The point I was trying to make yesterday was . . .
I inadvertently failed to mention yesterday that exgaywatch.com was also one of the first to spot how the American Family Association is continuing to sell the fradulent video featuring Michael Johnston.
And I agree with the person who pointed this out when he said that it was old news.
That was the point of my post. Why is it old news? AFA was caught doing this in January and now, one day before December, they are still selling the fradulent video.
While it is true that the AFA have shown themselves to be liars, I still say they are getting away with it because those in our community with the power of the media hasn't pushed the issue.
Is our community so beaten down and blase about things like this that we have numbed ourselves to exposing liars?
Look at the One News Now site. While I totally disagree with what they stand for, I have to commend those who post comments on the site for their focus on the issues they feel are important.
When my post was mentioned on Americablog last night, some comments had nothing to do with the situation at hand. It is not funny when folks you are trying to reach don't seem to care.
Meanwhile, the fradulent AFA video continues to be sold at churches and venues unaware of Michael Johnston's history and deception.
That is the real story here.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
American Family Association demonstrates the difference between winning and losing
I am in a better mood today and there is much to write about.
The Freepers are upset over a high school spirit week idea that has students dressing up as the opposite gender. They see it as a "plot by radical homosexuals" rather than good clean fun that is no different from a powderpuff football game.
In California, an anti-gay industry group has resurrected the image of the "cross dressing linebacker" in an attempt to defeat a pro-gay law.
But something on One News Now caught my attention.
As I perused the site, I saw one of their pop up ads. It was advertising the video "It's Not Gay." If you click on the ad, it will take you to this site.
For the benefit of those who are not aware of this controversial video, I will give a little background. It gives the testimonies of folks who have claimed to have "walked away from homosexuality." In fact, the cover of the video shows one of the people featured, Michael Johnston.
However, well after the video was made, Johnston was discovered to be having clandestine gay sexual encounters in hotel rooms. To compound this situation, Johnston is HIV positive. He has freely admitted his status as he traveled the country claiming to be "ex-gay."
Wayne Besen has taken the American Family Association to task for selling this fradulent video. He was the first to notice it. I have taken them to task. Several others have cried foul over the selling of this video.
When confronted with the truth behind the video, the American Family Association played the victim. But they pulled the video:
“It was with great sadness that AFA stopped selling It’s Not Gay at that time,” said AFA executive assistant Buddy Smith. “Michael remained a friend of ours, and we were so happy to hear that, following his fall, he had placed himself under the spiritual care of Steve Gallagher at Pure Life Ministries.”
Now it seems that they have snuck it back on the market. And why is Johnston still on the cover? How can they get away with this?
The answer may be something I saw today. I was looking through a gay magazine (I won't say which) that was commemorating the year 2007. It focused on the usual nonsense - celebrities, musicians, designers, parties, and clothing too damned expensive for me to buy.
Sometimes I wonder if we are focused as we should be.
The American Family Association has been selling a fradulent video even after they have been called on it simply because those in our community with enough power to bring attention to it don't give a shit.
I know our mindset seems to be focus on the positive and not think about the anti-gay industry, but to do so all the time is pure delusion. There are people and groups out there who are focused on stripping lgbts of our rights to life, health, and self determination. They want to put us in spiritual cages thereby making us define our lives by their ignorant definitions of homosexuality.
To ignore them is folly.
Or to put it another way, if our side had made such a blatant error, do you think that the anti-gay industry would ignore it?
Of course they wouldn't. They would harp on it every chance they got.
As we should in this situation. The American Family Association is knowingly selling a fradulent video and rather than ignore it, we need to bring it to public attention every chance we get.
It's called persistence and it is the difference between winning and losing.
I am in a better mood today and there is much to write about.
The Freepers are upset over a high school spirit week idea that has students dressing up as the opposite gender. They see it as a "plot by radical homosexuals" rather than good clean fun that is no different from a powderpuff football game.
In California, an anti-gay industry group has resurrected the image of the "cross dressing linebacker" in an attempt to defeat a pro-gay law.
But something on One News Now caught my attention.
As I perused the site, I saw one of their pop up ads. It was advertising the video "It's Not Gay." If you click on the ad, it will take you to this site.
For the benefit of those who are not aware of this controversial video, I will give a little background. It gives the testimonies of folks who have claimed to have "walked away from homosexuality." In fact, the cover of the video shows one of the people featured, Michael Johnston.
However, well after the video was made, Johnston was discovered to be having clandestine gay sexual encounters in hotel rooms. To compound this situation, Johnston is HIV positive. He has freely admitted his status as he traveled the country claiming to be "ex-gay."
Wayne Besen has taken the American Family Association to task for selling this fradulent video. He was the first to notice it. I have taken them to task. Several others have cried foul over the selling of this video.
When confronted with the truth behind the video, the American Family Association played the victim. But they pulled the video:
“It was with great sadness that AFA stopped selling It’s Not Gay at that time,” said AFA executive assistant Buddy Smith. “Michael remained a friend of ours, and we were so happy to hear that, following his fall, he had placed himself under the spiritual care of Steve Gallagher at Pure Life Ministries.”
Now it seems that they have snuck it back on the market. And why is Johnston still on the cover? How can they get away with this?
The answer may be something I saw today. I was looking through a gay magazine (I won't say which) that was commemorating the year 2007. It focused on the usual nonsense - celebrities, musicians, designers, parties, and clothing too damned expensive for me to buy.
Sometimes I wonder if we are focused as we should be.
The American Family Association has been selling a fradulent video even after they have been called on it simply because those in our community with enough power to bring attention to it don't give a shit.
I know our mindset seems to be focus on the positive and not think about the anti-gay industry, but to do so all the time is pure delusion. There are people and groups out there who are focused on stripping lgbts of our rights to life, health, and self determination. They want to put us in spiritual cages thereby making us define our lives by their ignorant definitions of homosexuality.
To ignore them is folly.
Or to put it another way, if our side had made such a blatant error, do you think that the anti-gay industry would ignore it?
Of course they wouldn't. They would harp on it every chance they got.
As we should in this situation. The American Family Association is knowingly selling a fradulent video and rather than ignore it, we need to bring it to public attention every chance we get.
It's called persistence and it is the difference between winning and losing.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
A day with a 'radical gay activist' and his plan to take over America
It's such a slow news day today that our friend Peter LaBarbera is recycling news from a week ago.
As such, it's very slow with me also. Therefore, let me tell you about my day.
After being told yet again that my royalty check from the third quarter did not arrive in the mail, I called my publisher. I had to call back several times before reaching someone who directed me to the sales department.
Apparently everyone was buying books so they have a shitload of royalty checks to mail out.
I put on my best impression of Alexis from Dynasty (even wearing my imitation chinchilla coat while talking on the phone) and let the person from sales know that I am not happy with the situation. She assured me that all is well and that I will also know (hopefully by next week) how many copies of my book that wholesellers, such as amazon.com, have bought.
I know that my publishing company, Xlibris, is reputable. They are affiliated with Random House and have a profile with the Better Business Bureau. I also know how slow it can be when it comes to royalty checks and all.
However, I feel it is necessary to give them the "ole needle" every now and then.
After that long conversation, I was tempted to reward my diligence with a impulse purchase at Best Buy. I really shouldn't have but the purchase was the WWE Royal Rumble Collection Volume 1.
Apparently, a kindergarten class took a trip to Best Buy before I arrived because the DVDs were in disarray. The sales lady had to go in the back to get me a copy of what I wanted.
While waiting on her, I was tempted to buy a copy of the movie "Who's Your Caddy." I hear it has a long nudity scene with three guys.
Yes, I am so scandalous that I will buy a $19.99 movie just to see someone's ass. Sue me, I don't have a boyfriend.
After leaving Best Buy, I went to Piggly Wiggly and stood in line for almost half an hour while sister girlfriend in front of me attempted to cash her check. Meanwhile, there were two other lines backed up because of slack jawed cashiers who didn't know what they were doing.
By the way, the manager was present through all of this. Don't quote me on it, but I think he was trying to buy a bootleg copy of something or another.
I kinda wished the other manager was present. He usually doesn't deal with such nonsense. And he has a big butt.
Sue me already. I like big butts and I cannot lie.
After spending time in line for so long that I felt as if I died and was doomed to spend eternity in a Soul Plane like movie, my turn finally came.
And I came home without incident. And I still have to design a poster for my book signing on December 13 (more on that when I am in a better mood).
The good news throughout all of this is that my book is still the number one gay/lesbian nonfiction book on amazon.ca (amazon.com's Canadian site).
So why have I told you all this long story?
Just something to remember the next time someone like James Dobson or Peter LaBarbera mentions about how us lgbts are making plans and plots to "undermine" American values.
My day sounds insidious don't it?
Someone alert the FBI!
It's such a slow news day today that our friend Peter LaBarbera is recycling news from a week ago.
As such, it's very slow with me also. Therefore, let me tell you about my day.
After being told yet again that my royalty check from the third quarter did not arrive in the mail, I called my publisher. I had to call back several times before reaching someone who directed me to the sales department.
Apparently everyone was buying books so they have a shitload of royalty checks to mail out.
I put on my best impression of Alexis from Dynasty (even wearing my imitation chinchilla coat while talking on the phone) and let the person from sales know that I am not happy with the situation. She assured me that all is well and that I will also know (hopefully by next week) how many copies of my book that wholesellers, such as amazon.com, have bought.
I know that my publishing company, Xlibris, is reputable. They are affiliated with Random House and have a profile with the Better Business Bureau. I also know how slow it can be when it comes to royalty checks and all.
However, I feel it is necessary to give them the "ole needle" every now and then.
After that long conversation, I was tempted to reward my diligence with a impulse purchase at Best Buy. I really shouldn't have but the purchase was the WWE Royal Rumble Collection Volume 1.
Apparently, a kindergarten class took a trip to Best Buy before I arrived because the DVDs were in disarray. The sales lady had to go in the back to get me a copy of what I wanted.
While waiting on her, I was tempted to buy a copy of the movie "Who's Your Caddy." I hear it has a long nudity scene with three guys.
Yes, I am so scandalous that I will buy a $19.99 movie just to see someone's ass. Sue me, I don't have a boyfriend.
After leaving Best Buy, I went to Piggly Wiggly and stood in line for almost half an hour while sister girlfriend in front of me attempted to cash her check. Meanwhile, there were two other lines backed up because of slack jawed cashiers who didn't know what they were doing.
By the way, the manager was present through all of this. Don't quote me on it, but I think he was trying to buy a bootleg copy of something or another.
I kinda wished the other manager was present. He usually doesn't deal with such nonsense. And he has a big butt.
Sue me already. I like big butts and I cannot lie.
After spending time in line for so long that I felt as if I died and was doomed to spend eternity in a Soul Plane like movie, my turn finally came.
And I came home without incident. And I still have to design a poster for my book signing on December 13 (more on that when I am in a better mood).
