Jordan Brandman is gay.
The Anaheim council member and CD-46 Congressional candidate sat down with TheLiberalOC Wednesday following an Orange County Democratic “who’s who” VIP luncheon with New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in Costa Mesa.
Last weekend’s National Coming Out Day and thoughtful introspection through chats with close family and friends prompted Brandman to come out about his sexuality.
“I have found personal happiness in my life and it was time to share that happiness with my family and close friends,” Brandman said over coffee. “As human beings, we have choices we make in life. I felt it was time to tell those closest to me. The support of my family and friends has been overwhelmingly positive and I feel free to be wholly me.”
As he spoke of his relationship with his significant other, Brandman’s face revealed emotions ranging from joy to relief. He has found happiness in his personal life and felt that the time was right to be open about his sexuality with the general public. It shows that even in 2015, it can still be difficult for LGBT individuals to take that step in Orange County – particularly in the political world.
Brandman doesn’t believe his sexuality will matter much to the residents of Anaheim he serves on the city council nor will it be of consequence to the voters of CD-46 in which he is a candidate for Congress; oddly enough, he sat kitty corner from former State Senator and fellow congressional candidate Lou Correa at lunch and the two men were friendly towards one another while Gillibrand spoke of the Democratic Presidential Debate.
“It’s my privilege to work in public service for the people of Anaheim and serve on their city council,” said Brandman. “Nothing about my work for the city, my interaction with residents and my work with fellow members of the city council will change. I don’t believe this news will change minds about who I am and what I do as an elected official or my qualifications as a candidate for higher office.”
Over the years, Brandman has been asked about his sexuality. “Are you gay?” questions from people he meets are as appropriate as asking a fat woman “when are you due?” when she’s not pregnant. Brandman has tried avoiding the question or told persistent questioners “No” when asked about his sexuality. Because frankly, it’s a private matter and his choice with whom he would discuss this part of his personal life.
Brandman is not seeking to be a role model in outing his sexuality, but did say, “If someone out there is struggling with whether or not to come out finds inspiration in reading my story and decides to come out, I’m deeply honored that my story made a difference. I’m fortunate to have received the full support of my family and dear friends. Because I’ve found joy and happiness in my life, I’m now completely free to be who I am.”
I have known Jordan Brandman since we were children and have always cherished being colleagues together as public servants to the people of Orange County. But today I could not be more proud to call him my friend.
Right On!! Councilman Jordan Brandman,
Peace & Happiness in Your Life.
Today I feel like a proud little brother for Jordan having to no longer conceal his identity. The freedom for him and his boyfriend to be happy and whole is an inspiration to those who feel like they are a part of a shadow population. This is the happiest Cheyenne and I have ever seen him, and could not be more thrilled for Jordan.
Why is this news and frankly who cares what his sexual preference is? I would be more interested in where he stands on size, scope, cost of government. Immigration Reform and how to reduce deficit spending. Since you are promoting him, Brandman must be a Democrat and that answers my question on where he stands on everything.
Pat, sexual preference makes it sounds like it’s a choice. It’s not. But again, you support a woman who rose to power by denying rights to gay people so your view doesn’t surprise me.
Dan, while I know this will come as a shock for you, Christina Shea has her own set of beliefs and speaks for herself without my advice. At the same time, I have my own set of beliefs and speak only for myself, also without anyone’s advice. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, you continue to bore us to tears with the tired old Larry Agran rheotric whose time has come and gone. Dan, it”s a new world in Irvine, get used to it.
Who cares what the old reactionary Pat Rodgers thinks about anything?
John, about as many people as care about your bullshit.
Another sign of progress – “social conservatives” like Lt. Pat who used to rage against homosexuality – I remember some really vile stuff from this dude – now just “don’t want to hear about it,” insist it’s “irrelevant.”
baby steps, lieutenant.
I am glad for him. To hide such a basic part of our core being has to be the most tragic of burdens to carry. We no longer see eye to eye on a long list of issues, but I wish Jordan the same blessing I wished for him when we were on friendlier terms; that he would love who he is, stand tall and proud, and be able to shout from the rooftops that God create him to be a unique individual, unlike nobody else in the history of man to come before us and unlike anyone who will come after we are dust. I hope he has now found someone he can share a life with, in the open, without fear of the opinions of others. To look in the mirror and love every part of ourselves (even the squishy parts in the middle) is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves. It is also a gift to those around us, so that others can be real with us and not step on eggshells.
