I’m still rattled by the number of snarky responses emitted by impotent, homophobic men and Anne Coulter (I’m not sure what category she falls in) to the now-infamous pictures of 17 yo Gus Walz reacting to his Dad’s expressions of love and pride for him at the Democratic Convention.

I love you, Dad!

The folks who still can’t get past outdated, primitive ideas about character ultimately being determined by machismo or feminity inevitably remind us of their destructive presence in our society. Never mind the harm they do to the social fabric of our country, e.g., outlawing the rights of LGBTQ people, telling women what to do, and denying trans kids the chance to be who they want to be, but think of the permanent damage they continue to inflict on the kids they come in contact with.

Now, news from Texas (really, Texas? I’m shocked!) about a Dad beating up his 2-year-old son for acting gay. Ah yes, the “let’s beat the gay out of the kid” strategy that works none of the time.

Would I be out of line to suggest that this story is, in many ways, a microcosm of the culture war that attracts almost half of all Americans to support the most notorious failed man, husband, and father on the American stage at this moment?

Why bother familiarizing yourself with another person’s capacity for love, empathy, truthfulness, and ethical living if you can prejudge him/her based on superficial notions related to race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. It’s okay to be Black if you believe in and support the values of conservative white Americans (and talk white!). It’s OK to be gay as long as you act butch and keep your love life private. It’s okay to be an educated, professional woman as long you let men make decisions about your body and you never interfere in their quest for power and wealth.

Let’s all say a prayer for 2-year-old Rodrigo Baez, whose broken bones and physical scares may soon heal but who will surely be emotionally scarred for life for failing to live up to Papi’s expectations.