UK

Gay conservative pundit Darren Grimes would rather see people smile than help save lives by wearing a face mask

Darren Grimes, a gay British political commentator, launched a safe space-type group for, he billed, castaways called "homophobic" and "racist". (Screen capture via Twitter)

Darren Grimes, a gay British political commentator, launched a safe space-type group for, he billed, castaways called “homophobic” and “racist”. (Screen capture via Twitter)

After months of mixed, hazy messages, England finally got an answer Tuesday morning: premier Boris Johnson announced that people must wear face masks inside shops.

So, alongside all the suffering this pandemic has pelted us all with, we must now all suffer the grumbles of those who do not want to wear a face mask. There are, of course, valid reasons not to be able to wear a mask, but unfortunately, masks are the new culture war, and words such as “freedom” and “inconvenience” are thrown around in abandon as death tolls rise.

Enter Darren Grimes. The right-wing founder of a “safe space” for, er, racists, homophobes and transphobes, took to Twitter on Monday ahead of the announcement to blast being made to wear a mask. Saying he’d rather see someone smile than do a simple thing that could help save people’s lives.

Other notable remarks from the Brexit campaigner include but are not limited to: Wondering why we need a Pride “Month”, invalidating the existence of non-binary and trans people and posting a three-minute-long video attacking the BBC for “checks notes” standing up to racism.

Darren Grimes: ‘I despise wearing a mask and dread the compulsory wearing of them.’

A simple piece of cloth on your face – a temporary decision which can dramatically decrease the spread of the deadly coronavirus – is, simply put, part of the bare minimum people can do to, well, stop people (and themselves) from dying.

But as civic rules are being changed, both wearing or refusing to wear a mask can result in dirty looks, angry words, or even violent outbursts. The mask is, in itself, a stand-in for coronavirus – a reminder of how life has changed.

While to supporters, wearing a mask is a sign of respect, critics see it as a sign of weakness.

That, or they decry the apparent death of humanity amid a pandemic that is literally killing, well, humanity – half a million, to be exact. Political commentator Grimes did just that.

“I know many will tell me of my selfishness for this,” the 26-year-old wrote, “but I despise wearing a mask and dread the compulsory wearing of them.

“They’re so dehumanising. You miss a smile, you can miss dialogue and social interaction with staff. They’re the most miserable public health initiative yet.”

Many people sought to tell Grimes that he is selfish. While asphalt protests have flared across the US against the wearing of face masks for weeks, in England, resentment towards not killing people has vastly taken the form of eye-rolls and tuts.

After all, while Scotland – which sets its own health policy – has already mandated masks, English leaders have vastly dithered about whether to enforce them. Seeded by government scientific advisers which have sought to stall masks becoming the new normal of English life.

As a result, an array of healthcare providers, public figures, city officials and other users whose lives have all been upended by the pandemic expressed how, as uncomfortable as a mask maybe, a ventilator is, you know, slightly more discomforting.

 

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