Atlanta lawmaker steps out of the closet
State Rep. Rashad Taylor, D-Atlanta, has just become the first self-acknowledged gay man in the state Legislature. He stepped out of the closet during a morning press conference.
Georgia Voice has posted the video:
From my AJC colleague Aaron Gould Sheinin:
Taylor, in a news conference at the offices of Georgia Equality, said he felt compelled to make the announcement after an e-mail was circulated to state lawmakers this week accusing Taylor of being gay and of using his position in the Legislature to solicit sexual relationships.
Taylor denied the allegations of improper conduct. The author of the e-mail, who signed his name as “J. Callahan,” hung up on a reporter from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and would not provide proof of his claims. Callahan had been instructed by state officials on how to file an official ethics complaint against Taylor, but no complaint has been filed, House Ethics Committee Chairman Joe Wilkinson, R-Sandy Springs, said.
Taylor said that the man who sent the e-mail is the former partner of the person Taylor is now dating.
“Although this is not the time or the way that I wanted to come out, I feel actually very lucky, thanks to all the support I’ve received,” Taylor said, surrounded by fellow lawmakers, friends and family. “As a black man, it can be a struggle to find acceptance within the community and at times with myself as well. I’m proud of the man my mother has raised, and I make no apologies for who I am.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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224 comments Add your comment
Reality
May 27th, 2011
2:53 pm
It is important because there are those that still discriminate against gay people. Heck, even the word “gay” has found its way into common speak to mean “bad.” For example, “that’s so gay.”
It is important for folks to see that there really are gay people in all walks of life.
It is important for young gay people to have role models and to realize that they can be successful.
It is important because maybe, just maybe, you will think twice about saying or even thinking something negative about a person JUST because they are gay.
This is all ESPECIALLY true in Georgia, where bigots live “out and proud.”
Ad Naseum
May 27th, 2011
3:15 pm
Taylor was not being blackmailed for being a homosexual, more likely he was going to be exposed for sex acts in a public place which is a crime. GLBT’s want us to stay out of their bedroom, but yet they keep giving us peep shows into their private lives. No one cares if you are homosexual these days, that’s why the lifesyle is no longer taboo or off limits. It’s no wonder that “equal rights” with gays and lesbians will never happen, when you promote it as a lifestyle rather than genetic defect.
Enough already with promoting the gay life!
You Asked
May 27th, 2011
3:16 pm
Be happy you live in Georgia where the bigots are “out and proud”. That way you can spot them from far away and avoid them more easily.
Seriously – “polite” East Coast elites will get right up next to you and stab you in the back and you will never know where it came from.
TDub
May 27th, 2011
3:17 pm
Good for him. Shouldn’t be news, but in this state it certainly is. I’m sure the homophobes will respond in force in this comment stream.
TDub
May 27th, 2011
3:22 pm
Ad Nauseam, we’ve been promoting the bigoted, ignorant redneck life for so long – we really should branch out. And he’s not “promoting the gay life” – he’s simply stating who he is. Don’t be absurd.
Truth Seeker
May 27th, 2011
3:23 pm
Excuse me, but isn’t there someone else in the video who might want to make the same announcement?
Susie Q
May 27th, 2011
3:23 pm
You know what I like best about this? Everyone is treating his being gay as the non-issue it is. Welcome to the 21st century. Hooray! We finally made it!
Left Man Walking
May 27th, 2011
3:24 pm
“This is all ESPECIALLY true in Georgia, where bigots live “out and proud.””
Atleast in GA you know where you stand, most other areas of the country are laughing behind your back as they pretend to be your friend. The liberal elite of America just wants your vote … along with the illegal, immigrant, black, welfare, Senior, etal votes as well.
Al
May 27th, 2011
3:26 pm
WHO GIVES AN EFF? Keep this ish to yourself gay people…straight people…bi people! Nobody cares if you booty bang or not. We don’t want to know. Damn!
What closet?
May 27th, 2011
3:27 pm
EXCUSE me for asking this…but WHAT closet did he come out of? It’s obvious he is gay….I don’t get it! As long as he does his job without stepping on my rights…I’m good
rid28748
May 27th, 2011
3:27 pm
Great, another fudge pounder. If God does not punish this country he owes Sodom and Gomorrah one heck of an apology
Food for thought
May 27th, 2011
3:28 pm
“And he’s not “promoting the gay life” – he’s simply stating who he is.”
He’s saying he prefers hot dogs over cherry pie.
Values
May 27th, 2011
3:29 pm
You all are heathen who are reacting as if this is okay. It is not okay. We need to clean up the moral values and return to a time when people act natural, the way they were made to. All men and women need to refocus their lives and their faith, or else next time, when judgement day really does occur, they will pay the ultimate price.
