In case you missed it, Dallas Morning News Metro columnist Steve Blow is under heavy fire for a blog item he posted yesterday about a Rowlett priest accused of inappropriately touching girls and women. Here’s what Blow’s original item said:
This is sad to say, but it’s almost refreshing to read about a priest accused of good, old-fashioned heterosexual perviness.
The dreadful stuff between priests and boys has been going on for so long that I almost forgot that some priests have more mainstream sexual hang-ups.
Again, I say, it’s time for a married priesthood.
In response to the ensuing outcry, the post was pulled from The DMN’s website, and Blow apologized. CBS 11 provides a recap of some of the criticism:
Bethany Anderson at D-Magazine’s FrontBurner blog responded by questioning his wording.
“I’m not so sure the women and girls molested by this priest find it refreshing,” she wrote. “Perhaps a better choice of words, friend?”
And at the Dallas Observer’s Unfair Park, Andrea Grimes called the post a “rape joke.”
“A penchant for molesting women and girls who are members of your church is not a ‘sexual hangup.’ It’s a crime. They are not asking for it. They did not consent,” she wrote.
I don’t disagree with Anderson and Grimes, but one thing no one has mentioned is the fact that Blow’s post was also patently homophobic. In saying that it’s “refreshing to read about a priest accused of good, old-fashioned heterosexual perviness,” Blow implies that pedophilia is somehow worse when it involves an adult male and an underage boy. Blow’s post also serves to perpetuate the myth that pedophilia and homosexuality are somehow linked, which is simply not true.
For the record, here’s Blow’s apology:
“If you have to explain humor, it has failed. My attempt here at some sardonic humor has obviously failed with a number of readers. I apologize,” read his post. “No offense was intended — except toward pervy priests of any persuasion.”
No one mentioned it being homophobic because this is Texas and a solid majority of people here could care less about the LGBT community.
I didn’t take it as a homophobic comment at all guys..we are so concerned about being politically correct that we forget humor sometimes. I actually understood what he was saying… we spend so much time dissecting every persons words that we overlook the actual point he was trying to make…
Blow made a stupid comment……….but homophobic may be a stretch. My GOD………Rod Dreher was spewing anti gay venom every other day and it was rare that he was ever called on his shit. I think I was one of the few in Dallas that ever complained about him. If you want to see some homophobia…take a look at D Magazine Frontburner Blog.
Steve Blow is a well-known, longtime supporter of Dallas’ LGBT community. He has written countless supportive columns about gay and lesbian people over a long career. I haven’t communicated with him about this, but I immediately interpreted it as facetious commentary. I personally got it, but maybe that’s because of my familiarity with his work, his reputation and the issues involving roving priests of all sexual orientations. Sometimes, what a writer attempts to say doesn’t always work for everyone, but let’s not throw a friend under the bus for that. His point is that celibacy and the priesthood is and always has been a giant farce. I don’t think for a second that he meant anything derogatory toward women or gay people.
It was just a few years ago that Steve Blow said he was “repulsed” by a male model outside Abercrombie & Fitch. I call that homophobic.
https://dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/steve-blow-doesnt-want-to-blow-the-af-guy-at-northpark-or-does-he/
The post I linked above has an interesting comment thread too, including Jack E. Jett and our own Rich Lopez (then of Hint of Mint).
I didn’t view Steve Blow’s remark as homophobic at all. I interpreted it as a criticism about what is appropriate for the surroundings. The same thing could have been said if it had been a scantily-clad woman. NorthPark ain’t Hollywood and Vine, and I imagine a lot of people were taken aback by the male model. Obviously, it wouldn’t have bothered me, but that’s another story. This is the first time I’ve seen that post, and I’m embarrassed that anyone would make that kind of remark to a writer who has supported the LGBT community over the years.
@David: And I’m embarrassed that you would defend Steve Blow.
@John: Fair enough.
Hey have you noticed how we all have the same facial structure on this new website?
Yep, I remember his over the top reaction to the A&F model. I found that offensive and idiotic. These recent comments I just found idiotic. Since I lost a gig at CNN 1190 for saying something stupid in an interview with Wilonsky, I may be a bit more sympathetic.
I do understand where John Wright is coming from with this. This city is full of journalist who exercise a unique form of subtle homophobia.
@ Jack: I don’t think I said anything idiotic but by your own admission you sometimes apparently say “stupid” things.
David Webb. I never implied that YOU said anything idiotic. I never made reference to anything you said. But it is obvious you thought I did and decided to jump of my ass for it. WTF? I am going to shut the fuck up. This new website is very sensitive and takes forever to download.
I’m just shocked this many people actually READ Steve Blow . Every time I read his idiotic and insipid (ahem) “articles” they feel like a literary lobotomy. I’m wishing on a star that this will mean that he’ll be packing up that old pickup truck he seems so found of mentioning and heading on back to Sachse for good and we can maybe get an actual journalist. Although, knowing the DMN’s standard for journalism, that’s doubtful.
I apologize for misinterpreting what you wrote and unfairly criticizing you. See how easy that happens?
No one has mentioned that the first post above comes from prejudices and is as idiotic as the things Blow wrote.
At least a preist directed towards a young girl is in the normal direction, just the age was a little off. Sexual direction between a priest and a male of any age can never be tolerated under any circumstances.
I know Steve Blow and he defends our GLBT community and he is not homophobic. He was just making a stupid joke, most stupid.
Calling Steve Blow homophobic when he isn’t, reminds me of when the Turtle Creek Coral was getting bad reviews in The Dallas Morning News, by writer Tom Sime. TCC supporters when not pleased and called Sime homophobic. One evening at a party I spoke to a board member about the TCC’s belief that Sime is homophobic and he said yes, Sime is homophobic he is … “writing bad reviews because Sime has a gay son and he doesn’t like gays.” Sime being a friend of mine I mentioned to that board member that Sime was gay, was living with his partner of 18-yrs. Of course later Sime came out and has now left The News.
So easy to shout that one is homophobic when one does not know the person.
Thanks for your input, Jesus. It’s important for our community to remember and to respect our straight allies like Steve Blow, especially when they have a long history of publicly defending us. Not everyone agrees on everything all of the time, but it seems counterproductive to trash someone because of one or even two missteps. That’s a good way to lose friends.
Yeah, sorry. I’m judging the guy on how well he does his job which he doesn’t do that well. I guess it’s cool he’s down with the cause but that doesn’t excuse consistently lazy journalism. That being said, I don’t think the guy’s homophobic. In fact he seems like an okay guy. But that doesn’t mean he should be given a prominent column in the only major daily in the market.
I still disagree. I’m not saying Blow is a homophobe in general, but that doesn’t mean he can’t write homophobic things. The idea that once one person in the LGBT community dubs someone an ally, they can never do any wrong, is pretty ridiculous. Look at Obama.