'Former 'ex-gay' spills details about religious right, Pat Robertson: gays demanding Christians have open, wild sex' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Former anti-gay activist: "I've never met an 'ex-gay' man I thought was not still attracted to men" - WOW! Not only is former 'ex-gay' activist Yvette Schneider denouncing the 'ex-gay' movement but she is giving some good details on what does on in religious right circles. It's a long interview but trust me, it is a good one. 

Pat Robertson Warns Gays Threaten Christians: 'Have Open Sex With Anybody Or Else You Leave' - Damn u nasty, Pat Robertson. And trust me, no gay will be asking YOU to have open sex. 

BarbWire.com: When A Hate Group Creates Its Own Conservative "News" Site - I've long since thought of the Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber as a hack who is perpetrating solely for the money. Equality Matters gives some interesting details about his online publication BarbWire which may justify my thinking.  

How The Alaska Supreme Court Is Circumventing The State’s Ban On Same-Sex Marriage - THIS is interesting, to say the least.

Straight White Guy Festival' Fliers In Ohio Park Spark Local Controversy - Ain't nobody going to that #@!*. What's a festival without drag queens?

Another former 'ex-gay' denounces the movement, apologizes to lgbt community

Schneider

In all of the excitement and happening involving yesterday's Virginia decision, something else the lgbt community should be celebrating got lost in the shuffle. According to Jeremy Hooper, GLAAD Special Projects Consultant:

Yvette Cantu Schneider has one of the most robust pedigrees of anyone who has ever worked in the so-called "ex-gay" movement. From the late nineties right through to the second decade of the twenty-first century, Yvette managed to find herself laboring for and with just about every top anti-LGBT group and activist you've heard of. From her high-profile start at the Family Research Council to her work with California's Proposition 8 campaign—with many stops, at many different groups and campaigns along the way—Yvette became one of that movement's most visible faces and certainly one of the most known women in a line of "work" known mainly for its male spokespeople. To this day, Yvette remains one of the key people who anti-gay voices like to cite in order to prove that "change" works. In a December 19, 2013, press release concerning the Duck Dynasty brouhaha, notorious anti-gay activist Peter LaBarbera, who was a colleague of Yvette's during their shared time at the Family Research Council, cited Schnieder as an example of a person who has "ovecome homosexuality through faith in Jesus Christ." "Ex-gay" websites continue to list her as among their ranks and push her story as a source of inspiration. The American Family Association continues to sell a video, "It's Not Gay," in which Yvette appears as a talking head. They all still claim Yvette as being both an example and a worker bee for their side.

That all changes today. Yvette has reached out to GLAAD, exclusively, to share her story—one that will come as a shock to her former colleagues and allies.

In a nutshell: Yvette no longer wishes to identify with the "ex-gay" or anti-LGBT movement; is sorry for the pain she caused as part of that world; is highly questioning of the idea of "ex-gay" itself; and is now fully supportive of LGBT people, our truths, and our families. Yvette has made her sincerity clear to me, saying "as opposed to when I was doing things for the Christian Right out of duty and obligation, I'm doing it because I want to and feel it's the right thing to do." She hopes that by speaking out, she can start to undo any damage she might've helped to impart.

\Go to this link to read the first of a two-part story in which Schneider explains how an encounter with the child of a gay man and her own daughter's illness led her to question the path she was on.

But first, a little note. There are some who will probably say  "f#ck her," or "she hurt too many people to be begging forgiveness."

To those folks, I would like to quote Tyler Perry as Madea Simmons and say shut the hell up!

Forgiveness is a good thing. Not just for the piece of mind of the person you are forgiving but also your own soul.

Who wants to hold on to bitterness when it's so much easier - and healthier -  to forgive and open your heart?

