God may be smiling down on the state of Utah in the form of two “God Loves Gays” billboards, but over in Michigan things are a little less celebratory.
That’s because drivers heading north on US-131 into Grand Rapids are forced to come into close proximity with this other sort of billboard — the kind that tears people down instead of lifting them up. God just can’t get his message straight, can he?
The electronic sign switches between two versions showing either a black or latino man above the respective “born black” or “born Latino” labels next to a picture of a man’s face painted the colors of a rainbow and words that say “not born this way.” Get it? Because “rainbow” isn’t an ethnicity. And Gaga and what have you. Hats off, guys, you really nailed this one.
The billboard also says, “Homosexuality is a behavior. Not a civil right.”
How about we take this to the next level?
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The ad was paid for by a group called the Michigan Oak Initiative, and directs viewers to a website which asks them to sign onto a message to the Supreme Court that gay ain’t OK.
“If same-sex marriage is recognized by our government, that will criminalize Christianity because any Christian that speaks what’s in the Bible can be framed for hate speech,” the group’s director, Mark Gurley, said.
Sorry, drivers. You’re going to have to put up with that nonsense for another month. The billboard has been paid for through June.
ingyaom
“If same-sex marriage is recognized by our government, that will criminalize Christianity” – I say, bring it on!
Ken VanArsdale
I wish God if there is one would just come down and tell us what he thinks,,,,,
petensfo
Where’s “Anonymous” when we need them?!
Xzamilio
“I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.”
-Susan B. Anthony.
Chris Duffy
Grand Rapids makes Texas and Utah look like the Castro. It’s ground zero for the activist church mom. And all those Amway billions keep the hate well funded.
Giancarlo85
Homosexuality is a sexual orientation and people are born that way. And what god? People have had various gods over past few millenia. Nobody gives a shit.
This billboard is just as bad as the Harold Camping shit billboards I remember seeing.
polarisfashion
@Giancarlo85: I like Thor, is he the right God?
Billy Budd
I believe in Apollo and he is gorgeous and gay-friendly. A much superior kind of God!
Michael Carpini
Based on the title of the article I sort thought that maybe the billboard got struck by lightning or something. How exactly is God showing His displeasure at the sign??
jwtraveler
@Xzamilio: What a delightful coincidence!
jwtraveler
Interesting that the billboard uses “Born Latino” to differentiate an innate identity from a “behavior”, given that “latino” is an entirely artificially- constructed designation that only exists to marginalize certain groups of people in the United States. There is no Latino ethnicity, culture, history or genotype. So-called “latinos” can be of any race and come from any one of almost two dozen countries. They only thing that unites Latinos is that they have ancestry in a place that was colonized by the Spanish. No one is really “born Latino”.
I realize that this is completely irrelevant to the bigoted message intended by this billboard.
Avery Alvarez
Religion is a choice. Anti-gay bigotry is a behavior.
The billboard makes its own case against itself.
Starry Eyed
@polarisfashion: If it’s Chris Hemsworth as Thor, then yes, yes he is indeed.
Daniel-Reader
It’s extremely telling the group paid to have the billboard for a month so it operates on the Sabbath considering commerce on the Sabbath is punishable by death according to the Bible. They apparently only read pieces and parts they want applied to other people. Talk about hypocrites.
David Brough
I just to scream and I don’t even live in the US.
Gee Rosato
Bullshit
Bullshit
They are wrong
David King
just remember that Christians believe penguins moved from the Antarctic to Saudi Arabia to get on a boat made by a 500 year old man.
Rusty66
JWTRAVELER, DANIEL-READER and INGYAOM make excellent and salient points.
“Latino” and “African-American” AND “Caucasian” are ALL equally vague. AFAIK, my ancestors did NOT come from the Caucasus Mountains.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews are forbidden to complete an electrical circuit on the Sabbath (turn on a light switch, push an elevator button, ring a door-bell, etc.) because that constitutes “work” and “breaking the Sabbath.”
The elevators in hospitals in Israel are set to stop at every floor during the Sabbath (though I think doctors are allowed to override that in an emergency, for the same reason that the Ultra-Orthodox are allowed to milk cows on the Sabbath … alleviating pain takes precedence).
