‘GodHatesFags ban infantilises us’ - Diva editor
February 23rd, 2009
The editor of lesbian magazine Diva has criticised the UK government’s recent decision to ban a extremist homophobic sect from entering the UK.
The Westboro Baptist Church, who picket the funerals of soldiers in the USA and are responsible for the website GodHatesFags.com, reportedly had plans to visit the UK to picket a play about the life of murdered gay man Matthew Shepherd.
The sect believes that natural disasters, disease and deaths are God’s punishments for societies which are tolerant of homosexuality.
Home secretary Jacqui Smith last week announced that sect leader Fred Phelps would not be granted entry to the UK due to his ‘unacceptable behaviour… inciting hatred against a number of communities.’
Writing for The Guardian’s Comment is Free on Saturday 21 February 2009, Diva editor Jane Czyzselska argues that the Home Secretary’s decision to ban the sect ‘infantilises us’ and that open debate is the most appropriate way to combat homophobia.
“I believe strongly that to hide behind a government ban creates an intransigence that is unhelpful and perpetuates the standoff between the opposing groups,” argues Czyzseksja.
“No argument is too specious to be put to the litmus test of open debate. No reactionary view can stand up to the rigor of informed discussion.”
I don’t think that we need these lovely visitors to encourage debate in the UK. We already know their arguments, and they know ours. Allowing them to picket events here would add to nothing besides their publicity - which both the Editors of Diva and Lesbilicious are doing by writing about them. Oh, and I suppose I’m doing the same by commenting… let’s change the subject… hasn’t the weather been nice this week?!
Jen ∼ February 23rd, 2009 7:52 pmi agree with jen, we’ve all heard the points of view from whack job sect’s in the past.we all know where each other stands,promoting it gets us nothing.if we ignore them maybe they’ll go back under the rock they crawled from.lol. the weather is lovely!!!!
monkeygirl ∼ February 24th, 2009 11:03 am