VA marriage equality victory provides positive repercussions for NC . . . and hopefully a cellphone

Unless you have been living in a cave with your fingers in your ears, you have heard about today's marriage equality victory in Virginia which has repercussions in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

Unfortunately, SC is determined to still defend its marriage equality ban. However not so much North Carolina:

NC AG Cooper says it's time to stop defending state's marriage ban: "There are really no arguments left to be made." pic.twitter.com/0HIQCS8OK1
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) July 28, 2014

Regardless, this is rather sweet particularly when one remembers the depths the opposition stooped to in North Carolina to get the ban passed in 2012. Isn't that right, Pastor Patrick Wooden?

You will remember that during the campaign, Wooden, a NC pastor , claimed that gay men have so much anal sex that we wear diapers. He later made a claim that a gay man had to have a cell phone removed from his rectum.

To make matters worse, on the night that his side won, he was filmed holding a cellphone in triumph:

While of course this battle is far from over, I will give you one guess what Wooden can now do with HIS cellphone.

'NOM wants international anti-gay group' & other Monday midday news briefs

The Rise Of Europe’s Religious Right - The American religious right is making interesting progress in Europe. Amongst the revelations in this article, Brian Brown of NOM is attempting to create an International Organization for Marriage. So just in case stuff starts coming down, don't act as if you weren't told beforehand. 

Texas Children’s Home Fires Employee Just For Being Gay - And it's perfectly legal.

 8 Things Straight People Get Wrong About Gay Men - Just eight?  

Gordon Klingenschmitt Scores An Exclusive Interview With Sen. Mike Lee - Terrible news. Two homophobes close to each other in a room does not cause spontaneous combustion.

BAD ANALOGIES: Gay Marriage is Like 2 + 2 = 5 - Ben Carson, a man who took the Steve Miller song "Take the Money and Run" to heart.

'Gaystapo' is now a Christian term

Bob Eschliman is a former Newton Daily News editor who is suing the publication for violating his Christian beliefs. According to the Huffington Post:

Former Newton Daily News editor Bob Eschliman dumped from his job after a blog post he wrote which criticized what he called "the LGBTQXYZ crowd and the Gaystapo" for trying "to reword the Bible to make their sinful nature 'right with God.'" Jim Romenesko first reported on the blog in April. Eschliman was later suspended with pay, and the newspaper's owner eventually terminated his employment, the Des Moines Register reported.

Allegedly, Eschliman wrote this piece, criticizing a website which rewrites the Bible to make it friendlier to lgbts,  on his own blog. Now this fact will probably spark discussions on free speech and its boundaries.

After his firing, the newspaper following in an editorial:

 . . .  the Newton newspaper published an editorial by Shaw Media President John Rung.
"Last week, he expressed an opinion in his personal blog that in no way reflects the opinion of the Newton Daily News or Shaw Media," Rung wrote. "While he is entitled to his opinion, his public airing of it compromised the reputation of this newspaper and his ability to lead it."

However, the interesting thing to me is how some in the religious right  are bending over backwards to say that Eschliman was fired for "expressing" his Christian beliefs without say exactly what he said. The American Family Association's One News Now, in its version of the story, made mention about Eschliman was a "Christian," and how he was "persecuted," but the publication never talked about his exact words. The framework of the article went about like this:

Eschliman's attorney is Liberty Institute-allied lawyer and former federal prosecutor Mat Whitaker, who tells OneNewsNow the journalist was an "exemplary" employee. "He had won many awards as a journalist and by all accounts he had outstanding performance as an employee," says the attorney. Eschliman ran into a problem, though, after he wrote about his personal religious beliefs on his blog and expressed his belief in traditional marriage. On April 30, he was placed on "indefinite paid suspension" while the company investigated his blog post. A few days later, the journalist was called into his boss's office and immediately fired and escorted from the building. 

The problem I have is this - so some folks set up a webpage making the Bible friendlier to lgbts. Big deal. That's their right, just as others may feel that it was Eschliman's right to slur all lgbts because of it. What's with the ugly language he used and why do some folks say that it was "mere expression" of his Christian beliefs?"

It doesn't make lgbts look as bad or intolerant as it does Christians who have no problem with smearing gays in that manner.

