Poor Aaron Maloy

As a reporter for In Newsweekly, I have the opportunity to cover some pretty peculiar people and stories, especially duing election season.

One such case is Aaron Maloy, the openly-gay (mind you) Republican candidate for State Rep. in Barnstable 4th.

First off, the race may be unprecedented. Two major party, openly gay candidates (the other being Democrat Sarah Peake) are running to represent a sea-hugging corridor that includes one of the gayest towns in all of America: Provincetown. Sarah Peake is endorsed by Freedom to Marry Coalition, MassEquality and is widely known as a staunch supporter of full equal marriage rights. With that said, it wasn't long before I gave Maloy the litmus test (ie his thoughts on gay marriage).

I.N.: Why are you against gay marriage?

A.M.: "Basically I see it as being a right to vote and I think it would be voted down; the issue would go back to the Supreme Court who voted it in. The vote would be like a poll and it would give them a voice. If people wanted to collect 170,000 signatures, we should let them vote."

On the question of campaign fundraising, Maloy implies on his blog that his opponent, Sarah Peake, is not being a true Cape Codder because she has collected so many contributions from beyond Barnstable County.

I.N.: Don't you think Peake is soliciting financial contributions from state citizens who want to protect their civil right to marriage?

A.M.: "Of course, it is, but that doesn't make it right ... the gay lobby shouldn't be deciding our elections and our issues. I consider it dirty money. If that isn't a quote gay agenda, I don't know what it is. I don't think her campaign should be financed by the gay lobby."

To his credit, Maloy did bring up other local issues that he is passionate about. And this is when he sounds more like a generous liberal than a self-loathing Republican.

A.M.: "Affordable housing is one, people can't afford to live here. Young people are leaving the cape in droves, they are being marginalized into poverty and homelessness. So I am concerned about public welfare and quality of life."

But then he has the gall to tell me that he is trying to bring people together since they have been so divided over the gay marriage issue. But his antidote is to introduce very progressive legislation, once elected, that will grant gay and lesbian couples all the rights and benefits of marriage, without calling it that. Basically he wants Massachusetts to turn back its own clock and become more like New Jersey.

A.M.: "I think gay marriage is an oxymoron. If I wanted to be married, I'd be straight, it's a heterosexual thing ... What's really dividing people is that people feel like their right to vote is being taken away."

Unfortunately, I was not able to contact Sarah Peake in time for press. From Maloy's feedback, however, I don't think it was necessary.