1977:
"As a mother, I know that homosexuals cannot biologically reproduce children; therefore, they must recruit our children." - Anita Bryant during her "Save Our Children" campaign. The "Save Our Children" campaign was extremely successful in overturning a pro-gay ordinance in Florida.
2016:
"Does the president have the right to force your daughters or granddaughters to share a public restroom with a man? . . .Do you think government officials should have the right to punish a school for not allowing a male student to wear a mini skirt, high heels, and a pink wig to class?" - Family Research Council president Tony Perkins in an fundraising email request. FRC and several other like-minded groups are targeting fears and ignorance about the transgender community in order to hinder lgbt equality.
According to Michelangelo Signorile, there is a serious backlash against lgbt equality by religious right groups in the wake of legalized marriage equality. He also said that lgbt groups are scrambling to catch up. As you can see by the two quotes- decades apart but very similar - history seems to be repeating itself. We gain a victory and those opposing lgbt equality exploit fear in order to take it way from us. Meanwhile, we either scramble or stand in the wake of the possibly coming hurricane with no way to fight its onslaught.
So here is the big question. What's more depressing? That anti-gay groups and figures can successfully exploit the same fears about children and lgbts over 35 years apart?
Or that even after dealing with the same modus operandi of anti-gay groups and figures over and over again, our community and leaders seem to still be behind the curve rather than riding it?
If you know how your enemy will lie in order to combat your success, you don't wait until he or she begin their lies. The fact that these so-called Christian groups and individuals exploit fear about children is a story in itself which begs to be told.
That is if we can get off our asses and demand the conversation to begin.
According to Michelangelo Signorile, there is a serious backlash against lgbt equality by religious right groups in the wake of legalized marriage equality. He also said that lgbt groups are scrambling to catch up. As you can see by the two quotes- decades apart but very similar - history seems to be repeating itself. We gain a victory and those opposing lgbt equality exploit fear in order to take it way from us. Meanwhile, we either scramble or stand in the wake of the possibly coming hurricane with no way to fight its onslaught.
So here is the big question. What's more depressing? That anti-gay groups and figures can successfully exploit the same fears about children and lgbts over 35 years apart?
Or that even after dealing with the same modus operandi of anti-gay groups and figures over and over again, our community and leaders seem to still be behind the curve rather than riding it?
If you know how your enemy will lie in order to combat your success, you don't wait until he or she begin their lies. The fact that these so-called Christian groups and individuals exploit fear about children is a story in itself which begs to be told.
That is if we can get off our asses and demand the conversation to begin.
1 comment:
Could I refer you to my recent blog post in a similar vein? (though I am not of celebrity status like Michael Signorile so not many people read my commentaries).
http://reluctantrebel.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-hate-and-lies-continue.html
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