Why does the LGBT community insist on making martyrs out of marginally popular, yet very loud folks who just happen to show up on the television? That seems to be our tactic each time a celebrity, and I use that term very loosely, decides to voice an opinion that highlights their ignorance or bigotry.
I’m speaking, of course, of the Duck Dynasty controversy that closed out 2013 and interfered with holiday greetings on social network sites. The hoopla surrounding the television show is almost as ridiculous as the phrase “Duck Dynasty controversy.” Yet, here we are, helping the far-right create a martyr of Phil Robertson, whom many of us never heard of before he voiced his confusion over why a gay man would prefer a “man’s anus” over a vagina during an interview with GQ.
What should have been a laughable quote supported by a few humorous memes on Facebook blew up on social media and mainstream news networks when the A&E Channel temporarily suspended the patriarch of the “reality” television show family because of our outrage. Suddenly, Bible quotes were flung by cable news show hosts and politicians and debates over what the first amendment truly means by “freedom of speech” were the subject of Sunday morning debate shows and Twitter accounts around the country.
Many hoping for the failure of the show were gleeful that the reality of the “reality show” appeared to be staged, based on old photos of the family. Others were happy to broadcast that such a conservative, religious family could find such success on television and applauded his willingness to voice a not-so-popular opinion about homosexuals.
Has anyone really stepped back and looked at the ridiculousness of all of this? Think about it. This hype surrounds a Louisiana family that makes duck calls.
Duck calls! Really?
We’ve also learned that he’s been anti-gay for a while and we acted shocked!
Is what the reality star said disrespectful? Absolutely. Is he incorrect in his statement? It depends on who you are, I suppose. As a gay man, the “man’s anus” vs. “vagina” argument skews a different way for me. But that doesn’t make me a bigot for not liking what a straight man likes. Or does it?
Is this interview worth us shouting charges of bigotry and outrage on a global scale and waging war against the conservative right? Absolutely not!
Suddenly, an entertaining, eccentric family, at least that’s what I’ve been told, I’ve never seen the show, are the poster children for “Christian values” and anti-gay policy and law makers. Signs on front yards sprouted up to declare “I stand with Phil Robertson” next to “Merry Christmas” greetings. Photos of those signs showed up in the pages of newspapers and petitions showing that same support were mailed to the television network that produces the show.
There is even a “I stand with Chick-Phil-A day” scheduled, which reaches back to the Chick-Fil-A controversy of 2012 when that fast-food chain’s CEO tweeted about his dislike of marriage equality.
We are a nation that is highly influenced by television. I’ll give you that. Kids mimic what they see on television and acceptance and tolerance is something most families would want to teach their children.
But networks have a right to broadcast what they want as long as the audience receiving it buys the products advertised during its showing. Those who don’t like a show or a cast member of that show have every right to change the station or delete the program from the DVR.
It’s really not that complicated.
The LGBT community has a lot to celebrate as we begin 2014. Marriage equality is spreading throughout the country. In fact, it’s spreading so quickly that marriage equality maps must see updates almost every week!
Yet, instead of simply identifying an interview with a television star as an offensive piece of journalism, we pick up our torches and pitchforks and begin a witch hunt in the name of equality. There truly are better ways for us to exercise our resources.
Let’s stay focused on marching forward for the rights of LGBTs in 2014 rather than single out the stupidity of one marginal television star.
After all, our reactions to the recorded beliefs of one person are just as influential as the quotes themselves.
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