LGBT groups stand in solidarity with the FRC [Southern Poverty Law Center issues its statement]

Washing Post National ^ | Aug 16 2012 | Becky Garrison

[scottjewell]

Shortly after the... shooting of a security guard at the Family Research Council’s (FRC) headquarters..., Truth Wins Out, a non-profit organization that fights anti-gay religious extremism, posted the following press release:

"This is an awful tragedy and our thoughts and hearts go out to the victim, his family, and his colleagues at the Family Research Council,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “In America we settle political differences through robust debate in the public square, not with violence. If the shooting is found to be politically motivated, it is a detestable act of cruelty and cowardice and the perpetrator should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. We stand squarely with the Family Research Council today and offer them our full support and prayers."

...

Besen added his name a statement issued by Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and signed by 25 LGBT groups.

"We were saddened to hear news of the shooting this morning at the offices of the Family Research Council. Our hearts go out to the shooting victim, his family, and his co-workers. The motivation and circumstances behind today’s tragedy are still unknown, but regardless of what emerges as the reason for this shooting, we utterly reject and condemn such violence. We wish for a swift and complete recovery for the victim of this terrible incident."

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization that added the FRC to its list of hate groups that it monitors, issued the following statement:

"There are unconfirmed reports that the shooting was ideologically motivated. We condemn all acts of violence and are following the story closely."

... At this time, no major LGBT groups claim to have a direct connection to [the shooter].

[scottjewell]

A nice attempt, but perhaps too expedient?

To my thinking, it is convenient to display a show of "solidarity" to make one's own group image appear noble -

and only after harassing and reviling people as belonging to hate groups, and stifling any words of dissent for years....Perhaps a case of "too little too late"...

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

At least they didn’t say “stands behind”.

[scottjewell]

ha ;-)

[Dr. Sivana]

I have no use for these groups, but the response was appropriate. If they didn’t issue such a response, we would (rightly) accuse them of being supportive.

They perform plenty of evil, but supporting FRC against direct violence was not evil.

[Uncle Slayton]

The Family Research Council shooter’s actions cannot be separated from the agenda or true motives of the Homosexual Agenda Movement and all are responsible.

[kjo]

Just imagine if the ideology of the victim institution and the shooter were reversed...??? The media would be on the air non-stop showing the “hate” from the Right.

The double-standard of the media is the size of the Grand Canon.

[scottjewell]

No, of course they are doing the only appropriate thing to do in this case. I just don’t want them to get too many brownie points because I am aware of their true opinions of groups such as FRC.

[scottjewell]

Hear you...and I agree.

[scottjewell]

Shhhh. don’t let the gay advocates hear you “daring to politicize this tragedy”. Brian Brown has been attacked all morning for saying what you say.

[Dr. Sivana]

The double-standard of the media is the size of the Grand Canon.



The Grand Canon, (KJV translation)

[EdReform]

They’re in ‘cover your ass’ mode

[djrakowski]

No, of course they are doing the only appropriate thing to do in this case. I just don’t want them to get too many brownie points because I am aware of their true opinions of groups such as FRC.

I agree. There was nothing else they could do. Yet, they'd love to see the demise of the FRC, so their statement has to be taken with a grain of salt. Nobody could possibly imagine that they desire to see FRC succeed in its mission.

[JediJones]

This situation kind of puts them in a tough spot between banning gans or supporting same-sex marriage. Maybe if the guy had also worn a pro-Obamacare T-shirt it would have tipped the scales in his favor.

[mykroar]

a non-profit organization that fights anti-gay religious extremism

Nice to see WaPo's not editorializing. /sarc

[JediJones]

The shooter should have dressed himself up with a few more liberal causes to make sure the left would have his back on this.

[VanDeKoik]

“They’re in ‘cover your ass’ mode”

That’s a first.

[Godzilla]

There are unconfirmed reports that the shooting was ideologically motivated.

they are rafting on the river of denial.

[scottjewell]

yes, slightly...

[scottjewell]

ha, that would’ve been a smart idea...

[verum ago]

A nice attempt, but perhaps too expedient?

To my thinking, it is convenient to display a show of "solidarity" to make one's own group image appear noble -

and only after harassing and reviling people as belonging to hate groups, and stifling any words of dissent for years....Perhaps a case of "too little too late"...

No, this statement was the right thing for them to do. If they didn't say anything we'd be all over them for failing to condemn the shooter's actions.

There's probably some truth in their statement in that they're condemning violence. Many of the people in these groups are also pacifist types.

I'm not endorsing any of these groups or their actions, just saying that in addition to any cynical purpose to their statement (like trying to appear noble) there is probably a genuine horror at the violence of the action, if not in these groups' leadership, then at least with some of the members.

And just to throw this out there:
I know a gay man who's very in-your-face about it, and downright virulent at social events, always steering the conversation toward "the Cause" no matter what people are talking about. His reaction to this shooting was to angrily lament the fact that the guard didn't "do everyone a favor and put a few in that f***er's chest."