Former Republican senator Rick Santorum is known for his less than progressive attitude towards homosexuality (and, ahem, a host of other issues). The GOP figure has never been accused of fighting for the rights of the LGBT community, or for women, for that matter. That's why his statements about Bruce Jenner's gender transition seem so out of character. Is the politician turning tolerant on us?
“If he says he’s a woman, then he’s a woman,” Santorum told BuzzFeed at a Republican event this weekend. “My responsibility as a human being is to love and accept everybody. Not to criticize people for who they are. I can criticize, and I do, for what people do, for their behavior. But as far as for who they are, you have to respect everybody, and these are obviously complex issues for businesses, for society, and I think we have to look at it in a way that is compassionate and respectful of everybody.”
Though Santorum added that he didn't think it was the federal government's place should act on creating trans-friendly public restrooms, his remarks otherwise seemed almost sensible. Is this really the guy who has fought tooth and nail against same-sex marriage so vehemently?
Um, yes. While it's nice to see a conservative politician give Jenner his support, one need only look at Santorum's Twitter feed to remember that he is still all about photo opps with Ted Cruz and defending the "definition of marriage that's sustained mankind for 5,000 years."
Nice try, Rick. But, your "love" clearly has a ways to go.
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