Watch CNN Commentator Respond to Catholic League President's Anti-Gay Diatribe

By Kat Callahan  |  March 3, 2014 | 1:00am
In Depth

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, was on CNN’s New Day with Chris Cuomo in order to explain why Arizona’s recent anti-gay legislation was necessary (even after Governor Jan Brewer vetoed it). He didn’t do a very good job.

Donohue argues that the legislation is necessary because he sees the LGBT community having rights as “encroaching” on religious freedoms. He cites the Obama Administration, and specifically the President’s Attorney General, Eric Holder, as the primary villain in his narrative.

And yet, he makes sure to remind us that he’s totally for protecting LGBT individuals… Sort of:

Look, gays as individuals, I’m with you on that, Chris. Let’s protect them in the workplace, let’s protect them as individuals. What my concern is, and I think I speak for many people of faith, is the institution of marriage. That’s a separate issue altogether.

Despite Donohue’s clearly erudite logic, surprisingly Cuomo wasn’t buying it! He reminded Donohue that the LGBT community is not a protected class. To which Donahue asked:

Where are these examples of gay people being discriminated against? If they’re so discriminated against, why do they make more money than straight people on average?

It’s hard to imagine the level of restraint Cuomo must have had in order not to roll his eyes at his “guest.” Instead he told Donohue to reverse it and to explain to him examples where LGBT community members gaining more rights in American society had led to examples of religious persecution.

Surprise, surprise, Donohue never gave Cuomo any concrete examples, except some vague reference to a New Mexican wedding photographer for whom he had “no sympathy.” Whatever that means.

Watch the full video here.

 
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