I dare him to come after mine. He will get way more than he bargained for.
I dare him to come after mine. He will get way more than he bargained for.
Love is not something one group should ever be managing for another .... I wish everyone could just wish everyone else love and happiness ....
The GOP is totally coming off its leash. These guys don’t know who to attack first.
It’s wild how they are exposing themselves so obviously
And yet they won the election
That's why. They think they can afford to stop being so tight-lipped about everything now.
Get govt out of marriage entirely. How about that. Who we do or do not marry is no concern of any govt entity.
It affects inheritance, joint ownership, the right to make decisions for your spouse. But it should be available to everyone.
I get that it is standard and pretty much required the way it is set up now. I would prefer no govt involvement in marriage and no corresponding constraints on any legal issues pertaining to the rest. Things are overly complicated when govt is involved.
Completely agree
If it gets bad enough, the west coast should secede.
It pisses me off that these mealy-mouthed busybodies feel entitled to involve themselves in the private lives of people they don’t know. Their time would be better spent protecting children from the epidemic of paedophile church officials 😒
Right?! The Catholic church was the first wholly corrupt governing body before state merit-based governments began gaining favor. There's a reason most of Europe started abandoning the rule of the Pope and Rome in the 1500s for alternative Christian religions like Lutherinism, COE, etc.
But many of those mealy-mouthed busybodies are the pedophiles…
Projection is one of their favourite things. And I’m sure there are more closeted Republicans in Congress than just Graham.
It's all in the name of Freedom that they crush your personal liberties.
Yep. In their eyes, freedom means doing exactly as they tell you, and in accordance with their interpretation of the Bible. There’s no room for individualism in the GOPvangelical world.
I'm pretty sure it's the (purposeful) indoctrination of young minds that got us into this mess. One of my earliest memories is when the Bible teacher told my mom that I was a bad kid because I kept asking questions during class. I guess they didn't want me enlightening the other children.
I remember my church group giving us a talk (lecture) on the evils of smoking & how it’s a gateway to alcohol & drugs. The minister went on & on, & had some guest guy who also went on & on. During the interval, the minister sat down and lit a cigarette. That’s when I was done with the church 😒
Wow. You learned to doubt the church, but some of those other kids probably learned that it's cool to partake in blatant hypocrisy. 🤦♀️
I had pretty much the same experience with church. Was asked, at 7 years old, not to return due to my cultivation of doubt. Never understood how people could be skeptical of everything except one specific book (and the preachers who adhered them to it).
Religious absolutism has gone from an insidious threat in the US, to an overt one. They aren’t even bothering to try and hide their agenda. The GOPvangelicals want everyone to live by their rules, and their beliefs. This is abhorrent to so many, yet it’s happening right now.
American Southern Christianity developed by putting a microscope on the bible to find things which could be construed (mostly taken out of context) to support slavery. It started out corrupt and has only gotten worse.
This is Free Dumb
Conservative church officials. Let's be clear.
Sorry, yes. I should have said their OWN church officials.
Why do people feel the need to make others conform to their beliefs?!? A gay person's relationship is nobody's business but theirs & has NO effect on anyone else. What consenting adults do in their private time is nobody else's business!
I'm going to bet the message is immediately followed by the grift.
Because if they don’t do this, they have to admit the sky fairy is imaginary.
Narrator: Josh Shriver knew, as he wrote those words, that they were both extreme and controversial. But he was a sad little boy who wasn’t hugged enough as a child, so he hit send anyway, knowing he’d get the comeuppance that he knew he deserved. Kinky bastard.
Narrator, also: Josh Shriver is a miserable little closet queen who is such a charmless sociopath he can't get laid even for money. So he tries to grift off hate speech against LGBTs. What a self-loathing subhuman!
😂😂😂
Since they have no intention of governing, the Troglodytes will busy themselves unraveling the past 100 years of progressive court rulings. Gay marriage, voting rights, interracial marriage, birth control, desegregation, separation of church and state... all on the chopping block.
💯
These are the type of people we are dealing with. A complete lack of empathy if it conflicts with their “beliefs”.
He’ll have to get through all of us.
Still have that Épée, George?
Me and my Ruger will stand next to you George!
Me and my Ruger, too. George is a treasure. And any man that makes him happy I regard as well.
Leave people tf alone. Why can’t these bible thumpers mind their own business? We aren’t bothering you. We don’t go door to door trying to sell you our way of life, you do.
What’s always so strange about them being called “Bible thumpers”, is that they aren’t even CLOSE to being a Christian & they’re definitely not opening their bibles 😂. They have no love or compassion. Hate, greed, power, & divisiveness is their god. They are nationalists, not Christian.
They basically stole an entire religion & made it about what’s in their dark hearts. Kinda like they do with everything else 🤦🏽♀️ Just know that this straight, black, Christian (most of the time lol) woman has your back & always will. I wear my pride shirt proudly! 💕
Just remember this. There are a lot of straight guys like me that got your back. A LOT. United we stand, divided we fall.
From the bottom of my heart I appreciate you, and that. United we stand, divided we fall 🫶🏼 Thank you Ken
I don't want your wedding ring, kind sir. I want you to get a little REST! Do you sleep?
so much for states rights
i thought that argument was settled at Appomattox?
well their harpy call continues as such
Screw this idiot. He’s a MI State Rep and probably is hated by most of the people in his state.
We can't afford to ignore even one of these bastards.
Yeah, but they ELECTED him, nonetheless.
Yeah, that means there’s 30,000 or 40,000 people in Michigan who also suck.
Nah, at least in this case they all suck. Most of these kind of guys won because the other side didn't get out and vote, and that sucks.
I sure as shit didn't and I live here. I'm surrounded by red Kool aid drinkers. It's awful 😔
I did no such thing...
I meant no offense. We’re all paying for others bad choices right now. I know there are good people there too.
Elected bigots are dangerous, which makes them difficult to ignore.
This is what America voted for. It’s in the Project 2025 syllabus
America is no longer able to lead the free world.
White Christian Nationalism, the perpetual irritating pimple on the seat of America’s ass.
Next up suffragettes ? Child labour laws ? Wow
I don't understand why marriage is such an issue. Your marriage has absolutely no effect on my marriage. I've never convinced myself that who someone else loves is my business
It's a business contract.
Hey, comrade Josh... answer the young lady
I love you George 🌈✨
Why are we getting pissed off about a quote on x?
