# A&E suspends Phil Robertson over anti-gay remarks **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 19, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747 "2013-12-19T18:37:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/381 "2013-12-23T17:14:35Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > That he thinks vaginas are the natural place to insert a penis versus an anus is logical given that’s what vaginas are for and anuses are not. That’s a biological fact. Wierd. A lot of fellas I have heard offer up this argument seem to think getting a blowjob from a woman is AOK. (and it is!!) They cannot explain how, biologically, the anus is verboten but the mouth is just fine (when it suits _them_). ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/382 "2013-12-23T17:15:38Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It is not correctly used. > > homophobia: > > 1. Fear of **or contempt for** lesbians and gay men. > 2. Behavior based on such a feeling. > > -a **person who hates** or fears homosexual people > > - irrational fear of, **aversion to, or discrimination against** homosexuality or homosexuals > > Those are the first 3 listings I pulled up. Phobias by definition are a fear of something. There are many things one can call Robertson but homophobe is not one of them based on his rationale of the function of anuses and vaginas. You found 3 definitions and selectively ignored parts of all 3. Well done. Do you think Duck guy’s remarks show any contempt, hate, aversion, or discrimination? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/383 "2013-12-23T17:16:11Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It is not correctly used. > > homophobia: > > 1. Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men. > 2. Behavior based on such a feeling. > > -a person who hates or fears homosexual people > > - irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals > > Those are the first 3 listings I pulled up. Phobias by definition are a fear of something. There are many things one can call Robertson but homophobe is not one of them based on his rationale of the function of anuses and vaginas. Exactly. His comments fit nicely into the aversion category. Medically, perhaps, a phobia has a fear requirement but the word homophobia as it is usually used does not necessarily imply fear. Again, etymological fallacy. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/384 "2013-12-23T17:19:17Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > When it’s claimed that he isn’t “hostile to gays” and that he “doesn’t hate the sinner”, as **debaser** did, then previous remarks made are relevant to the discussion. > > If the argument was “what he said in the interview wasn’t hostile to gays”, then, you’re right, previous remarks are probably not relevant to the discussion. But they can be cited to bring context, right? Yes, that’s fair. I didn’t read **Debaser** ’s post quite the same way you did but on reflection I see what you’re saying. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/385 "2013-12-23T17:22:07Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Wierd. A lot of fellas I have heard offer up this argument seem to think getting a blowjob from a woman is AOK. (and it is!!) They cannot explain how, biologically, the anus is verboten but the mouth is just fine (when it suits _them_). licking and sucking of sexual organs has always been considered a normal biological function of sexual acts. The anus is verboten because it’s unsanitary. Pointing that out does not mean a hatred for the people who like this activity which is not, btw restricted to gay people. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/386 "2013-12-23T17:24:09Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I keep hearing this line from Fox News viewers on Facebook, and it’s such bullshit. Newsflash: he didn’t get fired because his bosses were _surprised_ about his views. Fox News quip aside, I think this is what bothers me about A&Es action here. They have a reality TV star who is openly evangelical christian; who’s announced that he views the show as an opportunity to spread the word of God, as he understands it; a show that (I’m told, I’ve never seen it) makes much reference to their religion including showing grace, church services, and a tagline about faith. They trade on all of these things, but then they send him out to do interview and he’s asked about this central aspect of his persona and he gives an answer totally in line with mainstream doctrine (and substantially more mild than some would say - and apparently milder than he is prone to saying). What was supposed to happen? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/387 "2013-12-23T17:27:23Z")
I _have_ seen the show, and I would say “much reference” is pushing it. It’s a sitcom where the characters say grace at the end (and the prayer is worded more in a “today’s life lesson was…” way than anything), and did a nativity play in one episode (which only two of them, neither of which was Phil, took seriously). Were I a Christian I would probably find the treatment of faith insulting. I was a bit surprised that Robertson made the comments he did. I wasn’t surprised at all that he _holds_ those beliefs. I was most surprised that his A&E handlers didn’t ask them to move on. > [@](#): > > licking and sucking of sexual organs has always been considered a normal biological function of sexual acts. The anus is verboten because it’s unsanitary. Pointing that out does not mean a hatred for the people who like this activity which is not, btw restricted to gay people. Now you’re just making things up. Oral sex has been just as verboten as anal sex for most of modern history in the West, and has generally been criminalized under the same prohibitions (sodomy law). ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/388 "2013-12-23T17:27:33Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Exactly. His comments fit nicely into the aversion category. Medically, perhaps, a phobia has a fear requirement but the word homophobia as it is usually used does not necessarily imply fear. Again, etymological fallacy. He’s aversion from ass fucking does not mean he hates gay people. A lot of people are averse to ass fucking and do not hate gay people. I don’t think this is much of a revelation. Again, there are a lot of things one could call Robertson, Bible-thumper, redneck, good-ole-boy… and be accurate. Homophobe is not one of them. