Eliza Gray's cover story on transgender civil rights in this week's New Republic has prompted a homophobic, grade-school bully response from the Weekly Standard and Bill Kristol.
And their point-and-laugh target? This brave cover:
So, what did Kristol and his minions do?
They made TNR's cover, without any commentary, as the subject for their weekly "Not a Parody" segment.
Now, for those not familiar with this segment, it's where Kristol takes what he considers to be news-of-the-weird or unbelievably bizarre stories and places them in this corner, where everyone is meant to point and laugh, collectively saying, "Ha, ha. Look at that! Can you believe it's not a parody?"
And this week's point-and-laugh target? TNR's cover.
Get it?
The homophobic move by the Weekly Standard prompted the story's author, Gray, to contact Kristol and ask what he meant by the move.
Here's Kristol's response:
"I've found over the years that it's best not to try to explain jokes or parodies--and I think it makes sense to extend this rule to a 'not a parody.' It stands (or falls) on its own.”
To which Gray responded:
“The lack of any argument whatsoever in the Standard's "parody" is telling. It's the "philosophy" of a junior high school bully, for whom pointing and laughing is the only argument required."
But I have a response as well, and I suspect many of you may feel the same. It's to tell Kristol that his homophobic attempt at clan-like humor FALLS miserably.
I'm contacting him. You should too. Here's how:
By Email: editor@weeklystandard.com
By Phone: (202) 293-4900
By Mail:
The Weekly Standard
1150 17th Street, NW
Suite 505
Washington, DC 20036
Author's Note: This diary was inspired by Peter Beinart's tweet on this topic.