Because it's a quote from an elected official who has at least a bit of power within the state in which he was elected.
youtu.be/Ml4wAnvfM4M?...
Mine too!
Mr.Takei, he/it will have to go through ALL OF US before he remotely even comes close to u, so… FAFO. Omg I will cut u! 😂🔪
This Josh fella has sooooo many skeletons in his closet. That’s always the case with the loudest bigots. Can’t wait to find out what it is.
✊✊🏾✊🏿✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻👏👏🏼👏🏿👏🏻👏🏽👏🏾
Didn’t even know you were gay! But who cares anyway, and none of my business.
he can take the ring off my dick
You win
For all the freedoms the republicans think they're going to take away from American citizens, at some point not far off they're going to regret not taking the guns.
The republicans are going to keep taking away rights until one day they'll find themselves lamenting their support of the 2nd Amendment. That day is not far off.
Hmm. I wonder if that's the one line that even MAGA supporters won't let Trump cross? It's going to be both interesting and terrible to watch the next 4 years unfold.
The party claiming their freedom is being violated if legislators enact sane gun legislation has no problem seekign to deny people their fundamental rights.
I bet that dude’s browser history would reveal he’s a friend of Matt Schlapp.
Like Copeland.
Is now following Squeaky Fromme
School shooter vibes. 😖
Those be Donny Jones eyes!! Hahaha
He looks like he's hiding something or over compensating....
He’s seriously beige, isn’t he?
It’s that soulless MAGA undertone
>tfw we see him in a disposable raincoat with an axe and dancing to Huey Lewis & the News
They won’t stop coming for our human rights 🥲
There's something deeply gross and upsetting about the kind of person that just can't stand to see other people happy.
It's the Christian mindset, you can't be happy unless you follow "Jesus".
Yep. I've literally been told by Christians "You just feel happy. You aren't REALLY happy. You can't be unless you have God." The conceit and arrogance of this is just STAGGERING.
I think it's ignorance. I feel sorry for people that accept that they aren't good enough w/o a god & that's what I was taught when I went to christian churches as a child. I'm grateful that I never accepted that ideology as a kid.
It's arrogance. I will tell them to their faces that it's pride and arrogance. It is not and never has been just an innocent thing because they don't know. It's deliberate and they know it. I was raised Nazarene. I know fundamentalists. They are the most arrogant people on the planet.
I'm sorry you had those experiences, glad I have not. My experience has been w/people that blindly follow w/o question w/1 exception on X. Priest arrogantly stated Hispanic people come to church beat their drums & vote red. In the context of our convo his dismissal was appalling.
It is just grotesque!
Let me know when he gets off his ass and does something.
If you don't follow their doctrine, then by its standards you're some sort of evil demon hell-sent to claim everyone else
I think this is why people struggle understanding them. They want to dominate and dictate.. if your miserable good.. you will have internal life that’s all that matters dying. So what happens here isn’t important unless it’s to dictate how others live that’s important..
I don't really think JAHEEZUS would be a part of THIS shit show...
Republican Jesus would, you know the one that loves the rich and greedy, doesn't like helping the poor and sick, believes in the power hate and cruelty.
I've come to think of it as the true Gateway Drug. If one is gullible enough to believe in that shit, then they will believe ANYTHING.
Irony is that Jesus would have been fine w gay marriage. Hell, Jesus was probably gay.
But even then, you can't be happy. Salvation through endless suffering. Which is NOT what Christ preached. But, this has nothing to do with Christianity, anyway. This is just a gross shithead with nothing better to do than grift off the right wing.
Evangelical Christian’s happiness is not important. Following the rules and blind obedience. They even talk about sacrificing the worldly idea of happy for being dutiful and religious. They don’t expect to be happy and don’t value you it and care nothing about it.
But the whole fricking point of Christianity is to live your life in fear: afraid of annoying God, afraid of being ejected from their One and Only True Christian Church, afraid of the devil, and totally terrified by their innate urges. Their chosen symbol is a torture device for a good reason.
But true religion is not this. It is assurance that ALL fall short of the glory of God and thus Jesus, so that ALL are accepted in the Kingdom of God. No need for the church as an organized religion for that. They are directed only to love each other. Many, many false Christians and churches.
Fallacy of the day: "No true Scottsman"
Maybe. But there are those who at least aspire to Christ’s words and those who would use religion as a bludgeon.
As a young girl, the church would tell me to ask for forgiveness for my sins. I was smart enough then to think, but I haven't done any sins.( maybe steal a cookie. 😂) I am now an atheist & proud of it.
fear is the cornerstone of religion, and they want it that way. I always wondered why would I need to fear a merciful God.
Well, it is a death cult after all. 🤷♀️
I've always said that Christianity is bizarre for that reason alone. It makes some sense that now some of them (this is a real thing) wear pins of AR-15s to show their allegiance to weapons of war.
Ironically…variations of the phrase “Fear not” appears 71 times in Scripture. These MAGA Christians understand as much about their professed faith as they do about geo-politics. I call them “Phucking Pharisees.”
That's not what Christ taught.
The whole point of Christianity is FORGIVENESS, something they know absolutely nothing about
Exactly! 'God fearing' is regarded as a compliment to that lot. They could do with casting the mite from their own eye before coming after other people.
I'm an atheist so I don't believe this stuff, but there are plenty of gay couples who follow Jesus. And they are almost certainly better human beings and more Jesus-like than this bigot.
In this case, you should follow Joshua (who apparently believes he knows what Jesus thinks about gay marriage; read my lips, Joshua doesn't know the slightest idea about it).
First he’ll have to get through the entire starfleet.
I don't get why they are so afraid of same sex marriage. it isn't like any of them are loyal to their spouses or families. I'd never want family values like republicans in america.
They aren’t afraid. They hate that they have to ‘share’. Before, this was a perk, a right that only they were allowed to have to uphold their status as morally and socially superior. Equalizing it to them was pretty much soiling it, and seen as the dirty queers ’stealing’ this badge of honor
That is even more messed up than I thought it was already
It’s also a huge reason why they hate diversity initiatives and affirmative action.
Just really sad how much they'd rather hurt people then be actually happy
For many, it’s because of religion and for others, it’s because they have their own “secrets.”
Just really sad either way I see it.