The good news throughout all of this is that my book is still the number one gay/lesbian nonfiction book on amazon.ca (amazon.com's Canadian site).
So why have I told you all this long story?
Just something to remember the next time someone like James Dobson or Peter LaBarbera mentions about how us lgbts are making plans and plots to "undermine" American values.
My day sounds insidious don't it?
Someone alert the FBI!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Dawn Stefanowicz's book: Homophobia defined
I saw this in One News Now:
A Christian woman from Canada has written a new book that details the trauma she suffered during her childhood as a result of her father's homosexual behavior.
Dawn Stefanowicz recounts her story of growing up in a homosexual home in Toronto, Canada, during the 1960s in Out from Under: The Impact of Homosexual Parenting (Annotation Press). Stefanowicz says she was prompted to write the book back in 2004 after testifying before a Canadian Senate committee against hate crime legislation and expressing public opposition to sexual diversity curriculum in her country's schools.
I have talked about Ms. Stefanowicz before. Now that her book is out, I will briefly refresh the situation. This is what I said in October 2006:
I don't know whether or not Ms. Stefanowicz is telling the truth. If she is, then my heart goes out to her. But I can't help but be suspicious about her and her motives. For one thing, she did not come virtually from nowhere.
In this article in Agape Press, she recounts her tale, but using the verbage the anti-gay industry uses against us: "According to Stefanowicz, the liberal media in Canada has done a 'very poor job' of presenting evidence on the influence the homosexual lifestyle has on children. 'Scientific data and negative personal experiences related to this issue that are obviously relevant -- they're ignored, they're not discussed,' she says."
And what studies are these? I noticed that on her personal webpage, she recounts her life. It is pretty much the same story she repeated in the August 2005 American Family Association Journal. But there is one difference.
Her American Family Association story contains endnotes and references to studies and columns by various so-called "pro family" groups and spokespeople including Family Research Council's Timothy Dailey (debunked on this and other sites), Stephen Bennett, and our friend Paul Cameron.
Frankly, my opinion of Ms. Stefanowicz has not changed. And part of me wants her to make the story of her alleged abuse more widespread. It would expose the distortive tactics of the anti-gay industry.
The anti-gay industry is always quick to portray themselves as simple Christians who are forced to speak out because of "radical homosexuals." They also claim that they are in the corner of the family unit.
But would One News Now have given a damn about Stefanowicz's story if her father wasn't gay? How many incidents of heterosexual parents abusing their children ever graced the pages of One News Now? I dare anyone to show me just one.
Many others have claimed that Ms. Stefanowicz's story is indicative of same-sex parenting, but is it?
I know of one gay male who became the adoptive parent of two young children. They proudly call him "daddy."
I also know of another who was selected as foster parent of the year.
And those are only two of the thousands upon thousands of lgbt parents raising children with love, support, and security.
But according to One News Now and others in the anti-gay industry, we should discount all of these parents.
According to the anti-gay industry, based on Ms Stefanowicz's childhood over 20 years ago, all of these examples of positive same-sex parenting are anamolies. Her one experience, which by the way has not been verified as far as I know, should be touted as the correct example of same-sex parenting?
No one should believe that ridiculous point of view.
However, a person who is inclined to believe the worst about lgbts would believe it, just like a racist would disavow the law-abiding African-Americans around him and focus on the one he may see in handcuffs.
I defy anyone to tell me the difference between the two prejudices.
I saw this in One News Now:
A Christian woman from Canada has written a new book that details the trauma she suffered during her childhood as a result of her father's homosexual behavior.
Dawn Stefanowicz recounts her story of growing up in a homosexual home in Toronto, Canada, during the 1960s in Out from Under: The Impact of Homosexual Parenting (Annotation Press). Stefanowicz says she was prompted to write the book back in 2004 after testifying before a Canadian Senate committee against hate crime legislation and expressing public opposition to sexual diversity curriculum in her country's schools.
I have talked about Ms. Stefanowicz before. Now that her book is out, I will briefly refresh the situation. This is what I said in October 2006:
I don't know whether or not Ms. Stefanowicz is telling the truth. If she is, then my heart goes out to her. But I can't help but be suspicious about her and her motives. For one thing, she did not come virtually from nowhere.
In this article in Agape Press, she recounts her tale, but using the verbage the anti-gay industry uses against us: "According to Stefanowicz, the liberal media in Canada has done a 'very poor job' of presenting evidence on the influence the homosexual lifestyle has on children. 'Scientific data and negative personal experiences related to this issue that are obviously relevant -- they're ignored, they're not discussed,' she says."
And what studies are these? I noticed that on her personal webpage, she recounts her life. It is pretty much the same story she repeated in the August 2005 American Family Association Journal. But there is one difference.
Her American Family Association story contains endnotes and references to studies and columns by various so-called "pro family" groups and spokespeople including Family Research Council's Timothy Dailey (debunked on this and other sites), Stephen Bennett, and our friend Paul Cameron.
Frankly, my opinion of Ms. Stefanowicz has not changed. And part of me wants her to make the story of her alleged abuse more widespread. It would expose the distortive tactics of the anti-gay industry.
The anti-gay industry is always quick to portray themselves as simple Christians who are forced to speak out because of "radical homosexuals." They also claim that they are in the corner of the family unit.
But would One News Now have given a damn about Stefanowicz's story if her father wasn't gay? How many incidents of heterosexual parents abusing their children ever graced the pages of One News Now? I dare anyone to show me just one.
Many others have claimed that Ms. Stefanowicz's story is indicative of same-sex parenting, but is it?
I know of one gay male who became the adoptive parent of two young children. They proudly call him "daddy."
I also know of another who was selected as foster parent of the year.
And those are only two of the thousands upon thousands of lgbt parents raising children with love, support, and security.
But according to One News Now and others in the anti-gay industry, we should discount all of these parents.
According to the anti-gay industry, based on Ms Stefanowicz's childhood over 20 years ago, all of these examples of positive same-sex parenting are anamolies. Her one experience, which by the way has not been verified as far as I know, should be touted as the correct example of same-sex parenting?
No one should believe that ridiculous point of view.
However, a person who is inclined to believe the worst about lgbts would believe it, just like a racist would disavow the law-abiding African-Americans around him and focus on the one he may see in handcuffs.
I defy anyone to tell me the difference between the two prejudices.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Janet Folger predicts the future and it's a doozy
I hope everyone is having an excellent Thanksgiving holiday.
As for myself, I wanted to stay in bed and watch the Law and Order SVU, CI marathon on the USA Network, but I opted to visit relatives.
It was nice. They asked about my book and I told them. Later about that. Much, much later.
Anyway I ran across something written by anti-gay industry member Janet Folger. Folger has made a career with whining about how Christians are constantly victimized while at the same time seeing nothing wrong with Christians doing the persecuting.
This piece has to be considered as her magnum opus in hypocrisy and bullshit. It is a bastardized version of the legendary Michael Swift piece. Folger takes a different tact, however. According to her, the following is what could happen if Mike Huckabee isn't elected president.
I am posting the entire thing because it simply defies all attempts to describe it. Read it tongue in cheek because it is hilarious. And it just goes to show the hysterical mindset of many so-called "people of faith":
Letter from a future prisoner
To the Resistance:
I'm writing this letter from prison, where I've been since the beginning of 2010. Since Hillary was elected in '08, Christian persecution in America has gotten even worse than we predicted.
When the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" was signed into law, my radio program was yanked off the air along with all the others that dared discuss moral issues on Christian radio. The networks just couldn't bring themselves to air a pro-abortion program or one that advocates the homosexual agenda for the government mandated "balance" because broadcasting lies went against their basic beliefs – I don't blame them.
We knew "Thought Crimes" was in danger of becoming law back when it passed Congress in 2007, but thankfully, President Bush kept his promise to veto it. But, tragically, Hillary signed that most dangerous bill in America – ushering in the criminalization of Christianity. And now, even my book, "The Criminalization of Christianity," has been banned as "hate speech" just as I predicted when I wrote it back in 2005.
When the "Employment Non-Discrimination Act" ("Thought Crimes" for the Workplace) became law, businesses and ministries were targeted by homosexual activists and were forced to close when they wouldn't comply with a law forcing them to hire those opposed to their beliefs on moral issues.
When they canceled my program, banned my book and targeted my ministry, I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd be forced into "prison ministry" against my will. Unfortunately for our nation, that ministry is growing fast. A homeschooling mom was assigned the cell next to me. I try to comfort her, but she cries constantly at the thought of her kids being raised in government foster care.
The forced labor here makes me think that I should have done more for our brothers and sisters in China sent to labor camps for the crime of hosting a home church, or those imprisoned in every Muslim country for choosing Christ over Allah. We should have seen the writing on the wall when Yahoo turned over confidential searches to the Chinese government, sending people to prison, and when Google barred American Christian sites from its search engines as "haters." Finding allied ministries is now almost impossible.
Most didn't see it coming. I try not to think about how the 2009 "Freedom of Choice Act" wiped out every single pro-life law from parental notice to the ban on partial birth abortion. And how "anti-reproductive rights" was added to the "Thought Crime" statute, which, like California before the election, means a year in jail if someone claims to feel "intimidated" by anything a pro-lifer might do – like express their beliefs in public.
But, like the homeschool mom in the cell beside me, I cry too. I cry mostly because it didn't have to be this way. Just three years ago – in 2007 – we had a chance to unite and achieve our lifetime goals of restoring protection to children in the womb, and protecting our foundational relationship of marriage between a man and a woman. And now the suggestion of it is treated like the illegal mention of a "mom" or "dad" to the California School Board.
Martin Niemöller's words ring true. I see them with a modern twist:
When they came for the Chinese, I did not speak up because those slave-labor goods were so very cheap.
When they came for the Afghan and Iraqi Christians, I did not speak up because I didn't want to undermine the war effort.
When they came for the German homeschoolers, I didn't speak up because I live in America.
When they came for the Philadelphia 11, I didn't speak up, because I was from Cleveland.
When they came for me, speaking up had become illegal.
No, in 2007 and 2008, American Christians were so used to the status quo that they forgot we were in this to win. Compromised and divided, they choose to protest rather than protect.
When the Christian and conservative leaders couldn't stop fighting over their candidate of compromise or their favorite "tier two" pick, we missed our last chance at victory – victory for children facing the abortionists' knife and victory for the institution foundational to our society – marriage.
All the money in the world couldn't buy Mitt Romney's trust. And no one seemed to remember what Rudy Giuliani had said of the previous Clinton administration: "Most of Clinton's policies are similar to most of mine." Or how he praised the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, and offered up a citywide proclamation honoring the infamous racist eugenicist, whose organization has brutally killed more babies than any other in the Western Hemisphere.
Did they really think we would have a chance to beat Hillary with "Hillary-lite?"
There was a tier-one candidate that stood for our goals of life and marriage – that man was Gov. Mike Huckabee. Had we nominated Huckabee to run against Hillary, the stark difference between the two would have brought voters out in droves. And we never would have seen the Supreme Court appointments of Charles Schumer and Diane Feinstein. If only there were a way to go back in time to change … I've gotta go. The guard spotted me writing again.
