Blog

Gays: the “real” weapons of mass destruction


We’ve all heard the claim that gays are destroying the so-called moral fabric of America — not to mention that “sacred institution between a man and a woman” — with their calls to wed. And, of course, we’ve all heard that gays are to blame for the HIV/AIDS epidemic. But here’s one I bet hasn’t even crossed your mind:  Gays are to blame for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops in Iraq.

Or so says Rev. Fred Phelps, the founder of Kansas’ Westboro Baptist Church. The church, which isn’t associated with any denomination, claims that God is wreaking havoc on American soldiers in Iraq out of vengeance for “a country that harbors gays.”

Not only does this claim essentially equate gays with terrorists by buying into the war on terrorism’s rhetoric of certain Arab states’ “harboring” of terrorists, it also calls into question the validity of the claim that the U.S. “harbors” gays. That is, while plenty of gays and other sexual minorities reside in the United States, does the U.S. really provide sexual minorities refuge in the truest sense of the word? Sure, sodomy is now legal. But on November 2, an awful lot of Americans went to the polls because they didn’t want gays to be able to — gasp — marry. And that’s just one civil liberty amongst dozens (hundreds?) that gays lack in the United States.

It’s worth noting that Phelps’ following is fairly small and self-contained. In fact, almost all of the members of his church are his relatives. But, still, I can’t help but wonder what on earth is going on in their heads. This isn’t even a question of why troops are dying in Iraq. It’s a question of whether middle America — or in this case, a Kansas church — will ever recognize that you can’t keep blaming everything on gays, especially when you’re part of what keeps gays from gaining the political power necessary to “threaten” that of the Religious Right.

Perhaps even worse, though, is that as insulated as Phelps’ group might be, their message isn’t contained. Phelps’ followers have been out in droves across the country at funerals for U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, holding up signs saying things like “God hates fags” and “God hates you.” Believe what you will, I suppose, but there’s a time and place for everything (though, I’ve got to wonder why Phelps’ church doesn’t seem to have the time to embrace love and compassion). And that’s probably why Phelps’ followers haven’t been winning over too many supporters with this strategy of harrassing the families of the fallen.

Dear Reader, In The Fray is a nonprofit staffed by volunteers. If you liked this piece, could you please donate $10? If you want to help, you can also: