CAPITAL SOURCES

The Choice: His Country or His Partner?

A former State Department officer on the policies that led him to quit.

By Jessica Ramirez | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Dec 10, 2007 | Updated: 4:12  p.m. ET Dec 10, 2007

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  • Posted By: Nicole Beth @ 05/07/2008 9:23:56 AM

    I don't think that you should make anybody choose....If that is how they are let them be that way...I'm bisexual and people love me because I'm that way....You know I think that you guys should go to hell....I don't see the big problem about Gays, Lesbiens, and Bisexuals! And another thing is you guys hate the Gays more than the Bisexuals and the Lesbiens....Why I ask....Well guys don't like to see gay guys having sex but they sure don't mind if they see Lesbiens or Bisexuals having sex......So what I think he should do is choose parrtner not this Damn Country...Because what this Country is all about is FREE WILL!!!! FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF WHATEVER!! And what this Country is doing is telling people how live their lives...I think it's BULL ***!

  • Posted By: csim @ 12/11/2007 9:10:47 AM

    "I'm L" - and your reaction is "open" minded?? lol....

    Good points "ladystar". Just as "censorship" is the "good" word when a liberal gets their porno book banned, but it isn't a word that is used when a liberal tries to ban a Christian book. Am I "phobic"? I'm sure that group would say I am. I am not. I choose not to be associated with that group. That is my choice. Yet, I am sure they would ridicule my choice. Yet, if I ridicule their chocie, I am phobic?? Seems an odd twist on reality. Again, this is "news"? I think not. The economy is news, education is news, catastrophes are news. Personal decisions are not. I don't think you will see a story on where I go for lunch today.

    • Posted By: arias1 @ 12/21/2007 8:39:40 PM

      Csim: There's a big difference between choosing not to be associated with a group and 'phobic'. You should look up the word so you can understand the difference. No one would ridicule your choice not to be part of that group. I'm straight and don't have any gay friends by choice, but I'm hardly 'phobic'. I don't think of myself superior in any way to someone that happens to be gay, nor do I ridicule and demean that person either since I recognize it was not their 'choice' to be part of that group. It's difficult for me to understand how anyone can claim that homosexuality is a 'choice' unless that person themself is a severely suppressed homosexual themselves.

    • Posted By: angelus1967 @ 12/11/2007 4:29:58 PM

      I think that I'm L has a good point. And people like you and ladystar prove it.......

  • Posted By: nightwing2000 @ 12/11/2007 10:23:45 AM

    csim, really, you need a SERIOUS reality check if you think lies and deceit like THAT are "moral". FACT: There is NO law in existance that prevents you from expressing your personal, religious, and/or political views. There ARE laws regarding threats, much in the same way the display of nooses may be considered a hate crime, so too would other such threats against individuals. And NO, you may not have two consenting adults arrested for acts which you disapprove of any more than anyone can legal place limitations on a religious organization forcing CHILDREN to believe in bigotry and hate. Funny that. We set age limit ratings for movies, video games, TV, etc because we don't like the fictional content, but TEACHING them bigotry and hate is completely acceptable. Guess what? I agree. Doesn't mean that I ACCEPT or consider such teachings "moral", but I wouldn't dictate, through the creation of laws, what is or is not appropriate for other individuals or their children, whether it's a form of education or fictional settings (movies, TV, games, books, etc). And what is a "bad decision" in your eyes may not be a "bad decision" in other people's eyes. Any more than what you do is a "good decision" in your eyes must therefore HAVE TO BE a "good decision" in other people's eyes. As to the "statistics" of abuse, we ALL know that abuse is underreported in ALL sectors. Sometimes out of fear of the abuser, sometimes out of fear due to having been stereotyped by bigots, sometimes even because the victim has been taught throughout their lives to BE a victim. Aruging "I know so-n-so" is a worthless argument. Individuals have made arguments that this group or that group are more prone to "criminal" behavior every time they want a group treated as inferior. Ya know what? There are NO "superior" groups of Humans. None whatsoever. Not because of religion, not because of race, not because of gender, etc. There are none. Plain and simple. Andrew

    • Posted By: arias1 @ 12/21/2007 8:17:04 PM

      I couldn't agree more nightwing2000. It's sad that we have such a provincial minded society such that it is perfectly acceptable to indoctrinate children with religious beliefs and necessity of 'faith' instead of encouraging them to think and choose for themselves. Especially when combined with the fanaticism of fundamentalisms that teaches them bigotry, chauvinism, and hate.

