Father, Son Clash on Gay Marriage Issue (Rightwing Sen. Pete Knight)

[villager]

Father, Son Clash on Gay Marriage Issue

By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - When David Knight married his boyfriend of 10 years, his parents were not among the mothers and fathers proudly snapping photos and sipping champagne at San Francisco's City Hall. His mother is long gone, dead of cancer when he was 17. And his father, well his father ...

These are precarious times for the gay son of state Sen. William J. "Pete" Knight, the arch-conservative architect of California's Defense of Marriage Act.


"He believes in something I don't," David Knight says, his voice tight with checked emotion as he talks about the patriarch he idolized in his youth. "I'm sorry about that and I feel sad that we can't discuss it ... I don't agree with him, but I think he's a good man."


Whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry moved from a hypothetical question to a presidential campaign topic after Massachusetts' highest court and San Francisco's mayor forced the issue, prompting conservatives to call for rewriting the U.S. Constitution and dividing state legislatures across the land.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://news.yahoo.com/?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=29&u=/ap/20040404/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_father_and_son_1

[WillParkinson]

1. I just had an epiphany...

I always said that I wouldn't have kids because I didn't feel right about subjecting a child to the torment his peers might heap on them for having 'gay parents'.

Now I understand. As hard as it would be for the child of gay parents in a world where his parents love him it would be so much harder for the gay child whose parents hate him.

Thanks for this post!

[cally]

7. I agree with you

This man did far more damage to his children by not loving unconditionally. I also don't think that children of glbt are that tormented. At least in my personal observation, the kids never got taunted for it. Most in elementary school just didn't know or think it's important. I'm sure it's different elsewhere.

[RT Atlanta]

2. Good for the son...

For being able to openly speak about it. I once looked up to the Dad for a different reason - he was an accomplished test pilot (flew the X-15), but I think he's a total piece of shit after reading about his group's efforts of the years, and this is just another example of it.

As a parent, I cannot be more appalled by his lack of acceptance and understanding with his child. The son is the hero in that family.

[leesa]

3. So sad. A father actively working to hurt his son.

Must be those compassionate values.

[JI7]

4. Pete Knight's brother was also gay , and David is a gulf war veteran

pete knight's brother was also gay. he died of aids some years back. and david knight is a gulf war combat vet. he flew fighter planes in the war. pete knight is a pretty disgusting man.

[villager]

5. as with all rightwingers,

it seems clear there's a personal, psychological motive/vendetta animating his "politics..."

[riskpeace]

6. David is being a brave man

I am sure that this is a difficult time for Dave. Who wants to air this very personal stuff on a national level. It is very courageous in my opinion.

It was actually Pete Knight's brother who introuduced Dave and his partner, Joe.

There will be a made-for-TV movie about this situation.

And wish Joe a Happy 40th birthday!!!

[Moderator]

8. villager

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
news source.

Thank you.


DU Moderator