The Cheney family has their claws out this week. After speaking out against marriage equality last week, Liz Cheney experienced an intense backlash not only from the LGBT community, but from her sister as well. Liz’s statement read, “I am strongly pro-life and I am not pro-gay marriage.” The statement came as a bit of a shock, as her sister, Mary Cheney, is openly gay, and has even received support from her father, good old Dick. Dick Cheney has even stated that gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry, so what gives, Liz? Mary expressed her distaste for her sister’s views on marriage equality via Facebook on Friday, according to the New York Times. “For the record, I love my sister, but she is dead wrong on the issue of marriage,” Cheney wrote. “Freedom means freedom for everyone,” she added. “That means that all families – regardless of how they look or how they are made – all families are entitled to the same rights, privileges and protections as every other.” Yikes.
Verbally sparring online is expected in this day and age, mostly due to the accessibility and obsession with social media outlets. We know Cheney is human, so it’s understandable that she would take to Facebook to address a problem. Hell, even Lance Bass took to Twitter this week to announce his engagement. Bass tweeted an emphatic “He said YES!!” to followers, followed by “Love this man.” Social media was once a private place to speak and with friends and share information and updates with a tight-knit group. Now that personal privacy is gone, especially for celebrities, though they seem to have done it to themselves. Celebrities, politicians and major corporations use Facebook to advertise and promote their own personal brand, in lieu of print. I know you’re thinking that it was inevitable, but that doesn’t make it any less of a shame.
The Cheney family’s issues are now front and center, for all of the world to see, but don’t feel bad for them, feel bad for all of us. After all, it was Mary Cheney who addressed the issue on Facebook instead of speaking to a publication. While Liz Cheney’s stance on marriage equality is likely just for “politics” in anticipation of her run for the Senate in 2014 (Wyoming), Mary Cheney isn’t exactly doing the world any favors by being a Chatty Cathy on Facebook. She could have just as easily made a statement to a major news outlet, especially as the daughter of a former vice president. Sophocles once said, “Foolishness is indeed the sister of wickedness,” and boy was he right.
Hopefully they make amends before the holiday season. If not, I foresee a new reality show on E! premiering in 2014. “Keeping Up with the Cheneys” anyone?