And one more thing. Substitute the word "Jew" or "black" for the group Eschlimann attacked and I hardly think that his firing would be seen as a controversy.

Why is that?

'Bachmann: Gays want to let adults sexually prey on children' & other Friday midday news briefs

Michele Bachmann: Gays Want To Let Adults 'Freely Prey On Little Children Sexually' - And they tell us that when we object to such character assassinations, we aren't showing "tolerance." Modesty precludes me from publicly commenting further, but needless to say, it's a good tirade.

Michael Sam Delivers Perfect Reaction To Tony Dungy’s ‘Distraction’ Claims - The irony about Michael Sam is that all of these folks claiming that he will provide a distraction are the very ones PROVIDING the distraction. Sam is busy practicing his craft.

Super Model Andreja Pejic Comes Out As Transgender - Good for her!!  

Fox’s Erickson Agrees That “The Homosexual Movement Is … Destroying America” - The day I take Christian instruction from an odious, bigoted, chauvinistic twitter troll who lucked into a media gig with Fox News, America IS heading on the road for destruction

Bill Maher speaks basic truth about marriage equality

This is an old clip but talk show host and comedian Bill Maher gives truth about opponents of marriage equality:

Sen. Rubio, speeches are cheap. Let's hear you denounce anti-gay groups like the Family Research Council

Take as much time as you need, Sen. Rubio.

Dear Sen. Marc Rubio,

If you are going to whine about marriage equality supporters being "intolerant," perhaps you need to take a look at those who defend your rhetoric. I have said this twice and now will make the third time. But this time is really special because the Family Research Council is defending your comments:

 The Senator then went where many of his colleagues fear to tread -- the very nature of marriage itself. "The union of one man and one woman is a special relationship that has proven to be of great benefit to our society, our nation and our people, and therefore deserves to be elevated in our laws." However, he said, "there is a growing intolerance ... towards those who continue to support traditional marriage ... and I promise you that even before this speech is over, I will be attacked as a hater, a bigot, or someone who is anti-gay. The intolerance in the name of tolerance is hypocrisy."

Just for the edification of my readers, this is the SAME Family Research Council who has been called an anti-gay hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center  in 2010 for its insistence of spreading hateful lies about the lgbt community:

 Headed since 2003 by former Louisiana State Rep. Tony Perkins, the FRC has been a font of anti-gay propaganda throughout its history. It relies on the work of Robert Knight, who also worked at Concerned Women for America but now is at Coral Ridge Ministries (see above for both), along with that of FRC senior research fellows Tim Dailey (hired in 1999) and Peter Sprigg (2001). Both Dailey and Sprigg have pushed false accusations linking gay men to pedophilia: Sprigg has written that most men who engage in same-sex child molestation “identify themselves as homosexual or bisexual,” and Dailey and Sprigg devoted an entire chapter of their 2004 book Getting It Straight to similar material. The men claimed that “homosexuals are overrepresented in child sex offenses” and similarly asserted that “homosexuals are attracted in inordinate numbers to boys.”

That’s the least of it. In a 1999 publication (Homosexual Behavior and Pedophilia) that has since disappeared from its website, the FRC claimed that “one of the primary goals of the homosexual rights movement is to abolish all age of consent laws and to eventually recognize pedophiles as the ‘prophets’ of a new sexual order,” according to unrefuted research by AMERICAblog.

'Sen Rubio's lie about 'tolerant debates' Part 2' & other Thursday midday news briefs

Sen. Marco Rubio no doubt won the news cycle yesterday with his deceptive whine that those who oppose marriage equality are the so-called victims of intolerance. I really wish folks would look into this man's background to see how much his claim is indicative of the false tone of victimhood of those who make the same claim. It only takes a little googling. For example, according to Right Wing Watch, in November of last year:

The Florida Family Policy Council announced today that it will host Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) at its 2013 Annual Dinner. The FFPC is led by John Stemberger, the anti-gay activist who most recently helped launch a Boy Scouts splinter group that will ban openly gay youth, and the fundraiser will honor Liberty Counsel head Mat Staver.

