Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg - Marriage equality IS segregation

Peter Sprigg

Loving Day is an annual celebration held on June 12 and it commemorates the day the Supreme Court struck down laws against interracial marriage via the Loving vs. Virginia ruling.

The lgbt community has taken this day and the Loving vs. Virginia ruling to heart because it gives us hope that anti-marriage equality laws will be defeated in the same manner.

However, leave it to the Family Research Council, and one of its spokespeople, Peter Sprigg, to attempt to claim that laws against interracial marriage and laws against marriage equality are different.

And Sprigg's attempt at doing so should leave you scratching your head or laughing your proverbial butt off.

In a column, What Loving Means, Sprigg goes through the history of Loving Vs. Virginia and then compares that to what he seems to think marriage equality entails. It's a boring, legalese-filled piece until this hilarious sequence of paragraphs (bold emphasis added by me):

The clear purpose of the bans on interracial marriage was to build walls between two groups of people in society, blacks and whites. Such laws were designed to reinforce a system of racial segregation, keeping the races apart from one another.

In contrast, defining marriage as the union of male and female has exactly the opposite intent and effect. Rather than building walls between two classes of people, it creates a bridge across the most fundamental gap in humanity -- the gap between male and female. Bridging the divide of the sexes by uniting men and women in marriage is common to all human civilizations, and serves the good of society.

Interracial marriage does not change the definition of marriage, and laws against interracial marriage had as their only purpose preserving a social system of racial segregation.

Homosexual "marriage," on the other hand, changes the fundamental definition of the institution, and would form at least three segregated forms of marriage: male-only unions, female-only unions, and opposite-sex unions.

In addition to  me saying "that don't make a lick of sense," allow me to go into short detail as to why. In his first statement, Sprigg is accurate. Bans on interracial marriage were to enforce a system of segregation. But that's the only thing Sprigg gets correct.

The problem lies with his sleight of hand. Defining marriage solely between man and a woman does have the same effect as banning interracial marriage, particularly because gay couples do exist and these couples have children. Keeping the rights and privileges of marriage away from them and their children does in fact reinforce a system of inequality designed by animus to tell gays that they are second class citizens. Neither Sprigg nor anyone else on his side of the argument has been able to prove that such animus does not exist

Furthermore, there is the simple fact that allowing gays to marry does not prevent the "uniting of men and women together." At no time does allowing gays to marry prevent heterosexuals from marrying each other.

Which of course means that Sprigg's claim that marriage equality would create "three segregated forms of marriage" is just plain stupid. More than that, Sprigg comes across as a high school student spinning odd theories in order to fulfill a quota of words in a class writing assignment.

If that were the case and I was Sprigg's high school teacher, I would give him an "F" for that paragraph alone.

Hopefully the Supreme Court will be as strict of a teacher to Sprigg and all of those on his side of the marriage equality spectrum who would try to pass his hokum as any degree of truth.
 

'Survey - People of faith oppose 'religious liberty' laws' & other Friday midday news briefs

This booklet breaks down anti-gay lies

What Religious People Actually Think About Using ‘Religious Liberty’ To Justify Anti-Gay Discrimination - I hate to sound like Sarah Palin, but the media is not doing this job to get this news out. To hear them tell it, the only religious folks are those white Christian evangelicals who are always spouting against lgbt equality. THIS article is what I'm talking about when I say "nuance." 

 Seoul’s Pride Events Are Off To A Pretty Terrible Start - This is NOT good. The lgbt community in Seoul have been outdone by the anti-gay opposition in a huge way. They would never be able to do that here, but still . . . 

Teen Sues School District In Potentially Key Federal Case For Transgender Restroom Rights - I hope he wins. He certainly has my admiration. 

 'Oranges, Baby Powder, Handcuffs And Duct Tape': Inside The Trial That May End The Gay 'Cure' - I still have my eyes on this trial. The repercussions could be sweet!  

How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America - shameless plug time. If you haven't downloaded this free booklet on anti-gay propaganda, please do so. This link will take directly to it for you to download, read, share, etc. Michelangelo Signorile said it best. This is NOT over regardless of whether or not the Supreme Court gives us 50-state marriage equality. As we saw yesterday in North Carolina and Michigan, the anti-gay right and their supporters have already planned for that outcome and we shouldn't ignore them. They have the money, influence, and intelligence to conflate religious belief with anti-gay lies and propaganda. This short, but definitive, booklet on anti-gay propaganda breaks it down in a way it should have been broken down a long time ago.

Ben Carson's 'black vs. gay' gambit backfires in his face

Leave it to wannabe presidential contender Ben Carson to begin the dreadful "black vs. gay" argument again by declaring that gay rights aren't the same as civil rights because there was no segregation against gays.

Of course that would be excluding these "religious freedom laws" which the religious right and their cohorts are pushing through the state legislatures.

But aside from that, Carson is conveniently forgetting the presence of lgbts of color during segregation. One day, I am going to find that spaceship which folks like Carson seem to think people like me were on during segregation and other pivotal moments in black history.

But for now, I will console myself by enjoying how the 'black vs. gay" gambit blew up in Carson's face when Brianna Keller of CNN challenges him on it:



Related column - The Erasure of 'Gay' From Black History and the Black Community Must Stop

Michigan now making it more difficult for gay couples to raise children via bad adoption laws

Michigan Gov. Snyder slaps gay taxpayers in the face with new laws.

If my lgbt brothers and sisters thought that this so-called culture war was nearing the end thanks to a possible Supreme Court ruling for marriage equality (which hasn't even happened yet), they got a wake up call today.

North Carolina's "religious liberty" law regarding magistrates is bad enough, but thanks to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, not only will children be potentially denied good homes, but the state's lgbt community just got a huge slap in the face.

