If a Politician Is Good For LGBT People, How Much Does His Personal Bigotry Matter?
Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski is in hot water after a video of him apparently lamenting the state of LGBT equality was posted on the internet Tuesday. Speaking to a group of Christian pastors in February regarding public prayer at city council meetings, Nowakowski said:
I never thought I would see the day that men and men would be married. Or where people were allowed to go into the same bathroom as my daughter. This world is changing, and it’s time for us to take the leadership and change it back to the way it should be.
You know the world’s going to shit when Michael Nowakowski’s daughter no longer has a private bathroom everywhere she goes.
What complicates the matter and makes it worth thinking about beyond generic rage over someone saying something mean about gay and trans people is Nowakowski’s record of public support for LGBT rights. The Arizona Republic reports:
Nowakowski has publicly backed same-sex marriage and the city’s 2013 non-discrimination ordinance, which created sweeping civil-rights protections for LGBT residents and could allow transgender people to use the restroom that matches their gender identity. Nowakowski missed the council vote on that ordinance because he was traveling, but expressed his support for it.
After a court ruling legalized same-sex marriage in Arizona in 2014, Nowakowski released a statement, saying, “Love is love. Who are we to say otherwise or to judge on how individuals feel? ... This ruling sends a clear message that Arizona is not a discriminatory place and will hopefully help the healing process from past legislative actions.
“It is about an individual’s right to be, live and love how they choose. As long as someone is a good community partner, I do not see the harm in celebrating individual choices.”
The leaked video, then, essentially outed Nowakowski’s discomfort with the LGBT rights that he has publicly supported. In 2016, bigots stay in the closet. This story is a terrific illustration of cultural progress.
Beyond that, I’m not sure what Nowakowski’s two-faced attitude about gay and trans people amounts to. Sure, everyone should like LGBT people. They’re nice! (Well, enough of them are, anyway.) Otherwise, Nowakowski has been doing the right thing, while feeling weird things. Public actions (especially of elected officials) matter more than private failings. Outwardly, he’s been rational and smart enough to help clear the path for the liberty of others.
If someone gave me $1,000, even if he didn’t want to, even if he spent the entire way to and from the bank bitching about how selfish and wasteful I am, even if he was scared to see what I do with the money, I’m still left holding $1,000 when he walks away. Thank you for making my life easier for the sake of complicating yours, my benefactor.
Nowakowski issued a statement Wednesday responding to the controversy according to the Republic:
Nowakowski apologized for his comments in a statement Wednesday evening. He said it is often difficult for him to personally reconcile LGBT issues as a practicing Catholic, but his voting record shows he supports protecting the rights of LGBT people.
“I apologize that my comments, regardless of the context, offended anyone,” Nowakowski said. “My reference in the video to ‘returning to the way it should be’ was in regards to prayer at City Council meetings, not to roll back LGBTQ rights. I understand why my statement in the video was misconstrued, and I apologize.”
It’s OK, buddy. Take a few deep breaths and sort yourself out.