    • Posted By: angelus1967 @ 12/11/2007 4:32:42 PM

      I like the way you think and write nightwing2000. You make some excellent points, it's too bad that these bigots do not look at other points of view. They are too busy riding their "moral" high horses and looking down on people who do not believe the way they do.
      I am sure their god would be proud of them.

      • Posted By: amazingworld @ 12/12/2007 1:08:05 PM

        i agree with angelus...nightwing you need to be cloned :) I am a *** who is a mother of 2 and has been with her partner now for almost 8 years. Our children (who I had from male relationships) have showned young adults and older ones that their household is really no different from those of a hetero sex family. I would like to believe that in order for such nonsense of hate/discrimination to end adults need to redirect how they themselves act in this world and I mean world not just the USA.
        I can not understand why this dchappy wrote about sex/animals or what ever nonsense but it made me think if he feels the way he does about those things how does he feel about how in some states little girls are being force to marry older men and loose their youth in such a young age...is that or should that be legal because it is a man and a women and it is what "their" God says for them to do?
        The "rights" and "wrongs" in this world may never come equal but my gosh some people need to stop and think, research and learn to "live" and experience what this world does have to offer to us. If not those are the ones that will when their time comes to an end will have missed out on so much and die alone.
        thank you again nightwing..I look forward to reading your book :) I would be the first to buy one. take care. Therese

      • Posted By: skippy2 @ 12/11/2007 7:03:47 PM

        Comment: nightwing2000, It is really refreshing and encouraging to read your logic of thinking. After reading prior posting, this world would definitely be better off with your type ,as our policy makers, judges, lawyers, doctors, and religious leader.

      • Posted By: shortjames @ 12/11/2007 6:52:43 PM

        Right on target nightwing. Teaching hate to kids is about as sick as it gets.

  • Posted By: shortjames @ 12/11/2007 6:50:00 PM

    Pets mean more than people to the Bushies. This is news? These are the same people who would rather fund an unecessary war than help poor sick kids.

    WORST PRESIDENT EVER!

    • Posted By: Evolutionist @ 12/12/2007 6:20:00 AM

      The tructh is people need to die, there are too many humans on this earth. If we are going to survive, we need to decrease the human population before we destroy the earth. We can not help everyone in the world...The 3rd world countries will remain 3rd world countries until the end of time,...theres no use. Help America and forget the rest. Other countries hate us and barely help us when we need help. I say Americans stand up for their rights and the rights of children living in this country.

      • Posted By: arias1 @ 12/21/2007 7:51:51 PM

        You sound like a Nazi eugenicist. Perhaps you should do the rest of the human race a huge favor and extinguish yourself. That would be setting a great example that you actually practice what you preach dickwad.

  • Posted By: suzieh212006 @ 12/20/2007 4:13:01 PM

    Good for him to be open and honest with everyone, even though our government cannot appreciate it I can. I am not gay, but they should have the same rights as everyone else. Who cares if they live together or get married? It really doesn't affect my life one bit, but they are people and deserve the same rights as everyone else. They were born like that, they can't change any more than you can change the color of your skin, so how would minorities like it if the government all the sudden said they were not allowed to do things that the majority could, like get married? I will never understand what the big deal is with that, if they want to get married who cares??? It's not going to make me gay for not caring, it's not going to make marriage as an institution gay, and it's not going to make their kids gay. People really just need to get over it, worry about things that actually matter, like the next leader of America, or the war, not who is allowed to have a piece of paper saying that they vow to be together. It's just an ignorant waste of time.

  • Posted By: baptox @ 12/16/2007 3:26:54 AM

    One thing that our government has failed to recognize is that openly gay and *** foreign service workers are much less of a security risk than closeted ones. But then again our current administration seems less concerned with actual security than it does with the appearance of security.