Now it is legal for Michigan's adoption agencies to not only imply to the state's lgbt community that they are not worthy of having families and raising children, but these same  adoption agencies can receive lgbt tax dollars for the privilege:

Michigan's governor signed legislation on Thursday allowing private adoption agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples on religious grounds, one of a series of Republican-backed measures at the state level targeting gay couples. Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, signed three bills into law a day after Michigan's Republican-controlled Senate approved the measures that had been advanced by the state House of Representatives.

 . . . The Michigan bills that were signed into law let faith-based agencies that contract with Michigan refuse adoption services to couples on religious grounds. The legislation does not specifically mention gay couples, but is considered a version of religious freedom acts considered in a number of states to shield businesses that may refuse services to same-sex couples from discrimination lawsuits. Child placement agencies that decline services to couples will be required promptly to provide prospective adoptive parents a list of other adoption agencies willing and able to serve them.  One bill amended the state's child protection act and the others amended other laws to add language on refusing service.

Freedom Michigan, a coalition of business and other groups supporting gay rights, said the law will make it harder for the more than 13,000 children in the state's adoption and foster care system to find nurturing homes.

The ACLU is already considering challenging the laws in court:

ACLU attorney Brooke Tucker said the group is looking at ways to challenge of the law on constitutional grounds."The constitution doesn't allow discrimination based on religion and you can't do that with state funds," she said. "We're looking at our legal options and especially looking to hear from people who will be adversely affected by this."

This is NOT the last we hear about this in Michigan and, unfortunately, in other states. The signal has been given and I am sure that other states will be attempting to follow.

How long will it be before our lazy media creates the false narrative of the "backlash" to the progression of lgbt equality?

'Trouble for lgbts in North Carolina & Michigan' & other Thursday midday news briefs

House overrides magistrate same-sex marriage veto - A law which allows county magistrates a "religious excuse" to refuse to perform marriages for any couples (i.e. same sex couples) has become law after the legislature overrode the Governor's veto. Ugh! 

Michigan Lawmakers Pass Bills That Could Allow Adoption Agencies To Reject LGBT Families - And then there is THIS thing. Will the Governor sign it? Regardless, when Michelangelo Signorile once remarked that "it's not over," if folks didn't believe it then, they had better believe it now.

  Report Attacks African Nations' Justifications For Anti-Gay Laws - The same lies and junk science which once had IMMENSE power in America has a greater deal of power in Africa.  

Ben Carson: Gay Rights Aren't Civil Rights Because Gay People Don't Have Separate Water Fountains - Oh stop it already! The segregation was a symbol of inequality, just like the sodomy laws, and the pogroms against Jewish people. For a person who is supposed to be intelligent, Ben Carson is a serious dumbass.  

Right-Wing Pundits Rail Against Gay Military Leaders - So much for respecting those who fight for our freedoms. 

22 Stunning Same-Sex Wedding Photos That Are So Full Of Love - Let's end these abysmal set of news briefs with something happy.

Niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. becomes 'Paris Hilton' of anti-gay right

Alveda King - the 'Paris Hilton' of anti-gay activism

Those who read this blog or keep up with the struggle for lgbt equality should be familiar with the name Alveda King.

For those who aren't, she is the niece of the late and legendary activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A polite way to describe her would be the "Paris Hilton" of anti-gay activism, or someone who brings nothing to the table but her name, which gives  a psychological but transparent relevancy exploited by the religious right when they want to make their homophobia sound noble or connected to the African-American civil rights movement.

As such, Alveda really doesn't have the good sense God gave a goose, but she knows how to take advantage of a good gig when she sees one. This being the case, she is constantly on the ready to be called to speak at an anti-gay rally, or on television. In fact, Fox News recently hired her as a pundit (which should say a lot about Fox News, but nothing you probably haven't already heard).

Recently, she took part in a Family Research Council panel discussion where she made several outrageous claims. First she said according to polls, little children have shown that they want a biological father and mother. But hold on because that's not the only outrageous claim she makes. King claims that not only are there more studies which prove that same-sex households are a danger to children, but that media is conspiring to cover this up. She also said she could personally testify about being "harmed and confused." Her statements to this effect begins at 1:30 :

King's entire statement is questionable. I say this as someone who has interviewed her in the past regarding claims she made (more on this later) and based on our conversation, I got the impression that she is a person who is "flying by the seat of her pants," i.e. makes outrageous claims, but can't back them up with proof.

'Target ad breaks down love of pride, will surely confuse Franklin Graham' & other Wed. midday news briefs

Poor Franklin Graham. I guess he is going to have to also get his followers to boycott Target. This ad is simply awesome!

 In other news: 

 Meet The Doctor Social Conservatives Depend On To Justify Anti-Transgender Hate - Wonderful!! There needs to be more refuting of anti-gay junk science on a larger scale. A queen gets tired of feeling like he is doing it alone. 

 Maggie Gallagher's familiar 'victim' psychodrama - Just what I needed today. A silly white woman telling me that a crazy black man is an icon in a black community when the residents of said community are saying the opposite. Maggie Gallagher still thinking of black folks as "the help."

Judge: Arkansas Must Recognize in-State Same-Sex Marriages - By the way, this happened yesterday. It's nice to post something out of Arkansas besides those darn Duggars.  

Family Research Council: Anti-LGBT Conservatives Are The New Civil Rights Leaders - And they are clever, too. They've figured out a way to spread lies in the name of Christ, collect HUGE paychecks, and not even get one hose sprayed at them or one dog nipping at their feet. And the racists simply LOOOOOOOVE them!

How do children feel about Caitlyn Jenner?

One of the constant refrains of the religious right is how learning about lgbts, particularly the transgender community, will confuse and ultimately damage children. It's a load of hokum. Based on the reactions they have about Caitlyn Jenner, children seem to be more hip to the truth of the matter than most adults:

Lindsey Graham kisses his presidential aspirations goodbye with one statement

Lindsey Graham wants Caitlyn Jenner's vote.

