Hairy Hominid Homosexuals?

It's the furry "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy of which most people balk at the slightest mention. No, I'm not talking about the bears and cubs of the human gay community. Or even sexual behavior among primates. This time it's Bigfoot.

In his book Bigfoot!: The True Story of Apes in America, cryptozoologist Loren Coleman states, "Frankly, the subject of sex and the Sasquatch is avoided. Never mentioned are Bigfoot bestiality, Sasquatch penises, and that more human males than human females have traditionally been kidnapped by Bigfoot." There have been some reports of encounters involving some sexual overtones and he makes some references to Jan Klement's first-hand accounts of his interaction with a Sasquatch in his book The Creature: Personal Experiences with Bigfoot.

According to Klement, on one occasion he noticed "Kong" (as he had named the animal) sporting a difficult-to-conceal erection and being a bit fearful of what he might be capable of he yelled at the Sasquatch to get it away from him. A short while later he noticed something in the distance. "“As I approached the bottom of the hill I could see the cows on the pasture on the other hillside," he wrote. "There was a commotion among the cows and I when I put the water jug down and walked over I could see Kong. He was mounted on a large Holstein cow and was shoving away.” Upon seeing such a sight (obviously it can't be called "beastiality"... perhaps "inter-species relations" is better) his first thought was probably, "Better Bessie than me!"

During an April 7, 2001 lecture at the 13th Annual Bigfoot Conference / Bigfoot EXPO 2001 in Newcomerstown, Ohio Coleman lightheartedly remarked that he wondered if "10 percent of the Bigfoot population, matching the figures we have for Homo sapiens, might be gay." That one statement was blasted out of proportion my the media with claims Loren stated, "Bigfoot is gay." In all fairness, it was an interesting thought. With so many animals in the world showing signs of homosexual interaction and intercourse, why not? If the creature is, in fact, real it's certainly a valid question.

But of course, many people have turned the exaggerated misquote into a point of heckling. Soon after his appearance he received angry mail from people outraged that he could make such remarks... even though many hadn't even been there to know exactly what was said. Some people started calling him a "homo", "gay", and that perennial favorite: "f*g". But in 2007, some people in cryptozoological circles showed a little more ignorance when a few women expressed interest in Bigfoot and unexplained creatures. One female blogger was told that women "don't want to get involved in Bigfoot research because they’re afraid of the woods." A few other comments were made toward a few such women that they "must be lesbians."

Yes, that's right. Ghost hunting isn't the sole domain of sexist and homophobic remarks. While all of this isn't exactly recent news it helps show that in light of some recent events, nothing has really changed. Isn't the point of researching, investigating, and pursuing claims of ghosts, UFOs, Bigfoot, and other unexplainable phenomena to unite people in a quest for truth and knowledge? Or have we all regressed into caged chimps too busy flinging feces at each other?

They See Me Drollin', They Hatin'...

Paranormal investigator and fellow Ohioan Anita Brown has found herself in the center of some praise and a little scrutiny this week after taking to Examiner.com to write about an often-ignored subject: hate in the paranormal community. In her article 'Paranoia, homophobia, and racism on the front lines of the paranormal field' she speaks out about some homophobic remarks made by a few individuals but mostly one member of the television show Ghost Hunters: Britt Griffith.

Griffith appeared Wednesday on Live Paranormal's Home Brew hosted by Rain City Paranormal and spoke very candidly about investigating, the show, and himself. The article points out some offhand remarks he made throughout the show. The most controversial of which involved dropping the other F-bomb. ""You get on the east coast, the west coast," he declared, "and they're all anti-gun pussy faggots." One of the show's hosts came to his defense on the issue saying that while it was a "poor choice of wording" we should remember that " we are ALL human" and he doubts it was Britt's intention to harm anyone intentionally. Griffith also commented yesterday on the article, speaking in his own defense and clarifying all of his remarks. On the gay slur, he said, "Well they are anti-gun, wish i would not have used the F word there, sorry for that cause i love the gays. i am a lot of fucked up things, homophobia [sic] is not one of them."

