Sec of Ed Margaret Spellings and Buster

[TexasBushwhacker]

Where do I start?

Margaret (Dudar) Spellings and I grew up in the same neighborhood. We were in the same Brownie troop for a while. She was in one of my elementary school classes until her folks put her in parochial school. I went to one of her birthday parties. We went to the same junior high and high school. We weren't close friends, but we were in the same social circle.

In high school in the early 70's, if you were gay, you weren't "out", especially in Houston. The thing is, Margaret's boyfriend Mark was one of those poor guys who had to pretend to be straight.

Today another friend reminded me that Margaret was the one responsible for all the uproar over the "Postcards from Buster" program about visiting Vermont and a family that had - GASP - 2 moms!

Among other things, Margaret told PBS, "Many parents would not want their young children exposed to the lifestyles portrayed in this episode."

Well, I'm sure there are parents that wouldn't want their young children to be "exposed" to interracial couples, families of other religions, etc. but that's life in the real world. Furthermore, I can't help but wonder how Margaret feels about gays staying in the closet. After all, if her boyfriend was free to be open about his sexuality way back when, I'm sure it would have saved her a lot of heartache and embarrassment.

[davidinalameda]

1. so maybe her homophobia is a reaction to her BF being gay

or maybe she's just an idiot

[Maat]

2. Thanks so much for the story!

It explains quite a bit. I take it she found out eventually.

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. I'm sure she did

Mark was an early victim of AIDS in the 80's. It's funny, but even though I'd known Margaret longer, I was more friendly with Mark in high school. He was a wonderful, funny guy, very handsome, and a darn good actor in our school plays. I was so sad when I learned at our 10th reunion that we'd lost him. Having graduated in 1975, we lost way too many to AIDS, even the former president of the Young Republicans club.

[Maat]

5. Oh, Spirit bless him.

I hope he transitioned peacefully and successfully.

Hopefully, his energy will grace the planet in a new life.

[Maat]

3. My hubby is down in Houston right now.

Flew in from SoCal on Tuesday.

His biz is actually incorporated in Tejas (I will say no more; my lips are sealed).

I was so mad about her pressuring PBS - that episode basically was pulled; fortunately, I was able to see it with my daughter anyway on the internet.