The last word Matthew Sheppard heard may have been faggot

[dsc]

I watched The Laramie Project tonight. It is being put on by our local college. One of the many important scenes in the play is when Aaron confesses. In his confession, Aaron repeatedly referred to Matt as a faggot. Of course, not everyone who uses, or laughs at that word, violently attacks gays. But pretty much all the people who violently attack gays do use that word.

Ann Coulter is pretty much pathetic. But a major Presidential candidate introduced her and accepted her endorsement. The people who attended that conference aren't some kooks who sit on their porches talking to figments of their imagination. They are people who are in nearly total control of one of our major political parties. About a week after a 72 year old man was beaten to death for being gay, one of the largest, most powerful conservative organizations in the United States invited Ann Coulter to call someone a faggot, and laugh.

The next gay 21 year old man, or gay 72 year old man for that matter, who is killed by some thug on the street will have his blood upon their hands. There really isn't another way to put it. The conservatives at that event set the tone for those crimes. Mitt Romney sets the tone for those crimes. The blood won't wash off them, it just won't.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. If Ann likes that word so much...

I dare her to find a Castro bar with a name like "The Trench" or "The Mailed Fist", walk up to some huge leather daddy and call him a faggot.

They'll never be able to get her completely out of the cracks in the floor.

[babylonsister]

3. If only she would. nt

[gratefultobelib]

30. You know--that's a good observation. Right, Annie Baby, throw the word around

in a "safe" environment where you know your sicko friends will be amused. I watched the video. She was so goddamned smug.

[marmar]

2. "But a major Presidential candidate introduced her and accepted her endorsement."

Speaks volumes about the Republican mindset.

[razors edge]

4. Pandering to the asses. n/t

[Erika]

5. Our town had to fight having a "Matt Sheppard, You will die in Hell"

from being a hate-gays monument in our city park. We did so.

It sounds like Coulter has joined the Fred Phelps group with hatred of gays.

You can contact the Romney campaign at www.mittromney.com

He accepted her endorsement.

[babylonsister]

6. Ooh, I read a candidate supported her, but Romney? He's doomed now. nt

[Penndems]

7. David Brock wrote about Ann Coulter in his book, "Blinded By The Right"

Don't know if you've read it or not, but he does an excellent job in exposing the right-wing. He described pretty much what the gay and lesbian community in D.C. already knows: That Coulter liked to patronize bars in southeast Washington that cater to gay/lesbian clientele. Mr. Brock used the terminology "fag hag" to describe Coulter.

She's in no position to cozy up to right-wingers, and then slap their Democratic opponents with that euphemism.

[dsc]

8. In one sense Romney and her are a perfect pair

neither one has any apparent actual beliefs.

[FreeState]

10. Is there a way to contact Mr Romney

this gay mormon would like a word with him

[Erika]

12. Contact Mitt Romney's Campaign at

www.mittromney.com

[dicknbush]

15. done and Done

I especially emphasized the Mathew Shepherd angle as the last words he might have heard was "Faggot" very effective.

[Bluebear]

18. Don't contact him. Just spread the word what kind of endorsement Romney appreciates. nt

[Penndems]

13. Or any class, scruples or distinguishable intelligence

They're both money-grubbing, spotlight-grabbing opportunists who'll do and say anything as long as there are dollars involved.

[NI4NI]

9. Your statement stirred me

I do hope that somewhere besides this thread you will stir many others with your remark about "a week after a 72 year old man was beaten to death for being gay" the word "faggot" was used in front of a powerful organization and drawing laughter.
I've been angry, and taken aback by many things people like Coulter say and do, but after reading your factual perspective of WHERE it was said, I'm flat fuckin' horrified.
Your statement NEEDS to be heard.

[Solly Mack]

11. People with power and influence - the ability to reach large audiences

and effect change, who promote hate by aiding in the creation of an environment where hate is seen as acceptable - even righteous, have indeed set the tone, as you've stated.

[dicknbush]

14. Anne has a very very very good friend who is gay..

His name is Al Rantel and he is a talk radio host (Right winged of course) for KABC radio in Los angeles. I suggest you send him an e-mail and ask him if it is OK for his very very very very good friend mAnn to be calling people faggots especially if there is no reason to believe that they are even gay to begin with. I tried to get to the KABC site but I couldn't get there to fin Al's e-mail address. But if you go to KABC you can find his e-mail and ask him how he feels about a friend of his calling people faggots.

[The Count]

36. "most of her friends are gay" - I'm sure....