I am proud of Jordan for finding that place of finally being comfortable and feeling as though he can stand up to those who might have negative things to say to someone very much in the spotlight. I trust there won’t be many of them, and pray their comments will remain unsaid, or quickly rebuked by the rest of us.
CW
Cynthia – It was just about two weeks ago that you called Jordan a scheming miscreant, amongst other things. Quit pretending to be nice.
Well there IS no evidence that he has stopped being a scheming miscreant. That’s a different story.
and there’s plenty of evidence you’re still a first class jerk Vern.
Colony Insider, while “the Colony” establishment had their knickers in a twist over the arrival of a carpetbagging Pringle puppet they were determined to shut out of the insider’s club, (and West Anaheim went into HYSTERICS over the perceived orientation of Brandman, which seems to have disqualified him in their eyes as a candidate for School board, fearing he would choose “gay curriculum”) Richard and I welcomed into our family a lonely kid who was fleeing the city that essentially killed his mom, as he looked for a place to belong and make a difference. The hateful messages sent by the “alcohol soaked coven” were beyond ugly. So you don’t have room to accuse others of “pretending” to be “nice” especially not if you are who I believe you are, despite your chicken shit refusal to own your statements.
Jordan and I parted ways, not by my choice, but I can still be glad for the old friend who exists only in my memory, as either I was sucker punched into believing he was someone other than he was, or his values shifted dramatically once in office. I didn’t drop him, I didn’t even OPPOSE him, I simply failed to go along with the status quo, and that is enough to get you tossed from the inner circle. But i can still be glad for someone who was once a huge part of my daily life and frankly a part of our extended family.
Recently Jordan was kind enough to stop and approach my husband at the market, congratulating us on becoming first time grandparents, remarking on how the kids he watched grow up are now adults and producing their own kids, it was a touching thing for him to do, and seemed genuine, and I don’t think it is wrong to return those sentiments of best wishes if he has found happiness himself. That isn’t a free pass on all policy choices into his future, or even forgiveness for some of the rotten things he has said and done over time. I can disagree with someone’s action and still wish them well personally. In civil society we can disagree with someone’s positions and still be friends, but that is a limited offer in Anaheim these days.
That isn’t “pretending to be nice,” Insider, it is simply being HUMAN. Try it some time.
“I welcomed into our family a lonely kid who was fleeing the city that essentially killed his mom”
That statement begs an explanation. How did Anaheim (I presume) “essentially kill” Jordan’s mother?
I second that. Cynthia apparently has a penchant for over the top rhetoric and proselytizing.
So Junior and Vasquez have no clue where Jordan grew up or the back story on his move to Anaheim. but have the stones to call me out on inaccuracy? That’s cute.
If you needed to know about his early years he would have told you. Since you don’t know, it’s not my job to fill you in.
But the reasons for his leaving his childhood home and wanting a fresh start elsewhere make the vicious reaction to his arrival from the very people who now champion him as one of Anaheim’s own make that whole episode worse, and if he now has someone to unconditionally watch his back then that is a good thing, because in that crowd he needs it. I can’t blame him for guarding a private part of himself from the nastiness of Anaheim’s insider crowd, they were monstrous when he got to town and only came around when he became someone they could extract favors from. The history of that crowd makes it likely they will turn on him when he no longer behaves like their performing monkey turning out goodies like music from a hurdy-gurdy. Maybe he has a chance to balance life outside of politics, which would be a good thing for everyone, frankly.
I can wish him well in his private life without making that a stamp of approval on his public policy decisions or his behavior during Council meetings. And I can miss the guy who was a fixture at my dinner table and helped himself to coffee and scones in my kitchen without endorsing who he has become after moving on when he no longer needed me. And oddly enough NONE of this has anything to do with his orientation. If we spent anywhere NEAR this much time and attention vetting his policy decisions in office as we have spent dissecting his private life and who is and is not happy for him, the City Treasury might be ahead a few dollars. Can we move on?
You’re the one who brought it up – not me.
Jordan is from Orange, not Anaheim. The rest of the story you don’t need to know unless Cynthia feels like telling it.
Proselytize? To “attempt to convert someone from one opinion to another?” We blog, duh.
Oh. I was thinking maybe Lou Correa d her killed when your delusional co-blogger accused him (Lou) of profiting and supporting/creating legislation that “cost lives”.
