Homophobic Voices from the Right Respond to Election

Election Day 2012 was a positive day for LGBTQ rights in America. Not only Was President Obama re-elected, but Maine voters voted in favor of a same-sex marriage initiative, Maryland voters upheld same-sex marriage legislation, and a same-sex marriage ban in Minnesota was rejected, reports NPR. The LGBTQ community and its allies have much to celebrate, but homophobes among the Religious Right are fuming.

First, in a November 7th press release, National Organization for Marriage president Brian Brown expressed disappointment about election day. He claimed that NOM's opponents "built a huge financial advantage", rejecting the idea that the election results could have been the product of changing voter attitudes on LGBTQ rights. (See www[dot]nomblog[dot]com/30808/)

"Our opponents and some in the media will attempt to portray the election results as a changing point in how Americans view gay marriage, but that is not the case. Americans remain strongly in favor of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The election results reflect the political and funding advantages our opponents enjoyed in these very liberal states."

Anti-LGBTQ activist Scott Lively mocked progressives for re-electing President Obama and therefore rushing toward a "Godless utopian fantasy". Lively claimed that the election was more evidence that believers were living in an age of "apostasy", predicting an even deeper descent into immorality in the coming years. (See www[dot]defendthefamily[dot]com/pfrc/newsarchives.php?id=7343605)

"The better or worse news (depending on your theology) is that the age of apostasy is more clearly upon us, which means that the return of Christ is drawing near.

These next few months and years will be an exciting time for students of prophesy, and an exceedingly challenging time for all believers as the stand for biblical truth becomes more and more costly.

There will be intense and increasing pressure from all sides, especially in the political realm, to abandon the Bible and embrace an emerging redefinition of Christianity more in line with secular realities. It won’t be long before the chasm between Christ and this world is simply too wide to straddle, and we each will be forced to choose sides."

Finally, Mario Diaz penned a post-election commentary at the Concerned Women for America website, lamenting the election's pro-LGBTQ gains. Diaz was disturbed by voters "choosing to promote homosexual behavior through government for future generations," referring to successful same-sex marriage initiatives in Maine, Maryland, Washington, and Minnesota. He blamed the alleged "aggressive intimidation" of "homosexual activists" for these victories, unable to grasp that voters might genuinely recognize the merits of LGBTQ equality. (See www[dot]cwfa[dot]org/content.asp?id=21716)

"So now, for the first time, we have voters electing for themselves (not judges or legislatures) to redefine marriage and allow homosexuals to "marry." It was bound to happen sooner or later. Homosexual activists have mounted a decades-long campaign of aggressive intimidation that has made an example of targeted individuals in order to send a clear message to anyone who would dare to oppose them publicly ... This is a big mistake that will have dire consequences for us, our children, and our children's children. God's definition of marriage as one man and one woman is not an arbitrary designation without any concrete earthly significance."

Homophobic voices among the Religious Right just can't accept that times are changing. As more voters reject homophobia, the U.S. will see more legislation and political leaders who support LGBTQ equality, to the Religious Right's chagrin. That doesn't mean that the struggle is over, however. Homophobia is still a problem in America, and homophobes will still fight tooth and nail against any recognition of LGBTQ people as full persons. Let's continue this momentum and push back against their homophobic efforts. I hope that Election Day 2012 was only the beginning.