The recent
development of the Josh Duggar sex scandal brings to light a serious culture of
hypocrisy within the extremist Christian community. The Duggar family has been
made out to be national heroes for their huge family and outspoken
anti-human rights activism.
Josh Duggar,
who is the eldest of nineteen children, resigned from his position at the
Family Research Council, an anti-gay hate group. While working for the
organization that claims that its mission is to “advance faith, family and
freedom in public policy and the culture from a Christian worldview,” Duggar
was often seen around the country giving speeches against marriage equality. In
fact, a simple Youtube search will show Duggar on the steps of the capital
building in Arkansas claiming that standing in opposition to same sex marriage
is, “the right thing to do” and “what God would want us to do.”
As difficult as
this video was to watch, I finished it and watched many others and found out
that Josh Duggar’s staunch opposition to civil rights is shared by his mother
and father as well. In fact, Michelle Duggar, being a reality tv show star
decided to enter into the political arena as well. During the election cycle of
2014, Michelle recorded robocalls opposing a civil right proposal put forth by
Alserman Matthew Perry. The bill was put together in order to ensure that LGBT
workers were protected from a long established culture of discrimination
present in Arkansas. Michelle especially took aim on the prevision of the bill
allowing transgender individuals to use the appropriate bathrooms that they
most identify with. The voice-recorded message was as follows,
“Hello, this is
Michelle Duggar. I’m calling to inform you of some shocking news that would
affect the safety of Northwest Arkansas women and children. The Fayetteville
City Council is voting on an ordinance this Tuesday night that would allow men-
yes, I said men- to use women’s and girls’ restrooms, locker rooms, showers,
sleeping areas and other areas that are designed for females only. I don’t
believe the citizens of Fayetteville would want males with past child predator
convictions that claim they are female to have a legal right to enter private
areas that are reserved for women and girls. I doubt that Fayetteville parents
would stand for a law that would endanger their daughters or allow them to be
traumatized by a man joining them in their private space. We should never place
the preference of an adult over the safety and innocence of a child. Parents,
who do you want undressing next to your daughter at the public swimming pool’s
private changing area?”
Now if your
thinking is at all like mind you are utterly baffled after reading this message
that utilizes fear politics and utter
ignorance as weapons to demean private
citizens. The truly unbelievable part about this whole story is that Michelle
Duggar recorded this phone call with the knowledge that her own son had
sexually molested innocent 12-14 year old girls. She points the finger at
transgender individuals calling them sex offenders when the true sex offender
is her own son, Josh Duggar. Josh repeatedly molested five underage
girls over the course of 2002-2003, some while they slept. Furthemore, Duggar can
be heard giving speeches and radio commentary claiming that it is his duty to
protect families and the children in communities by opposing same sex marriage
bills. Utterly baffling hypocrisy which sadly has become the norm in
evangelical communities.
