Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

(Weekly Column)

(Jim Adkisson, Conservative Frankenstein, Left)

This week, I attended the Commercial Closet's Images In Advertising Awards in Manhattan, which honored corporations that produced gay affirming ads. The pro-gay plugs showed genuine progress and highlighted that many leading companies "get it." The work of Commercial Closet is vital because images matter and repeated exposure to messages shape our views and create positive change in society. The cleverness and creativity in these ads imparts to millions of people that homosexuality is nothing to be feared and that GLBT people are part of the human family.

The awards ceremony was a welcome respite from reality, where there is no shortage of reminders that the world is still a very dangerous place. In Knoxville, Tennessee, a homophobic loser burst into a Unitarian Church where a children's play was being performed and unleashed a fusillade of gunfire, killing two people and injuring six. According to police, Jim D. Adkisson, "had targeted the church because of its liberal leanings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country."

The New York Times reports that the killer was raised in strict a Christian home and was openly anti-gay. He may have targeted this particular church because his former wife - who he had threatened to shoot and then commit suicide - had occasionally attended. He may also have been agitated by the church's affirming stand on GLBT equality.

The far right's dirty little secret is that they depend on the threat of violence to retard the advancement of the GLBT movement. Without the fear of physical attack, the number of people who are out of the closet would quickly multiply. Gay couples would hold hands in every city in the nation. On each block, from San Francisco to San Antonio, gay and lesbian people would be visibly present.

Each day, all but the bravest GLBT people make subtle or even significant adjustments to remain safe. Some dress a little blander in order to blend in. A number of gay men talk a bit deeper so they won't arouse suspicion. Some lesbians apply make up so they won't get beaten up. And, most loving couples act like buddies so they won't get bashed.

We tell ourselves comforting lies, such as "we don't like public displays of affection," to justify pushing a partner's hand away at a romantic moment. But, the reality is, even the most confident and brave among us have something to fear.

Of course, the overwhelming majority of people are not violent and a significant minority of Americans fervently supports GLBT people. What the right wing realizes, however, is it only takes a small number of twisted fanatics to keep GLBT people in check. We rarely know who these lunatics are, as they often keep their hate closeted. But, each gay person knows these hidden ticking time bombs exist and could go off at any moment -- shattering our lives.

When Focus on the Family's James Dobson says that giving gay people the freedom to marry will "destroy the earth" he is encouraging hate crimes. When Oklahoma state legislator Sally Kern says that homosexuality is the "death knell of this country," she is promoting gay bashing. When Elaine Donnelly told a congressional committee that lifting Don't Ask/Don't Tell would let lesbians take pictures of people in the shower she was setting the stage for violence. When Ann Coulter authors, "How to Talk To a Liberal (If You Must)," people like Jim Adkisson may be influenced.

What I find hypocritical is that the Religious Right will take any image it deems gay and claim it "promotes homosexuality." This even extends to fictional characters such as Tinky Winky and Sponge Bob Square Pants. Yet, these same oversensitive preachers refuse to acknowledge that their mean-spirited sermons might lead to violence.

The extreme right fuels anti-gay ugliness, but it is pervasive all around us. As we applauded the winners of the Commercial Closet awards, two ads that subtract from the dignity of gay people were on the minds of those in attendance. The first was a Nike ad where a basketball star leapt over a defender who had the dunker's scrotum in his face. The headline was "That Ain't Right."

In a second ad for Snickers, a swishy speed walker is attacked by a machine gun wielding Mr. T in a truck who demands the walker "run like a real man." He fires on the guy until he "corrects" his running style. Thanks to The Human Rights Campaign and the willingness of these companies, both ads were pulled.

We live in a society filled with violently homophobic messages and images, yet the perpetrators -- both religious and secular -- feign innocence and say they can't imagine how anti-gay hate crimes occur.

68 Comments:

You'd think these corporate morons would know by now what's offensive (and dangerous) to various minority groups. I dont think I'm particularly 'obvious' as gay, but the only time I really felt afraid was a day when I was walking across a parking lot, minding my own business, to my car and these 2 men (mutants) pulled up near me in this jalopy truck. They both looked like they crawled out from under a rock in a prison yard; one even had a shower cap on (go figure). When they saw me they both started saying, 'hey faggot' etc. Fortunately I was near my car, hopped in and got out of there. Besides the hate, it was shocking to be verbally assaulted for no reason by 2 total strangers. Wayne, since many of "them" know what you look like, I hope you've had some good martial arts training. You never know when one of those crazy fux will go off on you.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/29/2008 2:54 PM

"In a second ad for Snickers, a swishy speed walker is attacked by a machine gun wielding Mr. T in a truck who demands the walker "run like a real man." He fires on the guy until he "corrects" his running style."

WTF?!?!?!?!?
posted by Eshto, at 7/29/2008 4:38 PM

And the reggae Straight Pride murder music march is STILL on for Brooklyn, and seemingly getting a lot of support from that community.
posted by Joey7777, at 7/29/2008 8:41 PM

Wayne,

Do you have copies of every sermon preached at that Unitarian Church. Or every sermon this murderer listened to in his life?

Just wondering. It seems with the scant that has been written about him that he has had several episodes of uncontrollable anger.

Has a brain scan been performed on him to see if his frontal cortex has been damaged?

You sound a bit like chicke little, a lot of accusation and little information.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/29/2008 9:49 PM

Elizabeth Birch (former HRC director) said, when the Matthew Shepard hate crime happened, that "crimes like this don't happen in a vacuum."

