When the news that right-wing, homophobic radio host Bob Enyart had died began to circulate, author and LGBTQ+ activist Dan Savage reminded his followers why Enyart's death comes as a relief to many gay men.
Enyart died on September 13 of complications related to Covid-19. He'd refused to get vaccinated and often railed against mask mandates to curb the virus.
Since Enyart died, Fred Williams, his co-host on "Real Science Radio," has memorialized him as someone who was "exceedingly kind and humble, and always, always willing to listen and discuss anything you wanted."
But that's not how Dan Savage remembers Enyart.
In the 1990s, as the host of Bob Enyart Live, Enyart became notorious for reading out the names of people who'd died of AIDs-related illnesses to the tune of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust."
Queen's lead singer, Freddie Mercury, died in 1991 of AIDS-related complications.
Savage says that upon learning of Enyart's death, he cried as he recalled the many friends he lost to the AIDS epidemic.
"Honestly. I teared up when I heard this guy was dead. My friends who died of AIDS were mocked and condemned by this a****** and others like him."
"Each and every one of my dead friends would've been first in line to get vaccinated against HIV to protect themselves and others."
Honestly. I teared up when I heard this guy was dead. My friends who died of AIDS were mocked and condemned by this asshole and others like him. Each and every one of my dead friends would've been first in line to get vaccinated against HIV to protect themselves and others.— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1631570829
Savage went on to say Enyart's pushback against efforts to curb the virus, ultimately "encouraged others to put themselves at risk."
AND OTHERS. Not just themselves. And this guy couldn't be bothered to get vaccinated against COVID even to protect himself. He encouraged others to put themselves at risk. To put others at risk. He was the moral equivalent of some asshole poking holes in condoms in 1986.— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1631570963
He added he is "glad" Enyart is dead and hopes the way Enyart went out gave him time to pause and reflect on the consequences of his actions.
"I'm sorry, but I'm glad he's dead. And I'm glad he died the way he did."
"I hope he didn't suffer — really — but I hope he finally was able to see himself for what he was and had some time to think about what he did and felt some degree of remorse."
Fuck this guy. I'm sorry, but I'm glad he's dead. And I'm glad he died the way he did. I hope he didn't suffer \u2014\u00a0really \u2014 but I hope he finally was able to see himself for what he was and had some time to think about what he did and felt some degree of remorse.— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1631571320
Many concurred with Savage's assessment. Another one bites the dust, indeed.
Karma strikes too seldom in my opinion. But when it does it's sweet!https://twitter.com/fakedansavage/status/1437534730564497411\u00a0\u2026— Wandering Writer (@Wandering Writer) 1631645206
Another one bites the Covid dust.https://twitter.com/fakedansavage/status/1437534730564497411\u00a0\u2026— Hans V \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddff (@Hans V \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddff) 1631587489
this thread is a reminder of how a few short decades ago, those who are now fighting against common sense anti covid measures where laughing at people dying from AIDS.https://twitter.com/fakedansavage/status/1437534730564497411\u00a0\u2026— Boris. fully vaccinated. swears a lot. (@Boris. fully vaccinated. swears a lot.) 1631572740
If I were religious I'd probably consider this divine justice. Since I'm not, I consider it just desserts. https://twitter.com/fakedansavage/status/1437534730564497411\u00a0\u2026— Elaine A ~Vax, Mask, Kick Covid's Ass~ (@Elaine A ~Vax, Mask, Kick Covid's Ass~) 1631573203
This emotion really resonates with me right now.https://twitter.com/fakedansavage/status/1437534730564497411\u00a0\u2026— Richard Vogt, One&Done \ud83d\udc89 (@Richard Vogt, One&Done \ud83d\udc89) 1631573807
Somewhere Freddy Mercury is finally meeting this dude face to face and humming "another one bites the dust." It would be so fitting.https://twitter.com/fakedansavage/status/1437534730564497411\u00a0\u2026— Rowan (@Rowan) 1631579962
Goodbye and good riddance to a most vile creature.https://twitter.com/fakedansavage/status/1437534730564497411\u00a0\u2026— Rodrigo Mesa (@Rodrigo Mesa) 1631583043
I wish that I believed in hell so that I could take some solace that Enyart would burn there forever. At least I can take some solace that we no longer share the same air.https://twitter.com/fakedansavage/status/1437534730564497411\u00a0\u2026— G \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf39 (@G \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf39) 1631572011
Good riddance to bad rubbish.\n\nHoping those and the loved ones of those he so ruthlessly mocked find some peace in his demise.https://twitter.com/fakedansavage/status/1437534730564497411\u00a0\u2026— Maggie (@Maggie) 1631572005
Enyart, who was also a pastor of Denver Bible Church, was well known for his anti-science stances in recent months.
He filed a lawsuit last year seeking to exempt Denver churchgoers from Covid-19 restrictions.
He and his wife, Cheryl, had refused to take any of the available vaccines, claiming they'd been created using aborted fetuses.
They do not.
Last month, he encouraged his listeners to "boycott" the vaccines "to further increase social tension and put pressure on the child killers."
Cheryl Enyart has also tested positive for Covid-19. She is still ill.
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