I've never heard of Pleasant Plains, Arkansas, the hometown of the Midland Mustangs where homophobic Facebook poster Clint McCance hails.
See Chrislove's diary AR School Board Member: Fags should kill themselves for background on this story
After a quick search on the google I now know the population is only 271 people. That fact alone makes me wonder about Clint McCance and just what triggered his hateful outburst on the very public Facebook? Surely he must have known it would meet with a national outcry if it went viral? Or.. is this a case of someone feeling safe, secure and maybe even reinforced by friends, family and colleagues in his small town opinions not imagining the world would ever pay attention to little old him?
I think we all know people like McCance and I have to wonder how can we reach him, is it possible to change his opinion turning him into an ally? I can't imagine that reacting in outrage and condemnation would make him reconsider? Surely it would only make him hate LGBT folks more?
I picture McCance as being a very different person from Andrew Shirvell, the Michigan Assistant AG who is stalking gay student body president of the University of Michigan Chris Armstrong. I see McCance as someone who is simply ignorant and unknowing about LGBT folk vs. Shirvell who probably knows more about being gay then most gays if you know what I'm saying.
If it's a case of being ignorant and unknowing can McCance be reached with a different reaction. Can we make him an ally or am I a pie in the sky dreamer?
My idea is to make sure he knows his rant was definitely not acceptable but in addition put a human face on teh gay, invite him to the table with someone like Dan Savage (okay maybe not such a good idea - how about Ellen Degeneres), or into the home of a gay couple, let him learn about us since he probably doesn't know an openly gay person in such a homophobic small town environment.
I would love to hear peoples ideas on this... my heart just hurts for the gay kid(s) (you know there are some) in this small town that are going be living a nightmare for the next few weeks during the life cycle of this media frenzy that I imagine happening.... can this possibly be approached in a positive way?
UPDATE: Going to bed, hoping to wake up to a kinder gentler less cynical world. Must be the vicodin and SOMA doc prescribed for pinched nerve in the neck. HA! Nite all....