The Traditional Values Coalition sent out an e-mail on April 28 about its fight against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the has-yet-to-be-passed act that proposes including sexual orientation to federal non-discrimination laws. After the TVC briefly described their efforts to lobby Congress to defeat the bill, they made this statement:
“Right now the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) lobby is planning to use the federal government’s heavy hand to force Christians and Americans to accept ENDA. But you need to know that this grotesque legislation grants special protection for perverted acts such as incest, pedophilia, and cross-dressing.” (Emphasis courtesy TVC.)
I have a few problems with the TVC making that statement, the first being it’s not true. Since the bill’s first introduction in 1994, religious organizations have been exempt from this policy. The law does not “force” any religious organization to do anything. Also in place since the bill’s inception is the explicit prohibition of “special protection.” Preferential treatment based on sexual orientation is as unlawful as discrimination in the proposed act.
The second problem I have with the TVC’s e-mail is their association of non-heterosexuals with incest and pedophilia. When did homosexuality become synonymous with sexual relations between family members and sexual feelings toward children? It seems to me the only purpose in such an association of terms is to create fear and disgust toward the homosexual community.
Which brings me to the third problem I have: disrespectful language. Why call transgender individuals cross-dressers? Why not just say they’re transgender individuals? I ask because I believe the term “cross-dressing” has a derogatory connotation in the Christian community. The use of such a term in a message from a Christian organization to other Christians and media outlets is therefore derogatory and, as a result, disrespectful.
I’m not saying that the TVC is wrong for expressing their point of view. They use the First Amendment to say they believe homosexuality is a mental condition that can be cured. Whether I agree with it or not, they have the right to say what they think.
What I am saying is the use of lies, false association and derogatory language goes past the line of decency in my book. There is no reason to speak badly about a group of people just because you disagree with what they’re doing. After all, disrespect is not a traditional value.