Over the weekend, Tina Fey did a hilarious send up of Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. And SNL hasn't been the only one poking fun at the Alaska Governor who has foreign policy experience because she can "see Russia from Alaska." But Palin's nomination and McCain's campaign aren't very funny if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. 

Last week Palin was interviewed by ABC's Charlie Gibson and one of the questions Gibson asked touched on gay issues. Here was the exchange:

GIBSON: Homosexuality, genetic or learned?

PALIN: Oh, I don’t — I don’t know, but I’m not one to judge and, you know, I’m from a family and from a community with many, many members of many diverse backgrounds and I’m not going to judge someone on whether they believe that homosexuality is a choice or genetic. I’m not going to judge them.

There are a whole litany of issues with that exchange starting with Gibson's question which is, frankly, stupid. This is the one question he asks her about gay issues? Nothing about same-sex marriage or gay adoption? Most legitimate scientists agree that being gay is at the very least significantly influenced by biology with some sociological components also possibly occurring. Call me crazy, but something tells me that a woman who is open to teaching creationism in public schools probably hasn't kept up on the latest scientific literature concerning homosexuality.

Thanks for the wastd opportunity, Charlie. 

Sarah Palin being interviewed by Charlie Gibson

So what might Palin actually do when it comes to gay issues if she gained the top spot? Well, apparently she won't "judge", especially not those who believe that "homosexuality is genetic or a choice". Call me super cynical, but I can't help but notice she doesn't actually say she doesn't judge gays and lesbians.

More importantly, what of Palin's actual actions while in office thus far? The folks over at gay rightwing blog GayPatriot tout the fact that as governor, Palin vetoed a bill that would have denied equal benefits to the same-sex partners of state workers, something the court said the state couldn't do. So did Palin veto the bill because she thinks gays should have benefits in the work place? Yeah, and I'm a moose.

In fact, the only reason Palin signed the veto (on which her Republican predecessor Governor Frank Murkowski had refused to act after calling the court's ruling against discrimination "shameful") was because the state attorney general told her doing otherwise would be unconstitutional. Said Palin at the time, "Signing this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office." In fact, Palin later issued a statement saying "The governor's veto does not signal any change or modification to her disagreement with the action and order by the Alaska Supreme Court. It is the governor's intention to work with the Legislature and to give the people of Alaska an opportunity to express their wishes and intentions whether these benefits should continue."

Because that's what non-judgmental folks like Palin do -- put the rights of a minority up for a public vote. 

What? You were expecting something from her about wanting to treat those Alaskans of "many diverse backgrounds" with some semblance of equality. R-i-i-i-ght. And I've got a bridge to nowhere to sell you. Indeed, Palin promptly signed a bill allowing state legislators to hold a special session just so they could craft a bill to get around the court's ruling. (But the GayPatriot folks say her actions show we should trust her because she follows the law. I call this "spinning" or simply delusional.)

Photo credit: AFP/Robyn Beck