Recently, I had the pleasure of being fired from writing a popular psychological advice column in a publication for which I had been writing since 2010. The magazine primarily serves the gay-lesbian community in a small town. The publishers of the magazine are well aware of my political views, and for the first 7 years – before Donald Trump’s presidency – their magazine benefitted from my articles and advice about matters related to love, self-esteem, relationships and the like. The articles never addressed politics. Feedback was almost always positive, and I regularly received numerous emails from readers asking for advice, etc. Very little compensation was involved, and I donated most of that back to the 501(c)(3) parent organization.
The magazine’s editors pride themselves on “diversity”. They would occasionally receive complaints about my political views – NOT because those views were expressed in my columns, but because they were expressed elsewhere – on Facebook, in local or state newspapers, my own website or even on Rush Limbaugh’s radio show.
Apparently, their conveniently applied – or not applied – concept of “diversity” does not extend to political views about the role of government in the life of the individual. Either you go with the leftist party line, or you’re out. (And this from those who love to brand themselves as “liberal” and “progressive”. Ironic, isn’t it?)
What triggered these leftists was a column I wrote on my website that was published in a larger city newspaper here in the state. The topic of the article was the decision of Delaware’s governor to force parents to accept the gender preferences of their children. I argued that the state has no place in determining whether children – especially young children – are permitted to override their parents on matters such as whether they are transgender. I suggested that it’s ludicrous to assume that five year olds and eight year olds have any deep concept of a sexual issue applicable only to adults, and only a tiny minority of adults at that. I never questioned the choices or existence of transgender people, and in fact I have seen transgender patients in my practice. Apparently therapists are supposed to be from one point-of-view politically, and I’m an annoying reminder that not all of us are.
Interestingly, I wanted to quit writing for them when the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting occurred in 2016. Much to my horror and anger, this self-proclaimed gay/lesbian publication was completely silent on the subject, at least in regard to any criticism of Islam or Muslims. You’d think that when 50 gay people are murdered in cold blood by a sympathizer of Islam, the most brutal right-wing anti-gay movement in human history, that this would trigger front-page outrage in a gay publication. Nothing. Silence – other than a few nonspecific sentences expressing sadness over the deaths. And this from hypocrites who won’t hesitate to equate Donald Trump supporters with “hateful members of the religious right.” Imagine their reaction if a conservative or Christian-oriented group had shot up a gay nightclub. But against my better judgement I chose to stay with the magazine because many of the readers love my column and some are even friends.
This is yet another sad indicator of how the people preaching the loudest about openness, diversity, tolerance and the need for “all of us to get along” are really the most intolerant of all. These leftists are not fair and decent, despite their sanctimonious image of themselves as unquestionably so. So 50 young gay people lay dead as this gay (read: militantly left-wing) magazine turned away from them. I can say for sure that they would be surprised to learn how many rational, thinking gay people – within their own ranks, in fact – quietly voted for President Donald Trump in 2016.
The organization running this publication takes advantage of federal laws to promote itself as a nonprofit when in fact, it appears to function more as a private enterprise. While I would never question their right to hire or fire whom they please and to espouse or reject any views they wish, it’s a shame that our federal tax laws allow organizations to perhaps claim they’re something other than what they are. Tired, insincere clichés about “serving the community” are really code for enjoying one’s clique without having to pay taxes for it. No, none of it is illegal. But perhaps taxpayers (and donors) need to take a second look.
“Democracy dies in darkness” is a phrase peddled by the leftist Washington Post, a publication that these “social justice warriors” treat as their progressive scripture. Somebody needs to tell these leftists that their precious “diversity” dies in darkness, too. One shouldn’t tout tolerance if one is intolerant of differing views, particularly when those views arise simply from different philosophies of government.
Ironically, my political views support the absolute sovereignty of all individuals – gay, lesbian, transgender and anyone else – to live free of government force. The leftist craves almost unlimited government meddling in the lives, property, finances, education, health care and personal choices of people. They’re counting on leftists to always be in charge so the “authorities” will make the decisions they like. That’s why they are so threatened by opposing views. When one suggests that government get off the backs of people, out come the buzzwords – hater, racist, moron … you name it, and they shut you down. They don’t want liberty and justice for all; they simply want to rule.
This incident is a metaphor for the psychological equivalent of civil war going on in America. People have stopped talking to one another and showing any tolerance for dissension. I blame this primarily on the left. For eight painful years, non-leftists like myself – and the majority who elected President Trump – gritted our collective teeth during Obama’s disastrous administration. We passionately disagreed, but we tolerated. We didn’t dress up as genitals and “march,” we didn’t openly insult Obama’s family on Facebook, and we didn’t beat up Obama voters. These leftists’ behavior after their loss in the election reduces them to absurd spectacles and a sad reflection of our times.
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