As of this writing, there are 1,928 news articles on Reverend Jerry Falwell’s death. No surprise there – the Evangelical changed the course of American politics. His Moral Majority helped lead the Christian right into office, his sermons regularly pushed anti-gay agenda and the abortion debate drips in his righteous venom.
On the other hand, however, he gave millions of people hope, founded a university dedicated to educating his followers and donated to charity. Falwell’s politics may have been evil, but as Al Sharpton remarked last night on Larry King Live, Falwell had some good in his heart, however misguided. Needless to say, the reactions to his death have been mixed.
Conservative Family Research Council released a statement mourning Falwell’s passing:
With heavy hearts, believers from across America are stunned and saddened by the passing of the Reverend Jerry Falwell. A man of conviction, he will be missed for his unique ability to speak the truth even in the face of great opposition. He stood stalwartly for the sanctity of life, marriage, faith, and family.
Some gay activists, however, are singing a different tune. As we mentioned in yesterday’s happy endings, a group of San Franciscan gays have organized an anti-memorial.
Of the sacrilegious send-off, blogger Michael Petrelis remarks:
I remember Falwell’s hatred of people with AIDS and gay people at the height of the AIDS epidemic. It was so un-religious. I feel it’s important that we speak out as gay people on the day that Falwell has died. We have to remind people of the hatred he spewed against gays and people with AIDS.
Meanwhile, a slew of gay blog headlines equate Falwell’s death with that of the wicked witch. Speaking of witches, a group calling itself the “Lesbian Death Angels” claim they hexed Falwell to death…
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Matt Foreman of the National Gay and Lesbian Task force, however, takes a more balanced approach:
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.
Lesbian journalist Joan Garry feels no remorse when she blasts Falwell’s politics. She’s rather worry over the future:
I realize the anger I feel should be directed to all those Mr. Falwell leaves behind — all of you who created this demagogue. To all those who booked him on a TV or radio show, to all those who put money in his coffers, to all of you who followed him blindly. You gave Falwell the opportunity, the platform, the microphone and the money. He couldn’t have done it all without you.
The world lost a powerful bigot today. The question ahead is not who will take his place. Someone will. The question is did you learn anything? Will you recognize that with power comes responsibility. When the next one asks for money or a microphone, maybe you’ll think twice. Maybe you’ll consider what it really means to be Christian.
She does admit, however, that she learned some tricks from Falwell, including how to pace your breathing to stop reporters from cutting you off.
Falwell made an appearance on Meet The Press a few weeks ago and we remember thinking about how he exemplified the right’s eloquence in debating controversial issues. Unlike some of his counterparts, Falwell remained calm. Yes, he had his moments of insane roaring, but for the most part, the late reverend took a measured approach to his bigotry. He may not have been the most progressive figure, but he’s certainly someone who should be remembered as an effective leader, intelligent politician and, most of all, someone who made the country debate some seriously heavy issues. And our nation’s nothing without debate…
(Header image via Town Called Dobson. Anti-memorial image courtesy Clinton Fein.)
queertext
queerty, are you retarded and too stupid to even make good sarcasm?
“He may not have been the most progressive figure”
1) understatement of the year [year is the time in between white parties, by the way]
2) bad sarcasm, if that’s what you were trying for
3) unfortunate sentimentality a la Lohan’s “be adequite” that denies how fucking atrocious Falwell was for queers.
glynn
Jesus Loves Everyone – except you Jerry Falwell – cos you were a cunt
James
Glyn,
No need to be nasty toward the Rev. Don’t get me wrong. His luke-warm stance for civil rights and bold support of South Africa apartheid is enough for me to despise the man; however, cunt is really not needed.
Gregg
True, “cunt is really not needed”… since I am a gay man.
But in reference to Falwell – “putrid festering cunt” seems to sum him up.
Dawster
Jerry Farwell wasn’t “luke-warm” about anything! it was ‘guns blazing’ at all times! he would apologize at times, but what he taught was fire and brimstone and he did it on the backs of broken people, moving himself up a self-righteous ladder each time someone fell, like Jim Baaker and the PTL or even recently with Ted Haggard. everytime someone fell he used it as an oppritunity to further himself.
gays and lesbians were always attacked because our acceptance meant the decline of social structure, and Jerry F. made no “luke-warm” comments about it. the only good thing is that the LGBT community finally had someone to focus on when fighting for equal rights.
yes… i agree with the first cartoon, i would certainly call him a cunt.
my only hope is that now Tinky-Winky can now come out of hiding and walk about freely without scorn.
jack e. jett
i agree that comparing fuckwad falwell to a cunt is offensive to cunts.
rancid puss………..may be more appropriate.
jack jett
Feel sorry foru
Here is a good example of tolerance. You believe the way I do or you’re scum. Christphobic are we or is hellphobic? Your attitude and hate for other people tell me that you’re unhappy inside. QUestion: Why is suicide the number one killer of homosexual?
