Dear Rick Santorum: An SNL Skit Is Not “Bullying.” Shame On You.

Rick Santorum is living in a world devoid of the real-life experiences of average human beings, especially minorities. Yesterday, Santorum classified as “bullying” a Saturday Night Live skit that showed him in a gay bar as part of a GOP debate. Also yesterday, Santorum claimed that his fight against same-sex marriage equality was akin to Lincoln’s fight against slavery.

READ: Santorum: My Fighting Gay Marriage Is Akin To Lincoln Fighting Slavery

“We’ve been hammered by the left for my standing up for the traditional family and I will continue to do so,” Santorum said. “The left, unfortunately, participates in bullying more than the right does. They say that they’re tolerant, and they’re anything but tolerant of people who disagree with them and support traditional values.”

Bullying, Mr. Santorum, is something that has led to the suicide deaths of countless — thousands, no doubt — of LGBTQ children and teens, and those who aren’t but are perceived to be LGBT. It has grown from a vile and unsavory challenge that took place in school from 7:30 to 2;20, and on the playground and sports fields afterwards, to something that surrounds kids of today, given the advent of Internet social networks. These bullied children and teens have nowhere to hide, not a moment to escape from their tormentors. Any computer or smartphone can bring a student’s next hate-filled missive. And often, their homes are battlegrounds as well, with homophobic parents fueled by the likes of you and your anti-gay homophobic ignorant ilk.

That is just a touch of bullying, Mr. Santorum, not some stupid SNL NBC skit that you didn’t even watch. I have every confidence the SNL skit is not motivating you to take your own life.

Bullying led to the deaths most recently of both Jamie Hubley on Friday, and Jamey Rodemeyer just weeks ago. Those are the two we know of, most recently. Sadly, statistics tell us that for every anti-gay bullying victim who succumbs to suicide, there are literally hundreds more who do too, that we just don’t hear about. And those are the ones who are successful. Who knows how many countless others try, and do not succeed, or even think about it?

That’s bullying.

Shame on you, Rick Santorum, for co-opting the mantle of bullying to fuel your anti-gay hate and to attempt victim status. Shame on you for co-opting a great president’s mission, in service to your open campaign against an African-American.

What’s next, Rick? Will you claim poverty? Will you claim oppression as an immigrant? What other minority victimization cause will you stamp across your forehead inn service to your already failed political campaign?