The West Wing Weekly 2.07: The Portland Trip (with Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, Congressman Brendan Boyle, and Fmr. Congressman Steve
Nov 2, 2016
Former Wisconsin congressman Steve Gunderson talks about being the first openly gay Republican in Congress. Pennsylvania Congressman Brendan Boyle and Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, the first openly gay service head in the U.S. Military, join later. The podcast analyzes episode seven of The West Wing, explores the Defense of Marriage Act, discusses product placements, and touches on government responsibility and affordable education. The hosts also talk about the challenges of compromise in political work and the lack of political change compared to progress on social issues.
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Complexity Of Political Identity
- Gay Republicans can hold principled, non-single-issue political identities grounded in policy alignment beyond sexuality.
- Congressman Steve Gunderson framed himself as a 'Lincoln Republican' who disagreed with his party on some social issues but agreed on economics and national security.
First Openly Gay Republican's Experience
- Stephen Gunderson described being outed in 1994 and serving through the 1996 DOMA vote while opposing that legislation.
- He used his congressional tenure to explain voting with his convictions rather than blind party loyalty.
Legislation Can Lead Public Opinion
- Public opinion can lag behind legal and moral progress, but legislation can lead social change.
- Hosts noted that 60% once opposed same-sex marriage but public support later flipped to a majority in favor.