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06/01/2007
His rhetoric may be tired, but we're the ones who're f***in' exhausted!
When he signed civil unions into law yesterday, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch made some comparisons between the affronts that have been dealt to the gay community and those that have been dealt to both African-Americans and women. But since creating the illusion that gays are hijacking the Black civil rights movement (and thus attempting to drive a wedge between the two groups) is part of the "pro-family" movement's campaigns of opposition to gay marriage legalization, the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins (or his ghostwriter) has honed in on that point and penned a few choice words in response to Gov. Lynch. A sample:
Though the argument is a popular one, African-Americans continue to take exception to the idea that the fight for same-sex marriage is comparable to the civil rights movement. Homosexuals have experienced disapproval, but they have not endured centuries of violence, abuse, segregation, and slavery. Unlike ethnicity, homosexual behavior is a choice. A person can choose to either participate in homosexual behavior or not to participate. An African-American cannot choose to participate in having black skin; they are born with it. Lynch's suggestion that homosexuals who want to marry are oppressed or victims of discrimination is simply outrageous. No person is being denied the right to marry. They are simply asked to meet the core requirement (since civilization began) that both genders be present.
And you know, how does one even respond to these tired old claims? We could tell Mr. Perkins once again that while we never claimed the two civil rights fights are one and the same, there are certainly clear parallels to be drawn between the two situations. And we could ask that he stop presenting the idea that homosexuality as a choice as if such is a fact, considering he does not have any credible data to back up those claims (and a plethora of data to suggest otherwise). We could point out how ludicrous it is to trot out that sad, sophomoric "Gays can marry, just not each other" line. Or we could detail all of the injustices that have, in fact, directed against gays, and stake our own claim to a piece of the "been mistreated" pie.
But honestly -- what the hell's the point? Folks like Mr. Perkins have long ditched listening to anything other than those same duplicitous talking points that they have been spouting for eons. They see no need to listen to ACTUAL GAYS about their life experience, or to give any credence to ACTUAL SCIENCE suggesting the only choice gays make is to succumb to the bigotry that tells them they are flawed. They will continue to make broad generalizations, such as the one suggesting that ALL "African-Americans continue to take exception" with the idea that our injustices share similarities. And they will continue to get away with it all, because they can hide it all behind the mask of religious compassion.
So screw it. It's a late Friday afternoon on the first day of Pride month, and we have far better things to do than speak words to deaf ears. Things like making dinner. Talking with our family about our days. Laughing. Loving. Sharing those moments that make up our lives. You know, the lives that Mr. Perkins has spent a good portion of his week to decrying? Yes, despite the extremely hurtful words and actions we have seen directed at our existences this week, we are going to move on, hold our head up, and thank the Heavens that we understand the true meaning of decency.
Have a nice weekend, Tony. We promise to come back with a restored gusto on Monday, where we will continue to help your public persona carve out its own chapter in the annals of discriminatory transgression.
Civil Unions = Civil Rights? [FRC -- Washington Update]
**Note: We say "public persona" in the last paragraph, because that is all we care about. In our experience, the actualities of these social conservative figures and the characters they play are not always one and the same. People are willing to do a lot for money, power, access, etc. And oftentimes, these are heightened roles that they are playing.
As for Tony Perkins the man, father, and husband -- we wish him no harm and bear him little to no mind. He factors into our lives not one iota. It is only his persona with which we have an acquaintance; it is one that has affronted both our community and ourselves greatly!
Technorati Tags: Tony Perkins
Your thoughts
I love his disingenous argument. He needs to read the Loving v Virginia case. Whether a group of people take exception to obvious parallels being drawn, makes no difference to the fact that the the issues are comparable, while we may not be able to equate them.
This man also forgets the centuries of such stringent persecution that made people so afraid for their lives that they hid underground.
Posted by: PTBoat | Jun 1, 2007 6:30:28 PM
I can't stand the fact that the racist Tony Perkins is talking about civil rights and black people! He was involved in buying the mailing list of the KKK back when he was living in Louisiana. I wonder if those on that list got incorporated into FRC???
Posted by: Kevin | Jun 1, 2007 10:44:19 PM
Well excuse me, but has Perkins thought to ask gay african americans their perspective on this, i think not!
Being a african american and gay gives me the right to find some comparisons between the movements. So once again another fallible argument to divide and conquer!
Posted by: Justice MH | Jun 1, 2007 11:36:21 PM
OK, now let's just cut Tony a break. After all, he isn't really saying that homosexuality is a choice. He's saying that "participating" in it is a choice. And he's right.
So, before we throw in the exhaustion towel on Mr. Perkins, let's just point out that he as the same choice homosexuals do. He can either choose to have a fully involving, loving, emotional, spiritual, AND physical releationsip with someone, or he can choose not to.
What so you say, Tony? Would you choose not to have a fulfilling life if someone like -- oh, I don't know, Pat Robertson, just as an arbitrary example -- condemned you for it?
Posted by: Robin Reardon | Jun 3, 2007 11:17:07 PM
The problem with the whole "blacks can't change their skin color" argument is that many Black people would be incensed if you offered to turn them into white people.
Posted by: Jonah | Jun 4, 2007 10:12:25 AM
Jonah: I also think the "blacks can't change their skin color" argument is extremely offensive when you think about it. It's as if they are saying that being Black is a cross to bear.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Jun 4, 2007 10:17:16 AM
You know what cracks me up about the so-called "family values" folks? When they show their horror at special rights granted to homosexuals because of our chosen behavior!
I'm sorry, was Bob in Accounting fired because he was performing oral sex in his cubicle? Was Lucy from Personnel given the ol' heave-ho for using a vibrator on Betsy from the typing pool? Of course not! They were fired because someone (probably a good Christian) THOUGHT that Bob was just too fem and Lucy too butch to be straight.
Can someone please tell me how Tony Perkins and his ilk know what sort of behavior anyone engages in? Why doesn't anyone call these people to the carpet on this? If they want to base these arguments on behavior, then make them explain how they know what behavior an individual engages in - not just defining homosexual behavior.
Posted by: stojef | Jun 5, 2007 5:34:50 PM
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