The "Good People" Who Enable Anti-Gay Bigotry

There's a saying that bad things happen when good people do nothing to stop them. It's surely a true analysis in the context of anti-gay prejudice and bigotry. All too often our allies accept us but are totally unwilling to speak out and loudly condemn those who demonize us and even threaten us with physical violence. Being a gay accepting Christian or church denomination is a good thing. But something better would be a gay accepting Christian or entire denomination that is willing to go to the media and repeatedly call out the hate merchants and Christianists who wrap themselves in religion while providing justification for bigotry and the dehumanization of others. Too often our religious allies remain quiet out of apparent fear of offending some of the bigots that remain within their own flocks. But this sin of omission isn't limited to churches and their members, It extends across the public and most particularly to our elected officials starting at the very top in the White House. Weak kneed statements of support are in no wise equal to active condemnation of prejudice or real actions on pro-equality legislation. David Mixner has a good post on this issue. Here are some highlights:
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This holiday I was walking on West 47th Street just off Times Square when two guys came walking toward me. My guess is that they were in their late 20's but maybe a little older. They were well-dressed and seemed clean-cut and, frankly, harmless. As they approached me, they spat at me and said, "This is for you 'the King of the Faggots'." Whoa, I was totally taken back in time and I came to a halt at the force of the words.
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These guys felt they had permission to express their disgust and hate openly. That permission not only comes from the heated debate over the struggle for our freedom. Clearly there are those organized hate groups that actually encourage these actions. But we also can look to religious leaders who remain silent, the Pope who is on a LGBT witch hunt and yes, even our President who constantly says marriage is between a man and a woman implying that any other definition is just not normal and maybe even disgusting.
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The derogatory term had power. It hurt. It was degrading. The hate was scary. For a quick second, I felt dirty and very vulnerable. Don't get me wrong, it did not weaken my resolve to be a free man. In fact it is serving as a fuel so we can end such blatant hate in America. So to all those, gay or straight, who think it is cute to use the word "faggot" or "fag' either in joking or even self proclaimed empowerment......stop it.
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Every time a politician makes excuses for inaction or, like John McSenile, seeks to block equality, they are empowering hate and bigotry. The same holds true for every religious leader that allows hate groups like Family Research Council or corrupt hypocrites like Pope Benedict XVI to be the face of Christianity.