The gay rights group Truth Wins Out is
taking on social conservative Linda Harvey and her implied threat of
a lawsuit.
Harvey is the founder of the Columbus,
Ohio-based Mission America and is a frequent contributor to the
conservative website WorldNetDaily.com, which is run by Joseph Farah.
Truth Wins Out executive director and
founder Wayne Besen labeled Harvey “the most homophobic woman in
America” in an
op-ed published last week.
“Harvey is making a name for herself
by fast becoming the most homophobic woman in the nation,” Besen
wrote in a blog post after noting the radio host was competing in a
crowded field.
“She is outright paranoid of an
imagined gay menace that in her diseased mind is lurking to corrupt
children on every street corner.”
As proof, Besen went on to quote Harvey
warning
parents to steer their children away from gay doctors and nurses,
opposing gay teachers and suggesting that the government should take
steps to control the gay community.
President Barack Obama “has launched
a broad scale attack on traditional values,” Harvey said. “If
homosexuals and transgenders are allowed to live and love as they see
fit, we would have a whole societal mess on our hands, which is
already starting to happen in some areas.”
Besen also noted that Harvey supported
a bill being considered by Uganda lawmakers which would increase the
penalties against gay men and lesbians, including, under some
circumstances, the death penalty.
“If one wants to witness evil and
darkness, look no further than the ignorant mind, cruel heart and
empty soul of Linda Harvey,” Besen wrote.
In a Twitter message, Harvey replied to
Besen's missive with an implied threat of a lawsuit.
“Need to woman-up for Besen's
truth-free abuse,” she messaged. “Never advocated killing
anyone. He needs prayer and maybe a lawsuit?”
“Bring it on,” Besen
responded. “We hope that such a case would be aired on
television so we can expose Harvey's vile words in a court of law and
in the court of public opinion. It's bizarre that Harvey is upset
that we quoted her verbatim, which tells me that on some level she is
ashamed of her own hateful rhetoric.”