Grandma Queerty told us never to trust a ginger, and in this case it looks like she was right.
On the streets of DC, Rep. James Lankford (R-OK) told ThinkProgress’ Annie-Rose Strasser and Scott Keyes that LGBT Americans shouldn’t be protected from being fired because sexuality is a choice: “Race and sexual preferences are two different things. One is… behavior-related and preference-related, and one is something inherent… skin color, something obvious, that kind of stuff.”
He also suggested such protections are superfluous because orientation isn’t readily apparent anyway: “You don’t walk up to someone on the street and look at them and say, ‘Gay or straight?’”
If it was you, Congressman?
How about we take this to the next level?
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More to the point, most districts have protections based religion and creed, which are obviously mutable. And we can’t help wonder how Lankford would feel about J. Christopher Burch, who stands accused of only hiring gay men. Betcha orientation would become a protected matter right quick if it was straights getting the boot.
Cam
If he yells loud enough, maybe he can drown out the gay in him that is screaming to come out.
MJ
this guy almost looks like he can give Sharon Needles a run for her money. ALMOST
Spike
Oklahoma, enough said. A tornado could destroy the entire state and would anyone notice? Or care?
Mike k
Jesus ” Polterguist” 2 ? Yup that’s him.
Bob
@Spike: Yes…our LGBT taxes would help pay to rebuild these bigots’ homes and businesses.
kawneekwa
Oh lordy look it all dem suits.
kawneekwa
They actin all high in mighty up in there but we no, they mighty dum!
MassGuy
Top? He looks more like a bottom
Jimmy Velvet
Never trust a ginger….
pasdrole
There’re more suits in Washington than there are brains!
David
Fair enough to me they should be fired. Main St is not Gay St!
Marie Cohn
Gingermingerella!
Spike
@Bob: How does one re-build a trailer park?
Rooney
Looks like some psychopath from a SAW movie, dismissed.
DouggSeven
It’s ironic that people who were ‘born that way’ are poking fun at one’s apperance due to him being born a redhead. It’s hypocritical to poke fun of something one cannot change – have we learned nothing?
Dirk
“Grandma Queerty told us never to trust a ginger, and in this case it looks like she was right”
What an idiotic comment! Are we discriminating based on a physical feature? Skin color next time, perhaps? Thus guy should be fought for his moronic statements but not for his hair color.
Bob
@Spike: Good one…lol…
Sean C.
“Never trust a ginger?” “Creepy carrot-top?” Are you frakking kidding me?
If he were black would you have said “never trust a n—-r?” You’re actually going to put someone down for an innate physical characteristic on a site for gay people that frequently features stories on anti-gay discrimination? You should be ashamed for posting this, and I feel ashamed of myself for reading your site.
As a red-headed gay man who was born both of those ways, all I have to say to you is “frak off.” Feel free to substitute the words I was thinking for the Colonies-of-Kobol versions needed to get past your “no obscene language” posting policy. Sadly, the obscene language in this article has nothing to do with curse words.
Caleb
I agree… It’s incredibly distasteful and hypocritical to use such blatantly discriminatory language and jokes while trying to take someone to task for their discriminatory views. This is super disappointing.
scott ny'er
@Sean C.: i see your point but that’s not really apples to apples. If Queerty had written, “Creepy nappy-topped head” or “Creepy afro-topped head” or “Creepy rasta-topped head”… I think those examples are more comparable.
David
This guy is a creepy ignorant weirdo but the copy underneath is hypocritical and stupid. Someone should stick to reviewing drag queen performances at gay bars, leaving political topics to more educated colleagues.
Mike in London UK
And this is why I am proud to live in the UK.
We have laws that protect us from homophobic fucktards like Lankford.
cam
This guy is so gay that the cast of Glee thinks he needs to butch it up a bit.
Paul F
But, but, being a ginger is a CHOICE! I mean look at all the hair coloring products at your supermarket. You can change Mr. Lankford, and you don’t even have to pray the red away if you want to change hard enough. Also we need to pass a law against gingers getting married, the ginger lifestyle is corrupting the children and bringing the destruction of the country and God’s wrath down apon us. P.S. Phred Phelps has a sign saying “God HATES gingers” and is bringing it to your next meeting. Be afraid, be very very afraid. Ain’t ignorance grand?
Jabaroo
I’m a closet ginger haha. Well, sort of, I don’t dye my eyebrows or facial hair but I do dye my hair. Queerty isn’t being serious when they say ‘never trust a ginger’, I’m sure Dan doesn’t actually hate gingers. It’s just harmless jokes, much like blonde jokes. Hard to believe you would actually be offended by it.
Randall Reynolds
Closet-case & career-bigot James Lankford believes being gay is a choice only because he CHOSE to suppress his own sexuality and live life as a “straight” man.
Jaack65
Mr. Lankford you can get rid of all the leftys TOO!!! Besides the ginger hairs.
Imagine only a country of right-handed people and none with ginger hair!. God hates red hair because that is a sign of SATAN, being a lefty identifies Communists.
Look at them gays, wanting Equal protection under the law and that pesky Due Process thing too. Them uppity blacks used them same words too ,back in 1964. Now we have to live next to them and work with them. God only knows if them gays live in my neighborhood?
Well, Mr. Lankford, someone could perceive you as a “gay” and unseat you too. Or maybe your voters are fed up with the hatred and FIRINGS that are really unfair. Gay is another niche issue to take America’s attention from Republican’s holding America back from getting its act together. Republicans have targeted gays, women’s health and are trying to put the pulpit & religion into the Congress.
n900mixalot
Actually, people ask that crappy all of the time at work.
“So, ya married? Got kids? Think she’s hot? Look at my pictures of my family!”
… Oh, yeah, lovely, get out of my private life, f*ck off …
Will L
Here in Oklahoma, we’re used to setting our watches back 20 years when we fly home. We have more than our share of nice Baptists like Mr. Lankford. And we all know gay when we see it, don’t we?
Triple S
Come on, people, lay off us red heads. My hair is beautiful the way it is and doesn’t mean anything special or different from a blonde or brunette etc.
Cam
The Congressman is just angry because Grindr, Manhunt, and gay.com have all been pressuring him to pay the bills he owes.
adam
another gay ginger man objects to the irony of this story’s approach to the issue. in attacking him for judging others for stereotypes and physical characteristics . . . you judge him by his stereotypes and physical characteristics.
i was called “opie” constantly as a kid, i have the complexion of casper the friendly ghost, and it takes me about five minutes to start sunburning. regardless of my politics, does that make _me_ “creepy” enough for you?
what’s creepy is judging people for what they can’t help, a practice i thought we were against, queerty!
Tracy Johnson
There is just no safe place on this mans face for my eyes to rest. The weird eyebrows, the sex offender smirk, the deep set serial killer orbs. Yikes
Adam
anyone who isnt bothered by this website being okay with making fun of this person for their physical appearance needs to ask themselves why they support gay rights to begin with? are you hopping on the bandwagon? or do you ACTUALLY support equal rights? because this article does NOT.