Michele Bachmann: The gay community is a big mean bully
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Never mind that nine in 10 gay students report being bullied because of their sexual orientation. Forget that gay teens are more than three times as likely to commit suicide than their peers. And completely ignore that one-fifth of LBGT employees say they've been discriminated against when it comes to hiring, pay, and promotions. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) wants you to know who the real bullies are when it comes to gay rights: the gay community itself.
In a recent interview with conservative radio host Lars Larson, Bachmann claimed that Arizona's recently vetoed anti-gay law — which would have allowed businesses to refuse service to gay couples on ostensibly religious grounds — had nothing to do with gays. And its defeat, she argued, was another sign of how the all-powerful "gay community" had bullied lawmakers into accepting its agenda.
"The gay community decided to make this their measure," she said. "And the thing that I think is getting a little tiresome is the gay community, they've so bullied the American people, and they've so intimidated politicians — the politicians fear them — and so they think they get to dictate the agenda everywhere."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Keep in mind, Bachmann is the same legislator who, a decade ago, framed the debate over gay marriage as a dire Biblical prophecy come true.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
Today's political cartoons - January 12, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - snowed in, dangerous conditions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 fact-checked cartoons about Meta firing its fact checkers
Cartoons Artists take on playing chicken, information superhighway, and more
By The Week US Published
-
NCHIs: the controversy over non-crime hate incidents
The Explainer Is the policing of non-crime hate incidents an Orwellian outrage or an essential tool of modern law enforcement?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published