anti-gay prejudice has been marked historically by three characteristics. These are: (1) "hysterical demonization of gay people as dirty sexualized subhumans"; (2) "obsessional fears of gay people as conspiratorial and sexually predatory"; and (3) "narcissistic desires to reinforce stable heterosexual identity . . . by bashing gay people." The primary historical traits of homophobia are thus hysteria, obsession, and narcissism.
And goes on to show how the Republican response to Foley illustrates all three; hysteria by trying to transport Foley's problem onto the gay community as a whole, obsession by conjuring an uber-powerful "Velvet Mafia" that tied the hands of the GOP leadership and protected Foley from punishment, and narcissism by arguing to themselves that the only way to check future Foleys is to reinforce their radical right, anti-gay agenda.
It's good stuff. H/T: VC
2 comments:
David,
Your article cited makes little sense. On the first instance the "hysterical demonization" for example, the instance quoted was of a Democrat running for Congress as an example of GOP hysterical overreaction. I'm not sure how that works out.
On the "second" characteristic he fails to cite any specific examples except to cite a CBS correspondence for possesing possible obsessional fears. It seems to me more than likely not that this correspondent is also a Democrat and even if not, as a reporter is not representative of the GOP.
And his third is a hypothetical "what if".
Hmm, it seems to me that this "classic analogy" doesn't hold here.
I for one am confused why there seems to be (as in this article) the repeated claims that pedophilia and homosexuality are not related. This might be true but is irrelevant. Homosexuality and kelptomania are not related either, which is just as relevant. Mr Foley didn't actually have anything to do with pedophila so I'm unclear why the defense is being raised just as I'm equally unclear as to why those attacking Mr Foley's behavior bring it up.
The irony is that Carpenter, in his fanatical support for the GOP that has gone on for years, has promoted the very same homophobia he is criticizing.
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