That would be an extremely stupid inference, “Vasquez,” so your assertion that that’s what you were thinking is just about the first credible thing you’ve ever said.
As I recall, they ruined her health with stress cause by an unrelenting barrage of nasty and unfair political attacks. I don’t recall whether they were anonymous, but if they were then it’s, at a minimum, ironic.
Greg,
Your namsake cereal is on sale at Stater Bros. for $1.88!
You should buy some for the office…….err I mean home.
BTW- I agree with reasonable hun story you’ve spreading/sharing. I too believe people on SSRI’S pose an unacceptable risk to the saftey of the community. Especially when you consider the long list of shooters on anti-deppresants who became deusional and shot up schools, churches, shopping centers and hospitals. These young men who had “over the top” veiws obtained access to weapons and like Vern,Vodka and car keys, crazy men with axes to grind on SSRI’S should absolutely be prohibited access to guns. Would you agree?
Well, there’s a good argument for an armed security agent to get on contract on DPOC meeting nights.
I’d still ask my wife and friends to stay away.
This guy seems WAY to crafty.
I’m debating a restraining order myself. Greg is getting increasingly unhinged.
Insults from anonymous sock puppets just don’t move me. Sorry, because that must have taken you a while to type.
Cynthia –
I suppose you were showing your “human” side when you snidely replied to Connor Traut’s post. Let me remind the audience of what you said “Connor, while I think we are all plenty curious about the identity of the love interest. can you wave that man card any higher in the desperate effort to make sure we all know the man in Jordan’s life is not you? Nope, nothing to see here, I’m happy for my BROTHER and I’m just gonna be over here being heterosexual with my GIRLFRIEND…I hope Jordan fully understands your not-so-thinly-veiled “NOT ME!” Actually that would be like a best friend commenting on your ugly dress as you head into your birthday party, so I hope he doesn’t read that.” That is a complete mischaracterization of Connor Traut and the sentiment he was conveying to and about his good friend, Jordan. If you thought that personally did you really have to post it? Tell me why Connor deserved that comment.
Uh, “Colony Insider” — do you know how Connor has publicly identified his sexual orientation in the past? Given that you very likely don’t, why don’t you do him a favor and hush up?
Have I mentioned recently how cowardly you are to fling these sorts of attacks anonymously? It’s a wonder that our host doesn’t ask you whether you have any public appointments that give you a self-interest in this discussion. But maybe he will — let’s see!
I’m interested in this discussion because Jordan and Connor are both friends of mine. I don’t care about the sexual orientation of either of them. I don’t think that Connor deserved that snipe based on the nature of his post. Oh, and since I don’t have any “public appointments” I’m not worried. Nice try anyway.
are you keeping score on who has identified their sexual orientation or not? What business is it of yours.
THANK YOU, DAN!
Well better late than never. But I would compare his testicular fortitude, by the measure of the YEARS AND YEARS HE ADAMANTLY DENIED IT UNTIL IT FINALLY SEEMED POLITICALLY SAFE TO COME OUT, with the testicular fortitude of Joe Shaw, and Jordan’s opponent Bao.
I’m glad he’s at least not trudging through life celibate, which was one of our theories. And no more will he have to listen to Godfather Pringle scolding him, “You need to be seen with a girl!”
And he should thank braver people from Bao Nguyen to Barney Frank for making it safe for him to come out.
Vern, you’re a complete piece of shit for what you wrote. Bao just came out weeks ago. But he’s brave and Jordan isn’t? Coming out is everyone’s choice. Coming out is a brave act regardless of when it happens.
Yeah Bao is brave alright. Anyone have the phone number for those hot Vietnamese girls he’d bring as dates to the Truman dinner? What was her name? Miss Beard?
I admire your testicular fortitude for sleeping with a woman who gets the “when are you due” question daily.
The sort of comment we would delete at the OJ Blog, but Dan has no problem with. This is about the sixth or seventh time Dan lets Pinky trash Donna for no reason in a story that has nothing to do with her. (Dan’s all “what? I never saw anything” while he secretly snickers.)
Keep all those comments up if you like them, nobody out here is asking you to take them down. It reflects solely on this trashy blog.
So are you dating Donna or not; there’s no name in the comment identifying who your girlfriend is and you’ve denied it frequently. Make up your mind.