To be clear... A Holy Bible that condones incest, slavery, rape, homophobia, pedophilia, and genocide have zero to say about morality.
THANK YOU! When your holy book LITERALLY tells women that they have to marry their rapist, your religion is morally bankrupt.
Don't know about "holy" now the New Testament has "holy" on the cover but the Old Testament ( what I call the real one) just has BIBLE on the cover...and Bible is just another word for , wait for it, BOOK...and it doesn't deal a lot with morality, just OBEDIENCE or ELSE!
And somehow they ignore the parts about love thy neighbor and treat a stranger as if he were Jesus and judge not.
And when they inevitably try to hand wave those points away by saying, "That's Old Testament, we're under the New Testament now.", remind them of Matthew 5:18 & Luke 16:17 the content of both having been said by their "Messiah/God". They cannot simply ignore parts that are inconvenient for them.
Matthew 5:18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Luke 16:17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
Their own book & god are clear that the "Law" is very much still in effect. Of course, as is par for the course in the bible, it is contradicted in Romans 6 by Paul. But as the first two quotes come from Jesus, i.e. "God", and Romans was written by Paul, I'd say that "God's" words take precedence.
Oh you should make a shirt that says that just like they have their shirts with the gun that’s says come and take it.
"Let's remove the fundamental Rights of an entire group to marginalize and as a way to further alienate and victimize whoever we want. This is not remotely controversial, nor extreme" How are these stains not ostracized into obscurity?
Does that homophobe wanna get in a girl fight with me? I’ll make him cry like his mama told him,”No”!
Got your back Uncle George
The fact that it’s been viewed 1.7 million times is reason enough to never go back to X.
Its just a dishonest politician looking for clicks. He knows its controversial you'd have to be a complete moron to not at least think its controversial to say reverse gay marriage. He wants the outrage machine going so he can claim leftists are mad at him and make money. Better to ignore him.
Especially when nowadays almost everybody has a gay person in their family, who cares other than religious radicals??
I mean the GOP still wouldnt let the Log Cabin Republicans onto the floor in Texas. (They're a group of gay Republicans, if you aren't aware.)
Aww... the leopards ate their faces, eh? Thoughts and prayers to them.
Agree. This is just noise.
Agree. But throwing hate against the wall to see what sticks is dangerous. Then all the sudden abortion rights are overturned and it’s illegal to teach black history.
WE GOT YOUR BACK.
Sounds like something a bot would say. How is it not a controversial opinion? I think the majority of us support gay marriage. What an ass.
Oh oh Joshy you racist, hateful, bigoted. Better go back to church and brush-up on the bible. Starting with Mathew 7:1-2. Because you messing with the wrong person.
With all world problems this shouldn’t even register as important, maybe it’s only important because dealing with real issues is beyond their comprehension
... because dealing with the "issue" is a distraction from all the world's problems.
Battlefield Earth is a great movie! This is not remotely controversial, or extreme.
A wonderland of dutch angles.
I could only stomach one full viewing, but whoah did that stand out. It felt like a high school kid was filming and he/she just learned how to change the angle.
Shame on that so called representative. He needs to study his religion and ethics more.
No, it's not "controversial." It's just plain wrong. Nothing controversial about that!
This is why I demand Joe Biden use his absolute immunity declare the election invalid and martial law for the MagaQ response his oath the reason for his official act...the incoming administration is going to criminalize any and all opposition to their Christo Facist tyranny...
Why don’t these ass wholes pay attention to the people. 80% of Americas support marriage equality! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
For the party preaching less government, they sure are preaching to add more. The government has no business in the relationships of consenting adults no matter the orientation or number.
He must live in a hole.
Dude has the tone of someone with A LOT of trans porn in their PH history.
Definitely accurate lol
For a guy that doesn’t have any kids he sure spends a lot of time with kids. Just sayin’.
Hmm….
Both extreme and controversial. Just leave good people alone to be good to others
Why are people so involved in other people's choices? Are they unable to have the sun shine on all of us?
Love it!!
Completely awesome sentiment, I can identify.
They'll have to come through a lot of us!
Make fascists afraid again. They've clearly gone too long without being screamed at in Klingon as they get tossed through a wall.
So much hate!!!
From our cold dead hands sis! ✊️
Allow me to retort, it is both controversial and extreme.
I had to look him up back on the "other site" as I couldn't believe this was legit (never doubt George Takei!). Anyway, it IS real! My God, I could go on and on but simply.....what harm to him do 2 same gender people loving each other create? #resist
So many red voters have told me that there's no way they'd get rid of Oberfefell. Young red voters. The kind who don't read and think gay marriage is a clear right. It's pretty depressing that they're so blind.
They say that to excuse their bigotry. They voted for this- but want you to think it was the economy
^^^^ this. It's always been about bigotry. Make America Great Again is a KKK thing from Civil Rights era.
I try to hesitate before accusing individuals of bigotry, but so many seem so determined to prove themselves bigots.
Me too but you can only ignore it for so long. I grew up in a rural (now heavy MAGA) area. I've always given those people the benefit of the doubt because they generally aren't hateful
At same time, I experienced the "replacement theory" nonsense as a child in the 90s from friends and their parents anecdotally. I moved away for college and realized how racist it actually is. They truly aren't outwardly hateful people but definitely view non-whites as inferior on some level
How is viewing " non-whites as inferior" not hateful?
I guess what I mean is they aren't actively speaking hate-filled rhetoric publicly (or privately for that matter), many have non-white friends, etc. but you can detect the "white" identity when interacting with them.
For example, when we were in high school (30 yrs ago) there was skinhead vs blacks conflict and they were all on the side of the blacks but you still detected a sense of superiority
Were they the same folks who just knew repubs wouldn’t get rid of roe b4 they actually went & did it?
I think, if anything, they're even more blind than those people. One might even suggest they're willfully so.
Yes Josh, neither remotely controversial nor extreme (in 1824)
Notice how they start with the most current thing? Gay marriage should be illegal, interracial marriage was also illegal until 1967 and they used the exact same rhetoric but of course, this is different and doesn't compare to that!
George -- last minute script change: "Over my cold, dead, phaser!"
It's extremely controversial and extreme
My money is on you George!
I will gladly help hold the line.
To all of the Trump supporting gays, who said that the liberal gays were in hysteria, do they have any comments after a Republican House member has said the quiet part out loud?
