Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association agreed with Sprigg. Citing policies and findings of the Federal Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control, Fischer concluded that homosexual behavior should be criminalized because it “represents an enormous threat to public health.”
In the news recently, has been the story about Uganda and the “kill the gays” bill their legislature is considering. The bill was written with help from far right religious and political involvement from the US. Perhaps even more disturbing however, is the way in which rhetoric around gays in the US has escalated too. On some level, this is not new, but in the past, the crazies on the fringe who have been supporting these types of ideas haven’t been that close to the mainstream. The times are shifting however. As the Republican Party has shifted farther and farther right, these voices are now, quite close to the conservative movement, and everyone who cares about equality and liberty needs to care about this.
One way to think about it, is that these voices have been out there for some time, so it is easy to zone it out. It could be considered as “just noise” that we endure as we keep making gains for gay rights. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered folks serve the far right movement well. We are a money maker for them, and an easy way for them to sir up fear among their supporters.
But I think that what we have going on, isn’t the same as it has always been. The voices are getting louder, and are more closely linked to politicians of power. I think this increase is in response to the gains that have been made, as well as what looks like the inevitable acceptance of GLBTQ people including same-sex marriage. I use that word, “inevitable” carefully. It seems like it will eventually happen, given the trajectory of where we are now. But that path towards equality could be disrupted.
For those who oppose fair and equal treatment for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, and queers, this is their final battle. This is their line in the sand, so they aren’t giving in quietly or easily. And no matter how much progress we have made, it could turn the other way without too much work on their part.
So, what are you supposed to do with that information? What can you do, to keep the movement towards full equality moving forward?
First, become aware of the situation, and become committed to being a part of the movement forward. Don’t sit back and think that equality will just eventually happen on its own. What do you need to do? Â As much or as little as works for you, but the thing that you can’t do, is sit back and do nothing.