I’ve heard him on NPR and other venues and found him to be intelligent and reasonable. Judging from the testimony of people who have sought Bachmann’s help, it’s no exaggeration to say that he tries to “pray the gay away.” But that doesn’t justify bullying, and it’s not a good message to send. Marcus Bachmann makes money in what I consider to be a reprehensible way: offering “reparative therapy” to “cure” gay people. I can only imagine how listeners who happen to have the kind of lisping, effeminate speech and affect that Savage was ridiculing felt upon hearing the attack. As Savage always notes, the kind of smear-the-queer taunts that can cause so much pain to young people aren’t aimed only at kids who are gay, they’re often aimed at boys who don’t live up to some mythical standard of masculinity and girls who just aren’t girly enough. In other words, the man who launched the “It Gets Better Project,” an effort to stop the bullying of gay teens, was acting like a big bully.
He even did his own Bachmann impression, exaggerating the lisp and camping it up. Savage played the tape over and over, and reprised it several times throughout the podcast. Bachmann has a tiny bit of a lisp-though it’s barely perceptible-and he slurs his words slightly. This week, though, the podcast started with an attack on Marcus Bachmann’s masculinity.After a short preamble about the accuracy of gaydar (with a scientific citation, no less), Savage-whom I respect tremendously-played a tape of Michele’s * husband’s speaking voice. It’s a rousing start to 45 minutes of sex advice, and it’s usually right on and empowering. And Slate’s June Thomas is calling him out:ĭan Savage begins each of his “Savage Love Cast” podcasts with a rip-roaring rant-a sword of invective aimed at homophobic school boards that won’t let lesbians attend their high-school prom, hypocritical politicians, and generally despicable people. But, last I checked, those aren’t the distinguishing characteristics of homosexuality.Īpparently, gay activist Dan Savage has started pushing the meme hard, too.
Now, I admit, Marcus Bachmann is pudgy and has a less-than-baritone voice.
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