Them's Fighting Words

Well, what are you waiting for?

Ladies, gentlemen, variations thereof, and none of the above, we are being invaded. I mean this in the absolute strictest sense of the word. Our meeting points are being infiltrated. Our parades are being violated. In this society where we are reviled and isolated, the few places that are safe for us are being no less than desecrated. Our situation being what it is, I don't think it would be overstretching it to deem this aggression as no less than sacrilege. It's nothing less than a call to arms.

Exactly one month ago, 300 Mormons joined the Salt Lake City Gay Pride Parade. The new additions to the parade voiced their love for their queer brethren and their acknowledgment that their love was not a sin. I, being the charming cynic that I am, quietly withheld my judgment on this until I found this interview with Erika Munsen, the organizer of one of the groups that marched in said parade.
Ms. Munsen is quoted as such:

The only message is one of love. We are focusing on a message of love. We are faithful Mormons. We believe. We attend our wards. But there has been heartbreak and strife and we want to end that. We are not supported by any political group, and we are asking people to have no signage for political causes.

Well, sounds rather nice. It really does. That last part is a little concerning though. Most people think "politics" is a dirty word, and the less involved in politics a group is, the purer its intentions. Well, rich straight white cisgender males and other historically privileged groups certainly have the luxury of thinking so, but we aren't so lucky. So, you see, I wasn't at all surprised to read this bit:

In this Pride Parade contingent, we are not taking a stand either way on marriage equality.

Oh, dear.

This picture of the Madonna represents both my utter lack of surprise and my unrelenting virginity.

Our signs are quotes from LDS Church General Authorities, the Bible, and LDS hymns about loving your neighbor.

Oh, really? The same LDS Church General Authorities who basically wrote Proposition 8 and get their garments in a twist whenever any LGBT-friendly legislative steps are taken? Those Church General Authorities?  

I'm not stupid. I know one can be LDS and LGBT or an ally. But this group is basically coming out in support of love for queers. Seriously? So you support not treating gay people like dirt. Do you guys want a medal for that or something? Sorry Ms. Munsen, but that was radical about 40 years ago. One of the biggest issue we need addressed is the one you're gracefully ignoring. People get involved in politics for a reason. If LGBT people have a strong political presence, we can get bills passed protecting schoolchildren from bullies, people from being attacked, workers from being wrongfully fired, and tenants from being wrongfully evicted. Ms. Munsen's devotion to staying neutral politically essentially gives the LDS Church good publicity without actually having to do anything. 

Shown: Thomas Edison, another master of taking credit while doing fuck all.

I'm being unfair. Sure, they don't support full equality and shouldn't be in OUR parades. But they're not actively campaigning against LGBT interests, and they're at least marginally honest as to their motivations. LGBT Redditors rejoiced when this picture, showing seemingly apologetic Christians attending a Chicago Pride Parade, was posted 5 months ago. If you're still with me, you know where this is going. The Advocate brilliantly took down this group as not-so-secretly homophobic. These guys actively promote the idea that homosexuality is a sin, and they have the nerve to weasel their way into our organizations! I have to admit, what Andrew Marin lacks in moral fiber, intelligence, charisma, courage, or basic human courtesy, he makes up in pure chutzpah. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that we don't need these guys. We're in the middle of a culture war here, and no one needs traitors and double-agents. Not only that, but we're winning anyway. The progress of society has been maddening and hard-won, but we're winning! In fact, we don't need spine-less hand-wringing simpletons who "hate the sin and love the sinner". I have a Mormon friend who says that "Mormons love gay people, but marriage means something special to us." I understand that opinion. It's a stupid opinion, but I can understand it. I will not condone those who think that they get to impose their "special" exclusive  meaning of marriage onto the rest of us. The days of settling for less and kowtowing to the straight majority ended in a little Mafia-run bar called the Stonewall. Like it or not, we're going to ask for nothing else for full equality.

And if you have a problem with that, due to your primitive desert cult or a frightened adherence to tradition or your own ignorance and bigotry, and don't want to be on the wrong side of history, you can either get with us, or get the hell out of our way.