Wednesday, August 08, 2018

Hypocrisy and deliberate paranoia defined - Franklin Graham when marriage equality was legalized

As nauseating as the following the video is, there is so much to unpack from this Fox News interview which Todd Starnes conducts with Franklin Graham. It took place three years ago  when marriage equality was legalized.

Three interesting points to make:

1. No pastors have been attacked, put in jail, or forced to perform gay weddings. Of course we knew that wasn't going to happen.

2. The idea of gays targeting so-called Christian businesses was definitely a narrative created by folks like Graham way before all of this ado about "religious liberty." It was, and still remains a way to cover up their sour grapes over the fact that they lost the marriage equality fight.. On the whole, however, that fearmongering about marriage equality bringing in anti-Christian persecution was bull. Of course Starnes and Graham most likely knew that at the time.

3. It's amazing how Franklin Graham went from "America has a moral crisis" back then to the now excuses of Donald Trump isn't "president perfect" and his extramarital affairs are "no one's business." 

Apparently a little power brings out the hypocrisy in some people.

'SPLC refutes Jeff Sessions and his 'religious liberty' task force' & other Wed midday news briefs

Richard Cohen of  SPLC
SPLC refutes Sessions’ comments about hate group designations - When Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced his "religious liberty" task force, he made veiled comments attacking the Southern Poverty Law Center for designating several religious right groups as anti-LGBTQ hate group. Earlier week, SPLC president Richard Cohen responded with a two page letter to Sessions which basically says (and pardon the vernacular) "ain't nobody scared of you or your ratchet task force."

You can read the letter here. 

From the archives - 16 reasons why the Family Research Council is a hate group - And because I'm an evil little queen who has been itching for a fight about this issue LONG BEFORE the Southern Poverty Law Center began naming certain religious right organizations as hate groups, here is a post I published in 2011. 

Christine Hallquist May Become America’s First Openly Transgender Governor - Oh! This would be sweet! 

A Republican Lawmaker Seeking Reelection Once Compared Gay People To "Rapists" And Other Criminals - Lovely . . . 

16-year-old is first minor prosecuted by Russian 'anti-gay propaganda' laws - Remember when Franklin Graham said he supported these laws because it would keep gays from "recruiting" children?