Right-wing attorney: 'Clownish' transgender people the 'laughing stock' of the LGBT movement
Eric W. Dolan, The Raw Story, September 4, 2013 11:12 EDT

The heads of a conservative law firm believe that transgender individuals are "clownish" and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell encouraged gay soldiers to rape their colleagues.

Wednesday during their "Faith and Freedom" video series on YouTube, Mat Staver and Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel discussed the transformation of Bradley Manning into Chelsea Manning and sexual assault in the military.

Barber said Manning was a "transgender traitor" and described a photograph of her wearing a wig and lipstick as "clownish." He said that transgender individuals were the "weakest link" in the "alphabet soup of the absurd" known as "LGBT." He alleged that Manning and other transgender individuals were making a "laughing stock" of the entire LGBT movement because they were detached from reality. Barber again described transgender individuals as "clownish."

It is important to note that "Liberty Counsel" is associated with Liberty University, a Christian college founded by Jerry Falwell.  So, they are decidedly and deeply opposed to all thing GLBTQ.

I watched the clip on "Right Wing Watch".  I was shocked that they would say such a thing as the Liberty Counsel always has the best analysis of legal and social issues. 

Quote from: learningtolive on September 05, 2013, 01:25:24 PMI was shocked that they would say such a thing as the Liberty Counsel always has the best analysis of legal and social issues.

I'm assuming that was sarcasm?

I started to comment on everything wrong with this article ... then I realized I was quoting the entire article. The entire article screams of a man who is panicking in the face of progress. So many of his opinions and analogies just don't hold up.

After watching the video I have to ask ... Do these people realize how ... totally out there they sound?!

Quote from: Amy The Bookworm on September 06, 2013, 08:00:49 AM
After watching the video I have to ask ... Do these people realize how ... totally out there they sound?!

If they did, they wouldn't be saying the things they do.

Amy

Its called "divide and conquer". All he is doing is trying to turn those of the LGB against the T. Make someone a laughing stock and it breaks the spirit. Interesting that he used the word clowns when it comes to that kind of attack. The LGBs are gaining more and more momentum that is getting harder to stop so attack one and turn the others against them and the rest may be easier to break. Or maybe he's just scared that he may one day be attracted to one of us.

Quote from: Jess42 on September 06, 2013, 08:25:17 AM
Or maybe he's just scared that he may one day be attracted to one of us.

Or maybe he's afraid that he is one of us.

Amy

Quote from: Jess42 on September 06, 2013, 08:25:17 AM
The LGBs are gaining more and more momentum that is getting harder to stop so attack one and turn the others against them and the rest may be easier to break.

I suppose that makes sense on his part (the divide and conquer thing that is). Then again, he didn't exactly do LGB people any favors in the video either ...

Quote from: Amelia Pond on September 06, 2013, 08:26:27 AM
Or maybe he's afraid that he is one of us.

Amy

Very possible. Something like that would not surprise me in the least. From my experiences what usually disgusts people about someone else is what disgusts them most about themselves.

Quote from: Amy The Bookworm on September 06, 2013, 08:52:46 AM
I suppose that makes sense on his part (the divide and conquer thing that is). Then again, he didn't exactly do LGB people any favors in the video either ...

No, but he doesn't have to do them any favors. Once we are out of the equation then he may turn the Bs against the LGs or the Ls against the Gs and Bs. It's not about him being on sides of one or the others but just to take the legitamacy from one or the others and cause resentment between them. Eventually the Ls are alone, the Gs are alone, the Bs are alone and we are alone.

I try never to ascribe a rational motivation for someone's irrational actions.

The two commentators in the video represent, in my mind, the worst face of religious bigotry.

  An attorney calling transgender clowns?  I agree there is some friction between the T and the rest of the LGB group in a lot of places, but not because of the "clownish" appearances.  Besides there were mostly gay guys, stripped to the shorts and covered in orange paint at the last Pride parade here in the Mile High City, the Queen City of the Plains.  I didn't see the "Queens" at this parade, just the few T's that were dressed casually. 

  Joelene, casual Neanderthal