I don't know about you all, but I am practically speechless. I do know one thing, however.
If I ever write a follow-up to Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters, Janet Folger will be included.
She is eclipsing our other friend, Porno Petey, in hilarity.
I hope everyone is having an excellent Thanksgiving holiday.
As for myself, I wanted to stay in bed and watch the Law and Order SVU, CI marathon on the USA Network, but I opted to visit relatives.
It was nice. They asked about my book and I told them. Later about that. Much, much later.
Anyway I ran across something written by anti-gay industry member Janet Folger. Folger has made a career with whining about how Christians are constantly victimized while at the same time seeing nothing wrong with Christians doing the persecuting.
This piece has to be considered as her magnum opus in hypocrisy and bullshit. It is a bastardized version of the legendary Michael Swift piece. Folger takes a different tact, however. According to her, the following is what could happen if Mike Huckabee isn't elected president.
I am posting the entire thing because it simply defies all attempts to describe it. Read it tongue in cheek because it is hilarious. And it just goes to show the hysterical mindset of many so-called "people of faith":
Letter from a future prisoner
To the Resistance:
I'm writing this letter from prison, where I've been since the beginning of 2010. Since Hillary was elected in '08, Christian persecution in America has gotten even worse than we predicted.
When the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" was signed into law, my radio program was yanked off the air along with all the others that dared discuss moral issues on Christian radio. The networks just couldn't bring themselves to air a pro-abortion program or one that advocates the homosexual agenda for the government mandated "balance" because broadcasting lies went against their basic beliefs – I don't blame them.
We knew "Thought Crimes" was in danger of becoming law back when it passed Congress in 2007, but thankfully, President Bush kept his promise to veto it. But, tragically, Hillary signed that most dangerous bill in America – ushering in the criminalization of Christianity. And now, even my book, "The Criminalization of Christianity," has been banned as "hate speech" just as I predicted when I wrote it back in 2005.
When the "Employment Non-Discrimination Act" ("Thought Crimes" for the Workplace) became law, businesses and ministries were targeted by homosexual activists and were forced to close when they wouldn't comply with a law forcing them to hire those opposed to their beliefs on moral issues.
When they canceled my program, banned my book and targeted my ministry, I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd be forced into "prison ministry" against my will. Unfortunately for our nation, that ministry is growing fast. A homeschooling mom was assigned the cell next to me. I try to comfort her, but she cries constantly at the thought of her kids being raised in government foster care.
The forced labor here makes me think that I should have done more for our brothers and sisters in China sent to labor camps for the crime of hosting a home church, or those imprisoned in every Muslim country for choosing Christ over Allah. We should have seen the writing on the wall when Yahoo turned over confidential searches to the Chinese government, sending people to prison, and when Google barred American Christian sites from its search engines as "haters." Finding allied ministries is now almost impossible.
Most didn't see it coming. I try not to think about how the 2009 "Freedom of Choice Act" wiped out every single pro-life law from parental notice to the ban on partial birth abortion. And how "anti-reproductive rights" was added to the "Thought Crime" statute, which, like California before the election, means a year in jail if someone claims to feel "intimidated" by anything a pro-lifer might do – like express their beliefs in public.
But, like the homeschool mom in the cell beside me, I cry too. I cry mostly because it didn't have to be this way. Just three years ago – in 2007 – we had a chance to unite and achieve our lifetime goals of restoring protection to children in the womb, and protecting our foundational relationship of marriage between a man and a woman. And now the suggestion of it is treated like the illegal mention of a "mom" or "dad" to the California School Board.
Martin Niemöller's words ring true. I see them with a modern twist:
When they came for the Chinese, I did not speak up because those slave-labor goods were so very cheap.
When they came for the Afghan and Iraqi Christians, I did not speak up because I didn't want to undermine the war effort.
When they came for the German homeschoolers, I didn't speak up because I live in America.
When they came for the Philadelphia 11, I didn't speak up, because I was from Cleveland.
When they came for me, speaking up had become illegal.
No, in 2007 and 2008, American Christians were so used to the status quo that they forgot we were in this to win. Compromised and divided, they choose to protest rather than protect.
When the Christian and conservative leaders couldn't stop fighting over their candidate of compromise or their favorite "tier two" pick, we missed our last chance at victory – victory for children facing the abortionists' knife and victory for the institution foundational to our society – marriage.
All the money in the world couldn't buy Mitt Romney's trust. And no one seemed to remember what Rudy Giuliani had said of the previous Clinton administration: "Most of Clinton's policies are similar to most of mine." Or how he praised the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, and offered up a citywide proclamation honoring the infamous racist eugenicist, whose organization has brutally killed more babies than any other in the Western Hemisphere.
Did they really think we would have a chance to beat Hillary with "Hillary-lite?"
There was a tier-one candidate that stood for our goals of life and marriage – that man was Gov. Mike Huckabee. Had we nominated Huckabee to run against Hillary, the stark difference between the two would have brought voters out in droves. And we never would have seen the Supreme Court appointments of Charles Schumer and Diane Feinstein. If only there were a way to go back in time to change … I've gotta go. The guard spotted me writing again.
I don't know about you all, but I am practically speechless. I do know one thing, however.
If I ever write a follow-up to Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters, Janet Folger will be included.
She is eclipsing our other friend, Porno Petey, in hilarity.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Transgender Day of Remembrance
I would be remiss if I did not mention that today is Transgender Day of Remembrance.
As we remember the lives of our transgender brothers and sisters lost to violence, let us do all we can to make sure that we stop the ignorance and hatred that led to the loss of those precious lives.
Florida school to use 'expert testimony' in fight against gay/straight alliance
Some wild stuff is happening in Florida:
Attorneys for the Okeechobee County School Board plan to use experts who will testify about the "negative health effects of homosexual sex" in their fight to stop the Gay-Straight Alliance from meeting at Okeechobee High School.
. . . According to a summary . . . the school board plans to use four experts, who will testify on topics including:
"Negative health effects of homosexual sex."
"Serious consequences" of heterosexual teenage sexual activity, such as teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and "poorer emotional health."
That "homosexuality lifestyle/relationships are appropriate topics beginning at college age."
The "need to prevent contact by underage students with adult-only material."
Attorneys for the school board have not shared the names of the experts.
In the first place, GSAs have nothing to do with sexual intercourse so this sounds like a ridiculous road that the school board is traveling.
Secondly, courts have consistently ruled for GSAs in cases such as this one, which will begin in June 2008. You see, there is a little something called the Federal Equal Access Act, that says if a school allows any student-initiated, non-curricular clubs to meet, it must allow all student-initiated, non-curricular clubs to meet.
So I really don't see why the school board is continuing with this case. Just allow the GSAs; it's easier and less expensive. And most importantly, there is nothing wrong with GSAs!
But I am interested as to who their "experts" will be and what testimony will they give.
But it really doesn't matter who the school district selects because I bet that the following lies will be used:
The distortion of the 1997 Canadian study to claim that gay men have a short life span. Never mind that the study had nothing to do with GSAs or the authors of the studies complained in 2001 about religious right distortion of their work
The distortion of the 1984-2000 Dutch study to talk about how "promiscuous" lgbts are. This study has nothing to do with GSAs or lgbt teens but no doubt the district's "experts won't disclose this fact to anyone.
Distortion of various studies that say lgbt teens have a problem with depression, drugs, and negative behaviors. The studies also attribute the at-risk behavior of the teens to a homophobic society; something that having a GSA could combat. No doubt the district's "experts" will conveniently omit this portion of the studies.
Various convenience sample and anecdotal citations from STD clinics that have nothing to do with GSAs.
Various convenience sample citations of lgbt sex partners that are neither indicative of the lgbt population at large or lgbt teens.
I have talked about these lies various times on this blog and in detail in my book.
When June 2008 rolls around, I will be watching the case with much interest to see if I am correct.
And I have a feeling that I may be.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that today is Transgender Day of Remembrance.
As we remember the lives of our transgender brothers and sisters lost to violence, let us do all we can to make sure that we stop the ignorance and hatred that led to the loss of those precious lives.
Florida school to use 'expert testimony' in fight against gay/straight alliance
Some wild stuff is happening in Florida:
Attorneys for the Okeechobee County School Board plan to use experts who will testify about the "negative health effects of homosexual sex" in their fight to stop the Gay-Straight Alliance from meeting at Okeechobee High School.
. . . According to a summary . . . the school board plans to use four experts, who will testify on topics including:
"Negative health effects of homosexual sex."
"Serious consequences" of heterosexual teenage sexual activity, such as teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and "poorer emotional health."
That "homosexuality lifestyle/relationships are appropriate topics beginning at college age."
The "need to prevent contact by underage students with adult-only material."
Attorneys for the school board have not shared the names of the experts.
In the first place, GSAs have nothing to do with sexual intercourse so this sounds like a ridiculous road that the school board is traveling.
Secondly, courts have consistently ruled for GSAs in cases such as this one, which will begin in June 2008. You see, there is a little something called the Federal Equal Access Act, that says if a school allows any student-initiated, non-curricular clubs to meet, it must allow all student-initiated, non-curricular clubs to meet.
So I really don't see why the school board is continuing with this case. Just allow the GSAs; it's easier and less expensive. And most importantly, there is nothing wrong with GSAs!
But I am interested as to who their "experts" will be and what testimony will they give.
But it really doesn't matter who the school district selects because I bet that the following lies will be used:
The distortion of the 1997 Canadian study to claim that gay men have a short life span. Never mind that the study had nothing to do with GSAs or the authors of the studies complained in 2001 about religious right distortion of their work
The distortion of the 1984-2000 Dutch study to talk about how "promiscuous" lgbts are. This study has nothing to do with GSAs or lgbt teens but no doubt the district's "experts won't disclose this fact to anyone.
Distortion of various studies that say lgbt teens have a problem with depression, drugs, and negative behaviors. The studies also attribute the at-risk behavior of the teens to a homophobic society; something that having a GSA could combat. No doubt the district's "experts" will conveniently omit this portion of the studies.
Various convenience sample and anecdotal citations from STD clinics that have nothing to do with GSAs.
Various convenience sample citations of lgbt sex partners that are neither indicative of the lgbt population at large or lgbt teens.
I have talked about these lies various times on this blog and in detail in my book.
When June 2008 rolls around, I will be watching the case with much interest to see if I am correct.
And I have a feeling that I may be.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Kelly Boggs commits the sin of omission
In a column today at Town Hall, Kelly Boggs makes the tired argument of lgbts "pushing our agenda" at the expense of American values.
To do so, he recounts an incident that I have talked about on more than one occasion:
The Court of Appeals for the U.S. Ninth Circuit upheld this summer an Oakland, Calif., city government declaration that the phrase "marriage is the foundation of the natural family and sustains family values" was inflammatory and promoted harassment based on so-called sexual orientation. The phrase was also deemed to be homophobic and disruptive.
