Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008

It has been a good year . . .

but I don't have time to recap now. I am working on something that I hope will help get information to our community about the lies of the anti-gay industry.

I hope to have it done by January 2.

Keep your fingers crossed and have an excellent new year!!!!!

Peter LaBarbera's homophobia bites him in the ass

In recent pleas for money, Peter LaBarbera has claimed that we lgbts unfairly brand him as homophobic. Peter further claims that all he is doing to speak the "truth" regarding homosexuality:

Yes, they absolutely HATE us because we stand unapologetically against their sexual ideology as one that a holy Creator can have no part of. This “culture war” is not about us — it’s about right versus wrong . . .

To say that he is full of shit would be the overstatement of the decade. So how about a demonstration courtesy of his actions today.

This morning, he published an article spotlighting a hideous crime perpetrated against a gay man:

The victim, a gay man, was raped, attacked, and "sodomized" with a broomstick after leaving a party Friday night -The attacker, Felipe Rivera, had also been at the party. However, he was asked to leave because he had punched the victim in the face after, according to Rivera, the victim winked at him.

After being booted from the party, the attacker waited outside for the vicim to leave. The attacker claims the victim propositioned him for sex, but the victim denies this. In fact, the Chicago Tribune reports that "the victim alleged he had refused an offer from Rivera to pay him $50 for sex later in the evening." But regardless of who truly wanted sex from whom, the attacker proceeded to punch, rape, and stick the broom up the victim's rectum.

When asked why he did it, the attacker is alleged to have said, "because he hates 'faggots,' and this is what they get." The attacker is also said to have shouted anti-gay epithets at the victim while he was attacking.

That is awful. But here is what Peter said about the crime:

Our question: what percentage of “anti-gay hate crimes” are actually committed by people who themselves are involved in homosexual behavior? If this Chicago Tribune report is accurate, then this is no typical ”gay panic defense” – whereby a man blames his assault on a homosexual by claiming that the victim first made an unwanted sexual advance toward him — because the alleged perpetrator here offers to pay his victim for homosexual sex and then sexually assaults him.

We also know that some men may secretly (or even not so secretly) engage (or desire) homosexual perversions yet eschew the “gay” label for themselves – so the fact that Rivera told police that he “hates homosexuals” tells us little. He may hate that part of himself drawn to deviant homosexual acts.

Behavior, not self-labels, is what counts: we wonder how many cases like this end up on the FBI’s list as an “anti-gay” “hate-crime” statistic — to be exploited later, ironically, by “gay” activists lobbying for dubious pro-homosexual “hate crimes” laws … We’ll follow this story closely. — Peter LaBarbera

And the interesting part of the entire situation - later this day, Peter's post was "mysteriously" deleted from his webpage.

If you asked me, I think Peter slipped and showed his homophobia.

Here is an ugly crime committed against a gay man by an individual so psychotic that his mother called the police (i.e. that is how he was caught. Apparently his mother had an order of protection against him even before the alleged crime was committed.).

But the only thing Peter cares about is exploiting this crime as further proof of how "ugly" homosexuality is.

To Peter, the fact that someone was the victim of a crime ranks lower than the fact he can brand the perpetrator as gay.

How is that truth?

Sounds like homophobia to me.

And to make matters worse, when caught, he tries to make a quiet exit.

The Bible says that when you do wrong, you should apologize.

Peter's deletion of his article seems to be a small admittance of wrong. But Peter, if you are a true Christian, then perhaps you owe the lgbt community a public apology.

We are waiting.

Big thanks to goodasyou.org for this story.

UPDATE - Apparently Peter has apologized for his sloppy work. But he has reprinted his nonsense. The following analyzation is from goodasyou.org, who have been on top of this story:

One interesting note about Pete's new post: He reprints his old post with a line stricken through the part that he nw considers erroneous. However, in a curious move, he added a passage to his original post, as if it had been there all along. The new paragraph reads:
"One more question: if same-sex sexual assaults are classified as “hate crimes,” what about men who rape women (or vice versa)? Shouldn’t these sex crimes also be labeled “hate crimes” against women, as they are typically motivated by contempt and misogyny (hatred of women)? We’ll follow this story closely."

And as you can see from both our quoted text as well as the Google Cache of his original post, this paragraph was never in the original article. Why the duplicity, Peter?