Sen. Lindsey Graham is running for president. He's not even going to make it past the preliminaries for a number of reasons, particularly this statement:

Republican presidential contender Lindsey Graham says his party has room for transgendered people like Caitlyn Jenner.

The South Carolina senator calls himself a "traditional marriage kind of guy." But he says he "can only imagine the torment that Bruce Jenner went through" before becoming a transgendered woman. He hopes that, now, she's "found peace."

The underdog Republican candidate is campaigning on the need to counter threats from terrorists and Islamic State militants. He shares the opposition to same-sex marriage expressed by his rivals but says the Supreme Court is settling that question.

 

Graham says if Jenner wants to be a Republican, she's welcome. And he says if she wants a safe country and a strong economy, she should vote for him.

He spoke Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

That ought to play well with Rush Limbaugh, Erick Erickson, other conservatives, and the wannabe kingmakers of the religious right.

My guess is that James Dobson hasn't commented on this yet because he is still being fed oxygen after originally hearing it.

'Franklin Graham moving finances from one lgbt-inclusive bank to another' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Poor Franklin Graham. He can't escape pro-lgbt banks.

Franklin Graham Drops Bank Over LGBT Rights Stance, Joins Bank That's Sponsoring A Pride Event - Way to go, stupid. I do love karma. 

 Related post - Franklin Graham's abusive definition of 'love' is something we can do without  

GOP Senator: Churches Could Be Forced To Close If Supreme Court Rules For Same-Sex Marriage - Such are the rules of the religious right and their supporters. No matter how many times a lie has been refuted, they will continue to repeat is consistently. It's a deliberate tactic of propping up a headless monster (i.e. an idea which has been proven to have no bearing in truth). 

Trailer: New anti-gay movie stars actor who was on Logo's 'Sordid Lives'?! - I've heard of "gay for pay," but "anti-gay for pay?"

 Obama Appoints Transgender Attorney Shannon Minter To White House Commission - Wonderful!

Franklin Graham's abusive definition of 'love' is something we can do without

This is the commercial which has led Franklin Graham to pull his ministry's finances from Wells Fargo  and suggest  that other "Christians" begin boycotting the bank. And by the way, via email, the Family Research Council supports his sentiments.

Wells Fargo may be the first American bank to feature a lesbian ad -- but it may also be the last. The outrage over these in-your-face commercials is finally reaching a boiling point with consumers, who are sick and tired of watching companies pitch agendas over products. American powerhouses like General Mills, Tiffany & Co., Amazon, Starbucks, Tylenol, Target, Nabisco, Alaska Airlines, and even Betty Crocker are tripping over themselves to pander to 2.3% of the buying public with intense LGBT advocacy. Like us, Rev. Franklin Graham has had enough. In response to Wells Fargo's new ad, the son of evangelist Billy Graham is making an enormous withdrawal: his ministry's accounts. On Facebook, Franklin challenged Christians to take a long, hard look at where their money is going.

Mr. Franklin Graham,  just what is the problem with this ad?  Are you claiming that the commercial celebrates sin? If so, who are you to dictate what sin is? And that's not even the point. You seem to be saying that it is wrong for Wells Fargo to even acknowledge the fact that same-sex families exist. You seem to demanding that facet of American society, who has done you NO harm, shouldn't be acknowledged; that they should be erased, omitted, yanked from the view of the American public simply because YOU think they are sinful.

You are certainly free to bank where you wish, but the larger message you are sending is simply un-Christian. And you have the temerity to do these things cause you say you love us?

If I wanted love like that, I would go to jail cells of all of the men locked up for domestic violence and pick out four or five to date.

Lgbts should exploit the religious right because it's so easy to do

LaBarbera

When it comes to good old fashioned strategic warfare, the lgbt community stinks. We really do.

How is it that we can allow anti-gay figures to falsely claim that they have no animus against us, no ignorance against us when we have so much ammunition to choose from?  How is it that folks like Tony Perkins and organizations such as the Family Research Council can even begin an attempt to control the argument in this so-called culture war when at the very least, all we need to do is to raise a stink by making conversations like the following (an old "friend" of ours, Peter LaBarbera being interviewed by VCY America's Crosstalk call-in show) go viral:





Why do we go out of our way to either minimize this as simple ignorance or do something needless such as speculate whether or not LaBarbera is secretly gay when we could be using this conversation to prove animus. Wouldn't it be wonderful to make someone like Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation or even Perkins himself address this junk. But as it is, it is our silence which is preventing us from moving faster in our struggle for equality than we should.

And it's not just LaBarbera. Day in and day out, we are inundated with religious right members, conservative politicians and think-tank minions who say outlandish things about the lgbt community and we hardly ever use their words to rightfully demonstrate their animus.

Perhaps we should get less desensitized to homophobic words and more willing to exploit them.

'Franklin Graham calls for boycott of Wells Fargo for featuring same-sex family in ad' & other Monday midday news briefs

Franklin Graham

Billy Graham's Church Calls For Christians To Boycott Wells Fargo Bank Over Same-Sex Adoption Ad - So ads showing same-sex couples and their children should be considered as anti-Christian persecution now? THIS is the very reason why these claims about anti-Christian persecution in America will be treated like the "boy who cried wolf." 

Huckabee Stands By 'Commonsense' Transgender Locker Room Joke - Apparently to folks like Mike Huckabee, common sense means being bullheaded, ignorant, refusing to educate yourself on things you know nothing about and putting it all on "Jesus."

Scott Walker Backs Constitutional Amendment Allowing States To Ban Same-Sex Marriage - That headline should read 'Scott Walker ain't ever gonna be president (hopefully).  

Beck: We Have 10,000 Pastors Who Are Willing To Die Resisting Anti-Christian Persecution In America - Which is news to everyone, ESPECIALLY those 10,000 pastors.

