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Alan Keyes: A Case Study in Ignorance, Intolerance, and Hate Against Gays and Lesbians; and How His Hate and That of Others Like Him Can Lead to Suicide


by Kevin Caruso

September 3, 2004

If would be difficult to imagine more ignorant, intolerant, insensitive, and patently stupid statements against gays and lesbians than those made by Alan Keyes. His latest ignorance was spewed on August 31, 2004, the day before Vice President Cheney spoke at the Republican National Convention.

Mary Cheney, the vice president's daughter happens to be a lesbian, and Keyes not only said that all gays and lesbians are "selfish hedonists" but that Mary Cheney is "by definition" a "selfish hedonist" and "a sinner."

Alan Keyes makes statements outrageous like that on a regular basis.

So who is Alan Keyes? Besides being someone who makes ignorant and idiotic statements, he is also a radio commentator and a Republican Senate candidate for Illinois (who has almost no chance of winning). He also ran for Maryland's senate in 1988 and 1992 - and lost both times, and was a largely forgettable presidential candidate who ran in1996 and 2000. (Every time he runs for political office, he loses - and loses big. But he is too stupid to get this simple message: Nobody wants him in any political office!). Keyes is also someone who tries to get attention from the press in any way possible - including using hate speech against gays and lesbians.

Keyes ignorance about gays and lesbians is not new. In 1997, these idiotic, nonsensical words actually came out of his mouth:

"Hitler and his supporters were Satanists and homosexuals. That's just a true statement.The notion that is involved in homosexuality, the unbridled sort of satisfaction of human passions [leads to] totalitarianism, Nazism, and communism."

And at a City Club of Chicago luncheon in August 2004, he attacked gay marriage and said that "gays are sinners."

During a Republican presidential debate in Durham Hew Hampshire in January 2000 he said:

"It's about time we all faced up to the truth. If we accept the radical homosexual agenda, be it in the military or in marriage or in other areas of our lives, we are utterly destroying the concept of family. We must oppose it in the military. We must oppose it in marriage. We must oppose it if the fundamental institution of our civilization is to survive. Those unwilling to face that fact and playing games with this issue are doing so irresponsibly at the price of America's moral foundations."

And in his 1996 book "Our Character, Our Future" Keyes wrote:

"People tell us that for purposes of discrimination, sexual orientation -- or, more accurately, sexual behavior -- must be treated like race. Is that at all legitimate? When I got up this morning I was a black guy. When I go to bed tonight, I will still be a black guy. If we are going to say that sexual orientation is to be treated like race, then we're saying that sexual orientation -- read, behavior -- is like race, a condition beyond the individual's control. "If we accept this kind of reasoning, why should we expect to draw the line at sexual passion? If we're going to have special legal protections for homosexuals, shouldn't everybody else's uncontrollable sexual orientations be protected? Shouldn't adulterers, pedophiles, rapists, and other sorts of sexual aberrants be eligible for the same benefits? If we were to accept this convoluted logic we would be left with the concept of a human person which accepts strict external regimentation: we are basically people out of control."

So what do all of the ignorant and hateful statements by Keyes have to do with suicide?

Answer: Keyes is just one of the innumerable individuals in the U.S. who makes ignorant and hateful statements against gays and lesbians, and these statements, along with the actions that can accompany them, can cause depression in gays and lesbians.

And untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide.

If you are gay or lesbian and believe that you may be suffering from depression. Please make appointments with a medical doctor and a therapist so you may be evaluated and receive treatment. And please always remember the people who are hateful, ignorant, and intolerant (like Keyes) are the ones with the problems - not you.


If you or someone you know is suicidal, please go to the Home Page of this website for immediate help.

Thank you.

I love you.

Take care,

Kevin Caruso

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