Anti-gay remarks haunt Schwarenegger appointee

The State Senate this afternoon rejected an appointee of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the state parole board, after lawmakers criticized him for anti-gay remarks he made in 1993.

Douglas Drummond, a former Long Beach City Council member, had been censured by the council for voicing support of Fidel Castro's sequestering of gays in Cuba, applauding the fact that same-sex couples don't reproduce and saying about gay political activity: "How do we deal with it short of killing them?"

Drummond, appointed last year by Schwarzenegger to the Board of Parole Hearings, said he has made amends by making donations to gay organizations and marching in gay-pride parades. Testifying before lawmakers at his confirmation hearing this afternoon, Drummond, 72, repeatedly disavowed the anti-gay remarks he made during a private appearance at an event sponsored by a conservative group. "I was wrong," he said. "It was awful. I apologize, I really do."

 

State Sen. Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach), who once served with Drummond on the City Council, offered no forgiveness. She suggested that his reconciliation efforts were insincere and coincided with his unsuccessful campaigns for Long Beach mayor.

 

Read the rest of the story here.

 

-- Patrick McGreevy

Comments

[Rob R Barron]

Are you kidding me? A guy says something in 1993 and he is punished in 2009? When did libs become so tolerant and forgiving?

[Uncle_vito]

I think his opinions of gays are very prescient.

Vito

[Anderson]

"I'm sorry I advocated murdering every gay and lesbian Californian 16 years ago. Now please give me a cushy job and a salary of $111k, paid for by Californians, including said gays and lesbians."

Choices have consequences, Mr. Drummond, even when you're picking on California's second-class citizens.

[AJM]

Dear Uncle Vito,

Please be mindful of the fact that compelling, peer-reviewed, published, scientific evidence strongly indicates that heterosexually-identified males who are prejudiced against gay men are actually sexually attracted to men and just can't deal with it. The more you make comments like the one you posted here, the more likely people are to assume that you're a miserable, self-loathing closet case. Thanks.

[Jodie Lopez]

I applaud tate Senator Jenny Oropeza for standing up for whats RIGHT.

You DON'T actively go on a hate speech tirade about a group of people than expect to be running anything ANYTIME. I don't care when these things were said. I wouldn't want anyone who ever had such hate within their "heart" to lead any city in this beautifully diverse state we live in. That's not what America is about, and certainly not reflective of California.

When you become an adult, you grasp the concept that every opinion, speech and belief comes with a responsibility.

I'm not gay, but gay individuals, who by all accounts contribute positively in our society, pay taxes, are kind individuals who just happen to lead a different lifestyle than us, seem to be having to deal with a lot of unwarranted belittling and attacks as of late. I don't know if it's because the human race is all of a sudden bored and each era needs a new down trodden minority group to pick on to uplift the majority but live and let live and learn to embrace others for who they are...not prmote killing them (again, I don't give a damn when it was said. IT WAS SAID- and it was enough to get you off any ballot)

[Chris]

Dear Vito -- Elect more GOP reps and you can do whatever you want. Oh right, the GOP loses every election in CA. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

[BobC562]

If his subsequent actions show remorse, regret and reconciliation for his past remarks, then why wouldn't we want him to be appointed? As a gay, married, man, I would want others to see that we accept people who may have been wrong years ago but have taken positive, tangible steps to repent, for lack of any better word. If we refuse to accept somebody who has realized the error of his ways, then why would anyone even bother giving any reflection on their own homophobic views? My dad made horrible, homophobic remarks before I came out. He's now one of our strongest supporters. My relationship with him is based on the now, not the past. Same here.