Bill Maher 'declares war' against false cries of anti-Christian persecution

Say what you will about Bill Maher, in this case about those constantly whining about Christian persecution in America, he is on point:

'Senate won't extend veteran benefits to married gay couples and their children' & other Friday midday news briefs

 
Senate Rejects Extending Veterans Benefits To Married Gay Couples And Their Kids - This here is some @!%$! Don't tell our fighting men and woman that you appreciate their service and then refuse to give them fair compensation.

‘Transgender, at War and in Love’ - Before anyone succumbs to nonsensical fears regarding transgender men and women in our Armed Forces, they really should see this documentary. Hat tip to my buddy John Becker. 

Air Force Takes A Big Step Toward Allowing Transgender Service - Speaking of which.  

Federal Judge Strikes Down Guam's Gay Marriage Ban - Awesome!!  

Five Insights From A 1961 Documentary On Gay Men That Still Resonate Today - Because lies never die. They just take different forms.  

Alan Keyes: Voting For Gay Marriage Like Voting For The Holocaust - I KNOW that there some sane black conservatives out there somewhere . . . somewhere over the rainbow cause they sure aren't showing themselves.  

Sandy Rios: Duggar And Hastert Are Victims Of 'Systematic Targeting' Of Conservatives - When you see the people that the religious right are propping up as spokespersons . . .

Family Research Council still exploiting actual anti-Christian persecution overseas to fundraise

In an Iranian prison, a man is praying . . . for Christians in America.

In a hidden location in North Korea, a kneeling circle of believers cry out to God . . . for Christians in America.

I know of no stronger evidence of the connection between the persecuted church overseas and the persecuted church in America than this: they are praying for us!

That's why I urge you to allow me to send you a Nasrani Pin as my thank you for your gift to help FRC stand for religious freedom in America as Christian faith comes under growing attack -- and also speak out for the persecuted Christians overseas.

- - Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in a sleazy fundraising pitch conflating actual incidents of anti-Christian persecution overseas to evangelical Christians in America being told to follow the law like everyone else and serve all customers, gay and straight.

'Negative fall out from Duggars interview, HRC having problems' & other Thursday midday news briefs

The fall out from the Duggars interview is not pretty (as many of knew it wouldn't be) and there is a LOT of criticism thrown around:

CNN's Chris Cuomo: Megyn Kelly's Duggar Interview Was "A Conversation Among Friends" - Even though I still think Kelly got lucky with the way this interview turned out, Cuomo makes an EXCELLENT point. 

The Duggars totally misrepresented their anti-LGBT robocall in Fox News interview - As I predicted, the robocall question was a KILLER to the Duggars. 

 In Fox Interview Duggar Dad Falsely Describes Michelle's Anti-Trans Robocall To Cover Up Hypocrisy - Etc.

Fox News fans defend Duggars the only way they know how — by blaming Bill Clinton and black people - But the Duggars had their defenders . . . but they were NOT helpful. 

 In other news: 

 Internal Report: Major Diversity, Organizational Problems At Human Rights Campaign - Having an "outsider" status in the lgbt equality movement, I've never been one for the internal squabbles and the name-calling (such as the "Gay,Inc" label), but this internal report about HRC gave even me spooky pause. Whether some of us like the group or not, HRC is a powerful and much needed organization when it comes attaining lgbt equality. I hope it takes this report to heart and makes the necessary changes (particularly getting more people of color in visual and leadership positions).  

Gender Transition Tougher than Caitlyn Makes It Look - WONDERFUL article which includes my very good friend Dayna Smith who reminds us that while yes we should praise Caitlyn Jenner, let's not forget the larger picture. Gender transition is not easy for those who undergo it because of a number of reasons, financial and otherwise. 

Religious Right Angry At Business Support For Marriage Equality - Gasp! How DARE those awful, awful, equality-loving businesses.

Michelle Duggar reduced to awkward silence when confronted by her transphobic hypocrisy

Well the Duggars interview with Megyn Kelly of Fox News is over and here are my thoughts.

I was disappointed in how Kelly glossed over several details regarding the type of counseling the Duggars claimed their son, Josh, went through after admitting he inappropriately touched several underage girls, including his sisters. To say that Kelly was on their side is an understatement. Several invectives and tones in her voice when she mentioned "the tabloids" or when she implied how the family was being targeted bothered me.

However, all in all, I view Kelly like a football team who won a crucial game because the other team played worse. She actually stumbled her way through a very good interview and I only say that because of one moment.

Aside from the molestation charges, many folks have called out the Duggars for anti-gay campaigning they have done on several occasions. Josh was a member of the Family Research Council and spoke several times against lgbt equality including marriage equality while claiming it was for the sake of the children.

Last year, Michelle Duggar made a robocall to residents in Fayetteville, Arkansas as a part of a successful attempt to defeat a pro-lgbt ordinance. Her robocall implied that transgender men and women were predators who will harm children in public restrooms.

During the interview, Kelly asked her specifically about the hypocrisy of her robocall in light of knowing what her son had done.  Michelle Duggar began a rambling answer which descended to uncomfortable silence.

To me, that moment was the pivotal part of the interview and speaks for itself as a very important part of this entire mess. The line of questioning begins at 5:05:

Anyone wishing to view the entire interview can do so at Mediaite.

Preview of Duggars interview - I am NOT impressed

Bill Gates doesn't have enough money nor does Rob Kardashian have enough tush to make me watch the nauseating Fox News channel for any reason.

However, with that in mind, I am showcasing this preview of tonight's Megyn Kelly interview with Michelle and Jim Bob Duggars regarding the child molestation scandal with their son, Josh. I don't do this with any type of glee. My heart goes out to all of the victims - definitely the little girls who were molested and let's not forget members of the lgbt community (particularly our transgender brothers and sisters) who were made the victims of lies and propaganda because this family had the audacity to claim that we are a harm to children even after the situation with their son, Josh. Take the following for what you will:

My opinion? Kelly needs to ask questions about why they made public stances and accusations about the lgbt community harming children even after they knew what they knew about their son. If she bungles that part in any shape or form, it will haunt her career.

