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Arnie's 'Girlie-Men' comment is branded homophobic
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger branded Democrats, who were delaying the state budget by catering to special interest groups, as 'girlie-men' - a comment which has been branded homophobic and sexist by both Democrats and liberal Americans.
Schwarzenegger was speaking at a food court in a shopping mall in Ontario when he said to the enthusiastic crowd: "If they don't have the guts to come up here in front of you and say, 'I don't want to represent you, I want to represent those special interests, the unions, the lawyers'...if they don't have the guts, I call them girlie men."
State Senator Sheila Kuehl said the governor had resorted to "blatant homophobia" and that his comments were not only insulting to gays, but to women as well.
"It uses an image that is associated with gay men in an insulting way, and it was supposed to be an insult," she went on to say. "It's very troubling that he would use a homophobic way of trying to put down legislative leadership. Kuehl is one of the Legislature's five-member LGBT caucus.
A spokesman for Schwarzenegger said that no apology would be forthcoming.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/6565
State Senator Sheila Kuehl said the governor had resorted to "blatant homophobia" and that his comments were not only insulting to gays, but to women as well.
"It uses an image that is associated with gay men in an insulting way, and it was supposed to be an insult," she went on to say. "It's very troubling that he would use a homophobic way of trying to put down legislative leadership. Kuehl is one of the Legislature's five-member LGBT caucus.
A spokesman for Schwarzenegger said that no apology would be forthcoming.
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/6565
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(Los Angeles, California) California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is making no apologies for a speech gay civil rights activists and Democrats are calling homophobic and sexist.
During the speech, at Ontario Mills Mall in San Bernardino County, Schwarzenegger called Democrats who have tied up his $103 billion budget "girlie-men" and called upon voters to "terminate" them at the polls in November if they don't pass the budget.
During the 16-minute speech, Schwarzenegger used the term "girlie-man" to describe his political foes twice.
"It's really painful to hear the governor resort to such blatant homophobia," Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) told the Los Angeles Times.
Kuehl is the first lesbian elected to the California legislature and one of five members of the Legislature's five-member Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus.
"It's an old-fashioned way of talking about gay men as to indicate they're not as strong. So that part is really painful. And I have to say it's really surprising. It's like he can't get his way so he resorts to some kind of name-calling," she said.
"It uses an image that is associated with gay men in an insulting way, and it was supposed to be an insult. That's very troubling that he would use such a homophobic way of trying to put down legislative leadership," said Kuehl.
"Those are the kinds of statements that ought not to come out of the mouth" of the governor, said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles).
Rob Stutzman, the governor's communications director, dismissed the criticism.
"It's a forceful way of making the point to regular Californians that legislators are wimps when they let special interests push them around," Stutzman said. "If they complain too much about this, I guess they're making the governor's point."
The "girlie-man" remark was an apparent reference to an old Saturday Night Live skit which parodied Schwarzenegger. Comedians Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon played "pumped up" bodybuilders Hans and Franz with thick Austrian accents. In the skit anyone without a muscled torso was dismissed as a "girlie-man."
http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/07/071904aroldSlur.htm
During the speech, at Ontario Mills Mall in San Bernardino County, Schwarzenegger called Democrats who have tied up his $103 billion budget "girlie-men" and called upon voters to "terminate" them at the polls in November if they don't pass the budget.
During the 16-minute speech, Schwarzenegger used the term "girlie-man" to describe his political foes twice.
"It's really painful to hear the governor resort to such blatant homophobia," Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) told the Los Angeles Times.
Kuehl is the first lesbian elected to the California legislature and one of five members of the Legislature's five-member Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus.
"It's an old-fashioned way of talking about gay men as to indicate they're not as strong. So that part is really painful. And I have to say it's really surprising. It's like he can't get his way so he resorts to some kind of name-calling," she said.
"It uses an image that is associated with gay men in an insulting way, and it was supposed to be an insult. That's very troubling that he would use such a homophobic way of trying to put down legislative leadership," said Kuehl.
"Those are the kinds of statements that ought not to come out of the mouth" of the governor, said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles).
Rob Stutzman, the governor's communications director, dismissed the criticism.
"It's a forceful way of making the point to regular Californians that legislators are wimps when they let special interests push them around," Stutzman said. "If they complain too much about this, I guess they're making the governor's point."
The "girlie-man" remark was an apparent reference to an old Saturday Night Live skit which parodied Schwarzenegger. Comedians Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon played "pumped up" bodybuilders Hans and Franz with thick Austrian accents. In the skit anyone without a muscled torso was dismissed as a "girlie-man."
http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/07/071904aroldSlur.htm
Please. The only people bothered by this are the professionally agrieved.
Nazi Schwarzenegger deserves a general strike. See:
http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/07/1689352.php
http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/07/1689352.php
For more information:
http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/07/168935...
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