Some gay folk celebrated Reverend Jerry Falwell‘s death, but not The Advocate‘s fagling homo-journo, Tully Satre.
Satre, who once spilled ink admonishing so-called bisexuals, writes that we homos must preserve our “dignity” whilst discussing the homo-hating reverend’s death, “It is in times like these that our wit and will is tested and we must stand with dignity”.
Of course, Satre understands that it’s hard to keep a straight face in the face of our enemy’s death, so he sucks inspiration from the holiest of holy books: The Lord of the Rings. Except, of course, being a young gun, he prefers his books in film form.
I am reminded of a quote from the film Lord of the Rings, when Gandalf says that “Many that live deserve death and some that die deserve life…do not be too eager to deal out death and judgment.” As minorities, we ask to be respected as human beings. We expect people to treat us with dignity and to look beyond our sexual orientation or gender identity. Why then do so many people focus on the politics of Mr. Falwell and find in them reason to celebrate his death?
That’s an easy one. We focus on Falwell’s politics because, as far as we know, he didn’t have an actual soul to mourn. He had become nothing more than an over-inflated ideologue hellbent on celebrating our own deaths. It’s only fair, really.
How about we take this to the next level?
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cjc
Gee, a pony-tailed young pasty geek quoting Lord of the Rings? Just adds to the credibility.
I sooo want to shave that boy’s head.
Back to the matter at hand, I feel no shame in rejoicing the death of an enemy. There can be no mitigation of this statement. Jerry Falwell was our enemy. I don’t want to forgive him. I don’t want to forget the evil he helped to spread.
CBPatrick
I am saddened by your comments. Falwell was certainly misguided and easy to detest, but we should not become what we despise. Shameful, really.
cjc
Be sad all you want. Nothing will change the way I feel about that son of a bitch. Nothing.
cjc
And I have no shame for these feelings.
RJ
Tully’s prose has always reeked of the typical sanctimonious, holier-than-thou, I know whats best for you, b.s. that only a teenager convinced of their inherent superior intelligence over everyone else, and who have a chip on their shoulder the size of Ayers rock, can muster.
He did some good activism in Virginia to be sure, but then again so do lots of other people (god knows we need all the help we can get here) and they haven’t turned into completely pompous asses. Hopefully college will cure him of his ills.
As far as Falwell goes, am I a little sorry for his family that they lost their brother/father/husband? yes a little. But am I glad that one of the most racist, homophobic, hate mongering, life ruining, despotic, and financially shady people in the world has died?
Really I want to be sad someone died, but I can’t help but do the snoopy dance deep down in my soul.
nystudman
Where’s buried? I want to piss on his grave.
cjc
I’m sure his “university” will have piss detectors used to electrocute anyone who dares to urinate on his wormy remains.
JC
So many of the gay folk (young and older alike, as far as I can tell) have been preaching this “take the high road” sermon regarding the death of Fallwell…
What truly amazes me in all of this is the smug, self-righteous tone of these lectures. Am I to assume that these individuals have NEVER walked down that alleged low road just ONCE? Or are we now a community full of Zen Masters?
I neither celebrate or mourn this man’s passing but I certainly do not think any less of those who may have popped a champagne cork or two and sang a chorus of “Ding, Dong the Witch is Dead” when they got the news.
Ash
I don’t think it’s automatically smug or self-righteous to say we shouldn’t celebrate this man’s death. I don’t think we should because he is still a human being with a family and celebrating anyone’s death makes me feel queasy inside. But trust me when I say I’m a giant asshole to plenty of people who are still alive and annoying. Celebrating a death just makes us look as inhuman as the christian right makes us out to be.
JC
So how it is somehow justifiable and more diginified to be “a giant asshole to plenty of people who are still alive and annoying” and yet not when they bite it?
JC
And on a separate note…I think the annoying part for me is that so many of these queens (before I get bashed I’m not referring to anyone on this board as I know none of you) who are preaching about dignified behaviour regarding the death of someone who worked overtime to demonize our community will spend an afternoon at brunch in Chelsea drinking margaritas and tearing to filth anyone walking by who is outside of their concept of what gay should be (i.e., thin, stylish, young,”masculine”, etc., etc.).
The point is that very few among us lead an entirely dignified existence. At least in the case of Fallwell’s death I can understand the temporary loss of dignity (if that is really what it is). To me the loss of dignity in the latter is far more distasteful and disgusting.