Lastly, that was an awful preview to show.  Already it is getting criticism in the comments section of Mediaite.

Somebody better squeeze out some tears during this interview. I'm talking Noah's flood, here.  This could be a potential disaster in the making for ALL parties involved.

'Conservative magazine busy with pseudo-intellectual attack on lgbt equality' & other Wed midday news briefs

Conservative magazine The Federalist is attacking Caitlyn Jenner

What The Media Should Know About Walt Heyer And "Transition Regrets" - Not only that it's the latest attempt to undermine lgbt progress via junk science and lies (this time attacking Caitlyn Jenner) but it is the latest attempt to do so by the conservative magazine The Federalist. The Federalist helped push the "stories" of the adults who regret being "raised in a gay household," as well as pushing other outrageously homophobic pieces. It would seem to me that The Federalist is attempting to push a pseudo-intellectual objection to lgbt equality. HEAVY on the pseudo. 

Everything That’s Wrong With Huckabee’s Transgender Bathroom Remarks - You got a week to do nothing but listen to me count the ways?  

Jindal: Left Trying To 'Outlaw Firmly Held Religious Beliefs That They Do Not Agree With' - Forget it, Bobby. You simply ARE NOT going to get that nomination.  

Mary Cheney shames anti-gay GOPers: ‘For years I have listened to them talk about importance of family’ - She makes a good point (and none of that "where has she been talk. In her defense, her sister, Liz, is simply a monster).

 A Trial In New Jersey: One Man's Religious Freedom Is Another Man's Torture - Pay attention to this trial. The outcome, if it happens as I hope it will, could potential destroy ex-gay therapy.

Anti-gay spokesman says gays recruit children because 'adults don't go there'

David Barton

After hearing this bizarre rambling from popular religious right "historian" David Barton (in which he attacks the transgender community, claims that gays are "evangelizing" to children, and that gays have to recruit children because we can't "recruit" adults), one has to wonder do we have spies who are deliberately causing the other side to lose this "so-called" culture war:

'Megyn Kelly hinting that she will 'soft-peddle' Duggars through interview' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Megyn Kelly Previews Duggar Interview: Not Going to Be a ‘Cross-Examination’ - Well I hope this helps to put an end to the "Megyn Kelly is a tough but fair Fox pundit" lie. From her talk with Howard Kurtz, it sounds as if she is going to soft peddle the interview with the Duggars with special attention aimed at those who are supposedly "exploiting" the scandal for political purposes, i.e. "the left." Certainly the interview shouldn't be a "cross-examination," but there are very serious questions regarding the Duggars' behavior during the situation AND the hypocrisy of their public anti-lgbt stances afterwards which need to be addressed. Any GOOD journalist would know this. Still, we will see how the interview goes. 

Right-Wing Media Respond With Sarcasm And Disrespect To Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair Cover - Ignorant people will write and say stupid things. However, the fact that this bile is coming from recognized journalists and other media figures is simply sad and illustrates the lack of self-accountability and integrity in today's American media. And the worse thing? How desensitized we are about it. Instead of getting angry and shocked enough to demand higher standards, we simply shrug our shoulders. 

 Huckabee: I Should Have Pretended To Be Transgender In School To 'Shower With The Girls' (VIDEO) - No comment, only because what I want to say would be so intense that it would induce nosebleeds. And NO Josh Duggar jokes from me seeing how much Huckabee stands by him . . .  

Does Caitlyn Jenner 'make God into a liar?' Of course not! - A reposting of last night's piece as a way of cleansing my blog after the last two vile news briefs (and as a way for me to calm my nerves because I can't have a face-to-face "conversation" with Huckabee over his comments.) 

Top U.N. Official Says Same-Sex Partnership Protections Needed To Safeguard Human Rights - I totally agree. 

 North Carolina Senate overrides governor's veto of marriage opt-out bill -In spite a governor veto, NC legislators are determined to jump down the rabbit hole of bigotry. 

 Mat Staver: GOP Will Split In Two If Party Drops Anti-Gay Platform - Oh that would be just awful, terrible, a calamity (hehehehehe!)

Photo taken from here

Does Caitlyn Jenner 'make God into a liar?' Of course not!

Caitlyn Jenner

I rarely, if all, talk about religion on this blog.

I consider myself a person of faith raised up in the Baptist Christian religion. I respect the differences of religious belief, but draw the line when folks  exploit these beliefs to harm their fellow man by lies and stigmatization, particularly my lgbt brothers and sisters.

I especially don't like it when Christians point to several "clobber verses" in the Bible as a way to demonize lgbts without taking into account what these verses are actually saying or what was happening at the time these verses were written.

With that in mind, I have to comment on this situation with Caitlyn Jenner in my own way. I don't think I have to recount the situation. She has found happiness finally being who she is.

However, there are some who call her transition an affront to God and they use those same Biblical verses to do so. They claim that Caitlyn is saying that "God is a liar" because supposedly God made male and female. Of course they say the same thing about the lgbt community in general. Rather than go into a long expository, I think I will give my opinion on whether or not God approves of Caitlyn, myself, and other members of the lgbt community by citing a chapter in the book of Job which I think says it all.

'Duggars grant Fox News first post-scandal interview' & other Monday midday news briefs

Fox News snags first post-scandal interview with Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar - Surprising NO ONE that the Duggars are running to Fox. I guess Megyn Kelly is slightly better than Sean Hannity but color me NOT impressed. Frankly I don't fall for Kelly's "I am so different than the other Fox newscasters act." So what if she comes across sensibly every now and than after showing an immense degree of bias. I don't get excited by journalists who act like they are supposed to only a quarter of the time rather than all of the time. The proof will be in the questions she asks. And by the way, where will Josh Duggar be during this interview?  

