O'Reilly doesn't like that act of progression because it's not "normal," he backs that up with statistics: gays are only 6% of the population, he notes. Bill O'Reilly cares about the children and apparently he wrote a book "for gay kids" teaching them how to protect themselves from getting bullied (can anybody confirm that his advice includes staying in the closet or choosing heterosexuality?) Bill seems awfully frustrated, not only is this couple not being bullied but they are actually being accepted into "normal" society. maybe Bill is afraid to realize that there will a day when he simply isn't the "normal" one.
Bill O'Reilly is loud and like every O'Reilly clip its much like watching a train wreck - it's so horrible you can't even turn away. I have pasted some the transcript into the post here so you can read part of this debate in your own head; try reading it before watching to maximize the absurdity.
BERMAN: They're not flaunting their sexuality any more or any less than a heterosexual couple might.
O'REILLY: Look, doctor, there's no reason why Brandy and Lupe had to declare themselves anything other than friends. They didn't have to do that. They chose to do that.
BERMAN: If they're in love, but they're due - they have the same right to do that as any heterosexual.
O'REILLY: It's not about - it's a matter of appropriateness. That's what it's a matter of. And see, look.
BERMAN: But you're passing - see where your stuck is you're passing judgment.
O'REILLY: You're dismissing all - look, I'm not - look, I don't want any kid to be bullied. I wrote "Kids are Americans, Too" for gay kids who are getting bullied. They should read the booK, know their rights. I don't want anything like that to happen.
BERMAN: Right.
O'REILLY: But you're dismissing a very legitimate point. This is inappropriate. You do not define yourself in a high school yearbook.
BERMAN: Only if you judge sexuality.
O'REILLY: .in a sexual way. Period. You don't do it.
BERMAN: These kids - these kids need support. And they need to know that it's OK to be who they are.
O'REILLY: Well, let them go to a support group run by you. It doesn't need to be.
BERMAN: Here I am.
O'REILLY: You know, you don't have to take out posters and put them on your front lawn.
BERMAN: Because they're supporting all the other kids that are stuck in hiding and now will feel safer.
O'REILLY: That is your extrapolation. Somebody else would say you're encouraging that kind of experimentation...
BERMAN: You can't encourage it.
O'REILLY: ...when you don't have to do it.
BERMAN: It happens anyway.
O'REILLY: All right, doctor, that's the old argument. Let's legalize drugs because it happens anyway. There's got to be boundaries.
BERMAN: Drugs are not the same. Homosexuality is not illegal.
O'REILLY: But it - you know what I'm talking about. (Finish that sentence Bill?)
BERMAN: And it shouldn't be illegal.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 3)
16. Okay, so Mr. O'Reilly says that homosexuality isn't 'normal' because homosexuals are only 6% of the population? (It is actually more than that but, we'll let that go for now) So, by his standards, an interracial or minority couple shouldn't be allowed to be voted 'cutest couple' by their peers because--since such couples might be much less than 6% of the population--it wouldn't be 'normal'? Puh-leeeze!! I'd love to hear what he has to say about transgendered people!! It would be fun just to get him going!!
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 1:34PM on Nov 12th 2007
17. Should people really be prejudiced for their sexuality? Seoriously, Bill! Are you really that big of a homophobe? My gosh! He's acting as if the world is about to end because two girls are in love! So freaking what? Guys like girl-on-girl stuff, and yet can't stomache it when a guy kisses another guy! My heart goes out to those girls and all of the gays in or out of the closet.
AngelandCollins4-ever at 6:13PM on Nov 12th 2007
18. I have this hypothesis.
Each individual lies on a continuum from purely homosexual to purely heterosexual (and this is not a conscious choice). Most people are more heterosexual, but most heterosexuals have some homosexual tendencies built in too.
People like O'Reilly and Dinesh D'Souza rail against tolerance of homosexuality because they themselves have, with great effort and at a high psychological cost, suppressed their own homosexual tendencies. It infuriates them to see that others can get away with not having to do so.
Joe Bob at 2:00PM on Nov 12th 2007
19. Why promote deviant or disgustin behavior?
As to anyones sexuality that is private and no one needs to know.
mmarte8223 at 10:41PM on Nov 12th 2007
20. I find it funny that you censor any anti gay post!
MARYJANE at 2:51PM on Nov 12th 2007
21. What I think is really classy about Bill's latest rant is that, not only does he manage to marginalize the girls' legitimacy as being voted cutest couple because of their sexual orientation, he also calls into question their legitimacy as being "cute." Listen (or read) between the lines of his comment early in the segment:
"I believe, based upon our investigation of this Weekaugan High School deal -- and the picture, and put up the picture again of these students -- that the kids voted this couple the cutest couple to tweak the adults, Doctor, to cause trouble, to make an issue of the yearbook."
