Thursday, April 28, 2005

This just in

From the "Yes, we are a bunch of inbred dumbfucks" department: State Rep. Gerald Allen of Alabama (boy, now that's a surprise) introduced a bill that would ban the state from spending money on books that recognize or promote homosexuality. That would include any book with a gay character or a gay author. (Presumably not Fagbashing for Dummies, however.) Allen is such a nutjob that he even wanted it to extend to Shakespeare, because of the cross dressing inherent in his plays. He has now relented, and it would not apply to the "classics," but leaves that term undefined. He now only wishes to ban "some Shakespeare."

He's doing this, he claims to "protect our children" from the "homosexual lifestyle." It appears he's only interested in protecting "our" straight children; the gay kids can go fuck off.

This ban would include:

  • The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, one of the biggest poofters of all time.
  • Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, which is a perennial classic in high school theater and English classes
  • The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
  • The Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address, because recent research suggests Abraham Lincoln may have been gay
  • any writings by Walt Whitman, probably the greatest American poet of the 20th century
  • ... and so on and so forth

More reading:

Alabama Bill Targets 'Gay' Books
Possible Gay Book Ban in Alabama
Legislators debate gay books in schools; other bills stalled

2 comments:

Narc said...

Why, yes, because being gay and being a serial killer are exactly the same thing! Gee, hysterically overreact much?

Believe it or not, but people who aren't exactly like you live in this country too. We're even full-fledged citizens. And I will not put up with any one treating me with less than the simple respect and human dignity I am due.

No one is talking about forcing your child to learn about homosexuality "in detail," whatever that means. It's not like we're talking about oral sex lessons for 3rd graders. This bigot is talking about banning thousands of books entirely from the library for no legitimate reason. This is a mean-spirited bill that serves no purpose but to demonize one segment of society to make another feel morally superior.

David said...

Jennifer -- Thank you for your permission; I believe I will be gay. Of course, I don't have much choice in the matter, though you may feel differently. My sexuality is no more an "option" than yours is... or did you make a conscious choice to be heterosexual? You've also shown your lack of education in matters of psychology, because if serial killers are "born that way," then so are homophobes and bigots.

It seems like the schools might be doing your child a favor, because he's obviously not going to get a full or unbiased education about human sexuality in your home. How sad to see someone be so proud of raising a child in an atmosphere of intolerance. Isn't there enough prejudice and hate in this world, Jennifer, without you fostering it in your own home? Why not be brave and open-minded and teach your child to respect everyone, no matter how they might be different from him? Those who don't condemn bigotry are, by default, condoning it. And that's nothing to be proud of.