And then Peter just can't seem to help himself but tell another deception:

We know there is a problem with homosexual-on-homosexual violence (hence the book, Men Who Beat the Men Who Love Them). It seems ludicrous to call such crimes “anti-gay hate crimes” — for use in the “gay” propaganda cycle that feeds off exaggerated spinning of FBI data to imply an outbreak of (straight) “anti-gay violence” that doesn’t exist.

Men Who Beat the Men Who Love Them was a book written 13 years ago. If there is a "big" problem with same-sex relationship abuse, then why couldn't Peter have found a more current source than a 13-year-old book?

More importantly, the book dealt with relationship violence. So why does Peter make reference to this book that deals with relationship violence when talking about a crime in which there was no relationship between the victim and the perpetrator?

Because Peter seems to be trying covertly insult the nature of lgbt relationships in general. He seems to be inferring that what happened to that young man is indicative of lgbt relationships.

Damn Peter, even when you apologize you make things worse.

No matter how you try to cover it up, your homophobia comes shining through.

The perpetuation of dehumanization (Gotta love that title)

I'm back and I am still tired.

Not to mention almost burnt out. But leave it to the anti-gay industry to muster enough anger in me to post something.

Check out this gem from One News Now and Matt Barber of Concerned Women for America:

A spokesman for Concerned Women for America warns that yet another piece of legislation being promoted in the Democrat-led Congress would force taxpayers to subsidize immoral and dangerous behavior.

Senators Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) and Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) have introduced a bill that will extend domestic partner benefits to homosexual federal employees. The measure would allow an employee and his or her same-sex partner to be eligible for federal health benefits, the Family and Medical Leave program, long-term care, insurance, and retirement benefits. Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), who is an open homosexual, and Tom Lantos (D-California) have introduced the bill in the House and included foreign service workers for the first time.

Matt Barber is policy director for cultural issues at Concerned Women for America in Washington, DC. He says the bill is the camel's nose in the tent for a litany of pro-homosexuality legislation, along the lines of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act.

"For the government to take a moral stance here [regarding] people who engage in homosexual conduct is essentially equating that conduct to natural sexual relations between married, heterosexual couples," states Barber. "This really introduces us to the whole idea of gay 'marriage' at the national level to federal ENDA."

I bolded Barber's statement because it emphasizes the same nonsense I talked about the last time I posted. That time, it was a statement by columnist John Derbyshire along the same vein:

I know myself well enough to be sure that I am not cruel, or bigoted, or intolerant. Nor am I aware of anyone who knows me that believes me to be any of those things. Like Thomas More: "I wish none harm, I say none harm, I do none harm." Do as you please in the privacy of your chambers . . .

As usual, when talking about lgbts, Barber, Derbyshire and their co-horts seek to dehumanize and reduce our lives and families to sexual acts. This is not an accident, but an intentional tactic; an appeal to fear and ignorance.

To them, we are not raising children and we do not have families. Our lives are defined by hedonistic sexual thrills. And we had better not do anything to change that image.

Not because it is the truth, but because it is how they think it should be.

I have noticed that members of the anti-gay industry get most angry at us when we don't reduce our lives to their low expectations.

It is when we want to break their stereotypes of the oversexed, pathetic gay man or the man-hating, violent lesbian, or the confused transgender that they come out blazing with their complaints as to how we are "in their face."

They seem to think that they are not only entitled to tell us how our lives are but to correct us when we don't pattern ourselves after their lies.

Not very Christian, it is?

I nearly make it out, but John Derbyshire pulls me back in

Yeah I know I said that I was taking a break. But I just can't resist responding when I read stupid shit.

For example this lovely piece by John Derbyshire:

