“Gentlemen, shut up and start your engines.” It would be fun to hear, but it wouldn’t stop Lewis Hamilton, Formula One’s premier virtue signaler, from making a stunningly brave (or is it bravely stunning?) stand for “LGBTQ rights” at the Miami Grand Prix.
According to NBC News, “Hamilton will wear a rainbow-adorned helmet this weekend in support of the LGBTQ community’s battle against legislation it has deemed as hostile.”
Let’s face it, that “community” would find hostile a town ordinance limiting Pride parades to twice a week. Doubly so in Florida, where they’re being deprived of their constitutional right to talk dirty to first graders.
“Hamilton, a long-time supporter of LGBTQ rights, didn’t call out any specific legislation in Florida, where the “Don’t Say Gay” education law and a proposed measure against drag performances have drawn fire from civil rights advocates.”
(Note that NBC continues to live down to expectations. The media have been gleefully mischaracterizing the Florida education law since it was first proposed. As for the drag performances: to paraphrase a political giant: “If you like your hairy, twerking men in lingerie, you can keep your hairy, twerking men in lingerie.” But you can’t like them in the presence of children.)
“I did hear and have read about some of the decisions that have been made in government here and I do not agree with it and I do not support it,” the British racer told reporters ahead of the Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix.
“I really do continue to stand with the LGBTQ community and I’m wearing a rainbow flag on my helmet this weekend,” he continued. “I just really want to continue to support the community here and let them know I stand with them and I hope they continue to fight against it.”
And that is the key to making stunningly brave gestures: you don’t have to know what it is that outrages you so long as you’re outraged.
This isn’t the first time Hamilton put on his rainbow hat. CNN noted that “He has previously raced in the Middle East with a rainbow helmet to promote LGBTQI+ rights in Qatar, and spoken about how the sport needs to do more to raise awareness about human rights abuses.”
(Did you notice something? CNN’s winning the LGBT arms race. NBC’s alphabet train stops at “Q.” CNN’s added an “I” car and a “+” caboose. Get with it, Peacock.)
But what’s brave, or at least bold, in Qatar is just silly in Miami. But from the sound of it, Hamilton’s apt to flash his virtue at the slightest provocation. Back in March, Formula One imposed rules about making political or religious statements. Such rules are not for the like of him.
“Nothing will stop me from speaking on the things I am passionate about,” CNN quoted him as saying. “The sport has a responsibility to speak out and create awareness on important topics, particularly as we are traveling to different places. So nothing changes.”
In other words, he’s a social justice pest. He’s been photographed wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt, and one that read “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor.” In 2021 he bought a table at the Met Gala and filled it with black fashion designers. Shattering the Chiffon Ceiling, I guess.
And he’s got the woke lingo down. Back in March, he told the Mirror:
Sparking those uncomfortable conversations and then holding people accountable who have been happy with the status quo in the past, which has held people down and made people not included. We can make change and I want to be a part of helping that and making people feel more included.
I don’t believe that was AI-generated. I think he really talks like that. The Mirror also said Hamilton “wants the exclusive world of F1 to become more ‘accessible’ for marginalised [sic] communities and stressed that speaking out on such issues can only have a positive impact in forcing change.”
Or it could alienate people who don’t like to be lectured on morality and ethics by guys whose sole qualification is the ability to drive fast for a lot of money.
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