Personally, the picture of the two guys DOESN'T "look right" to me... and if that were to happen to me (a gay female) it WOULDN'T be right. But there is such a paranoia about men and how they view eachother's bodies and sexuality and could see how it would contribute to that discomfort and ultimate bigotry.
posted by Emily K, at 7/30/2008 2:12 AM

Is "Anonymous", at 7/29/2008 9:49 PM naive, or just pretending to be naive?
posted by Anonymous, at 7/30/2008 3:37 AM

This guy definately looks like he has psychiatric problems, but the constant stream of hate that comes from fundo churches and hate radio like rush limpdick is enough to push them over the edge. They are all culpable.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/30/2008 10:38 AM

Not naive at all. Being realistic. People make up excuses for their anger - the man needs a medical check up before we start in on the reasons.

Sometimes, it is obvious when someone is truly a bigot and hateful. This man seems to have some real problems that may be physical.

Do your homework and look up brain damage, impulse control, etc...
posted by Anonymous, at 7/30/2008 12:03 PM

Very well reasoned article. The root of fundy philosophy is force, which is why they are more active in politics then their own churches. this is the formula:

Believe or burn

if the threat of burning dosn't scare you then

then the force of goverment will stop you

if that fails we take it to the streets

...and that is what happened here.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/30/2008 12:50 PM

Rock on, Wayne! I have been a little concerned about the lack of press over this crime. Much more has to be done in order to prevent the right wing to continue promoting violence in the world.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/30/2008 2:18 PM

Wayne

I was pleased to see you on Bill O'Reilly's "The Factor" on Fox, discussing the Mar's Snicker commercial. Not many people are able to make their points on O'Reilly's program. without being cut off. However, you stood strong in your convictions and succeeded, Kudos' to you.

That said: With the likes of John Stemberger, Peter LaBarbera, Pat Robertson and Michael Savage, to name a few, spewing their constant barrage hatred and bigotry directed at GLBT citizens. It's no surprise that people aren't even safe in houses of worship.

What sickened me most was LaBarbera's comments about the shooting at Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. He was quoted as saying "I believe this man could be given the death penalty, without any extra help from the Feds and any sort of hate crimes prosecution." If anything this was a clear example of the need to enact hate crime legislation. It's a shame that some are so blinded by hate, they can't see the Forrest for the Trees.

Thanks for your tireless work and for being a voice for our community.

R. Zeke Fread
Director Pride Tampa Bay
posted by R. Zeke Fread, at 7/30/2008 5:30 PM

from Theo,

What you may be asking is whether a Roman Catholic who strictly adheres to the specific Roman Catholic faith (i.e., accepts the Council of Trent and at least Vatican I), and whether a Jew strictly adheres to the post-32 A.D. Jewish faith (for the orthodox Jew should logically accept Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, given that He fulfilled the prophecies), and whether a Mormon who strictly adheres to the Mormon faith, will go to hell.

If that's your question, the answer is yes, they will go to hell, in that they by definition reject the provision described above.

Nuff said. considering that half the country is catholic and only 5% are gay. Why is Theo wasting his time here?

Theo off the 12 step program?
posted by Anonymous, at 7/30/2008 6:08 PM

Wait! - where was my original comment on this thread? Who or what are you responding to Anonymous? Oh, I see. The fallacy of repetition once again.
posted by Theo, at 7/30/2008 8:24 PM

Is half the country really Catholic?

And where is the census stat on GLBT people? I thought it was more like 3%???
posted by Anonymous, at 7/30/2008 8:28 PM

Wayne,

This was an exceptional column, one of the best I suspect you have ever written. Sadly, I have first hand knowledge that you speak the truth. We just need to get it in front of more people.
posted by Jim and Brenda Johnson, at 7/30/2008 9:53 PM

Still a bit over sensitive.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/31/2008 1:44 AM

Comments:

1. I wonder what Savage, O'Reilly and Hannity will have to say about the Adkisson incident--assuming that they deign to comment on it at all.

2. Has anyone ever notice that gays never go out bashing straights?
posted by Mark Lungo, at 7/31/2008 4:10 PM

Only John Wayne Gacy, Mark. ( Or Keith Chester Hill! blech)
posted by Joey7777, at 7/31/2008 6:23 PM

I read a lot of straight bashing here. I watched straight bashing in the music video "I Got You"
posted by Anonymous, at 7/31/2008 7:16 PM

Even violent people with no impulse control adapt to their environment. Normally such people go after people they know and have specific grudges against, for instance, ex-wife or boss. Why did this guy rant about gays and liberals, and get the idea that they are lower forms of life? He has heard nationally broadcast radio pundits say this every day for hours a day, with exhortations that someone ought to kill gays, Supreme Court Justices, Democratic politicians, all the inhabitants of San Francisco. For a violent person, it isn't such a leap from "It's okay to say that gays should be killed, look, the radio personalities are big-shots, heroes to the average man" to "I can be a hero too if I kill some gays".

Women are the majority but still feel threatened by violence from intimates and strangers.

NancyP
posted by Anonymous, at 8/02/2008 4:03 PM

Yes, it is a pretty big leap for a person to take. He had a restraining order from his ex wife. He was obviously an angry man who decided to turn his anger at something - I think if there had been animal rights activists near by - he would have done the same thing. But we will never know.

So the man rants about gays and shoots at his church??? Did he kill gay people??? No. He killed other innocent people. This is not a gay issue as much as it is an issue about the lack of health and mental health care that people in this country recieve.

Yeah, it's a pretty big leap when we don't even have evidence of what he listened to. And he did have Wayne's book at his house - wasn't that enough to convince him that gays are victims?
posted by Anonymous, at 8/03/2008 12:00 AM

Some also theorize that we can blame all the politically-correct anti-white propaganda we're constantly bombarded with for Colin Ferguson killing six people on the Long Island Railroad in 1993.
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