Whether I am or not which is nobody’s business (you don’t see me broadcasting the identity of Jordan’s boyfriend do you) it’s obvious that it’s Donna whose looks Pinky has been insulting for about six threads so far, in stories that have nothing to do with her, and you having no problem with it.
So, if this were some other woman he was insulting, who had nothing to do with the thread, you’d have no problem with that either? Good to know.
If a name gets named, it’s gone…I’m surprised you’re dating at all. Its not like you’re a catch. Donna, really? That’s an interesting pairing. But spare me your moral outrage with stuff you call people in posts and comments. Hypocrite.
LOL. Well we can’t all be as sexy as Dan Chmielewski, that’s for sure!
32 years with the same woman and I totally overachieved in marriage.
Then again, how could you NOT have “overachieved in marriage”? That’s a pretty low bar for you to clear.
You’re thinking “underachieve.” You know, like how your wife underachieved when she married you. She deserves much better.
Once again, it’s the “Pee-wee Herman” counterattack from you. I’ll just let it lie there and fester.
You delete this sort of comment on OJ blog; no you don’t…not if it has to do with me, or Matt, or Henry, or Pringle, or a host of other names….spare me your hypocrisy.
Liar.
PS the “miss beard” part was funny though and on target.
Vern, Jordan’s sexuality is none of your business. But since we’re into demanding private information, tell me this. Are you completely paid up on child support payments? When you were a guest of county government for your last DUI, did you have any special friends in jail? Why is Bao brave and Jordan’s not when they both came out weeks apart? Still going to AA? Or are you still hitting the hootch regularly. And please explain how your Anna Drive friend got that BIG black eye last Fall. Hum it to the theme from Rocky when you give your answers.
Well I’m not a public figure or running for office, but what the hell.
1. What child support? My youngest son is 24 now; and when me and his mom were divorced I did keep up with all my child support.
2. Jordan’s political career has been going a LOT longer than Bao’s had when he came out; and I also don’t remember Bao ever DENYING he was gay as Jordan used to. Still my first sentence stands, better late than never, it is good Jordan came out, good for Jordan and good for gay people.
3. ‘special friends in jail” – huh? OH! You’re one of those idiots who thinks everyone has gay sex in jail. Never saw it happen actually, but did meet lots of great guys there. Creative caring people with poor impulse control and generally not much education.
4. not an AA guy, but drink very rarely. It’s not good for me.
5. Donna told your chum Lorri Galloway how she got that black eye, and so it is protected by confidentiality, but in brief it was an embarrassing accident and didn’t have anything to do with me.
Have a nice day.
1. Good for you. But you are a public figure.
2. Bao was appointed in 2011, elected in 2012; Jordan was elected to School Board in 2008; three years is a LOT longer? Sure it is.
3. People have asked me if you were “gay for the stay.” I defer them to you. But no one I know wants to get close to you. Hygiene….
4. Excuse me, I sneezed. It sounds like the word “bullshit” when I do. You drink rarely but seem to spend a lot of time coming out of liquor stores.
5. I saw Donna’s black eye on video from a council meeting and asked her about it. She said it was none of my business which is interesting because she was a council candidate at the time. She told Lorri; good. Lorri will protect her confidentiality. I don’t believe it didn’t have anything to do with you.
And you “firmly believe” that Mayor Tait is only on the OCTA board to scope out more work for his company once he’s termed out. (While the rest of us are just glad he’s there to help fight toll lanes and boondoggles like the Disney streetcar.) You believe whatever your dark little heart finds acceptable.
pretty much….I’ve spoken with people he’s asked about contracts before. And what a nice chunk of change he’ll get from GARDEN GROVE for work on that Water Park Hotel financed in the same manner of deals he’s voted against as Mayor. If he was principled, he wouldn’t pursue that sort of deal and leave it to others. But he’s a “do as I say, not as I do” sort of guy; glad you cover for him and other Republicans so well
Finally, since I apparently can’t get enough of this thread:
“Vern, Jordan’s sexuality is none of your business.”
You just wrote a damn story about it, you memory-free cretin! On a blog, with a comments section! Ah, the “eternal sunshine of the spotless mind.”
“But since we’re into demanding private information…”
Me? I did that when and where? Sphincter boy says what?
The implication is he was asked about his sexuality over and over again and denied it; that’s what I mean by it’s none of your business. You do realize the human body has multiple sphincter muscles and its not just where your brains are located.
