eva young
Eva Young is President of Log Cabin Republicans of Minnesota and lives in Minneapolis with her cat, Kiddleleewink. You can also read her other blog here.
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September 10, 2004

Dave Thompson guest hosted yesterday's Garage Logic (a talk show in the Twin Cities media market) was full of anti-gay drivel. The show covered the so-called "Truth Truck", carrying the picture of two men kissing, and the slogan "Want Gay Marriage? Vote Democratic." It was apparently 4 hours of gay bashing on the show from the host and the callers.

Mark Hanson, posted the following to the Log Cabin Republicans of Minnesota list.

I sent this to Dave Thompson at AM 1500, re: a radio show he hosted on Wednesday, September 8. He was filling in for Joe Soucheray in the 3-6 time slot.

Dave's regular gig is on Saturday's from noon to 3 pm. I won't be able to catch the show this weekend, but I'll be interested to hear if he milks this topic again.

Considering how disgusting the Wednesday show was, this letter, I think, is quite diplomatic.

Mark Hanson

Mr. Thompson

My name is Mark Hanson, I live in Minneapolis, and I am a Republican. I don't agree with all of the positions the president takes, but I am voting for George W. Bush on November 2.

When time allows, I try to listen to your Saturday afternoon programs on AM 1500, and appreciate your articulate, passionate discussion of the conservative viewpoint.

I'm also a Joe Soucheray fan, and regularly listen to Garage Logic in the afternoons. As I'm at work when the show runs, I'm not able to call in to make comments, but I wanted to share a couple of thoughts re: yesterday's show.

You and I disagree on the gay marriage issue, but I understand and respect your viewpoint. In regards to the 'Truth Truck' you suggest it's an ingenious political statement (and you might be correct). To me it is a lowest common denominator, misguided tactic. Mr. Thompson, whether or not people of the same sex can be legally married or not, gay men and lesbians are going to keep kissing each other. Or are you suggesting an anti-same-sex kissing amendment to the constitution?

To view a photo of the truck, go to the sponsors website. Also note their disclaimer:

MCDM is not a homosexual hate group -- we subscribe to the belief that all individuals are entitled to the respect and acceptance they deserve as members of our society. However, this does not mean that we need to agree with those who would seek to redefine the institution of marriage.

Uh ok.... Senator Michele Bachmann says the same sort of thing, while the rally she organized at the capitol had signs saying "Death Penalty for Homosexuals", "No Sodomite Marriage", "Bush [up arrow] God [up arrow] Gays [down arrow]".

This truck reminded me of Jon Stewart's wrapup of the Federal Marriage Amendment Senate Debate:

Part of this shows a gay couple kissing in SF after their wedding - with Stewart's comment - "Oh the Humanity!"

But I digress....

Hanson continues:

There was much discussion from you and the callers about the visceral reaction to the picture of two men in a lip lock, which was the intent of the truck sponsors. Words like 'disgust' were used, and you spoke of your discomfort in having to explain the truck to your young children.

Later in the show, during a news segment, the banter devolved into adolescent sniggering about exposed breasts and wardrobe malfunctions.

This is the contrast that I always find confusing, and disappointing. In your role as a husband and parent, you take a strong stance in support of monogamous, heterosexual, traditional marriage. But Mr. Thompson, how do you explain the leering and giggling over naked female body parts of women other than your wife? Does that fall into the 'boys will be boys' category? Does it not cause you any discomfort to explain Janet Jackson debacles to your children?

If you want to accuse me of not having a sense of humor, we've never met, and you'd be wrong on that point. I have a very good sense of humor.

But if you're taking a public position of being committed to your own marriage, caring about what your children see and hear, and putting a very high value on traditional marriage for all, then I'd ask you to be consistent in that stance, no matter the topic. Public cheerleading in favor of exposed celebrity breasts is inconsistent with a committed marriage, your testosterone level notwithstanding.

Best Regards,

Mark C. Hanson

I'm still curious whether the person behind this "Truth Truck" has any connection to the Minnesota Family Council or Senator Michele Bachmann.

Sounds like the truck was impounded after some scuffles between the driver and a police officer, and the driver and the crowd at an Edwards rally in St Paul.

A he said, he said story if there ever was one there.

From Agape Press: (American Family Association)

...Citing statistics from voting records, a pro-marriage group in Minnesota has concluded that the Democratic Party "has become the party of gay marriage." At a press conference last week, the Minnesota Citizens in Defense of Marriage made its case that Democrats at both the federal and state levels are at fault for stalling efforts to pass marriage protection legislation. The group offers as proof the following facts: Democrats cast 86 percent of the votes cast in the U.S. Senate against the Federal Marriage Amendment, and 91 percent of those cast in the U.S. House against the Marriage Protection Act. Regarding the issue of same-sex marriage in Minnesota, Democrats cast 93 percent of the state House votes in opposition to the Defense of Marriage Amendment -- and 100 percent of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor state senators voted to block that same legislation from even being introduced on the floor of the state Senate. The group contrasts that with data from polls showing that almost two-thirds of Americans oppose same-sex marriage, and that nearly 60 percent of Minnesotans favor a constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage. Jeff Davis, president of Minnesota Citizens in Defense of Marriage, says "one can only conclude that the Democratic Party has become the party of gay marriage," adding that if those lawmakers had been "sticking to the job of representing their constituents, this legislation would have passed months ago." That is why Davis's group has launched a statewide campaign to inform voters in the North Star State that the future of marriage will likely decided by this year's election. The "Truth Truck" campaign set out on its first trip recently to Anoka, Minnesota, where John Kerry was making a campaign stop. The "Truth Truck" features a billboard-sized banner showing two men kissing and the message: "Want Gay Marriage? Vote Democrat this November." [Jody Brown]