[Madspirit]

16. k&r n/t

[AshevilleGuy]

17. One of the last times I had heard that word was by Arlo Guthrie,

in Alice's Restaurant. I guess he wasn't liberal enough to not do that. Then Isaiah Washington used it last month, then that retarded basketball player, I forget his name, the fucking asshole.

I am gay myself, and have always hated the Q-word more; that is what we heard in high school. But this today just takes the cake. I don't even know what to say about it, it's just so primitive and pointless. :shrug:

[Luna_C_06]

22. I'm sorry Asheville.

When I was a preteen my friends and I use to say things like this to each other a lot, which was kinda weird because I covered for a couple of gay and bi friends around that time. Luckily my dad got on to me and taught me why it's wrong to say things like this. I just wanted to apologize for my stupidity. Sorry.

[AshevilleGuy]

23. Please don't worry about it now.

I said a LOT of things at that age I would like to take back now, including stuff like you are referring to. Guy banter, etc., is/was not limited to heterosexuals, especially back in the 1950s and 1960s.

But adults like Guthrie and Washington know better; that is the difference. :)

[laylah]

24. Being of the "Alice's Restaurant"

era, if I remember correctly (and I just re-read the lyrics to be sure), his use of that disgusting word was to illustrate the ignorant thinking of the military, then AND now. However, now, it is "don't ask, don't tell". Arlo, the spawn of the ever great Woody Guthrie, was BORN with blue liberal blood coursing through his veins. http://www.arlo.net/

That said, I, too, find that word, and Coulter, disgusting! :puke:

Jenn

[Madspirit]

33. Lesbian Loves Arlo

"Alice's Restaurant" was decades ago. I would be fairly sure Arlo's consciousness has been raised a notch or two on that issue.

We also had to fight leftists for our inclusion. That should NEVER be forgotten. The left did not approach us with open arms either.

Lee

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

19. K&R!!!

:thumbsup:

[David Zephyr]

20. Kick!

:thumbsup:

[specimenfred1984]

21. Newsflash: Repukes are Bigots

It's why any smear at all attracts repukes to the smearer like ants to sugar.

[NDP]

25. Mitt Romney is the pick of the Bush crime family, and the one that all of the major

Repugnant Party personalities will support. I look for a ticket of Romney/Jeb Bush if Chuck Hagel doesn't run. I hope that Hagel runs because he is blunt, and I want to see someone like Hagel slap Romney around during the debates.

[H2O Man]

26. Nominated.

Very powerful. Thank you.

[dsc]

27. kick

[wiley]

28. The MSM is scared. In NY, they seem to be promoting Giuliani. That's sick.

[terrya]

29. I hate that word.

It's our version of the "N" word. And as we know, the use of the "N" word was sometimes accompanied by lynchings and other hate crimes.

Overall, Ann Coulter is pathetic. Just insane ramblings all the time. But the use of this word is vile. And when politicians embrace her, and by extension, the use of that word...it's contemptable beyond words.

Great post, and I thank you for your words. Kicked and recommended.

[mconvente]

31. It can't be said more elegantly or in fewer words than yours...

We have a LONG way to go, my friends. Let's band together and not get depressed, but fight for equality, and most importantly, true ACCEPTANCE of gay people. They are our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers (for adopted children), our friends, co-workers, teachers, professors, our hurting and despondent, our happy and proud. This blatant bigotry cannot be tolerated at all, and it's up to us - the progressive denizens of America - to put an end to intolerance and lack of acceptance.

[mnhtnbb]

32. I made a donation to Edwards campaign and sent Coulter

an e-mail telling her that it wasn't just a matter of intellectual disagreement with her hate-filled bigotry targeted at John Edwards, but as a mother of a gay son who is a member of a community that this country loves to hate, I was personally insulted.

You can reach her here:

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/anncoulter/archive.shtml

I also told her that she needed help. It was apparent that all her insults originate from her self-loathing.

[Madspirit]

34. Phelps and Coulter

Don't confuse Phelps and Coulter as being in the same camp. Coulter is actually more evil. It just simply cannot be denied, regardless of how vile that nasty little man and his minions are, he IS mentally ill. Severely. Go to his "God Hates Fags" website. The man is stark raving mad. Coulter is accepted by mainstream. Phelps is not. Coulter is a much bigger danger to us than Phelps.
Lee

[The Count]

35. hey, cheer up, Sheppard family, you can donate to Edwards and feel good again

:sarcasm:

The turning into positive worked for Dean because it was primary stuff. This shouldn't be made into a fund raiser niah-niah-niah - because it's so vile!