Jeremy used to love the Duggar family. He would watch episodes of “16 and Counting” and beg me to get the ingredients for “tater tot casserole”. He was fascinated by their family life, their love of music, their chores, their devotion to God. He watched them pack the converted campervan to go on holiday, he was fascinated by the volume of pickles, washing, musical instruments the family needed to get by. He was a fan.
Sadly, the Duggar family were never a fan of Jeremy’s. Last year Michelle Duggar spoke out against anti LGBTIQ ordinance in nearby Fayetteville. She said that the ordinance “would allow men – yes, I said men – to use women’s and girls’ restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sleeping areas and other areas that are designated for females only” and stated, “Males with past child predator convictions [could] claim they are female to have a legal right to enter private areas that are reserved for women and girls. I doubt that Fayetteville parents would stand for a law that would endanger their daughters or allow them to be traumatized by a man joining them in their private space.”
May those words haunt her, as at the time she was fully aware that her own son has traumatised a number of girls. Her view has seen a crumbling media profile implode as parents of transgender children, the wider LGBTIQ community and frankly most sane people felt uncomfortable with the family’s extreme right wing views.
In 2002, when he was in his early teens, Michelle’s eldest son Josh sexually assaulted a number of younger females. That it has taken 13 years for the news to be made public exposes shocking layers upon layers of lies, ineffective action and cover up by the Duggar family and those connected to them. There has been no mention of what support was provided to his small victims. The public comments from his supporters are vile in their ignorance of both the law and God’s love.
The Duggar family are fundamentalist Christians, adherents to the Quiverfull movement. Quiverfull members see procreation and children as a blessing from God, eschewing all forms of birth control including natural family planning and sterilization. Women are seen as subservient to their husbands, their positions are home makers, educators and bearers of children.
Is this why the Duggar family are so complacent in hiding and excusing the hideous behaviour of their eldest child because he is male? Do they believe that somehow he has a right to take what he wants from females?
I am heartsick for the precious wee girl children he touched inappropriately. They are victims in this scenario and are hidden from view.
May their faces be shining in the sun now that their story is being told.
Parenting Jeremy - a gender journey 
Rachel
May 25, 2015 at 12:31 am
Firstly I’ll preface by saying that I’m firmly of the agnostic persuasion and that I’ve never been an avid Duggar follower, I’ve heard of them in that: “how many kids?…. you’re shittin’ me!!” kinda way.
I can see another side to this story and her comment. Firstly, I don’t think her comment is (in all ways) wrong. I think context is important.
~She said that the ordinance “would allow men – yes, I said men….
A child, be they (born) with a penis or a vagina is not and can not be considered a “man”, of the penis equipped, red blooded, heterosexual and occasionally (even) predatory kind.
The kind that even I (despite how I myself happened to have been born) do NOT want to be in a vulnerable position around, let a lone see near young girls.
And sadly, until a “penis equipped” individual (past a certain level of age/maturity) is no longer “penis equipped”, there is really no way of (realistically) determining whether or not they’re a sexual threat.
as for covering up her sons actions (that’s if she even had some viable choice in the matter), the woman has how many kids now? she’s surrounded by a society (and religion) that pretty much guarantees she’ll be on her own if she tries to go against her husband.
she’s probably never truly worked and supported herself in her entire life (let a lone the kids if she were to get custardy which I’d doubt) so she probably doesn’t believe she even CAN.
so that leaves her alone, childless, homeless ostracised with no means of feeding or supporting herself.
SO!…. Do what you’re told or become a homeless prostitute?
Which would you choose?
I don’t think it is just a certain religion, or just the dagger family, I think that to a certain extent, most men believe (on some level) that they can do and take what they want, and why wouldn’t they? what have women ever truly done to stop them? for that matter what COULD we even do?
That’s life! that’s the world!
What I DO (personally) believe is that women attacking other women for any reason whatsoever doesn’t really help matters when it comes to our shared position in life and the world.