Flashback: Rudy Said He Would Personally Marry His Gay Roommates

From the New York Times, 8/4/01:

For the past two months Rudolph Giuliani has been coming home at night to one of the happiest marriages in New York.

That's how long the mayor, in flight from his own marital wreckage at Gracie Mansion, has been a frequent sleepover guest at the home of Howard Koeppel and his partner, Mark Hsiao. Mr. Koeppel, who is 64, is a Queens car dealer who has been both a close friend and prodigious fund-raiser of Mr. Giuliani's since 1989. The 41-year-old Mr. Hsiao is a Juilliard-trained pianist who works at the city's Department of Cultural Affairs. They've been together almost 10 years -- are registered with the city as domestic partners -- and in happier times for the Giuliani marriage, double-dated with the mayor and Donna Hanover on New Year's Eve. Now they are doting hosts to Mr. Giuliani as he juggles his raucous divorce, his recovery from prostate cancer treatments, his waning months in office, his romance with Judith Nathan, his post-public-life future and, last but hardly least, his search for an affordable Manhattan apartment rental of his own.

The mayor's progressive record on gay civil rights notwithstanding, he has not endorsed same-sex marriage. But, says Mr. Koeppel, ''He did tell us that if they ever legalized gay marriages, we would be the first one he would do.'' Mr. Koeppel and Mr. Hsiao are in favor of the right to marry -- which, among other things, would give gay couples the same protections as heterosexual couples in legal and fiscal matters ranging from immigration and adoption rights to veterans' and Social Security benefits.

Comments

[zendem1]

When asked to clarify his apparent flip-flop on the gay issue, Mr.Giulian­i said,"Well, 9/11 changed everything. Gay people are supporting Al Queda."

[MikeDu]

This is what happens when real life butts up against right-wing conformity. Rudy has a couple old gay friends who are marriage material. He is being ordered to betray his lifelong friendships in order to kowtow to the most bigoted aspects of right-wing dogma. Our one hope is Rudy's just 'playing the game' during the election season and will eventually disavow the bigoted right instead of his old friends.

[Dendroica]

Hmmm... I didn't know he stayed with Howard Koeppel!!! I bought a new Nissan from his dealership back in '95; worst dealer experience ever. They double-charged me for dealer prep. Had to threaten a lawsuit for them to refund me the money. AAA buying club suspended them for it.

Figures Rudy would be his friend.

[Wintergreen4President]

I wonder if his gay friends are shunning him the same way he is shunning Bernie Kerik. I can only hope so.

[Doug]

This is another stupid throw away issue to give the impression of a difference between the two parties. Just like abortion.

Candidate A is against issue X, 8 years later nothing is any different.

[Ramirez]

Provocative Headline!

Unfortunately nothing in the article supported it. Still got me to click on the story, though.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

what ar youtalking about? Did you read the 2nd paragraph? It says exactly what the headline says. here is the quote:

"But, says Mr. Koeppel, ''He did tell us that if they ever legalized gay marriages, we would be the first one he would do.'' "

Rudy says he would perform their wedding for them. In other words, he would marry them....

[WhatWouldJesusBomb]

Which article did you read??

Then...
"But, says Mr. Koeppel, ''He did tell us that if they ever legalized gay marriages, we would be the first one he would do.'" -- New York Times, 8/4/2001

Now...

"Perkins said Giuliani told him in a private meeting that if the Defense of Marriage Act appeared to be failing or if multiple states began to legalize same-sex marriages, then he would support the constitutional amendment.­"
--The Hill 10/22/2007

Those excerpts support the headline

[Dendroica]

Possible the poster meant "marry" as in get married to, not perform the ceremony.

Dumb as a brick, in either case.

[Ramirez]

Thanks guys. My bad. When I read the headline that said "Rudy Said He Would Personally Marry His Gay Roommates" I read the article looking for something that said Rudy would marry his gay roommates. I even thought from reading the headline that he might have gay roommates instead of gay friends.