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 12/16/2007 12:06:13 AM

    Let him resign. I think he is weird. The US should not engage any weirdo to work in foreign countries. They will give bad impression to the US, the world may think that the US is a country of weirdos or maybe they are thinking that Bush and his administration are all weirdos!

  • Posted By: Kaelinda @ 12/12/2007 6:03:06 PM

    So in order to be fair minded, people have to accept homosexuality? How long will it be before "fair-minded" people have to accept pedophilia? Sexual orientation may not be a choice, but sexual behavior is.

    • Posted By: air1975 @ 12/14/2007 12:25:27 AM

      Your argument is flawed, Kaelinda. You cannot compare homosexuality to pedophilia - because there is no consent in pedophilia (a child can never consent to be in a relationship with an adult), and a gay relationship is one in which 2 adults consent to be together. Pedophilia is rape. 2 adults in a gay relationship is not rape.

    • Posted By: nightwing2000 @ 12/13/2007 12:37:36 PM

      As others have wisely pointed out, your comparison skills are rather horrible. "Sexual Orientation" is a directing of gender, whether hetero, homo, bi, or even Asexual. Pedophillia is a sexual interest in those of a young age. I'm not sure if there is a reverse where someone is drawn to people of extreme older age (which isn't illegal so it doesn't get the attention). Since the article deals in the issue of adults, then the use of sexual age interests is irrelevant. Were this an article about Age of Consent as it applies to marriage, then pedophillia might apply under arguments. But it's not, so it is irrelevant in this context. And many have gone over the issue of "acceptance" or "tolerance", so no need to repeat it, just look it up. There aren't thousands of posts to go through so it shouldn't take long. Andrew

    • Posted By: 207Maine @ 12/13/2007 11:25:21 AM

      In order to be fair-minded, you don't have to accept one being gay. You DO have a duty not to discriminate against those who are gay. I was born as a gay man - as was Mr. Guest. It was not a decision or choice. Assuming you're straight female, I don't believe the day came when you thought "Hey, I'm really turned on by men, and I'm really turned on by women, but I'll choose men."
      You were born straight, just as assuredly as I was born gay. GOD made me this way. I didn't ask for it. And after 26 years of "marriage" with my partner, I can tell you it doesn't make one bit of difference w/the people in my life. And it shouldn't make one bit of difference w/the people in your life. Unless of course you're homophobic. Then I feel sorry for you, as I do for racists and chauvinists. Your life is not as enriched as it could be. I certainly hope that's not the case for you.

      • Posted By: angelus1967 @ 12/13/2007 12:05:20 PM

        207Maine - You are correct. I do not reecall ever thinking "hey, I think I'll be attracted to women", I was just born that way. As for you and your partner that's wonderful! You have been "married" a lot longer than i have and actually longer than most heterosexuals I know. Mazel tov to both of you, I hope you see another 26 (or more) years together!

  • Posted By: wacajack @ 12/12/2007 11:46:31 PM

    How anyone can equate homosexuality with pedophilia is curious! Homosexuals like adults of the same sex. Pedophiles like little children. The difference is clear, I would think. The individual most likely to abuse children sexually is a white heterosexual male, usually married, often with children of his own.

    • Posted By: angelus1967 @ 12/13/2007 12:07:40 PM

      Thank you wacajack. Finally a voice of reason...I think you are one of less than a half dozen I have seen on this board.

    • Posted By: Evolutionist @ 12/13/2007 6:54:15 AM

      rofl whatever you Jew bastard

      • Posted By: 207Maine @ 12/13/2007 11:09:26 AM

        Well, we can say this for you. You're fair and balanced. You hate everyone equally! I'm curious what other nom-de-plumes you have for each category of people you hate? What a guy! Peace and love during this most joyous of seasons. Remember the reason for the season. Oh wait - never mind. WWJD doesn't mean what would jenna drink. And I can tell you with authority that Jesus wouldn't hate - and if he did, you'd be at the top of His list. Merry Christmas.