Today is a good day for Jordan Brandman and a good day for the LGBTQ community. Anyone who has gone through the coming out process, whether from a position of safety and support, or from a hostile climate of oppression and danger, knows it will be one of the most challenging moments in their lifetime. For some, and I hope this is the case with Jordan, it is a moment in time when you can finally set aside the lies, deception and fear and live a full life, free to be yourself, to truly and honestly love and be loved. For others, it is a difficult time of emotional and physical abuse, estrangement from family and friends, homelessness, alcohol and drug abuse, sexual exploitation etc.
So today I would say to Jordan..thank you for taking the courageous step of coming out as an openly gay public official in one of the most conservative counties in the nation. But I would also ask that you be mindful that with your newfound position of power and privilege, comes a responsibility to be a role model for those who are still struggling to come out as well as those marginalized members of our community who are suffering. Issues such as homeless LGBTQ youth, trans ICE detainees in Santa Ana, bullying in our schools and lack of proper healthcare for those with HIV and AIDS are now placed upon your shoulders. I sincerely hope you are up to the challenges ahead.
Very well written Jeff.
Nicely said Jeff, but that responsibility isn’t limited to gay electeds. It applies to straights too, and Democrats and Republicans alike. Let’s apply the label of being a good role model to everyone.
In my opinion Mr. Brandman’s announcement has ZERO bearing on his ability to serve in congress. Although I am sure, as we have seen here, early much will be made of it, by “progressives” and “conservatives” alike. That is the landscape.
It is interesting that the My guy came out first” debate appears to be taking place (disgustingly as it may be), when most people were aware, and I know, K-N-O-W Bao debated, discussed “coming out” before his narrow victory as Garden groves mayor. I am told, an I believe he did not because of political influence/calculation. To claim that another homosexual candidate, did not, would not share this intensely personal, private, evolving information is both horrible and speaks to the characters of the individuals and colleagues they are associated with. I would hope and expect, these so called “progressives” would put a stop to this at once, but I won’t hold my breath.
I suspect and expect lots of lip service on this, when really it boils down to do we want a Congressman who “COST LIVES” according to one blogger, one who has been politically inactive for a decade and has served the master of the connected, a guy who hasn’t been mayor for a year or another who has just come forward with a genuine announcement.
the best news is: most of the people chiming in….DON’T GET TO PICK!!!!
This is going to keep Greg Diamond up all night trying to find a way to trash Brandman while leaving Bao and his brother-in-law out of it.
What, because they’re all three gay? And you think Greg would attack Jordan for being gay? What a weenie you are, pinky.
Your riveting anonymous fantasies aside, I don’t read this blog regularly enough that I caught this news before this morning when Vern mentioned it during a phone call about who would be covering the debate.
I’m glad that Jordan is out of the closet because it was always painful to see him confined within it. My concern was that he might have suppressed his sexuality altogether for decades, to the point of an asexual lifestyle, which can’t be good for one’s psyche.
I hope that Pinky comes out of the closet — a different closet, I presume — as well soon. This anonymity seems to have had horribly corrosive effects on his soul.
It’s painful to see you confined to XL plaid shirts. It’s not slimming. Those poor buttons
I just love that Dan allows comments like this on his blog. So funny!
It’s sarcasm!
This again? Explain to me how Pinky’s comment was “sarcasm.” I urge you to look up the word first if you need to — and you definitely need to.
“You sure are consistent in condemning fat-shaming!” See, THAT’S sarcasm! Study up on why.
I suspect I use the same definition the editors at OJ use when “sarcasm” is posted about me shining Brandman’s shoes.
No, that’s parody. Those comments are written by some person — and I don’t know who it is — using the pseudonym “Dan D. Stalker,” which is an obviously false parody of you. People have done the same in this blog and on Cunningham’s blog pretending, obviously falsely, to be me as well – without, so far as I can remember, you’re objecting. They’ve just been much less skillful.
You don’t like “sarcasm?” OK, its Parody then. Both are protected speech even if the subject of said speech doesn’t get it. Toughen up already.
And how is Pinky’s comment “parody”? Do you know what a parody is?
Are you giving less deference than usual to words’ actual definitions here, or is this the standard of care that you always employ?
It meets your standard of “Dan D. Stalker.” Should people tell you to polish Tom Tait’s shoes or get him a Latte? Is that better? You have zero problem dishing out insults on a regular basis Greg…when you dish zingers and people throw them back, you cry like a 5 year old. Either engage in commentary without insults or buck up and take the heat when its served on you.