Eye Roll
May 27th, 2011
3:34 pm
Why don’t we just give the Gay & Lesbian community a “paid for” section in the local newspapers like we do those couples that are getting engaged or married or much like a Birth announcement. Let them have a more discreet way of announcing who they like to have sex with and maybe they’ll STFU with the PSA’s.
What closet?
May 27th, 2011
3:35 pm
well’swell: I agree with all of your posts 1,0000%
well'swell
May 27th, 2011
3:35 pm
@Meh.
You sound REALLY stupid trying to suggest to you have the slightest clue about what I “teach my kids”. From your post you are obviously in the midst of a byytch fit. I have stated no differently than many on this blog. You are only upset because what I said is TRUTH. Most people don’t care about who you desire to rabbit dance with behind closed doors in your personal lives. We do have a problem with your incessantly making a PUBLIC issue about it, ALL WHILE hypocritically attacking others for “being in your bedroom”. If I prefer to have sex with multiple women all at the same time though I am married, I am sure my PUBLIC PROMOTION of such a thing would infuriate the general public and understandably so. So, if I want people to “stay outta my bedroom”, it probably would not be in my best interest to hold a press conference about it….even sponsor yearly parades to flaunt it…or spend time on blogs trying to get people to accept that particular LIFESTYLE, because that IS what it is.
TDub
May 27th, 2011
3:39 pm
Values, you’re wrong. And even if you were right, I’d rather spend eternity with people who believed in living their lives without judging others and being true to themselves than spend eternity with people like you.
MD
May 27th, 2011
3:41 pm
Who cares if you are gay, as long as you are really homosexual and not going through some sort of life change or experiment. There in lies the problem with today’s “Me” society, if it doesn’t feel good you can change who you are. If you are gay, then fine – if not and you are sexually experimenting, seek mental counseling or you are in for one heck of a screwed up adulthood!
ObamaCare will not happen to fix your alternative lifestyle mental cases or diseases.
main style
May 27th, 2011
3:42 pm
does he also like show tunes and the color mauve?
Business Man
May 27th, 2011
3:45 pm
@ Elliot Garcia- They would if your girls name was Bob.
It's all about ME
May 27th, 2011
3:46 pm
being true to themselves = the screwed up ME society that we live in today
Tim James
May 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
I’m betting the voters knew he was a raging Queen when they cast they’re vote for him. So what?
Tim James
May 27th, 2011
3:51 pm
OMG, OMG, OMG, I have the same outfit!!!
Majority Minority
May 27th, 2011
4:02 pm
Since gay seem to be coming out of the closet in record numbers, heterosexuals will soon be the minority (or so it appears by the numbers). I say it’s high time we have Straight Pride Week in the ATL. It may be somewhat boring, but as the soon sexual minority we deserve our week to show the metro area who we are! We’re great, we’re straight … get used to it!
NDIrish65
May 27th, 2011
4:04 pm
Sam, Jewfish, and Flying Tigers: Just keep on spouting your hate and ignorance as long as you can. We need to be able to identify you easily so that everyone knoww you are not to be taken seriously.
Now get together and do what you do behind closed doors. (Those who protest the loudest are often the “closet dweller” themselves. Does the Name Larry Craig come to mind?)
I'Joni
May 27th, 2011
4:10 pm
Hetrosexual people in the public eye don’t feel the need to do a press conference to tell their constituents they are straight. So why do these homosexual public figures feel the need to do a press conference, interview, tell-all book, etc. to inform the whole world their gay?! This was information he could have kept to himself, because I doubt anyone really cares. At the end of the day, I want a politician capable of handling the job. I don’t need to know about or care to hear about your sexual orientation.
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
May 27th, 2011
4:11 pm
I have no interest in R. Taylor’s sexual orientation. However, I’d like to have a little meeting with this J. Callahan fella. He may need to learn how to mind his own business.
MIWolverine69
May 27th, 2011
4:13 pm
“Those who protest the loudest are often the “closet dweller” themselves”
More proof that being gay is more of a lifestyle choice than ever.
Name than Tune
May 27th, 2011
4:16 pm
“Does the Name Larry Craig come to mind?”
2 first names like Billy Joe and Bobby Sue, two young lovers with nothing better to do!
NDIrish65
May 27th, 2011
4:21 pm
MIWolverine69, that’s what is called a non-sequiter, but I doubt if you can see it.
There is ample proof that homosexuality is genetically induced. Being in the closet is not a change in that behavior, it is just hiding it, which is unhealthy, but often done conciously.
Being in the “closet” and persecuting those who are out is aggressive hypocrisy.
