Studies of right-wing tactics to portray Christians as victims meant to forestall marriage equality
An Air Force sergeant is fired because he opposes same-sex marriage. As part of an anti-bullying program, two middle school girls are forced into a lesbian kiss by school officials. A man fixing the lights on a Christmas tree falls victim to War on Christmas violence.
Heart wrenching stories of political correctness gone wild — these and a list of others. But according to a report from the People for the American Way, they’re simply not true. None of these things ever happened.
“Religious Right leaders hold themselves up as the victims,” People For the American Way’s President Michael B. Keegan said. “This is a powerful talking point, even if not true.”
Claiming religious persecution is the latest tactic of the religious right, according to PFAW spokesman Drew Courtney. “Fox News is the source of a lot of these things,” Courtney said.
He said Fox commentator Todd Starnes, in particular, can take credit for either making up these stories or taking events that happened and twisting them into outrageous lies. The Air Force sergeant went on the air with Starnes and claimed he made anti-marriage comments and was then transferred to another assignment.
Upon investigation, PFAW found those two things were coincidental. The sergeant was in a unit when his assignment ended. He was moved to his next position as scheduled. During that time, he made homophobic comments. However, there was no demotion or discipline. The move was planned before he began making the public anti-gay statements.
According to the report, these unfounded stories feed into a narrative that portrays conservative Christians as the victims of LGBT rights.
Courtney said it’s a shame because in some parts of the world, Christians actually are persecuted. Churches are burned and Christians are the victims of violence.
He said a major point in the report is the unique role Fox News has established in fanning the flames of intolerance. Since last year’s U.S.
Supreme Court decision striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act, one court after another has found in favor of LGBT equality. None has upheld a state marriage ban.
The right-wing uses the religious discrimination argument with reproductive rights as well, according to the report. The report says, “By reframing political losses as religious oppression, the Right has attempted to build a justification for turning back advances in gay rights, reproductive rights and religious liberty for minority faiths.”
Frantic warnings coupled with myths of persecution feeds into a narrative that the U.S. is about to institute “hate speech” laws that will criminalize religious behavior. “The gas in running out on their arguments,” Courtney said.
In addition to the PFAW report, others are working to counter the religious discrimination arguments. The United Church of Christ was joined by the Union for Reform Judaism in a lawsuit against North Carolina’s marriage laws. The denominations claim religious discrimination because they are prevented from practicing their religions, which allow and encourage same-sex couples to marry.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition June 20, 2014.