An Ally From An Unexpected Source

Did you see 60 Minutes Sunday?

Rep. Liz Cheney came out on 60 Minutes and said she was wrong on marriage equality and the LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Liz Cheney Says She Was 'Wrong' In Opposing Same-Sex Marriage
NPR
By Barbara Sprunt
September 27, 2021


Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., expressed regret over her earlier opposition to same-sex marriage, a position she took eight years ago that led to a public falling out with her sister, Mary, who is gay and married with children.

"I was wrong. I was wrong. I love my sister very much. I love her family very much," the lawmaker said in an interview on CBS' 60 Minutes.
[…]
"This is an issue that we have to recognize, you know, as human beings — that we need to work against discrimination of all kinds in our country, in our state," Cheney said. "Nobody should feel unsafe. Freedom means freedom for everybody."

But “a leopard never changes its spots” she still doesn’t fully support LGBTQ+ human rights.

Despite her evolving stance on LGBTQ rights, Cheney voted in February against the Equality Act, legislation that would have amended the 1964 Civil Rights Act to explicitly prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

USA Today had this to say about her interview,

"I was wrong. I was wrong. I love my sister very much. I love her family very much," she told Stahl. "It's a very personal issue, and very personal for my family. I believe that my dad was right. And my sister and I have had that conversation."

Liz Cheney famously broke with her family in 2013 by opposing gay marriage ahead of a failed Senate bid. Her objections caused a rift with her sister, Mary, a married lesbian. Mary's spouse, Heather Poe, posted on Facebook that year that Cheney's position was offensive and that "I always thought freedom meant freedom for EVERYONE."

I don’t know how coming out in support of us is going to affect her campaign but what I do know is we bring about bring change by being out.

When people that we know and love comes out it has a big impact on those around us. I had a Jehovah Witness who was a former employee write to me and say “I don’t nothing about this transgender stuff but I know you and you are good.”

Harvey Milk in his famous quote,

“Gay brothers and sisters,... You must come out. Come out... to your parents... I know that it is hard and will hurt them but think about how they will hurt you in the voting booth! Come out to your relatives... come out to your friends... if indeed they are your friends. Come out to your neighbors... to your fellow workers... to the people who work where you eat and shop... come out only to the people you know, and who know you. Not to anyone else. But once and for all, break down the myths, destroy the lies and distortions. For your sake. For their sake. For the sake of the youngsters who are becoming scared by the votes from Dade to Eugene.”

It was true then it is true now, Mary Cheney brought about change in coming out, we bring change be being Out and Proud.

“Freedom means freedom for everybody.”