Should We Really Be Surprised "Duck Dynasty" Star Phil Robertson Dislikes Gays?: Answer Is No

      When I woke up this morning, the internet was abuzz that Phil Robertson, star of the popular A&E show "Duck Dynasty", gave an interview with GQ Magazine where he, among other things, stated that being gay is "illogical" and "a sin". GLAAD came out swinging, asking A&E if they supported Robertson's stance on the issue, and the network released a statement form Robertson himself a while ago which said that, while he doesn't hate gays, he still thinks that homosexuality is a sin. Meanwhile, blogs both gay and straight acted as if it was a big deal that Robertson made the comments because, after all, he has a hit TV show. The fact of the matter is though, that anyone who is familiar with the show should have expected something like this to come out long ago.

From www.parade.com 

    Anyone who watches the show know that it chronicles the lives of a family full of redneck millionaires from West Monroe, Louisiana. While they spend most of their time duck hunting and making duck calls, a large amount of the time is spent covering the families religious lives. Robertson apparently had a come to Jesus moment four decades ago, and now he is deep in his faith. Watching the show, it is obvious that they are of some sort of Southern Baptist/Evangelical, and the fact that they live in a very homophobic place, it should come as no surprise that part of their faith is a deep belief in the "Adam and Eve, Not Adam and Steve" diatribe.
   
    Besides their faith and geographic location, I can pretty much tell by looking at them that they aren't going to be down with the gays. After all, (and I don't mean to stereotype) there aren't that many big-bearded camouflage-wearing rednecks who love gays. It's just a fact of life. That's why, when the news struck, it was no surprise to me that they held such beliefs.
     
      But even if it was not a bit shocking to me, I believe that Robertson's comments won't affect the ratings of the show due to the show's massive following. So I feel that, we, as a community need to be ready to combat the hatred of Robertson and his unkempt clan. We need to make it known that all Christians, or rednecks for that matter, aren't like Robertson, and that what he is saying, while it may be disguised as love, is nothing but hate-mongering. In the meantime, I suggest we all boycott the show and throw our support behind the GLBT friendly and self-proclaimed redneck "Honey Boo Boo" family when it airs its new season in January.