I can not let this disingenuous comment sneak by:
“My concern was that he might have suppressed his sexuality altogether for decades, to the point of an asexual lifestyle, which can’t be good for one’s psyche.”
REALLY. Were you concerned Bao Ngyuen would suppress his sexuality to the point of psychological damage? Was Bao’s decision to publically disclose his sexuality until AFTER he won an election by a mere 14 votes troubling? Did that concern you that his suppressing his sexuality for the sake of political aspirations worry you? GET REAL.
I would love to know your Brother(s) in laws view on your opinion? as openly gay men, who appear, by all evidence to have entered into a relationship somewhat recently, did they or would they consider not coming out to be damaging to their psyche?
Does your obnoxiousness have no limit? Do you believe that your opinion is the end all, the mirror is a great place to look Dr. Diamond., however scary.
I never thought you would sell your soul to the highest bidder, but, I have no doubt if that bidder had an outlet for attention: SOLD.
It has not been that unusual for closeted homosexuals to remain celibate (at least for a loooooong time) despite their yearnings, so that was always a sad possibility. And some people are apparently asexual, so that was a possibility too. Jordan had always been quick with the “my girlfriend who lives in Canada” routine, but no one ever met his “Alberta.” It was sad. I’m glad that he’s now done with that chapter of his life.
Bao, by contrast, was always pretty clearly gay, though disinclined to discuss it (at least with those like me who are not that close to him), and was willing to honor publicly the taboos within his tight-knit and socially conservative ethnic community. He never seemed tortured by his sexuality, just unhappy over its repression. Anyone who has known both of them would see a vast difference in their situations. I’m glad that both of them felt free and strong enough to come out this year.
Explain all those “Ms. Beard” dates at public functions. Bao always had a hottie on his arm.
This would be such an informative blog if it wasn’t for the constant trashing comment from people who don’t respect the rules of civility, including the writers. It is painful to see the childish name calling and bullying that goes on here. Most of the time I feel like I am in a playground watching uneducated children go at it. Sad, too bad this blog has become worse than the OCWeekly.
welcome to the world of blog comments; I’m civil to those who are civil to me.
Easymac, I agree with the back and forth trashing being “painful”…but I suppose we don’t have to read the comments section. I can’t help it though. 🙂 I do like and enjoy reading the information Dan puts out on this blog.
Thanks; keep reading….if the posts are meaningful, that’s what I’m shooting for.
Vern, that remark sucked. Seriously sucked. Really. Another human being has arrived at a very hard-to-get-to place of being OK with who he is and finding someone to love the whole package. There are people on this earth who NEVER get to that place, gay, straight or whatever. We don’t get to weigh in on whether it happened on our time table, or rip on someone for not being comfortable talking about a very personal part of themselves with speculators. None of us is without guilt in being uncomfortable about parts of our lives and wrestling with incorporating it all into who we become.
Connor, while I think we are all plenty curious about the identity of the love interest. can you wave that man card any higher in the desperate effort to make sure we all know the man in Jordan’s life is not you? Nope, nothing to see here, I’m happy for my BROTHER and I’m just gonna be over here being heterosexual with my GIRLFRIEND…I hope Jordan fully understands your not-so-thinly-veiled “NOT ME!” Actually that would be like a best friend commenting on your ugly dress as you head into your birthday party, so I hope he doesn’t read that.
No, Jordan is not obligated to serve as the poster child for Gay Pride. He ran for City Council, not Executive Director of the LGBTQ Outreach Program. There are folks out there who are comfortable with their private lives in the public domain and we can make role models of them, with their consent. Jordan clearly asked not to, but his private news has become public blog fodder, because others want to applaud him for being “brave.” Tell me, did he issue a media release? I’ll bet he was asked if it was OK to post something so we could “celebrate” with him…why is that necessary? Why is it not enough for him to tell those who need to know (like those who need to be pricing toasters and ugly bridesmaids dresses) and for the rest of us there is the time honored tradition of updating the facebook account to “in a relationship” with a pic of the two of them which gets the message out pretty clearly. We say orientation is not relevant, and then make a huge deal about it when someone comes out. Someone who clearly struggled for a long time about who he is or how others would see him or accept him has finally found peace and hopefully some happiness, and unless we are offering the congratulations we might offer anyone of our acquaintance who had found the soul mate they waited decades for, it is time for ALL of us to shut it. That includes me, before we drag more negativity into someone’s Happy Dance.
