New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn was on MSNBC’s ‘Hardball with Chris Matthews’ on Tuesday night responding to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s comments regarding homosexuality.
While doing a press conference at Princeton University for his new book, Justice Scalia said, “If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder?”
Not surprisingly, many took Scalia’s comments as him equating homosexuality and murder. Scalia later said he was merely creating a parallel for the two.
“It’s offensive!” Quinn, an open lesbian, exclaimed on Hardball on Tuesday evening.
“Sexual orientation is who we are as people, it’s how we’re created if we’re the LGBT [community]. To compare that–even in a way you want to say was some philosophical exercise–to a heinous, horrible crime of murder? It’s just wrong.”
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“He can say it’s a slip of the tongue and that’s fine and we all have them; God knows I have. Just apologize. But don’t compare me to a murderer because I’m a lesbian. Just don’t do it. It’s wrong.”
“He wasn’t teaching a law class there, he was making a point, I believe, about what he actually thinks,” Quinn said.
The Supreme Court is due to hear two upcoming cases regarding gay marriage. Some have fears that the Justice’s personal views may interfere with the upholding of the Constitution. Quinn, however, says that the Supreme Court will “rise to the occasion.”
“The job of the Supreme Court when they’re going to take up this very important matter isn’t what they personally think about LGBT people, it is what the Constitution sets out as a framework for protecting the rights of Americans. That’s the question here and I believe the Supreme Court is going to rise to that occasion, as they have before, and look at those important issues. And really, the justice should apologize for what he said there.”
Check out Christine Quinn on ‘Hardball’ here
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.eiriamach | Dec 14, 2012, 10:12 PM EST
Thanks for the note, Smyrnian. Sorry for mis-spelling your name--it was not deliberate. Sometimes it takes me a while to figure things out.
Madeliene | Dec 14, 2012, 04:10 PM EST
Rioting works for negro's here I guess I guess hyperbole will work for her.
Smyrnian | Dec 14, 2012, 12:39 PM EST
Eiremach - apologies. Meant no offense. My fault. Just as a note, I'am not anti-gay, just commenting on IC fascination with the subject matter. All the best.
eiriamach | Dec 14, 2012, 10:08 AM EST
Even though the words we use to talk about morality communicate attitudes of approval and disapproval that stir our emotions, in the final analysis morality is not about feelings. We don't write laws to protect our feelings. Scalia's question, "If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder?” is a self-serving dodge. Laws against murder are in the public interest, the first responsibility of government being to protect our lives. But laws allowing unequal treatment on the basis of sexual orientation, even if they reflect some people's feelings, advance NO public interest. They defeat morality by preventing government from protecting equal treatment and social stability. The Justice is way out in right field and needs to move back toward constitutional first base. Why, when a conservative confronts a social issue, does he suddenly stop thinking and start expressing his feelings instead? "Moral feelings" can't protect anyone from murder or unequal treatment, but upholding the 14th Amendment would help protect equal dignity, and that's a moral value.
eiriamach | Dec 14, 2012, 10:03 AM EST
Smyrnian, your 3:21 post is offensive. I did not say that candidly, but chose to react with humor instead. If you think my response was a "lecture," you ain't seen nothing yet! In the future, I'll call homophobia homophobia and misogyny misogyny when they appear in your words. With your high level of education, you should be able to make a relevant remark rather than just hurling insults and complaints.
alisaann | Dec 14, 2012, 04:25 AM EST
GOOD FOR HER....I FEEL ANY JUSTICE WHO SAYS SUCH THINGS, SHOULD REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM HEARING THE CASES....BECAUSE THE LGBT COMMUNITY WON'T GET A FAIR HEARING ON THIS....AND THAT'S WRONG. ALISA
Smyrnian | Dec 13, 2012, 07:42 PM EST
Eireamach - I am part of it which is why I am exercising my right to comment. You don't have to like it. As for your childishly condescending attitude, II am certain I have far more experience of this world than you do and it is very highly probable I have a better education as well. You may now get on your liberal bike and pedal off and lecture someone else!
eiriamach | Dec 13, 2012, 06:28 PM EST
It's history in the making, Smyrnian, and these articles invite you to be part of it, to adapt to our changing world. If you'd rather not deal with current events, the Flat Earth Society has a web site (complete with apology for not having updates), and the pope has Twitter followers. Why hang around here?
Smyrnian | Dec 13, 2012, 03:21 PM EST
What's with the slobbering love affair between IC and Christine Quinn??? (And for that matter with the Clinton's, anything with a gay theme and anything do with abortion, especially if they can squeeze the name 'Savita' in there somewhere? So tiresome!
Gaelicpiper | Dec 13, 2012, 03:01 PM EST
The comments by this woman are part of an orgainzed assult on the Justice. The action of this woman are right out of the play book of Sol Halinski- pick the target, isolate it and deatroy it. Why this Justice? The S. Court is to hear the issue of gay marriage. If the left keeps-up this sort of conduct- things will not end well for the gay and homosexual community.
WoundedKnee | Dec 13, 2012, 01:51 PM EST
Is it true that Irish America produces more than its proportion of homosexuals? I think so. Wonder why that is.
handsome68 | Dec 13, 2012, 10:46 AM EST
She will never get my vote. Far too many, but not all, homosexual people, are too liberal on almost all issues. Life is not black and white; there is a lot of grey/gray. A person who becomes a priest at age 28 might not feel like being one at age 38. As one who watches a lot of true crime TV programs, I notice that couples that are all lovey-dovey the day of marriage, might want to off the partner (later). Human nature is, to take something James Joyce wrote first about the weather in "Ulysses", "as unpredictable as a baby's bottom".
PhlutiePhan | Dec 13, 2012, 09:58 AM EST
There are standards of behavior. THere are limits to the sexual expression of heterosexuals. THe same has to be true for gays. In general, women express their sexuality in an altogether different manner than males. They are usually less promiscuous than the male variety. Heterosexual males can become very aggressive sexually. It is the gentling influence of a woman in marriage which brings that under control. As for murder, gay women very much espouse the "murder of abortion". That is the reason for the "aggressive" response of Ms. Quinn. "Methinks thou doth protest too much".
Chaytahn | Dec 13, 2012, 09:05 AM EST
Both sides state the siuation incorrectly. it does not matter if someone was born gay, they choose how to behave, people who shop lift could claim to be born that way...but it does not make their actions proper or acceptable. Let's be responsible for our acts and not assume that how we feel inside dictates what behavior we put forth in the world.