The Minnesota Republican Party's Dubious Ties to Gay Bashing Musicians

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota) has never been an enthusiastic supporter of LGBT rights. Far from it, actually. This is a politician who has said that Kindergartners would be indoctrinated with gay marriage if their parents allow them to attend public school. Or that the Lord blesses anti-gay activists with days full of sunshine when they hold rallies. And that American judges are telling children to stop saying the Pledge of Allegiance and instead put on leather chaps and parade through the streets, all because of the gays.

While those statements are certainly vitriolic, perhaps no one would expect that Rep. Bachmann would pal around with gay bashers who celebrate the fact that in certain countries, gay people are executed. But Rep. Bachmann not only pals around with them, she holds events with them.

Meet the musicians behind You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, a Minnesota-based "Christian" rock band with incestuous ties to not only Rep. Bachmann, but many figures inside the Minnesota Republican Party. Call them You Can Run for short, and call them homophobic to boot, given some extremely radical comments that You Can Run's lead man, Bradlee Dean, has made suggesting that LGBT people should be killed.

As the Minnesota Independent notes, Dean appeared on a local radio show this past week, celebrating how dedicated certain religions are at rooting out homosexuality by putting LGBT people to death.

"Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America,” Dean said. "This just shows you they themselves are upholding the laws that are even in the Bible of the Judeo-Christian God, but they seem to be more moral than even the American Christians do, because these people are livid about enforcing their laws. They know homosexuality is an abomination."

Is there any way to read that statement other than a glowing endorsement for murdering gay people?

What's scary about You Can Run is how embedded they are with Minnesota's GOP. Andrew Belonsky, writing for Bilerico, notes that in addition to You Can Run's close relationship with Rep. Michele Bachmann (they helped Bachmann kick of her re-election campaign this year), the band also has deep ties to the Minnesota GOP's nominee for Governor, Tom Emmer. The band also accepted a GOP-donated booth at this year's state Republican convention.

But is this really a band that Rep. Michele Bachmann, Tom Emmer, and the Minnesota GOP want to be endorsing? Check out even more of frontman Bradlee Dean's comments.

"[Homosexuals] play the victim when they are, in fact, the predator," Dean said. "On average, they molest 117 people before they’re found out. How many kids have been destroyed, how many adults have been destroyed because of crimes against nature?"

And the award for making stuff up goes to ... Bradlee Dean!

But ludicrous rhetoric like this shouldn't be given the blessing of the Minnesota GOP, and that includes Rep. Michele Bachmann and Tom Emmer. Urge these folks to denounce the hateful and homophobic words of You Can Run, and to distance themselves from this band. To spin Dean's words on him, how many people will be bullied, beat up, shamed or discriminated against because people like him — and politicians who support him — demonize LGBT people?

Minnesota gay rights groups wasted no time in letting the Minnesota Independent know that You Can Run's rhetoric is dangerous and extremist.

"[You Can Run's words] are the most outrageous lies I’ve ever heard," said Mark Knief, president of the Minnesota chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans. "This should be a grave concern with any candidate that is supporting them."

And Phil Duran, legal director for OutFront Minnesota, told the Minnesota Independent that You Can Run's rhetoric could have a disastrous impact on kids, and in every way justify and promote violence toward LGBT people.

"It’s pretty shocking to read people criticizing Christians and Americans because they don’t, as a rule, go out and actually kill gay people,” Duran said. “There are those who rely on attitudes like this — and attitudes not nearly so extreme — to justify acts of violence, harassment or discrimination, to justify continued exclusion of same-sex couples from the law, to rationalize the imposition of so-called ‘reparative therapy’ to ‘fix’ people, and to oppose safe-schools legislation."

So why would the Minnesota GOP continue to show love to this band? Why would Rep. Michele Bachmann use a band that calls for gay people to be executed to help her win re-election? Why would Tom Emmer use this band (who, in the past, he's actually given money to) to help him become Governor?

Without a doubt there should be political consequences for anyone who parties hard with extremists like You Can Run. Rep. Bachmann, Tom Emmer, and the Minnesota GOP owe their donors, supporters and constituents an apology for cozying up to hate groups. They also owe it to all in Minnesota, particularly LGBT people and the family of LGBT folks, to condemn the hate rhetoric of You Can Run.

The band, and Bradlee Dean in particular, will tell you that they're just doing the Lord's work, and following the Bible. But maybe I missed that day in Sunday school where we were all given permission to advocate the killing of LGBT people. So much for that biblical principle of "loving your enemies."

Send the Minnesota GOP, Rep. Bachmann, and Tom Emmer a message now. Let these folks know that they can run, but they can't hide (har har) from charges that they're supporting extremists.

Photo credit: Jsome1