GREG Gutfeld, 46, is said to be the funniest man on American TV, but the host of the Fox News late-night program, Red Eye, claims he wasn’t joking when he announced on his blog this week that he planned to open a gay bar adjacent to a giant mosque in New York.
Greg Gutfeld
Said Gutfield:
So, the Muslim investors championing the construction of the new mosque near Ground Zero claim it’s all about strengthening the relationship between the Muslim and non-Muslim world.
As an American, I believe they have every right to build the mosque – after all, if they buy the land and they follow the law – who can stop them?
Which is, why, in the spirit of outreach, I’ve decided to do the same thing.
I’m announcing tonight, that I am planning to build and open the first gay bar that caters not only to the West, but also Islamic gay men. To best express my sincere desire for dialogue, the bar will be situated next to the mosque Park51, in an available commercial space.
This is not a joke. I’ve already spoken to a number of investors, who have pledged their support in this bipartisan bid for understanding and tolerance.
As you know, the Muslim faith doesn’t look kindly upon homosexuality, which is why I’m building this bar. It is an effort to break down barriers and reduce deadly homophobia in the Islamic world.
The goal, however, is not simply to open a typical gay bar, but one friendly to men of Islamic faith. An entire floor, for example, will feature non-alcoholic drinks, since booze is forbidden by the faith. The bar will be open all day and night, to accommodate men who would rather keep their sexuality under wraps – but still want to dance.
Bottom line: I hope that the mosque owners will be as open to the bar, as I am to the new mosque. After all, the belief driving them to open up their center near Ground Zero, is no different than mine.
My place, however, will have better music.
The plan for a mosque at Ground Zero is being opposed by many Americans
On a more serious note, the Washington Post on Sunday carried an article written by a Muslim woman opposing the construction of the mosque.
Neda Bolourchi, who lives in Los Angeles, lost her mother who was on board one of the planes that slammed into the World Trade Centre on 9/11. She wrote:
Though I have nothing but contempt for the fanaticism that propelled the terrorists to carry out their murderous attacks on Sept. 11, I still have great respect for the faith. Yet, I worry that the construction of the Cordoba House Islamic cultural center near the World Trade Center site would not promote tolerance or understanding; I fear it would become a symbol of victory for militant Muslims around the world.
I try to take solace in the notion that her death has forced a much-needed conversation and re-evaluation of the role of religion in the Muslim community, of the duties and obligations that the faith imposes and of its impact on the non-Muslim world.
But a mosque near Ground Zero will not move this conversation forward. There were many mosques in the United States before Sept. 11; their mere existence did not bring cross-cultural understanding. The proposed center in New York may be heralded as a peace offering – may genuinely seek to focus on ‘promoting integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture’, as its Web site declares – but I fear that over time, it will cultivate a fundamentalist version of the Muslim faith, embracing those who share such beliefs and hating those who do not.
And she pointed out:
The Iranian revolution compelled my family to flee to America when I was 12 years old. Yet, just over two decades later, the militant version of our faith caught up with us on a September morning. I still identify as a Muslim. When you are born into a Muslim family, there is no way around it, no choices available: You are Muslim. I am not ashamed of my faith, but I am ashamed of what is done in its name.
I do not like harboring resentment or anger, but I do not want the death of my mother – my best friend, my hero, my strength, my love – to become even more politicized than it already is. To the supporters of this new Islamic cultural center, I must ask: Build your ideological monument somewhere else, far from my mother’s grave, and let her rest.
Hat tip: BarrieJohn
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
August 11th, 2010 at 10:38 am
Gay bar idea is fantastic!
Let’s actually see how much “cultural understanding” is actually on offer here, rather than perhaps it just being the most outrageously offensive building project imaginable outside of constructing a nazi-themed fun park next door to Auschwitz!
Respect is a two-way street, and at the moment, crazy and offensive bigotry seems to want more respect for it’s primitive barbarity – than for human life itself and it’s about time that these grotesque ideologies were made to actually look at the world around them and see what REALITY is actually like!
August 11th, 2010 at 10:43 am
I think this is the best response to the Mosque I have seen. Simply brilliant!
August 11th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Neda Bolourchi is a much better representative of islam than the people who wish to build the mosque. My condolances to Neda on her loss lets hope her version prevails, although I would much rather all religions die a natural death and disappear from the world.
August 11th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Touche, Greg. Awesome!
August 11th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
After butting their rugs the muzzies can pay a visit to the handsome boys next door.
