DISPATCHES FROM THE NEWSPEAK DICTIONARY: James Lileks on “dragphobia.”

Oh look, a new word.

There is no such thing as “dragphobia,” unless it falls under coulrophobia, or fear of clowns. From the Cleveland Clinic:

 Coulrophobia brings on feelings of fear when you see clowns or clown images. It’s a specific phobic disorder that causes anxiety, a racing heart, nausea and profuse sweating. Most people can avoid clowns. Some need exposure therapy, a type of psychotherapy, to help manage their reactions to clowns and clown images.

Most people can avoid clowns. Not these days.

“Dragphobia,” like all the faux-phobias, is meant to delegitimize dissent. If you have a specific objection to a behavior, an idea, a means of practicing one’s religion, you are reacting irrationally.

Why is GLAAD giving the aura of a penumbra of an emanation of appearing to be pro-grooming?