All that aside, though, I can't say I care much about homosexuality one way or the other. If I examine my own motivations for saying anything at all on this subject, the main thing I am aware of is just contrarian cussedness. I get so goddam sick of all the movies, TV shows, and, yes, e-mails telling me how goddam wonderful homosexuals are, and how goddam normal homosexuality is, and how goddam cruel and bigoted and intolerant it must be not to whole-heartedly approve of homosexuals, and cheer them on, and applaud the things they do. Well, I know myself well enough to be sure that I am not cruel, or bigoted, or intolerant. Nor am I aware of anyone who knows me that believes me to be any of those things. Like Thomas More: "I wish none harm, I say none harm, I do none harm." Do as you please in the privacy of your chambers, but for heaven's sake stop pushing it in my face, stop telling me how wonderful you are, stop lying about the fact that the things you do have health consequences (were in fact responsible for introducing a horrible plague into our society), stop mucking up my language by introducing illiteracies like "homophobe" and imposing the stain of salacity on perfectly decent old English words like "gay", stop telling me that the things I say might be taken as incitement to crimes of violence. (What words that anyone says about anything might not be thus taken by some lunatic somewhere? What would we be permitted to talk about, on that criterion?) And don't even think about proselytizing your "lifestyle" to my kids.

I don't know Mr. Derbyshire well enough to know for sure whether or not he is cruel, bigoted, or intolerant. But from what I am reading, he is ignorant.

Consider these facts:

As of 1990, 6 million to 14 million children in the United States were living with a gay or lesbian parent. (National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, a service of the U.S. Administration for Children and Families.),

Same-sex couples raising chidren live in 96% of all counties nationwide in the United States. (2000 U.S. Census analyses by the Urban Institute and Human Rights Campaign),

As many as 7.2 million Americans under age 20 are lesbian or gay,

45% of gay males and 20% of lesbians experience physical or verbal assaultin high school; 28% of these young people feel forced to drop out of schooldue to harassment based on sexual orientation.

But yet and still, people like Derbyshire are obsessed with defining the issue of sexual orienation to that of kinky bedroom habits.

That, my friends, goes beyond hatred. It is more diabolical than hatred. It is willful ignorance.

Of course Derbyshire can think of homosexuality in any way that he likes but the kicker is that he seems to demand that those of us who are lgbts conduct our lives in accordance to his ignorance.

And that will probably be the final fight over sexual orientation. Behind all of the lies about dangerous health consequences, behind all of the Biblical admonitions, behind all of the deceptions and distortions are people who cannot accept the fact that being an lgbt goes beyond sexual intercourse and stereotypes about leather and sadomaschism.

So rather than to accept the fact that maybe they are wrong, they rail against the rest of the world for daring to interrupt their stupid notions.

Well they, Mr. Derbyshire included, need to get over themselves. No matter how freaky they try to make us out to be, we are normal people who lead normal (and in my case - boring) lives. And we should not have to edit out any part of these lives.

The fact of the matter is that no one can tell the story of lgbt lives better than those who are living them. In matters of the media, we have every right to push for positive and correct stories about who we are. And we have every right to influence all facets of this country, from the media to our legislative bodies.

That is what being an American is all about

And one last thing to Mr. Derbyshire: if by chance any of your kids turn out to be gay, don't blame us. Be a good parent. Listen to that child, don't make assumptions, and by all means don't desert your child.

Maybe you will learn something for a change.

I am taking a break

I am burnt out.

With doing what I do almost every day, working at my regular job, and keeping tabs on how my book is selling, I am at my wits end when it comes to energy.

And keeping my ideas fresh.

So I am taking a break from it all until December 27.

During that time, I will be planning goals for 2008. I have big plans that I want to see come to fruition.

But before I go, I want you to read this excellent post from Jeremy at goodasyou.org

He has caught the anti-gay industry (yet again) telling a bunch of lies. (You mean they lie? So what else is new?)

Barring some incredible event that pushes me to post, I will see you all on December 27.

Happy Holidays!!!

And the whining continues

By now you all have heard about the conservative Princeton student who faked threatening notes and an attack on himself.

I won't recount the story. But there is an excellent article on the situation by blogger Max Blumenthal. You can read it here.

As for me, I don't feel the need to give my opinion of the matter. It has been the talk of the blogs for over a day now and I don't think that I can add to anything that I have read.

But I can't help but to feel sorry for the guy. He had advantages and wasted them. He was attending Princeton, one of the top universities in the country and in one swoop, destroyed that opportunity.

It is a sad situation when folks feel that they have to make up stories to further their cause. And it's even sadder when they are caught.

Now from the department of giving someone cheese to go with that whine comes our friend, Gary Bauer.

Bauer, a "pro-family" activist and former Presidential candidate is upset over the following:

A U.S. judge ordered the Secret Service on Monday to disclose records of visits by nine prominent conservative Christian leaders to the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney's residence.

