky-high. Too many young gay men don’t get tested and have no idea they’re infected. They’re ignorant and think that HIV can be treated like diabetes. We need a massive investment in educational campaigns to teach these kids the facts.
Are the schools not teaching that unsafe sex = HIV? Where is the school system in the equation? Oh right, they can’t figure out how to keep the lights and air conditioning on, let alone how to fight HIV.
Re: “More gay Clinton backers are joining Obama team” (news, Aug. 15)
Good, it’s about time Hillary’s gay supporters read the writing on the wall and got with the program.
I’m a former Clinton supporter and have to say that Obama’s team has been very gracious and welcoming. Hillary’s fans should have no hesitation in supporting the next president, Barack Obama.
I think Obama should be president. It would give him some solid experience for his next job.
Re: “Attack victim cautions int’l travelers” (washingtonblade.com, Aug. 14)
He went to a backward, Third World country on vacation and is surprised to be gay bashed? Gay or not, places like Ecuador are no place for an American to vacation.
I’m sorry this man was attacked for being gay, but the same could have happened walking down 14th Street in D.C. Unfortunately, crime is everywhere and anti-gay bigots are everywhere. We can never be too careful.
He’s right to urge a boycott of this country. It sounds like the police ignored the problem and refused to help.
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