52. The Press Conference
Anticipating a large number of visitors in Claudia’s room to watch the press conference, Audrey had emptied the wastebaskets, scrubbed the toilet, wiped down the bathroom sink, and picked all the dead and drying flowers from the various bouquets that covered every surface of the room.
“There are people who are paid to do that momma,” she said, laughing at her mother.
“You know I can’t stand to just wait.”
“I feel guilty just sitting here,” Rita Jane said. “Can I do anything to help?”
“Help Claudia change into a clean shirt and shorts. And do something with her hair. It looks wild.”
Audrey had gone around to other patients’ rooms asking to borrow their chairs so had managed to squeeze six into the small space, but they had to keep the door to the room open to do so.
At 3:30 they turned on C-SPAN 1, to make sure they didn’t miss any of the news conference. A reporter was interviewing Ken Parker who said that Weymouth had never called for a press conference without disclosing the topic. Parker guessed that he was going to announce a special piece of legislation related to the shooting, such as making it a federal offense to kill someone because of their testimony at a congressional hearing.
Dan’s father had managed to convince Dave to leave Dan’s side, but only on the condition that Dan’s mother would call immediately if anything happened. Paul and Aimee had also come by to visit Dan, so they tagged along, too. Leigh had come to visit Rita Jane and Claudia.
At 4:00, the camera panned to an image of the Capitol Building, and then showed a throng of reporters with cameras and notebooks in hand. Weymouth stepped forward to the microphone.
“Good afternoon. Thank you for coming. I have prepared a brief statement that I will read and then answer questions,” he said his face expressionless.
“Two days ago, after testifying at an oversight hearing in my committee, Dan Canavan was shot outside the Rayburn House Office Building by someone who claimed he did not like his position on gay issues. Dan Canavan is an extremely talented advocate and lobbyist and cares passionately about protecting the civil and human rights of all people.
“I got to know Dan when he was lobbying the SOFA bill. Most lobbyists who work on this issue would not have bothered to lobby me. I’m a Republican, and they work with Democrats. Dan was different. He sought me out and asked for my help. I believe that it was his public involvement in this issue that led to his shooting.
“Dan could have made a lot of money working for a big K-Street lobbying firm, but instead he chose to use his law degree to work for a nonprofit organization working to end discrimination against gay and lesbian people.
“Institutionalized discrimination is still very much alive and well in the United States. Gay people, with a few exceptions, do not have the right to marry. This fact means that in a majority of states they cannot
legally adopt children together, share health benefits or make end-of-life decisions. This legally sanctioned discrimination makes it socially acceptable to treat gay people as second-class citizens. It also leads some misguided people to believe that they can use violence against gay people.
“The only way for laws to change is for people to change and that is why today I am choosing to publicly announce that I, too, am a homosexual. Although I am married and have three children, I have always been gay. My wife, who is my best friend, knows this about me, but married me anyway. Dan Canavan learned about my true identity and instead of publicly outing me, he privately approached me and asked for my support in trying to oppose SOFA.
“I always thought that it was okay for me to have my public career and my private sexual identity. I rationalized, as do many others, that whomever I chose to love is nobody’s business. Now I realize how wrong I was.
“I believe I have done a good job representing the citizens of the Fourth Congressional District in Mississippi. I hope my constituents will re-elect me, but if they choose not to then I am willing to accept that outcome. There are more important issues at stake than my political career. What is at stake is creating a safe society for all citizens, whatever their race, nationality, gender or sexual orientation. Any questions.”
There was a pause of several seconds before the media pounced on him.
“Are you coming out of the closet because you feel guilty about Dan Canavan’s shooting?”
“I am coming out of the closet because I believe it might prevent future shootings.”
“Did you have an affair with Dan Canavan?”
“No.”
“Do you believe it is your fault that Dan Canavan was shot?”
“No.”
“Is Dan going to survive?”
“It is unclear at this point if he will or not.”
“Did Dan Canavan father a child with Claudia Connors, a lesbian?”
“I am not here to talk about anyone else.”
“Are you going to get a divorce?”
“Absolutely not. My wife and I love each other and love our children. We aren’t the only married couple who doesn’t sleep together.”
This remark got a laugh from the reporters and gave Weymouth the break he needed to wrap things up. “Thank you very much for coming. I have to get back to work now.”
Claudia turned down the volume on the commentators offering their opinions about why Weymouth had done what he had done. Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to say.
“Unbelievable,” Dave said.
“Incredible,” Rita Jane said.
“That poor man,” Audrey said. “It must be weighing heavily on his soul.”
“Dan would be proud,” Claudia said.