One `mental virus' that plagues are planet is homophobia. It afflicts not just the straight members of society, but also many gays. When public officials make statements that show that they are afflicted with this illness - and are not immediately removed from public office - it damages the entire psyche of the country.
(Video at bottom)
An Oklahoma state representative has received thousands of hostile e-mail messages after she said that homosexuality is a bigger threat to national security than terrorism.
Dally Kern has a Gay Son!! (poor guy)
On Wednesday, March 12, the gay online news service Queerty reported that one of Kern’s two grown sons, Jesse, is gay. The report was based on comments posted on Web sites by readers who alleged that Jesse Kerns had been disciplined for cruising toilets while a student at Oklahoma Baptist University.
As of Thursday, March 13, the report had not confirmed, and Sally Kern’s husband, a Baptist preacher, issued a statement denying it.
Sally Kern displays her illness
Sally Kern after parts of a speech she gave to a Republican organization earlier this year were posted on YouTube. Listen to portions of the speech below.
During the speech, Kern said that "the homosexual agenda is just destroying this nation" and that homosexuality poses a bigger threat to the United States than terrorism. "According to God's word, that is not the right kind of lifestyle," she said.
"Studies show no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than a few decades," Kern, a former teacher who sits on the education committee, added.
Her speech, first posted online earlier this week by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, has generated national attention. The recording has been viewed more than 500,000 times on YouTube. Since then, Kern's office has been bombarded by angry phone calls and e-mails. Several gay rights organizations have called for her to resign and local newspapers have criticized her.
Responses
"Hi! It's Ellen DeGeneres. The gay one."
The sitcom star turned chat show host turned her satirical sights on Oklahoma state representative Sally Kern earlier this week, in response to comments that gay people are "infiltrating" the US government.
Ellen DeGeneres decided to have some fun with Ms Kern on her nationally syndicated TV show yesterday.
"I feel like there's some misinformation going on here, and I think I need to call her," Ellen said after playing parts of the Kerns recording.
The phone went to voicemail and then an automated voice informed Ellen that the mailbox was full.
"I bet!" Ellen said.
"She's busy, it seems like she is getting some voicemails!"
Ellen then chose to leave her a message via her TV show, which has won 15 Emmy awards. (See clip at bottom)
"Her comments are so inappropriate and beyond the pale that she's demonstrated that she's not fit for service in public office," said Patrick Sammon, president of the Log Cabin Republicans, a national association of gay and lesbian Republicans. "For someone to compare gay people to terrorists is really difficult to comprehend. She should be ashamed."
Victory Fund president Chuck Wolfe wrote an open letter to Kern, explaining that her words have heavy implications.
"What you said is not OK, but that’s not because most sensible people disagree with it," he wrote. "It’s because your words give aid and comfort to those who would hurt, maim, and even kill people who are different from you. Comparing gays and lesbians to cancer and terrorism and saying they are the 'biggest threat to America' gives license to others to treat us that way, especially given the leadership position you hold in your community."
He also wrote that the Victory Fund made her speech public to point out to people that "even elected leaders like you are saying some nasty and potentially dangerous things about your fellow citizens." Wolfe mentioned the murders of Matthew Shepard, Lawrence King, and 62-year-old Steve Domer, who was killed in Oklahoma in the fall.
Email threats
Jessica Brown, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, said the agency was reviewing the growing number of e-mails sent to Kern to determine if any of them could be considered legally threatening.
"If I say I'm going to kill you, that's a threat. If I say I hope you die, that's not," she said.
She said the agency may contact some of the people who sent the e-mails.
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