It seems a few Christian women working for Oakland's city government formed a Good News Employee Association, and in promoting the club, included the aforementioned phrase on a flier. Later, a lesbian worker complained that the flier made her feel "targeted" and "excluded."
Boggs does not give further details about the incident; thus making it seem that the Christian employees were unfairly treated.
This is a lie.
Boggs failed to mention other facts in this particular case. The following is from a July 26, 2007 post on my blog:
I have talked the situation involving a lawsuit some Christian employees had with the city of Oakland many times on this blog.These employees, the Allied Defense Fund, and other members of the anti-gay industry have claimed that they were discriminated against simply because they wanted to start a Christian organization in response to other employees starting a gay tolerance group.
The employees and the Allied Defense Fund sued while the rest of the anti-gay industry distorted the case as "another" example of the supposed gay agenda trying to shut down Christians.The situation had nothing to do with them being able to form their group, but with a flyer the organizers put up. The flyer used language in a manner that bashed gay employees. The city told the organizers that they could submit another flyer but the two women in the middle of the situation refused.The Ninth Circuit Court ruled against them so they have been appealing to the Supreme Court.
I ran across something else that sheds light on the story and I want to share with everyone. The following is from an article printed on July 4:
. . . the seemingly harmless flier was not an isolated incident but part of a deliberate pattern of harassment. The association's flier was specifically posted outside of a lesbian co-worker's cubicle, placed on her desk and in the restroom. The plaintiffs went out of their way to harass their lesbian co-worker as well as to proselytize about their belief on city time and on the taxpayer's dime.
Boggs committed what I like to call a popular anti-gay industry tactic: the sin of omission. He clearly did not tell the entire story regarding the Oakland lawsuit because he wanted to push forth the image of an "aggressive" gay agenda.
The fact of the matter is that the employee who complained was in fact targeted by those employees. It was their actions that caused the problem, not their Christian beliefs. And certainly not the employee whom they targeted.
In a column today at Town Hall, Kelly Boggs makes the tired argument of lgbts "pushing our agenda" at the expense of American values.
To do so, he recounts an incident that I have talked about on more than one occasion:
The Court of Appeals for the U.S. Ninth Circuit upheld this summer an Oakland, Calif., city government declaration that the phrase "marriage is the foundation of the natural family and sustains family values" was inflammatory and promoted harassment based on so-called sexual orientation. The phrase was also deemed to be homophobic and disruptive.
It seems a few Christian women working for Oakland's city government formed a Good News Employee Association, and in promoting the club, included the aforementioned phrase on a flier. Later, a lesbian worker complained that the flier made her feel "targeted" and "excluded."
Boggs does not give further details about the incident; thus making it seem that the Christian employees were unfairly treated.
This is a lie.
Boggs failed to mention other facts in this particular case. The following is from a July 26, 2007 post on my blog:
I have talked the situation involving a lawsuit some Christian employees had with the city of Oakland many times on this blog.These employees, the Allied Defense Fund, and other members of the anti-gay industry have claimed that they were discriminated against simply because they wanted to start a Christian organization in response to other employees starting a gay tolerance group.
The employees and the Allied Defense Fund sued while the rest of the anti-gay industry distorted the case as "another" example of the supposed gay agenda trying to shut down Christians.The situation had nothing to do with them being able to form their group, but with a flyer the organizers put up. The flyer used language in a manner that bashed gay employees. The city told the organizers that they could submit another flyer but the two women in the middle of the situation refused.The Ninth Circuit Court ruled against them so they have been appealing to the Supreme Court.
I ran across something else that sheds light on the story and I want to share with everyone. The following is from an article printed on July 4:
. . . the seemingly harmless flier was not an isolated incident but part of a deliberate pattern of harassment. The association's flier was specifically posted outside of a lesbian co-worker's cubicle, placed on her desk and in the restroom. The plaintiffs went out of their way to harass their lesbian co-worker as well as to proselytize about their belief on city time and on the taxpayer's dime.
Boggs committed what I like to call a popular anti-gay industry tactic: the sin of omission. He clearly did not tell the entire story regarding the Oakland lawsuit because he wanted to push forth the image of an "aggressive" gay agenda.
The fact of the matter is that the employee who complained was in fact targeted by those employees. It was their actions that caused the problem, not their Christian beliefs. And certainly not the employee whom they targeted.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Don't worry, Peter. I won't print today's email . . . but I will tell everyone what you said
Apparently our friend Peter LaBarbera does not like my countdown clock. He told me so in an email today.
Now in all honesty, I should confess that I emailed Peter the blog post in which I talked about my clock. I did it because I felt he deserves some excitement that doesn't have anything to do with going to leather conventions and taking pictures.
I just never expected him to email me back.
Also, he asked that I don't publish the email, so I won't.
But I found a quibble (look it up) in his request. He asked that I don't print the email. He didn't say I couldn't tell anyone what was in the email.
To make a long email short, Peter said:
how dare I bother him since he does not consider me a "serious" writer or critic on gay issues,
(this coming from a guy who attends more leather conventions than any gay man I know)
that he has more pressing issues to worry about than my book,
(yeah like attending rubber conventions and begging for money - by the way, I noticed that Peter listed the budgets for major lgbt organizations in some sort of attempt to demonstrate how "underfunded" he is. He conveniently doesn't mention the budgets for anti-gay industry groups such as
Focus on the Family - $137,848,520 (2004 Focus on the Family revenue); $24,988,036 (2004 Focus on the Family Action revenue)
Concerned Women for America - Concerned Women for America - $8,484,108 (2004); Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee - $555,477 (2004)
or the American Family Assocation - $14,186,203 (2004)
I know - these are 2004 budgets but I doubt their donations have dropped drastically in three years. If Peter is underfunded, he shouldn't blame HRC or any other lgbt group. He should hit up James Dobson for a "fellowship" or whatever they call those things these days.)
and that he will respond to me if and when he chooses
(and I won't hold my breath, but the clock stays. By the way Peter, pick me up something nice at the next leather convention. Something that I can wear to church.)
Lastly, Peter seems to think that I have an "obsession."
(In all honesty, you all have seen Peter's page complete with those nasty pictures and such. Just who is obsessed with what?)
Apparently our friend Peter LaBarbera does not like my countdown clock. He told me so in an email today.
Now in all honesty, I should confess that I emailed Peter the blog post in which I talked about my clock. I did it because I felt he deserves some excitement that doesn't have anything to do with going to leather conventions and taking pictures.
I just never expected him to email me back.
Also, he asked that I don't publish the email, so I won't.
But I found a quibble (look it up) in his request. He asked that I don't print the email. He didn't say I couldn't tell anyone what was in the email.
To make a long email short, Peter said:
how dare I bother him since he does not consider me a "serious" writer or critic on gay issues,
(this coming from a guy who attends more leather conventions than any gay man I know)
that he has more pressing issues to worry about than my book,
(yeah like attending rubber conventions and begging for money - by the way, I noticed that Peter listed the budgets for major lgbt organizations in some sort of attempt to demonstrate how "underfunded" he is. He conveniently doesn't mention the budgets for anti-gay industry groups such as
Focus on the Family - $137,848,520 (2004 Focus on the Family revenue); $24,988,036 (2004 Focus on the Family Action revenue)
Concerned Women for America - Concerned Women for America - $8,484,108 (2004); Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee - $555,477 (2004)
or the American Family Assocation - $14,186,203 (2004)
I know - these are 2004 budgets but I doubt their donations have dropped drastically in three years. If Peter is underfunded, he shouldn't blame HRC or any other lgbt group. He should hit up James Dobson for a "fellowship" or whatever they call those things these days.)
and that he will respond to me if and when he chooses
(and I won't hold my breath, but the clock stays. By the way Peter, pick me up something nice at the next leather convention. Something that I can wear to church.)
Lastly, Peter seems to think that I have an "obsession."
(In all honesty, you all have seen Peter's page complete with those nasty pictures and such. Just who is obsessed with what?)
Saturday, November 17, 2007
The clock ticks for thee, my friend
To the right of this blog is a new item.
I have already told you all that I emailed a copy of my book galleys to Peter LaBarbera last week. He has yet to respond to the charges that the book lodges against him and other members of the anti-gay industry.
To make matters more interesting, I have inserted a clock in this blog. Its purpose is to illustrate the fact that Peter will most likely not respond to the charges lodged in my book.
You see, Peter and other members of the anti-gay industry are liars. They exploit religious beliefs and fears in order to demonize the lgbt community. Peter especially likes to attend subcultural events such leather and bondage events and "take pictures" of what he sees there. He then uses these pictures and adds lurid details to put the lgbt community in the worse possible light.
It does not matter to him that these events are attended by both heterosexuals and gays. Nor does it matter to him that the majority of gays are not necessarily into bondage and the like.
I find it ironic that Peter does so much to demonize the lgbt community but cannot sit down and answer charges that he and others like him have consistently distorted legitimate studies and relied on junk science or outright lies to further their agenda.
He won't do it because Peter acts through hyperbole and sleaze.
My book is neither. It is a breakdown of how he and other members of the anti-gay industry (i.e. Lou Sheldon, Robert Knight, Andrea Lafferty, etc.) use tactics and deceptions that belie their claims of being pro-family.
My book deals with truth and logic, two things that Peter does not understand. And this is why he won't refute anything in it.
Meanwhile, you all watch and enjoy the ticking clock and let it be symbolic of the hypocrisy of not only Peter but the rest of the anti-gay industry.
To the right of this blog is a new item.
I have already told you all that I emailed a copy of my book galleys to Peter LaBarbera last week. He has yet to respond to the charges that the book lodges against him and other members of the anti-gay industry.
To make matters more interesting, I have inserted a clock in this blog. Its purpose is to illustrate the fact that Peter will most likely not respond to the charges lodged in my book.
You see, Peter and other members of the anti-gay industry are liars. They exploit religious beliefs and fears in order to demonize the lgbt community. Peter especially likes to attend subcultural events such leather and bondage events and "take pictures" of what he sees there. He then uses these pictures and adds lurid details to put the lgbt community in the worse possible light.
It does not matter to him that these events are attended by both heterosexuals and gays. Nor does it matter to him that the majority of gays are not necessarily into bondage and the like.
I find it ironic that Peter does so much to demonize the lgbt community but cannot sit down and answer charges that he and others like him have consistently distorted legitimate studies and relied on junk science or outright lies to further their agenda.
He won't do it because Peter acts through hyperbole and sleaze.
My book is neither. It is a breakdown of how he and other members of the anti-gay industry (i.e. Lou Sheldon, Robert Knight, Andrea Lafferty, etc.) use tactics and deceptions that belie their claims of being pro-family.
My book deals with truth and logic, two things that Peter does not understand. And this is why he won't refute anything in it.
Meanwhile, you all watch and enjoy the ticking clock and let it be symbolic of the hypocrisy of not only Peter but the rest of the anti-gay industry.