By O'Reilly's logic (that sexuality is inappropriate in an academic setting), no one should be voted "cutest couple" regardless of their sexual orientation. Instead of attacking these high school students, why doesn't he make a case against the yearbook for encouraging "couples" in high school if that's what he's really upset about?
Elaine at 3:35PM on Nov 12th 2007
22. WHY DID THE LESBIAN ISSUE HAVE TO COME UP AT ALL? COULDNT THEY JUST BE THE CUTEST COUPLE? I GET SOOOO TIRED OF HAVING TO HEAR ABOUT PEOPLES SEXUAL PREFERENCES.
MARLA at 4:59PM on Nov 12th 2007
23. I AGREE WITH BILL.
MIKE at 5:21PM on Nov 12th 2007
24. It's Waukegan High School,and like every other H.S.
in the world,their are 17 year old couples.
BOB JOHNSON at 5:28PM on Nov 12th 2007
25. My long held position ( no pun intended) on the sexuality of others is this.... If you wanna have sex with a toaster, hey,fine by me.Its none of my business.
a tip though.. wait till it cools.. (ouch)
john at 5:37PM on Nov 12th 2007
26. This is for all of the Christians making claims that homosexuality is "OK" by biblical standards. It's not so. Both the books of Leviticus and Romans demonstrate that homosexuality is against God's will; as is lying, stealing, and murder. Sin is sin, but there are different consequences for different sins.
I think that categorizing all Christians as stuck-up, self-righteous fools is both unfair and incorrect, and shows a dangerous amount of animosity towards an entire group of people. Pity.
And concerning O'Rielly's argument: students are defined by their sexuality as early as middle-school because of the people that they have crushes on and have dated. If students vote a couple the cutest, best dressed, or most outspoken, it isn’t a crime if the students are homosexuals. And these kids are apparently in no direct physical danger from the student body that thinks that they’re cute. O’Rielly’s argument isn’t making much sense.
Mary G at 6:01PM on Nov 12th 2007
27. I personally enjoy reading all of these posts. I am Christian and i love the Lord Jesus, but i don't fit the mold sorta speak. I don;t hate gays or lesbians i am not going to beat u in the face with a bible or look down at anyone. If you run into me i am going to smile at you and tell you what the Lord told me to tell you
Jesus speaking " I love you and you are very special to my heart" (paraphrased)
To those who are tring to witness if you do this instad of pointing the finger throwing a bible in a person's face and telling them that they are going to hell they might choose to let you speak to them.
As for gay/ straight what you do behind closed doors is your business when you do it in front of my kids it becomes mine their is a time and a place for everything and keep that stuff to yourself (for both gay and straight couples)
But always remember what a person sows is what a person reeps
have a nice day
Joseph Moore at 6:56PM on Nov 12th 2007
28. O'Reilly can be a real idiot sometimes
bandgeek120988 at 7:07PM on Nov 12th 2007
29. so Jeff Hoard has a point to make that I SOMETIMES think is stupid, Bill O'Reilly has a point to make that is SOMETIMES STUPID.....do I detect NO DIFFERENCE between the two? No I do not, both make good and bad points, sadly Bill is usually better than this and Jeff is usually ....lets just say Less Right
PSoucy at 8:12PM on Nov 12th 2007
30. Jeff-try reading transcript more carefully.
1-ORielly did not feel a year book for minor HS Students is the proper place to normalize homosexuality in a public way in an academic setting.
2- ORielly did not yell and rant as Jeff would want people to think happened. It was an debate over the issue between two well educated people, ORielly-grad of Harvard, a HS Teacher etc and Laura Berman PH.D.teacher of Psychiaty NW Univ.
This was not an arguement as Jeff stated it was.
3-Jeff-try reading some books, maybe anyone of four best selling books written by ORielly, the latest being about homosexual kids. That one could give you an idea what point ORielly was making about minor aged HS kids.
4-Jeff, of course you left out where ORielly said he respected the 2 students point of view, just that he believed that a High School Year Book was not the proper setting for stating that opinion.
5-Jeff not that you cared to research this, but ORiellys opinion has always been that private behavior belongs in private settings.
6-Jeff this was a weak failing attempt to discredit ORielly who will still have the top rated cable news analyist show on TV, also viewed in 57 nations worldwide.CNN, MSNBC, Media Matters, and You Tube have been totally discredited as stations and shows, that cannot be trusted to present the news in an honest way. You Tube just got back to being able to get their show shown in Thailand after the Thai Government cut them off the air for one year for a sick presentation of the King Of Thailand, where they lied and made him look like a fool. That is one of your pride and joys for honest reporting. Ha Ha
robert okane at 10:42PM on Nov 12th 2007