Petrelis Files

Brave Straight GOP WY Rep Interviewed on Gay Radio

(Pam Spaulding; Blogger, Lesbian, Heroine.)

Needless to say, I am quite impressed, not to mention thankful, to Pam Spaulding for acquiring and posting a free audio tape of an interview with that brave straight GOP WY rep Dan Zwonitzer, conducted on HRC's radio show by Joe Solmonese and Mary Breslaur.

Two snaps up to Pam for blogging on this, another two and a half snaps up to Zwonitzer for being big and generous enough, unlike Andy Tobias and HRC, to salute the blogs that obtained and shared his amazing speech last week.

And one snap up to HRC for FINALLY waking up to the importance of Zwonitzer's courage and talking with him. Now, if only HRC would post something on its web site about him, his bravery last week, the role of bloggers in saluting him, I'd give the group a full two snaps!

From Pam's House Blend:

Zwonitzer, you'll recall, is the straight Republican lawmaker who stood up to bigotry and voted to defeat a bill that would have allowed Wyoming to ban recognition of legal same-sex unions. He also gave an amazing speech in favor of equality.

He mentioned how grateful Zwonitzer was for the support he's received about his speech (he acknowledged the role of blogs in spreading the word), and he firmly believes that the struggle for gay equality is the civil rights struggle of his generation. Zwonitzer is also sure that in 30 years people are going to wonder why people were fixated on the issue at all -- change is coming, even in states like Wyoming.

This is a great interview -- his sincerity and believe in equality is genuine. Allies like Dan Zwonitzer are why the right wing religious zealots are worried. He represents the positive cultural shift by twenty-somethings of both parties who are coming into power, and can't understand the bigotry -- and that attitude must be fostered and supported with wide public praise. The right will do all it can to shut these people out of power.

The Dan Zwonitzers are out there putting themselves on the line in Red State America for us, and we need to have their backs.

Again, big thanks to Dan and Pam; true heroes in the fight for gay equality.