GOP Sen. Koering: Gay

[Dickie Flatt]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5346640.html

State Sen. Paul Koering, a first-term Republican from the Brainerd area who until recently had voted consistently for a constitutional ballot question banning same-sex marriage, revealed to the Star Tribune Wednesday that he is gay and has known it since he was a teen-ager.

He is believed to the first openly gay Republican elected official in Minnesota, and his announcement could affect the course of the raging legislative debate over gay marriage.

However, Koering, 40, a businessman and former dairy farmer, said his "coming out" does not change his position that the state's voters should be allowed to decide whether to ban same-sex marriage, nor will it change his basic conservative philosophy.

Rather, Koering said he wanted to put an end to rampant speculation _ in the capitol, on websites and from constituents _ about his sexual orientation.

[Mr. Flibble]

1. Good. When future anti-gay amendments go through, he'll

have to find a new "cloaking" closet to hide in.

[CatholicEdHead]

2. What does Bachamann think about this?

[dflprincess]

3. I'm sure she'll pray for him to be "cured"

:evilgrin:

[Mr. Flibble]

9. You mean she'll do nothing to cure him personally?

No shock here, typical repuke mentality! :evilgrin:

Of course, even a creature like she is married so it's understandable she'd remain with her vows. But should could at least try to get him a date... :crazy:

And, no, I've no idea what I'm saying. After all, I'm only a hand puppet of a cute and homely penguin...

[Oreo]

4. I can't wait to hear what Bushman...err Bachman says

She'll probably wear a surgical mask the next time she goes to the Capitol.

[CatholicEdHead]

7. Probably try to talk him to go straight

as doesn't she think homosexuality is a choice?

[Mr. Flibble]

10. Isn't going behind the bushes in public places illegal?

:shrug:

[MnFishhead]

5. Bachmann, gay marriage in PPress

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/politics/11387493.htm

[dpbrown]

6. Bachman will now hide from him in the bushes

I hope they're not on any committees together.

[dflprincess]

8. One of the local stations had a phone quote for the Republican

chairman in Koering's district. The guy sounded just hateful about how Koering's coming out is not going over well up there (Crow Wing County, I think). I really had to wonder if that's true or if the chairman was just giving vent to his own prejudices.