Jungbauer Revised

You may recall that I had a conversation with Senator Jungbauer in his office this session which was prompted by his statement to me on the Senate stairs that a constituent had basically changed his mind about marriage equality. During that conversation in his office, he indicated that he supported official recognition of same-sex relationships and went so far as to try to persuade me that "separate but EQUAL", a concept I reject, was the road to full equality. Unfortunately, the road, like the garden path I was being led down, was paved with bullshit.

The REAL Jungbauer turned around and voted against every bill having to do with providing the smallest measure of equity to same-sex couples in this legislative session. He actually voted twice, against the right of same-sex partners to VISIT EACH OTHER IN THE HOSPITAL!

I sincerely apologize for having so foolishly reported on my meeting with Jungbauer with such naive optimism. I won't be making that mistake again with others of his ilk. And, what I said about "Christian Conservative" not necessarily meaning "closed minded?"...oh please. I should have known better.

I still don't get why he invited me to his office to jack me off for a half hour about equity for same-sex couples when I can't even vote for him. If he thought a favorable right up in this blog would somehow help him with gay voters, he's a bigger fool than I am. I suppose like so many other Christians, he acts out of bigotry and malice toward his neighbor but still demands to be thought of as a good person...even by his victims. They'll keep telling you they "love" you as they're putting a match to the bundle of sticks under your feet.

Jungbauer Revisited

I'm always a bit embarrassed to read the report on my conversation with Senator Jungbauer and my exuberant declaration that "conservative Christian does not necessarily translate into closed minded." The recent Eleventh Avenue South article about my Capitol activities reminded me of having written that line and made me think how wildly optimistic it is when compared to the realities of conservative Christians' hateful, destructive behavior in Minnesota and around the world. It's true that "open minded" was what I was thinking while Jungbauer was talking to me, but I should have qualified my exuberance by saying "this time," or "in this case." As someone who has been spat on and had their life threatened by conservative Christians on the front steps of the Capitol in years passed, I shouldn't forget just how destructive and violent people who call themselves conservative Christian can be. I intend, however, to leave the door open...a crack. Ya gotta live with people.

My Meeting With Senator Jungbauer

Senator Jungbauer describes himself as a Christian conservative. I found that after speaking with him for about a half hour in his office that that label does not necessarily translate into "closed minded." Our conversation left me with the impression that he is genuinely open minded on marriage equality, not an advocate, but interested in finding a way to provide same sex couples with at least some if not all the rights and responsibilities of marriage without the name. If I'm being deceived, he's very very good at it.

He started out by telling me where he stands on marriage equality. He doesn't think the government should be in the marriage business at all. Then he expressed discomfort over the fact that same sex couples are not being treated fairly and that he wants to find a way to achieve fairness without using the word "marriage." He actually used the term "separate but equal," and added that it can be the path to real equality. As "back of the bus" as I regard this concept, I think it is something of a breakthrough coming from a legislator with Senator Jungbauer's record on gay issues.

I told him that I'm interested in one thing...equality. That means I don't care if the state abolishes all the marriage statutes and NOBODY gets their relationship recognized by the government. If the state revises the marriage statutes to replace the word "marriage" with the words "civil union," and issues only "Civil Union Licenses" to both same and different sex couples, that's ok with me. But, if the word marriage is going to stay, then it has to apply to everyone. Churches will continue to marry whomever they please in any circumstance. I added that, "There are people in our community that would accept civil unions, I'm not one of them."

We touched on the domestic partner benefits bill and education issues. I told him I'm not an expert on either and reminded him that I'm a protester not a lobbyist. He said that's why he wanted to talk to me. His concern with the domestic partner benefits bill was the lax relationship validation requirements. We agreed that official state recognition of same sex couples would remedy that problem and he supported the idea.

I left the Senator's office liking him and feeling that although we're not on the same page, we're not that far apart either.

Wrong Chi

Yesterday at the Capitol an anti-war demonstration, or presentation really, took place in the Rotunda. Pairs of army boots were on display representing our soldiers that have been killed as a result of our illegal and fraudulent invasion of Iraq. Former state Senator, Becky Lourey, who lost a son to the war, spoke at the solemn event. As I looked down on the proceedings from the second floor, I noticed a group of lesbian vets holding a rainbow/American flag. On my way out I stopped to give them stickers and thank them for being there. They were in tears from the emotion-provoking program.

On a lighter note, I'm wondering if the opposition is a little worried about Senator Jungbauer's friendliness toward me. Yesterday, in front of the Senate the opposition guy, Keith, who shadows me wherever I set up at the Capitol, kind of rudely forced himself in front of me and grabbed Senator Jungbauer's hand as he approached me to say hello the way he usually does. Jungbauer had to awkwardly turn his head to say "Hi" as Keith pulled him away. DON'T LISTEN TO THE SIREN SONG OF THAT HOMOSEXUAL!

After setting up in front of the House I realized that the DFL was caucusing and would be approaching from a different direction as they entered the House, so I packed up and moved to another spot. One security guard seemed curious at my move so I told him, "The chi was bad over there." He smiled vacantly.

House meets at 11:30 today.

Thursday At The Capitol

Yesterday in front of the House I had a good conversation with Rep. Mike Jaros, an old friend from Duluth. Mike has been a proponent of gay rights for a long time. He was telling me about some of the extremely homophobic communications he's getting from "clergy" people in Duluth regarding the current gay-friendly legislation being considered in the House and described some of his sarcastic replies to those communications. It seems one "Reverend" got a reply from Mike addressed to the "Irreverent" So and So, who promptly had a shit hemorrhage. Ya gotta love it. Way to go Mike!

Mike also made a proposal to change the state's definition of family to include same-sex domestic partners. He's iterated this proposal before but says the gay community doesn't seem interested in it. I told him to follow his instincts and go for it. I plan to meet with him next week and talk about it.

The Senator who told me that he was rethinking his position on marriage equality and invited me to meet with him, as reported on Monday, is Senator Michael Jungbauer. I have an appointment to meet with him next Wednesday.