Condoning More Religion-based Homophobic Crap

[Smartypants]

The Washington Post on Sunday ran a story about a town in Oklahoma whose townspeople turned out in force to protest a visit by by the psychotically homophopic Reverend Fred Phelps, even though they consider homosexuality a sin. It was a treacly human-interest story that painted a rosy picture of the Good Christian People who protected the young man, while overlooking the wrongheadedness of its own admitted prejudices.

Man, did it steam me!! The story is too long to paste, so I put a link below.

This is my letter to the Post's Editor (I am becoming Grandpa Simpson!):

Dear Editor,

If Anne Hull ("A Coming Out for One of Their Own," Sunday) witnessed a neighbor constantly telling her child he was stupid, or overheard a father drilling it into his son's head that he was a lesser person than other people's kids, she might well turn them in for verbal child abuse. Why then is the story of Michael Shackleford presented as a heartwarming tale of rescue by a loving and gentle family and friends? The reality is that while they came to Michael's aid when the Reverend Phelps arrived in town, their psychological abuse is more damaging and insidious than the kind that Phelps dispenses. Most rational, semi-intelligent people can dismiss Phelps as a hateful whacko when he appears for a day or two with his ridiculous entourage, but the lifelong reinforcement from family, neighbors, and the church that his homosexuality makes him somehow inferior will be harder or impossible for Michael ever to recover from.

Mrs. Shackleford and the residents of Sand Springs are hardly supportive heroes. In a story of true support Mom would have made Michael's ticket to the big city one way, so he could escape a community that still insists that he is a lesser person than other people's kids. And drilling it into gay kids that something's wrong with them should be met with the same horror and outrage currently reserved only for Reverend Phelps.-


Coming Out for One of Their Own

By Anne Hull

SAND SPRINGS, Okla. -- The fliers arrived three weeks ago. Some came over the fax machines of local churches, and others appeared mysteriously around town. Printed in bold was the heading "Westboro Baptist Church." No seeming cause for alarm. Sand Springs, population 18,500, is a Christian stronghold in the gently rolling hills of eastern Oklahoma.

To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...r=emailarticle