Being so prejudiced that you deny the scientific facts is prideful ignorance.
sloboffthestreet
May 27th, 2011
4:23 pm
,,,,,,,,and that’s why the color yellow makes me sad,,,,,
tar and feathers party
May 27th, 2011
4:24 pm
Thanks, now I know who NOT to vote for, can you label them all for me?
old biker
May 27th, 2011
4:38 pm
@NDIrish…and in the animal kingdom, weak, sick and otherwise faulty specimens are ushered out of the pack and left to die…and we call ourseleves the superior species. get a grip-we’re sick of gays expecting something more from us all because they like to slurp sausage….gay is sick. period. now back to your regularly scheduled ajc crapola.
NDIrish65
May 27th, 2011
4:41 pm
Old Biker, obviously the gay lifestyle has survived all the attempts to stop it by those whose own sexuality is threatened by it.
Join the human race and think before persecuting.
Kiki LaBlink
May 27th, 2011
4:47 pm
Who cares…….who’s gonna sleep with Big Willy……YUCK……
Doris M
May 27th, 2011
4:51 pm
Why do we need to know if someone is gay or not? What he’s doing for his voting community is the main thing along with ethics. He didn’t misappropriate or misuse any money, did he?
Samson
May 27th, 2011
4:51 pm
Hey listen, I read these article about people coming out the closet, the den… whatever.. who cares about who you are doing. I am straight and you dont see me getting a bunch of my buddies for ‘Straight Pride Day’ at Piedmont Park.
Imma tell you why they come the whateva.. they are fighting demons… they are caught up in a world of ‘what should I do’ and all along they know what to do. But they choose other wise. They are confuse.
Again if thats what you want to do ‘Just do it’, Dont ask for society’s approval.
And you know whats so funny, imma have all these replies saying I dont know what what I am talking about. Shoot… just may have this comment flagged.
This I do know.
If I get up tomorrow and want to be gay, I can.
If I get up tomorrow and wanna do whateva I wanna do I can…
Best believe I gotta deal with whateva society do to me…
Rocky
May 27th, 2011
5:05 pm
Is this false representation. What if his voters would not of wanted to vote for a gay man….people have to start coming out before they want votes….
NDIrish65
May 27th, 2011
5:12 pm
Id vote for a gay man of principles, but not a straight one that lies to his wife about his girlfriend/s. If you lie to your wife, you’ll lie to anyone.
James
May 27th, 2011
5:14 pm
Non issue..
chamblee54
May 27th, 2011
5:16 pm
“”He’s saying he prefers hot dogs over cherry pie.” The man is not a picky eater.
Is it a coincidence that this story “comes out” on the same holiday weekend as the Eddie Long payoff?
chamblee54
MRS. JACKSON
May 27th, 2011
5:27 pm
WHO CARES???? YOU NOT THE FIST, AND WONT BE THE LAST.. NEXT!!!!!!!!!
ST
May 27th, 2011
5:28 pm
wow- im really surprised so many hets (dont get why this is a big dela- for HIM, if not anybody that not sleeping with him…)- granted- i really frankly would often rather not know what those, ugly, soft, unattarctive suits are doing in their respective bedroom- but to equate being gay and coming out as the same as being straight…… REALLY, people…?? do u NOT see the stories of brothers and sisters getting beaten, hounded, harassed, beaten and KILLED for even the slightest infraction against the ‘no homo’ rule of conduct…???!!! Do u really not believe that- despite how boring YOU may find it- he still probably faces WAAAAAY more fallout than your silly declaration of “Im heterosexual…” REALLY…???!!! u cant be serious… trust me- PERSONALLY- i fell it’s no big deal- but seriously people- us who feel that way are NOT- i repeat- are NOT the majority…… ESPECIALLY in the south… c’mon, peeps… be for REAL…
Mike Hunt
May 27th, 2011
5:34 pm
WHY is this even worthy of a news article?
Kev
May 27th, 2011
5:37 pm
“I say it’s high time we have Straight Pride Week in the ATL.”
EVERY week is Straight Pride Week.
“I don’t need to know about or care to hear about your sexual orientation.”
So the next time a straight politician shows off their wife/girlfriend I’ll have the right to bitch about them flaunting their heterosexual “lifestyle”.
Tim Cairl
May 27th, 2011
5:50 pm
very proud of Rep. Taylor!
Under the circumstances this was not an easy thing to do, and he did so under great pressure and with great grace and calm.
MRS. JACKSON
May 27th, 2011
5:54 pm
IM WITH YOU KEV
MRS. JACKSON
May 27th, 2011
5:57 pm
@ ST, WHAT IS THE NEED FOR HIM COMING OUT TO THE PUBLIC? IF ITS FLOATING AROUND THE OFFICE THEN HANDLE IT THERE……
RGB
May 27th, 2011
6:10 pm
“As a black man, it can be a struggle…..”
Keep holding onto that crutch, man. It’s a moneymaker.
Last Man Standing
May 27th, 2011
6:17 pm
I just know there must be a “gay pride parade” in the offing after this stunning announcement.