OPINION|
by Curtis Vaughn, Springfield
Thirty-four years ago, we waded through a vile period of homophobia, which the people of our pleasant city relished as good — and thirty-four years later, we have all but forgotten how we swilled the poison that pulsed not just through our veins, but layered the normal hearts of millions.
Even as the house of a college student who supported a production of the Normal Heart play was set ablaze, incinerating their cat, alive — eternally, we deny ashes from homophobia, deny the fires of hate ever exist — ONLY our purpose.
Yet again today, we hear embers like burning snow, dropping onto loving hearts, seeking to hunt those who survive it all daily. We never see violence until it is already done. I write to all. It isn’t too late — yet.
It is not too late to lower the barrel of guns pointed at those we love, call Mom, Dad, co-worker, friend, and on and on. Not too late before hate is cavalierly cocked in the mouths of each of us, alone, with no one here left to save anyone.
I warn you, all of you — stand UP. Love. Heal. Make a friend, and hold on. We’re in for a ride.
In a viral video released this week, a self-proclaimed internet provocateur, Ethan Schmidt, was traveling to Target stores in Arizona and saw it perfectly Christ-like to declare, “Yeah, you know, I also like to hunt LGBT supporters on my free time. Uh, that’s one of my favorite pastimes, you know, yeah we're going to going on hunting expeditions pretty soon, you know uh, hunting LGBT supporters across Arizona and Phoenix. So, you know keep, keep an eye out for that, because, uh, you know if you support the LGBT agenda, you’re not safe.”
Read that conversation again.
This is how the end begins. Elocutions for holy expeditions of unholy escapades.
Demonization, normalization, weaponization, apathy. This is a long, windy path, and we never see it until we’re drunk with the purpose of hate, driving off that cliff, killing all. Springfieldians, this year, turn off social media, attend Pride, and stand with your loved ones, your friends, your moms, dads, cousins, co-workers, and classmates.
I’m here to tell you, people hunting the LGBT community is as real and as anti-Christ-like as a Springfieldian's cat being burned alive all those years ago in the fiery lust of hate. Stand up for another before it is too late for ANYONE to stand up for you, nor for you to stop the last flash of fresh gunpowder.
Hate is NOT fate if we don’t want it to be.