The ruling, in response to a legal watchdog group's suit, could shed light on the influence leaders like James Dobson of Focus on the Family have had on President George W. Bush's administration. It may also affect legal efforts to force the release of visiting records of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and other similar cases.

"We think that these conservative Christian leaders have had a very big impact," said Executive Director Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which filed the case.

Bauer registered his anger with One News Now. I am sure he knew that this supposed news organization (which is an extension of the American Family Association) would print his comments without the courtesy of showing both sides of the story. He was not disappointed:

Bauer, the president of American Values, says he finds the freedom of information request by CREW "offensive."

"I do think it's quite telling that [this] organization ... wants to know about religious leaders visiting the White House,; and yet as far as I know, they did not request the names of Muslim leaders that have visited the White House," he observes. "And of course they would not dare file a request that would ask for [the names of] visitors of a particular race that had visited the White House or met with the president."

And of course he was quick to play the victim:

The American Values president says the request demonstrates "the ongoing effort by cultural elites to try to intimidate Christians out of the public square." He also says he is willing to tell anyone who wants to know how many times he has been to the White House to give President Bush advice on "the great issues facing our country."

Bauer may not have realized it but he answered his own question when he made that crack about Muslims.

Let me break it down this way:

I don't remember any Muslim leader bragging that Bush made them privy to why a potential Supreme Court judge (i.e. Harriet Miers) would be suitable to their base. James Dobson did.

I don't remember any time that Bush jumped into a private family issue to suit the Muslim community like he did with Terri Schiavo. He did this of course to appease Dobson, Bauer and the rest of that ilk.

I don't remember any time that Bush adopted any talking points forwarded by the Muslim community like he did for Dobson, Bauer, and company when talking about why he was for a constitutional amendment against gay marriage.

The fact of the matter is that CREW has a point and a right to view those visitation logs.

What is happening to you all is part and parcel of participating in a free and Democratic society, Bauer.

Get used to it.

Be afraid. Be very afraid because you deserve it

Via the Huffington Post, I ran across a very interesting piece:

This campaign is knee-deep in religion, and it's only going to get worse. I'd thought that the limits of professed public piety had already been achieved during the Republican CNN-YouTube debate when some squirrelly looking guy held up a Bible and asked, "Do you believe every word of this book?" -- and not one candidate dared reply: None of your damn business.

Instead, Giuliani, Romney and Huckabee bent a knee and tried appeasement with various interpretations of scriptural literalism. The right answer, the only answer, is that the very question is offensive. The Constitution prohibits any religious test for office. And while that proscribes only government action, the law is also meant to be a teacher. In the same way that civil rights laws established not just the legal but also the moral norm that one simply does not discriminate on the basis of race -- changing the practice of one generation and the consciousness of the next -- so the constitutional injunction against religious tests is meant to make citizens understand that such tests are profoundly un-American.

Who wrote that you may ask. Was it one of my fellow "Godless liberals?" Was it a fellow purveyor of the "gay agenda?"

Why no. It was neoconservative Charles Krauthammer. Apparently he took time out of his busy schedule of defending President Bush's hideous war in Iraq on Fox News to sound an alarm horn regarding religion in this campaign.

And it pinpoints a fear that is slowly gripping the Republican party this election cycle. Over this summer, we heard repeatedly from "Conservative Christian leaders (i.e. the anti-gay industry) that they disapprove of the Republican presidential candidates.

Now they seemed to have zeroed in on one that they will support: Mike Huckabee. Subsequently, he has moved up in the Republican polls. And this seems to have the Republican party on the whole scared because while Huckabee appeals to the "conservative Christian" base, it is that same appeal that makes him unelectable.

Interesting statements he has made regarding lgbts, AIDS, and variety of social issues (the newest being him comparing homosexuality with necrophilia) have made him more and more appealing to the "Christian conservative" base. But the problem is that Huckabee can't seem to temper that appeal with assurances to moderates that he won't go all Khomeni should he get elected.

It is definitely a different ballgame from 2004.

Remember that lovely election cycle when the Republican party used the "threat" of gay marriage of rally their base and give Bush a second term? Things are different now. The very thing that worked for the Republican party then has returned to bite them in the ass. (I am aware of the gay subtext so hush up)

So now we are at this point. Huckabee seems to be slowly gaining ground and as he does, he is turning on the piety even more, thereby appealing to more "Conservative Christians" but potentially alienating moderates and maybe even the majority of voters in the nation.

