Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: There are no homosexuals in Iran

[Texas Lynn]

It's been a while since this wacky world leader made the bizarre claim his nation has no homosexuals. The world got a good laugh at him over that.

Of course, the dude also eschews neckties because to him they're the symbol of imperialism, or, as one wag once said, "the serpentlike symbol of evil".

Christian fundamentalists sometimes take umbrage at being compared to Islamic fundamentalists, and, often rightfully so; for instance their number of mad bombers makes our Eric Rudolph look like a lone nut. But we sure have seen similar levels of homophobia and bizarre claims of this sort in this area.

What is it about authoritarian religious ideology which seeks to demonize the LGBT community, whether in Tallahassee or Tehran? And conversely, why is it that in the freeest cultures, variance of sexual orientation is no big deal at all?

Sociologists studying extreme ideologies have long noted demonization of "the other" exists as a popular tactic in extreme regimes. Fear of communism died out in America with the smashing of the Berlin Wall; but the fear of "the gay agenda" still resonates in certain quarters, though less and less so as we speak.

It is my belief antigay hysteria is being whipped up by an elite intent on power, whether in Ahmadinejad's Iran or Mike Huckabee's Arkansas (where Huck tried unsuccessfully while governor to prohibit LGBTs from serving as foster and adoptive parents).

It makes me recall the remarks by the leader of the "Yippies", Jerry Rubin, about his testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee, headed by the right-wing Texas Congressman Joe Pool, in 1968: "I went back to Berkeley where I was greeted by cheering mobs. Pool went back to Dallas where he was greeted by cheering mobs. The crazies on the left and the crazies on the right had a great old time!"

I wanted to make this topic open-ended so I won't further limit it, but please feel free to respond however.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Reminds me of when I chuckled in sociology because of someone talking about spreading "gayness".

 

[Crazy Liz]

Yup. Just like there are no gay Christians.

 

[Phinehas2]

Dear Texas Lynn,

It's been a while since this wacky world leader made the bizarre claim his nation has no homosexuals. The world got a good laugh at him over that.

Well much of the world shares the same view as him on this issue, so the most bizarre thing of the lot is your claim. Indeed, the biggest single factor for pro-gay arguments seems to be that it has convinced itself its right because it feels it must be.

Christian fundamentalists sometimes take umbrage at being compared to Islamic fundamentalists,

Well recently in the UK, ordinary mainstream Christians, who liberals call fundamentalists, have been verbally attacked for anti-gay attitudes, yet Muslims haven’t. For example, Christian adoption agencies have been forced to allocate to same-sex couples, yet schools dominated by Muslims have managed to have books promoting same-sex relationships removed without a squeak from the liberals.

 

[Texas Lynn]

much of the world shares the same view as him on this issue, so the most bizarre thing of the lot is your claim.

This is true to the extent that office buildings and hotels often do not have a 13th floor to assauge the feelings of the superstitious, but the floor numbered # 14 is really the 13th, so it's basically just patting them on the head.

Unattached gay men and lesbians sometimes address this disconnect from reality among their families of origin by bringing one of the other (gay men bringing lesbians and vice versa) as dates to weddings of family members. I heard about two that did that and the female of the two wore Donna Karan but was packing underneath.