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/389 "2013-12-23T17:30:30Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > licking and sucking of sexual organs has always been considered a normal biological function of sexual acts. . Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/390 "2013-12-23T17:33:11Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Again, there are a lot of things one could call Robertson, Bible-thumper, redneck, good-ole-boy… and be accurate. Homophobe is not one of them. I am certainly of the (local minority) that does not find his comments in the GQ interview to be particularly homophobic, offensive, or “anti-gay.” Given the more recent revelations about past comments, it would be difficult to maintain the view that Robertson is not “homophobic” or hateful. ---
**Author:** ![Karrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@Karrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karrius)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/391 "2013-12-23T17:33:47Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > He’s aversion from ass fucking does not mean he hates gay people. A lot of people are averse to ass fucking and do not hate gay people. I don’t think this is much of a revelation. > > Again, there are a lot of things one could call Robertson, Bible-thumper, redneck, good-ole-boy… and be accurate. Homophobe is not one of them. Because as everyone knows, the only non-straight people are two men who have anal sex and only anal sex. No other forms of queer people exist. Luckily, this means that there’s nothing wrong with gay relationships and gay marriage as long as you avoid anal sex, right? So a ton of “christian” marriages are likely a hell of a lot more sinful than queer marriages. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/392 "2013-12-23T17:34:22Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > You found 3 definitions and selectively ignored parts of all 3. Well done. Do you think Duck guy’s remarks show any contempt, hate, aversion, or discrimination? no. It does show an aversion to the act. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/393 "2013-12-23T17:34:40Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > licking and sucking of sexual organs has always been considered a normal biological function of sexual acts. The anus is verboten because it’s unsanitary. Pointing that out does not mean a hatred for the people who like this activity which is not, btw restricted to gay people. > [@stpauler](#): > > Cite? My dog is my cite! ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/394 "2013-12-23T17:35:27Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > My dog is my cite! Then you’re just as bad as them homersechsuels. ---
**Author:** ![Karrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@Karrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karrius)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/395 "2013-12-23T17:37:18Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > no. It does show an aversion to the act. You think saying lesbians are, and I quote \*“They’re full of murder, envy, strife, hatred. They are insolent, arrogant, God-haters. They are heartless, they are faithless, they are senseless, they are ruthless. They invent ways of doing evil.” \* , isn’t homophobia, but is just “aversion to penis-in-anal sex” ? Really? You don’t see a problem there? Just a tiiiiny bit of a logical problem? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/396 "2013-12-23T17:37:43Z")
Magiver, are you aware that he said more than the line about the there being more there with the vagina? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/397 "2013-12-23T17:38:12Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I was a bit surprised that Robertson made the comments he did. I wasn’t surprised at all that he _holds_ those beliefs. I was most surprised that his A&E handlers didn’t ask them to move on. I forgot to mention that my impression of the family based solely on the show was overwhelmingly positive. They were extremely judgmental at times, but limited their other-bashing to “people who live in subdivisions” and “people who can’t hunt”. Not exactly the discrete and insular minorities of Footnote 4. In fairness, there were no black people and no gay people around. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/398 "2013-12-23T17:38:41Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Then you’re just as bad as them homersechsuels. So’s the dog, considering the amount of time she sniffs ass. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/399 "2013-12-23T17:42:07Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > licking and sucking of sexual organs has always been considered a normal biological function of sexual acts. The anus is verboten because it’s unsanitary. Penises and vaginas are unsanitary. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747/400 "2013-12-23T18:05:35Z")
> [@Falchion](#): > > I am certainly of the (local minority) that does not find his comments in the GQ interview to be particularly homophobic, offensive, or “anti-gay.” > > Given the more recent revelations about past comments, it would be difficult to maintain the view that Robertson is not “homophobic” or hateful. [Here’s a video of what he said](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/19/phil-robertson-homophobic-2010-sermon_n_4475546.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices). It’s clear his religious beliefs follow a biblical assessment of morality. Sodom and Gomorrah, false gods… etc… It does not mean he hates gay people. It means he thinks his god thinks it’s a deal breaker for whatever reward system awaits. If he doesn’t love the sinner then he fails at his own game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-e-suspends-phil-robertson-over-anti-gay-remarks/676747.md?page=21)