Gay hate rears its ugly head in nation's capital (Bishop Harry Jackson and Minister Leroy Swailes)

[Duncan Grant]

July 6, 9:46 PM

A new law in Washington, D.C. formally recognizing legal same-sex marriages performed in other states takes effect tomorrow, and it has unleashed a firestorm of hate speech from local religious leaders, according to On Top Magazine.

Bishop Harry Jackson, who organized the anti-gay group Stand 4 Marriage DC, said, "It's a declaration of war. We are sending a clear message that this is going to be fought every step of the way.”

At an open community forum in June, opponents didn't mince words, and unleashed a fury of anti-gay sentiment.

Wearing a t-shirt for the anti-gay website thirdgender666.com that read “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Morals are Worse than Animals,” Minister Leroy Swailes, who most likely owns the anonymously registered website, railed against being gay.

Full story at the San Francisco Examiner.

Bishop Harry Jackson (AP Photo)


Minister Leroy Swailes -- “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Morals are Worse than Animals.”

Watch Minister Leroy Swailes if you'd like to understand more about the conservative moralist argument against LGBT Civil Rights: http://www.youtube.com/user/hrcmedia#play/uploads/10/FFFYYjWjVuE

Bishop Harry Jackson spoke against marriage equality at a rally in Washington D.C. on April 28, 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vklrOSVKV3Y

The only difference between these men and the fanaticism of Fred Phelps is that Jackson and Swailes have more finesse (well, maybe not Swailes). From my perspective, Phelps is almost universally condemned -- no one wants to be associated with him or his "religion". Bishop Jackson appears to maintain popularity and credibility.

How then do LGBT activists confront fanatical religious leadership while building bridges? My strategy is to focus attention on the words and actions of the religious leaders but I don't think it's possible to build bridges with anyone who has such a fundamentalist understanding (or experience) of religion. It seems impossible to do both simultaneously. Can people be persuaded to defy their religious leaders in order to support LGBT civil rights? Do you advocate a specific approach to accomplish that goal?

[NMMNG]

1. Ugh

We're constantly being told we need to "reach out" and "build bridges" with these bigots who loathe us, and who promote utter intolerance of us in the vilest ways possible. We're supposed to win minds that are closed and hearts that are hard. How? How do we reach people who consider us lower than animals? They have no desire or intention of being reached or won over. They only wish to harm us.

[ejbr]

2. I think we are entering a new Renaissance Age

Humanity, at least in "western" countries, is evolving. 100 years ago, an American would scoff at having an African American president; gay marriage or civil unions in ANY state; female CEOs; female senators or Secretaries of State; mainstream entertainers who were not white and not boxers; openly gay members of Canadian, Norwegian, Dutch, etc. militaries. I even heard Rachel Maddow openly claim that she was "gay" during her broadcast the other night! :spray: (As a side note, my mother told me that she and my father love "your girl Rachel")

...anyway,

These Neanderthals will diminish in size and influence eventually, but it will take time and effort. Many in "civil" society might not see anything wrong with what these men say, just like there was a time that "civil" society was pro-slavery, pro-segregation, and anti-suffragist, all while using the bible.

All I think we can do is be our beautiful selves. I, for one, feel sorry for people who spend their lives being angry and hating people for things that should mean nothing to them. How will history treat these pathetic souls who cannot even fathom the irony of their hatred (at least in your examples of African American bigots)? The good news, I guess, is that we will always be here; bigots of this sort will fade into irrelevancy.

Thanks for posting.:hi:

[mitchtv]

3. I would put their pictures on a "Wanted" poster

criminal bigotry, or heretical perversion of Christianity