Ken
Because, Feel sorry foru, the Christian right has spent centuries convincing gay people that they are, to borrow your own phrase, scum.
My question: why do right-wing, hate-filled “I deserve everything because I pretend to follow the teachings of Christ” losers always try to turn the table and pretend THEY’RE the victims?
nystudman
“Cunt”? You’ve moving him way up in class. He doesn’t even measure up to the dirty tampon discarded from the calcified cunt of a two-bit street whore.
AlohaDavid
Yesterday afternoon, I heard about Falwell’s death. Immediately, I felt a sense of relief, hope and happiness. Everyone knows that Jerry Falwell’s control of Ronald Reagan led to Reagan’s completely disastrous AIDS policy (just ignore it and let the Gays die!). I remember in the 1980’s, as tens of thousands of Americans lost their sons, daughters and loved ones, I had more than one moment of ideation about what it would take to stop the evil effect of Jerry Falwell. If I had a gun, I may have used it…and I have never even held a gun.
So it is no surprise to me that many Americans who suffered loss in this time period, as well as dealing with the lunatic statements about Gays in the military, children’s “gay” toys, etc., would be happy to see Falwell gone. It is an American tradition; when the monster dies, the people he repressed celebrate. Just watch “The Wizard of Oz;” didn’t you share in the munchkin’s glee when the house fell on the witch?
This morning, however, I felt differently. The moment of joy was gone, replaced by a strange sadness, a welling up of emotions and tears. Falwell’s death also became a reminder of loss. For many of us who survived the 80’s AIDS deathcounts, we took that emotional nightmare and stored it away. We all have to make full lives for ourselves, and being in a constant state of sadness and grief makes living impossible. So we took our pain, our grief and sadness and stored it away, stuck out our chins and moved forward. Falwell’s death is a reminder to me, and to thousands of Americans, of the loss we dealt with in the 80’s and 90’s. It is painful to remember, but it’s probably healthy to do so.
I don’t shed a single tear for Falwell. I believe we all create our own reality, before and after life. Falwell, through his hatred of others, must have been sent to hell by his idea of God. Good.
dg
Amazing that you all go on about his intolerant hatred and venom and… that exactly what you are spewing here.
Since when does tolerance == approval?
Since when does saying “what you are doing is unhealthy and wrong” equal hatred?!?
Fine, you disagree and think that point of view is ignorant and foolish…
but the unspeakable temerity of calling everybody who disagrees with you a hatemonger is more than i can bear.
if you want respect as a person, please behave worthy of it, and perhaps the rest of us can be more consistent in granting that respect.
Paul Raposo
“if you want respect as a person, please behave worthy of it, and perhaps the rest of us can be more consistent in granting that respect.”
Follow your own advice, dg. We’ll stay out of your church, if you stay out of our bedrooms.
Paul Raposo
“QUestion: Why is suicide the number one killer of homosexual?”
Well, Feel sorry foru, let me answer that question with a question; Why are religious fundamentalists the number one tormentors of homosexuals?
dg
i don’t want to be in anybody’s “bedroom”.
however you are always welcome in my church… my church, like most right-minded churches, is filled with people who aspire to love God and love others more than their own personal desires, habits, comforts or vices.
we don’t hate anybody. we believe that if you love somebody and they are doing something unhealthy and wrong, you find a caring and respectful way to tell them so, because you care about their well-being.
Stenar
Y’all should check out my friend Brandon’s comic strip which featured the death of Falwell yesterday:
http://www.mousewax.com/archive.html?date=20070515
(Did I mention that Brandon is also gay and his comic strip frequently features that fact?)
abelincoln
Not dead enough.
kcflood
YES! Ding dong the witch is dead!!!! BYE BYE JERRY!!!! YAY
Paul Raposo
“however you are always welcome in my church”
As myself, or as the puppet you want me to be?
“my church, like most right-minded churches, is filled with people who aspire to love God and love others more than their own personal desires, habits, comforts or vices.”
Since most churches are filled with vice, nasty habits, luxury and vice, I seriously doubt anyone is there to love anything, so much as God.
“we don’t hate anybody.”
I beg to differ; people like Fred Phelps are an available example.
“we believe”
You believe, but you don’t know. There is a difference. Your opinion does not justify trying to coerce peopel into living the lives YOU have decided they should live. Odd that “lie” is the middel word of “believe.”
“that if you love somebody and they are doing something unhealthy and wrong,”
Again, your opinion is not paramount in the lives of others.
“you find a caring and respectful way to tell them so,”
Such as Jerry claiming that AIDS was a puishemnt from God?
“because you care about their well-being.”
