Homosexual Ambassador causing problems.

http://www.frc.org/get/n02a004.cfm ^ | January 7, 2002 | By Fred Jackson and Rusty Pugh

[GrandMoM]

News headline Retrieved

Gay Ambassador Troubles Embassy Staff

Story: Little attention was drawn to Michael Guest's homosexual relationship with his "partner" during his confirmation process as President Bush's ambassador to Romania. However, those working under Guest in Bucharest now find it difficult to avoid his flaunting of the relationship, according to an American embassy worker who recently spoke with FRC.

Although Guest had been active in a gay and lesbian group within the State Department, he was not publicly identified as being homosexual until his swearing-in on September 18, when Secretary of State Colin Powell acknowledged Guest's "partner," Alex Nevarez, during the ceremony.

Nevarez, a former teacher, relocated to Romania with Guest and now lives with him there in the residence provided to the ambassador by the U.S. government.

According to our source, several families in the embassy community have expressed concern about the ambassador's living arrangement, and at least one will no longer bring their children to embassy social events because they do not want them exposed to the example set by Guest and his "partner."

For example, Guest and Nevarez escorted one another as a couple at the embassy's annual Marine Corps Ball, a highly formal event. "It's causing me to have to compromise the values I raise my family by," the source said.

The appointment of Guest to serve in Romania showed a particular cultural insensitivity, given that the country is a stronghold of the conservative Eastern Orthodox Church.

Our source indicated that the Orthodox Church is represented at virtually all government ceremonies in Romania. One Romanian professor, in a letter to a Bucharest daily newspaper, said that "Romanians . . . cannot comprehend homosexual acts in any other way but as a deviation from the natural order and the world created by the Lord," and he noted that the Guest appointment "generates bewilderment, indignation, and disgust among the Romanians."

Romanian laws relating to homosexuality were recently liberalized, but only under coercion from the European Union, to which Romania hopes to gain entrance. Although Guest has denied he will promote a "gay agenda" as ambassador, his mere presence in Bucharest is already having that effect.

Another person serving at the embassy held a meeting in November to encourage leaders of Romania's fledgling "gay movement." And some embassy employees fear that Bucharest will gain a reputation as a "gay-friendly" post, so that more homosexuals will request assignment there. Ambassador Guest's treatment of same-sex "partners" (including his own) as the equivalent of married spouses is a mere half step away from government endorsement of "same-sex marriage." Not only does this violate the spirit of the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act (which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman), but it is also a distraction from the important work of our embassy in Romania.

[John W]

"...but neither do we put artificial restrictions on our diplomats to AVOID tweaking other countries."

Wish we could say the same about the female military pilot in Saudi Arabia who has to live in full islamic restriction.Of course,we couldn't do that to our poor diplomatic corps could we?

[Looking for Diogenes]

Anyone actively living a homosexual life does not represent me or the great majority of Americans;

What about Orthodox Jews? Do they represent the great majority of Americans? Aren't they just a tiny minority of the US?

[Dumb_Ox]

Homophobic... So the problem seems to be with the fundamentalists HERE in the US....theocrat social fundamentalists...we are at war...How about supporting the President

Are clichés your only form of communication?

[nomad]

"Officially, the government warmly welcomed Guest."

You`re still missing the point, you should be asking; Do the Romanian people? We sure as hell seem to care about, our loyal friends, the Middle Eastern people`s opinions.

[stylin19a]

You don't "trust" what family research council says or does, but you're willing to comment on it ? bwahahaha!!!!.....sheesh!
So, the ambassador is not responsible for the conduct of his staff ?
He is a diplomat, representing the U.S.A.. Where, in that representation does it include espousing a homosexual lifestyle ?

And, yes,that is what I infer from the article.

[nmh]

Thank George Bush Jr. for this. He IS promoting the neutralizing of homosexuals.

The homo heading the arts APPOINTED BY BUSH, has served to drag the arts deeper into the gutter. This one will do no better. Poor George doesn't get it. When you appoint EMOTIONALLY DUSTURBED people to postions of power: EXPECT PROBLEMS.

A red flag went up for us when Bush had a homo speak economics during primary. We couldn't believe that out of ALL the intelligent, NORMAL people in the U.S. Bush would bend over for a homo to speak for normal people. Poor George. He doesn't get it. Homo's are 1-2% of the population and surprise, surprise, surprise, they come in all intellect levels and wealth levels - even poverty! Stupid George bought into the liberal h.s..

