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October 18, 2006 - O'Reilly wonders why he can't be a gay role model
Last night, O’Reilly took up the cause of “traditional” parents who were upset that the Philadelphia
School District had designated October Gay and Lesbian History Month.
His guest, the executive director of a nonprofit gay organization, looked a bit shell-shocked as Bill
gave him the no-spin truth on queers:
O'REILLY: But why? Why? Why do we have to—see the difference between teaching black history
and Hispanic or Asian, whatever you want to call it, or Irish or Italian, is that—that's who people
are. You know, what are you? What ethnic group?
MALCOLM LAZIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EQUALITY FORUM: I happen to be Jewish.
O'REILLY: OK. So you're...
LAZIN: And I happen to be a Republican, by the way.
O'REILLY: So you're Jewish, and I'm Irish, Irish Catholic. But what I do and what you do doesn't
define me. It's who I am. What my bloodline is. That defines me. What country I live in
Homosexuality and heterosexual is behavior. It's what you do. Not who you are. So I don't know
why we want to elevate what we do to the status of people who they are. And I think black
Americans resent it.
Bill, first of all, being gay is an orientation, not a hobby. Theoretically, you can be gay your entire life
and never have gay sex, just as you can be a highly rated broadcaster and never make any sense.
Also, there are a lot of straight guys in prison who have had lots of gay sex but aren’t gay. There’s no
Prison Sodomite History Month for a reason.
O'REILLY: It is behavior. That's what it is. What you do.
LAZIN: No, it is about your status as a gay and lesbian. It's not the way in which you, you know,
sexually conduct yourself any more—any more than it is about...
O'REILLY: But it's defined on sexuality. Homosexual. It's defined—you don't get heterosexual
months. You don't get bisexual months. You don't get other months. But here is my compromise,
and this might be an interesting idea. I believe that you have to protect gay children. Or children
who are effeminate or on the other side, maybe butch if they're girls. And it's terrible in schools.
Would you agree? It's terrible. They're bullied and they're ostracized.
LAZIN: There's no question.
O'REILLY: It's awful. OK? Some of them are beat up and all that. I believe that's terribly wrong. But
it happens to fat kids, too, and it happens to kids with bad complexions, too. Anybody who's
different, even if your parents are different, you are bullied and ostracized. Can't we have a
tolerance month for people who are different? Do that?
Yes, and what about kids who bring copies of The O’Reilly Factor for Kids to school and get the shit
kicked out of them? What about a month for them?
Then again, one wonders what message you’d send with a “Tolerance Month.” Would the bullies
think, gee, November is the time when we’re expected to show a little more respect to Pig and Pizza
Face?
LAZIN: Here's what's important. It's important that, you know, gay children end up having role
models that can inspire them. So it's not just about in terms—we're actually if...
O'REILLY: Why can't I be a gay role model?...
Oh, Bill. Let us count the ways.
School District had designated October Gay and Lesbian History Month.
His guest, the executive director of a nonprofit gay organization, looked a bit shell-shocked as Bill
gave him the no-spin truth on queers:
O'REILLY: But why? Why? Why do we have to—see the difference between teaching black history
and Hispanic or Asian, whatever you want to call it, or Irish or Italian, is that—that's who people
are. You know, what are you? What ethnic group?
MALCOLM LAZIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EQUALITY FORUM: I happen to be Jewish.
O'REILLY: OK. So you're...
LAZIN: And I happen to be a Republican, by the way.
O'REILLY: So you're Jewish, and I'm Irish, Irish Catholic. But what I do and what you do doesn't
define me. It's who I am. What my bloodline is. That defines me. What country I live in
Homosexuality and heterosexual is behavior. It's what you do. Not who you are. So I don't know
why we want to elevate what we do to the status of people who they are. And I think black
Americans resent it.
Bill, first of all, being gay is an orientation, not a hobby. Theoretically, you can be gay your entire life
and never have gay sex, just as you can be a highly rated broadcaster and never make any sense.
Also, there are a lot of straight guys in prison who have had lots of gay sex but aren’t gay. There’s no
Prison Sodomite History Month for a reason.
O'REILLY: It is behavior. That's what it is. What you do.
LAZIN: No, it is about your status as a gay and lesbian. It's not the way in which you, you know,
sexually conduct yourself any more—any more than it is about...
O'REILLY: But it's defined on sexuality. Homosexual. It's defined—you don't get heterosexual
months. You don't get bisexual months. You don't get other months. But here is my compromise,
and this might be an interesting idea. I believe that you have to protect gay children. Or children
who are effeminate or on the other side, maybe butch if they're girls. And it's terrible in schools.
Would you agree? It's terrible. They're bullied and they're ostracized.
LAZIN: There's no question.
O'REILLY: It's awful. OK? Some of them are beat up and all that. I believe that's terribly wrong. But
it happens to fat kids, too, and it happens to kids with bad complexions, too. Anybody who's
different, even if your parents are different, you are bullied and ostracized. Can't we have a
tolerance month for people who are different? Do that?
Yes, and what about kids who bring copies of The O’Reilly Factor for Kids to school and get the shit
kicked out of them? What about a month for them?
Then again, one wonders what message you’d send with a “Tolerance Month.” Would the bullies
think, gee, November is the time when we’re expected to show a little more respect to Pig and Pizza
Face?
LAZIN: Here's what's important. It's important that, you know, gay children end up having role
models that can inspire them. So it's not just about in terms—we're actually if...
O'REILLY: Why can't I be a gay role model?...
Oh, Bill. Let us count the ways.
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