You care about sticking your nose in people’s bedrooms. Remember, you come to us, not the other way around. You seek laws making our relationships illegal
Mr. B
Paul, to be fair, DG isn’t necessarily on the same level as Fred Phelps. In fact, most Christians deplore him. Likewise, Jerry Falwell was kind of a wing-nut. I’ve had my fair share of “What you’re doing is unnatural” comments from various well-intentioned Christians who varied on the scale of offensiveness, but it’s hypocritical to just blindly hate on Christians. (Besides, they don’t ALL disapprove of queer folks, and some queer folks ARE Christian.) Even those who actually do oppose “teh gay” aren’t all bigoted. There is such a thing as being well-intentioned, compassionate even, but misguided.
I don’t agree with DG’s sentiments, of course, but I don’t think that decrying DG’s religion as a puppet maker and comparing him/her to Phelps is any fairer.
Paul Raposo
“I’ve had my fair share of “What you’re doing is unnatural” comments from various
well-intentioned Christians who varied on the scale of offensiveness,”
Yes and those Christians are sticking their nose in your bedrrom
“but it’s hypocritical to just blindly hate on Christians.”
Where did I write that I hate Christians?
“Even those who actually do oppose “teh gay” aren’t all bigoted”
So what are they, Mr. B?
“There is such a thing as being well-intentioned, compassionate even, but misguided.”
Any time another person tries to dictate how a person can and should live their life, that person has over stepped their bounds.
“but I don’t think that decrying DG’s religion as a puppet maker”
Hmmm…So, no one was trying to pull Ted Haggards strings? Exodus parades “ex-gays” around just for the fun of it?
“and comparing him/her to Phelps is any fairer.”
Where did I compare him to Phelps? I merely presented an example of “Christian love”.
Mr. B
I’ll break it down for you, Paul.
1) Yes, you’re right. Those Christians are sticking their noses in my bedroom. I disapprove, but most days I just go on with my life and am not directly affected by it. Lucky me. Anyway, annoying as it is, I’d rather be self-righteously preached to and prayed for than be beaten or threatened or have my head photoshopped onto a fire on some hatemongerer’s website. So I don’t waste my energy calling those who just preach and pray hatemongerers as well. I have plenty of other stuff to be indignant about.
2) You never uttered the phrase “I hate Christians.” However–and I know you tend to write with feeling and use strong language, but still–you did say that “Since most churches are filled with vice, nasty habits, luxury and vice, I seriously doubt anyone is there to love anything, so much as God.” Of course most churches, just like any institution, have SOME hypocrites, corruption, etc., but that was a pretty sweeping generalization of a statement. I mean, come on–you doubt ANYONE is there to love anything? I’ll say it again–well-intentioned people who don’t have cruel intentions can be misguided. And the person who sits next to the bigot in church and prays to the same God might not share the bigot’s views. To repeat–generalization=bad and generally not constructive.
3) This goes with my last point, although on a semantical level, you’re right. Bigotry is, by definition, intolerance and prejudice, and anyone who professes intolerance of gayness is displaying bigotry. However, the point I was trying to make is that not everyone who disapproves of homosexuality speaks out in an effort to suppress it. We get taken less seriously (and give “their” side more ammo) when we get our backs up over those who quietly disapprove but don’t try to silence or stop us, rather than focusing our energy on the Jerry Falwells of the world. The voices who DO dissent are in the minority, but unfortunately they’re the loudest. And they’re the ones who deserve our rage, because they’re actually trying to silence us.
4) As for your references to Ted Haggard and Exodus, I think that’s irrelevent to the point you quoted from me. I wasn’t defending Haggard or “ex-gay” groups or any of those jokers. Not all Christians–even among the more conservative ones–are on that level. It’s bigoted in its own right to imply that Christian automatically equals “puppet maker,” that people of that religion ought to be represented solely by the likes of Haggard, Phelps, etc. Isn’t that a little like saying all gay men are like John Paulus or Andrew Cunanan or, dare I say it, Michael Lucas?
And lastly, 5). You said, “I beg to differ; people like Fred Phelps are an available example.” to DG’s “We don’t hate anybody” comment. And again, it was a sweeping generalization. I don’t know DG or what his/her church is like, and frankly I don’t care. I just don’t see what there is to achieve by using Fred Phelps as a counterpoint to one Christian saying that s/he doesn’t hate gays. Fred Phelps and his crew are very open in their hatred.
Ash
Amen, sister.
Gregg
“Christphobic” and “hellphobic” in comment 7:
How ridiculous. There are non-christ centered religions that hate gays just as much as christians. Plus, beliefs in christ or hell are just that – beliefs. How can I be phobic of something I don’t believe in? It’s like saying I’m unicornphobic. Unlikely.
Let’s see if you can understand the difference here: Religious bigots are telling us gays how we should live our lives. We are telling them to leave us alone. Who’s invading who’s space?
I’m happy that Falwell is dead because now his face will resemble his soul – putrid and rotting.
the truth
You are all going to hell!!!