Why does the religious right care at all about the rights of LGBT people? I still don’t understand their fear or their desire to misinform their constituents. How my life, or the life of any one of the estimated 9 million Americans, impacts them is beyond my understanding. Are they sitting at home, quaking I fear that they might “catch gay” like swine flu? Because that’s silly.
For example, why does Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame, feel the need to publicly lump gay people in with people who have sex with animals, drunks, and terrorists. Yes, he said this while saying “We never, ever judge someone…” This is a classic cop-out much like someone making a racist comment and then backpedaling by saying “But I have friends who are Black.” He still said a terrible thing. As CNN pointed out in their article, “‘Duck Dynasty’ reactions debate: Free speech or bigotry?,” “there are many others who read Robertson’s words and saw the language of a bigot — someone who treats members of a group with hatred and intolerance. In that view, his stance on homosexuality exceeds the boundaries of opinion or faith, and veers into discrimination.” Discrimination (incitement, offensive speech) is not protected under free speech. Neither are false statements (which Mr. Robertson’s statements are). Need other examples of exemptions from free speech? Click here.
Even so, on Twitter, following Phil Robertson’s suspension from A&E’s Duck Dynasty, dozens of #StandwithPhilRobertson supporters argued that Mr. Robertson’s first amendment right to free speech was being infringed upon and some rallied behind a petition, demanding that A&E put him back on the show. But in their arguments many blasted the gay community, often quoting Mr. Richardson, saying gay people are intolerant (of their intolerance), hateful (of their hatred), and unwilling to have a civil discourse (with people who are calling them “fags” and suggesting that they kill themselves… see examples below). I offer you those parentheticals to emphasis my point as those were my reactions to their comments on Twitter.
Many of his supporters insist that A&E will collapse without Phil Robertson.
Let’s break this down. His first amendment rights have not been infringed upon. What his followers do not seem to (or care to) understand is that freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. People can be held liable for their words (particularly of those words incite or are false statements), and others, as A&E has done, can chose not to associate with someone who they feel does not represent them as a company.
Putting numbers to it, the show had 11.8 million viewers during this season’s one-hour premier. That’s high because of the premiere. Their Christmas special last year had 8.9 million viewers. Averaging these two highly rated episodes gives us 10.35 million viewers. A petition to get Phil back on the show has 113,000 signatures. Rounding up, that almost 0.8% of the fans rallying behind Mr. Robertson. Not a huge showing of support as some on Twitter would have you believe. On Facebook, a Phil Robertson support page has garnered over 1 million likes. That’s a better showing but those supporters are simply clicking a like button which does not necessarily translate into action.
So, where do we stand? I am glad he said what he said because at least he’s honest about his feelings and his bigotry and ignorance. Before you lash out and claim I’m calling him names, re-read my statement. His words (which you can read in GQ or watch in this sermon from 2010 are clearly bigoted and ignorant) let me know where he stands. As he is free to voice his beliefs, I am free to not buy into his “Dynasty.” As a nation we need to get a grip and better understand how our rights work.
- You can say what you want (with exceptions) but not necessarily without consequences. See this thorough article from Think Progress for more.
- You are free to voice your opinion about me and I, in turn, am free to voice nice about you. But when you suggest that I, or my friends, family, or anyone, die because of who I am/we are, you have lost my respect and our discussion us over. We can resume when you apologize and decide to be civil.
For example:
My friend, and special projects consultant for GLAAD, Jeremy Hooper of GoodasYou.org, was a guest on The Kelly Files last night, to discuss the Duck Dynasty star’s words. Almost immediately he began receiving some of the most ignorant (and sometimes vile) responses from people who side with Mr. Robertson.
https://twitter.com/busterwilson/status/413854038132682752
And it isn’t just on Twitter that these nasty attacks unleashed.
In the comments section of the GQ article that started this all, people are simply horrifying with their bigoted views.
How is “hate” a Christian value? When will this attack on LGBT people by so-called Christians end? And when will they realize that religious beliefs do not translate to government law. The U.S. does not represent any single religion and will never be, as much as some people may not believe it, a “Christian nation.”
And let’s not forget, this isn’t just about Phil Robertson, and his supporters, making discriminatory claims against LGBT people. Mr. Robertson also claims that he never saw an unhappy African-American in Pre-Civil-Rights-Era Louisiana. I’m pretty sure that the 32.4% of the state’s African-American population would have something to say to the contrary.
So, am I glad A&E suspended him from the show because of his remarks? I’ll say this, I am glad that they have the freedom to do so.
Tommy Karr 