We, as a country, have to have a serious discussion about religious views that cause enormous harm to other people… I would say this, that clergy people who stand at their pulpit and they speak about gay people as sinners and an abomination, that is bullying a young kid. That is reallyâand I know this may sound exaggerated â but that is nothing less than child molestation of a childâs mind. It is devastating to a 14-year-old-kid to hear their rabbi or their imam or their priest or clergy person say that they are a sinner or an abomination⌠and Iâm here to tell them, they are full and whole and wonderful and they will learn as life goes on that there are many, many people who feel that way.
– Faith in America’s Mitchell Gold talking to MSNBC about bullying and the anti-marriage amendment passed by the North Carolina legislature. Though we have no idea how “mental molestation” is any different from “mental abuse” we are happy that an LGBT community member has started calling our foes child molesters, something they have called us for a loooooonnnnngggg time.
Little Kiwi
well, yeah. just as emotional and psychological abuse from family members cuts deep.
it’s amazing that we encourage people to “stay in touch” with family members who outright abuse them emotionally, psychologically – and yes, the withholding of love is indeed a form of abuse.
would we encourage someone to stay in touch with the father that beat them or raped them?
abuse is abuse
magnetic
I am fine with this statement. even if it might strike some as hyperbole, it’s nowhere near the outright lies told by opponents of LGBT interests.
David Gervais
Destroying a child’s self image through anti-LGBT rhetoric is definitely a form of child abuse.
Jay
The title for this post is not really warranted. I think his rhetoric is a bit sensationalistic but there wasn’t an explicit comparison between bullying and actual child molestation. I don’t really like his word choice. So, Queerty, I think we are all in agreement that bullying a gay kid is NOT the same as molesting him/her. And I also think most of us are in agreement that you should stop posting such awful titles that are not even true to the story.
MKe
Intriguing title. No I think molestation is far worse, it’s a highly illegal crime with serious consequences and can lead to serious psycological damage and even STD’s spreading to children… That being said, I like the comparison because it is thought provoking. Bullying is a very serious thing(not really crime), to the victims. Often they are pushed to the brink of suicide, and we don’t even hear about the ones pushed to suicidal thoughts… But bullies are the same age as their victims, and aren’t aware that it’s highly illegal, and no STD’s can be passed… so lots of differences but interesting topic nonetheless.
Jeff
but bullying is a disease, perhaps not in this case an STD but is certainly able to spread and infect any vulnerable victim, and if left untreated, just like any disease, may lead to death. The anti-gay propaganda is quite the disease that’s infected millions of individuals worldwide, and today as a 23-year-old man, I have been cured for three years now; but i am sympathetic of those who are currently enduring what took me the first 20 years of my life to fully accept, embrace, and enjoy.
Jeff
*for any misunderstanding–i have been cured of the anti-gay pressures/bullying/disease. it doesnt phase me. i wasn’t to sure if the metaphor carried over too well there. I’m a proud gay man đ
Mav
Yes, if by “molesting” you mean “psychologically maiming for life”. Even if one’s ego overcomes the constant tirade of degradement, LGBT people never get to stop hearing that they are perverted, they are bad, their love is inferior, they’re mad, they’re stupid, disgusting, damned, on and on and on. It grates on the soul. It’s like background noise you can never get rid of.
Haightmale
The scars from child molestation last your lifetime. A preacher’s sermon? It may assault your senses, but unless you’re going to the Westboro Baptist Church, you’d be hard pressed to equate words and sexual assault. Believe me – I know.
Little Kiwi
@Haightmale:
the suicide rate for male Mormons in Utah would suggest otherwise.
never underestimate the subversive damage of psychological and emotional abuse – it’s often harder to distinguish AS abuse because it comes in a different form. people end up justifying how their abuser treats them, end up taking hatred upon themselves.
i’m not saying either is worse than the other – i’m saying they’re both harmful.
Haightmale
I agree they are both harmful – there’s no question about that. I’ve been the victim of both, so I’m very aware, and wasn’t trying to minimize either. From my experience, the verbal and emotional/psychological abuse was easier to digest, and come to understand. The molestation and ongoing sexual abuse is a different animal altogether – and I don’t know if people ever get over that entirely.
http://www.jiveinthe415.com/
Steven Dean
If you have a bully problem, print a sign that says:
WE EXPOSE BULLIES ON THIS CAMPUS AT:>>> http://www.exposethebully.net/
and post it all over your school, workplace or blog.
– Please re-post this helpful information on other blogs –