I am incensed that Westboro Baptist Church released this absurd and acrimonious press release threatening to picket Heath Ledger's funeral. According to this document,
God Hates Fags! and Fag Enablers!Ergo God hates the sordid,tacky bucket of slime seasoned with vomit known as 'Brokeback Mountain' and He hates all persons having anything whatsoever to do with it.
I wasn’t a big fan of Brokeback Mountain, but I identified with Heath Ledger as a human being. I also cannot imagine that God 'hates' anyone, yet alone punishes them for starring in a movie. Does this church really think that God will support their position? They are as ridiculous as the folks who believe that AIDS is God's wrath against gays. Westboro's vehement statements appear to be in alignment with this similarly flawed thinking. The release goes on to say,
Heath Ledger is now in Hell, and has begun serving his eternal sentence there--beside which,nothing else about Heath Ledger is relevant or consequential.
But his life was of consequence and mattered to the family, friends, colleagues and fans who were shocked by his unexpected death.What Westboro fails to understand is that his portrayal of Ennis in the movie Brokeback Mountain, was just that, an actor practicing his craft in a movie. This depiction on film in no way reflects who he was as a man or his sexuality. Further, he was not a 'pervert' because he starred in a movie about same gender love.
This brand of hate is simply despicable and is exemplary of the kind of narrow-minded and homophobic behavior that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people must face all of the time. I saw this same minister (and I use the term loosely) on Logo. He moved his congregation’s service up an hour before their own service every Sunday morning so that he and his members could go protest in front of an inclusive church with "God Hates Fags" signs. Imagine people who get up early so that they have time to propagate hate before going to prayer. One can only venture to think what happens in their place of worship.
It is unfortunate that Heather Ledger's family must struggle with their grief and these outrageous comments.May he rest in peace and may his family find comfort in knowing that he was loved and respected not just because of Brokeback Mountain, but because of his many other accomplishments.
If you haven’t seen “For the Bible Tells Me So”, see it and encourage our straight brothers and sisters to see it as well. We need allies. We need people who will stand with us and affirm our existence. We must lobby together for human rights, otherwise we will continue to be victims of those who devalue Christianity and spirituality by practicing hate. God is love!
2 comments:
It bogles the mind to think that even in year 5768/2008 that there is a so-called "church" in America that would sprew such vile. As a Minister of Gods precious Word, all I could think about is the woman that ran to Jesus when the crowd was about to stone her. I believe Heath Ledger's spirit has just run to us for protection. Thanks Pat for stooping down and writing in the sand! Now Westboro we lift ourselves up and say to you what Jesus said to that crowd -"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone!" We also say We Love You!
That is...if you believe that homosexuality is a sin! I receive your point, but there are no stones to be cast here! Be Blessed.
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