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Blackwell Calls Homosexuality a 'Compulsion'

Would-be RNC chair says gays can just say no to rogue urges

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 13, 2009 10:29 AM CST

(Newser) – Another candidate for the position of Republican National Committee chair may have put his foot in his mouth: Ken Blackwell, the former Ohio secretary of state, told gay radio host Michelangelo Signoreli that gays and lesbians suffer from a “compulsion” that they “can choose to restrain.” Blackwell reiterated several times in an interview that homosexuality can be "contained, repressed, or changed."

It's a matter of choice, he said. “I think you can choose not to be homosexual. You don’t have to give in to the compulsion to be homosexual.” Not that this belief is based on personal experience—“I've never had the urge to be other than a heterosexual,” Blackwell added, “but if in fact I had the urge to be something else I could have in fact suppressed that urge.”

Ronald Brock drives a truck with anti-gay marriage graphics outside city hall  in San Francisco, Tuesday, March 4, 2008.
Ronald Brock drives a truck with anti-gay marriage graphics outside city hall in San Francisco, Tuesday, March 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
In this Oct. 31,2006 file photo, Ken Blackwell speaks at a rally in Cleveland.
In this Oct. 31,2006 file photo, Ken Blackwell speaks at a rally in Cleveland.   (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
In this June 27, 2006 file photo, then Ohio Secretary of State and Republican gubernatorial nominee Ken Blackwell speaks during a meeting of the Republican Governors Association in Boston.
In this June 27, 2006 file photo, then Ohio Secretary of State and Republican gubernatorial nominee Ken Blackwell speaks during a meeting of the Republican Governors Association in Boston.   (AP Photo/Julie Malakie, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
vendetta
Jan 15, 2009 7:27 PM CST
More proof that the Republicans, Conservatives of this country do not get it. Which is why we kicked their sorry ass's out of office this time around. WE ARE TIRED OF YOUR INABILITY TO TOLERATE PEOPLE.
Guest
Jan 15, 2009 6:49 AM CST
You go, Michael_CT! I was just thinking about using heterosexual instead of homosexual. lol Besides; does Blackwell have a Science degree that I don't know about?
Michael_CT
Jan 15, 2009 6:10 AM CST
;-) idiots!

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