[UPDATE: John and Elizabeth Edwards post more focused responses to Coulter on the campaign blog that address the bigotry. See them after the flip.]

Well at least Human Rights Campaign found a class act to stand up and actually tie Coulter’s remarks directly to the real issue —  homophobia. The org passed along this video from former NBA player and HRC Coming Out Project spokesperson John Amaechi has this to say, and it gets to the heart of the matter:

This is what he says:

“Hello, I’m John Amaechi, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign Coming Out Project. “Yesterday, Ann Coulter, in a speech before the Conservative Political Action Committee, used the ‘F’ word that has long been used as a hateful and harmful slur against gay people.

“I have worked as a youth mentor since I was in college, and in the weeks since I publicly came out I have heard from young people from all over the globe. Coming out and living openly can be challenging – and that challenge only grows when people like Ann Coulter mockingly use it as a cheap joke.

“Words have power – and this word in particular has a ricochet effect, as it emboldens bullies in the school yard, in the work place, and on the streets, and tells them that this kind of hate speech is ok.

“Ann Coulter knows better, yet continues to disparage the GLBT community.  The people in the room with her yesterday would do well to speak out loudly against her remarks and more importantly her sentiment and send a message that harmful slurs never have a place in the public discourse.”

As I said in my earlier post, it’s not about bashing the tired banshee — this is how Ann Coulter makes a living. It’s about discussing why calling John Edwards a faggot is acceptable to her and those at the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) Conference who cheered her on; they are clearly comfortable with tossing out that word, the same word frequently used as LGBT citizens are bashed and killed by members of The Base, and used to taunt and terrorize gay youth.

Speaking of Amaechi, it was just announced by the National Black Justice Coalition that he will be appearing next Friday at the reception for the Second Annual Black Church Summit, which will be held in Philly. He’ll discuss life in the closet while playing in the NBA. That event is open to the public. More info on the summit, which will be held on Saturday, here. BTW, I will be there live-blogging the event — it should be interesting — there will be a debate about homosexuality and the black church between Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and anti-gay Bishop Harry Jackson. Chairman of the High-Impact Leadership Coalition. This is a little-discussed topic (though I’ve blogged about it a lot), so it is likely to be an eye-opener for a lot of folks.

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Back to Coulter after the jump…The Edwards camp continues its mop up on the debacle; Elizabeth Edwards does attempt to address the homophobia fomented by people like Coulter and her conservative enablers on the JE08 blog.

“Although her words did not hurt us, they may have hurt some in the gay community. We are all sick and tired of anyone supporting or applauding or introducing hate words into the national dialogue, tired of people thinking that words that cause others pain are fair game. And we are sick and tired of people like Miss Coulter thinking that her use of loaded words about the homosexual community in this country is remotely humorous or appropriate.”

And a statement from John Edwards just went up:

Ann Coulter’s use of an anti-gay slur yesterday was un-American and indefensible. In America, we strive for equality and embrace diversity. The kind of hateful language she used has no place in political debate or our society at large.

I believe it is our moral responsibility to speak out against that kind of bigotry and prejudice every time we encounter it.

Yes, everyone with a conscience must buck up and speak out about what the real issues are. Coulter is just a puppet for the bigotry of The Base.

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BTW, The Nation isn’t happy with the original lame responses by the HRC or the DNC either:

Let’s ponder the possible meanings behind our village idiot’s latest ramblings. Surely not even Coulter can believe that Edwards is actually gay (unless she’s knows something we don’t — an unlikely scenario). So perhaps she intends to tar Edwards with a patently false but nonetheless toxic slur. This is puerile name-calling to be sure. In Coulter’s twisted little mind, “faggot” is an insult, not because it’s true, but because “faggot” is so radioactive that even to be called one is damaging.

But this homophobic logic is exactly what Dean and Solmonese recapitulate in their over-zealous response. One can only believe that being called a faggot is “vile,” “digusting” and “low” if one believes, as Coulter does, that being a faggot is vile, disgusting and low. Do Howard Dean and Joe Solmonese believe that?

H/t Neil (the Ethical Werewolf), and Michael Petrelis.