Just my two cents.
cjc
Good points, JC.
jack e. jett
In my favorite film LORD OF THE COCKRINGS, there is a scene where Jerry Fuckwad is sucking off Jeffry Dahmer in hell while getting fucked in the ass by J. Edgar Hoover in drag. Then there is a shot of all of our friends that have died of AIDS watching it on a huge flat screen television, while sipping Absolute martinis in the exclusive Fire Island section of Heaven.
Tully Satre……get back with us honey when you have lived through the hell on earth that Jerry Falwell created for many of us.
Falwell was a low life scum sucking pig, and anyone who wags their finger at me and says I have no right to speak my mind on this can go FUCK THEMSELVES and the fag rag they rode in on.
Seriously, dude, do some fucking research and grow up.
No one gives a flying fuck what Gandalf said. He is a character in a fantasy film. This is the real world honey, and not a sci fi convention.
jack jett
Scott Louis
CJC, you tell JC, “good comment,” and yet your first comment was to personally insult Tully because of his pony tail and catagorizing him as a “geek”. What a hypocrit you are.
And JC, if you read anything about Tully, he is not one of those “queens” you refer to. He basically professes that we should all be treated as individuals and need to look higher than simply fashion and sex. I don’t agree with everything he says, but he should be admired for actually going out and doing something as opposed to the clueless masses who sit in abject ignorance.
and everyone, just because someone strives to think in a different light or perhaps a bigger picture, doesn’t mean he’s insulting or attacking you. It is a different point of view. He’s entitled to it without being attacked.
I, personally, am glad that Falwell is gone the same that I would be if Hitler died before becoming head of Germany.
Tim
I don’t understand how any of you can say such things. It appalls me that so many of you are attacking someone for their belief that we shouldn’t demonize the dead. Whether I am right or wrong, I believe Tully’s point was that Falwell demonized himself enough and that there’s no point in celebrating his death.
There is a fine line between “them” and “us” and it’s obvious that we must show “them” what we truly are. Falwell believed gays to be the absolute incarnate of pure evil, why not show his people the opposite? In death, one has the ultimate chance to ambush their enemy with jeering attacks, why not in life? In life why not fight against Falwell the best you can, as a combatant, as your enemy, and in death be respectful of his life as your combatant? It is cowardly to attack someone so viciously after they can’t defend themselves, so why do it? Instead, if you had the chance to fight him one on one, be glad.
Likewise, this article is poorly written. Why throw in a moot point about his selection of quotes? He is writing his opinion, not a factual piece, and therefore it does not matter. Would it make a difference if he got the quote from a famous philosopher, someone who spends their entire life pondering about it so much only to end up with their own opinion after they die? Or maybe the Bible?
While Falwell may have had an over-inflated ideologue it’s not fair to celebrate his death like a coward, not looking in his treacherous face and condemning him for the disgusting human being that he was. However, it is appropriate to be the better man and show him how much better you are by showing him respect in death and showing his people that you are also human and not an animal eating the carcass of your enemy.
dan
if you’re all so glad he’s gone why are you keeping him alive…oh yeah, thats right. if you don’t have anything to hate you don’t have anything…
Paul Raposo
“Where’s buried? I want to piss on his grave.”
I heard he’s going to lay in state at Liberty University, sorta like in Russia with Vladimir Lenin–and Stalin.
Dawn
Tully Satre is a young man who does a lot for this community, with no compensation or expectations.
If you actually read what he has to say you will note that all he is asking is that we treat people as we want to be treated.
How many wanted to do the snoopy dance when Barbara Gittings died?
How would you feel if someone asked where Matthew Shepard’s grave was so that they could piss on it?
You want equal rights? Start by treating people with the respect you expect!
Kudos Tully, lead on.
cjc
“CJC, you tell JC, “good comment,” and yet your first comment was to personally insult Tully because of his pony tail and catagorizing him as a “geek”. What a hypocrit you are.”
How, Scott, does this make me a hypocrite? Please enlighten me. I’m just pointing out the obvious about this guy. If you’re pissed off by that recollection, well, you can be pissed off.
Tim, I don’t want to be the better man. And ultimately, all human beings are animals.
Gregg
Jack E Jett – I think I love you. You nailed it dead on.
Alan down in Florida
How can anyone named Tully be considered credible?
I hope Rev. Falwell is enjoying his eternity in hell.