And the Republican party is scrambling behind the scenes to somehow control the situation.

Lawd, I am enjoying this.

Spotlight on a good cause

From time to time, I will be spotlighting sites and people who are fighting the anti-gay industry. I would be remiss if I caused anyone to think that little ole me is the only one in the mix.

There are others. And they have been at it longer and are more skilled than I am.

Wayne Besen is one of them. He is the author of Anything But Straight, the definitive book detailing the lies of the "ex-gay" movement.

He is also head of Truth Wins Out:

a non-profit think tank and educational organization that counters right wing disinformation campaigns, debunks the “ex-gay” myth, and provides accurate information about the lives of GLBT people. Our work includes:

Providing opposition research on the “ex-gay” myth
Discrediting right wing propaganda
Educating America about the GLBT community

The main vehicle the anti-gay industry uses to launder their lies is the so-called “ex-gay” ministries. The far right exploits these groups in an effort to present their disdain for gay people in the guise of love. However, this embrace of re-closeted homosexuals is no more than a veiled attempt to deny GLBT people equality under the law.

TWO’s vision is to create a world where the right wing is held accountable for their factual distortions and the “ex-gay” ministries are exposed as one of the greatest hoaxes in American history. We firmly believe in the principle that leaving the “Big Lie” unchallenged invites prejudice to prosper, falsehoods to flower and fiction to be confused with fact. TWO stands for the idea that education will overcome ignorance and truth will one day triumph.

At the present moment, Besen is having a holiday fundraiser in order to combat more lies of the "ex-gay" movement. Check it out.

You like me! You really like me!

Last night was a huge hit. I read a bit of my book to a packed house attending the SC Gay and Lesbian Business Guild meeting and they were very receptive to my message.

As well as generous.

I was able to sell many copies of my book and give out many more business cards. The most important thing is that my message went out and was received well.

I think I did relatively well seeing that it was my first time doing a book reading. Of course there are a few things I would change. I am not exactly Sidney Poitier or Morgan Freeman when it comes to verbal delivery.

I read somewhere that a great Greek orator used to practice saying speeches with pebbles in his mouth. Of course I am sure pebbles were cleaner back then than they are now.

Maybe I will try the same tactic with ice cream sandwiches.

Seriously though, I read today that our friend Peter is a little bit upset that Diversity Inc magazine co-founder Luke Visconti compared his usage of the Bible to demonize lgbts to slaveholders using the same holy text to justify slavery:

DiversityInc magazine co-founder Luke Visconti (lvisconti@diversityinc.com) showed his own (modern) bigotry and disrespect for people of faith by comparing Americans For Truth president Peter LaBarbera to a 19th Century Christian slavery advocate because LaBarbera opposes homosexuality and pro-homosexual corporate policies.

I'm confused. Apparently Visconti's piece was about Americans for Truth (in name only). So how can Peter take it that it was meant to insult people of faith. I really don't remember reading that part of the Bible that says God had appointed Peter as the new prophet i.e. spokesperson for anyone of faith.

Maybe he was sent a memo. Peter continues to say:

Did you know that in the eyes of some liberal, pro-homosexual advocates, you are the moral equivalent of the KKK? Actually, this is nothing new: radical “gay” activists have been making this absurd and hateful analogy for years. This is why I tell religious people all the time: disabuse yourself of the idea that homosexual activists and their liberal fellow travelers “respect” your faith or your right to live it out in the public square. They don’t; they despise your Bible-centered morality, and are quite willing to demonize you for it.

Let me put my little spin on this.

Peter, your belief that homosexuality is a sin does not make you a bigot like a member of Klan. It is your tactics. You are guilty of the following:

Aiding in the selling of a fradulent video because it featured a man who claimed that he was ex-gay while at the same time potentially infecting gay men with HIV

Spreading the studies of a man dismissed from the APA for bad research tactics, something that you are aware of

Giving an unfair connotation that all gays and lesbians are diseased, sex ridden maniacs by attending subcultural events like Folsom Street Fair and focusing on the gays you see there while ignoring the heterosexual engaged in the same behavior

Engaging in the distortion of credible research in order to demonize the lgbt community.