        • Posted By: angelus1967 @ 12/13/2007 12:06:48 PM

          I find it more than a little scary tat people like Evolutionist still exist in this day and age. Maybe someday we will have a society free of hatred of any kind but it will take time for us to be rid of people like him.

  • Posted By: Evolutionist @ 12/12/2007 6:15:34 AM

    Gay men will never be respected, and should be executed. Cute lesbians that are bi are awesome. This is the way 99.99 percent of males think.

    • Posted By: angelus1967 @ 12/13/2007 12:02:40 PM

      Wow, what a statistic! I don't buy it of course but it is interesting that you would say that. I don't believe that 99.99% of us think that way; in fact I would say the percentage with that type of twisted thinking is relatively small!!

  • Posted By: macmanx @ 12/12/2007 5:56:54 PM

    TO: DCHAPPY,,,,,Why don't you just go back under the rock you came out from. You must have a very miserable life and if not, I hope you do someday.

  • Posted By: dchappy@hotmail.com @ 12/11/2007 2:56:59 PM

    IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE TO SEE HOW WE HUMAN BEING HAVE CHANGED FROM THE STONE AGE TO THIS SO CALLED CIVILIZED AGE. IN STONE AGE PEOPLE NEVER SONS HAD SEX WITH MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS WITH THEIR FATHERS, SAME WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS. EVEN IN DAYS OF ADAME AND EVE PRACTICES WERE REGULATED UNDER SOME SPECIFIC CONDITIONS BUT NEVE SONS WITH MOTHER FATHER WITH DAUGHTERS AND BROTHERS WITH BROTHER AND SISTERS WITH SISTERS.


    BUT WE THESE DAYS ARE IN ACTUAL FACT FOLLOWING WORSE NORMS THAN EVEN ANIMAL. THE DOG AND ANIMALS HAVE SEX WIOTH MOTHERS AND FATHERS AND SISTERS BUT EVEN IN ANIMAL WORLD HAVING SEX WITH SAME SEX IS NOT FOUND. THEREFORE, I SUGGEST THOSE WHO ARE GAYS AND LEISBIANS SHOULD BE DECLARED UN ACCEPTABLE IN HUMANE SOCIETY AND SHOULD BE OUSTED FROM ALL HUMAN COUNTS. THEY SHOULD BE DECLARED ANYTHING ELSE BUT
    HUMANBEING. THEY SHOULD BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY AND GO TO FOREST AREAS AND LIVE WITH ANIMALS AS NEW SPIECE. THEY SURELY CANNOT BE HUMAN BEING.


    THE INCEST PRACTICING CLAN AND THESE GAYS AND LEIBIANS ARE WORSE THAN THE DANGEROUS SNAKES IN HUMAN SOCIETY. MY FRIENDS THOSE WHO ALL OF YOU CLAIM TO BE HUMAN BEING PLEASE ENDORSE YOUR COMMENTS AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK OF THE NEW ANIMAL SPIECE. THANKS D C HAPPY

    • Posted By: macmanx @ 12/12/2007 5:51:28 PM

      Why don't you just go back under the rock you came out from. You must have a very miserable life and if not, I hope you do someday.

    • Posted By: vlevo @ 12/11/2007 11:29:49 PM

      An excellent, lucid, well reasoned post.

      Thanky you!

    • Posted By: nightwing2000 @ 12/11/2007 7:38:56 PM

      (Having trouble posing a very long post. Part one): I'm going to consider the possibility that you are merely mocking, in a very unconvincing way, those against homosexuality. However, let's consider for the moment that you aren't. A sad view of some Humans and I only attribute such an attitude to you and no one else here or elsewhere. Is there a "birth place" of homosexuality in Humans? We don't know that answer beyond a shadow of a doubt any more than we know beyond a shadow of a doubt how the universe itself began. We can believe, speculate, and theorize, but the True answer is in the past and time travel isn't possible. So skip that. We know that homosexuality was an acceptable practice in various cultures throughout history. Too long to go into that, but a good source would be the Roman Empire as one of many, many examples.

