Our First Hate Mail!
July 22, 2005: Another host here on The Podcast Network received this email:
“I was very disappointed to discover that the carrier of your podcast
(thepodcastnetwork) had a show entitled “The Gay Parenting Show.” I
cannot support a network that supports “Gay Parenting.” Especially when
they are so blatant about it (see this weeks blog entry). I would love
to be able to listen to your show, (which has replaced TV on most
evenings) but I cannot while thepodcastnetwork supports this view, or
your podcast remains on this network.
There is no such thing as “Gay Parents.” There are “Parents.” What
does what you do in the bedroom have to do with parenting. Homosexuals
defeat acceptance as “normal” each time they highlight what they do with
their sexuality.
I eagerly await a time when I can once again listen to your show,
Signed: A would be listener.”
How does someone who is so overwhelmed by homosexuality make it through the day? If he or she is “unable” to listen to a Podcast because ANOTHER Podcast on the same network features LGBT content, what else won’t he or she do? Watch network television? Read a newspaper? Go to a bookstore? Surf the web? Just how big a wall does he or she need to build to feel safe?
I always get the impression that people like this are so afraid or angry (or both) that they are barely holding it together. I think in many cases, they are repressing their own urges, and that’s what has them so frightened.
In any case, they want us to be, at best, invisible. At worst: Who knows?
Actually, the writer gave me inspiration for the upcoming Gay Parenting Show Episode 2 (The Gay Empire Strikes Back), which looks at the destructive role homophobia plays in our children’s lives.
On a more positive note, I want to thank The Podcast Network for their ongoing support. They’ve let me know that, despite the haters, The Gay Parenting Show will always have a home here. Much love to the guys at TPN.
July 26th, 2005 at 9:25 am
I’ve got to commend you, your reponse is very well done!
Its so easy to get into this “Homophobic redneck fool” type argument, but you’ve risen above that and raised some really good points!
July 26th, 2005 at 11:00 am
Christian,
What a nice thing to say! I really struggled with how to respond to that email. Sometimes, its hard to know what to say when confronted with such ugliness.
I hope you get the chance to hear the podcast, because my guest, Judith Snow, does a great job explaining how homophobia like this hurts the children of LGBT parents.
August 2nd, 2005 at 9:16 am
To those “haters” out there, I merely say: I’ll pray for you.
August 7th, 2005 at 1:12 am
i dont know if you all dig on cursing on your site, so: eff the haters. glad to see you’re still grinding…
December 14th, 2005 at 1:39 am
I have been an out, custodial, father for over twenty years. I write about my life here in Maine, my observations and viewpoints in our local, gay, paper, called “The Companion” . My column is called “Who’s Your Daddy?” I’ve been too busy cooking, cleaning and chasing kids around to have much energy for homophobic idiots….
May 20th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
You can’t help dispairing with some people though it is wonderful that we are priverliged we these deep insights into there minds. I mean u can have a good laugh reading them, Hours of fun. :-)