Gay bashing is the new gay
Susie Bright has noticed an “interesting change in our political discourse”:http://susiebright.blogs.com/susie_brights_journal_/2007/01/i_get_the_feeli.html, probably brought about by the (rather large) number of virulently anti-gay voices outed as gay[1].
fn1(sidenote). See: “Ed Shrock”:http://www.thudfactor.com/wordpress/2004/08/31/i-promise-not-to-pun-on-shrock/, “Ted Haggert”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Haggard, “Paul Barnes”:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003473739_webcolopastor12.html, “David Drier”:http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/the-outing/1322/, “Jim West”:http://www.spokesmanreview.com/jimwest/
The virulance of the anti-homosexuality campaigns are more than a little surprising to me, especially when they claim that homosexuals are trying to convert anyone. See, I don’t recall deciding to be straight. Nor does it seem to require any extreme effort to maintain my straightness even when talking to my gay friends. Those who argue being straight is a decision should probably spend some time in self-reflection. Especially those who argue that homosexuality is corrupting because “it’s far more fun than straight sex”:http://www.thudfactor.com/wordpress/2004/03/02/the-dire-threat-of-homosexuality/.
Anyway, back to Susie Bright — who says the Republicans are catching onto what a dead giveaway this is:
bq. GOP hacks finally realized that every time they open their mouth and a dyke or fag drop out, they’re the ones who get stuck with the Kodak moment. I broadcast a couple weeks ago, “I can’t imagine how the lavender card can be played in the next elections. If one more Republican mentions something off-color about gay life, the first thing that’s going to pass through everyone’s mind is: he’s queer. Gay-bashing is the new _GAY_…
I don’t think that’s far off the mark. There’s something desperate, protest-too-much sounding about the way some folks focus on this issue. And I wish such folks luck on their journey.
