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
Honest Ingine
May 28th, 2011
7:01 am
So now the legislatures who sent those emails are going to be fined for making “Gay Slur’s”?
Real men please stand up
May 28th, 2011
8:37 am
Being Black isn’t a sin or a choice. The whole “gay” thing it’s NOT the same thing as Blacks fighting for civil rights.
I agree with Clint, and shaking my head and others. Rashad Taylor, Don Lemon this week; who’s next? (I offered some names but JC didn’t post my comment.)
BuckheadBill
May 28th, 2011
10:06 am
I am so happy to hear that he is happy!
Hide-n-seek
May 28th, 2011
11:30 am
Okay, everyone that is heterosexual can make their announcement now. Are you kidding me? This is news?
Recognize: this is perversion
May 28th, 2011
11:53 am
Our society is so perverse these days. There is NO way the Creator made so many folks to be same-sex oriented. It defies nature, so it is NOT natural, people. Get some help! I feel sorry for today’s youth;they are so screwed up and options for suitable marriage partners dwindle further every day. Young women need to stop making babies without fathers in the home. The public distractions with internet, drugs, experimentation are too much for these brains in the past 20 years. Sad times.
joop
May 28th, 2011
12:10 pm
Jim Galloway admits he’s a dummy.
Furious Styles
May 28th, 2011
12:10 pm
Black, Democrat and Gay in Georgia. Oh my, my , my……The postings on this article need popcorn to go with them.
Let's Tell the Truth
May 28th, 2011
12:42 pm
All this means is that Mr. Taylor has certain feelings and behavior. The culture says that if you feel something: (1) it is good, and (2) you were born that way. This is absurd. Shoplifters, golfers, etc., were not born to do what they do. “Divine Command” ethics is the only stable, enduring basis for morality. Everything else reduces to subjectivity. As a Christian, my message to Mr. Taylor is that the path you are on is destructive and makes you much less than you can be. (Even apart from Divine Command ethics, you were not made to do what you’re doing. Under Darwinianism, you certainly were not “made” to do this.) I pray that you will escape this lifestyle. I think you can through faith in Christ.
Skinny Dip
May 28th, 2011
1:19 pm
I heart Skink…
Bumblin' Derper
May 28th, 2011
1:20 pm
It’s not news to me b/c I hate everyone. But if I were part of a group who had to fight for acceptance every day, it would be news to me. I guess that makes me a d’bag. Fortunately this town is full of ‘em.
Bumblin' Derper
May 28th, 2011
1:21 pm
Oh, yeah, and . . . Jesus freaks have to be the dumbest people on Earth.
Ron Hyatt
May 28th, 2011
1:30 pm
knew he was fat black and a demorat without having to see a vid.
Obama
May 28th, 2011
1:42 pm
I’m going to work on this problem just as soon as I possibly can. At this time, however, I am focused like a laser beam on unemployment.
Alabama Communist
May 28th, 2011
2:59 pm
More Breaking News On Gay Law Rep…………. Members of the Republican Tea Party in the state Legislature said they knew something was wrong when Gay Rep went into Women’s restroom at the Capital 14 times in one day…
Gern Blanston
May 28th, 2011
3:02 pm
I am a flaming heterosexual, but I’m glad that gay prejudice is starting to fade away. In another generation, it will be virtually gone.
meatcleaver
May 28th, 2011
4:23 pm
Like everyone is saying so far on this blog no one care and to add to that you can’t expected people to accept or tolerate you as and individual. Realized this not everyone is going to accept you because are a man, woman, child, black, white, asian, jew, gay lesbian, religous, atheist or however you identify yourself. You be able to deal with the people that don’t accept you the same way you deal with people who do not everyone is going to like you. For example, I don’t care for most politician simple because they never seem to solve any problems and only push them forward. Now you would be considered a triple minority black, gay, and obese.
d
May 28th, 2011
5:09 pm
..as a man of color, i am tired of the poor quality of role models in our community…just another in a long line of spineless shemen that dot the ‘celebrity’, political, corporate landscape…gays are tolerated never respected…we need men of integrity, men secure in their identity, men that have substance..people dont care how much the media will embrace these weak kneed populists..at the end of the day…no respect…the AIDS rate is a direct result of DOWNLOW shemen like Taylor..understand this…GAYS ARE TOLERATED NEVER RESPECTED..this will be clearly demonstrated by his constituents come the next election..
d
May 28th, 2011
5:17 pm
..is he a top or bottom? In 5 yrs hes going to be wearing Depends…who in this world would mess with that greaseball…men will fck anything it seems…comletely disgusted here..I mean vomit level…
scott
May 28th, 2011
7:04 pm
The difference is that nobody needs to come out as male, female, black, white, asian, etc. and fortunately, we have a constitution that prohibits discrimination, public policy (and practice) because of one of these racial, ethnic, gender, age differences. Homosexuality is still acceptable to persecute, discriminate and otherwise treat as a second class citizen. For all of you who have indicated you oppose the “choice” for homosexuality, I would like to ask whether you know anyone who is openly gay. If you don’t, then I would wonder whether you actually know what you’re talking about. You can have an opinion but it may be based on ignorance.
We draw analogies to black discrimination because the arguments are the same. A generation ago, there were many reasons to prohibit blacks (and others) from full inclusion in society. That is what we’re fighting when we ask for equality for GLBTQ citizens. To accept the argument that being gay is a choice, we need to accept that all heterosexuals could also choose to be gay/lesbian AND BE HAPPY. That’s obviously not the case. You’re born one way or another. Because it’s ok to beat up gays, it’s important to have positive role models. From what I’ve seen from Mr. Taylor, he has brought more to his constituents than his predecessor, Mable Thomas. That has nothing to do with his orientation but everything to do with his ability to function as a legislator.
If you follow kinsey, there are some who are extremely gay and those who are extremely straight. For most of humankind, we’re somewhere on the spectrum. That is not a conscious choice. Because it is still acceptable to persecute gays, being forcibly outed is a threat for all closeted individuals. Coming out for some means to put your job, family, lodging, life on the line. The fact that Mr. Taylor came out in response to a threat is unfortunately. Hopefully he’ll find strength through this and will show others that it’s ok to be gay.
missmollie
May 28th, 2011
8:37 pm
Well, well, well!!! Now that’s a deep subject.. Go read Soddom and Gomorrah again.
Where have all of the statesmen gone???….Rhetorical…..
Jezel
May 29th, 2011
7:26 pm
Excellent speech. It takes courage to be who you are. Some people never find that courage and live a miserable life…hating…judging others..and often in the name of God. You may be fooling yourself_ but doubt if you are fooling everyone.
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Lisa
June 1st, 2011
12:55 am
No news. Sorry some jerk tried to use it against him.