And, of course, as many have noted, religion IS more-or-less a choice, though children DO tend to follow their parents’ religion up to a certain age (when they acquire a computer, the faculty of critical thought, and / or learn to READ).
RE: “criminalizing” KKKonservative KKKriSTAINist KKKults, we DO need tighter rules about hate speech v. free speech (c.f. Canada and most other civilized countries).
I’m a little surprised that incitement to violence isn’t already covered. I recall a case where a Grand Wizard of the KKK in San Diego was indicted as an accessory to murder because hate literature written by him was found in the possession of a man in OREGON who murdered a Black man.
Half-a-dozen Baptist preachers have flat-out called for GLBTQAI *genocide* in the past year. And you can bet your best frock that if SCOTUS *does* rule for marriage equality, SOME fool inspired by their preaching is going to pick up his “legal” gun and start shooting.
Giancarlo85
@jwtraveler: Latino refers to Latin America. And not all Latinos are from countries that were colonized by the Spanish. You are forgetting one of the biggest countries in South America.
enfilmigult
Gawd. Is it really possible to be so lacking in self-awareness that you don’t notice the Christian practices and speech you so dearly want your rights to ARE BEHAVIORS?
jwtraveler
@enfilmigult: You have to remember: Homophobia and anti-gay bigotry is the starting point. Every explanation, theory and Biblical reference that supports it is a justification created to promote hatred. There is no rational thought involved.
JessPH
This is their FACEBOOK page:
https://www.facebook.com/TransformationMichigan
RobvR
@David King: Not to mention all the aquaria since sweet water fish don’t survive in salt water and vice versa (I’m not 100% sure but I suppose the waters must have been salty since the oceans are so huge). Personally, I prefer the Grimms.
Travis Zepp
Heterosexuality is a behavior. Not a civil right.
Stupidity is a behavior. Not a civil right.
Derek Quick
Imagine if they had used that money for a worthy cause like feeding the homeless or bringing supplies to a local animal shelter!
F. Jay Ver
Bible = Hate speech? If the shoe fits.
Trevor McGee
I read it, your piece. I guess I don’t get the headline. The part I’m confused about, is the “God isn’t having it.” Did I miss something? I was expecting that something catastrophic happened to it. All we’ve been told, is that it will stay through June. Again, did I miss something?
Julie Small
I live in Michigan about a half an hour from Grand Rapids and I’m outraged by this! Please believe that not everyone in Michigan are homophobic assholes!
Kristian Gordon
Margo Dawn
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Hillers
And the money spent on that billboard could have gone to help the poor and the less fortunate.
Modern-day Christians: Taking the Christ out of Christianity and lovin’ it!
barkomatic
I left Michigan 18 years ago in part because of the attitudes reflected in billboards like this. I can tell you how many times I had to sit and listen to teachers, religious leaders, and random people spout off about homosexuality being sinful, blah blah blah. I remember going to a gay bar and in a few instances there were protestors outside shouting that we were going to hell. This was in the early 90’s.
Just when I think that was a long time ago and the state has changed–this turns out. Ugh.
Scott Shanks
But doesn’t that also mean that heterosexuality is a behavior not a civil right?!?!?!?
Scott Shanks
I think they have made our argument for us!!!
Ronnie Denny
Jordan Walker
Love how they ignore that would mean they aren’t born straight…..
John Burnett
This is why people are turning away from crack pot religion! Do they even know how stupid they sound?
Mal Brood
I thought it was a colorful gangster
Tommy Ogletree
Homosexuality is awesome, a civil right, and a behavior. It just is.
Colin Gillick
That would not be allowed in Equal Ireland…cop on and grow up World…ð??ð??ð??ð??ð??ð??
Scott Haltom
God is watching everyone. I believe he sees what is actually going on down here. Maybe he will straighten it out and show those people how wrong they are. It seems strange that a segment of the population which preachers hate and lie about never gets bad hype in the news, although there are occasionally some articles. I am surprised Robertson and Co. have not blamed all female deaths on gay people.
Mr.Tim
@Giancarlo85: For the record, I don’t know a single Brazilian that considers themselves Latino. So your point is moot.
Clai Green
Lol just laugh who cares