Mary Cheney: Stepping Up or Selling Out?

If you ask conservative columnist Andrew Sullivan, she is stepping out. Cheney, the lesbian daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, has written a new book titled "Now It's My Turn," and is making the tour of talk shows promoting it. On ABC's Good Morning America, she strongly opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment and said her father does also. Sullivan wrote on his blog:

"Mary's relationship with her spouse, Heather, is testimony to the endurance and dignity of gay relationships - and their presence in Republican families as well as Democratic ones. Here's a thought: maybe Mary can build on her opposition to the "Marriage Protection Amendment" by agreeing to testify against it when the Senate holds hearings next month. We need you, Mary. Help reclaim the Republican party as the party of freedom, not intolerance. You could make a real difference in humanizing this issue for your own party."

On the other hand, liberal columnist Wayne Besen writes:

"For six long years, Mary Cheney backpedaled from speaking out against Republican attempts to write her out of the Constitution, yet emerged from the musty closet just in time to peddle her new book, which hits stores this week. Cowed Mary now wants to be Proud Mary, but it's too late, for she has already sold us down the river.....she has gathered contempt for her meek attempt to justify her silence. She and her family had a unique opportunity to use the bully pulpit to educate Americans, and they failed miserably."

Besen supports his points in some detail, and his post has attracted numerous comments that are also quite negative toward the Vice President's daughter.

I have not read her book yet, but I think both Sullivan and Besen make good points. Cheney could be a very positive role model and spokesperson for GLBT issues, but I also understand those who resent the fact that she waited until she was selling a book to speak out. It does make one think that at least part of her motivation is to draw attention to herself and her book.

The bottom line, at least in my view, is that the GLBT community would be wise to put resentment aside and welcome Mary Cheney's support. With opposition to GLBT equality so loud and well-financed, any high profile ally, regardless of their motivation, is a good thing.