Monday, October 07, 2013

Far Right Flips Out (Again) Over Gay History Month





As with anything that challenges their house of cards belief system or counters their deeply loved prejudices - be it climate change, demographic changes, the growing aversion of institutional religion in the under 30 generations - the far right/Christofascists' approach is to demand that no facts or information be disseminated that shows that they are in fact living in a fantasy world detached from objective reality.  And nothing upsets these folks more than being reminded that gays have existed throughout history, often accomplishing notable things and having an impact on the course of history.  With October being gay history month, the usual eruption of anti-gay batshitery is in full swing and spewing from many of the usual demagogues.  Towleroad looks at the verbal diarrhea spewing forth:

October is LGBT History Month and schools across the nation are educating their students on key historical figures and events such as Stonewall and Harvey Milk. Right on cue, mouthpieces of the far right are engaging in histrionics with Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver claiming that the "innocence of our children is under assault."
If parents think our school children should be focused on science and math, not sex and murder, they need to talk to teachers, principals, and school boards to ensure that this program is stopped.
The funny thing about sex and murder is that they make up a very, very substantial part of history. Black History Month, for example, would have to go because black history in America is riddled with the rape and murder of slaves, as well as the murders of many prominent black leaders who fought for equality. History is not pretty, but it must be examined warts-and-all to be learned from.

Over at the Cherokee Tribune, Roger Hines similarly bemoans Georgia's Kennesaw State University embracing LGBT History Month. Rather than claiming assault on children, he says that the university is "instead of honoring the hand that has fed it, has taken a cultural stand that is anathema to those who foot its bills." Because evidently not a single LGBT person or ally has paid taxes or tuition to the university, ever. The crowning moment in his piece is when, in the middle of defining each of the letters of LGBTIQ, he says:
“I” is for intersex. Don’t ask me about this one, and if you know, don’t tell. I don’t want to know.
Nothing adds to one's credibility in the debate of a social issue quite like open and proud ignorance worn as a medal of accomplishment. Hines snidely concludes that he hopes that KSU provides services for conservative Christians amidst all their inclusivity . . .

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