 Stemberger and Staver are far outside of the mainstream, but with Rubio preparing for a possible presidential run in 2016 he may use this event, much like his speech at the Values Voter Summit, to soothe any doubts about his right-wing credentials. Stemberger previously chaired Florida for Marriage, which spearheaded the campaign to pass a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions, and founded the anti-gay Boy Scout alternative Trail Life USA.

Stemberger has a long record of incendiary anti-gay rhetoric. He:

Claimed that being gay is an “artificial, social construct” that is “dangerous.”

Warned that the Boy Scouts will experience widespread sexual abuse as a result of including gay members under the age of eighteen.

Said that people are gay because they think it is “hip” and “cool.”

Alleged that affirming LGBT youth is “tantamount to abuse” and “an abuse to that child.”

And let's not forget Staver:

Mat Staver is the head of the Liberty University School of Law and its legal affiliate, Liberty Counsel, a sponsor of the Values Voter Summit. . . .  At a previous Values Voter Summit, Staver claimed that progressives are using LGBT rights and secular government in order to “ultimately implode America” and that the “agenda of the homosexual movement” is to destroy freedom and western civilization.

Through his role at Liberty Counsel, Staver has:

Argued that President Obama “does not respect America” and wants to intentionally cripple America so he can have global power and create his own personal army of Brownshirts.

Defended Malawi’s law criminalizing homosexuality and said U.S. opposition to criminalization was “immoral.”

Urged schools to prohibit students from holding a “Day of Silence” to protest anti-gay bullying and said teaching LGBT history in schools amounts to “sexual assault.”

Alleged that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act will lead to child molestation, sexual assault, and even death and “harm women and children” if passed. 

The sad thing about all of this is not what was said, it's that the Beltway media will most likely exclude any talk of the circles Rubio runs with in their attempt to gain "access." 

In other news:

Don't fall for Sen. Rubio's fake cry for 'tolerance' in marriage equality debate

Sen Marco Rubio

One of the most transparent tactics opponents of marriage equality will attempt is to claim that supporters of marriage equality are intolerant of their opinion.

It's not only a transparent tactic but highly cynical. And apparently it's the tactic that Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is attempting:

While Rubio has consistently held conservative positions on abortion and gay marriage, his current emphasis appears to be an effort to appeal to social conservatives who have yet to settle on a favored candidate for 2016. "Even before this speech is over, I will be attacked as someone who is a hater or a bigot," Rubio said.

  .. . In his remarks, Rubio acknowledged the United States has a history of discrimination against gays and lesbians. But he said he could not support such unions despite a quick-moving shift in public opinion in support of allowing same-sex couples to marry. "There is a growing intolerance on this issue," Rubio said of those who back same-sex marriages. He then urged his opponents to show civility: "Tolerance is also a two-way street."

No doubt, the folks at Fox News and members of the media who care more about attaining "access" than getting the story correct will fall for Rubio's junk.

But I agree with him that there needs to be civility on the issue. And let's start with addressing the following:

Staver: Gay Marriage Is 'A Direct Attack On Who God Is' 

 Klingenschmitt: Jesus Will Overrule The Supreme Court And Toss Gays Into Hell 

 Ben Carson Explains How Gay Marriage Is A Marxist Plot To Impose The 'New World Order'  

Barber: Gay Marriage Is 'The Brainchild' Of Satan 

 Renew America Pundit Warns Gay Marriage Will Turn Us Into Marxist Slaves 

If Sen. Rubio was honest with his cry for "tolerance," he would address those on his side of the argument with as much vigor as he attempts to place onus on us.

After all, we aren't the ones conjuring up images of Marxism, Satanism, or slavery. 