Your tactics make you no different than slaveholders. They thought their racial heritage justified keeping African-Americans physically shackled. You think your religious beliefs justify the tactics you use to keep lgbts spiritually shackled.

Do you get what I am throwing down? No? Let me put it another way.

I have friends who are very conservative. They home school their children and feel that homosexuality is a sin. But they respect me. They ask me about my life and if I am dating anyone. They even introduced me to their children. Sometimes we even have lunch where we have an excellent conversation about life and everything in between.

The difference between you and them?

When they walk into my office and see a plaque I received as volunteer of the year from the gay and lesbian organization in my city, they don't whine to me or anyone about how their religious beliefs are being "violated." When my boyfriend brought me flowers for Valentine's Day, they did not tell me that I was going to hell nor did they tell me that I had no right to tell where I got the flowers from.

They don't assume that their Christianity gives them the top floor in some sort of superior hierarchy. They don't think that the world revolves around their religious beliefs.

Nor do they stoop to deception in attempts to get folks to conform to their religious beliefs.

You should really try it sometime, Peter.

Tomorrow is the day!!!!

My mother came home from the hospital yesterday and is doing much better. Thank you all for your concern and prayers.

Well tomorrow is the day of my first book signing and I am naturally spooked. I haven't written down a game plan or anything.

Therefore I apologize for not posting anything new today. But I do want to direct your attention to a few items:

My buddies at Box Turtle Bulletin have instituted a new award, one which I hope that I am never the recipient of:

A lot of groups and individuals put out piles of misrepresented statistics and bogus research. Few can match Paul Cameron’s audacity, but from time to time we run across something that surely must put a smile on Cameron’s lips. One such email blast reached my inbox yesterday, and it was so good I thought it might be time to inaugurate a brand new award.

And so I’m announcing the Cameronesque Award, given for the individual or group who engages in the most egregious manipulation, misuse, or misrepresentation of research or statistics that would make Paul Cameron proud.

The first recipient of the award, The Christian Defense Coalition, truly deserves it.

Also, I rarely talk about the ex-gay movement on this blog. Mainly because there are many other excellent resources about the ex-gay movement, including Ex-gaywatch.com and this excellent book by activist Wayne Besen.

And now here is another good resource to add. The Southern Poverty Law Center has written two articles on the ex-gay movement. One dissects the lies of the movement and the other focuses on Scott Harrison, a man who survived the ex-gay movement.

Lastly, I would remiss if I didn't point out this article by the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. It focuses on something that our media should be talking about but for some reason refuses to: the lives of lgbts of color.

Huckabee shows how to manipulate the script

I dare anyone to tell me that the recent incident with presidential candidate Mike Huckabee wasn't timed.

Almost two weeks after Janet Folger's ridiculous wannabe Terminator fantasy of a future without Huckabee as president, someone "discovers" that Huckabee said some controversial things about AIDS sufferers as well as lgbts.

Leading of course to rebukes from folks on my side, but defenses by so-called "pro-family" figures.

A nasty way to shore up one's base indeed. I am expecting an article about the entire controversy (one-sided, of course) to come out soon in One News Now.

It wouldn't surprise me if the entire incident was planned. Huckabee is slowly but surely getting popular with the so-called "pro-family" groups. Therefore any rebuke he receives from the lgbt community can only make him look like a saint in their eyes.

So I would ask that while us lgbts get angry over Huckabee's comments, let's also recognize that we may be getting manipulated in order for Huckabee to get in the good graces of the anti-gay industry.

Let's recognize the game so that we are not pawns in it.

It's all coming together

Now I would usually talk about the anti-gay industry and I will later.

But today is too much of a good day to spoil with thoughts of Peter LaBarbera, Matt Barber, and the rest of the liars.

For today, I got my first royalty check. And of course I am giddy.

My books also came today. Last Friday, I got my business cards and poster. So I am now set for my first book signing on Thursday.

Also, my book jumped up a couple of spaces on amazon.com

And that is a good thing.

So I am now going to take this time to rest a little bit. Tonight, I am going to enjoy WWE Raw, eat, and give myself a psychological exfoliation.

Talk to you again tomorrow. I will be raring to go.

Will the David Parker lie ever die?

Yes, I know what happened today.

