Homophobic comments by a new religious leader at the proposed Park 51 community center in lower Manhattan — also known as the “Ground Zero Mosque” by its detractors and as “Cordoba House” by its supporters — have angered the gay community and its supporters, and added fuel to the already extreme outrage exhibited by some conservatives and the Tea Party. (Remember who they’re really angry at.)
Via NY1 (who has a video, too,):
“In a lecture Imam Abdallah Adhami sells on the Internet, he offers the following explanation for the existence of homosexuality:
“An enormously, overwhelming percentage of people struggle with homosexual feeling because of some form of violent emotional or sexual abuse at some point in their life. Again, not necessarily in their childhood….A small, tiny percentage of people are born with a natural inclination they cannot explain. You find this in the animal kingdom on some level as well.”
“For gay rights advocates, the words are unacceptable.
“They are destructive. They play into old, worn-out stereotypes that somehow there is an illness to being gay,” said Gay City News Editor Paul Schindler.”
“Schindler says that unless Imam Adhami is willing to clarify or change his views, Park51’s ability to welcome everyone will be compromised beyond repair.
“It’s a hostile message and one that I think attacks the dignity of gay people,” Schindler said.
“Some prominent gay New Yorkers say even though they find the remarks made by the Park51 imam offensive, it’s nothing they haven’t heard before.
“It’s not a new statement, it’s been made repeatedly by people who practice homophobia as a way of life. It’s also unfortunately not limited to one religion,” said Gay Rights Activist David Mixner.”
Park 51 has been embroiled in a cultural war (leading to craziness like this,) ever since Fox News decided, after first supporting it, that it could get better ratings by opposing it. (Or, as Rachel Maddow calls it, “Scaring White People For Fun And Profit.”)
This is an extremely disappointing development. Not only are the words and point of view behind them entirely unacceptable, but they damage the reputation of the Park 51 project among its supporters, (liker the 9/11 mom who lost her daughter but has supported the project,) and now give right-wing conservatives and Tea Party crazies more fuel.
Pamela Geller, an extremist even by Tea Party standards, runs a little blog called Atlas Shrugged. In it she writes,
“The new Ground Zero imam who advocates Islamic law and jail for apostates, and calls unindicted co-conspirator in the WTC bombing, Siraj Wahhaj, his “beloved imam,” is a homophobe. Adhami’s repulsion of gays is consistent with the oppression, and in many Muslim countries, the execution of gays.
“Mayor Doomberg is in a real fix now. Which special interest will he satisfy? He has no spine. I bet he’ll dhimmi down and throw the gay community under the bus.
“Interesting that the gay Muslim interviewed in this video said that Adhami’s anti-gay remarks represented progress. Perhaps he hasn’t installed a gallows at Ground Zero ….. yet.”
While Geller’s juvenile delinquent rant (it’s Mayor Bloomberg, for those who aren’t familiar with the thrice-elected public servant,) is asinine, it’s a good depiction of what right-wing hate looks like. (And consider all the religious liberties issues this brings up. Surprised Geller doesn’t mention them…)
Trust me, Geller’s fans aren’t upset about the homophobic comments. In fact, they’re probably thrilled.
Oh, and they have planned a protest in front of Park 51 on February 3. Evidently, they want a Wal-Mart there instead. They give sign ideas here. Like,
Build It or Incite Retailers All Over The World!
Death To Those Who Defame Walmart
Walmart! Not In My Mosque’s Backyard!
Falling Skyscrapers – Yes!!! Falling Prices – No!!! (Isn’t that backwards?)
We Roll Back The Prices, You Roll Back Civilization
Price Cutter or Box Cutter?
A week later, at CPAC, they’ll be showing the “world premiere” of The Ground Zero Mosque: The Second Wave of the 911 Attacks.
Ok…