Good night, all.
Thank you Cynthia for saying something a “leading advocate for LGBTQ” wouldn’t do yesterday (it was a Facebook argument). Apparently once I called Vern a name, all bets were off. That said, I appreciate what you wrote because I know its sincere and I am sure Jordan appreciates it as well.
Cynthia, you are correct, Vern sucks! And how will Joshua Collins handle this news?!
I did not say Vern sucks, I said his comment did. We all screw up and say things we haven’t thought through. James Robert Reade is the poster child for that statement.
Awww,,, and Dan and Jim-Bob both thought they had a new ally!
Reade’s no ally of mine anymore than Fitzgerald is one of yours
So are you finally acknowledging that Fitzgerald is not an “ally” of Vern’s, or are you tacitly admitting that Reade IS an ally of yours?
Okay, okay. The consensus among my foes and friends alike is that I’m a jerk to criticize Jordan for taking so long and for lying about it. Fine, I apologize, I won’t do it again. I guess everybody on their own time schedule. I’m probably thinking from a position of straight-person privilege.
I’ll just leave it with this – by numerous accounts it was the influence of Curt Pringle that kept him in the closet so long. Welcome to a new world, Jordan.
PS Cynthia I know who his boyfriend is and *I’m not saying!* Not in public anyway.
So do I, and its nobody’s business is it?
Ok, everybody stop messaging me, it’s nobody famous, mobody you would have heard of.
That’s true, which is why its nobody’s business…
Hey, we agree on something.
Uh, no it wasn’t. I sat across the table from him and we talked it out. Pringle never came up. The decision was Jordan’s alone based on changes in his life. It’s that simple. Try getting information direct from the source isn’t of making it up. But I’ll have to remember the…”by numerous accounts” line when I want to communicate a lie..
Duh. Like he would lay the blame, WHEN TALKING TO A BLOGGER, at the feet of the guy who is still his patron and dear father figure.
My claim comes from folks who knew him and were friends with him for years.
and my claim comes directly from listening to him explain his story. Direct from the source or circumstantial with a case of bias….you’re call on which is more accurate. Maybe Mr. Pringle will hire you to play at his Holiday Party Vern…..who could resist that add, clean clothes and all…..
So whatever someone says directly should be credited and whatever lots of eyewitnesses say is true shouldn’t be given any weight? That’s an interesting approach to journalism.
If Pringle “never came up” in the conversation, how do you know that he, as one of Jordan’s primary political patrons, DIDN’T advise him to keep it hidden? I’m not saying that Pringle did so; I’m just trying to follow your logic.
You have an eyewitness Mr. Pringle told Jordan to stay in the closet or come out? Please produce them. Absent that, quotes from the source directly explaining a personal decision trump hearsay. This was Jordan’s idea alone. That was the first question asked
Jordan said that coming out in the middle of an election campaign was “his idea alone”? He didn’t even consult with Melahat about it? That’s … I’m trying to avoid the word “incredible” here … highly surprising.
It’s true that hearsay testimony not falling under an exception, such as what Vern offers would not be admitted into court. Then again, self-interested and uncorroborated testimony from a self-interests witness would generally not be given much weight. Of course, we’re not in court. So when you say “produce a witness,” I presume that this is some sort of role-playing fantasy of yours.
Cuckoo For Cocoa Puffs is all I have to say to this.
This guy is as CRAZY as a “SH!t HOUSE MOUSE” , to use a common description of Diamond within the party.
Now we await the middle night communications from Nutjob and Busybody.
Greg, Jordan told me it was his decision alone. I’m sorry you struggle believing it, but it’s true. It’s also true that your the one who sees things not there and miss things that are right in front of you. For example, you claimed Joe Dunn has no website and you neglected to note a URL for one in the press release you copied. It’s a bad website, sure. But it’s a website all the same. Pringle isn’t in the picture on Jordan’s decision.
There are many things that I disagree with Jordan about.
That said, I am so glad for Jordan. This is great news for him and for Orange County. Orange County LGBTQ youth now have another role model and that’s always a good thing. To know that there are people in power like you is empowering.
