GayPatriot

The Internet home for American gay conservatives.

How American Gay Elitists Are Failing Iranian Gays

by

(Hat tip: Instapundit)

Rob Anderson at The New Republic has a must-read column on the hypocrisy and silence of the American gay “establishment.” Many of these points have been echoed at this site ad nauseum.

How America’s Gay Rights Establishment Is Failing Gay Iranians: The Quiet Americans – The New Republic Online

When it comes to the oppression of gays and lesbians in Muslim countries, gay activism hasn’t died; it never really existed. Gay activists have used two types of excuses to justify their failure to aggressively mobilize for the rights of gay Muslims–moral and strategic. The moral argument is that Americans are in no position to criticize Iranians on human rights–that it would be wrong to campaign too loudly against Iranian abuses when the United States has so many problems of its own. Then, there are two strategic rationales: that it is better to work behind the scenes to bring about change in Iran; and that gay rights groups should conserve their resources for domestic battles.

The strategic rationales are not especially compelling, but it is the moral argument that is particularly troubling, because it suggests that some gay and lesbian leaders feel more allegiance to the relativism of the contemporary left than they do to the universality of their own cause. Activists are more than willing to condemn the homophobic leaders of the Christian right for campaigning against gay marriage; but they are weary of condemning Islamist regimes that execute citizens for being gay. Something has gone terribly awry.

But gay activists need to come to a consensus sooner rather than later because, while they argue, Iranian lives are on the line. For now, mainstream gay organizations have made clear where they stand. As President Ahmadinejad, a man who is partially responsible for these brutalities, passed through New York last month, gay activists failed to confront him. Now he has returned to Iran, where those who are proven to be gay are thrown in jail, tortured, and executed on trumped-up charges. When it comes to the Muslim world, gay and lesbian leaders are evidently uncomfortable talking in moral absolutes. But if this is not absolute evil, then what is?

The problem for the American gay community is that our “establishment” no longer recognizes right from wrong. Only Red from Blue. And we know where their allegiance, money and time goes. It is not on behalf of moral absolutism, but political hackery.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

UPDATE (from GPW): Now in his new perch at Malcontent, my buddy Robbie looks into this matter. Noting how Scott Long, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Program at the Human Rights Watch, excused Muslims for gay bashing in Holland, he wonders:

If a gay couple had been assaulted by poor, Christian evangelicals in Alabama, I highly, highly suspect Mr. Long would not be waxing sympathetic about the effects of poverty or single motherhood. I am reasonably certain his condemnation would have been swift and furious, and rightfully so. Instead we are treated to an apologia, brazen excuses, and a reluctance to condemn the Religion of Peace.

Now, that I’ve whet your appetite, read the whole thing!

Comments

  1. Sigh……I would put it this way. The gay left’s demonstrations so frequently backfire and alienate normal people, I don’t WANT them protesting Iranians — given their current record, more people would support the Iranians. We must never let their hypocrisy blind us to the reality of how ineffective and counterproductive their demonstrations are.

    In short, if we want to enact change, there’s no use yelling at the self-absorbed and ineffectual gay left. We have to do it ourselves.

  3. “Chandler, you ignorant slut.” Tons of folks here have done more than you could ever dream of. I played a role (with several others) in getting a very, very major corporation to come out with DPBs back at a time when DPBs just made people go “huh?” – and it was dangerous even to let your boss know you were gay.

  10. If it’s true that all politics is essentially local, then the likelihood of the Left ever distancing themselves from Third World tyrants is poor. What they hate, and what gives them their identity, are the homegrown successes who star in the role of Oppressor in their passion play: white male Republican Christians. Since the Muslims also hate this group, the Sons of the Prophet and the Caring Hearts of the Left are drawn together.

    I live in Blue City, BlueLand. I often hear ranting and raving and spewing about George Bush and his Nazi cronies but if you criticize America in conversation, you will never be confronted, only seen as wisely and humbly self-aware and morally superior . I never, never, never hear any anger whatosoever directed against the Muslim terrorists and their Sharia governments who perpetrate these crimes against homos. That speaks volumes to me.

  11. #10

    That’s because they’re far more worried about Bush taking away their rights that they never had in the first place as opposed to their buddies taking away the lives of their counter-parts in other countries.

    “ME ME ME ME!!! Screw you guys. What’s in it for me?”

  13. Here’s my take on this. Someone at HRW made an idiotic comment, so you point it out. Great. But nothing about Chertoff’s sending legitimate refugees from Anti-Gay violence back into danger. And nothing about Saudi Arabia. Nothing. At. All.

    What he should have said was ‘there is a problem in the Netherlands with Anti-Gay violence from some sectors in the Muslim minority, but the government is trying to stop it. Furthermore, the population here is trying to stop it as well, so I’m going to concentrate my resources elsewhere’. But he didn’t so I condemn his statement. Comparing institutional murder of Gay citizens in Saudi Arabia or extreme societal discrimination by Jamaica to the situation here in the Netherlands is really not appropriate.

