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News & ArtsSaturday, January 3, 2009
Hetero Every Child Deserves a Mother and a Father
Posted by Dan Savage on Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 7:53 PM
A man who initially told police gunmen kidnapped his 2 1/2-year-old son was arrested Saturday, accused of committing an "extremely hideous" murder because he was ordered to pay child support, Police Superintendent Warren Riley said...."He had said he would kill either his wife or his child before he paid child support," which he recently had been ordered to do, Riley said.
Riley said he did not know the amount of child support and would not describe how the boy was killed, saying the coroner would do that after the autopsy was complete. The coroner's spokesman did not immediately return a call. "The mother is in a safe place," Riley said.
Although he had visiting rights, Platt, 22, of New Orleans, had never visited the boy until he picked him up Friday, Riley said.
1
So, let me get this straight:
Presumably a judge heard that this guy wanted to kill his wife and kid (so he wouldn't have to pay child support) and the judge gave him unsupervised visitation? Really? The mother of the child (who also knew he would kill her and their kid if he had to pay child support) allowed this guy to take her kid even though Daddy never had an interest in him before having to pay child support? Really?
Presumably a judge heard that this guy wanted to kill his wife and kid (so he wouldn't have to pay child support) and the judge gave him unsupervised visitation? Really? The mother of the child (who also knew he would kill her and their kid if he had to pay child support) allowed this guy to take her kid even though Daddy never had an interest in him before having to pay child support? Really?
2
People who have been abused, which may be the case here since it was a particularly brutal murder, don't always know their rights, nor be in the emotional state to stand up for them. You or I would say, "You don't take the kid, I'll call the cops." But nobody has abused me lately. I want more info...but not details of the murder.
3
Fucked up.
God bless Jeebus and all of Jeebus's followers. Go forth and fuck and have more children so they can be abused by Jeebus's flock. Amen.
God bless Jeebus and all of Jeebus's followers. Go forth and fuck and have more children so they can be abused by Jeebus's flock. Amen.
4
Ugh...the most expensive gay trick you'd ever pick up is a few hundred dollars TOPS (givin you don't catch teh aids)
Poor straights risk paying their sluts every month for 18 years.
Poor straights risk paying their sluts every month for 18 years.
5
Women pay child support too. Not everyone wants to be a welfare mom with 2 kids when she has a middle class wage ex-husband. Let him deal with kids for 18+ years and then see what women have to live with after a divorce.
6
re: "Every child deserves...."
Dan thinks that his constant smarmy gloating belittling of heterosexual parents will somehow make people more likely to support gay marriage?
After all, not even homos are as bad as the disgusting sick hetero perverts and degenerates Dan loves to highlight on SMOG, right?
A better approach might be to highlight competent gay parenting.
Everyone knows the 'family' is in serious trouble.
The disagreement is over how best to fix it.
Dan's fetish of gloating over the gut-wrenching examples of human misery he parades here leave America cold.
Human happiness and misery are not a zero-sum game where every hetero failure is a victory for homos.
We are all humans, Dan; take a bigger view.
Dan thinks that his constant smarmy gloating belittling of heterosexual parents will somehow make people more likely to support gay marriage?
After all, not even homos are as bad as the disgusting sick hetero perverts and degenerates Dan loves to highlight on SMOG, right?
A better approach might be to highlight competent gay parenting.
Everyone knows the 'family' is in serious trouble.
The disagreement is over how best to fix it.
Dan's fetish of gloating over the gut-wrenching examples of human misery he parades here leave America cold.
Human happiness and misery are not a zero-sum game where every hetero failure is a victory for homos.
We are all humans, Dan; take a bigger view.
8
@6 - Perhaps Dan isn't smarmily gloating but rather pointing out the gross hypocrisy of Chirstian fundie wingnuts who claim that the ONLY valid family is where a kid has 1 mommy and 1 daddy, and that anything other than their overly-romanticized, tv sit-com-ish, totally non-biblical version of a family is so inferior, so dangerous, and so evil that it must not be allowed.
