So now we know that Steve Bannon, the Trump advisor who turned Breitbart into the house organ of the alt-right, doesn’t really care all that much about us one way or another. This is hardly a revelation for someone who gave professional troll Milo Yiannopoulos his prominent and profitable (until recently) perch. But Bannon and Milo are figureheads in a bait-and-switch scheme.
The scheme is this: convincing some of us that the alt-right is okay with homosexuality in order to convert some of us to the white nationalist cause, which can make room for the participation of privileged white gay men. In order to do this, Bannon and Trump must convince us that the real enemy of LGBTQ is Islam, not the alt-right. Remember when Trump, after the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre, claimed that as president he would do a better job protecting LGBTQs from the threat of “Islamic terrorism?”
Don’t be fooled. The alt-right is a stew of hatred, and homophobia is a huge part of it.
On the surface, it’s easy to think that Bannon and Milo represent a new kind of conservative. And in one sense, they do. They want to blow up the existing order because the existing order is irredeemably tainted by liberal ideas. The world that Bannon and the alt-right have in mind is white nationalism, a world in which “Judeo-Christian values” reign. (Funny, though, how the Judeo part keeps getting lost.)
Sounds a lot like standard social conservatives, right? But it’s not. Bannon doesn’t really care all that much about the usual culture war –same-sex marriage, abortion–unless they intersect with his belief that political correctness is robbing people–his people–of their liberty. It’s a world in which the oppressed become the oppressor.
Take religious “liberty,” for example. The religious right has taken up this cause because they believe that marriage equality is wrong and that homosexuality is a sin. This isn’t Bannon’s thinking. He doesn’t seem bothered by marriage equality. But when it becomes a political correctness issue involving the rights of homophobic florists, then he cares.
As a result of this crossover belief, a lot of conservatives have been willing to cast their lot with Bannon. They might not agree with his line of reasoning, but they are fine with his conclusions. The fact that some of the worst homophobes are happy to form an alliance with Bannon should be warning flag enough.
Of course, there will always be some gay people so desperate for conservative approval that they will gladly sign on to the Bannon bandwagon. Chris Barron, of the rightfully defunct GOProud, thinks Bannon is a swell fellow. (The fact that Barron is on the Breitbart payroll may help.)
In theory, if homophobia was no longer a core characteristic of American conservatives, there would be a significant number of LGBTQ people who would be willing to identify as conservative. There’s no question a minority of white, gay men lead fairly protected lives. In fact, some like Barron, may even be among the two-thirds of men who believe there actually is something called political correctness and that it goes too far. Who wants to worry about offending someone when things are good, their thinking may go?
Now that the alt-right viewpoint has a powerful perch within the White House, it may be all too easy for some of these privileged men to succumb to the illusion that it’s actually not as bad as it’s been made out to be. Add to that the idea that maybe the leaders are friendly toward us, and it’s a recipe for recruitment.
The problem is that the alt-right isn’t just a conservative movement. It’s a way far-right movement that loves to fan the flames of hatred, so much so that the lines between white nationalism and white supremacy are often blurred beyond recognition. Up until Trump’s election, the alt-right was considered the fringe, a word often properly proceeded by the word “lunatic.”
Putting Bannon and Milo aside, on this issue they are hardly representative of most alt-right followers–young men who aggressively flout their heterosexuality. Their mascot is the vaguely creepy Pepe the Frog, but their memes are a lot worse than that. One popular one is Electric Pence, images of a high-voltage Mike Pence electrocuting gay people to cure them of their homosexuality. Or take a look at the slurs hurled at popular writer Michaelangelo Signorile after he criticized Jimmy Fallon’s softball treatment of then-candidate Trump.
You don’t even have to dig that far to see that even Milo wasn’t immune to their antigay hatred. The Daily Stormer website referred to Milo as a “deplorable kike faggot” who was harming the movement by claiming to represent it.
What the next four years will bring is anyone’s guess. But let’s not fool ourselves into believing that it’s an advance for us because the leader of a hate movement doesn’t automatically despise us. There are plenty of others who are part of that movement and allies of it who do.
DCguy
This is litterally the same thing that was exposed when the memos from the anti-lgbt group NOM were leaked. Their plan was to go on websites and try to drive a wedge between lgbts and minority groups.
We saw it here on Queerty, there were suddenly one or two trolls on every article that would make some racist comment or would try to attack lgbts pretending to be a minority.
Nothing different here. Look, we still have Mo Bro and PNHoffman here doing the same thing.
Giancarlo85
The republican drumbeaters will be here in full force defending this absolutely disastrous administration, which is under multiple investigations for corruption and ties to Russia.
The recent budget proposal by this disastrous administration would cause significant damage not just to our community (with severe cuts to health care funding for minorities), but to the entire country and economy.
Gay republicans should just disappear into obscurity and never open their mouths. They wanted us to give Trump a chance and maybe he would pivot. This clearly did not and never will happen.
The Dutch people stood up against this threat of fascism. They know their history and they know that scapegoating minorities never ends well. One would only have to look at the terror that enveloped Europe during the 1930s and 1940s by fascists.
And can we please stop using this ridiculous alt right term. They are neonazis. They are engaging in antisemitic and anti minority attacks. Just look at all the Jewish centers and synagogues receiving threats since the illegitimate loser won the election. The bigot now feels enabled because of the unpopularly elected menace that now illegitimately occupies the White House.
This is a sad time for this country.
Giancarlo85
By the way, when I referred to the Dutch 80% of them voted centrist, center left and far left. Case in point. That is truly a model multiparty democracy. Now 3-4 parties will form a coalition government. The Green party is an increasing possibility. Imagine that… The other parties having a real say and seats in the new government. It will push Mark Ruttes center right government to the center as the opposition progressive parties have a majority of seats.
KaiserVonScheiss
The rise in white nationalism is a result of anti-white identity politics. When you attack white people as an identity, it should be no surprise that you wind up with a white identity movement. That’s what white nationalism is. It’s collectivist identity politics centred around whiteness.
And, no, before some moron calls me a white nationalist, I’m not one. I hate collectivism and identity politics.
Steve Bannon is not a white nationalist. Even people who’ve criticised him have admitted that. Namely, Ben Shapiro, a Jew.
This is nothing more than a paint-everyone-we-don’t-like-as-a-Nazi article. Just more propaganda from the PC-loving, identity-obsessed, anti-liberal left.
There are legitimate reasons to criticise the Trump administration, and probably Steve Bannon.
Giancarlo85
You aren’t a Nazi. You are just a misguided liar, Alistair. Steve Bannon is a white nationalist, and a fascist. Stop powdering over their true intentions.
And there are indeed many reasons to criticize this administration. From their incitement of antisemitic attacks to the blatant corruption. It is like a buffet of criticism.
By the way, I believe in class identity politics. That is the true left. You will see that as a reaction. That is what happened in Holland with two far left parties taking a significant number of seats. You on the right will pay for your lies.
Giancarlo85
BTW, identity politics doesn’t attack white people. Advocating for the rights of ethnic minorities doesn’t attack white people. You are delusional and paranoid.
Black Pegasus
This says out loud what some refuse to admit. White gay men are more than willing to identify as conservative republicans if there is a perceived welcome mat from the GOP. Milo Yianoppoulos is an example of the “bait and switch” this article speaks of.
Interesting