In defense of Roy Herron: sometimes straight men wear short shorts

Roy Herron, touching another man (Credit: Trace Sharp)

Prominent Tennessee state senator Roy Herron is just trying to do what so many Americans are too: fight back against fat. Too bad his efforts to stay fit and eat well are being used against him by the NRCC, whose recent campaigns against Herron are strung together by thinly veiled references to the senator’s body image problems and – maybe – his downright gayness.

Like most of us, Herron has started himself a little blog, where he sometimes muses and rambles on his battle against the dreaded middle-aged spread and his recreational marathon running. One tidbit:

In early 1997, friends were telling me I looked “senatorial.” What did that mean? One morning at a health care conference, I looked in the hotel mirror, and realized it meant I looked eight months pregnant. Seriously.

I’ve been there, Roy. A few months ago, I too was the victim of a faux-pregnancy belly. I’m sure these moments of insecurity happen to the best, and fittest, among us – and, most importantly, they aren’t exclusive to women. The political media’s obsession with the female form only makes it seem that way.

NRCC reps are less enthused than I am about Herron’s health candor. In an interview with Eric Kleefeld, NRCC spokesperson Andy Seré had some choice words to describe Herron’s priorities:

“Rather than protecting small businesses, rather than protecting taxpayers, he often seems more interested in watching what he eats, making sure he’s jogging enough miles everyday, and just watching his body image very closely.”

Somehow, I don’t think that a senator blogging about health and fitness – two priorities that ought to be higher up on the list for most Americans – is a body image crisis that outweighs Herron’s political abilities.

But then things got weirder. In a press release, the NRCC criticized Herron’s support for gay adoption and his affiliation with a gay-oriented local newspaper. Following the criticism is this sly little number:

“So why can’t Roy Herron just be straight with West and Middle Tennesseans and admit it?” 

And this picture, of Herron wearing some revealing running attire:

Even if Herron is gay, no one should care (I know, I know, some would and do). From what I can tell, the NRCC has had insider info on the hidden sexual orientation of politicians before. But newsflash for those responsible for homophobic smear campaigns: sure, sometimes gay men wear thigh-baring shorts. Sometimes straight men wear thigh-bearing shorts. Other times, straight men with gay inklings wear them. And, for the record, even bisexual men, lesbian women and oversexed pop stars wear them.

Unlike the NRCC, running shorts don’t discriminate: they look great, show off quadriceps that reflect a commitment to fitness, and are the practical choice for marathoners of any age, size and sexual preference.

And if Roy Herron is a little bit self-conscious, then power to it: female politicians have had their bodies attacked, mocked and scrutinized for decades. To suggest that body image problems only afflict women is insulting and wrong-headed, and kudos to Herron for reflecting the truth. And for looking damn good in those shorts.