February 19, 2016 6:43 AM

Manny Pacquiao isn't a homophobe; he's a hypocrite afraid of who and what he might be

Less than 24 hours after Nike condemned and cut its connection with Manny Pacquiao following his recent homophobic comments, the boxer dug his heels into the ground, reiterating his strong stance against gay relationships on social media and in front of the press on Thursday…. “I am not condemning the LGBT,” Pacquiao said. “What I am condemning is the act. I’m happier because I’m telling the truth … It’s worse if we will hide the truth. I’m happier that a lot of people were alarmed by the truth.”

I just love it when those who trumpet their Christian faith and use it to justify discriminating against God’s children (Hmm…I though God didn’t make mistakes?). They often, as Pacquiao did, talk about the “truth”…as if the “truth” is that Jesus truly did teach that hating those who happen to live and love differently is acceptably Christian behavior. Or, as my hyper-Christian brother is wont to declare to anyone who will listen, “Truth is hate to those who hate the truth.”

Since truth seems to be the topic at hand, let’s spend some time talking about what “truth” actually is, or in this case, isn’t.

  • “Truth” is not referring to the LGBT community as “worse than animals.”

  • “Truth” doesn’t confer the right to hold God’s children in contempt and condemn as “less than.”

  • “Truth” is not condemning those who engage in “the act” (Is there a more lame and pathetic description?) and then half-apologizing, trying to make the point that you’re condemning the sin, not the sinner…all while making your insincerity crystal clear.

  • “Truth” is not being “happier” because you “alarmed” people with your virulent homophobia.

  • “Truth” is not passing judgment on those whose only “crime” is living and loving in a manner you disapprove of. If you’re opposed to same-sex relationships, there’s a very simple solution available to you- don’t schtupp someone of the same gender. Your right to judge encompasses the person looking back at you in the mirror. Period. No exceptions.

I don’t begrudge Pacquiao his right to his beliefs…but if he chooses to broadcast them, he can’t claim to be surprised when the blowback is costly and substantial. His homophobia already cost him a lucrative endorsement contract with Nike, who made it clear they won’t tolerate bigotry, homophobia, or any other form of disrespect addressed at other human being.

Good on them.

I don’t care what you believe; no belief system can credibly claim to come with the right to denigrate others. You don’t have to agree with what they believe, how they act, the clothes they wear, the team the root for, or who and how they love…but you don’t get to pass judgment. You have neither the right, the authority, nor the credibility to do so to condemn others for behavior that in no way impacts you or degrades the quality of your hate-filled existence.

Manny Pacquiao is free to inhabit whatever moral universe he so chooses, but that right doesn’t come with a free pass to refer to the LGBT community as “worse than animals.” Nor does he get to trot out his religion and use it to justify homophobia and bigotry. If he believes otherwise, he might do well to crack his Bible and act read the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who, if memory serves, was all about love, compassion, tolerance, and acceptance…things Pacquiao clearly knows nothing of. He’s not demonstrating his devotion to his Christian faith; he’s broadcasting his hypocrisy and inhumanity.

To paraphrase Morgan Freeman, homophobia doesn’t mean you’re afraid of homosexuals; it means you’re an asshole.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on February 19, 2016 6:43 AM.

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