One of the most bitter foes of the American gay community has died and I only feel sadness for him and his family. I'm sad because his legacy is permanently scarred by his unrelenting hatred and intolerance for people who are gay, feminist, foreign born, of color and otherwise different from his vision of a godly society. Falwell sowed dischord and hatred in the name of religion, a weapon he used to divide our nation.
Remember this?
> After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Falwell said on the 700 Club, "I
> really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the
> feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to
> make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American
> Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the
> finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen."
Should I cry for this man? Nope, but neither do I rejoice at his death. Instead, I mourn a life wasted, power abused and faith misplaced by millions of Americans. I guarantee the wingnuts are just looking for the slightest bit of glee from our side, just waiting for something to pounce upon to carry on his legacy of hate. From what I've seen, most people won't give them the satisfaction. Media outlets all over the nation are contacting prominent LGBT organizations and leaders for comment. I was thinking what I would say if a media outlet asked me (ha).
I think the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force did a good job. So I would say this.
Statement by Matt Foreman, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force?The death of a family member or friend is always a sad occasion and we express our condolences to all those who were close to the Rev. Jerry Falwell. Unfortunately, we will always remember him as a founder and leader of America?s anti-gay industry, someone who exacerbated the nation?s appalling response to the onslaught of the AIDS epidemic, someone who demonized and vilified us for political gain and someone who used religion to divide rather than unite our nation.?
Amen.
