Wow. Who is the real sicko here? Does Mike Detmer, et al, blowing a dog whistle to attack members of the community about a book reading count?
In February of last year students, community leaders, residents, and educators came together to record a reading of “I am Jazz,” a children’s book published in 2014 that was written by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel. The book is based on Jazz’s real-life experiences as a transgendered child.
Now, Mike Detmer and his band of goons are taking to the interwebs in feigned outrage — again — targeting some of the participants in that community project. Painting them as “sickos,” this post encourages its followers to “learn their names and expose them.” There are students — children — who participated in this community project. What exactly is Detmer’s gang trying to accomplish with this post? Inciting more hate toward the diverse members of our community and their champions?
Let’s think about this for a moment.
What if this post was about people of color? Let’s be honest, because not so long ago it was socially acceptable to publicly terrorize people of color.
What if this post was about people with disabilities? Remember when the cognitively impaired were shunned from society, denied education, denied access, and denied basic human rights?
How were the champions of the disabled community treated when advocating for basic human rights for their children and other loved ones? I wonder if they, too, were ever threatened to be “exposed” and called “sickos” for allowing a person of color or impairment to use a toilet?
I think they were and I am so proud of their courage and bravery to stand up for the people they love.
Livingston County mom and educator Kasey Hilton knows all too well about advocating for those she loves; she is a parent of a child with a disability.
“What Detmer seems to forget is that by attacking these human beings and children, he’s attacking and threatening his own voters and children of voters,” Hilton said. “Maybe if he wanted to focus on what to do to keep people safe rather than look for who to attack next, our world and community would be a better place.”
Truer words have never been spoken. I have to wonder if the goal of this campaign is to turn every citizen upon one another?
The thing about embracing diversity is that there is so much more than one type. You cannot acknowledge and affirm one type without acknowledging and affirming them all, which is what diversity is.
The most wonderful part of “I Am Jazz” is when Jazz was scared and her parents said, “Be who you are, we love you no matter what.”
I’d like to think that all of us parents out there have said that to our children at some point, regardless of the circumstances. And if that one small thing is all that weaves us together today, I will accept that very small strand knowing that in the grand scheme of things, we all love our kids.
If not, may I forever be the sicko that will affirm EVERY child’s right to be and to exist, free from the hate and bigotry of those who wish them harm.
“The kids who get to know me usually want to be my friend.” Jazz Jennings, 2014
Mike Detmer has announced his plans to primary state Sen. Lana Theis in the August 2022 Republican primary. Click here for more.
