“It is not enough to list the things we as a moral people oppose – so-called homosexual marriage, homosexual adoption, etc. Now is the time to assert what mainstream Americans believe and speak the truth even as we are slandered and maligned by extremists.” (italics mine)

Those are the words Rev. Louis P. Sheldon wrote to promote his new book. Let’s start with Lou’s claim to represent “moral people.”

Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Rev. Lou Sheldon – founder and chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition – argued against giving aid to the surviving members of gay and lesbian partnerships, many of whom had children. Is that what a “moral” man would do after such a horrific tragedy?

Is it moral to encourage intolerance and hate? Is it moral to oppose programs that would help men, women and children afflicted with HIV? Is it moral to advocate discrimination? Is it moral to suggest putting some people in concentration camps? Is it moral to oppose programs and legislation that would benefit the 8 to 10 million children currently being reared by same-sex parents? Is it moral to sponsor and support legislation specifically designed to hurt those same families?

Sheldon is guilty of all the above. Is this a “moral” man?

Rev. Sheldon also claimed to speak for “mainstream Americans.” That doesn’t seem to be the case, increasingly so.

In early July 2005 TVC began pleading with those on its e-mail list to preorder Sheldon’s book. The message began with “PLEASE ORDER REV SHELDON’S NEW BOOK EXPOSING THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA” in 18-point bold red font.

One of the first things I tell my writing students is don’t use all caps to emphasize your message. It’s annoying, ineffective, unprofessional, and makes you read like a raving lunatic. Another thing I tell my students was confirmed in the explanation of TVC’s frenzied plea:

"The quantity of books pre-ordered will determine whether or not the national bookstores carry this book. When America’s leaders see this book in demand and read its message, they will realize it is a front burner issue and they will bring it to the attention of the American public.

It is imperative that each supporter pre-order The Agenda the week of July 4th, our Independence Day. Yes, we’re asking you to spend some money because this is what we need to move the media to tell their audience the TRUTH about the homosexual agenda."

Don’t use all caps to emphasize a word/idea in your prose. It immediately casts suspicion on that word/idea and, again, makes you read like a raving lunatic.

The “July 4th” ploy is offensive on multiple levels. What Sheldon advocates is a government and civil laws based on “Christian fundamentalism,” as he defines it. That has nothing to do with “independence” as the men who wrote the Declaration and the Constitution understood it. Those Deists were astute students of history and had leaned the lesson Europe’s 17th century religious-civil wars taught: social stability requires a secular, civil government. In a very real sense, the American Republic was conceived as a prophylactic against the type of theocratic state Sheldon advocates.

People of faith and social conscience rejected TVC’s plea. As of August 10, 2005, Barnes and Noble did not plan to carry Sheldon’s “The Agenda” in their retail outlets. The tome is also absent from Amazon.com.

As for the so-called “homosexual agenda” that so terrifies Lou Sheldon, it was well expressed by Rep. Barney Frank in his speech on behalf of the Stonewall Democratic Federation at the 2004 Democratic National Convention:

"Specifically, we want all people in the United States to enjoy the same legal rights as everyone else, unless they have forfeited them by violating the rights of others. We believe this should include some things that are, apparently, very controversial.

 

They include the right to serve, fight, and even die on behalf of our country in the military; the right to earn a living by working hard and being judged wholly on the quality of our work; the right for teenagers to attend high school without being shoved, punched, or otherwise attacked; and, yes, the right to express not only love for another person but a willingness to be legally as well as morally responsible for his or her well-being."

Are these not “moral” goals? Is this not a moral “agenda”?

As Sheldon and others of his ilk continue to use old stereotypes, myths and outright lies to prop up their politics of hate, the American public seems to be moving slowly but surely in the opposite direction. According to the new Pew Research Center for People and the Press/Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life poll,

"Today, 36% of Americans favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry, up from 32% in December 2004. The percentage favoring gay civil unions has risen as well. Currently, 53% favor allowing gays and lesbians to enter into legal arrangements providing them with many of the same rights as married couples; that compares with 48% last August. "

Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, is correct: “This is exactly what the right wing is afraid of. People have had a year of legal marriage in Massachusetts to see how ending marriage discrimination helps gay and lesbian families and hurts no one.”

The poll also had another finding that marked America’s movement away from Sheldon’s brand of bigotry and hate: “Support for gay marriage and gay civil unions has increased slightly among most religious groups. However, support for civil unions has increased significantly among white evangelical Protestants, from 26% in December 2004 to 35% today” (italics mine).

The malignant rhetoric of people like Louis Sheldon is helping to make the case for equality, liberty and justice for all Americans and their families.

As for the reverend’s claim of being “slandered and maligned by extremists,” when it comes to gay Americans and their families, no one’s rhetoric is more slanderous, hateful, immoral, or extreme than Lou Sheldon’s. Perhaps he should remember some biblical edicts: “you shall reap what you sow” and “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

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