There has been a big month for the rights of gays and lesbians. The Iowa Supreme Court found that denying same-sex couples the opportunity to marry violated that state’s constitution. The Vermont legislature overrode the governor’s veto of a law giving same-sex couples the right to marry.
Naturally, there is a backlash.   Have you see this nutty video against gay marriage on YouTube?
Of course, there is now a backlash to the backlash, and I have not been spared.
In the last few weeks, I have received quite a few emails and comments about a post I wrote in 2006 titled “Why Gay Marriage Should Be Banned” — which was probably a dumb title, but at the time, I was a clever, bratty, and naive young blogger.
Here is a recent comment to this two year old post:
This is perhaps the most blatant expression of typical American miseducation of the masses. Your comparison between gay marriage and marriage between a goat and a man is perhaps the worst argument standpoint I’ve ever seen on this topic. There is no comparison between the two. Homosexuals are people too – animals aren’t. Marriage is a human act, not an animalian one – idiot. You use humour to compensate for the lack of a proper argument. You and your supporters are a joke.
Let me say this right here. I am a supporter of gay marriage, even those gays with poor reading comprehension.  Or those with a dislike of goats.
Editor’s Note: Now that I read it again… I think I can see how it is being misread.  Someone might actually make this crazy argument in real life, so it isn’t that outlandish!
Methinks your email writer is lacking in the gene that detects sarcasm.
Eh. Screw ’em if they can’t take a joke. You rock. 🙂
Ah, yes, but do you support marriage between a man and a woman with poor reading comprehension? I, for one, do not. We already have enough stupid kids in the world.
I’ve had something similar happen at my old place of blogging – where I wrote two satirical pieces: one “supporting” the so-called “sanctity of traditional marriage” movement, and one which was cleverly called “Your in America so speak English.” The satire was lost by many at different ends of the spectrum.
Scathing emails = fun!
Shiny, I find it a bit amusing, but I’m not sure how to respond. Seems sort of lame to say, it was supposed to amusing.
Oh, but what about gay goats?? I bet you no one’s thought about that…
I am a lesbian and I have always loved you, just not in that “I want to sleep with you and another girl,” way.
Maybe “Love” is not the right word…. hmmmm, I adore you? I kinda sorta like you?
Nah, I love you and your blog! **Again just not in THAT way!**
;-).xoxo
We already have enough stupid kids in the world.
Aww c’mon, always room for a few more on the small school bus. 😉
Just e-mail back and tell ’em it was joke and he/she shouldn’t jump to a conclusion when he/she doesn’t know you.
Oh, and BTW, it was funny. Really funny. And clearly the person really didn’t get it.
I swear I have read anti-gay marriage polemics that do make the argument that if gay marriage is allowed, why not bestiality? For real. And who can forget Edward Albee’s play “The Goat”? (no, really, who can forget it once you’ve seen Sally Fields as the scorned wife ….)
There’s no use arguing with ignorance, is my usual position. Unless it happens to be my brother-in-law, and then all manners go out the window.
That video, besides being the worst written PSA I’ve ever seen, is reprehensible on every level. How could those actors agree to appear in that fear-mongering lying piece of shit? Especially the woman who sputters “I’m afraid!” God, that makes me sick. As for your commenter, no one said all gays have a sense of humor. I don’t think you need to respond, this post is enough.
I have seriously heard people make that argument in a totally non-joking way. In fact, that one I heard was also about goats. What is it about goats? Are they great in bed or something?
I joined a Facebok group that was about supporting Iowa’s decision by shopping here. Some guy who friended me because we went to high school together, commented about how wrong he thought Iowa’s supreme court was for making that decision. In his head, it was a problem for him because he would have to start explaining that he was married to a woman and that was somehow horrible.
I told him not to worry. I doubted anyone would assume he was gay. I also told him I wasn’t going to get into any kind of ugly argument. I thought the decision was positive and wonderful and I wanted to keep it that way.
I wouldn’t care if a guy wanted to marry a goat. We should let all kinds of stuff marry all kinds of stuff. None of it affects my marriage and the way I feel about my wife. She’s got a great ass.
again with the gays, already? ( feigns best accent )
I’ve just spent the last hour reading through some of your posts, laughing the entire time. I’m glad Twenty Four pointed me in your direction. Your writing talent is phenomenal.