Thanks to a Republican representative alleging the non-existent college course of ‘lesbian dance theory’, netizens are having fun imagining what university would be with such a course.
Of course, Representative Lauren Boebert (R-Co.) was just aiming to be snarky when she slammed the student loan forgiveness plan of President Joe Biden.
Obviously, this just reflected badly on Boebert and her Republican partymates, and how they perceive liberal education in America.
Lesbian dance theory: Where did that come from?
Biden had said at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Maryland that he will grant US$20,000 in debt relief to Pell Grant recipients and US$10,000 for others.
Biden declared that education as a ticket for a better life has “become too expensive for too many Americans. The burden is so heavy that even if you graduate, you might not have the ticket that graduating college once offered.”
However, Boebert said on Fox News that Biden’s plan was “robbing hard-working Americans to pay for Karen’s daughter’s degree in lesbian dance theory.”
Aside from Boebert, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), and Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) also spoke out against student debt relief.
The White House Twitter account retaliated by calling out the Republicans’ hypocrisy, citing the amount of Paycheck Protection Program loans by corporations forgiven by the government.
What people are saying about the lesbian dance theory
Chelsea Steiner, writing for The Mary Sue, said the imagined college major was “a perfect encapsulation of the Republican world view.”
That is, Steiner said, this was “anti-education, anti-arts, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-support for anyone who isn’t a millionaire or a corporation.”
Tennis icon Martina Navratilova tweeted that “this 65 year old lesbian has never heard of lesbian dance theory, but maybe it’s a thing.”
Another Tweeter user said, “The ‘dance theory’ trope is routinely silly and philistine. ‘Lesbian dance theory’ adds that frisson of bigotry that really excites your basic semi-fascist.”
Meanwhile, film producer Jeremy Newberger used the term against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a tweet: “You know as soon as Lauren Boebert uttered the words Lesbian Dance Theory, Ron DeSantis drew up legislation to remove it from Florida schools, and GOP super PACs kicked in a s— ton of money.”
Another asked: “Where does one take lesbian dance theory classes? Asking for a friend…”
What the student debt forgiveness will really do for the kids
According to the White House, the debt relief plan will not benefit any “high-income individual or high-income household,” and that the top five percent of earners will not gain access to it.
The Department of Education currently hold the loans to Pell Grant recipients who are being targeted for debt relief.
According to reports, borrowers are also eligible for this relief if their income is less than US$125,000 or US$250,000 for married couples.
An extension of the break on federal student loan repayment is set to last until December 31, 2022. Borrowers should expect to resume payment by January 2023.
“According to a Department of Education analysis, the typical undergraduate student with loans now graduates with nearly $25,000 in debt,” the White House said.