“When I first saw this video, it shocked me that someone would say something so egregious, just for brief online fame or a moment of perceived moral superiority. But after digging deeper into the situation, I was satisfied to see that reception of the video was overwhelmingly negative,” stated sophomore Andrew Hartsock.
This statement is in reference to a video that went viral in April of a right-wing political influencer harassing a gay couple with their child on the street. Much of the public was appalled by the video, for the creators’ blatant disregard for facts and respect for others.
The creator, Niemi, asked the couple if the baby they were holding was their son. However, the creator then made inflammatory remarks, asking if the couple had heard statistics claiming that gay men commit child molestation and expressing that he thought it was weird their child didn’t have a female parent. After these comments, one of the dads assaulted Niemi in retaliation, as the statements had no factual validity, and the sentiment of the questions was intended to be hateful.
Senior Will Emerlie, an openly gay student, believes the creator was attempting to promote hate via his content. “You don’t go up to families on the street, verbally assault them and expect them not to react. The couple was incredibly open to being interviewed before being assaulted with hate speech.”
Niemi’s video was not just an inflammatory interview gone wrong. It is documentation of an attempt to create a spectacle of a minority, fueled by hate and ignorance.
While Niemi’s actions may seem rare, these forms of discrimination against minority groups such as LGBTQ+ individuals is not as uncommon as many people generally believe. “I wasn’t surprised,” said Hartsock. “Same-sex couples are too-often viewed as second-class, and society normalizes feeling ‘uncomfortable’ when encountering unconventional expressions of love.”
Recording the couple forced them in a position of discomfort as they were verbally harassed on camera while enjoying a day with their child.
“If I were ever approached with such a bigoted statement while in public with my same-sex partner, I imagine I would feel powerless,” Hartsock added. “The camera is rolling, and no matter how I react, I am going to be associated with a negative moment.”
While violence is never the answer, hateful rhetoric, as seen in the video, has affected queer individuals for years. The LGBTQ+ community is not just content meant for sensationalization. The community is made up of individuals who want to enjoy their lives and have families just like everybody else.