'Hobby Lobby fight divides lgbt leadership but the community can rescue it' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

Fighting the religious right exacts a toll: How LGBT groups got secretly divided - So the Hobby Lobby decision is causing problems for lgbt groups. If you forgive this anonymous black Southern blogger for "not knowing his place," this situation is indicative of how lgbt groups (I love them so) are like the proverbial fox in the fable of the Fox and the Cat. So much intelligence, so many avenues to consider that they are losing sight of the one thing which MUST be stressed. This "religious liberty" argument is merely a tactic, like so many others from the right, which while seemingly innocent, is merely a covert way to sway the argument in their favor by playing the victim. Perhaps a first step in our fight back is to remind people of this because goodness knows there is a LOT of history of the right pretending to be martyrs in pursuit of their goals of marginalizing the lgbt community. Just a thought from the Underworld of lgbt activism.

Editor's note - I interrupt these news briefs because the last one just reminded me of a crucial bit of news. On the new web page, my booklet, How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America, is merely 22 downloads away from hitting 1,000. I have never asked for money or donations on my blog in the seven plus years I have been in existence and I don't plan to. BUT I will ask that (if you haven't already) to either check out the new How They See Us web page and download the booklet or if you don't want to go through all of that, just click here to download the free adobe acrobat copy of How They See Us. And by all means, please send it to your friends, family, Congressional leaders, acquaintances, enemies, (I think you get the gist of what I am trying to say). Our problem as a people is that we fail to seize the argument. We fail to remind people of the true history and face of the anti-gay industry. That's a crucial reason why they have success with framing the argument of lgbt equality on their terms. I am hoping that my booklet, in its own way, can remind people of that face. I NEED you to make it a success. And again, remember I don't get ANY money for this. Equipping the lgbt community and our allies with what we need to fight the religious right is all the reward I need. One day, I may tell you all why I do this stuff. 

Okay, back to news briefs:

Social Conservatives Unload On Obama LGBT Order - So the religious right is angry at Obama for his recent lgbt executive order. I haven't been THIS shocked since Clay Aiken came out of the closet. 

Right-Wing Media Pretend Religious Liberty Protects Anti-LGBT Employment Discrimination - So the right wing media claims that the "free market" would solve the problem of anti-lgbt discrimination. Didn't they once say that about racial discrimination?

 An Open Letter to Former NFL Coach Tony Dungy - Tony Dungy catches flack for his absolutely stupid comments about Michael Sam.

Anti-gay spokesman - transgender women shouldn't go to church so they shouldn't use the ladies bathroom

When you are listening to this, keep remember that this man, Gordon Klingenschmitt, wants to be serve as a Colorado state representative:



 If you ask me, I think Klingenschmitt just "winged" that one off of the top of his head.


Hat tip to Right Wing Watch

'Former Coach Tony Dungy chooses the way of the coward about Michael Sam' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Former NFL Coach Tony Dungy Says He Wouldn't Have Drafted Michael Sam - Mr. Dungy, if you can take Michael Vick under your wing after his dogfighting conviction, you should have no problem with Michael Sam, who has done nothing wrong. I simply don't buy your "things will happen" explanation. No shit. Pioneers usually have to endure so others who come after them don't have to endure. But you would be in a perfect position to steer the situation. There is no either/or in this situation. You are either a guiding light or a coward.

The Malaysian Plane Crash May Be A Major Blow To AIDS Research - Even if it may not have, it's still a sad situation. Let's remember and pray for all involved.  

Regnerus Shoots His Own Foot - At this juncture, Mark Regnerus is simply a joke.

GLAAD co-chair on Huffington Post: 5 Things Not to Say to a Transgender Person (and 3 Things You Should) - Something we ALL should pay attention to. 

GOP Representative Goes From Christian Revival Meeting To Supporting Marriage Equality - Heck, let's have more meetings like this one!

Obama signs executive order, anti-gay right nail themselves to their crosses

Yesterday, President Obama signed an executive order expanding protections for lgbt federal workers and prohibits contractors dealing with the federal government from discriminating against lgbts. There were no religious exemptions.

