The ConWeb — particularly the Media Research Center — loves to complain when right-wing “satire” is treated as fact and fact-checked accordingly (because right-wingers tend to think that what they read at the Babylon Bee is the truth and promote it as such). But a piece of liberal satire that conforms with what conservatives believe about liberals gets treated as deadly serious.
Such is the case with a video released by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus last month that mocks anti-LGBT right-wingers with lyrics like “We’ll convert your children/Happens bit by bit/Quietly and subtlely/And you will barely notice it.” The MRC’s Gabriel Hays — who absolutely hates LGBT people — had a massive homohobic meltdown over the video, declaring it to be “grotesque” and a manifesto for the LGBT movement:
Sure, one could guess that this was going to be more LGBTQ propaganda. But viewers probably had no idea how shameful and nefarious the song was going to be.
One young, smug gay entertainer began singing: “You think we’re sinful. You fight against our rights, you say we all lead lives you can’t respect. But you’re just frightened, you think that we’ll corrupt your kids, if our agenda goes unchecked.”
(Though, in our defense, we have seen a Pride month this year featuring LGBTQ propaganda aimed at kids and even toddlers, so it’s a legitimate concern.)
And, as if to validate that concern, the choir members segued into their song’s creepy chorus: “Fine — just this once, you’re correct. We’ll convert your children. Happens bit by bit. Quietly and suddenly, and you will barely notice it.”
Oh really now? They’re not even trying to hide it anymore, are they? It seems this was the Pride Month where the mask truly slipped.
Hays concluded by ranting, “This is what the LGBTQ movement is doing and everyone needs to be aware.” Yes, Gabe, we all need to be aware of how satire works, especially since you apparently aren’t.
A WorldNetDaily article by Bob Unruh did seem to understand there was a bit of satire going on, acknowledging that “The messaging is cast in a light that portrays anyone with moral or biblical objections to homosexuality as being unfair and intolerant” — given that they are, an accurate interpretation. But he repeated anti-LGBT groups’ overly serious interpretations of the video and falsely called the “we coming for your children” lyric a “threat” in the headline.
Meanwhile, at the MRC’s “news” division, CNSNews.com, homophobic managing editor Michael W. Chapman called on equally homophobic religious-right activist Franklin Graham to denounce it and ignore the satire:
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus posted a video last week about how they are “coming for your children,” and will “convert” them, “bit by bit.” In response, Christian leader Franklin Graham said they were proclaiming the “truth about” their agenda, which is a real “threat” to families and society.
In a July 10 post on Facebook, Rev. Graham wrote, “This gay group says they’re ‘coming for your children’ — and they’re telling the truth about it. We knew it, but I’m surprised they admitted it.”
The video was pulled after threats of violence and doxxing came in, which Graham seems pretty cool with:
“After outrage from viewers on YouTube, the group took the video down, and tried to say it was an attempt at some kind of humor,” said Graham. “I don’t see any humor, and neither do a lot of other parents and grandparents, but I see a driving agenda and a threat that is real.”
Apparently, Chapman and Graham are quite OK with LGBT people being harmed or killed because of who they are. They probably see much more humor in that.