Anyway, thanks for the replies. I love you guys and if I was a big-city mayor I'd like to marry you all, two at a time.

[WilliamWallace]

He's just another NeoCon shill who's going to treat "gay" like a disease.

If these guys would just admit their interests, the might have a chance of having a shred of respect from someone out there.

[jacklambert]

A tranny President.­..........­OK but a hypocrite like Craig for President? No don't think so.

I am so sick of deviants hiding behind religion and I am so sick of religion using politics to impose their beliefs everyone else

[rwe]

Barak is now a neocon? How 'bout John Edwards? You guys one minute say we are the gay party and then we are homophobes­.It is a cool headline and picture ... who looks better Rudy in drag or Hillary in pants? Below it is asked who would vote for him.....As of now are there any from either side that would blow anyone away(pun intended)?

[MrBritesnide]

If you took the time to listen rather than parroting off from the Talking Points Memo, you's find that we don't call you the gay party, we call you hypocrites. We do, howerver call you homophobes, and you can add mysoginists and racist to that. Thank you, for demonbstrating that you are liars as well.

[Pdubya]

And the ONLY person speaking out about Federal Mandates being unconstitutional is Ron Paul. In spite of his personal beliefs on abortion or gay marriage, he has steadily spoken in favor of States determining civil unions or abortion choice. He is also against Federal Mandates on drugs, gun laws, privacy, and individual civil liberties. He has introduced a stellar bill that would help preserve what is eroding: Freedom for everyone!

http://www.americanfreedomcampaign.org/storage/afagenda/documents/AFA%20Act%20text.pdf

Write and call your representatives to help get this bill passed.

Only when the naivity and obstanance of the American people subside less than the elites want us to example, will we then elect a person that will do his or her's best to protect all individual liberties.

I know Ron Paul personally. My signature should at the very least signify that his position on federal mandates will protect all of us.

blue dog dem atheist for ron paul

[BobSF94117]

Maybe Rudy's theory is that once it's unconstitutional, then he'd be happy to do it. The man wants to follow in Dubya's extra-cons­titutional footsteps.­..

[AAnon]

And what do Ms. Juliannie's friends think of his of his two faces?

[chuckgraner]

They're probably wondering what pair of flip-flops exist that are butch without losing that feminine appeal.

[Steamboater]

Talk about loyalty to not only to ones' friends but to your politics. This shows Rudy for what he is--a traitor really to his past and his friends. This is not man anyone can trust.

[JohnJames]

Many prominent Republican politicians, with the exception of the real fundies, are like this - gay friends in private (W and Laura have some) or family members but opposed to gay rights in public. Giuliani is actually less bad than many.

[FF55]

You've hit a new low, Huffington.

[Dendroica]

Explain yourself.

This is a news item, based on his previously published viewpoints. This is public domain information- everyone in NYC knows this.

[Manics]

Somebody please stop Reichstag Rudy

[Dendroica]

Not a single Republican will vote against him, because of this.

They'll just convince themselves, that he was wrong then, and he's changed.

But he hasn't. You can't possibly change your views overnight. You can change your vote, and go against your conscience, your soul, your very essence. But then you've sold your soul.

[Ilvfredum]

He is pretty,

[snaggster]

You can have her.

[DELICIOUS]

WE NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BARRING RELIGIOUS FANATICS FROM RUNNING THIS COUNTRY. THE RELIGIOUS REICH DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE ABORTIONS AND THEY DO NOT HAVE TO MARRY GAYS OR LESBIANS BUT THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO DICTATE TO THE REST OF THE PEOPLE WHAT THEIR BELIEFS ARE. THEY ARE JUST NARROW MINDED, BLINDED BY FANTASICM, CANTANKEROUS, HYPCRITICAL PEOPLE. WE DON'T NEED THEM RUINING OUR DEMOCRACY.

[BeerHolder]

OK! TURN DOWN THE CAPS LOCK!