20 Burning Questions Fox News' Megyn Kelly should ask Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar - Get your checklist out if you are planning to watch the interview.  

Colorado YMCA has the perfect response to critics of its gay-friendly ‘alternative’ prom - And it was much nicer than anything I would have said.

New HIV Study Was So Dramatic, It Had To Be Stopped Early - This wonderful. Imagine and HIV study so successful that it was stopped in the midway point and participants get immediate access to the antiretroviral drugs used in the study.

 GOP Neocon War Hawk Lindsey Graham Officially Announces Presidential Run: Reactions, Video - I am NOT saying A WORD. NOT. ONE. WORD.


Photo taken from The Inquisitr  

Palmetto Family Council's anti-gay lies undercut by its allies

Oran Smith

"I think what we have here is – and I hate to use a term that is kind of threadbare or shopworn but – political correctness," he began, "and that is that there are certain positions that you're allowed to take in a democratic society; and then for some reason there are other positions that you're not allowed to take. And our past support for one man, one woman marriage in South Carolina somehow makes us toxic." - Oran Smith of the Palmetto Family Council

Smith is still fuming over the fact that pressure by South Carolina lgbt activists and their allies convinced Clemson coach Dabo Swinney not to attend PFC's upcoming fundraiser where he was to receive an award.

However, based who Smith chooses to tell his story to in the article, he isn't telling the entire truth.

A little advice, Oran. You shouldn't lie and try to make this situation solely about your stance on marriage equality, particularly when you consort with groups like the Family Research Council and the American Family Association who are known for demonizing the gay community with junk science studies, comparisons to the Nazi Party, and false claims that homosexuality and pedophilia are related.

People tend to see right through your weeping towel.

'Gay hotelier lied about his meeting with anti-gay Sen. Ted Cruz' & other Friday midday news briefs.

Sen. Ted Cruz

Gay Hotelier Ian Reisner Lied About Cutting Check for Ted Cruz Presidential Campaign - The controversy involving gay hotelier Ian Reisner and anti-gay senator Ted Cruz, i.e. the one in which Reisner said that he was being attacked for merely wanting to establish a dialogue with Cruz and that no money was given during the meeting. The controversy which led to an internal conversation regarding the so-called "intolerance" of gays. Well the narrative was all wrong. Reisner conveniently didn't mention the check he gave Cruz, which puts an entirely new dynamic on the situation. It also proves that sometimes the lgbt community need to stick to our guns rather than being bamboozled into concern trolling ourselves. 

North Carolina Governor Vetoes ‘License To Discriminate’ Bill - This took place yesterday and had the lgbt community reeling . . . in a positive way.  

Pat Robertson: Gay Men Are Pedophiles Who Want To Recruit Your Sons (Video) - Part 35,0000. Seeing that Sen. Marco Rubio chose Pat Robertson's show to whine about anti-Christian persecution, I would love to hear his take on this.  

Let Love Define Family Series Looks At 'Religious Freedom' Bills - This NEEDS to be noted.  

Transgender People Talk About Coming Out #TransStories - These are wonderful stories.

Comedy site 'Funny or Die' nails The Duggars with a biting satire

The site Funny or Die puts its spin on the Duggars controversy and actually gets to heart of the matter in a biting satire:

The Duggars Respond To Sexual Abuse Scandal from Funny Or Die

Family Research Council spokesman defends countries which persecute gays

FRC's Peter Sprigg defends countries persecuting gays.

This morning, I wrote about how the Family Research Council exploited actual cases of anti-Christian persecution in the Middle East in order to showcase phony anecdotes of anti-Christian persecution in this country.

In an irony which would be funny if it weren't so vile, FRC spokesman Peter Sprigg yesterday actually criticized the Obama Administration for its work against countries which persecute gays.

According to Right Wing Watch:

 . . . on yesterday’s edition of “Washington Watch,” FRC senior fellow Peter Sprigg — who once called for the U.S. to “export homosexuals” — criticized Randy Berry, the Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT Persons, for reportedly traveling to travel to Uganda and Jamaica, where homosexuality is also criminalized. Sprigg said that Berry and the Obama administration are trying to “force this American-style homosexual agenda down the throats of other countries” such as Uganda, “which is one of the countries which has been most bitterly attacked by homosexual activists around the world.”

For the record, Sprigg is actually defending anti-gay persecution in Jamaica where, according to a Human Rights Watch report entitled Not Safe at Home:

LGBT citizens in Jamaica are often driven from their communities by neighbors and sometimes even family. Some health professionals stigmatize them by casting judgment on their sexuality when they seek care. Police protection against bias and physical attacks is generally poor.

And in Uganda, where laws and persecution against gays have been the subject of international unrest for a number of years.

But to Sprigg and the Family Research Council, gays and the Obama Administration are at fault for attempting to put an end to this persecution.

I guess that makes one thing clear -  we know that the Family Research Council supports the persecution of gays in foreign countries, but its obvious that the group doesn't care about anti-Christian persecution in foreign countries, that is unless it can exploit the cases for its own benefit.

'Fox News tiptoed around the Duggar scandal' & other Thursday midday news briefs

Fox News Devoted Less Than Two Minutes To The Duggar Controversy - It's not that I want Fox News to go buckwild on the Duggars scandal, but we all know that if this situation involved a prominent lgbt activist, the network would have probably devoted several shows and a prime time special to it. 

Rick Santorum's 5 Worst Smears: Attacking Gay Rights, Working Women & Church-State Separation - Like some sentient fungus, Rick Santorum just won't go away. He is taking another chance at running for president. Just in case he tries to "retool" his image, let's not forget his past positions, particularly on lgbt equality. 

