'Crazy Anti-LGBT Rant' by Lincoln Nebraska Woman Went Viral
- Details
- Category: LGBT Issues
- Published on Tuesday, 15 May 2012 13:00
- Written by Lara Landis
- Hits: 486
LGBT blogs featured a viral video of a homophobic rant. The blogs railed against the woman, but it may turn out that the blogs were out of line in this case. Jane Svoboda testified before the Linconln, Nebraska council about a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance. Bloggers quickly pointed out the stranger parts of her speech. At one point, Svoboda claimed that Gay men molest boys simply because they do not have HIV/AIDS yet.
Although the rant received well-deserved criticism, the Huffington Post reported that the woman suffers from schizophrenia and lives in an assisted living facility. Clues in her rant, including the confused logic, provide some clues that the woman suffers from some form of mental illness, but many bloggers initially reported on the video without full knowledge of Svoboda’s condition. (Ed note: Mental illness is not an excuse to spout crap).
Svoboda’s long-winded rant, shown above, is difficult to watch and incredibly offensive, but it indicates the woman may not have taken anti-psychotics that help control her medication.
Lincoln, Nebraska’s city council could do little to prevent the woman from addressing the council when she took the lectern. Her caretakers also cannot always guarantee that she takes her medication. The woman suffers from a serious mental illness. Svoboda’s speech may not represent the views she may hold during her lucid periods.
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I really don't understand how people got upset about this. Yes, it was extremely inappropriate and insulting, but it was just so deranged that how can anyone take it seriously enough to react with outrage. I thought it was friggin' hilarious.
It seems the editor's note, which I removed because someone with schizophrenia or a similar mental illness is NOT responsible for the things they say when they are not in a lucid state, but it seems to have reappeared after the server transfer.I was uncertain about including the video, since this woman was clearly off her medications. My intent was to criticize the LGBT blogs that posted it. This rant could, unfortunately, come out of the mouth of one of my late family members.
I go to school in Lincoln, NE, and this woman is often on campus shouting and handing out fliers. She does indeed have schizophrenia. This rant was extremely logical compared to some of the others I heard from her. Some people just politely accept fliers or say no thank you, but to others she is an object of public ridicule. I feel quite bad for her. She cannot really be held responsible for many of the things she says. And also schizophrenia cannot always be controlled by medication, even if taken regularly.