Two anti-gay nuts for Monday afternoon

1. What's the deal with Joe The Plumber?

Joe The Plumber: I Would Never Let "Queers" Near My Children

Joe the Plumber, aka Samuel Wurzelbacher, sat down for an lengthy interview with Christianity Today to discuss his views on the future of the Republican party. Wurzelbacher took the opportunity to speak out against gay marriage, which he says is wrong. The unlikely conservative spokesman went so far as to say he doesn't allow openly gay people "anywhere near" his children.

The word "queer," Wurzelbacher noted, "means strange and unusual."

Christianity Today: In the last month, same-sex marriage has become legal in Iowa and Vermont. What do you think about same-sex marriage at a state level?

Wurzelbacher: At a state level, it's up to them. I don't want it to be a federal thing. I personally still think it's wrong. People don't understand the dictionary--it's called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It's not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we're supposed to do--what man and woman are for. Now, at the same time, we're supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. I've had some friends that are actually homosexual. And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn't have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they're people, and they're going to do their thing.

No he didn't! If I wasn't so mature, I would be going for my razor right now.

THIS is what the Republican Party is reduced to? Sad.

I'm going to put it more succinctly. I refuse to believe that Wurlzebacher has any gay friends. That's right - I think he is lying and channeling the standard I'm not really prejudice because I am friends with THOSE people line that I've heard on occasion when some whites talk about African-Americans.

But just in case he is telling the truth, someone needs to give those "gay friends" a talking to about self respect.

2. Hey Stephen Baldwin! THIS is what persecution looks like

Last weekend, former actor, born-again Christian, and dismal talking head Stephen Baldwin claimed on Larry King Live that folks like him and Carrie Prejean who are against gay marriage are being "persecuted." However, when pressed about said persecution, Baldwin couldn't give any details.

Persecution, you dipstick, looks a little like this:

‘THEY KILL PEOPLE LIKE US,’ SAYS GAY IRAQI

Widespread violence is down across Baghdad, but not for one minority group.

Iraq’s gay population is being targeted by militia groups in a wave of killings that has claimed the lives of up to 25 young men and boys in the past month.

"They know I am gay. I don’t know if I am going to be killed, this is up to God," said Moyad, a 38-year-old Baghdad resident who would not give his last name out of fear for his safety. Visibly frightened, he said that he has many friends who have been sadistically tortured, some even murdered. "They are sticking glue up their anuses; some hospitals refuse to treat them. Is it a war waged against homosexuals?" he asked.

International outrage Most of the attacks have happened in Baghdad’s Shia neighborhoods, and many believe that religious leaders have used Friday sermons in Sadr City as a platform to incite hatred and violence toward homosexuals. The bodies of three gay men were reported to have been found in Sadr City in April with pieces of paper bearing the word for "pervert" attached to them.

Posters and leaflets have been distributed in the Baghdad neighborhoods of al-Shola, al-Hurya and Sadr City with orders to, "Cleanse Iraq from the crime of homosexuality."

Baghdad police didn’t respond to inquiries from NBC News about the attacks, but the surge in violence has gained attention by the international media. In a letter to Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki in April, Amnesty International called for "urgent and concerted action" to stop the killings of men because of their sexual orientation.

More here.

Maybe it's just me but being booed at a pageant doesn' t exactly rank up there with what's happening to gays in Iraq.