Many have come to accept the constant bigotry, the vitriol of our current administration. All of it has become so common, so normalized that it feels as if, after every terrible comment, we’re already on the next one.
At times, it feels easier to overlook these comments. After all, having to constantly take up the banner of activism can lead to fatigue making it easier to want to brush over hate, to forget about it. But should we really forget a dangerous “joke” when many Americans still don’t understand the serious impact of homophobia?
In October 2017, Donald Trump was asked a question about gay rights, and he gestured to Mike Pence and said, “Don’t ask that guy, he wants to hang them all!” Obviously, this is not a comment to be taken lightly. Though reporters originally found this newsworthy, people seem to have already forgotten that this happened? Everyone except for the LGBTQ+ community. It still sits in their heads, where they consider the possibility of even more violence and murder against their community. Still, people have been moving over to other transgressions. Glossing over Trump’s comment without addressing it normalizes how people, even the President, can speak. If he is allowed to make off-hand comments about entire groups of people being hanged, people will start to accept instead of fight.
The President is meant to be a face that people can look up to. Speaking this way tells people, especially young people, that it is acceptable to joke about gay people dying. Comments like this can be heard in middle schools, high schools, and any other casual gathering place across America. Hearing these comments isolates LGBTQ+ people, making them feel unsafe. Someone may not be directly threatening them, but true intentions can be unclear. Some people may go on to attack or kill LGBTQ+ people for existing as they are. Even if people don’t harm others but continue making jokes, it makes the violent people feel secure. They’re the ones who feel as though they are in the right and their violence is justified. LGBTQ+ people should be the ones feeling safe, and hate speech against them should be resisted.
Many people view Vice President Pence as homophobic, with his extremely conservative and religious views. He signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which gives people an excuse to discriminate against same-sex couples. He’s been supportive of conversion therapy, which attempts to “fix” LGBTQ+ people. Trump’s comment about Pence wanting all gay people to be hung isn’t a difficult conclusion to reach.
This issue, like many, should still be talked about. This hurts queer people, and their pain should not be minimized. The struggle of the LGBTQ+ community is not a joke — especially when they are attacked and targeted on an everyday basis in this country.
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