The Post I Would Have Published

This is a copy of the post I would have published if Proposition Hate had been defeated.

What Do We Do Now?

The test of Proposition 8 did not represent the end of an era. It signaled the beginning of a new stage of freedom. However, beginnings, no matter how felicitous, are always based on old feelings, old scores and things left behind. And what the defeat of Proposition 8 leaves behind, if left unchecked, can become very, very dangerous. The Christofascist Right loves, worships and sanctifies money. Look how much they were willing to spend to take away people's rights. Look at all the out-of-state aid they received. Look at how they were willing to forge an unholy alliance with Mormons. Look at their bold risk of looking unChristian and the way they even embraced the tactic of extortion.

I know how pessimistic I must sound in the face of victory. I'm not going to rain on everyone's parade, I promise. Let's celebrate! Let's dance in the streets! But later, be judicious and cautious.

Please.

We underestimated the Christofascists once. We can't afford to do that again. If we do not conform to their definitions of righteousness, they consider us the enemy. To them, we are Satan. And they have proven that they will stop at nothing to defeat us in this culture war. Nothing.

They've preyed on people's fears through Judgment Houses and Hell Houses this last Halloween. They've spread lies about the "gay agenda" (was there ever a gay agenda? I don't remember one). For every sermon preached with its subject of "Love the sinner, hate the sin" there are thousands of sermons telling people to save their own souls by shunning the "heathen" the "outcast", the "pagan", the "feminist", the "homosexual". And the most sinister of them parrot how people can "change" if they really want to and have faith in God.

Hypocrisy is their stock and trade. Never forget (or forgive) Ted Haggard. Never forget Jimmy Swaggart. Never forget Senator Ted Stevens. Never forget Fred Phelps.

And NEVER forget Matthew Shepard. His real killers were in pulpits.

NOTE: The victory of Proposition 8 will only make Christofascists bolder and more overtly vicious in their attacks on homosexuals. Please people, be on your guard as never before.