Ann Coulter on Marriage and Identity Politics

Ann Coulter introduces her latest column:

In honor of the gays who have come out of the closet as Republicans to be one of the 140 sponsors of CPAC 2011, I thought I'd run one of the interviews I gave before speaking to GOProud last September, which the reporter never ran after wasting my time.

Not that she keeps score.

(5) Can you lay out your stance on marriage equality (Prop 8, DOMA) and DADT?

I'm against gay marriage, but that's no offense to gays. It is just in defense of a crucial linchpin of civilization that's already hanging by a thread.

It is precisely because marriage has already been devalued so much that marriage neutering advocates have been able to make the progress they have in the few states where marriage licensing has been neutered, and in public opinion polls that indicate a significant minority is not in opposition to marriage neutering.

Also, I dislike using the term gay marriage because strictly speaking, the issue is licensing of same-sex pairs as marriage, without any requirement that either identify as gay. (I could describe my marriage with my wife as joyful and gay.) Given the choice between gay fidelity and gay promiscuity, I support fidelity, and I think most of those who oppose the neutering of marriage would say the same thing.

(6) Are gay rights part and parcel with basic conservatism? If so, why are so many elected Republicans so skittish/unsupportive about the subject? If not, tell me why.

No, we don't generally care for identity politics of any sort, much less hearing about people's sex lives, even Nino Scalia's. (And judging by the number of children he has, it's pretty active.) Conservatives believe in individual rights, low tax rates, fighting terrorism and punishing criminals -- so do gays!

I maintain that I support more rights for homosexual people than most marriage neutering advocacy organizations, because I think all individuals should retain more of their rights rather than abandoning them to the federal government in general, the judiciary, or international government. I treat people as individuals based on what they do, recognizing the equal worth of both sexes but not ignoring the differences between them.

(7) Why attend and speak at Homocon?

Why lie? I'm in the market for a new hair stylist.

(7b) Is it just another gig, or are you hoping to make a larger point?

I plan to forge the conservative/gay peace of Westphalia! Conservatives will: (1) Stop treating gay sex any differently from premarital sex; (2) stop blaming nice, conservative gays for the hateful, angry, leftist gays pushing fisting on kindergartners; and (3) agree to do something about their hair. Gays will drop this business about gay marriage and pushing PC rules on the military.

I'd go for that. As it is, I've long recognized that homosexual people are not a monolithic group (the homofascists and even the larger homosexuality advocacy groups do not typically represent a majority of homosexual people) and I appreciate people who are good friends and citizens, whether they are heterosexual or homosexual.

"Premarital" sex has been extremely damaging to marriage.

Love her or hate her, Coulter isn't boring.