I spent time with a gay MAGA married couple. I must say I was shocked at the misogyny, lack of awareness, and their position on immigration. Shocked. They are wealthy white men 🙄
its pathological
There are many MAGA pushing back on Josh Schriver. Take a look on X...Shriver is getting hammered. Josh is a religious zealot, and he is being called out by both sides.
First they came for.... (and if I have to complete the damn poem all is lost anyway)
First they came for the transgenders, and then they found out some of us are CPL holding veterans and they said "oh, wait..."
The 1st and 9th Amendment cover the rights to be free from having religious precepts shoved down our throats, or yanking away rights we've already retained. The 4th is supposed to keep us secure in our persons and papers. I know the rest of that poem. I'm scared to death. I'm also in Maine.
First they came for the trans kids, and we had to remind them that Pride was originally a riot.
First they came for the transsexuals, and they had help from the homosexuals.. we're gonna write a new poem over this.
"First they came for the homosexuals, and the mental asylum patients, and the Roma, all of whom I considered vermin, so I threw them under the bus, and I didn't even mention them in my poem afterwards. No regrets!" - Martin Niemoeller
Not this old queen... If a person doesn't support ALL of the community, they support none of the community and I will fight like hell for my trans-people. I'm old and have no time for games, trans people are people and deserve respect and dignity--- end of discussion.
But wait, there's more! Then they came for the migrants, w/help from naturalized citizens. Then they came for women who wanted equality, w/help from women who loved their gilded cages. Then they came for the unions, w/ help from union leaders. The level of betrayal is obscene.
These people have no idea what they have unleashed with their stupidity and willful blindness in having put Adolf trump back into a position to destroy America from within. I shoulda listened... be careful what you ask and I had to ask how the German people fell to Hitler... well....
My trust in everyone around me has been shattered. Who voted for 🍊 secretly? 60% of people who look like me went for him, i can't trust my culture!
That really is the frightening piece of the election -- knowing that something like one in every two people you meet are okay with a wannabe fascist in the White House.
Sorta... I live in a ruby red rural area. They are still all about 45. They have no idea what fascism is. They are not gonna get it until it hits home.
And the percentage is higher where I live. 😩
90 million out of 245 million didn’t vote. That’s 36% of the eligible voters. He received just under 77 million out of 245 million votes, which is only 31%. Still bad, but about 168 million (69%) which is a little over 2/3 did not vote for him.
I feel like Charlize Theron in Devil's Advocate when she starts seeing the people around her for the demons they are.
Every American white male is suspect to me until it is crystal who they voted for.
My partner is in that same thought process. Mind blown over how many are willing to throw their own fellows under the bus as if it would keep themselves out of trouble. So blatantly too >.< but doesn’t stop even legal citizens from being caught in the mess.
This! 8yr old me was traumatized when I learned about WW2 knowing I was German. My grandparents who were German had to help explain most Germans were against Adolf and that he was a charismatic voice of change who turned a minority into the grip of the country. Dejavu has me freaking out again.
The Nazis went after trans people then gay people just like this.
"And when they came for me..."
Log Cabin republicans aka "Trees for Chainsaws" folks
They thought it wouldn’t apply to them. Or if they voted for the felon tyrant that they wouldn’t make it onto the enemies list.
They won't have any comments until someone comes knocking on their damn door.
Many CIS people have gays backs, for sure!
Hm… Yeah them’s fighting words
What a clown he is George.
And anyone who tries to take your wedding ring will find a solid wall of us defending your right to wear it. #LoveIsLove
Mr. takei anyone can see all the time that you're very brave man but at least keep in mind that they're perfectly capable of doing that and worse. Americans can't quite accept the horrors that are coming, it's comprehensible, but from the outside we can imagine how bad it might turn out.
This is a guy who was in a Japanese internment camp as a child during WWII so I would say he understands much better than most.
he's very well liked on reddit where I used to hang out. Why he was the first person I followed here
I knew.
Then it seems rather patronizing to me to tell him that he doesn’t see what’s coming, what can be done because it already HAS been done and he was there for it.
cool something online seemed something to someone. Just mute or block me and quell your internal furies. Am I the only one of the two of us who knows what you desire from this?
Never heard of this "Rev" but he's apparently learned that saying horrific shit sells and he needs some attention.
Gay marriage has been legal but now this nutjob wants to outlaw it. Makes perfect sense to me. I have no doubt FOTUS (felon of the United States) would be in favor.
We will not let them roll back marriages!
And I will stand beside you in that fight!
Why aren’t these bigots’ Grindr accounts being leaked?
Linsey Graham "Cracker"'s Grindr account, I hope. And still want those peepee tapes released, too.
"Let's tear apart thousands of American families. It's not even the least bit controversial."
Is Schriver anyone of importance? The suggestion of the illegalization of gay marriage is outrageous and controversial.
He's a State Rep in MI, so not really important. However having ANYONE in government that has this mindset is dangerous. That means he has support.
😮💨 I get it... I live in Arkansas. Living in a state that voted red feels like trying to herd squirrels sometimes.🤦♀️ Someone holler at MI & tell 'em to come get their boy before someone calls pest control. 😒😩
I agree, my gay children feel the same way💙💙💙👍
Such weak weak people to be so perturbed by someone else's business. Enjoy the ring George, and thanks for everything!!!
Joshie is going to be pretty mad if Pete B. runs for Governor of Michigan.
Ooh is that happening? Pete B is my favorite. Just burns anyone on any topic.
So far, just a rumor, but you never know.
We want Pete B and his family up here in Canada. This country would vote for him for PM.
Governor Whitmer is term limited, with her 2nd term ending in 2026. It would be awesome if he ran.
I stand with you, Uncle George.
He is telling the public that he is a little man who is likely profoundly miserable. He is big mad because he was removed from committee assignments for being a jerk.
He is not remotely reasonable, nor relevant
I support equal rights for gay, trans, poc, black, disabled, native, elderly, and women.
May I ask you what 'poc' refers to ?
Person of color! Sorry I remember now :-)
Why would someone who doesn't believe in obeying the law, ie Trump, think that any "laws" he tries to pass will be obeyed?
Hope you live in a stand your ground state! He deserves some serious comeuppance for his hatefulness and stupidity.
