A Rash of Homophobia
Recently, Tracy Morgan, star of Thirty Rock and SNL veteran, went on a homophobic rant. If Morgan had been a White man talking about African Americans, his career would be over, but mocking Gays and Lesbians is acceptable to many in our society.
A Hypothetical
Let’s say I saw a comedian the other night. He happened to be a comedian who was white. He went on about how black people can’t take a joke, and that he would never allow his son to be black. The crowd of Southern Whites sopped it up like a pig with its swill.
Hypothetical
If Morgan had been a White racist, it would have sounded like this:
“I am so tired of Black’s people’s bullshit about how they were ‘born this way’. Being Black is a choice and god don’t make no mistakes.”
“There is no way a White woman would ever want a Black man, it’s just a woman pretending to have jungle fever and pretending that Black men can give them what a White man can.”
“I am tired of Blacks talking about this racism shit, and racism stuff, and Blacks should stop being pussies
“Being Black is what kids learn from the media and rap music and shows on BET promote being Black to kids, as if it’s something normal to be glorified.”
“If my son was Black, I would have to lynch him.”
“And I don’t care if I piss off some Blacks. If they can take a needle in their arm, they can take a joke.”
Obviously, this type of racism and hatred is unacceptable in our society, as it should be. But, this is in essence what Tracy Morgan said about Gays and Lesbians at a recent “comedy” show.
According to Kevin Rogers (who was in attendance at the Ryman show) and others at the show, Tracy’s anti-gay stand-up material included:
-Mr. Morgan took it upon himself to mention about how he feels all this gay shit was crazy and that women are a gift from God and that “Born this Way” is bullshit, gay is a choice, and the reason he knows this is exactly because “God don’t make no mistakes” (referring to God not making someone gay cause that would be a mistake).
-He said that there is no way a woman could love and have sexual desire for another woman, that’s just a woman pretending because she hates a fucking man. He took time to visit the bullshit of this bullying stuff and informed us that the gays needed to quit being pussies and not be whining about something as insignificant as bullying.
-He mentioned that gay was something kids learn from the media and programming, and that bullied kids should just bust some ass and beat those other little fuckers that bully them, not whine about it. He said if his son that was gay he better come home and talk to him like a man and not [he mimicked a gay, high pitched voice] or he would pull out a knife and stab that little N (one word I refuse to use) to death.
-He mentioned that Barack Obama needed to man up and quit being all down with this just because he has a wife and two daughters. All of this being followed by thunderous cheer and “You go Tracys”. Tracy then said he didn’t fucking care if he pissed off some gays, because if they can take a fucking dick up their ass… they can take a fucking joke. (Link)
More of the Homophobia
Just this April, Kobe Bryant call referee a faggot because he called a foul on the Laker’s Star. Kobe later apologized,
“What I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period. The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone.” (Link)
So the word came out in the heat of the moment? That was his apology. But why that word, why the word “faggot” and not “asshole” (my first choice in anger) or jerk, or “idiot ref”, or “blind fool”. Why did the word “faggot” come out? What is really in Kobe’s heart? How many racists have used that excuse to justify calling someone “nigger” or worse? Why is the word “faggot” on the tip of his tongue?
We don’t know what was in Kobe’s mind, but it says a lot about how slurs toward gays and lesbians are still acceptable in this day and age. Besides, there is nothing wrong with being gay. But being a jerk is just wrong; moreover, jerkdom is not limited to any race, gender, sexuality or religion. It makes the point without being a slur. So please everyone, adopt the word, “jerk”.
Joakim Noah says “fag” to Miami Heat fan.
“MIAMI – After the Miami Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls last night, Bulls Center Joakim Noah told a fan “F*** you F***word (homophobic slur).” (Link)
So, some fan was hassling Noah, and he felt the need to call him a “fag”. Why? What is it about that word? What ever happened to “shut up jack ass”, or “stop being a jerk” or even the standard, “I’m going to smash your face in!” While I don’t condone violence, why the need to use the word “fag”?
It’s not just Black entertainers that used the word “fag” or “faggot” in the past. These are just the most recent high profile cases. We can also add Andrew Dice Clay, Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin’s daughter and other entertainers that have used the words. Whatever the race, it’s an ignorant slur that is not only hurtful, but it is meaningless and thus misses the mark.
Do entertainers such as Beck, Clay, Coulter, Noah, Bryant and Morgan feel their sexuality is threatened and thus need to use the word to make sure people know they aren’t one of them? Certainly, athletes are especially prone to irrationally defend their masculinity.
Here’s why this matters: using the word faggot dehumanizes Gays and Lesbians and makes discrimination and violence against them more acceptable.
“Dehumanization is a psychological process whereby opponents view each other as less than human and thus not deserving of moral consideration. Jews in the eyes of Nazis and Tutsis in the eyes of Hutus (in the Rwandan genocide) are but two examples…Those excluded are typically viewed as inferior, evil, or criminal.[1]…
We typically think that all people have some basic human rights that should not be violated. Innocent people should not be murdered, raped, or tortured…
However, for individuals viewed as outside the scope of morality and justice, “the concepts of deserving basic needs and fair treatment do not apply and can seem irrelevant.”[2] Any harm that befalls such individuals seems warranted, and perhaps even morally justified…
Psychologically, it is necessary to categorize one’s enemy as sub-human in order to legitimize increased violence or justify the violation of basic human rights. Moral exclusion reduces restraints against harming or exploiting certain groups of people. In severe cases, dehumanization makes the violation of generally accepted norms of behavior regarding one’s fellow man seem reasonable, or even necessary.”
(Link)
If we can dehumanize Gays and Lesbians, then it is okay to bash them. (History of Gay and Lesbian bashing)
In 2007, the FBI statistics on incidents of sexual orientation hate crime included some 1,265 reported cases. NCAVP (National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs statistics on incidents of anti-LGBT hate crimes* recorded some 1,833 cases. Yet, Tracy Morgan wants to kill his son for being gay, which might not even be his choice as many studies report. I guess if Morgan was white, he would also support lynching.
I, for one, will never watch anything with Morgan on it again.
Peace,
Tex Shelters
Tex Shelters Online 