Well ... I mean it usually sucks to be a member of an underrepresented population in general, but this week especially.

It seems as though the world was not as complicated and miserable enough of a place. Apparently things such as oil spills, wars, disease, and rising unemployment rates were not enough to keep the haters of the world occupied for a hot second. Instead the conservative underbelly of America - as well as other areas of the world - decided that they needed to deflect attention away from these issues because they're messy and tend to make voters not like you and instead focus on a time-honored classic; attack the minorities.

This game has existed for centuries; examine the full scope of human existence and you will find that in every time period and in most societies and civilizations a culture of "blaming the other/outsider" has existed in some capacity. I guess it is a way for individuals to feel better; to scapegoat an individual, group, or community makes those individuals feel superior. 

I guess I have been overwhelmed by the stories of hate circulating everywhere. Two days ago, a Catholic priest in the Dominican Republic wants a beautiful fresco removed because the angels depicted in the painting look too gay and diabolical(full article). SERIOUSLY!!!! I mean .... for centuries we have been starring at scantily clad angel figures with rippled muscles & voluptuous bosoms, luscious golden curls, perfect skin, and a fucking tiara/halo fitted on top of their head and you are just commenting NOW that they might look a little GAY. Similarly, if all of the angels of your faith - ya know the supposed army of God - looked like they might be gay, wouldn't you want to treat queer people with respect. Who knows, maybe God has got a things for gays.

There is currently new legislation in the Catholic Church that even if you are celibate you may be denied the priesthood if you are gay (full article). Saudi Arabia has implemented a new policy where they are banning the recruitment of gay and lesbian workers both from within the country and from outside the country as well (full article). French McDonalds unveils a new marketing campaign about coming as you are to McDonalds; an attempt to be more inclusive and appeal to a broader consumer pool. Bill O'Reilly then goes onto a political pundit talk show and effectively likens gay people to Al-Qaeda (full article and video).REALLY, REALLY?!?!?!?!?! I could totally see how my love for taking it up the ass from a guy named Chad is totally reminiscent and similar to Al-Qaeda.

[minor sidenote; I do not often wish bad things on people, something having to do with Karma, but I actively wish for Bill O'Reilly to come down with a case of incurable crabs that drive him insane].

Last but certainly not least, in Prescott, Arizona mural artists were asked to "lighten" the faces of the children depicted in the mural and demonstrate them being "bright" and "going toward the light". School administrators put forth that it was not racially motivated .... right (full article).

Once again the world is going to hell and a handbasket and the moral conservative majority of the world - instead of actually contributing and trying to help make the world a better place - is redirecting the focus of America. Instead of oil spills its those gays in the military, instead of rising unemployment rates its murals in Arizona, and instead of wars in countries that 80% of America probably could find on a map its women and their incessant need to have ownership and control over their own bodies. The conservative majority use sexism, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and more to divide our attention and make us turn on one another.

Some may say that these instances of hate are minor, non-violent, and nothing to get my drag queen panties in a bunch about. Sure, these events may have not resulted in the direct death of another individual, but potential impact that these situations have on peoples' lives and attitudes is indiscernible. All of these events prove that there are people out there who feel because you have a different skin color, body size, gender, sex, sexual orientation, or even religion that you are worthy of ridicule, humiliation, and discrimination. These hateful individuals are then supported by institutions, "research", and even God - supposedly - in their warped thinking. The ultimate effect is that there are individuals out there who believe that minorities are second class citizens and frankly it just disgusts me to even think about it.

So while although it is never exactly pleasant to be a minority or a member of an underrepresented population in today's society, this week has been especially ridiculous.