Not remotely controversial? Get all the F’ck out of today to next week with that. Why does this matter to them who marries who? Live your life and leave everyone be. George we will all defend your license with you.
they use the bible to justify their bigotry. "its not MY opinion! GOD said so! and we cant disobey GOD!!!"
Well did God say that? So the greek is pretty clear that the objection is not consenting adult relationships, but men and boys being subjected to power dynamics that are closer to rape/pedophilia. Jesus says nothing on the matter.
@georgetakei.bsky.social they would have to get through me and thousands of others first before you’d have to worry about it.
I would prefer to make all perpetual weddings illegal. Should have a end of life date attached. 10 years/20 years. You choose.
Why does anyone care about who another person loves? The GOP want to invade your privacy and dictate how you live and who you love What books you can read and what healthcare you are allowed to have…Vaccines What your children learn in school and force their religious beliefs down your throat
It’s so strange. Didn’t republicans used to be live free or die types? Now republicans are little tyrants nosing into every minor detail of our lives. They must be miserable.
They've been miserable for the last 60 years.
Yes but they once cared about democracy, treason.
They are a toxic, mentally ill bunch.
The GOP hypocrisy of Justice Thomas. Get rid of: Abortion; Gay Marriage; Who(m) can vote; But he stopped at Loving Vs The State of Virginia. Allowing interracial marriage. Wonder why ?
My thoughts exactly. He’s a corrupt hypocrite who should resign in shame. Except he’s not capable of shame as it requires one to have a conscience.
Virginia thoma’s text messages to White House chief of staff Mark meadows. Sound like treason.
And Obergefell was decided on the exact same basis as Loving. Looking forward to that legal pretzel.
You know that wouldn't even come up.
Yeah probably not. This is the worst timeline.
👍
They would have to come thru me !
Maybe we should try to make bigotry shameful again. I’m for shunning. Removing people from polite society. Mocking.
It IS shameful!!!!!
This infuriates me so effing much! These people do NOT get to define marriage for everyone based on THEIR religious beliefs. Marriage as a secular institution predates the Bible anyway. And of course, not everyone is Christian.
these ppl don't have religious beliefs. they just pretend to & make things up. AND..
Hell not even most "Christians" are Christian.... But what can you expect of a Cult based on a work of fiction? Oh, yeah..MORMONS.
Homophobia isn't isolated to Christianity either. Pretty much only Buddhism leaves them alone. It's ppl. It's always ppl:/ (Btw- Jesus said leave them alone- friends on WHO you talk to whether they'll listen to him;)
(Depends on who)✌️😂
Well said!
You're right & they keep recycling the same arguments over & over. "Sanctity of marriage" & all that. I want to ask them & others, like Newt Gingrich, "Which marriage? Your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd? Which one was the sacred one?" Because according to their own book, they're living in adultery.
They’re claiming marriage is a religious invention intended only for a man and a woman. They’re either ignoring the existence of civil marriage, or they want to ban that as well (which wouldn’t surprise me).
📌
I'm SO tried of Christianity thinking its special and trying to force the world to play by its "rules". Your God isn't special, he's an amalgamated ripoff of every other religion before it. Your religion isn't love when it tells you to kill people for who they are.
He's an absentee landlord!
Christianity is a front for organized crime. Every day, I see another priest or church official being arrested for child sex crimes. Then the church wants to come out and say they'll do an internal investigation. Maybe they should concentrate on that problem instead of attacking innocent people.
Being a religious tax exempt organization means never having to say you're sorry, because there's absolutely no accountability for what's done with donor money.
If these multimillion dollar facilities want to impose Bibles upon children in school which are paid by tax dollars then they should pay tax dollars.
That kind of sentiment is just 💔 . Why are people so hurtful?
I’m with ya George! They can try to pry mine off as well!!
Come through Josh, the water’s fine.
Well, guess he got his 5 seconds of fame. How’d he get elected ??
Rediculous!
I stand with you!! These nut jobs need to go away
The more vocal they are - the bigger their self loathing is for their queerness.
the adulterers and the ones who have kids out of wedlock are going to try and be the moral police? remind us about what the bible says to do to adulterers? who got a brick handy? girl please.
Just say no to Christian nationalism and nationalist.
Stay safe, George. This is going to get so ugly.
That's a promise from all LGBTQ+ people. We *WILL* make it messy for them.
Exactly. It may get ugly, but we don't have to let it be easy.
Not just the LGBTQ+, I assure you, there is a veritable army of us that fall nowhere on that spectrum that will go off the fucking rails. Nobody goes after my friends or families happiness without recompense, I will make it my life's mission to make their lives a living hell.
I agree. I'm retired and rely solely on Medicare for healthcare. It too is on the chopping block. And I have a happily married gay son. They just bought a home together. They want a fight, I'm all in. This is not my first rodeo.
This is what the Second Amendment is intended for.
Would Mr Takei, WHOOP YO ASS?!?!?!?!?!?
u tell em.
Not sure how deep in a bubble this Schriver guy is to think that’s not controversial. Lol
🌈🌈Not going back.🧡🧡
No one has the right to take away your rights to love. America needs to rise up and fight for love and equality for all.
I’ve got your back sir 🩵
Make bigotry illegal.
Did someone spurn him?
$5 says he’s got a Grindr account
Yep.
Dtumps picks our all castered sheep they fallow him around like little 🐈🐈 they not man enough to stand up for the mothers wife's daughters or granddaughters. They can't stand anyone to be happy because they're all so miserable. My Son and nieces have the love of there lives and I'm happy for them.
The thing I don’t understand is : why the fuck is it anyone’s business who marries who??? I’m straight and married to a woman. So why should I care if the gay couple next door gets married? Good for them. It doesn’t change anything about my life. Leave people alone for fucks sake…
They're upset because they don't have the balls to be who they are outside of a closet so people who are out and proud shame them.
The way I see it is I don’t want nobody in my bedroom. Why the hell would I want to be in somebody else’s?!
Imo there are two reasons why someone wouldn't want gay marriage to be accessible 1. Ignorance or 2. Religion. Often hand in hand. Christianity believes that that sex is between a man and a women because baby making. Thats a women's role to them. Children.
Agreed. And what really bugs me is religion says homosexuality is an abomination against nature blah blah All that crap. But then I look at documentaries that show gay penguins adopting an extra egg. That’s nature right there!
Right, there are so many examples of platonic and lustful relationships that are between the same sex in nature. Dolphins, lions, otters. As you say penguins being a more platonic version. Homosexuality IS the normal. I believe thats it's the true default.