Friday, November 16, 2007
I'm sorry but I have to do this
I said I wouldn't talk about the Donnie McClurkin/Barack Obama situation again. But forgive me if I say just one more thing.
Something I read today got me angry. And it tweaked something that has been on my mind for a while.
A columnist at the Washington Blade, Ryan Lee, said the following:
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama has been an exceptionally outspoken ally on gay rights issues, candidly and eloquently supporting us no matter which audience he’s addressing. To feign outrage at his campaign for inviting an anti-gay gospel singer — a singer! — to a campaign concert in South Carolina exposes the political naïveté that cripples the gay rights movement.
Who knew gospel singers could be anti-gay?! Who knew that black churches were a key constituency for any Democratic politician?!
In their zeal to criticize Obama for inviting Donnie McClurkin to perform at the gospel concert, several gay men and lesbians suggested he should have tapped a more welcoming black minister, like Carlton Pearson. Pearson is indeed an inspiring voice for spiritual acceptance of gay people, but even he featured McClurkin on his celebrated “Live at Azusa” concert series, and he continues making money off McClurkin’s presence on the CD — including the $15 I paid for it.
Neither Obama nor Pearson should apologize for being affiliated with McClurkin and gay people shouldn’t mandate that the only way you can accept us is to reject those with whom we disagree.
You know what? I have to say something and if I apologize to anyone that I may offend, but I am very disappointed with some members of the lgbt community, especially some of our media, who have bent over backwards to give Obama a free pass on this.
I am angry because (here it comes), I think some folks in our community are willing to give Obama a free pass because they cannot or will not understand the effect of this entire controversy on lgbts of color.
And I am angry because I feel that if the situation was done with all the characters (except for Obama) being white, the same lgbts claiming that Obama aligning himself with McClurkin is no big deal would be up in arms. They wouldn't be so concilatory.
LGBTs of color are truly divided in identities. We can either align ourselves with a community who will support us because we are lgbt while subtlely telling us to downplay our racial heritage or we can either align ourselves with the black community which tells us to downplay our lgbt orientation.
I have chosen to not downplay who I am. I consider myself uncompromisingly gay and unapologetically black. Many of my brothers and sisters are also living their lives this way.
But many have chosen to align themselves with the African-American community. And frankly I don't blame them.
Why in the hell should the lgbts of color align themselves with a community that obviously considers the warping of their psychological and spiritual well-being as necessary sacrifices?
McClurkin speaks to the African-American community. He has brought his message of being a supposed "ex-gay" virtually unchallenged to the African-American community. He has also brought that lie about homosexuality and pedophilia to the African-American community virtually unchallenged.
Not once (and if I am wrong, please correct me) have I heard lgbts who consider Obama an ally address this situation. And where is our media, such as the Washington Blade, on this? Not one person stood up and said "what message is Obama sending to lgbts of color?"
I will tell you the message he sent - being black and lgbt are two different things that can never intermix.
And that is the very same message that Lee is sending with his column and some members of the lgbt media sent with their silence.
It's almost as if lgbts of color don't matter. Apparently we are supposed to shut up and take our lumps for the good of the community.
Bullshit.
The next time members of the lgbt media wonder why it is so hard for lgbts of color to come out or wonder why so many lgbts of color feel segregated from the so-called mainstream gay community, or why lgbts of color would choose to align themselves with a gay-unfriendly black community, I suggest that they remember the Obama/McClurkin incident.
Not for what was said, but for what wasn't said.
I said I wouldn't talk about the Donnie McClurkin/Barack Obama situation again. But forgive me if I say just one more thing.
Something I read today got me angry. And it tweaked something that has been on my mind for a while.
A columnist at the Washington Blade, Ryan Lee, said the following:
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama has been an exceptionally outspoken ally on gay rights issues, candidly and eloquently supporting us no matter which audience he’s addressing. To feign outrage at his campaign for inviting an anti-gay gospel singer — a singer! — to a campaign concert in South Carolina exposes the political naïveté that cripples the gay rights movement.
Who knew gospel singers could be anti-gay?! Who knew that black churches were a key constituency for any Democratic politician?!
In their zeal to criticize Obama for inviting Donnie McClurkin to perform at the gospel concert, several gay men and lesbians suggested he should have tapped a more welcoming black minister, like Carlton Pearson. Pearson is indeed an inspiring voice for spiritual acceptance of gay people, but even he featured McClurkin on his celebrated “Live at Azusa” concert series, and he continues making money off McClurkin’s presence on the CD — including the $15 I paid for it.
Neither Obama nor Pearson should apologize for being affiliated with McClurkin and gay people shouldn’t mandate that the only way you can accept us is to reject those with whom we disagree.
You know what? I have to say something and if I apologize to anyone that I may offend, but I am very disappointed with some members of the lgbt community, especially some of our media, who have bent over backwards to give Obama a free pass on this.
I am angry because (here it comes), I think some folks in our community are willing to give Obama a free pass because they cannot or will not understand the effect of this entire controversy on lgbts of color.
And I am angry because I feel that if the situation was done with all the characters (except for Obama) being white, the same lgbts claiming that Obama aligning himself with McClurkin is no big deal would be up in arms. They wouldn't be so concilatory.
LGBTs of color are truly divided in identities. We can either align ourselves with a community who will support us because we are lgbt while subtlely telling us to downplay our racial heritage or we can either align ourselves with the black community which tells us to downplay our lgbt orientation.
I have chosen to not downplay who I am. I consider myself uncompromisingly gay and unapologetically black. Many of my brothers and sisters are also living their lives this way.
But many have chosen to align themselves with the African-American community. And frankly I don't blame them.
Why in the hell should the lgbts of color align themselves with a community that obviously considers the warping of their psychological and spiritual well-being as necessary sacrifices?
McClurkin speaks to the African-American community. He has brought his message of being a supposed "ex-gay" virtually unchallenged to the African-American community. He has also brought that lie about homosexuality and pedophilia to the African-American community virtually unchallenged.
Not once (and if I am wrong, please correct me) have I heard lgbts who consider Obama an ally address this situation. And where is our media, such as the Washington Blade, on this? Not one person stood up and said "what message is Obama sending to lgbts of color?"
I will tell you the message he sent - being black and lgbt are two different things that can never intermix.
And that is the very same message that Lee is sending with his column and some members of the lgbt media sent with their silence.
It's almost as if lgbts of color don't matter. Apparently we are supposed to shut up and take our lumps for the good of the community.
Bullshit.
The next time members of the lgbt media wonder why it is so hard for lgbts of color to come out or wonder why so many lgbts of color feel segregated from the so-called mainstream gay community, or why lgbts of color would choose to align themselves with a gay-unfriendly black community, I suggest that they remember the Obama/McClurkin incident.
Not for what was said, but for what wasn't said.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Book update - Massive Success
I had a very interesting email exchange with Dave Daubenmire, the author of the "Homo-nauseous" column I wrote about yesterday.
But I won't reflect on that.
And no matter how much I am tempted, I will not talk in length about our friend Peter LaBarbera's new and rather pathetic request for money to fight the "radical homosexual menace" today on his site.
I will only say that I am waiting for your refutations, Peter.
Today is mostly a happy day.
My book enjoyed a huge in jump in sales on two occasions on amazon.com. Presently (and this may change), I am ranked number two in my specialty category.
Now on amazon.ca (amazon.com's Canadian site), I have been ranked number one in gay/lesbian nonfiction for a few weeks now.
But there is a small catch. Apparently the problem I had with how my book was categorized on amazon.com has played over to amazon.ca; it's described as a children's book.
I am working to correct this error and I hope it will not create a problem with my sales. However, I am of the opinion that while my book is categorized as a children's book, no one bought it with the notion of reading it to their child.
Anybody who reads the summary can tell that it is not a children's book.
Also, my book is now available on this new location.
And next month, I hope to have my first book signing event.
So you will forgive me when I say:
DAMN I'M TIRED!!!!
Come stickpins tomorrow. I will be more receptive. - (Katherine Hepburn, The Lion In Winter)
UPDATE - Six sites online where you can find my book:
xlibris.com/HolyBulliesandHeadlessMonsters.html
amazon.com
barnesandnoble.com/
http://www.a1books.com/
http://www.tower.com/
www.bordersmedia.com/
I had a very interesting email exchange with Dave Daubenmire, the author of the "Homo-nauseous" column I wrote about yesterday.
But I won't reflect on that.
And no matter how much I am tempted, I will not talk in length about our friend Peter LaBarbera's new and rather pathetic request for money to fight the "radical homosexual menace" today on his site.
I will only say that I am waiting for your refutations, Peter.
Today is mostly a happy day.
My book enjoyed a huge in jump in sales on two occasions on amazon.com. Presently (and this may change), I am ranked number two in my specialty category.
Now on amazon.ca (amazon.com's Canadian site), I have been ranked number one in gay/lesbian nonfiction for a few weeks now.
But there is a small catch. Apparently the problem I had with how my book was categorized on amazon.com has played over to amazon.ca; it's described as a children's book.
I am working to correct this error and I hope it will not create a problem with my sales. However, I am of the opinion that while my book is categorized as a children's book, no one bought it with the notion of reading it to their child.
Anybody who reads the summary can tell that it is not a children's book.
Also, my book is now available on this new location.
And next month, I hope to have my first book signing event.
So you will forgive me when I say:
DAMN I'M TIRED!!!!
Come stickpins tomorrow. I will be more receptive. - (Katherine Hepburn, The Lion In Winter)
UPDATE - Six sites online where you can find my book:
xlibris.com/HolyBulliesandHeadlessMonsters.html
amazon.com
barnesandnoble.com/
http://www.a1books.com/
http://www.tower.com/
www.bordersmedia.com/
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Forgive me Lord, but your 'followers' are nuts
Apparently someone left the cage open because members of the anti-gay industry are figuratively "showing their asses" today.
Let's break down the top three stories:
Holsinger may become surgeon general
Rumour control has it that President Bush may just go ahead and recess appoint James Holsinger as our Surgeon General. I have covered the Holsinger situation in detail so I am not going to rehash the entire sordid affair. If you want to a recap, check out this link.
But if Bush does recess appoint Holsinger, I would not be surprised. It would be symbolic of our president's legacy as a self-righteous wannabe John Waynish type of figure who, despite all of his lies and deceptions, is never wrong; at least in his eyes.
Bottom line - I wouldn't trust Bush to be in charge of a dog pound much less a nation. But he has served two terms; two long, long, loooooong terms.
He makes me almost miss Reagan. At least Regan could make his bullshit sound like a symphony.
Homo-naseuous but lies are okay with me?
Dave Daubenmire today wrote a column talking about how he is "homo-nauseous."
His column is a scream. The beginning warns readers that his words aren't going to be "politically correct."
He should have said his words weren't going to be correct. That would have been more to the point because it is apparent that while Daubenmire claims to be "hom-nauseous," he has no problems with lying.
