ID senator Craig :(

Wait a second. Why does anyone have to have sex in public bathrooms? There are places for gays to meet and greet.

I was at a park one day, sitting by the waters edge and noticed a bunch of cars in the parking lot, but no people around. About 3 weeks later, I read that the cops raided the bathroom in that park. I was sitting not too far away from it. Say if I had a male child with me and he wanted to go to the bathroom? I shudder to think of what I could have sent him into. I see no reason on this earth for anyone of any orientation to have sex in public bathrooms.

I agree with you that trying to act like being gay would be "worse" than what they caught him on (and he plead guilty to) is crummy.

I think it's a crime because the bathroom is a public place, anybody is supposed to be able to go there. I keep thinking about sending my boys into restrooms at airports. Geeze, at least they know that you're not supposed to be on the floor in a public restroom!

I'm kind of mixed on whether if public attitudes were more tolerant these types wouldn't need to do this in public places. I have a feeling they might anyway.

He needs to resign now and I'm glad to see that his own party is calling for that.

Slate had a more-than-I-really-wanted-to-know description of it all .

http://www.slate.com/id/2173033/

hello all,
While I think Sen. Craig is a hypocrite, I find it ludicrous
that someone (anyone!) can be arrested for simply doing physical movements (toe tapping,etc.). Granted, he was probably doing what he's accused of, but somehow, it just doesn't seem right that the cop assumed that he was asking for sex when no touching or verbal communication was going on. And how in the heck did the cop know Craig was looking through the stall crack from 3 feet away? I agree that it must be hell for someone to be bi or gay and be so afraid of it. I also agree that public places should not be used for sex. But there are people out there that find this a turn on. I don't understand how guys have sex with someone they just met a minute ago.When I lived in Florida, I had a lot of gay male friends. Some of their stories about them and their friends sexual encounters would make your chin drop to the floor. I understand why Craig pleaded guilty but he should have fought it, if for no other reason than any of us could be accused of soliciting just by how you approach or don't approach someone.
Topo

First - police are trained in the habits, vernacular and signals of prostitutes, gangs, public sex, etc. Police learn how to walk the walk and talk the talk.

It was reported that there is a signal that men send to each other when in public stalls. And of course that would have to do with feet in a stall -- that seems logical to me.

Second - public gay sex became out of control way back in the 70's when all h*ll broke loose and sex anywhere anytime with anyone was the style of the time.

Remember bath houses? So sex in a bar, park, bathhouse or public restroom was not 'hiding' -- it was very open and well advertised -- and not much space left on the grass late into the evening in those parks. Cops just ignored it back then. (pink ribbon, you're just too young to remember that era - I think - you sure look like a young sweetie!)

Third - Craig's arrest isn't about gay sex.
It's about sex in public places which is outlawed in all states. No one, not two men, or two women, or a man and a woman (or a threesome or more) is allowed to have sex in public. Thank God! Can you imagine a throw down in the middle of a grocery isle? Movie theatre? Hospital waiting room?

Fourth - I don't find Craig a hypocrite. That's the media's inflammatory term to get you all excited to tune back in. That word - hypocrite - has to be taken in context of the situation.

Just as I, when a smoker, was against smoking in public places, hospitals, etc. Against minors smoking and for prosecuting those who sold cigarettes to minors and supported all laws in support of above. I signed petitions to stop smoking in public places while puffing on my cigarette.

Did that make me a hypocrite? No! I knew smoking was bad for my health and the health of others, I knew we needed to protect non smokers from the unhealthy smoke I blew all over their space and I knew I had a nasty bad habit that could kill me. I don't think that makes me a hypocrite. Just someone addicted to a very bad habit. (which I finally kicked)

I believe Craig when he says he's not gay.There is a category of men who are not gay but do engage in sex with other men and do thoroughly enjoy sex with women as well. That is not the description of a gay man.

He might just love "b**w" jobs. I work amongst the legal world and I recall a cop telling me about these little old ladies who performed oral sex in their trucks.

Call them and they'll meet you anywhere -- behind your house while the little wife is cooking your dinner, in your company parking lot during lunch break, just outside your doctors office, wherever! These women are on social security and supplementing their income with oral sex jobs.

And if it's in my town, its going on in your town too!

They use trucks so the 'john' can be high enough to look for cops. And carry cell phones to be ever ready to head out to whereever the customer is.

One of their favortie spots to meet is a car wash. Ever see a pickup backed into a car wash stall? That's whats going on. (Hmmmmmmmmm, got a husband taking the car to a car wash a lot???)

I said to the cop 'these young men are using little old gray haired ladies in their 70's or older? That turns them on?" He said 'all they see is the top of their head!" Oh OK - got it!

So maybe that's all Craig was after. That doesn't make him gay - maybe just a guy who is addicted to b**w jobs.

Sometimes I think I live with my head in the ground like an Ostrich. Thank you Rose for posting that Slate website. So I cant believe that tapping your foot is enough to get you arrested!

What I think is of more importance is how Craig handled things after the incident. If he were really innocent and felt like he was being set up - he would never have said he was guilty.

To me, sexual orientation doesnt really mean anything. I hate to think of anyone having sex in a bathroom! How stupid can one be - to be a senator and do this in a public bathroom at the airport?

Im glad he resigned.

Nicki

I think the most horrifying thing about this entire story is that someone actually sits on a toilet seat in an airport bathroom!

Madeline and all,
According to the news reports I've read, Craig was 3 feet away from the stall when "looking through the door crack". It isn't that I don't believe he was looking for sex, it is the principle of the thing. For example, I used to work for a major newspaper in Florida. I drove for the company. They instituted drug tests which I protested. Everyone said well, if you don't use drugs then you have nothing to fear. My protest was not because I use drugs, it was because I believe in individual, constitutional rights, and in my opinion, those rights were being violated. If Americans,gay or straight, don't start standing up for our rights they are going to be completely gone someday. Oh, and one last comment. If you're in a bar and you buy someone a drink, lick your lips, and look like you're hitting on someone, should you be arrested for soliciting sex in a public place? Maybe it's not the same, because we expect that in bars and kids aren't allowed in bars. But the parallel is still there.
Topo

Amy, I agree with you that these stings don't seem like the right way to prevent the use of public restrooms for sex. Whenever I hear about stings, I always wonder how they differ from entrapment which is an illegal means for the police to try to catch criminals.

I really think that this whole thing is so sad. If this guy really IS gay and, throughout his life, had to hide it and settle for sex in places like restrooms, how could it be anything but sad? I know that prejudice still exists, but I hope that most gay people today can find an environment where they can live normal, healthy lives without hiding such an important part of who they are.

And if he's not gay, what IS he....a victim of a severe case of RLS (restless leg syndrome)? I dunno. I just can't buy that he just happened to move his hands & feet in gestures that exactly replicated known signs of soliciting sex. That's just way too coincidental. And of course there's the guilty plea which he is now trying to rescind. Maybe he should just bow out as gracefully as possible..?

~Marin