Because we still cannot forget

These are always the more depressing posts, but they‘re very important ones, I think. It’s necessary to see the actual people who are being sacrificed to the hatred. It’s necessary to see the consequences of the hate.

In Kenya 5 men arrested for planning a gay wedding have been released through ‘lack of evidence’ – but have been told to flee the area for their own safety

Which is no surprise since a homophobic mob in Kenya attacks and wants to BURN gay men. The rise of homophobic attacks and mobs is terrifying to behold in its hatred and its extremism. Sadly, but not surprisingly, religion can be found behind it, whipping up the mobs and screaming for gay blood

Malawi and Kenya both are having outbreaks of homophobic mobs trying to attack and kill gay people The rise of homophobia in Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and others is frightening – more so when we can see the strong hand of evangelical groups and other religious movements behind it. The global power of religious hate cannot be underestimated

In Northern Ireland Shaun Fitzpatrick could have been murdered for being gay

In Chicago Daniel Hauf was attacked trying to defend a gay youth whho was being homophobically abused. His 3 attackers have been indicted on hate crimes charges – a sliver of good from the very very bad.

Gay men attacked for being part of a gay sports team in Austin.

A lesbian couple in West Virginia are turned down as tenants – for being gay A very real point that the very necessities of life are subject to the whims of homophobia.

These are the victims of hate – and the consequences of hate speech and its promotion

From the utterly foolish: Missouri University  Board Member David Ansley using the word “fag” as a descriptor

To the tragically personal with Rabbi Menachem Froman of Tekoa offering to sit Shiva with a Lesbian’s homophobic parents when that lesbian asked how to deal with her parent’s homophobia.

To the blind, mindless hate of Lauren Ashley, Miss. California hopeful quoting a LEVITICUS verse that advocates death for gays. Oh but she had gay friends (why is it all these homophobes bring out the gay friend excuse? Surely they can see that it’s not even REMOTELY believable!)  When are we going to realise that hate speech revelling in our deaths is NOT acceptable?! Seriously why did no-one call her on this? Why didn’t the pageant drop her so fast she bounced twice? Why didn’t the interviewer react appropriately – by ripping off her arm and beating her to death with the soggy end? Why is comment like this considered legitimate?

And then we go to the utterly vile with the World Net Daily Columnist, Molotov Mitchell adding to the already shocking voices calling for our death  Again, why is this acceptable? Why are any more than the nuttiest of fringiest (good gods spell checker, that’s an actual word?) extremists even thinking this is acceptable to say? Why isn’t this a career killer? Why isn’t this a “drive the man out the room with a hail of fruits and vegetables” moment?

All of these send a message. They send a message that gays are worth less, due less, are less. All of these foolish, hateful acts, laws and speeches justify and cheer for the deaths and the pain. And it is global – our hate mongers travel the globe spreading their hate, their words are quoted in homophobic conferences, their books used as guides and sources around the world. The hateful religious texts and teachings know no borders. The hate is spread around quite liberally – but it’s not just words. There are real bodies and real lives and real victims who will suffer from this poison – and we cannot forget that.