Posted on 11/10/2007 5:05:07 AM PST by fweingart
(The only gay in the village: Matt Lucas)
The right to crack jokes or be rude about homosexuals could fall victim to new government laws to stamp out "homophobic" behaviour, Rowan Atkinson, the Blackadder star warned yesterday.
Atkinson, who mounted a successful campaign in 2004 to water down legislation aimed at criminalising expressions of religious hatred, has returned to the fray to defend the art of gay leg-pulling.
His concern is that Labour ministers are so obsessed with creating laws to stop people being rude about each other that they are putting in danger the right to free speech and, equally dear to his heart, the comedian's craft.
In a letter to a newspaper he accused ministers of filling their legislative programme with measures that have "serious implications for freedom of speech, humour and creative expression".
Atkinson was referring to measures in the Criminal Justice Bill, currently passing through Parliament, which could mean people who stir up hatred against homosexuals being put in prison for up to seven years.
He said the Government measures, which could be expanded to cover hatred against disabled or transgendered people, seemed to be "infinitely extendable".
"Witness the fact that the Government has invited two additional groups - the disabled and transsexuals - to 'make the case' for the proposed legislation to be extended to them.
"I am sure that they could make a very good case, as indeed could all those who can claim that they cannot help being the way they are. Men, for example, or women. Or people with big ears."
Atkinson added: "The devil, as always, will be in the detail but the casual ease which some people move from finding something offensive to wishing to declare it criminal - and are then able to find factions within government to aid their ambitions - is truly depressing."
Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, has told MPs that such fears are unfounded because he will shortly introduce an amendment to the Bill ensuring that cases can be pursued only when the offending words are specifically intended to pose a threat and are not merely humorous, mocking or abusive.
As with an eventual compromise deal struck over the Religious Hatred Bill, there will also be a specific clause to protect the right to freedom of speech.
Ministers have firmly dismissed as unfounded claims that playground insults or jokes about gays could be caught by the new offence.
Last night Chris Bryant, the openly gay Labour MP, said Mr Atkinson should relax because the right to make jokes about gays would remain. "I think it is perfectly possible to create a distinction in law between incitement to hatred and having a laugh," he said.
Lord Lester, the Liberal Democrat peer who helped draft the compromise wording on the religious hatred law, said it was clear that "politically incorrect jokes at the expense of gay people" should not be banned.
As a gay man and a conservative I enjoy a good gay joke as much as anyone else (this guy is not even a good joke). I find jokes about conservatives and Christians much more distressing because they tend to be more hateful and less funny. I truly resent the liberal elitist jokes about Nascar and Jesus simply because they are not funny and not really intended to be so.
Moved and seconded. South Park is one ten-season long "Jew joke"... and I know I'm not the only Jewish FReeper hereabouts faithfully devoted to it! ;)
“As a gay man and a conservative I enjoy a good gay joke as much as anyone else...”
Could you please give that Brit some fashion tips, please.
Even if I were the “fashion” type, I think this one is beyond help. I have spent my whole life in the auto repair industry so I’m disadvantaged as far as any look that isn’t blue and greasy, but even I find this nelly hard to look at. YIKES!
He is the only gay in the village, you know.
Doctor Leech: Now then what seems to be the trouble?
Edmund: Well, it is my man servant.
Doctor Leech: I see. Well don't be embarrassed if you got the pocks. Just pop your man servant on the table and we'll take a look at him.
Edmund: No, I mean, it is my real man servant.
Doctor Leech: Ah, ah. And what is wrong with him?
Edmund: There is nothing wrong with him. That is the problem. He's perfect and last night I almost kissed him.
Doctor Leech: I see. So you started fancying boys then, have you?
Edmund: Not boys. A boy.
Doctor Leech: Yes, well let's not split hairs. It is all rather disgusting and naturally you're worried.
Edmund: Of course I'm worried.
Doctor Leech: Well, of course you are. It isn't every day a man wakes up to discover he's a screaming bender with no more right to live on God's clean earth than a weasel. Ashamed of yourself?
From the size of his gut, one really need not wonder where the rest of them are......
This guy's so blatantly screaming, he could actually pass as being the only gay in the Village People. ;)
Oh, I don’t know. That picture, alone, had me laughing and nobody had to say a thing.
“...defend the art of gay leg-pulling.”
Not sure I’d want to be known as a ‘gay leg-puller’.
Looks like licensing comedians will be next.
The left wants to give certain people power over others. It has succeeded with certain groups. The power includes the ability to put people in prison for nothing.
The left has taken power from White Christian heterosexual males and given it to everyone else. This power is absolute. Any accusation is automatically valid and the White Christian heterosexual male has no recourse, no defense, and is automatically guilty.
As Burt Lahr said in THE WIZARD OF OZ...”I’m just a dandy lion!”
Or as Jimmie Duranty said in another old movie...”Ah, a sunflower! Swish, sister, swish!”
Or as W.C. Fields said in International House when told by a man he was in Wu Hu, “Don’t let the daisy fool you my friend!” (refering to a flower in his lapel).
Or as Cary Grant said in another old movie when found dressed in a woman’s housecoat...”Ive gone Gay!”
But the best is still Peter Lore placing his cane next to the corner of his mouth in THE MALTESE FALCON.
LOL!!
Too many posts about the picture to collect and put all posters on a response; but just wondered if you’all know that the picture is from a British TV show? It’s part of a recurring skit in which this guy claims to be the only queer in a small town - and constantly fights the discrimination he feels - while being surrounded by openly queer people that he doesn’t recognize as being queer. It’s British comedy you see. If there is a point - other than being British humor - it might be that the discrimination is in his imagination - feeling discriminated against is an integral part of his identity as a queer. Since he doesn’t recognize any of the other queers in town, maybe he isn’t really. But having the role of victim drives him.
Ha...that explains much. Thanks.
I’d love to watch that! What’s the name of the show, please? (I wanna see if Amazon has any episodes in stock.) ;)
I heard he was born in Manchester and reared in London
Also starring David Walliams as Emily Howard, who is most definitely a lady:
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.