JD Crowe: ‘This one time at Space Camp:’ Alabama ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill goes too far
This is an opinion cartoon.
This one time, at band camp – I mean Space Camp, an Alabama lawmaker’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ expansion bill turned into a joke in search of a punch line.
Say hello to Mack Butler, a Republican from Rainbow City – imagine that. He’s so embarrassed by his town’s name that he’s trying to over-compensate by being a bully to the LGBTQ community. (Butler is the creepy wide-smiling fellow depicted in the cartoon, protecting an innocent teen from ‘indoctrination.’ You’re welcome, dude.)
Let’s turn this over to John Archibald, who knocks it out of the park with his column: Archibald: Where is Alabama’s ‘Don’t say Baptist’ bill? – al.com
A few excerpts:
“Somebody found out a trans woman in Huntsville had a job as a Space Camp counselor, and complained about it on Facebook.
“People freaked.
“Three members of Congress from Alabama – U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Reps. Dale Strong and Robert Aderholt – rushed to climb aboard the outrage.
“Because people like that can’t be allowed at a place like Space Camp, they reasoned. You know. For the safety of the kids.
Related: Beware all wolves who pose behind the Bible – al.com
“Mack Butler, a Republican from Rainbow City – of all places – quickly assured frightened Alabamians that the Legislature would add Space Camp to its ever-expanding “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Butler is the same guy who described expanding that bill as a way to “purify” the schools.
“The Southern Baptist Convention identified hundreds of Baptist preachers and church workers accused of abusing children between 2010 and 2019.
“At least 33 of those accused church sex abusers were from Alabama.
“Don’t Say Baptist.”
Read all of Archibald’s column here.
And here’s a spot-on column on the subject by Alabama Political Reporter columnist Josh Moon:
Opinion | The real threats to Alabama’s children (alreporter.com)
More cartoons by JD Crowe
Alabama Republi-chickens are scared to death of DEI – al.com
Is Katie Britt auditioning for VP, SNL or The Handmaid’s Tale? – al.com
‘Burn the freaking books:’ Alabama libraries under fire from witch hunters – al.com
GOP owns this IVF minefield: Theocracy is a dangerous playground – al.com
Latest Alabama star in transfer portal hits Nick Saban hard – al.com
True stories and stuff by JD Crowe
The mysterious ‘Bubble Guy’ of Fairhope and the art of bubble Zen – al.com
Robert Plant head-butted me. Thanks, David Coverdale
I was ZZ Top’s drummer for a night and got kidnapped by groupies
Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe
JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @[email protected].
1/55