Don’t know about Default. But it’s at least a valid option. Not an abomination. I look at it this way. I’m autistic. I didn’t ask for it. It isn’t a choice. It’s not a trauma response. It’s just who I am. Being gay is the same thing.
My bro said that he thinks people don't know how to date anymore. It's because hes evangelical and believes marriage is for children. He's never so much as held a womens hand. He's been told a very set in stone definition to life. So hes homophobic because to him thats normal.
If that’s the case he could well be gay himself.
Ehhhhh not likely. More like he’s just been programmed with the overly religious doctrine so he actually believes he has to be homophobic to be a good Christian. Pretty common. There a reason why the church is desperate to get people started while they’re young and impressionable.
Agreed. But the teaching can suppress things, I speak from experience.
Main reason is that the average person looks at things and asks "does this hurt anyone?" These people look at the same thing and ask "is it in line with my morals?" And if it's not, they deem it as disgusting. But It doesn't affect their chance for heaven so it still begs the question why care?
💕true
Bcuz conservatives can’t mind their business… they can’t accept that the world is full of freedoms and people can do whatever they want
Winterborn: I agree with you on how things SHOULD be. That said, if you have no clue why it matters so much to them, then... have you considered researching the topic? I mean, your question is kinda like asking why ice floats on water. It's been studied, and the answers are known.
Nah I fully understand the issue. What bugs me is why people are so narrow-minded about it. I’ve tried playing devils advocate about why gays shouldn’t be allowed to get married, and I just can’t do it. There’s no valid reason except for religious views (which has no place in law-making).
Meh on that last. 1A prohibits imposing a State religion. That said, my church has fought for marriage equality on religious values grounds, in a coalition which includes priests, ministers and rabbis. Imams are welcome to the coalition, if any imams are ready to bless same-sex marriages.
and if you want to keep MLK's religious values out of civil rights legislation efforts, then only way to stop him is... okay, too soon, but Civil Rights movement would not have gone far without mobilizing the religious view that injustice is bad.
Yeah it’s still a little too soon.
My sentiments exactly... sadly, the world is full of nasty, evil, rotten shitbags... You know, MAGATs of the RNP(REPUBLICAN NAZI PARTY).
Nailed it 👍
Never understood either. Adults doing adult things with other consenting adults shouldn't be a thing.
Because all MAGA care about are hurting people who can't fight back. They've taken being a bully, and made it a political identity; complete with the living embodiment of the concept as their avatar.
Wow. I’ve never heard it put so…perfectly. Fortunately for me, I enjoy crushing bullies.
I've been going after bullies for 60 years. Got a reputation for protecting the SpecEd kids (my brother was disabled) and anyone else who needed help. Guess I won't stop now.
Because then they get the same rights as you and I. Healthcare for their spouse, SS etc...
This.
This!! Someone else’s freedom to marry has nothing to do with your marriage!
They don't like gay people so they don't want gay people to be happy. That's the long and short of it.
Ditto.
Exactly! I never understood why anyone cares.
As a Christian, I want gays to be able to marry. Also to get all the rights marraige entails, particularly where children, inheritance, and healthcare are involved. If I am to believe marraige is the good it is claimed to be, then it must extend to all.
Bravo. o7
👏
In a free country that's how everyone should see it.
I totally agree. everyone has a right to be happy. Who my neighbor loves has no bearing on who I love.
Mind your own business is a powerful concept.
Exactly. It has literally nothing to do with them so why do they fucking care?
Thank you!
100 % !! My late mom at 94 always said if someone isn't bothering you why bother them. Leave people alone
Because gay couples tend to be financially secure and socially progressive. If they're kept busy fighting for their own rights, then it's harder for them to lobby for other social improvements
Fascists are in charge, and they require subordination.
I consider myself to be a Christian, and I have absolutely no problem with gay marriage. I want people to be happy,helpful to others, and honest about themselves.
That means you’re doing the religion thing correctly. It’s supposed to be about Self-improvement. Not oppression.
Fascists need an Enemy™ to stoke hatred around. If these vile fuckstains got their evil wish and every queer person disappeared into a puff of smoke tomorrow, they'd pick someone new to direct their hate towards. The cruelty is the point.
Oh!! There’s a comedy bit from Chris Titus that covers this. *searches youtube* Here ya go. youtu.be/WI_Ki-7aj_U?...
Fucking brilliant! Reminds me of Carlin.
Sadly yes. Right now it's "Immigrants" and "the gays/trans" tomorrow it will be some other group
The Bible never mentions or condemns the concept we call same-sex marriage. Although opponents of same-sex marriage claim that lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender unions violate biblical principles, no verses in the Bible explicitly address gay marriage or committed same-sex relationships.
Come on the Bible is ridiculous but if it admonishes gay sex and it does then obviously gay marriage is forbidden unless you mean a non sexual partnership with Zero physicality
I don’t claim to be an expert but I listen to one @johnfugelsang.bsky.social Also, some Googling shows me that what I wrote is correct.
I do not care what the Bible has to say on this subject. Nor do I care what any religious text has to say. The US is supposed to be a secular country. Follow whatever religion brings you* peace but stop using religion as a cudgel to hammar others into compliance *General you, not Dwandd
Doesn’t it make you sick when they put Bibles in schools? A 7 yr old can understand the Constitution better than these people.
The original text also never mentions gay people at all. It was changed to suit a narrative.
As it has been over the centuries...by men with agendas.
I hear that.
We gave come too far to go backward. Love is love. I don't care who you love, I care more about character and morals
Marriage is a matter of religion. The State should not be involved. If your religion will not allow gay marriage, create a new one that does. The state should sanction civil unions between any two consenting adults. There is a public interest in civil unions because 2 heads are better than 1.
Is the state shouldn't be involved in marriage then I guess we need to fix tax and inheritance laws among other things. Try thinking a bit more on these topics before posting. Thanks
Easy fix: just change references to “spouse” in these laws to “domestic partner” while granting domestic partner status to everyone who is already married. A basic “search and replace.” Lots of laws are going to be reconsidered soon in any event. That’s what happens when an election flips power.
