Tufts Republicans: Homosexuality = Death?

Republican students at Tufts University apparently believe that homosexuality is one of the greatest threats facing America today. A group called "Article 8" held a lecture (sponsored by Tufts Republicans) claiming that homosexuality is a threat to public health and could undermine American politics.

The Daily News Tribune reports:

[John] Diggs outlined the public health risks he believes homosexuality poses, citing what he called the promiscuity of homosexual men and saying that diseases are transmitted through anal sex. Diggs also used data from a 20-year-old study of Vancouver men to illustrate the fact that homosexual men have higher death rates than heterosexual men.

"What I want to know is how my existence is so terrifying to you people," [Jonathan Strong, a senior lecturer in English at Tufts] said. Diggs said it was a mistake to redefine his argument on a personal level, and added that he was simply saddened to see public health jeopardized by "homosexual policy." "I haven't caused people to die," Strong said. "You have, sir," Diggs shot back

Accusing someone of having caused others to die is a pretty serious charge. If Diggs can't support that, it would I think be fair for Strong to demand a public apology and retraction. A person shouldn't be able to escape the consequences of making false and possibly libelous accusations.

[James Lafferty, a representative of the Massachusetts Citizens for Marriage and the Traditional Values Coalition] rounded out the discussion by saying the "national homosexual lobby" was responsible for the rising costs of political campaigns in Massachusetts because of the number of attacks it launches. He described the movement as anti-Catholic, calling the movement for separation of church and state "the language of bigotry" and the Ku Klux Klan.

Oh, yes, demanding that the state not legislate religious dogma is really just "bigotry." Really, where do people like this come from? Do they live under a rock until they are needed to defend the indefensible? Do they take special classes on rhetorical double-speak so that they can spout falsehoods without breaking out in laughter?

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