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Written by Brian Miller
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Saturday, 21 February 2009 00:00 |
Britain's government is patting itself on the back after banning entry to the odious Fred Phelps clan.
Our friends in Great Britain are indulging in the same charade as Americans did a few years ago. When Phelps began his brightly colored "GOD HATES FAGS" campaign, anti-gay public figures from Jerry Falwell to Pat Robertson to Pat Buchanan to Zell Miller were rushing to condemn him.
"We're not really homophobic," they shouted. "We love the sinner. He's an offense to humanity!"
Phelps became the burlesque caricature of homophobia in the USA. By denouncing his outrageous tactics, homophobes across the American political spectrum could declare themselves politically correct and "not haters."
As a result, advocates of a gay marriage constitutional ban could claim "concern for family values." They don't hate gay people -- after all, they condemned Fred Phelps.
The late Jerry Falwell wasn't a hater, even when he described gay people as "perverted" and "sick" and "human garbage." He condemned Fred Phelps, after all.
When Pat Buchanan blasted gay men as "illogical" and "unnatural" for not reproducing (despite Buchanan's own childless marriage), he wasn't a hater -- after all, he condemned Fred Phelps.
Now, the British get to endure their own feel-good burst of back-patting political correctness.
The British government has banned Fred Phelps! Homophobia is not tolerated in the United Kingdom, our strong speech codes forbid it!
But just as in the US, it's all nonsensical posturing.
London's former mayor, Ken Livingstone, welcomed -- with critical acclaim -- Yusuf al Qaradawi, a radical mideastern cleric who called for gay people to be executed by burning or being thrown off tall buildings. British taxpayers provided accommodations and meals for this man who believes that, well, God Hates Fags.
British police, again at taxpayer expense, supported and endorsed a concert by Jamaican singer Bounty Killer, whose music calls for execution-style killings of gay men.
Britain's state church, the Anglican Communion, has been running a multi-year pogrom against gay clergy in the USA and Canada. Apparently, even The Queen's Faith believes that, well, God Hates Fags.
It's often not communicated in colorful multimedia, with wild-eyed tirades by Shirley Phelps Roper on television. That makes the hate even more insidious -- and the double-standard even more ridiculous.
Britain (and the USA) should drop their double-standards on free speech and free discourse. If Yusuf al Qaradawi can rage for the burning and crushing of homosexuals and be a guest of the crown, denying Phelps entry for "inciting hatred" is downright silly. If the government claims it's "opposed to hatred," having London's police force endorse an anti-gay concert doesn't underscore that. If the British taxpayer-supported Anglican church can ban gay clergy and agitate against LGBT persons' full participation in that church, it cannot claim to oppose "discrimination."
At the end of the day, justice prevails in the free market of ideas when that market isn't distorted by arbitrary government activities. Fred Phelps and his gang have helped the LGBT community greatly in the USA by allowing Americans to challenge homophobic leaders. How is what they advocate different from Phelps -- isn't Phelps just cruder and more honest in communicating the views of the Falwells, Bushes, Robertsons and Warrens of the world?
The British LGBT community would be equally well-served by such openness. Through regulations that selectively punish speech (while rewarding the same speech from other politically convenient constituents), Britain's government is doing more damage to the LGBT community of the UK than anything Phelps and his band of weirdos could commit in their wildest dreams.
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