By now I'm sure most people have heard about Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern's horrific hate speech (hear it here). Today, she's issued a press statement that is both unrepentant and back-pedaling. Dan at GayPolitics.com mentioned that they didn't want to give her name or contact info initially because they didn't want to give her the medida attention, but I have a serious problem with that. For starters, how can we hold elected officials to account when we don't know who they are? Sure this might sway those virulently anti-gay assholes more in that realm, but they were already there to begin with, there have always been religious winguts that way and always will be - but we stand NO chance of thinning their ranks if we allow them to remain anonymous. I came out of the closet (more like smashed it into fucking kindling when I was 15) because it's not fair to be in that place, and I don't want closet homophobes or closet racists either. Free speech rights for all, not just those you agree with. All speech should be protected, even unpopular speech. FUCK censorship. I've been saying this for years, I'm not about to stop now.

If you want to tow that line, fine by me. Just own it and be honest about it. If you're a homophobic bigot, give Fred Phelps a run for his money and wear it on your sleeve - just don't cry foul or complain when we fight back. If you're alright about being an avowed racist, that's fine too - just make sure you don't save your nigger/kike/chink/jap/gook jokes for your white friends only - tell them everywhere you go and in mixed company. Go big or go the fuck home, because otherwise you lack the courage of your convictions and you don't really believe in anything you profess. Let Mrs. Kern say what she wants to say, and rather than baselessly bitching about it, DO SOMETHING for a change. Use your outrage and accomplish something with your anger. Call or write your congressmen and Senators, find out where they stand on these issues and make sure they know your vote carries influence. Make them grovel for it - that's part of the fucking problem, they're caught up in their own power trips, shut that shit down - and stay on them. Write letters to your local paper to be printed in the editorials. Write TIME, USA Today, Newsweek, U. S. News, Chicago Tribune, Dallas News, New York Times, Newsday, Boston Globe, SF Examiner, and the SF Chronicle.

Learn who the REAL enemies are and fight them.

Do your homework on hate crime statistics.

Question and challenge yourself and others.

Get involved in organizations that interest you.

FIGHT BACK.

I made this graphic earlier just for this post. Link to it if you want to.