Now, I don't know Britt personally and we never have crossed paths. I can't say he's a racist, homophobe, or anything like that. The F-word is used a lot by people and hasn't been as blacklisted as the N-word. But does he "love the gays"? Well, I don't have a clear answer to that one either. I don't know if he has gay friends. But even Sarah Palin has remarked that she has gay friends. That must be akin to being Mel Gibson's Jewish friend, I would think. If you strolled around Hillcrest in San Diego I would think it highly unlikely to find many gay men who had straight friends who would refer to anyone as "p*ssy f*ggots" and take it lightly. Any way you look at it, the way the word is used is not meant to be pleasant. And the phrase itself implies a stereotypical and weak gay individual.

I know a lot of people (myself included) who've experienced unabashed and blatant homophobia in the paranormal community. When people don't realize who is listening (or their sexual orientation) they definitely stick their foot in their mouth. What most people fail to realize is that you never know who is straight, gay, or bisexual just by taking a quick look around or spending a little time around them. We don't all wear tight shirts and eyeliner while waving a rainbow flag. It's fine to be who you are, believe what you want, and say how you feel. Just remember that words can be weapons with more impact than a semi-automatic.

I'm one of those rare people who don't feel compelled to hate. To me it's a wasted emotion that takes away too much energy better spent on positive things. No, I don't even hate Britt. It is a free country where you can be a tree-hugging hippie or a gun-toting tea-bagger (if only they realized what a poor choice of wording that is). But I will say one thing: this may not bode well for his advancement on Ghost Hunters International. When you're dubbed a celebrity all eyes are on you. During the show, Griffith said, "I'm very blue-collar, I'm R-rated. If four-letter words offend you, you know how to turn the sound off." Unfortunately, that's not quite how television works. When you're Joe the Paranormal Investigator nobody outside your little corner of the world cares what you say. When you sign a contract with a network or film company everything changes. You now represent a show and a company. Words need to be filtered better. Read through any contract and you'll see that proper conduct and ethics are a requirement. A lot of people find out the hard way that the industry isn't too forgiving. Just look around at some people who've been fired or "relieved" of their positions on television and you'll soon realize there's an unspoken reminder from behind the camera. You can be replaced. You're a dime a dozen.

The news has reported several incidents in recent weeks regarding the effects of homophobic speech and actions. This was undoubtedly a case of very bad timing and the need of a good publicist. Words aren't always just words. Anything you say can and will come back to haunt you. And that's far more terrifying than any haunted house.

A Day Against Hate

Today marks yet another observance of International Day Against Homophobia. It was first designated by Fondation Émergence on June 4, 2003 in Québec, Canada to promote harmonious relationships among people of all orientations, end discrimination, and show the consequences of homophobic acts. It's perfectly fitting for Québec to take this initiative: it was the first province to forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation in 1977. This day marks a time for both celebration and awareness. Though tolerance seems better than in years before, there are still many milestones to pass.

Homophobia comes in many forms: from the casual derogatory use of the words "fag" and "gay" among teenagers to public hangings of homosexuals in various countries. It stems from societal and individual inabilities to grasp differences among people... and in turn, view them as a threat. These beliefs can even lead to internalized homophobia, where gay and lesbian individuals begin to view themselves as inferior or worthless. The self-loathing can eventually lead to suicide.

This year's focus is on health issues, including depression and suicide, blood and organ donations, addiction, and AIDS. Medical institutions and employers still have been known to discriminate against individuals based on hiv status and sexuality. People still equate AIDS with homosexuality. And the risk of suicide in both teenagers and adults hasn't ended.

We can all do our part to help end the hate. Encourage teachers and employers to discuss homophobia. Ask businesses, organizations, newspapers, and media sources to publicize this day and make a firm stand on tolerance. Contact your political representatives and tell them to support diversity and follow through on past promises. Persuade parents to talk openly and non-judgmentally about homosexuality with their kids. Find the courage to "come out" in some way and let others know they aren't alone.

Or just feel free to kiss someone in public...