    I live in the Netherlands (temporarily) and would rather the Gay mainstram concentrate on Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, and Iran than here in NL. They need a lot more help than we do here. Gotta go now and walk directly past groups of Morrocan immigrants on my way out for the evening. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Tot Ziens.

  15. So where is the demo against Iran?? I’ld be happy to go.
    You rant against the left, yet do nothing?
    See you at the demo, oh what you’ve never organized anything?

    Charles of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Greenwich Village.

  17. Dreier was blocked because he has a long-term, loving relationship with someone of the same sex. This has been documented on many fronts and is widely known by members of Dreier’s own caucus. If the reality of this blocked Dreier’s ascension, then the news has a duty not to keep this matter hidden.
    http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/000977.html
    How many never married 53 olds making $156,000 and worth over 7 million live with a roommate, ah er chief of staff (who he pays $155,400)?
    2+2 does equal 4

  18. As Ed McMahon used to say, “You are correct, sir.!” I am aghast when gay friends tell me that they are frightened by GW and the christian right. The last time i checked the local baptist church in kentucky was not holding a “stone the apostate night”. You have nailed it that it is all about politics and a perceived notion that gay politics equals liberal politics. That’s just crazy.

  24. This is a joke, right? The American gay rights movement is having enough problems trying to achieve some modicum of equal rights for same-sex attracted people in America. They have limited resources. Are they to be expected to expend what limited resourses they have on problems elsewhere?

    If you are really interested in the problems of gay people in the middle east, instead of complaining about the American gay rights organizations, maybe you might consider starting up another movement for that purpose. Instead of just complaining.

    Just to let you know, I won’t be holding my breath waiting for that to occur.

  25. The American gay rights movement is having enough problems trying to achieve some modicum of equal rights for same-sex attracted people in America. They have limited resources. Are they to be expected to expend what limited resourses they have on problems elsewhere?

    I have some advice for you, Raj.

    The “gay rights movement” spent millions upon millions of dollars last year supporting a candidate who advocated banning and stripping gays of rights via state constitutional amendment because of his religion and his view that gays weren’t worthy of “sacrament” and calling that “pro-gay” and “gay-supportive”.

    If the “gay rights movement” has enough money to blow on supporting candidates who push antigay state constitutional amendments, they have enough money to work on gay rights elsewhere. But the difference is that the one fattens the bankroll of the Democratic Party, and the other doesn’t.

    The “gay rights movement” has made its priorities clear; it would rather elect antigay Democrats than it would fight for gay rights anywhere, in the US or outside it. That’s why it is having so many problems.

  26. Wow, one party wanted to make us illegal again, throw us from our jobs, and raise the might of he Lord to smite us,

    and the other had some problems about the more progressive parts of the gay rights movement.

    HMMMMMM, are you morons going to constantly bring up this faulty argument, of course you are.

    In politics, when is six of one and two of another, ya go with the six. You don’t get everything but you get MORE than the other.

    But you whining Republican minority, you should be complaining why gays in the Rebublican party settle for so much less.

  28. If you want to see republican conservative truth, go and read the last campaign republican platform. Then sing the praises of those you choose to associate with and explain why you are willing to settle for less.

    Again, it is the comparative as you associate with those who whould LOVE to recriminilize sodomy. It is honest that you support anti-gay politicians in greater abundance than Denocrats do.

    That is the bottom line.

    I would love to see a congress filled with nothing but Barney Franks, but that isn’t the political reality.

  29. Actually, since Barney Frank also calls stripping gays of rights via state and Federal constitutional amendments because of religious and traditional arguments “pro-gay” and “gay-supportive”, we’ll live without, thank you. There’s no need for a Congress full of whores who will blindly support antigay actions because the DNC ordered them to do it.

    It is honest that you support anti-gay politicians in greater abundance than Denocrats do.

    But as I’ve pointed out, Chandler, you Democrats call stripping gays of rights “pro-gay” and “gay-supportive”, and you call people who reaffirm gay rights “antigay”.

  31. North Dallas Thirty — October 10, 2005 @ 11:20 am – October 10, 2005

    I have some advice for you, Raj…..

    Thanks for the advice, but I have long been able to figure out what’s going on. That’s not the issue. The issue was why the putative US gay rights movement was not concerned about pursuing “gay rights” in the Middle East. My comment indicated that the US gay rights movement should at least try to get something in–the US!–which they haven’t been particularly able to do. Before they concern themselve with others.

    Is that cruel? Perhaps. Is it practical? Well yes. When you have limited resourses. I basically have given up on these national organizations, and have chosen to donate to regional ones. The national organizations have largely accomplished nothing, but the regional ones here in New England have.

    Remind me…what was your previous handle?

  32. this thing that you people called gay or lesbian is it the best way one can live his or her live style
    ?come to it now you guys have infected a quite number of people with a dreadfull diseases in the name of gay or lesbian may GOD forgive those that practice that shit.

  33. i need the contact of some rich gay pal who can advice and as well be of some kindness as i am an undergraduate in one of the high school.i am kindly waiting foir quike reply
    thanks.
    bill