His column is filled with the standard anti-gay industry straw men arguments. He also peppers the column with links to sites that supposedly proves his point:
But I thought "homosexuals" were just like everyone else and that all they wanted was to be free to "live their lives" in peace. If that is the case, why won't they stop identifying themselves by what the do in the privacy of their bedroom? Why are they so intent on making me accept their deviancy? Why are they trying to indoctrinate 6-year olds into their perversion?
I took a look at the link he used there.
It is from a Massachusetts anti-gay industry group, Mass Resistance. Dauberman and the link in question was talking about a situation that took place a few years ago involving David Parker, a man who claimed that he was arrested for keeping the "homosexual agenda" from "indoctrinating" his six-year-old son.
This, of course, is a blatant lie. I talk about the Parker controversy in detail through my book. I used it as an example of how the anti-gay industry sometimes creates and distorts controversies to further their agenda.
I emailed Mr. Daubenmire the following letter:
i am sorry but your references are wrong. the sites you linked to do not tell the entire story of each controversy.
for exampe, i noticed that you linked much to the mass resistance site and especially the david parker situation.
in the first place, no one was trying to indoctrinate parker's son. he simply brought home a book that included a same sex family.
david parker kept complaining to the school, even though he was told that homosexuality was not a part of his child's curriculum. It culminated with parker getting arrested as a publicity stunt. he claimed that the school did not comply with his request to exclude his child out of discussions of same sex families, even if such discussions were to happen spontaneously (apparently a few of his son's classmates came from same sex households).
the school told him that discussions about same sex households are not included in the district opt out policy because discussions of families are not the same as discussions of sex. The school told him this after seeking the advice of district office. they also him that they could not keep students from talking about their families.
Parker refused to leave the school after the meeting and was arrested. conveniently mass resistance "just happened" to be there to take pictures of the incident.
a year after his arrest, parker and mass resistance told the lie that his son was attacked because of his father's stance. the school investigated, the area police investigated, the area social services agency investigate. all found that the claim was a lie.
just wanted you to know the type of folks you are taking info from. you claim to be "homo-naseuous." it is apparent that you do not feel the same way about lies.
I also posted it to his site. How much you want to bet that it probably won't appear there?
Peter done gone cuckoo
Peter LaBarbera never ceases to amaze me. Check out the following from his site:
When did Chicago become a worldwide Mecca for perversion enthusiasts? Every year it hosts “International Mr. Leather” with its accompany “pig sex” parties (somebody call the Swine Defamation League). The Windy City is home to a ”museum” for sadistic sex practitioners called the “Leather Archives & Museum” – no joke; here’s the link to this tax-exempt, non-profit institution.
And now, Sodom-by-the-Lake welcomes International Mr. Rubber, an international contest for, well, rubber fetishists. Don’t ask. The picture above from their website should tell you all you need to know.
Partnering with the rubber enthusiasts was the Center on Halsted, a brand new “GLBT” community center in Chicago’s homosexual Boystown neighborhood (which is officially demarcated with rainbow kiosks). Center on Halsted’s construction was financed with the help of Illinois taxpayers through a $10 million “link deposit” by the Treasurer’s office— then run by a Republican, Judy Baar Topinka — that helped them get access to low interest-rate loans.
If you want to see pictures, check out the link I posted. What can I say about a man whose stridency makes him a mockery?
Usually nothing.
But last week, I sent Peter the galleys of my book.
I understand now that he probably didn't have enough time to read them. Probably preparing for the rubber trip.
After all, why bother to explain your lies when you can create some new ones?
Apparently someone left the cage open because members of the anti-gay industry are figuratively "showing their asses" today.
Let's break down the top three stories:
Holsinger may become surgeon general
Rumour control has it that President Bush may just go ahead and recess appoint James Holsinger as our Surgeon General. I have covered the Holsinger situation in detail so I am not going to rehash the entire sordid affair. If you want to a recap, check out this link.
But if Bush does recess appoint Holsinger, I would not be surprised. It would be symbolic of our president's legacy as a self-righteous wannabe John Waynish type of figure who, despite all of his lies and deceptions, is never wrong; at least in his eyes.
Bottom line - I wouldn't trust Bush to be in charge of a dog pound much less a nation. But he has served two terms; two long, long, loooooong terms.
He makes me almost miss Reagan. At least Regan could make his bullshit sound like a symphony.
Homo-naseuous but lies are okay with me?
Dave Daubenmire today wrote a column talking about how he is "homo-nauseous."
His column is a scream. The beginning warns readers that his words aren't going to be "politically correct."
He should have said his words weren't going to be correct. That would have been more to the point because it is apparent that while Daubenmire claims to be "hom-nauseous," he has no problems with lying.
His column is filled with the standard anti-gay industry straw men arguments. He also peppers the column with links to sites that supposedly proves his point:
But I thought "homosexuals" were just like everyone else and that all they wanted was to be free to "live their lives" in peace. If that is the case, why won't they stop identifying themselves by what the do in the privacy of their bedroom? Why are they so intent on making me accept their deviancy? Why are they trying to indoctrinate 6-year olds into their perversion?
I took a look at the link he used there.
It is from a Massachusetts anti-gay industry group, Mass Resistance. Dauberman and the link in question was talking about a situation that took place a few years ago involving David Parker, a man who claimed that he was arrested for keeping the "homosexual agenda" from "indoctrinating" his six-year-old son.
This, of course, is a blatant lie. I talk about the Parker controversy in detail through my book. I used it as an example of how the anti-gay industry sometimes creates and distorts controversies to further their agenda.
I emailed Mr. Daubenmire the following letter:
i am sorry but your references are wrong. the sites you linked to do not tell the entire story of each controversy.
for exampe, i noticed that you linked much to the mass resistance site and especially the david parker situation.
in the first place, no one was trying to indoctrinate parker's son. he simply brought home a book that included a same sex family.
david parker kept complaining to the school, even though he was told that homosexuality was not a part of his child's curriculum. It culminated with parker getting arrested as a publicity stunt. he claimed that the school did not comply with his request to exclude his child out of discussions of same sex families, even if such discussions were to happen spontaneously (apparently a few of his son's classmates came from same sex households).
the school told him that discussions about same sex households are not included in the district opt out policy because discussions of families are not the same as discussions of sex. The school told him this after seeking the advice of district office. they also him that they could not keep students from talking about their families.
Parker refused to leave the school after the meeting and was arrested. conveniently mass resistance "just happened" to be there to take pictures of the incident.
a year after his arrest, parker and mass resistance told the lie that his son was attacked because of his father's stance. the school investigated, the area police investigated, the area social services agency investigate. all found that the claim was a lie.
just wanted you to know the type of folks you are taking info from. you claim to be "homo-naseuous." it is apparent that you do not feel the same way about lies.
I also posted it to his site. How much you want to bet that it probably won't appear there?
Peter done gone cuckoo
Peter LaBarbera never ceases to amaze me. Check out the following from his site:
When did Chicago become a worldwide Mecca for perversion enthusiasts? Every year it hosts “International Mr. Leather” with its accompany “pig sex” parties (somebody call the Swine Defamation League). The Windy City is home to a ”museum” for sadistic sex practitioners called the “Leather Archives & Museum” – no joke; here’s the link to this tax-exempt, non-profit institution.
And now, Sodom-by-the-Lake welcomes International Mr. Rubber, an international contest for, well, rubber fetishists. Don’t ask. The picture above from their website should tell you all you need to know.
Partnering with the rubber enthusiasts was the Center on Halsted, a brand new “GLBT” community center in Chicago’s homosexual Boystown neighborhood (which is officially demarcated with rainbow kiosks). Center on Halsted’s construction was financed with the help of Illinois taxpayers through a $10 million “link deposit” by the Treasurer’s office— then run by a Republican, Judy Baar Topinka — that helped them get access to low interest-rate loans.
If you want to see pictures, check out the link I posted. What can I say about a man whose stridency makes him a mockery?
Usually nothing.
But last week, I sent Peter the galleys of my book.
I understand now that he probably didn't have enough time to read them. Probably preparing for the rubber trip.
After all, why bother to explain your lies when you can create some new ones?
Monday, November 12, 2007
Breaking down ENDA opposition
Now there may be some who say that I pay too much attention to Peter LaBarbera and Americans for Truth (in name only.)
But sometimes they make things so easy that I can't help but to indulge. Case in point, the lastest entry by Peter about ENDA.
If anything, it underscores that sometimes Peter is so fanatical in his "crusade" against the lgbt community that he undermines his efforts while making our side look good.
This time, he posted a debate that took place on CNN regarding ENDA between Concerned Women for America's Matt Barber and African-American activist Keith Boykin.
Just watch it. Is it just me or did Boykin totally destroy Barber?
Watching the debate got me thinking about the lies put out by Barber and some of those who oppose ENDA.
It allowed me to place their opposition in a true perspective.
Barber and company seem to think that a person's personal religious beliefs should trump the ability to be free from discrimination in any environment, even in secular situations.
It may sound admirable but answer my questions regarding the possible scenarios:
Should a manager of a restaurant who has a religious objection to homosexuality be allowed to fire an employee if said employee is gay?
Should a landlord with a religious objection to homosexuality retain the right not to rent to a person if said person is gay?
Should the manager or owner of a supermarket with a religious objection to homosexuality be allowed to kick out a potential buyer if said person is gay?
And if these things are allowed, where could we draw the line?
Will a physician who has an objection to homosexuality be allowed to not treat a patient if said patient is gay?
Or what about a pharmacist?
Again where do we draw the line?
Now there may be some who say that I pay too much attention to Peter LaBarbera and Americans for Truth (in name only.)
But sometimes they make things so easy that I can't help but to indulge. Case in point, the lastest entry by Peter about ENDA.
If anything, it underscores that sometimes Peter is so fanatical in his "crusade" against the lgbt community that he undermines his efforts while making our side look good.
This time, he posted a debate that took place on CNN regarding ENDA between Concerned Women for America's Matt Barber and African-American activist Keith Boykin.
Just watch it. Is it just me or did Boykin totally destroy Barber?
Watching the debate got me thinking about the lies put out by Barber and some of those who oppose ENDA.
It allowed me to place their opposition in a true perspective.
Barber and company seem to think that a person's personal religious beliefs should trump the ability to be free from discrimination in any environment, even in secular situations.
It may sound admirable but answer my questions regarding the possible scenarios:
Should a manager of a restaurant who has a religious objection to homosexuality be allowed to fire an employee if said employee is gay?
Should a landlord with a religious objection to homosexuality retain the right not to rent to a person if said person is gay?
Should the manager or owner of a supermarket with a religious objection to homosexuality be allowed to kick out a potential buyer if said person is gay?
And if these things are allowed, where could we draw the line?
Will a physician who has an objection to homosexuality be allowed to not treat a patient if said patient is gay?
Or what about a pharmacist?
Again where do we draw the line?
Friday, November 09, 2007
Worse case scenarios from hell
One thing made clear in the fight over ENDA is how the anti-gay industry have shifted their lies from the gay and lesbian community to the transgender community.
