Rick Perry: ‘Homosexuality = Alcoholism…’ Gayoholic? Alcosexual?

Posted by Brent Peterson on Aug 26, 2011 in The Cunning Linguist | 13 comments

Rick Perry, presidential hopeful and member of the “Dime a Dozen Anti-Gay Conservative” club, shares something in common with his fellow Conservative Rick Santorum. And no, I don’t mean an awful redefinition of his name.

No, I’m talking about the (incredible? embarrassing?) ability to compare gay issues to other unrelated things. Santorum recently compared marriage to a napkin, a beer, a glass of water and a paper towel. He’s also compared it to a tree and a car(ish). How exactly has Rick Perry compared gay issues?

In his 2008 book On My Honor, Perry mentions homosexuality and compares it to alcoholism:

Though I am no expert on the “nature versus nurture” debate, I can sympathize with those who believe sexual preference is genetic. It may be so, but it remains unproved. Even if it were, this does not mean we are ultimately not responsible for the active choices we make. Even if an alcoholic is powerless over alcohol once it enters his body, he still makes the choice to drink. And, even if someone is attracted to a person of the same sex, he or she still makes a choice to engage in sexual activity with someone of the same gender.

You know, I kinda thought it was gonna not go that direction, because it started off sort of sympathetic. However, the passage quickly turned into a big metaphorically-terrible comparison of being gay to being addicted to alcohol. However, that’s not the end. Perry went on to call out the “radical homosexual movement.” Seriously:

A loving, tolerant view toward those who have a different sexual preference is the ideal position – for both the heterosexual and homosexual. I do not believe in condemning homosexuals that I know personally. I believe in valuing their lives like any others, like our God in heaven does. Tolerance, however, should not only be asked of the proponents of traditional values. The radical homosexual movement seeks societal normalization of their sexual activity. I respect their right to engage in the individual behavior of their choosing, but they must respect the right of millions in society to refuse to normalize their behavior.

So he admits that a loving, tolerant view towards us would be better for everyone, yet he refuses to have that viewpoint? Hmm. Must be all those radical homosexuals, what with their pride parades and protests in the wake of legislation that strips them of basic human rights. Oh, and he also relates all of this to Boy Scouts.

To anyone who thought that Perry’s views on LGBT issues started recently, here’s proof that he’s been a bigot for at least three years prior to today!

Honestly, is anyone surprised by this kind of comparison or language anymore?