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Of all the slurs the haters throw at GBLT people in general and me, as a gay man, in particular perhaps the vilest of all is the idea that we are a threat to children. It's hard to think of a more repellent insult - or a lie that is more likely to encourage anti-GBLT violence
It's a pervasive lie. I'm surprised how often it has been brought up. We expect it from the usual sources - we expect it from the haters. We expect it from the Catholic church trying to cover up their own paedophile scandal with gross homophobia. We expect it from the bigots in the Ugandan church and government using it as an excuse to persecute us. We even expect it from grossly evil political campaigns created by the usual suspects. And, y'know, that's pretty awful - that we expect this. That we KNOW these hateful organisations - even mainstream organisations - are going to resort to this vileness. It's awful that the media will repeat their lies and accept adverts like this. I can't imagine a media outlet willingly showing an advert that depicts racial or religious minorities as paedophiles (actually I can, because my faith in humanity is pretty damn low right now) but when it comes to discussing us it's part of the mainstream conversation!
It's pervasive. Not only is it a major motivator to the violence that brings down so many of us (I think, of all my gay friends, only 2 have not suffered a violent attack. 2 out of dozens) but it the assumption is so prevalent it even creeps into our lives. I've had people not leave their children alone with me. I had someone express concerns about me looking after my goddaughter. This man's OWN DAUGHTER won't let him be alone with his grandchildren because of the assumption that gay = paedophile.
This needs to end. This demonisation is literally killing us and ruining lives - and it's based purely and simply on hateful lies
Which, in my mind, makes this video from Waking up Now essential viewing
Because the bigots spreading lies about us are not only killing us - they're helping the child abusers
It's a pervasive lie. I'm surprised how often it has been brought up. We expect it from the usual sources - we expect it from the haters. We expect it from the Catholic church trying to cover up their own paedophile scandal with gross homophobia. We expect it from the bigots in the Ugandan church and government using it as an excuse to persecute us. We even expect it from grossly evil political campaigns created by the usual suspects. And, y'know, that's pretty awful - that we expect this. That we KNOW these hateful organisations - even mainstream organisations - are going to resort to this vileness. It's awful that the media will repeat their lies and accept adverts like this. I can't imagine a media outlet willingly showing an advert that depicts racial or religious minorities as paedophiles (actually I can, because my faith in humanity is pretty damn low right now) but when it comes to discussing us it's part of the mainstream conversation!
It's pervasive. Not only is it a major motivator to the violence that brings down so many of us (I think, of all my gay friends, only 2 have not suffered a violent attack. 2 out of dozens) but it the assumption is so prevalent it even creeps into our lives. I've had people not leave their children alone with me. I had someone express concerns about me looking after my goddaughter. This man's OWN DAUGHTER won't let him be alone with his grandchildren because of the assumption that gay = paedophile.
This needs to end. This demonisation is literally killing us and ruining lives - and it's based purely and simply on hateful lies
Which, in my mind, makes this video from Waking up Now essential viewing
Because the bigots spreading lies about us are not only killing us - they're helping the child abusers