And apparently they don't believe in being subtle. Some of the things I have heard coming from Matt Barber, Lou Sheldon, Peter LaBarbera, and the rest have been absolutely unbelievable in the areas of audacity and idiocy.
My "favorites" are the following:
ENDA will lead to
- men with five o'clock shadow and evening gowns demanding jobs at nurseries and churches,
- drag queens sharing swimming pool changing room with little girls,
- men arbitrarily claiming that they are transgender in order to sneak a peek at women using the toilet.
Some may chalk up these claims to desperation. I say it is more than that. The sickness of these claims reveal the rotting moral center of so-called "family groups." I mean what type of people actually thinks of these things about "drag queens" and "men in five o'clock shadow and evening gowns."
Probably the same type related to those who claimed that integration would lead to black men raping white women.
Those folks claimed that they were Christians too.
Book update - Guess who I sent a copy to
Apparently my book is doing well on amazon.com
For the second time, only one copy of the paperback is left. And more are on the way.
I chalk it up to the fact that my book seems to be selling well in Canada via amazon.ca
I really won't know how many I have sold until probably two weeks from now when my publisher gets the wholesellers' figures.
Meanwhile . . .
I think that you all remember the brouhaha last week between me and our friend Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth (in name only).
To rehash it - he kept asking for a review copy and I kept telling him to buy one.
Well that struggle is over.
I said last week that my decision not to email him a review copy of my book was not set in stone.
Well I meant it because I emailed him a copy of the galleys last night.
At first, I was defiant that Peter should buy a copy of my book. Part of the reason why I felt this way was because he had asked for a review copy before anyone else really had access to my book.
Now, over two months and a bunch of good sales later, that has changed. More people have access to my book.
Also, I am curious as to how folks on the other side of this argument would react to my book. After all, I accuse them of distorting science and relying on junk studies to demonize the lgbt community.
I couldn't help but to be curious as to how they would respond when they read my exact charges.
In the end, I guess that little bit of curiousity convinced me to go ahead and email Peter a copy of my galleys.
So now Peter, the ball is now in your court. You have my book.
Can you refute my claims?
One thing made clear in the fight over ENDA is how the anti-gay industry have shifted their lies from the gay and lesbian community to the transgender community.
And apparently they don't believe in being subtle. Some of the things I have heard coming from Matt Barber, Lou Sheldon, Peter LaBarbera, and the rest have been absolutely unbelievable in the areas of audacity and idiocy.
My "favorites" are the following:
ENDA will lead to
- men with five o'clock shadow and evening gowns demanding jobs at nurseries and churches,
- drag queens sharing swimming pool changing room with little girls,
- men arbitrarily claiming that they are transgender in order to sneak a peek at women using the toilet.
Some may chalk up these claims to desperation. I say it is more than that. The sickness of these claims reveal the rotting moral center of so-called "family groups." I mean what type of people actually thinks of these things about "drag queens" and "men in five o'clock shadow and evening gowns."
Probably the same type related to those who claimed that integration would lead to black men raping white women.
Those folks claimed that they were Christians too.
Book update - Guess who I sent a copy to
Apparently my book is doing well on amazon.com
For the second time, only one copy of the paperback is left. And more are on the way.
I chalk it up to the fact that my book seems to be selling well in Canada via amazon.ca
I really won't know how many I have sold until probably two weeks from now when my publisher gets the wholesellers' figures.
Meanwhile . . .
I think that you all remember the brouhaha last week between me and our friend Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth (in name only).
To rehash it - he kept asking for a review copy and I kept telling him to buy one.
Well that struggle is over.
I said last week that my decision not to email him a review copy of my book was not set in stone.
Well I meant it because I emailed him a copy of the galleys last night.
At first, I was defiant that Peter should buy a copy of my book. Part of the reason why I felt this way was because he had asked for a review copy before anyone else really had access to my book.
Now, over two months and a bunch of good sales later, that has changed. More people have access to my book.
Also, I am curious as to how folks on the other side of this argument would react to my book. After all, I accuse them of distorting science and relying on junk studies to demonize the lgbt community.
I couldn't help but to be curious as to how they would respond when they read my exact charges.
In the end, I guess that little bit of curiousity convinced me to go ahead and email Peter a copy of my galleys.
So now Peter, the ball is now in your court. You have my book.
Can you refute my claims?
Thursday, November 08, 2007
ENDA battle a bitter victory
As many of you are aware, this fight over ENDA has divided the lgbt community.
I won't rehash the arguments but to be honest, I can see both sides of the issue.
The passage of ENDA through the House is a great victory. It demonstrates that lgbts have come a long way. It also demonstrates that slowly but surely, the battle for our self-determination is going our way.
On the other hand,
The exclusion of transgendered individuals shows that while we are getting close to victory, we have a long way to go before we can place our feet on the welcome mat of success. As an African-American gay male, I know a little of what it feels like to be omitted for the sake of expediency.
So while my mind is for the passage of ENDA, my heart is with my transgendered brothers and sisters
So what's the solution?
I don't know. I can only offer my opinion of what we need to do next.
Which is we do what we can to resolve the friendships online and otherwise that some of us lost due to this disagreement over ENDA.
And we continue to move forward, educating each other and ourselves over this fight for self determination.
As many of you are aware, this fight over ENDA has divided the lgbt community.
I won't rehash the arguments but to be honest, I can see both sides of the issue.
The passage of ENDA through the House is a great victory. It demonstrates that lgbts have come a long way. It also demonstrates that slowly but surely, the battle for our self-determination is going our way.
On the other hand,
The exclusion of transgendered individuals shows that while we are getting close to victory, we have a long way to go before we can place our feet on the welcome mat of success. As an African-American gay male, I know a little of what it feels like to be omitted for the sake of expediency.
So while my mind is for the passage of ENDA, my heart is with my transgendered brothers and sisters
So what's the solution?
I don't know. I can only offer my opinion of what we need to do next.
Which is we do what we can to resolve the friendships online and otherwise that some of us lost due to this disagreement over ENDA.
And we continue to move forward, educating each other and ourselves over this fight for self determination.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
ENDA Stuff - History in the making
I advise everyone to check out this site or this one if you want to listen or see the hearings on ENDA.
We are on the crux of history, folks. Regardless of how things turn out, the door is open and it will NOT be closed.
UPDATE - The House just passed ENDA!!!!!!!!!!!
PFOX member wins award and boy does he deserve it
Box Turtle Bulletin has just announced a new winner of its LaBarbera Award.
First, a little background. According to Jim Burroway, editor of Box Turtle Bulletin, the LaBarbera award (named after our friend Porno Petey):
will be awarded on an as-earned basis for the most outrageous, offensive, malevolent, crazy, excessive — you get the picture — statement or claim. (Paul Cameron is ineligible; otherwise nobody else would ever get a chance to win.) I thought about naming it for Fred Phelps, but he’s in a class all by himself.
Past recipients of the award have been such "luminaries" as Regina Griggs of PFOX and Rick Scarborough of Vision America.
Not to be undone, another member of PFOX, Gabriel Espinosa, has been chosen as the recent recipient.
And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. According to Box Turtle Bulletin:
The Montgomery County (Maryland) Council is considering a new gender identity nondiscrimination bill, which has generated a lot of heated debate. JimK at TeachTheFacts.org has published a couple of letters from the far-right fringe in opposition to the proposed measure. The sticking point is over men’s and women’s restrooms — who should be allowed to go into which one. Gabriel joined in with her cahrming little note, reportedly done up in about a 40-point font. Please excuse the French:
Bill 23-07
Allowing men who think they’re women into women’s bathrooms and locker rooms?
ARE YOU PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MINDS?
Hopefully, it will be one of your daughters who gets raped first!
Sincerely Yours,
Gabriel Espinosa
President
Furryllama Media Productions
Lawd, lawd, lawd
I love God, but his "followers" are a drag.
I advise everyone to check out this site or this one if you want to listen or see the hearings on ENDA.
We are on the crux of history, folks. Regardless of how things turn out, the door is open and it will NOT be closed.
UPDATE - The House just passed ENDA!!!!!!!!!!!
PFOX member wins award and boy does he deserve it
Box Turtle Bulletin has just announced a new winner of its LaBarbera Award.
First, a little background. According to Jim Burroway, editor of Box Turtle Bulletin, the LaBarbera award (named after our friend Porno Petey):
will be awarded on an as-earned basis for the most outrageous, offensive, malevolent, crazy, excessive — you get the picture — statement or claim. (Paul Cameron is ineligible; otherwise nobody else would ever get a chance to win.) I thought about naming it for Fred Phelps, but he’s in a class all by himself.
Past recipients of the award have been such "luminaries" as Regina Griggs of PFOX and Rick Scarborough of Vision America.
Not to be undone, another member of PFOX, Gabriel Espinosa, has been chosen as the recent recipient.
And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. According to Box Turtle Bulletin:
The Montgomery County (Maryland) Council is considering a new gender identity nondiscrimination bill, which has generated a lot of heated debate. JimK at TeachTheFacts.org has published a couple of letters from the far-right fringe in opposition to the proposed measure. The sticking point is over men’s and women’s restrooms — who should be allowed to go into which one. Gabriel joined in with her cahrming little note, reportedly done up in about a 40-point font. Please excuse the French:
Bill 23-07
Allowing men who think they’re women into women’s bathrooms and locker rooms?
ARE YOU PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MINDS?
Hopefully, it will be one of your daughters who gets raped first!
Sincerely Yours,
Gabriel Espinosa
President
Furryllama Media Productions
Lawd, lawd, lawd
I love God, but his "followers" are a drag.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
The resurrection of the Matt Barber/AllState lie
In fighting against ENDA, some members of the anti-gay industry is resurrecting the Matt Barber lie.
For the benefit of those who do not know, Matt Barber is the policy director for Cultural Studies for Concerned Women for America. Before that time, he worked at AllState Insurance.
He was fired from that job, subsequently making himself a new cause celebre for the anti-gay industry. You see, Barber claimed (and still claims) that he was fired for being Christian.
What caused the entire fuss was a column Barber wrote against marriage equality. It's funny because the column said nothing about his religious beliefs. It did include a lot of bad information, including some Cameronesque studies. Apparently Barber did not research his topic.
However, it did identify him as an employee of AllState. Barber claims this was added accidentally by another party.
AllState fired Barber, claiming that he used company resources for his personal use. Barber contended that he wrote the column on his own time.
Barber sued AllState for violating his religious beliefs because he was not allowed to receive unemployment benefits as a employee who was fired for willfull misconduct. The Illinois Department for Employment Security said this was not the case, so Barber was able to get unemployment benefits. Barber continued with a lawsuit against AllState.
He was aided by religious right lawyers, anti-gay industry figures such as Donald Wildmon and the American Family Association, and blogs like Free Republic who claimed that he was the newest victim of the "gay Mafia."
Barber and AllState settled, even though no dollar amount was mentioned.