Well, next time I won't be voting for him. I will vote for a genuine consevative - fiscally and socially. George is NO conservative. He panders to whoever will listen and possibly vote for him. I don't care even if Gore wins. Atleast you know where he stands - George tries to fool you.

[Don Myers]

The Bushites do seem to be pushing the homosexual agenda.

[Don Myers]

"I'm amazed that you guys don't see how totalitarian you sound."

Homosexuality is a deviant lifestyle, and many people are offended by it. If people do not like straights being offended by gays, that is too bad. They will just have to get used to not all straights being understanding about a sick lifestyle.

[Don Myers]

"but I do have a problem with sending a gay person to be ambassador to a country that is overwhelmingly anti-gay (unless, of course, we WANT to insult that country)."

The Ugly American is alive and well.

[nomad]

The way the gay lobby is trying to push their`s? Manditory pro-gay assemblies in public schools, pro-gay curriculum in class, pro-gay plays, publicly funded extra-curricular assemblies like Fist-Gate and now gay ambassadors to predominantly Christian nations, tell me, is his "partner" getting all the government perks that a spouse would get, travel, healthcare, diplomatic considerations? If so, then tell me they are not using this to further their agenda.

[Torie]

One of these days you will realize that few attitudes will be changed about sexuality on the internet. Everyone thinks they are an expert on such things. Most attitudes are hard wiring. The only thing that will affect such attitudes is life experience, and in particular interaction with those with other various preferences in real life. Only that will deflect stereotypes and prejudices, and create affective ties. Thus, I rarely debate such issues, except in a political sense. The political trends, and for that matter attitudinal trends, however are inescapable. Most but not all of it, is due to generational replacement. Be patient.

And yes, the brohaha over the ambassador is ludicrous. But that is just my sensibility.

[sinkspur]

The homo heading the arts APPOINTED BY BUSH, has served to drag the arts deeper into the gutter.

The head of the NEA was appointed by Bill Clinton, has a wife, and likes country music. He's as far from gay as you can get.

A red flag went up for us when Bush had a homo speak economics during primary. We couldn't believe that out of ALL the intelligent, NORMAL people in the U.S. Bush would bend over for a homo to speak for normal people.

To whom are you referring? I don't remember any openly gay person "speaking economics" (whatever the hell that is) during the primary.

The only reason I came on this thread is because you are also one of the most rabid, foam-at-the-mouth anti-Catholics on Free Republic as well.

There are lots of people you don't like. And the only times you ever show up are to bash those people you don't like.

And to lie about them.

[Slyfox]

I'm really surprised at the thin skin of some social conservatives.

What you call 'thin skin' I call honoring the parameters of a polite society.

[varon]

The appointment of Guest to serve in Romania showed a particular cultural insensitivity, given that the country is a stronghold of the conservative Eastern Orthodox Church.

So, in this instance to hell with the host country's sensitivities but the State Department will kiss Saudi a** and comply with their sensitivities by mandating our female warriors demean themselves by covering themselves with a burqa when off base.

Is this selective diplomacy or caving in to the homosexual agenda? Rather odd that we don't have government approved religion but do have government approved sexual deviancy.

[Kevin Curry]

Rather odd that we don't have government approved religion but do have government approved sexual deviancy.

Devastating.

[John W]

Thank you for saying it better than I did in post 82,this angle is still awaiting a response from the supporters of this appointment.

[Torie]

Since tolerance of gays is quite high in Greece to this day, I don't think the Orthodox angle will fly. In fact my impression is that Orthodox countries are not particularly religious overall, but quite secular. And there is really no evidence that has been adduced that Romanians are particularly incensed about homosexuality. It strikes me as rather idle chatter.

[JMJ333]

The only thing that will affect such attitudes is life experience, and in particular interaction with those with other various preferences in real life.

Whether or not I interact with homosexuals will not alter the fact that their behavior is deviant and shouldn't be normalized or be given legitimization, especially from our government. To send practicing homosexuals to a country who holds traditional Judeo-Christian values is smarmy. The Romanians [and those of us who believe in concrete moral truths] have a right to be upset about the ambassador.