Columnist's apologia for gay suspect inappropriate

Mac Diva

Andy Parker appears to have been played for a fool. But, in response, instead of being appalled, the columnist for the Oregonian has penned a whiny,willfully blind piece seeking to defend his short-sightedness. Parker's advocacy for gay rights has made him insensitive to one of the worst crimes that a person can perpetrate against another. Months ago Parker extolled the virtues of a man who is likely a child molester. He recently revisited that column.

It's been almost a year now since Multnomah County's decision to issue marriage licenses to gay couples helped ignite a national debate.

In the middle of it all, I went looking for a local gay couple whose personal stories might help me better understand the quiet tears of joy I witnessed during the four hours I walked the line that snaked around the building where the licenses were being issued.

My hope was to find a couple who, more than making a political statement, had already demonstrated a long commitment to each other. A couple like Karl Rusterholtz and Steve Bulleit.

I wrote a column last year about the two men and the boy who for almost eight years has been under their legal guardianship.

As you may know, Steve Bulleit (pictured) was arrested on charges of sexually abusing a child he obtained custody of in California five years ago this week. The boy, only 11 when he entered Bulleit's home, was allegedly sexually assaulted from shortly after Bulleit's guardianship until Bulleit was arrested. The alleged abuse came to light when Bulleit failed to remove child pornography, apparently including depictions of sexual acts involving the child, from a computer's hard drive before taking it in for repair.

As KATU-TV reports, detectives suspect that there may be other alleged victims.

"We know that he was a Sunday school teacher and that he took films at Clackamas High School," Manley says. "He filmed their sporting events, as a parent-helper and a volunteer for the school."

[Deputy Joel] Manley says there may be other victims and is requesting the public's assistance in the investigation.

"Unfortunately I think there may be more victims out there and we are asking anyone with information about Mr. Bulleit, talk to your kids, sit down and have a conversation with them to see if they have been around Mr. Bulleit and ask them what the circumstances were when they were around him." Manley says.

I recognized the name Steve Bulleit when I heard it on television news. I had read Parker's earlier column. I also paid attention to the gay marriage ceremonies earlier this year, which Bulleit and Rusterholtz participated in. In addition, I recalled coming across Bulleit online. That is relatively easy to do. The man maintains sites for his photography business, participates in genealogy forums and pops up at photography sites, local high school sports venues and government meetings.

Neighbors and friends say he has been involved with children as a Sunday school teacher and photographer of school sports events. One way of looking at the picture that emerges of Bulleit is as a civic-minded individual with a particular interest in helping youngsters. Another way to look at the picture is to see behavior that fits a pedophile. Persons with a sexual interest in children, usually male, avail themselves of opportunities for contact, such as church and sports events. Parker has chosen to do the former, while completely ignoring the latter. Indeed, in reading his column, one would almost not realize an alleged victim exists. When he speaks of the victim at all, it is to make a very cynical use of him.

If it turns out that Bulleit is guilty, I hope people will go out of their way not to further victimize this teenager by suggesting that this case in any way proves gays can't be trusted with children.

. . .my fear is someone's bound to try to turn this tragedy into a political opportunity.

That would be child abuse.

To Parker, the child exists only as a potential threat to the gay rights movement. Nowhere in the column is there an iota of sympathy expressed for the youngster who allegedly experienced an awful ordeal.

There should not be a double standard for Bulleit because of his sexual preference. Just months ago, a heterosexual teacher was charged with possessing child pornography. Gregg Ritchie is another resident of Clackamas County. KATU-TV also covered that story.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said they received a complaint from the North Clackamas School District that a parent was concerned about inappropriate conversations that Ritchie had with his child in an Internet chat room.

An forensic investigation by the sheriff's office revealed Ritchie's computers contained several photographs depicting minor children engaging in sexual activities.

Ritchie is currently being held at the Clackamas County Jail on $250,000 bail.

No columns have been written attempting to shift attention away from his alleged misconduct, and I doubt there will be. That is as it should be. The two cases are about adults who allegedly breached the trust given them by their youthful charges. The fact that one of the accused is gay in no way changes where the focus should be -- on the alleged crimes. Andy Parker was played for a fool when he wrote his first column. He behaved like a fool when he wrote the second one.

Note: My blog is Mac-a-ro-nies.

By Mac Diva Feb. 03, 2005