Everyone’s journey is not the same, so to criticize Jordan for not coming out at the right time is ludicrous. No one’s experience growing up or relationship with their family is the same, and society still stigmatizes LGBT people, making it hard for people to come to grips with who they are and their expression of it publicly.
The proper response, I think, is to support and be happy for someone who has achieved a personal level of acceptance and peace with who they are.
Thanks Joe.
You can expect that the Republican Party of Orange County, and various other OC PACs, will have no problem using Jordan’s or Bao’s sexuality as a future point of attack.
We all miss you, Joe.
if you only knew why I’m laughing at this now….
I don’t know or care why you’re laughing, but I am interested in why you would write a comment that implicitly suggests that Joe Shaw has some attitude towards Vern that he apparently doesn’t want to say out loud himself. Joe has a good set of social skills; maybe you should try to learn something from him.
I had decided to ignore that petty taunt … some things that people say to me about others stop right here.
Like I said, you won’t understand why and you clearly don’t. I’m not about to tell you
Oooh, he knows a SECRET that Vern DOESN’T know!
Another perfectly good post hijacked by the knuckleheads at Orange Juice with Dan continuing to fight them. Seriously Dan, ignore Vern and Greg, they add no value to the conversation and you don’t look good either. Just sayin. Congratulations Jordan!
Amen.
I hadn’t even heard about this post until this morning. Apparently, either that didn’t prevent me from disrupting this post without being here or the previous anonymous commenter is working off of a prepared script.
Upon reading this thread I am beginning to believe LaMar Odom is in a good place respectively.
CRAZY
Sometimes we think that Dan C is the densest of the dense, who can never quite tell what the other person is saying, but it’s probably just the strawman-argument trick of consultants and publicists like him and Matt.
I never said once on this thread that Pringle had anything to do with Jordan coming out. I said that it was at Pringle’s urging he stayed in the closet and in denial for so many years.
I have no idea if he finally decided to defy him, or got some sort of green light from him. I sincerely hope it’s the former, because it would be good to see Jordan defy Curt on a HOST of issues that actually affect the public. Just imagine!
One surprising sign from yesterday’s debate was when he came out UNEQUIVOCALLY for marijuana legalization. This, from the guy who was leading the charge against Anaheim’s dispensaries less than a year ago? Any of us who actually follow issues did a double take. More, Jordan! More!
You guys see everything through Pringle googles. Jordan has kept this secret to himself until he was ready to come out. How many times does it have to be said? Sorry, you and Greg represent the densest of the dense.
Well, so you think and so he told you. But stop pretending I said something I didn’t say. It’s a very dishonest, transparent, and cheap trick.
Please see your comment from 10/16 at 11:38am. Pringle, Primgle, Pringle
… kept him in the closet. Last time I clarify myself. I think pretty much everyone here besides you at least speaks English. Have your last word now.
Give it up, Vern: we have no possible defense to the Peewee Herman “I know you are but what am I?” gambit, which is logically devastating in junior high schools across the country!
Evidence please. Show me evidence Pringle kept Jordan in the closet. You have no defense because you have no proof other than Pringle is your boogeyman for everything.
I am not the one making the charge. Vern says that he’s heard from East and accounts from people who are weak no, but I’m not him. So why are you shouting?
“Vern says that he’s heard from East and accounts from people who are weak no, but I’m not him. ”
What? This sentence makes no sense.
True. Looks like a dictation error. Strike everything starting with “Vern” through “but.”
Any proof to back that up? I don’t think Pringle cares about that at all.
Vern, did you punch someone in the face? A woman? That might qualify you to run for Anaheim city council on a Tom Tait slate. Kindness Vern, kindness.
I strongly suggest that our host should delete this malicious and misleading anonymous comment and ban the guttersnipe (if you know who it is.)
Diamond looks increasingly like someone who can dish it out but, can’t take it.
When all else fails and you can’t defend your position……accuse the guy of being “anonymous”.
Parody, no. Sarcasm. No Parody.
He can’t. He can dish but clearly cannot take it
Dan, you left your Christian Louboutin small sweet charity shoulder bag at the bar last night. Would you like us to send it to you Fed Ex overnight?
What? Up late drinking again I see.
Thank you for your anonymous, self-serving, and easily dismissed opinion. Someone would have to be an idiot to go along with it. Now let me go see how our host — who famously used to rail against anonymous attacks on him — responded to it.
…
Oh well. Why should I surprised?
I still have anonymous attacks on me on your blog. Quit your bitching