It's not a total ENDA, but it will do for now.

However, to hear some members of the anti-gay right tell it, Obama just gave the go ahead to begin "anti-Christian" persecution across the country.

Matt Barber, no stranger to hysterical hyperbole, had this to say:

Here we have this president acting and ruling as the imperialist president – circumventing Congress, circumventing the separation of powers in order to force his radical, leftist agenda on the rest of America – and targeting and discriminating specifically against Christian companies in order to do so.

Not to be undone, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council reached waaaay back and brought up stereotypes about lgbts:

This order gives activists a license to challenge their employers and, expose those contracted employers to threats of costly legal proceedings and the potential of jeopardizing future contracts. The order further burdens contractors by stripping away their right to set dress and grooming standards. All this amounts to viewpoint blackmail and bullies into silence those contractors and subcontractors who have moral objections to homosexual behavior. 

In spite of the false weeping and portents of doom, what President Obama did was legal and very appropriate. And it shouldn't have to come through executive order.

It should be a given that if you have business with THIS country, you shouldn't be allowed to discriminate, period.

Anti-gay activist Matt Barber has FINALLY gone too far

No one has ever claimed that the Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber has ever observed simple rules of good taste and decorum in his attacks on lgbt equality. However, it is extremely safe to say that the image below, accompanying his post on The Coming Christian Revolt goes way beyond anything - a rainbow flag superimposed behind a photo of African-American protestors being sprayed with water hoses during the Civil Rights Movement:

It's not only a personal insult to me as an lgbt but also an African-American that Barber would exploit what I consider sacred images in order to make a false point.

There will be no "coming Christian revolt," Mr. Barber because no Christian in this country is being discriminated against. Being told to treat everyone the same is not discrimination.  Providing goods and services to people whose taxes pay for the safety of your business is not discrimination.

Your disagreement with the fact that lgbts should have the same rights as heterosexuals is just that - YOUR disagreement. You have a right to believe that, but you don't have a right to codify it into law, particularly if your codification involves junk science, cherry-picked science, or out-and-out lies.

You are not entitled to anything, Mr. Barber. If you are, please educate me. And by all means, please tell me how the elimination of your entitlements ranks next to being denied the right to vote, segregation, lynching, being called "boy" or "gal" as a deliberate sign of disrespect. And if that's too difficult for you, then answer me this:

'Religious liberty' the latest buzzword for homophobia

The more I think of this bogus argument of  "religious liberty" or "religious freedom," the more angry I become about how the entire debate is being conducted with no perspective. "Religious liberty" is merely a new anti-gay buzzword. It is the latest in a long line of concepts and claims used to justify anti-gay animus and discrimination.  It's nothing new and it shouldn't be debated as if it is a new concept. Allow me to elucidate with the use of words and visuals from various anti-gay spokespeople in debates throughout the years:

1970s: Gays are pedophiles - "As a mother I know that homosexuals cannot biologically reproduce children. Therefore, they must recruit our children." - Anita Bryant

1980s - The AIDS crisis  ''The poor homosexuals -- they have declared war upon nature, and now nature is extracting an awful retribution.'' - columnist and Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan

1990s: Gays in the Military -  "Homosexuals are a very unstable group . . . They are restless in their contacts, lonely, jealous, and neurotic depressive. As a category of people, homosexuals have a greater indiscipline problem than heterosexuals . . ." - Robert (Bob) McGinnis, columnist, present employee with the Family Research Council

 

2000s: Marriage Equality - "Same-sex unions are not marriages. Political regimes based on lies about human nature cannot last. Same-sex marriage takes a sacred institution, with deep roots in human nature, and tries to turn it into the plaything of politicians, a creature of the state, a bundle of rights to be tossed about between adults. Something so feebly rooted, so fragilely constructed and imposed cannot last." - Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage

2010s:  Religious liberty - “I’m beginning to think, are re-education camps next? When are they going to start rolling out the boxcars to start hauling off Christians?” - Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council