      • Posted By: nightwing2000 @ 12/11/2007 9:36:26 PM

        (Part Two and conclusion): The use of Incest as a comparison isn't logical. There is a difference between bloodlines having sexual relations and two consenting, non-related adults. However, if you REALLY want to go there, the fictional TV show Law and Order SVU touched on the subject of ADULT consensual sexual relationships. It implied that there is no law that prevents ADULTS from having such relationships. It would be interesting to find out if that were true or not in the real world simply from the perspective of the legal system and its inconsistencies. The idea that someone may be deemed not Human because YOU don't like what THEY do of their own free will is as illogical as trying to dehumanize someone because you don't like their skin color or their religious beliefs. You are NOT required to mingle with them. You are NOT required to love someone of the same gender or anyone who you deem "different" and "inhuman". You are NOT required to marry someone of the same gender or someone who you deem "inhuman". Nor would you have to if same-sex marriage was considered legal any more than you would HAVE to marry someone of a different race even though it's legal for mixed race marriages to occur. You DON'T HAVE to LIKE it. You DON'T HAVE to PARTICIPATE in it. Such things DON'T affect you in ANY WAY. And do we REALLY want to go down that path of locking away or exiling people we don't like? History has been there, done that, burned it at the stake. Really, I hope YOU weren't serious, though it wasn't a funny joke. Not really. Andrew

    • Posted By: angelus1967 @ 12/11/2007 4:40:19 PM

      What the HELL are you talking about?? This is one of the most IGNORANT posts I have ever seen!!!

      • Posted By: shortjames @ 12/11/2007 6:51:22 PM

        I think dchappy needs to put down the crack pipe and take his psychiatric meds.

  • Posted By: jaylynn @ 12/11/2007 12:00:12 AM

    I retired Sept 1, 2007, from the Labor Department. My career was destroyed when I asked to take leave to care for my partner with breast cancer. If I had been straight, I would have been able to take leave under the Family Medical and Leave Act. Because I demanded that I be able to take my life partner to surgery and her first chemotherapy, I was reassigned 400 miles away. I accepted a demotion in order not to be moved. The other employees told gay sexually explicit jokes, harrassed me, and ridiculed me. I lasted as long as I could in order to pay my partner's medical bills and health care premiums of $15,000 per year. Spouses of Federal employees get health insurance through the Federal government, which I was denied. Now that I retired, we cannot pay for my life partner's health care.

    • Posted By: Troll @ 12/12/2007 5:09:25 PM

      Jaylynn - Thank you for sharing your story with us. Most people will never understand the sacrifice you have made for the person you have committed your devotion to. The reason for this is they continue to believe that homosexuality is a choice. I never made a conscious decision to be a ***, just as any person who is truly heterosexual never made a conscious decision to be heterosexual. Also, the view that homosexuality is a lifestyle is highly inaccurate. Homosexuality is a LIFE. A lifestyle would be a yuppie, a cowboy, a raver, a transient, or some other way that an aspect of life can successfully be changed if desired. Homosexual behavior can be curbed, but homosexuality cannot successfully be changed. In conclusion, the decision to leave your financially lucrative career (as Mr.Guest's decision to leave his government employment) was the right decision. Any person who would choose their career over their relationship with the person they are devoted to is clueless to what is ultimately important in life.

  • Posted By: reporter21 @ 12/12/2007 4:52:50 PM

    Hey, Is that Picture Worth A Thousand Words;
    www.poconocommunitynews.com

  • Posted By: 207Maine @ 12/12/2007 12:11:48 PM

    I hope Mr. Guest is recognized as both a patriot AND a hero. That he would voluntarily end his career in order to bring attention to the policies that discriminate against an entire class of people is commendable. His effort to bring change to the State Department's policies that allow for travel for pets, but not for members of his own family is to be applauded.

    Secretary Rice seems to be a fair-minded, moderate individual; however, she serves an administration whose judgment with regard to social issues, especially gays and lesbians, are anathema to fair-minded Americans.
    Thank you for taking such a public, courageous stand. I am sure it will not be in vain. What I do not understand is why Mr. Guest does not stay until a likely Democratic President is inaugurated.