Barber was not fired for his religious beliefs. As it turns out, AllState could have had a justifiable reason for firing him, which is why he was not rehired:
In court documents, Allstate said Barber was not fired for his beliefs, but for using company resources for his personal activities.
Company spokesman Michael Trevino said that Allstate has never terminated an employee for expressing his or her personal views away from the office. Barber said he wrote the articles at home but admitted that he sometimes sent personal e-mails, including some related to his writing, from his company laptop. Barber also stated that he made no more personal use of his laptop than his co-workers did.
Barber's situation had nothing to do with religion or ENDA. But in the eyes of the anti-gay industry, a lie can become the truth if it is repeated long enough.
In fighting against ENDA, some members of the anti-gay industry is resurrecting the Matt Barber lie.
For the benefit of those who do not know, Matt Barber is the policy director for Cultural Studies for Concerned Women for America. Before that time, he worked at AllState Insurance.
He was fired from that job, subsequently making himself a new cause celebre for the anti-gay industry. You see, Barber claimed (and still claims) that he was fired for being Christian.
What caused the entire fuss was a column Barber wrote against marriage equality. It's funny because the column said nothing about his religious beliefs. It did include a lot of bad information, including some Cameronesque studies. Apparently Barber did not research his topic.
However, it did identify him as an employee of AllState. Barber claims this was added accidentally by another party.
AllState fired Barber, claiming that he used company resources for his personal use. Barber contended that he wrote the column on his own time.
Barber sued AllState for violating his religious beliefs because he was not allowed to receive unemployment benefits as a employee who was fired for willfull misconduct. The Illinois Department for Employment Security said this was not the case, so Barber was able to get unemployment benefits. Barber continued with a lawsuit against AllState.
He was aided by religious right lawyers, anti-gay industry figures such as Donald Wildmon and the American Family Association, and blogs like Free Republic who claimed that he was the newest victim of the "gay Mafia."
Barber and AllState settled, even though no dollar amount was mentioned.
Barber was not fired for his religious beliefs. As it turns out, AllState could have had a justifiable reason for firing him, which is why he was not rehired:
In court documents, Allstate said Barber was not fired for his beliefs, but for using company resources for his personal activities.
Company spokesman Michael Trevino said that Allstate has never terminated an employee for expressing his or her personal views away from the office. Barber said he wrote the articles at home but admitted that he sometimes sent personal e-mails, including some related to his writing, from his company laptop. Barber also stated that he made no more personal use of his laptop than his co-workers did.
Barber's situation had nothing to do with religion or ENDA. But in the eyes of the anti-gay industry, a lie can become the truth if it is repeated long enough.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Damn, Peter. You must be slipping
What is with our friend Peter LaBarbera.
I think he may be phoning it in.
Case in point - A recent posting on his American for Truth (in name only) webpage:
Study Finds Extensive Partner Abuse among Homosexual, Bisexual Men
From that headline, it sounds like Peter, as a card carrying member of the anti-gay industry, is up to his usual tricks of distorting legitimate studies in order to demonize the lgbt community.
Until the rest of the post is read. I put the important piece in bold:
A new study in the Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of The New York Academy of Medicine found that 32 percent of gay and bisexual men - nearly one in three - are victims of intimate partner abuse.
Little has previously been researched and documented about the patterns of intimate partner abuse in same-sex male couples. This study’s results provide an important addition to the body of knowledge on this subject, and a call to action for health providers treating men who have sex with men (MSM).
“Men in same-sex relationships experience abuse rates similar to those faced by women in heterosexual pairings,” said lead author Eric Houston of the Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago. “Intimate partner abuse among MSM does not receive the same attention as it does among heterosexual couples. As a result of the lack of attention, many MSM who need help may not be recognized unless the healthcare provider is appropriately trained and takes time to assess for abuse.”
So Peter, how does this information make same-sex relationships seem worse than heterosexual relationships?
You must be slipping my friend.
One News Now and the tale of the poll
We have been inudated with lies that ENDA will lead to discrimination against Christians and such.
But how do some of these same so-called Christians feel about considering sexual orientation or gender identity in employment?
Do they view it as an issue that should be considered?
According to a recent poll on the anti-gay industry site One News Now, 43.9 percent of poll respondees said factors such as an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity should always be taken into consideration when a person is hired or fired.
And you just know that the 43.9 percent aren't necessarily pro-gay.
Something to think about.
What is with our friend Peter LaBarbera.
I think he may be phoning it in.
Case in point - A recent posting on his American for Truth (in name only) webpage:
Study Finds Extensive Partner Abuse among Homosexual, Bisexual Men
From that headline, it sounds like Peter, as a card carrying member of the anti-gay industry, is up to his usual tricks of distorting legitimate studies in order to demonize the lgbt community.
Until the rest of the post is read. I put the important piece in bold:
A new study in the Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of The New York Academy of Medicine found that 32 percent of gay and bisexual men - nearly one in three - are victims of intimate partner abuse.
Little has previously been researched and documented about the patterns of intimate partner abuse in same-sex male couples. This study’s results provide an important addition to the body of knowledge on this subject, and a call to action for health providers treating men who have sex with men (MSM).
“Men in same-sex relationships experience abuse rates similar to those faced by women in heterosexual pairings,” said lead author Eric Houston of the Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago. “Intimate partner abuse among MSM does not receive the same attention as it does among heterosexual couples. As a result of the lack of attention, many MSM who need help may not be recognized unless the healthcare provider is appropriately trained and takes time to assess for abuse.”
So Peter, how does this information make same-sex relationships seem worse than heterosexual relationships?
You must be slipping my friend.
One News Now and the tale of the poll
We have been inudated with lies that ENDA will lead to discrimination against Christians and such.
But how do some of these same so-called Christians feel about considering sexual orientation or gender identity in employment?
Do they view it as an issue that should be considered?
According to a recent poll on the anti-gay industry site One News Now, 43.9 percent of poll respondees said factors such as an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity should always be taken into consideration when a person is hired or fired.
And you just know that the 43.9 percent aren't necessarily pro-gay.
Something to think about.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
I think Peter LaBarbera is mad at me
I was going to talk about the hypocrisy of anti-gay industry news source One News Now, but something just happened that is too damned good to keep to myself.
You all may recall that a while back, Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth (in name only) wrote me asking for an advance copy of my book.
I wrote him back directing him to the page of my publisher where he could order a copy.
Well last night, I received an email from him yet again.
Now since he asked me to, I am not going to publish that email.
But to make a long story short, he again asked for a free review copy of my book.
He also defended his web page's usage of legitimate health information (about gay sex) to bash lgbts on the whole.
This was my answer back to him:
i saw your very AMUSING bit today - i was going to answer but i read something on pam spaulding's site that was brilliant and it did speak to what i have said in my book about how your side distorts credible health information (http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3482):
The book that Peter uses as his basis for his attacks is actually a very handy medical guide that talks about the risks of STDs and how to prevent them and STILL live your truth as a gay person.
You did not deliver, you distorted.
now about my book - i believe i sent you a link to my publisher. by your email reply to me just now, it is obvious that you did not purchase by book via that route. - i suggest you go to a site that has a used copy of it if you do not want to pay full price.
I have to tell you all honestly that despite this email, I was contemplating sending a copy of my book galleys to Peter. I even asked a friend about it.
I also prayed on it.
What happened when I opened my email this afternoon is proof that God is powerful and we should never take in the lie that He does not love us just as we are.
You see Peter responded to my email. And he did not have the foresight to ask me not to print it:
Nope, sorry, not paying to see what baloney you are going to say about me. I'm not a masochist, despite what all the nuts on your side say. :)
It is not distorting to show the disproportionate health risks of behaviors like anal sex. You guys are in total denial.
This is my answer to him:
peter, a couple of things.
get over yourself. You are not that important. You are just a pawn. It is for that reason that only three paragraphs of a 168 page book (my book) is devoted to you.
re: regarding anal sex - it IS distorting when you totally ignore that heterosexuals engage in it and make it seem that this sex act is a hallmark of being gay. NOT ALL GAY PEOPLE ENGAGE IN ANAL SEX, PETER!!!!
You used information devoted for to ensure health in order to bash gay people. It is no different than using information regarding sickle cell anemia to bash African-Americans on the whole.
You have a right to believe what you want about gay people but if we (us being lgbts) think that you are wrong, we have a right to give correct information.
You have a nice day and be blessed.
What I am about to say is not set in stone. But I am of the mind that if Peter wants a copy of my book, let him buy it. His atttiude was stank and very un-Christian.
But I did enjoy the email exchange.
I was going to talk about the hypocrisy of anti-gay industry news source One News Now, but something just happened that is too damned good to keep to myself.
You all may recall that a while back, Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth (in name only) wrote me asking for an advance copy of my book.
I wrote him back directing him to the page of my publisher where he could order a copy.
Well last night, I received an email from him yet again.
Now since he asked me to, I am not going to publish that email.
But to make a long story short, he again asked for a free review copy of my book.
He also defended his web page's usage of legitimate health information (about gay sex) to bash lgbts on the whole.
This was my answer back to him:
i saw your very AMUSING bit today - i was going to answer but i read something on pam spaulding's site that was brilliant and it did speak to what i have said in my book about how your side distorts credible health information (http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3482):
The book that Peter uses as his basis for his attacks is actually a very handy medical guide that talks about the risks of STDs and how to prevent them and STILL live your truth as a gay person.
You did not deliver, you distorted.
now about my book - i believe i sent you a link to my publisher. by your email reply to me just now, it is obvious that you did not purchase by book via that route. - i suggest you go to a site that has a used copy of it if you do not want to pay full price.
I have to tell you all honestly that despite this email, I was contemplating sending a copy of my book galleys to Peter. I even asked a friend about it.
I also prayed on it.
What happened when I opened my email this afternoon is proof that God is powerful and we should never take in the lie that He does not love us just as we are.
You see Peter responded to my email. And he did not have the foresight to ask me not to print it:
Nope, sorry, not paying to see what baloney you are going to say about me. I'm not a masochist, despite what all the nuts on your side say. :)
It is not distorting to show the disproportionate health risks of behaviors like anal sex. You guys are in total denial.
This is my answer to him:
peter, a couple of things.
get over yourself. You are not that important. You are just a pawn. It is for that reason that only three paragraphs of a 168 page book (my book) is devoted to you.
re: regarding anal sex - it IS distorting when you totally ignore that heterosexuals engage in it and make it seem that this sex act is a hallmark of being gay. NOT ALL GAY PEOPLE ENGAGE IN ANAL SEX, PETER!!!!
You used information devoted for to ensure health in order to bash gay people. It is no different than using information regarding sickle cell anemia to bash African-Americans on the whole.
You have a right to believe what you want about gay people but if we (us being lgbts) think that you are wrong, we have a right to give correct information.
You have a nice day and be blessed.
What I am about to say is not set in stone. But I am of the mind that if Peter wants a copy of my book, let him buy it. His atttiude was stank and very un-Christian.
But I did enjoy the email exchange.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)