Family Research Council exploits true victims of religious persecution to fundraise - A reminder of this morning's post. The Family Research Council is so sleazy, it would blame Job's calamities on the lgbt community in order to make a little money.  

Divisive anti-gay marriage bill falls in Texas Legislature - And another one bites the dust. The problem is that there are so many others in waiting.  

Why The Assault On LGBT Rights In The Texas Legislature Failed - The Texas legislature in general was seriously "jonesing" to kick lgbt equality square in the teeth. But it looks like the anti-gay bills all failed, leaving the Texas lgbt community feeling like Buster Keaton in that movie where the house fell on him, but left him unharmed because he stood in the path of an open window.

Family Research Council exploits true victims of religious persecution to fundraise

Leave it to the Family Research Council to sink to a new low in order to fundraise. I received the following email from FRC president Tony Perkins:


Please Take a Stand for Persecuted Christians In America . . . and Everywhere!

When I testified before U.S. Senators about religious persecution, I wore it.

When I testified before the United Nations about religious persecution, I wore it.

When I travel around the country wearing it, people ask me what it stands for—and it helps open their hearts to Christ and His people.

"It" is a simple lapel pin.

The pin features the Arabic letter "N" (which looks like a "U" with a dot above it).

ISIS uses this, "N" when wanting to identify Nasrani, or Nazarene, followers of Christ.

In the Middle East today . . . it means persecution and death for your fellow Christians.

But I'm asking you today to let me send you a Nasrani Pin to show you stand with persecuted Christians overseas . . . to show you stand for Jesus and His people anywhere . . . and to show you stand with FRC against the growing persecution here as well.

When ISIS terrorists—Islamic jihadist radicals—enter towns in northern Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East, they find out where the Christians live and work.

The terrorists issue a three-way ultimatum: Convert to Islam . . . or pay a crushing religious tax that many can't afford . . . or be brutally executed.

And if the Christians won't renounce their faith?

Their home or business is marked with the "N." They are marked as Nasrani: followers of Jesus of Nazareth. And they pay a heavy price.

Christian children, moms, dads, the elderly are being massacred. Some are crucified. Some are beheaded. Some are shot. Some are bled to death by having their throats cut as they are held still. Some are tortured before enduring any of these deaths.

They are the Nasrani martyrs.

They will not renounce their Lord.

Will you stand with them today? Will you claim the same Nasrani mark? Will you stand with FRC's efforts to wake up the slumbering U.S. government and United Nations to their plight . . . even as FRC also stands against persecution of Christians in America?

When you support FRC's efforts to stand for religious freedom—in other words, to stand for persecuted Christians in the United States as well as overseas—I will send you a Nasrani Pin as my thank you.

So far so good. I don't believe anyone should be physically attacked, murdered, or terrorized simply because of their faith. I actually commend FRC for bringing attention to this. BUT then the letter adds the following:

Clemson coach disassociates himself from anti-gay group after backlash from SC lgbts, allies

Dabo Swinney

In terms of lgbt activism, states like New York and California or the cities therein seem to grab all of the attention.

It's easy to forget that other states have lgbt activists who fight the good fight and generally win.

Take South Carolina for example, where folks got together and convinced Clemson's football coach Dabo Swinney not to attend an event held by an anti-gay group:

After protests over Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney's scheduled attendance at an event for a conservative group that opposes gay marriage, Swinney said Wednesday he is not taking part.

"After much thought, in order to avoid a distraction for the team and the entire football program, I've decided it is in the best interests of all involved that I not attend the event on June 2," he told The Huffington Post in a statement.

 . . . Swinney was scheduled to be honored June 2 at a fundraiser in Columbia, South Carolina, by the council, which says its "vision is to transform the culture in South Carolina by promoting the values and virtues of marriage, the traditional family model, and sexual purity."

GLAAD Vice President of Programs Zeke Stokes said in a statement: "Coach Swinney has an obligation to the players he leads and all students who attend Clemson to use his considerable profile to promote causes that bring us together, not tear us apart. The Palmetto Family Council's values are out of line with the values of love and acceptance for all people, and I hope the Coach will reconsider the message that his alignment with them sends."

Earlier, LGBT supporters, led by student William Ta'oma, launched a Change.org petition calling for Swinney to reconsider the invitation 

Even a state legislator, Todd Rutherford, called for Swinney to turn down the invite:

“I find it highly inappropriate that Coach Swinney would appear at a fundraiser for an organization that is so openly discriminatory and politically motivated,” the House Minority Leader said in a statement published by The State. “I cannot fathom why Coach Swinney or anyone else would knowingly assist a group whose mission is to fight against equal rights and equal treatment of others.”

Jeffy Ayers, interim director of SC Equality, praised Swinney's decision to withdraw.  “We commend Coach Swinney for having the courage to stand up and show this respect for diversity," he said. “Clemson students, alumni, faculty, and staff come from all walks of life, and we rely on role models like Coach Swinney to show the world that South Carolina’s community leaders will not stand for intolerance and hate.”

So this is somewhat of a victory, but I have a caveat.

The Palmetto Family Council goes way beyond opposing marriage equality. It also pushes totally inaccurate information about lgbts. On the portion of its webpage talking about "sexuality," PFC links to a Family Research Council brochure entitled The Top Ten Harms of Same-Sex Marriage. This brochure is filled with errors, including distortions of legitimate scientific work and studies deliberately taken out of context.

In addition, PFC also links to the discredited organization NARTH, or the  National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality. This group promotes the unproven idea that people can change their sexual orientation. This theory has been condemned by many legitimate scientific groups, such as the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Psychological Association.

Those protesting against Swinney's appearance at the PFC event actually did him a favor. He would have been helping to promote the above mess by his appearance.

And what message would that send to lgbt football players he could potentially coach?

'Ireland vote for marriage equality affirms religious beliefs' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

Why Thousands Of Catholics Voted For Marriage Equality In Ireland - Marriage equality being passed via a referendum in Ireland was not a repudiation of the Catholic Church but an affirmation of the Catholic religion. Discuss.  

