Lesbian daughter helped Mrs Cheney “evolve”
Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, busy promoting her forthcoming memoir, Blue Skies, No Fences, opened up about her experience as the parent of a gay child this weekend during an interview with CBS’ Sunday Morning correspondent Rita Braver.
In the book, which Cheney describes as “a celebration of the joys of growing up in the West in the ’40s and ’50s,” the “Second Lady” acknowledges that while the times were good for straight, white kids, they weren’t always so good for African American and gay kids.
They “were hard on kids who were gay,” Cheney told Braver during the interview.
She believes “society has evolved. I’ve evolved in my way of thinking, but I think the whole society has evolved. You know, my mother had a rule which was people are just people.”
Cheney doesn’t often speak about her daughter, Mary Cheney, or her partner of 15 years, Heather Poe.
Late last year, after it was announced that Mary and Heather were expecting a child (Mary gave birth to a boy, Samuel, in May), Cheney told Fox News:
“Well, I think that it’s just very lucky for me that I enjoy being a grandmother and I get to do it for the sixth time. Dick and I both very much looking forward to this new baby.”
Her commentary wasn’t quite so cordial in 2004, however, after Senator John Kerry mentioned Mary’s sexuality during a Presidential debate.
Afterwards, Cheney said Kerry “is not a good man. Of course, I am speaking as a mom, and a pretty indignant mom. …What a cheap and tawdry political trick.”
Four years prior, Cheney reacted angrily when ABC newswoman Cokie Roberts mentioned her daughter’s sexual orientation.
“My daughter has never declared such a thing,” Cheney snapped.
Bryan Ochalla © 2007 GayWired.com; All Rights Reserved.
