Ghostbusters parody takes aim at Trump administration’s anti-LGBT task force
Stephen Colbert has made a perfect parody of the Trump administration’s latest bone for anti-LGBT extremists.
Trump’s Attorney General Jeff Sessions got into bed with listed anti-LGBT hate group Alliance Defending Freedom on Monday to launch a ‘Religious Liberty Task Force’.
In his speech Sessions affirmed his belief that individuals and business owners should be free to discriminate based on religious beliefs, and announced he is setting up a task force “which will help the department fully implement our religious liberty guidance.”
The task force, which has been condemned as a brazen attack on the rights of LGBT people, was perfectly lampooned by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The Late Show drew on the 1980s Ghostbusters animated TV series, spoofing its iconic theme tune by Ray Parker Jr.
The new lyrics are: “There’s a gay cake in your neighbourhood. Who you gonna call? Religious Liberty Task Force!
“On top of that cake, they’re both dudes. Who you gonna call? Religious Liberty Task Force!
“I ain’t afraid of no gays!
“When you want to throw the first stone, pick up the phone, and call… Religious Liberty Task Force!”
LGBT activists have expressed fears over the implications of the task force.
Human Rights Campaign Legal Director Sarah Warbelow said: “This taxpayer funded task force is yet another example of the Trump-Pence White House and Jeff Sessions sanctioning discrimination against LGBTQ people.
“Over the last 18 months, Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Jeff Sessions have engaged in a brazen campaign to erode and limit the rights of LGBTQ people in the name of religion.
“The Attorney General standing shoulder-to-shoulder this morning with anti-LGBTQ extremists tells you everything you need to know about what the announcement was really all about.”
Democratic National Committee LGBTQ media director Lucas Acosta said: “From supporting the right to refuse service to same-sex couples to banning military service by transgender individuals to removing mentions of LGBTQ issues from the White House website, Attorney General Sessions’ creation of a Religious Liberty Task Force is just the latest assault in this administration’s continued campaign against LGBTQ people and our civil rights.
“By creating this task force, Sessions is establishing a unit dedicated to undermining LGBTQ rights and giving anti-LGBTQ far-right extremists like task force head Jesse Panuccio a taxpayer-funded platform to push their anti-equality agenda.
“Rather than ensuring every person has equal protections and opportunities, Sessions is shamefully doubling down on bigotry.
“This action is further proof that Republicans continue to push forward an agenda completely out of step with the American people and our values. Democrats will continue to focus on how to improve opportunity for all Americans regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or income.”
Trump’s Attorney General Jeff Sessions (Getty)
Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD said: “Though freedom of religion is a core American value, religious exemptions from adhering to non-discrimination protections are not.
“Sessions’ announcement is yet another example of the Trump administration’s anti-LGBTQ agenda as they seek to weave protections for those seeking anti-LGBTQ religious exemptions into the government.”
Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United, said: “This event by the Justice Department offends the true meaning of religious freedom.
“The event was clearly designed to advance the Trump administration’s twisted and dangerous view of religious freedom, one that uses religion to discriminate and harm others.
“This event exposed the administration’s real agenda: to preserve the power of Christian fundamentalists.”
Michael Adams, CEO of SAGE, said: “Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement of a so-called Religious Liberty Task Force at the Department of Justice is one more effort by this Administration to obliterate anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people.
“LGBT elders – who rely on religiously affiliated providers for non-discriminatory care — have played a huge role in the ‘changing cultural climate’ that the Attorney General condemns. They will not go back into the closet so that this Administration can pander to the forces of intolerance and bigotry.”