Personally, I'm willing to give Dan a lot of lattitude here. If I was constantly being told that my marriage, my family, and my children were essentially not worthy of the same legal rights and protections as the marriages, families, children of straight people - in fact, not as worthy as straight people who abuse and kill their children - then I'd be mightily pissed off, too.
Personally, I'm willing to give Dan a lot of lattitude here. If I was constantly being told that my marriage, my family, and my children were essentially not worthy of the same legal rights and protections as the marriages, families, children of straight people - in fact, not as worthy as straight people who abuse and kill their children - then I'd be mightily pissed off, too.
9
Completely agree #8. I doubt this is "fun" for Dan. But, goddamn it, I've been told to my face that a kid is better off in foster care than with gay or lesbian parents. More than once. More than twice.
Look what just happened in Arkansas. There are many thousands of people out there who'd take kids away from same sex parents if they could.
And, #6, I doubt that Dan thinks pointing out the hypocrisy of Christian loons' idea of family values is going to change any minds. He's making a point. A very valid one. Your approach to what he's doing here is pretty simplistic.
Look what just happened in Arkansas. There are many thousands of people out there who'd take kids away from same sex parents if they could.
And, #6, I doubt that Dan thinks pointing out the hypocrisy of Christian loons' idea of family values is going to change any minds. He's making a point. A very valid one. Your approach to what he's doing here is pretty simplistic.
12
Ya know, if Prop 8 hadn't passed, Rick Warren etc. would be all over this story, claiming it's evidence that gay marriage is tearing the American family apart. Since the bastards got their way, they're going to look the other way.
Anybody think that little boy is lucky he's never going to be teased by classmates because his foster parents are gay?
Anybody think that little boy is lucky he's never going to be teased by classmates because his foster parents are gay?
13
8 "I'm willing to give Dan a lot of lattitude here."
no kidding.
Sloggers check their brains at the door and give Dan lot's of latitude, spiced with worship and adoration, of course.
It's the queer version of Rush Limbaugh and the ditto-heads; bombastic blowhard and his mindless unquestioning groupies.
Sorry to poot and spoil the party.
no kidding.
Sloggers check their brains at the door and give Dan lot's of latitude, spiced with worship and adoration, of course.
It's the queer version of Rush Limbaugh and the ditto-heads; bombastic blowhard and his mindless unquestioning groupies.
Sorry to poot and spoil the party.
14
8,9
The fact that some heterosexuals commit monstrous acts says nothing about whether gay marriage should be legalized.
It is called anecdotal evidence and it generates lots of destructive heat, but no illuminating light.
Dan has to get in line behind the ‘fundies’, and everyone else, in condemning the behaviors he loves to spotlight on SLOG.
The fact that Dan tiresomely and constantly cites these tragedies as evidense for gay marriage tells America that he doesn’t have any insight into the question at hand or anything legitimate to contribute to the discussion about the American family.
He is the squalling brat in the corner screaming ‘big brother threw his pudding on the floor so can I eat my poop?’.
Sorry Dan.
The answer is still no.
The fact that some heterosexuals commit monstrous acts says nothing about whether gay marriage should be legalized.
It is called anecdotal evidence and it generates lots of destructive heat, but no illuminating light.
Dan has to get in line behind the ‘fundies’, and everyone else, in condemning the behaviors he loves to spotlight on SLOG.
The fact that Dan tiresomely and constantly cites these tragedies as evidense for gay marriage tells America that he doesn’t have any insight into the question at hand or anything legitimate to contribute to the discussion about the American family.
He is the squalling brat in the corner screaming ‘big brother threw his pudding on the floor so can I eat my poop?’.
Sorry Dan.
The answer is still no.
15
@14 - The point here is NOT that such atrocities by us heteros justify gay marriage. It's that holding up straight families as perfect and ideal, and to use those straight families as a condemnation of gay marriages/families is beyond hypocrisy. The plain fact is, there is nothing intrinsically better or more ideal or more worthy about straight parents/marriages, just as there is nothing inherently bad, inferior, or less worthy about gay parents/marriages.
16
@10,
The cop's name is Riley, but I definitely agree. Too bad this murderer's punishment can't include a vasectomy.
