Monday, March 10, 2008

Rep. Sally Kern Remains an Unrepentant Bigot

Oklahomans for Equality has published Oklahoma Sally Kern's written response to the furor that has arisen over her wildly homophobic remarks caught on a recording while Ms. Kern though she was off the record with a small group of fellow bigots. Kern's reponse can be found here (http://okeq.org/kernresponse.cfm). In the process of trying to make herself seem the victim and give the appearance that it was the "homosexual activists" who were in the wrong, Kern made this comment:


“To put this simply, as a Christian I believe homosexuality is not moral. Obviously, you have the right as an American to choose that lifestyle, but I also have the right to express my views and my fellow Oklahomans have the right to debate these issues. “In recent years homosexual activists have begun to aggressively promote their agenda through the political process, . . . That is their right, just as it is my right to voice opposition to their agenda, which I have been asked to do at several public forums in recent months. That’s what democracy is all about. It appears some homosexual activists believe only one group is allowed a voice in this debate. I disagree.




The remainder of her press release is basically a lot of unrepentant blather. Many people are not buying what Kern is selling and a petition has been started calling for her resignation. The petition sign up can be found here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/333266961. Pam Spaulding has a great letter authored by Rev. Russell Mark, who is actively involved with the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (www.wabaptists.org). This letter, while blames Kern and those like her for the increase in hate crimes against gays can be found here: http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4735. Given Kern's ignorant nastiness, I also sent her the following letter myself:




Dear Ms. Kern:

I guess under your definition, I am a “homosexual activist” because I find your recent anti-gay remarks bigoted, moronic and reprehensible. It is true – at least until you and those with your mindset take over the nation – we have the right to differ on matters of religious beliefs, but that is not an excuse for your recitation of factually erroneous statements. I would also add that your so-called “vigorous debate” was in a small closed session hidden from view. That’s hardly a vigorous debate and you know it. Please don’t lie about it. Thus, what I find truly offensive is the utter ignorance and dishonesty displayed in your remarks. You have certainly done your part to make the citizens of Oklahoma look like fools both in the USA and internationally. I have a few brief additional points I’d like to make.

First, as a history major, I suggest you take some refresher courses IMMEDIATELY. Perhaps a few courses on Classical Greece and Rome, each of which by any calculation lasted far longer that the USA has to date, might be a good starting point to show the erroneousness of your comment “Studies show, no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted for more than, you know, a few decades.” I might also add that individuals like Socrates, Plato, Alexander the Great, numerous successful Roman Emperors, are but a few of the contributors to western civilization who were involved in same sex love. Please know what you are talking about before running your mouth.

Second, some of your other comments also suggest you rely on those like Paul Cameron for ”expert” opinion on gays and our “lifestyle.” Not that I realized, living, breathing and having emotions, feelings and bleeding when cut constituted a “lifestyle.” I suppose you engage in a heterosexual “lifestyle” under your feeble reasoning. By your apparent analysis, you were not born heterosexual, but rather chose that “lifestyle.” Again, you show your ignorance since Cameron was exposed as a fraud some 28 years ago. True, disingenuous “pro-family” organizations continue to disseminate lies based on his fraudulent work, yet one would think an elected official such as yourself would make sure that your statements had some shred of truth to them. I would also suggest you review the newly released booklet compiled by the American Psychological Association and other LEGITIMATE experts on sexual orientation. You can find it here:
http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/justthefacts.pdf

Lastly, your comments were particularly outrageous in light of the recent murders of gays. In one case, a 15 year old boy was basically executed by a middle school student who obviously had been indoctrinated by people like you. You see, words do have consequences. You are little better than the Nazi regime who made similar remarks about Jews in the 1930’s to dehumanize and stigmatize them. We all know what that led to – well, perhaps not since history is obviously NOT your strong suit. Check out the Holocaust while you are doing your history refresher courses. Good “Christians” like you have a great deal of blood and guilt on your hands for every gay, lesbian or trans-gendered individual who has been brutalized or murdered based on simple minded hate like that which your remarks exhibited. I hope you will do some soul searching. If not, at least educate yourself so you do not show yourself to be an ignorant ass.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Now she's trying to backpeddle; she's saying her comments were taken out of context and she was singling out the more wealthy, politically motivated LGBT.