It doesn't matter what the wording becomes, you'll still be alone 👍
Sumbitch gonna have to go through me, and a WHOLE lotta other folks! ✊🏽
I was dreading this. 🙁
Not into gay marriage? Then marry cis. Projecting YOUR exclusionary, extreme ideology onto others with the cruel goal of destroying lives & stripping away rights from people who have just as much right to marry in this country as you, is the most extreme form bigotry and we denounce it. Full stop.
Cis is the opposite of trans. The opposite of gay (homosexual) is hetero.
Considering it’s a spectrum, there isn’t a true opposite. Just let everyone do their thing and don’t mess with someone else’s happiness. The guiding rule should be “if no one is hurt, don’t mess with it.”
We need to raise up a drag queen army that fights dirty...just in case.
Find out if there's a Pink Pistols group near you!
Ooo... I'm intrigued
Hah yes. Regarding the wording, I just meant that the words “cis” and “trans” come from Latin and mean “this side of” and “the other side of” respectively. Lexically “cis” and “trans” are opposites but cis and trans people are not opposites. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cis%E2%...
Thank you for the explanation.
I got your back Mr. T
Thinking someone else will.be looking for some type of ring soon....
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Ya, that would cause a big fight. Ugh.
So many bi-curious men hiding behind their church. That's todays Republican party.
So many gay and bi-curious men hiding IN their church. That's today's, and yesterday's, and tomorrow's religious institutions.
We have your back.
republican jesus sez:
😑
I don't get why this is such a big deal for some people. How does it benefit the country to make an issue of who gets married? What benefits are there for fighting about which bathroom a person uses? What harm does it do to anyone if someone wants to dress differently? It's just stupid.
LOL
It also justifies their very limited choices. It reinforces the BS. If people see other people doing whatever. The church loses control. I’m not convinced the leaders actually believe this shit.. I believe they see it as a way to limit choices therefore limit control.
Of course they feel justified, because they are simply so frightened of not being able to tell people what to do, to say, and to believe without being questioned. And of course they don't really believe what they're spewing, but they get the gullible to support them when they say it.
The church primarily objects because it causes their member to “sin”. I.E. people disagree with their bullshit and if there is an alternative they will go with that. If no alternative then they are stuck with the churches bullshit.. decoded “causing people to sin”
Cruelty. Cruelty is the point. Republicans are incredibly cruel people.
Loud ignorant people denying a civil right to a certain demographic on the basis of an arbitrarily simple difference. Now where have seen that before
Which is totally irony because they are the first to bleat about how they are discriminated against b/c people hate their ideas and tell them to fuck off. They are the least discriminated against …
Often the most hateful are the loudest, but smaller demographic, bully them into shutting the fuck up
I think it's to deny family benefits like Healthcare and pension
It is to enforce their way of life on others. By holding the power of what is "good" and what is "evil" they control choices for others and the narru. People make a lot of money by controlling the narrative. Also, there are those who just hate themselves
There is that to take into consideration. This constant effort to malign others as "ungodly" plays right into the fake "prosperity gospel" that has pushed some so called Christian leaders into immense wealth and political status.
A ridiculous percentage of these gay bashers are closet gays, and just trying to outshout that. Which is very sad as well as very scary.
It's been a big thing since Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn. Cohn of course was gay and flitted around Europe with his boyfriend doing "research" on the "Red Scare". Reagan sent him to a military research hospital for treatment of Aids but had them fake forms saying he died of liver failure.
🎯
Plus good old fashioned homophobia and bigotry.
Exactly this, they want to pocket the money for their own. That’s what dictatorships do….look at the very sad state of 🇷🇺 The Americans that voted for chaos should be sent to 🇷🇺 and see how they like it, then come back and tell us how your really feel, but we did know this and try to warn.
So they claim how it’s not what god intended- to appeal to their base. Like they never even read the Bible…
I grew up in that evangelical culture. We were taught that God would punish the whole country if we allowed gay people to live openly and happily. We saw gay marriage as a literal threat to our well-being.
Mama bears will be there to assist!!
I am reminded of a very dashing young man with a sword and no shirt, for some reason.
I had to scroll WAY too far for this thought.
All for one and one for all ;)
The threat is real, and goes beyond gay marriage. Griswold = the right to birth control Lawrence = the right to be gay at all Obergefell = right to gay marriage This is from Justice Thomas's concurrence in Dobbs eliminating the right to abortion.
Yup. He’s got a focus in this argument that is quite…specific. It all says “bye, bye right to privacy.”
Conservative Christian men are gonna get real mad after they ban birth control and then their wives won't sleep with them anymore because they don't want any more kids... 🤷🏽♀️
Thomas even wants to “revisit” the Loving decision even though he is in an interracial marriage. He is so weird.
Thomas has not directly suggested revisiting Loving. However, the substantive due process doctrine he is so critical of is part of the basis to Loving. However, another part was equal protection, and he could defend Loving on that basis.
Agreed, though they’ll argue (disingenuously) that equal protection is not violated as people of different colors are fully free to marry after their own kind and those marriages would be respected. They’ll argue something along those lines when they overturn Obergefell.
That is indeed one of the arguments Virginia advanced when defending its criminal conviction of the Lovings for being married to each other. medium.com/@keithdb/sub...
And now we probably have SCOTUS justices that will entertain those arguments.
You might find this interesting too. keithdb.medium.com/passing-the-...
Thanks @keithdb.bsky.social I’ll read this one too.
This is about CONTROL
No. It is the conservative interpretation of the essence of freedom: you are free to do anything that I consider acceptable. Otherwise you will be punished.
Until they the courts bring back separate but equal🤦♀️
It should be noted that substantive due process Thomas is so critical of was part of the basis for the Loving v. Virginia decision that protects Thomas's interracial marriage.
I wonder how he feels being married to the mob.
Why do they obsess over this? They're incessant.
Are you kidding with that photo Josh? You are the gayest looking man in Congress!
Actually Josh is not in Congress, just the Michigan legislature…
Don't worry. I'll expose him. Undercover gay to the rescue.
Got your back!
I'll stand right next to you, George. Over our cold dead bodies will they rescind this right.
But the price of eggs! Eggs! There is a significant apathetic or frustrated number of voters in the US right now and they're not thinking of their community, just themselves.
Only until THEIR personal rights are attacked. This is why we are clawing back abortion rights. Note that one of Trump's appointees is a married gay man (Scott Bessent). Most of this will be decided at the state level, over time, they will be (again) enshrined federally.