I’ve never thought the mosque a good idea for all the reasons previously memtioned here. Apart from its own nuke smuggling potential, would the Islamic Centre become a target for outraged Americans? I see fun times ahead.
August 11th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Off topic but, http://www.dispatch.com/live/c.....ml?sid=101
August 11th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Here’s a question: did any Muslims die in those towers that day? Did any Muslims work in those buildings and not make it out? I’d be very surprised if there were no Muslims at all employed over there.
I’d rather people stop building any and all new centers of worship, but I know that’s not going to happen. I guess I can get why people want to be bugged by this, but is it really the best use of their time?
August 11th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
No question. This idea is inspired.
August 11th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
1minion, yes they did. In particular there were a lot of reports of racist “revenge” attacks being targetted against one Syed Ali who had lost his daughter Sarah Ali in the WTC.
August 11th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Well, this should be a hoot! We’ll see just how far their ‘respect’ will stretch… [pity it had to be a Fox news commentator, but there you go: my enemy's enemy is my friend and all that shit].
Andrew Skegg: nice blog!
August 11th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
This bar might start uniting some people; I’m sure at least some of the Mosque opponents might have some problems with a gay bar near their precious hallowed ground. Maybe there’ll be a temporary truce between them and some Muslims to stop this bar from becoming a reality. Strange bed-fellows, indeed!
August 11th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Gay bar?
Why not a Gay Mosque?
August 11th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
1minion, you are not paying attention. In the OP it is mentioned that Neda Bolourchi, a Muslim, lost her Muslim mother in the 9/11 attacks due to her having been a passenger on one of the planes. As well as Sarah Ali, I would expect that there must have been many more.
Regarding the gay-bar idea, it will certainly smoke out those with double standards.
August 11th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Update: http://dailygut.com/
August 11th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
What a fantastic idea! Proves in a very clever way what the mosque supporters are trying to do.
I read somewhere that they plan to open this mosque on 11 September 2011 – the tenth anniversary of the attack. If that’s true, I think that insensitivity shows exactly what their motivation is.
August 12th, 2010 at 12:40 am
I’m just wondering which one will do better business. Greg’s a bit of a high-horse right-wing jerk, but what can I say, you gotta admit he’s got style.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:53 am
I love that these guys, strict moslems, will have no alcohol pass their lips, but cock is ok. How do they rationalize this?
If you are going to break your strict religious code in such a way, what makes alcohol and those who enjoy it responsibly so evil? Same goes for bacon.
August 12th, 2010 at 9:13 am
How about a strip club with an adult bookstore and novelties? Perhaps that bar may want to have that on one of its floors or open a business on the other side of the Mosque?
August 12th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
This is a very practical idea. Mohamed will be able to go indulge himself in the bar first then pop into the Mosque to spiritually clean up before going home to the Mrs bin-Liner and kids.
August 12th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
best idea ever! How about calling the bar ‘RAM A DAN’
August 12th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
What is this trying to prove?
There are already several gay bars in the vicinity
There is a difference between being pro-secularism (which I am) and hating individual Muslims/Christians/jews etc (which I do not)
I’m not sure some of the posters in this site appreciate the difference
August 12th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Bear in mind that Greg Gutfeld is a raging Fux News homophobe who in this instance is hypocritically using gay people as an offensive weapon.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:26 am
‘When you are born into a Muslim family, there is no way around it, no choices available: You are Muslim.’
No, there are choices. You can leave. You cannot be ‘born’ religious; there is no such thing. People just make it very hard for you to make these choices, as I know from Islamic apostates I have met. On the other hand, this fatalistic attitude is also one I’m familiar with from a few Iranians, who are mostly Persians and as such, the descendents of people who had Islam forced on their ancestors with fire and the sword.
This is a hilarious idea but it appears to be being used against a pack of gaybashing nutters by another pack of gaybashing nutters. As Ivan said – tread with caution.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Well, now we have confirmation that Obama is well under the thumb of that “unindited terrorist group”, Cair. He announced this evening that the ground zero mosque would go ahead. Some kind of blather about anyone can build any religious building anywhere in the States… blah blah… constitution etc. Has not the CIA nor FBI the guts to tell him that the same Saudis who financed 9/11 are also financing this mosque? And the whole idea is to cock a snook at the bereaved. Nothing to do with religion and everything to do with terrorism.
August 25th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Americans are a bit thick, i’m sorry! How long will it take for you people to realise 911 was an inside job? Wake Up peeps, honestly!! And no i am not a ‘Conspiracy Theorist’ before you all start your stupidity.