The Fundamentalist Fight PDF

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Keith Green, LGBT History, Spring 2020...

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Wednesday, April 22 – The Fundamentalist Fight Can’t fight on a socio-economic level; can fight on a cultural level Industry (and its horrors) = to technological and scientific advances (symbolized by Darwin) Darwin > displacement of God and also Social Darwinism (wealthy are genetically superior) Creationism – if the Bible is literally true… then Darwin’s evolutionary theory must be wrong We’re a Christian nation aren’t we?! Step 1 – pass local and state laws against evolution; legal precedent! Step 2 – then we proceed to implement biblical (esp. pro-poor) laws elsewhere, eventually on the national level Karen Armstrong, The Battle for God Fights break out in mainstream Protestant churches over Creationism in early 20th century State laws are passed, like in TN – the Butler Act – no teaching evolution in public setting Problem: goes against the first amendment; ACLU looking for a fight The Scopes Monkey Trial, Dayton, TN, 1925 -

John Scopes, English teacher; card-carrying ACLU member Clarence Darrow, Defense; William Jennings Bryan, Prosecutor Verdict – guilty; fine of $100 Goes to appeals court and verdict is overturned Greater implications: Fundamentalists shown to be scientifically ignorant

Fundamentalists go to ground, but don’t go away -

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Get control of local media outlets through the 50s and 60s Oral Roberts University, 1954 Shift to the right, politically. Why? Red Scare, 1950s (Communism and atheism; New Deal is slippery slope) Civil Rights, 1960s Racism and Misogyny and Homophobia Sexual Revolution of the 1970s Reconciled to capitalism The great irony: reformed capitalism is what allowed their lives to get better and that came from the Democrats and the Left Black and white, simplistic worldview/literal belief in scripture/ecstasis Keeps them fairly accepting of hierarchy and authority if you speak that language

They emerge on the scene with Anita Bryant

The AIDS Crisis 3 Phases – Phase I, Infection, 1981-1986 Phase II, Response, 1987-1995 Phase III, Progress, 1996- Present Phase I. Kaposi sarcoma (KS) – 12 cases in the US in 1979; 41 cases in NYC alone in 1981 All gay men aged 18-55 Also outbreaks of Pneumocystis pneumonia – only happens when immune system shuts down T-Cells gone! 1982 – the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta – GRID Fear in LGBT community. Hardest hit – the Trans community: poor, no insurance, sex workers, share needles (hormones) Anti-gay panic; hospitals turn people away US govt. refuses to do anything – Reagan won’t even mention it until 1985; no speech until 1987 By end of 1982, CDS suspects sexual contact is what spreads it (bodily fluids) GRID becomes AIDS 1st hemophiliac gets it – it’s in the blood supply!...