    Finally, posts such as those proffered by social outcasts like Evolutionist, dchappy, and their ilk, speak to the ignorance and bankruptcy of public education. Add extreme religious intolerance and you have the last word in the argument over a complete separation of Church and State.

  • Posted By: 207Maine @ 12/12/2007 12:08:06 PM

    I hope Mr. Guest is recognized as both a patriot AND a hero. That he would voluntarily end his career in order to bring attention to the policies that discriminate against an entire class of people is commendable. His effort to bring change to the State Department's policies that allow for travel for pets, but not for members of his own family is to be applauded. Secretary Rice seems to be a fair-minded, moderate individual; however, she serves an administration whose judgment with regard to social issues, especially gays and lesbians, is anathema to fair-minded Americans.
    I am grateful that he would take such a public, courageous stand. I am sure it will not be in vain. What I do not understand is why Mr. Guest does not stay until a likely Democratic President is inaugurated.
    Finally, posts such as those proffered by social outcasts like Evolutionist, dchappy, and his/her ilk, speak loudest to ignorance, and bankruptcy of public education. Add extreme religious intolerance and you have the last word in the argument over a complete separation of Church and State.

  • Posted By: astro56 @ 12/10/2007 7:45:10 PM

    The blaring fallacy in the statement that same sex partners and heterosexual unmarried partners are treated equivalently IS heterosexual partners who are unmarried CHOOSE to be unmarried and same sex partners are unmarried because the government PREVENTS them from being married.

    • Posted By: vlevo @ 12/11/2007 8:01:08 AM

      Comment to astro56 - At least the Bush government got one thing right. Rice has problems bigger than worrying if gays should get the same rights as married folks. Of course they shouldn't, they aren't married and they never will be. The majority of Americans are against same sex marriages.

      • Posted By: Fretzel @ 12/11/2007 6:23:41 PM

        They were created male and female and one was made to be sexuly attracted to the oposite sex to populate His world. In the Catholic Church the main reason to marry is just that although virginity is praised because it is considered sacrifice.some of us consider that we have given ourselves to Jesus Christ as His bride. He is a very good spouse. A very happy bride

        • Posted By: Akeela @ 12/12/2007 12:03:08 PM

          Enter Your Comment
          If a majority of the people were against breathing air, should we all hold our collective breath?

        • Posted By: shortjames @ 12/11/2007 7:03:06 PM

          Of course God ALSO made people who are attracted to people of the same sex. And I dont think he makes mistakes.

  • Posted By: prlanning @ 12/11/2007 4:08:48 PM

    There is a INCEST PRACTICING CLAN ???

    • Posted By: vlevo @ 12/11/2007 11:32:33 PM

      To- prlanning - Have you ever considered taking up singing? Mel Tillis did and it cured his stuttering.

  • Posted By: csim @ 12/11/2007 9:17:21 AM

    Except the law isn't neutral. If I make a public comment, I can be arrested and charged under some of the "anti-homophobe" laws. Really? Can I have homosexuals arrested because they do things that disagree with what I beleive and do? No. I can't. It is not entirely illegal to make bad decisions in America. It is only illegal if you make a point of recognizing bad decisions and pointing them out. Hmmmmmm....... whatever happened to counseling???

    As for the "abuse" comment nightwing. I have known more people who were sexually abused by homosexuals than any other group (ie parents, relatives, etc.). Perhaps that is just my circle of freinds. It may be. But it also indicates that homosexuals aren't innocent victims. They are criminals in some cases as well.

    • Posted By: shortjames @ 12/11/2007 6:55:05 PM

      The vast majority of abused children are victims of their OWN heterosexual parents. That includes physical and emotional abuse. Ironically America thinks it is perfectly OK for rapists, murders and child molesters to get married but not gays and lesbians. If you are REALLY concerned about kids where is your amendment to ban marriage for rapists and child molesters? Yeah I didnt think so.

      • Posted By: nightwing2000 @ 12/11/2007 7:18:21 PM

        Wow! There was an angle I never thought about. Moreover, many of those criminals are getting married IN JAIL. Outstanding point! Andrew

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