The cop's name is Riley, but I definitely agree. Too bad this murderer's punishment can't include a vasectomy.
17
#14. Dan's "Every Child Deserves..." series has been explained very clearly on numerous occasions. If you still don't understand his purpose for it, it's because you don't want to.
18
15
No one pretends 'straight' families are perfect; if you pay attention you'll see that Warren and Catholics and Evangelicals and Mormons and pretty much everyone else sees that the family is under assault as never before; from divorce, out-of-wed birthrate, pornography, drugs, etc etc.
The adults in America are having a serious discussion about what to do about it. Gay marriage is one aspect of that conversation. Savage is in the corner pitching a tantrum and making a lot of noise and squalling about the invocation and generally being an irrelevant ass. There is nothing wrong with that, if that is your thing, but at least recognize the role you are playing (or rather, not playing) in the debate.
No one pretends 'straight' families are perfect; if you pay attention you'll see that Warren and Catholics and Evangelicals and Mormons and pretty much everyone else sees that the family is under assault as never before; from divorce, out-of-wed birthrate, pornography, drugs, etc etc.
The adults in America are having a serious discussion about what to do about it. Gay marriage is one aspect of that conversation. Savage is in the corner pitching a tantrum and making a lot of noise and squalling about the invocation and generally being an irrelevant ass. There is nothing wrong with that, if that is your thing, but at least recognize the role you are playing (or rather, not playing) in the debate.
19
17 "If you still don't understand his purpose for it, it's because you don't want to....."
... or because you haven't drank enough of the koolaid.
... or because you haven't drank enough of the koolaid.
22
@18, we have learned the hard way that no one will even consider treating us better until we scream and yell about it. Asking nicely for help during the AIDS crisis didn't work. We had to freak out and get in the public's face and say a lot of harsh, critical, and probably some unfair things ...and then, the help came. Same thing with gay marriage - asking society to honor our commitments through respectful dialogue isn't going to work. No one will help us. "The People" will just turn their back on us. Unless we grab them by the shoulders, turn them around, and scream the truth into their faces. What do we have to lose?
23
This speaks more to how fucked up the visitation laws are than anything else, because the way the law is it goes out of it's way to make it clear that child support or not paying thereof has absolutely no bearing on your visitation rights. Hoorays for the courts.
24
22
If a toddler screams loud and long enough you'll give it something to shut it up.
Because a toddler isn't capable of reasoning.
Do gays want to remain the screaming toddlers of American politics or do they want to engage in a conversation with the grownups?
pacifier, anyone?
Adults can sit quietly thru a prayer,
even one they don't agree with.
Toddlers carry on.
what to do?
what to do.....
If a toddler screams loud and long enough you'll give it something to shut it up.
Because a toddler isn't capable of reasoning.
Do gays want to remain the screaming toddlers of American politics or do they want to engage in a conversation with the grownups?
pacifier, anyone?
Adults can sit quietly thru a prayer,
even one they don't agree with.
Toddlers carry on.
what to do?
what to do.....
26
Don't worry, I'm sure the Orleans Parish DA's office will find a way to fuck up this prosecution, just like they fucked up all the others. Maybe the NOPD actually filed a report this time. That would help.
27
The "Every Child Deserves a Mother and a Father", and the" Youth Pastor Watch" series in the Slog only offend people who need to be offended.
31
@24, were black people acting like toddlers when they were demonstrating to get equal rights?
What is your opinion of the right wingers who were whining and screaming about gay marriage being granted in CA? They couldn't seem to sit quiet through that.
What is your opinion of the right wingers who were whining and screaming about gay marriage being granted in CA? They couldn't seem to sit quiet through that.
32
31
The gay rights movement could do with a lot more MLK and a lot less Dan Savage/Act Up.
Didn't see much whining in CA; just determined grassroots organazing, work and activism that passed Prop 8.
Maybe gay rights should borrow a page from the Mormons, also?
Screaming and acting like an ass may be cathartic but at the end of the day it is no substitute for actual progress.
@27 Since we've lost 30 strait referendums on gay marriage (with zero wins) why not offend a few more folks? Sounds like a winning strategy...