And thus the NWRA was born
That's what women thought about Roe.
And slowly, we are clearing that back.
😞
That must be why THE MAJORITY of suburban white women went for Pussy Ass Bitch, mustn't it? LMAO!
I attribute that to something closely resembling Stockholm syndrome.
I attribute that to self-hatred, misogyny directed inward, sexism, racism, and of course misogynoir.
I attribute it to brainwashing religion that props up the patriarchy
Aka Stepford Syndrome
Yes. We are with you.
Way too many likes on that post. Former bird app is most definitely the bad place.
Bloody Republicans! The extreme bigotry running rampant is appalling. Honestly, what century are we supposed to be living in. Trump kept banging on about taking America back to the 1800s. Who’d have thought he was serious. From here in the UK, George, you and every sane American are in my thoughts.
Imagine living in a world that is facing so much division, hate, and even wars, and choosing to place your energy against letting some people love who they love. Less hate, more love!
Good for you. Morons are morons.
Sent an email
I’d stand in front of you for that one, George. Seriously. Tell me where to be. Schriver and his myrmidons would have to get through me first. Otherwise, my own wedding ring and the promises I made to my wife are worthless.
He would love to get some guys ring. Needs to just be himself.
They are disgusting! Freakin' bigots!!
OKAYYY GEORGE! 🖤
If they take yours, I'm throwing mine at them.
They will have to go through me first. Rights, once given, should be irrevocable.
Well it’s “not remotely controversial” in the sense that he’s wrong. Actually most people support gay marriage.
Yes, and the majority supports a woman’s reproductive rights as well. Unfortunately the minority is making the rules.
Rrrrrr I’m gunna give him some
Let us do what's always done. Let's roll the abhorrent, wholly unnecessary, and antithetical-to-humanity proposed National Prohibition of Gay Marriage Act into a bill that would also simultaneously remove tax-exempt status from every Major Religion in the United States. That would end that, I think.
See my pinned tweet
Interesting. I'd rather just pull it all at once.
"More than two in three Americans continue to believe that marriage between same-sex couples should be legal (69%), and nearly as many say gay or lesbian relations are morally acceptable (64%)" news.gallup.com/poll/646202/...
These fascists don’t care about popular opinion, that would imply they believe in democracy.
That's a nice amount of popular support for same-sex marriage. (Someone had to say it)
69%? Nice! - I staffed a lobby day in the California state capital years ago, when domestic partnership was the most we hoped for. No matter the setbacks, the USA has come a long way. No regrets.
75% of Americans think access to abortion should be legal and 93% want some form of common sense gun control. That doesn’t stop congress from being derelict in their duties as elected representatives.
A majority of people supported Roe v Wade when they overturned it. Didn't stop them.
100% of Americans have no right and no moral standing to sit in judgement of anyone’s sexuality.
This is obviously terrible, but what’s up with that 5% differential between the respondents that said “gay marriage should be legal”, & “gay unions are morally sound”? 😂 “Yes, they’re obviously going STRAIGHT to hell, but awww, I still want to go to a golden gay wedding anniversaryyyy, come onn 🥹”
And even "Republican support has reached the majority level twice, with 55% readings in 2021 and 2022". There's one thing he's right about, just not in the way he wants it to be: This is not at all controversial, nowadays.
Apparently, this so-called representative did not do his research. And his education profile says he graduated with a Bachelor's degree at MSU. This guy sounds like he has the education level of Lauren Boebert (She has a GED) or Madison Cawthorn (a college dropout at a lower tier college).
College graduates are supposed to know how to do research to backup their statements. And they are supposed to have good logical and critical thinking skills to backup their statements. This guy has the critical and logical thinking and research skills of an elementary school student.
And, most importantly, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks. You don’t put people’s human rights up to a popular vote.
Maybe we should make adultery illegal again too? I mean it's in the Bible and everything.
Imprison every representative who has been divorced and remarried while the ex was still alive.
Getting divorced is ok though.
Also, pedophilia. We should give the death penalty to all those diddy pastors and billionaires.
Oooo, & lying!! I seem to remember something about that in there...
Stone the president?
Pork is forbidden in the Bible. Contrary to what Fox News says, public school kindergartners in California are not getting tape job lessons from drag queens. Pork is ubiquitous in school lunchrooms all over the US. If we really care about the Bible, we’d get the pork out of the lunchroom.
Fair enough, I just felt that stoning adulterers to death would actually solve a number of your immediate problems. Ivanka would be keen I'm sure.
a good case against trump and many other republicans
Hahaha. Along with incest.
Who would republican politicians have sex with then?
I'm sure they'd find a way, trust me on this.
Oh wait, it is isn’t it?
"Let's perform human sacrifices again. This is remotely not controvetsial, nit extreme". The gall on these guys.
This is all those politicians that represent armpit/dogshit districts have to do. They don’t have to improve their lives or pass bills that are good for the country. Just give the racist pieces of shit they represent this culture war bullshit. They live for it. Kick rocks.
YOU GOT IT.
He's right. It is not controversial, the majority of Americans support same sex marriage. Most people don't care who you marry. Sane people, at least. This obsession with genitalia is just beyond me.
He would have to get through all of us first as we set up a barricade around you ❤️
Even though I *know* a lot of people would absolutely do this for us, it means a helluva lot to actually hear the words 🩷🩷🩷 We need all of our allies (internationally) to be very clear and *very* loud in their support right now. So this comment is *greatly* appreciated 🩷❤️
By your side milady!
This is what I came to say.
You can have mine if needed George
Why are they so scared of those who are different from themselves?
Mommy won’t think I get on my knees for men if I publicly fight against it.
I can understand why some people hate the idea that it's self-hate and reoression, but there are websites listing enough "scandals" with them being caught doing the things they denounce in public often enough that it's hard not to put that in the top 3 reasons.
Control. Of others. Makes them feel they are powerful & in control of their own lives
They fear being gay themselves!
Different? Well I suppose not adding to overpopulation is a thing
Without hate and fear of "other", they literally have no personality.
They aren't different though. They are just like you, me, and everyone else.
I agree from the angle of acceptance and care. Absolutely.
They’ll cite The Bible… OUT OF CONTEXT, the. Turn around and break the majority of the other laws in Leviticus and the Ten Commandments! #hypocrites
I wish we could make people like him illegal
A large percentage of homophobes are in the closet