Jul 14 2008
That’s MISTER Faggot to YOU!
They say if you are not outraged, then you are not paying attention. I for one am outraged, and if you have a single nerve capable of firing off any common sense whatsoever, you should be as well. At the end of this post you’ll find code that you can use to link back. If you come across any links or organizations that should be included, reply with them. Thank you in advance for reading.
We are living in a time of extremist war against us all. What you think could never happen in this country IS happening, while the majority of us live our lives as if we are not affected and nothing will break our safe, comfortable little bubbles. We like to live as though nothing will ever be bad enough to really come in and destroy us, which is such an American trait, and take no notice of those who try relentlessly to do just that. To quote former U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater: “A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away.” Our government and the current administration throws out catchphrases like “freedom” and “democracy”, “right to live” and “judicial tyranny”, and gems like “defending our homes and families from fanatical, fundamentalist terrorism” almost on a daily basis - and has the nerve to ignore the fact that it has been the victim of the same kind of malevolent hypocrisy. We are living under the reign of Fundamentalist Christian terrorism, and we do nothing to stop it - least of all change the way we think about ourselves and use our voices in dissension. Use your minds and your voices and be the change you wish to see in the world.
Propaganda is and has always been a dangerous tool, especially when it is being used in the name of God. When God and the Bible (and the Quran, and the Book of Mormon) are being used as a club to beat people with, justice is raped and fairness ceases to exist. No one has the right to decide anything for you unless you make that choice for yourself to allow such a thing. I am never going to stand for anyone dictating what is or is not appropriate for me, least of all someone who appoints themselves as a spokesperson for an imaginary sky fairy I don’t even believe exists.
So to all of you, like minded people and not - gay, straight, faithful, faithless, questioning, whatever - understand something. I am an American, goddamnit. A big gay one. I need no one’s approval or permission to be who I am, and that includes loving intensely, fucking passionately, or saying whatever the bloody fuck I feel like saying. If you don’t like it, seek therapy. I support your right to say whatever misguided, rhetorical bullshit you want to say, but do not think for a single second that any of it is taken seriously. And I encourage anyone that listens to you to do the same, because the truth is you speak for no one but yourselves and if there really were any such thing as God then you are all completely fucked.
What you think could never happen IS happening. The same type of speech that Hitler used against the Jews is and always has been used against GLBT people by The Religious Reich. From the fringe to the mainstream, we’re going to cover all of these wingnuts and I’m going to get your brain integrated with them all personally before they take over and we are all forced to live in a Margaret Atwood novel.
The Fringe Fundies
I suppose I’ll start off with possibly the most notorious of them all, the Reverend and ceremoniously disbarred former attorney Fred Phelps. It all started years ago, but hit the media full on when he and his cult picketed Matthew Shepard’s funeral. Since then, there’s even been a film documentary made about him, aptly titled Hatemongers. According to Phelps’ official site(s), God Hates Fags. He also hates America. And Canada. And Sweden. But then apparently he also hates figs. And shrimp. And homophobes. As far as God hating fags, a literal reading of Genesis 19 proves otherwise. No one asked Jesus what he hated, but I found it anyway. See? I go the extra mile. Here’s an interview with Benjamin Phelps, who designs all of the family’s websites. They’re frequently monitored by one of my favorite websites, Baptist Watch.
I learned a lot about these people from Hatecrime. You can change their website so that all of the hate speech changes from using the word “gay” to using the words “Jews/Jewish” and “Blacks“. Nice perspective.
Then we have Repent America. And let’s not forget the Army of God. It’s a pretty long list, so I’ll just post the links in list form:
Mainstream Fundies
Traditional Values Coalition - you won’t believe their Homosexual Urban Legends page.
Concerned Women For America
Mission America
American Family Association - see also Boycott Ford, and Exposing The Myths About Homosexuality [.pdf]
Family Research Council
Focus on the Family
Eagle Forum
Alliance Defense Fund
Christian Coalition
Morality In MediaNo-One-Chooses-To-Be-Gay, Jesus-Can-Deliver-You To-Heterosexuality-Through-Prayer Fundies
Another Way Out
Courage
Cross Ministry
Dr. Warren Throckmorton
Exodus International
Gender Menders
Homosexuals Anonymous
JONAH: Jews Offering New Alternatives To Homosexuality
Love In Action - they were in the news recently.
NARTH: National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality
New Direction for Life Ministries Of Canada
PATH: Positive Alternatives To Homosexuality
People Can Change
P-FOX: Parents & Friends of ExGays
Reality Resources
Regeneration
Stephen Bennett Ministries
Witness Freedom MinistriesWritings
New Study Shows Homosexuals Live 20 Fewer Years - Homosexuality more dangerous than smoking or obesity - Dr. Paul Cameron, President of Family Research Institute and former member of the APA (membership revoked)How America Went Gay by Charles W. Socarides, M.D.
How To Argue With A Conservative Christian -ladysisyphus wrote this either in my honor or at my urging - I’m not sure. In either case, I love and adore her for it.
Fallacies of Distraction - Stephen Downes, a really good read. Might help you to arm yourself in general.DO NOT let these people (or anyone for that matter) tell you that you should be ashamed of being who you know you are. Be the change you wish to see in the world. Celebrate Pride, celebrate life, celebrate freedom.
7 Responses to “That’s MISTER Faggot to YOU!”
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Thank you for sharing your wealth of information.
Great post. I beleive that those signs should be against that law because they promote hate. Unfortunately, nobody does anything about this type of display as well as everything else.
I am never going to stand for anyone dictating what is or is not appropriate for me, least of all someone who appoints themselves as a spokesperson for an imaginary sky fairy I don’t even believe exists.
So then, God is gay?
The signs those folks are holding have two verses from the bible listed. Neither of those listed passages reference homosexuality even remotely. I wonder if they even have one clue in hell what the passages are about. Ah, but at least they didn’t use the overused ones from Leviticus again. I guess that’s something.
Blondiewrites: I know that it is infuriating, but unfortunately stupidity is not illegal - or painful, as I wished it was. Even the most unpopular speech deserves the same First Amendment protection that we receive, because if they have no rights to say what they choose as American citizens then we don’t either.
In fact, I encourage them to say these sorts of things - it serves to illuminate them better and gives onlookers a chance to know about these folks. It is far more dangerous when they’re incognito.
People who agree with them would have agreed with it with or without them, they have already made up their minds and that isn’t going to change. The bottom line is that whatever they think of us is none of our business and has nothing to do with who we are.
Doc Jeff: No, I can prove gay people exist.
The arguments the fundies use are circular and faulty at best, embarrassing at worst. It still doesn’t change the fact that all of their rhetoric is rooted in opinion, not fact.
I absolutely LOVE the way your passion comes out in your writing. Fantastic list you have here as well. Kudos Jude!
Thanks, Pokermom!