The gay rights movement could do with a lot more MLK and a lot less Dan Savage/Act Up.
Didn't see much whining in CA; just determined grassroots organazing, work and activism that passed Prop 8.
Maybe gay rights should borrow a page from the Mormons, also?
Screaming and acting like an ass may be cathartic but at the end of the day it is no substitute for actual progress.
@27 Since we've lost 30 strait referendums on gay marriage (with zero wins) why not offend a few more folks? Sounds like a winning strategy...
33
30
one more crack out of you and I'll take away your Gameboy and send you to time-out, young man!
one more crack out of you and I'll take away your Gameboy and send you to time-out, young man!
34
32, do you know what they said about MLK in his time?
Right wingers protest and scream = grassroots efforts.
Gay people protest and scream = childish whining.
I see where you are coming from.
Civil rights should not be put up to public ballots. There was a time when interracial marriage would have lost in every state. Civil rights were put to the voters in the south, and guess what. Anti-civil rights measures won.
Gay marriage is legal as we speak. It will spread.
Right wingers protest and scream = grassroots efforts.
Gay people protest and scream = childish whining.
I see where you are coming from.
Civil rights should not be put up to public ballots. There was a time when interracial marriage would have lost in every state. Civil rights were put to the voters in the south, and guess what. Anti-civil rights measures won.
Gay marriage is legal as we speak. It will spread.
35
I think everyone who has commented negatively to this post should read Dan's book "The Kid." This "A Mom and a Dad" series, in my opinion, isn't solely about gay marriage.
He and Terry didn't adopt to prove a point (although he admits that did have an influence on their decision, just as it would with any of us), and although he jokes about adopting because he wanted to get fat and because he wanted to have a hobby when he 'grows up'...I believe Dan and Terry adopted for the same reason anyone wants to have kids, and it wasn't to prove that gay marriage should be legal. They wanted to raise a child, to make an impact on a life, and they knew (or at least hoped) they could do as good a job as anyone else. This "A Mom and a Dad" series isn't 'smarmy gloating'--Dan's making a point. Whether legally married or not, good parents are parents that love and care for their child; it's not necessary that said parents each have different sexual organs.
btw--I'm a Christian, and I fully support gay marriage and gay adoption. Don't think all of us are "right-wing fundies"
He and Terry didn't adopt to prove a point (although he admits that did have an influence on their decision, just as it would with any of us), and although he jokes about adopting because he wanted to get fat and because he wanted to have a hobby when he 'grows up'...I believe Dan and Terry adopted for the same reason anyone wants to have kids, and it wasn't to prove that gay marriage should be legal. They wanted to raise a child, to make an impact on a life, and they knew (or at least hoped) they could do as good a job as anyone else. This "A Mom and a Dad" series isn't 'smarmy gloating'--Dan's making a point. Whether legally married or not, good parents are parents that love and care for their child; it's not necessary that said parents each have different sexual organs.
btw--I'm a Christian, and I fully support gay marriage and gay adoption. Don't think all of us are "right-wing fundies"
36
35
focusing on failed heteros doesn't make the case that homos can be good parents.
it is smarmy gloating.
focusing on failed heteros doesn't make the case that homos can be good parents.
it is smarmy gloating.
37
No, it doesn't, you're right. It makes the point that heteros can be failed parents, and they can be bad parents. It proves that whether parents have two penises or two vaginas don't make a damn difference one way or the other. Parents of all kinds can fail, but adoptive (and gay) parents must *prove* they are good people and good parents while heteros don't face the same stigmas and questions. It may seem smarmy to you, but I see the point he's making. Maybe he states it a little too aggressively for you, but that doesn't make his point any less interesting, and in my opinion, correct.
38
37
sorry, the point misses totally.
no one claims all heteros are adequate parents.
the fact that heteros can fail as parents says
NOTHING
about homos abilities as parents.
if the point is to make a statement about homo parenting skills then highlight successful homo parents.
sorry, the point misses totally.
no one claims all heteros are adequate parents.
the fact that heteros can fail as parents says
NOTHING
about homos abilities as parents.
if the point is to make a statement about homo parenting skills then highlight successful homo parents.
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