Ireland Gay Marriage Vote Is A 'Defeat For Humanity,' Vatican Official Says - Speaking of the Catholic Church, they aren't exactly pouring champagne over the passage of marriage equality in Ireland. 

Don't fall for Marco Rubio's phony fear of so-called 'intolerant' gays - Repeating my post from last night because it just sticks in my craw that Marco Rubio can get away with labeling gays as intolerant on a program owned by a man who falsely blamed gays for 9/11 (Pat Robertson) and NO ONE in the media notes the irony. 

 Audio: Will you please stop 'attacking' NOM president for saying your sexual orientation, family are 'disordered'? - Yeah, cause that sort of thing is . . . "intolerant" . . . I guess. 

 More Advertisers Drop '19 Kids And Counting' In Wake Of Child Molestation Scandal - Cash. Rules. Everything.  

Roy Moore: Impeach Ruth Bader Ginsburg Over Gay Marriage Case - And in similar news, I want that hot movie writer and producer Mike White to come knocking on my door with wedding ring in hand. Doesn't mean it's going to happen.

Don't fall for Marco Rubio's phony fear of so-called 'intolerant' gays

Sen. Rubio exploits his faith to obscure bigotry.

"Claiming that gays are intolerant on a television show owned by the man who falsely blamed gays for the worst terrorist attack on American soil strikes me as something an actual Christian couldn't do with a straight face.But Rubio did with not only a straight face but also with a figurative fake halo over his head."

There is no polite way to put this so I am just going to come out and say it.

Senator Marco Rubio is a liar. He is a charlatan. He is a fraud who is no different than so many so-called Bible-believing Republicans who exploit religion and "their faith" in an effort to provide cover for their homophobia.

Today, he was given a friendly interview on Pat Robertson's 700 Club in which he played "the game" pretty good. Amongst other things, he said:

“We are at the water’s edge of the argument that mainstream Christian teaching is hate speech,” he explained, “because today we’ve reached the point in our society where if you do not support same-sex marriage, you are labeled a homophobe and a hater. So what’s the next step after that, after they’re done going after individuals? The next step is to argue that the teachings of mainstream Christianity, the catechism of the Catholic Church, is hate speech. That’s a real and present danger.”

The "game" I speak of  has been played on many occasions and by many people from one-note politicians to two-bit media hacks with badly researched books to sell. It's the claim that gays are actually the intolerant ones and that we are automatically labeling "Christians" as haters and bigots if we don't agree with their speech or beliefs.

It's a deliberate tactic used by those against marriage equality  and it is designed to take attention away from the actual folks we should be concerned about, i.e. same-sex families and their children.

And the tactic also has a much more nefarious purpose. It also takes attention away from a crucial part of the battle over marriage equality and lgbt equality in general. Rubio and those on his side can take about their "faith" continuously, but note that while they do this, they never talk about their tactics.

Tactics like deliberately playing the African-American and gay community against one another,

or implying that marriage equality will corrupt and indoctrinate children, even while one of their leaders said that this idea was a deliberate lie,

or attempting to deceive the Supreme Court with a phony study speaking about the so-called negative effects of same-sex households.

Even if you didn't talk about these things, one shouldn't forget whose program on which Rubio chose to espouse his faith. The 700 Club, owned by Pat Roberston, i.e. the same man who (along with the late Jerry Falwell) blamed 9/11 partly on gays.

Claiming that gays are intolerant on a television show owned by the man who falsely blamed gays for the worst terrorist attack on American soil strikes me as something an actual Christian couldn't do with a straight face.

But Rubio did with not only a straight face but also with a figurative fake halo over his head.

And even if one ignored all of those things, Rubio still has some explaining to do regarding the host of one of his fundraisers who has ties to an African dictator who endorsed gay beheadings.

Naturally, Rubio won't mention these offenses committed by those on his side of the argument or himself.  He will just drone on and on about his faith and how he feels that his beliefs are in danger of being labeled as "intolerant." Meanwhile, people will ignore the tactics those on his side commit, which are the reasons why they are referred to as bigots or homophobes.

It's not Rubio's beliefs which are the problem. It's what he may be deliberately omitting that's the problem. That is crux of the matter. That is the reason why Rubio is such a fake Christian  in a congregation of evangelical and ecclesiastical liars. He is the epitome of what religious right conservatives are in contrast to what they claim to be.

Don't be deceived by people like Rubio. Their eyes may be looking towards heaven, but you can't mistake the smell of brimstone on their bodies.

'Conservatives, religious right learn NOTHING from Josh Duggar scandal' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Marco Rubio: Gay Rights 'A Real And Present Danger' To Freedom - Conservatives, religious right learn NOTHING from Josh Duggar scandal Part 1 

Religious Right Groups Warn Gay Boy Scout Leaders Will Sexually Molest And Recruit Boys Into Homosexuality - Conservatives, religious right learn NOTHING from Josh Duggar scandal Part 2.

Texas House To Consider Horrific Anti-LGBT Adoption Amendment - It never ends with these people . . . 

Pastor’s Wife Says Josh Duggar Was Just ‘Playing Doctor’ And Blames Victims - Guuuuurrrllllllll!

 Graduation to Womanhood: Being Transgender at a Southern College - Awesome story!! 

Inside Out: Portraits Of Cross-Gender Children' Beautifully Documents Transgender Kids - Wonderful!

Video of a pro-marriage equality landslide vote in Ireland!

 Last week, Ireland became the first country ever to pass marriage equality through a public referendum and the vote wasn't even a nailbiter. A huge majority of voters (over 60 percent) showed  that they were in favor of marriage equality. Enjoy the video of a nation of happy lgbt couples and their supporters.

And ask yourself, why are some people so afraid of this.