We Are Not Amused

[m31andy]

So, two dispicable pieces of bigotry are in the news today. First up, as you will all be aware, Jan Moir seems to be a poisonous homophobe.

I wouldn't bother clicking on that link though - try this one instead - it captures both the essence of Jan Moir's vile outpourings and also the dispicable mentality behind it in an amusing way (Link now with 100% less added Daily Hate Mail!!! - Thanks, capra_maritimus!)


Oh, and late yesterday the Daily Mail issued a press statement from Jan Moir stating

"In what is clearly a heavily orchestrated internet campaign I think it is mischievous in the extreme to suggest that my article has homophobic and bigoted undertones."

In case any of you are thinking that that might be a reasonable response, please remember:

Another real sadness about Gately's death is that it strikes another blow to the happy-ever-after myth of civil partnerships. Gay activists are always calling for tolerance and understanding about same-sex relationships, arguing that they are just the same as heterosexual marriages. Not everyone, they say, is like George Michael.

While she might think that the "myth" she is trying to dispell is that civil partnerships are more glamorous than straight marriage. Nope, she's rebutting "gay activists" claims that "they are just the same as heterosexual marriages".

Other Parodies / Comments
Newsarse Parody
Not So Wunderbar Parody
The Enemies of Reason Blog
Charlie Brooker on the Grauniad's Comment is Free
Ray Greenslade in the Guardian
News that M&S has asked for their ads to be pulled from the internet article
Liberal Conspiracy Blog
Penny Red, asks why homosexuality = unnatural, but violent hetrosexual marriage = natural.
Anorak News
Akela's Diary
Hagley Road To Ladywood
Caron's Musings

(Any more? Post them in the comments! Thanks to clanwilliam and burkesworks for the current list.)

Oh, and I've realised that Jan Moir is the snooty arse who wrote an article about shopping in Poundland a few months ago. This woman severely needs a career change. For all our sakes.

Secondly, and not so publicised, we have the news that a white US justice of the peace has been criticised for refusing to issue marriage licences to mixed-race couples.

Mr Bardwell, who has worked in the role for 34 years, said that in his experience most interracial marriages did not last very long and estimated that he had refused applications to four couples in the past two-and-a-half years.

He said he had "piles and piles of black friends" but just did not believe in "mixing the races".

Oh yes, that old chestnut. "I can't be racist - I've got lots of black friends". Right.

Oh, and

"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," he said "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."

Will somebody think of the childrun!!!!eleventyone!!!!

Sheesh. And here was I thinking this sort of thing was illegal in the States.

Comments

[irishkate.livejournal.com]

I believe it is illegal and suspect there will be a court case over this - at least the other Justices locally will perform the marriage but that guy should/will? loose his job. He can't claim it is against his religion even, (like the person in California, I think it was, regarding same sex marriage?) - not that I'm suggesting that is a valid excuse but it does get used as a defense and it isn't even appropriate here.

As for the other - some satisfaction in seeing the advertisers pull their ads from the online page.

[clanwilliam.livejournal.com]

Islington on the same sex marriage one. Shamefully, she won the first case - but lost on appeal.

[irishkate.livejournal.com]

gosh - wrong side of the world there - Islington, thanks. I knew she lost eventually - no real grounds not to, and this guy doesn't even have those.

the number of people I wanted to smack today...

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

It's not completely shameful, because there was a valid employment law point to be analysed, namely the extent to which an employer is allowed to change the terms of employment after a person has begun it. I do think Islington were in error not giving Ladele the option to change jobs more readily, simply on the basis of covering their own backs.

I'm very glad she lost the appeal, though, because I think/hope that's clarified the point about contractual alterations more clearly as well.

[tyrell.livejournal.com]

Love the Daily Quail link, superb :)

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Erm????????????? Fucking shit like this always leaves me feeling like a complete and utter moron as I cannot even begin to wrap my head around this sort of thinking. I mean I like to think I can at least understand most things even if I disagree with them violently but no...

I live in what was part of the Jim Crow South "officially" through the 60s, unofficially through the 70s and *most* people here wouldn't even look twice at a "mixed-race" couple, whatever the hell that term's supposed to mean... also, having spent time in Louisiana, one of my good friends went to university there, it gets even more bizarre as there are many people there with a mixed race heritage that they're very proud of going back for generations.

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

The mixed race thing completely baffles me. Bearing in mind the long and rich history of mixed race offspring in Louisiana and other Deep South states.

[kelemvor.livejournal.com]

Taking Mr Brooker's advice, I just went to visit the PCC's website to make a complaint.

OxyBox1.3.9a - [Fatal Error]:
unable to connect to database host

Details: Too many connections

Wonder if there's any mileage in a petition at No 10?

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

I do wonder if it's a bit of an extreme measure for a No. 10 petition. The PCC has now got a dedicated link up for complaints about this bit of trash. But, as they say, they've not really got a leg to stand on unless the family complain.

[burkesworks.livejournal.com]

Three more excellent ones you may have missed;

Akela's Diary

Hagley Road To Ladywood

Caron's Musings

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

I do wish HRTL hand't stuck her head on a pig's body. That's just insulting to pigs, which are quite lovely and would probably disapprove of Moir just as much if they had any idea of what she was going on about.

Still, Moir is the woman who thinks woman only like David Tennant because the Pill is messing up their hormones - that *was* her, wasn't it?

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

Ta, I'll put those in the main body of the post as well.

See you later!

[pionie.livejournal.com]

Words fail me! Thank you for gathering up all the links. The original douche bag's article had fortunately passed me by, but thank the gods for Charlie Brooker.

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! And yes, I do particularly like Charlie Brooker's comment.

[gaspodog.livejournal.com]

I've submitted my complaint to the PCC - they've had to set up a special link in the making a complaint section specifically for this article. I highly recommend other people do to. Take a quick scan of Clauses 1, 5 and 12 of their code of conduct and start from there.

Though the PCC and OfCom never uphold my complaints... Not that I make many. Just the odd one here and there, in deserving cases.

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting me know about the dedicated complaint section.

I know the PCC has made a formal statement to the gist of they can't do much unless the family complains. Which I do wonder about, considering some of the wording of the article, which could be a direct hit on any same sex couple considering partnership.

[capra-maritimus.livejournal.com]

here's a googledcos link to Jan's article to avoid giving the Daily Fail any hits:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AXd-3z-5eUeiZGdiejdicTdfOWNmNmo3NWNw&hl=en&pli=1

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

Many thanks for that! A fantastic idea. I'll sub that in the main post!

[rhiannonbw.livejournal.com]

Didn't you know heterosexual couples never have unexplained deaths? They also never indulge in sexual games with people from outside the relationship (or have games of cards with them), nor do they smoke spliffs or take recreational drugs. They also never, ever suddenly die prematurely from 'natural causes' (or should that be ' "natural causes" '?

What a shame this person won't lose her job.