Beware Puritanism Left and Right - Observer

Eva Wiseman writing in the Observer newspaper warns against puritanism on both the extreme political left and right as she analyses what is driving anti-sex crusades in the UK and US, which frequently are a cover for anti-LGBTQIA policies and efforts to undermine women’s rights.  Eva takes a long look at the last fifty years, noting the campaigns of “Clean Up TV” fundamentalist Mary Whitehouse, who she notes was a “homophobic loon”, and also saw atheist and pagan conspiracies everywhere.  Eva brings us up to date with the far right conspiracies and how anti-paedophile campaigns are frequently a cover for neo-fascist activity.  She writes “Like Whitehouse, Conservatives today continue to see themselves as anti-establishment rebels, marching into battle with only their decency and common sense to protect them. Sometimes also, admittedly, a gun. As puritan politics spread, marginalised groups feel the first pinch.”