Goldstein: 'Joe the Plumber' backlash would help pass marriage equality

Garden State Equality Chair Steven Goldstein said today that he welcomes "Joe the Plumber's" visit to New Jersey to campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan tomorrow, especially in light of controversial comments about gay people he made in an interview that was published today.

"Joe the Plumber," a.k.a. Samuel Wurzelbacher, told Christianity Today that he favors letting states decide the gay marriage question - which is more or less the same position that Garden State Equality takes.  But in elaborating his point, Wurzelbacher made some comments some gay rights activists and progressive groups found offensive:

"People don't understand the dictionary-it's called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It's not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we're supposed to do-what man and woman are for. Now, at the same time, we're supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. I've had some friends that are actually homosexual. And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn't have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they're people, and they're going to do their thing."

Goldstein said that such comments actually help his group's cause because they could create a backlash against anti-gay attitudes among regular New Jerseyans.

"I would do anything to have Joe the Plumber do a whistle stop tour of New Jersey and offer his views on marriage equality in every part of the state," he said.  "The legislature would rush into session and we'd win marriage equality within a week.  Whom will Lonegan bring in next, Dick Cheney?"