Rick Santorum and the Latino Family

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum seems to think he has a great understanding of the Latino family.  From yesterday’s CNN WRLC Western Republican Presidential Debate:

SANTORUM: I’d like to address the issue that the gentleman brought up, which is, what are we going to say to the Latino community? And not one person mentioned the issue of family, faith, marriage.

This is a community that is a faith-filled community, that family is at the center of that community. I disagree in some respects with Congressman Paul, who says the country is founded on the individual.

The basic building block of a society is not an individual. It’s the family. That’s the basic unit of society.

SANTORUM: And the Latino community understands that. They understand the importance of faith and marriage. They understand that bond that builds that solid foundation, and that inculcation of faith and religious freedom. And I think the Latino community knows that’s at stake in this country.

Take a watch:



That’s right Sen. Santorum. As Latinos, no matter what our religion, the family is the center of our communities. As a matter of fact, we love our friends and family SO much, that no matter where we are on gay rights issues, we SO love our gay family members. And not in that-love-the-sinner, sort-of-way.

Yes, some in our community may be embarrassed to have a gay son or daughter. Some in our community may be uncomfortable introducing the partner of a gay family member in public. Some in our communities may make up stories to try to explain away the lives of their gay family members.

So yes, we may still have a way to go on this issue. But the type of vile, anti-gay rhetoric that comes out of the mouths of some of Sen. Santorum’s staunches supporters is the type of stuff that causes the Latino mother of a gay son more angst that the good Senator himself is capable of understanding.

And why would that be? Precisely because as Latinos, the family is the center of our communities.