Badpuppy Gay Today

Tuesday, 03 June 1997

Blithely violating the spirit of Wisconsin's laws, Rep Mark Neumann, an evangelical Lutheran Republican Congressman with hopes for a U.S. Senate seat, preached a hate sermon last Sunday, referencing the Bible and assuring Christian Coalition listeners he'd never hire a known gay man or a lesbian. His discriminatory stance, noted observers, seems to be in open conflict with state laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.

"The gay and lesbian lifestyle (is) unacceptable, lest there be any question about that," Neumann said. He explained that he would never hire an openly gay man or lesbian "because that would mean they are promoting their agenda." Wisconsin is one of 11 states with gay anti-discrimination laws on its books.

"A sin is a sin in God's eyes," Neumann said, attempting to shore up his position.

Similar comments by Neumann were quoted in a New York Times Magazine cover story (November 3, 1996) wherein he allowed himself the luxury of a somewhat grandiose vision: "If I was elected God for a day, homosexuality wouldn't be permitted, but nobody's elected me God," he complained.

Lesbians and gay men are breathing a sigh of relief over Congressman Neumann's unhappy awareness that he's not, in fact, a Deity. Some fear, however, that any rise in his status, should he win a U.S. Senate seat, for example, could unleash now-criminal hate campaigns like those conducted by the late Senator Joseph McCarthy, also from Wisconsin. Senator McCarthy was a desk-pounding demagogue who launched massive anti-gay witchhunts, resulting in hundreds of government firings during the early 1950's, a period that is now known pejoratively as "The McCarthy Era."

Congress has previously been exempt from requirements that its members follow the laws of their own states in matters such as hiring. Recently, however, it has acted to bring itself under the sway of such state laws. Though Rep. Neumann's outbursts put him into direct conflict with Wisconsin law, it is not yet clear whether such a law affects him in his Washington, D.C. offices.

The Congressman's most likely Republican challenger, Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) declined to respond to Neumann's statements. Indicating that his social and economic agenda is far more conservative than her own, she simply said, "I am one who accepts people as they are." Ms. Darling also said she opposes discrimination against people on the basis of choices they make, provided they're not violating the law or the rights of others.

Questioned about whether he'd initiate privacy invasions away the job site, Congressman Neumann said he wouldn't try to dictate what happens in a person's home.

Although current Democratic Senators from Wisconsin--Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl--have ignited the ire of zealous anti-free-choicers because of what they deem "unacceptable" votes on "partial birth" abortions, it remains to be seen whether fundamentalist and evangelical-inspired groups will be able to gather enough signatures to force a recall election before Feingold's term closes in 1998. If a recall signatures are of a sufficient number, Neumann says, "we will announce immediately that we're running against Russ Feingold."

Gay Wisconsin spokesperson, Chris Ahmuty, addressed Neumann's worries about openly-gay job applicants promoting a so-called gay agenda: "He's not in touch with reality at all. Lesbians and gays have been the subject of employment discrimination for many, many years. Maybe Mr. Neumann thinks that's OK, but in reality its irrational and without basis."