Columnist’s Views Are Disgusting, Morally Repugnant, Wrong, Dangerous to LGBTQ People, Our Society

Recently, written in the Criterion newspaper, dated December 2nd, 2023, columnist, Frank Gist wrote a column with the headline: “They’re Queer, They’re Here, They’re Coming for Your Children and Me” reconfirming that unfortunately, these age-old homophobic tropes are still clearly alive and well.

These views are disgusting, morally repugnant, wrong, and quite frankly dangerous to LGBTQ people. This homophobic trope is and has been used for a long time to dehumanize and malign an entire community of people. Multiple studies have shown that LGBTQ people are 4X more likely to be victims of violent crimes. That makes it even more important to hold individuals accountable who are willing to spread misinformation, hatred, and homophobia.

Did this writer just link gay people and the entire LGBTQ community to pedophilia and “grooming” while referencing his point to something he saw on a Tik-Tok video?! You bet that’s right.

This past June, during Pride month, I held an inclusive story time for children and their families at the Central Library downtown. It was an event to promote diversity and inclusion in everyone’s own abilities, families, and selves. The books chosen highlighted families and children living with different disabilities and family structures to show that our differences make us unique and worthy of not only acceptance and inclusion but love and the ability to live full and meaningful lives. This event was held in a public library, and LGBTQ people and the disability community are fellow members of the public where books about their existence, acceptance and accomplishments can be found and checked out.

After reading Mr. Gist’s abhorrent column, it took me a few moments to collect myself and realize a few things. The first was that, NO, unfortunately I was not hallucinating nor reading a column from 30 years ago. Also realizing that the fight for acceptance and inclusion is never done and that you can only fight fiction with facts.

As I write this piece and anticipate it to be published in the next Criterion, I have received confirmation that Mr. Gist has stepped down from the Buffalo and Erie County Library Board. Next June, I will personally invite him to this fabulous event and hand him a few free books that will hopefully educate Mr. Gist on the inclusion of all our neighbors. This event even includes ice cream, children’s activities, and access to multiple community resources, too!

~ Council Member Mitch Nowakowski