The Senate killed hate crimes legislation. I don't like it but I am not that angry over it.

Recently I bought a book giving the pictorial history of the African-American civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. And reading it gave me perspective.

I figure if people like John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer, Viola Luizzo, C.T. Vivian, etc. can withstand beatings and the like for their basic rights then lgbts can withstand a little legislative setback without going all to pieces.

We moved this legislation farther than it has ever been before. So let's just take a small breath and get ready to move it even farther to completion.

The anti-gay industry has hindered us just a little bit but they can't stop us. Time and progress is on our side.

Now onto other issues . . .

I see that our friend Peter is basking in all of the attention his appearance on Fox News last night gave him. Never mind the fact that Alan Colmes made him look like a nut (yeah THAT Alan Colmes - I am as shocked as you). It is obvious that Peter defines the word "narcissist."

But I think it reveals a little bit of desperation on his part. Wasn't Folsom Street Fair held in September? Why is he still ruminating on it now in December.

Could it be that his recent requests for donations need a jolt in the arm?

Mmmmmm Could be.

Seriously though, I read something today that is the theme of this post.

Sometimes, the press can act as an unofficial ally of the anti-gay industry. This happens when a reporter is too lazy to do any actual reporting and prints the soundbites of the anti-gay industry without the courtesy of an investigation.

Case in point is this November 26 piece regarding David Parker and King and King.

I talked about Parker extensively in my book, Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters, and on this blog. He is that parent in Massachusetts who was arrested for not leaving his child's school when asked to. Parker claimed that he did this because the school would not give him assurances that his child wouldn't be "exposed" to talks of homosexuality.

He subsequently sued the school, joined by another set of parents who objected to the fairy tale King and King (in which a prince falls in love with the brother of his intended bride) being read to their child (who was in the second grade.)

The lawsuit was dismissed earlier this year. However, Parker and company continues to pursue the situation.

Anyway, Cybercast News Service interviewed Parker for an article about the Presidential candidates' views of King and King. So I am going to take what was said and play that lovely game of truth vs. lie that I played earlier this week:

Distortion: The article said: Parker was jailed in 2005 after he insisted Lexington school officials follow Massachusetts' parental notification law and assure him they would not read such books (like King and King) to his then-kindergartner without prior notice.

Truth: Parker's individual situation had nothing to do with King and King. His son brought home what was called a "diversity bookbag." In the bookbag was a book that had included one same sex family. Parker complained about this. He received assurances that "learning about homosexuality" was not a part of his child's curriculum. However, he was told that some students attending his child's school lived in same sex households and mentioning these households did not violate the Massachusetts parental notification law. The school had checked and was told that the notification law dealt with matters of sex education, and not necessarily differing families.

Distortion: Parker said the following in the article - "We went into a meeting with the administration, they said they were not going to tell us, and I basically made the statement, 'I'm prepared to sit here all night until I get some form of accommodation for our little boy.' Then they called the Lexington police, who put me in handcuffs, and they took me to the Lexington jail. I opted out of paying bail, so they put me in jail over night."

Truth: According to a press release jointly issued by the interim superintendent of schools and area chief of police, Parker was informed of these things during the meeting. The press release also said that Parker was told that he could appeal this decision. Parker decided to take another form of action, i.e. not leaving until he was arrested.

I don't think any malice was intended on the part of the journalist who wrote this article. But his laziness still damages truth.

Okay, maybe I care a little bit . . .

There will be a short post today.

Peter had his press conference this afternoon and he brought friends. Matt Barber from Concerned Women for America and another person spoke.

From what I hear, it was sparsely attended. But for more information, check out The Washington Blade. Online Editor Rebecca Armendariz attended. Click on her name to read her thoughts about it.

Meanwhile, my mother is still in the hospital and I am still working to get everything ready for my first book signing next week. Wish me luck.

But all isn't frivolity and worry. I just found out some good news today.

It seems that my favorite actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman, is doing a nude scene in the new motion picture Before the Devil Knows You Are Dead.

I know what I am going to see this weekend.

So I like chubby pasty white men. Sue me already.

It's one of THOSE tuesdays

1. First of all, please pray for my mother as she is going to the hospital for yet another bout with diverticulitis.

Between her problems and mine, we channel Judy Garland and Liza Minelli. Of course I get to be Liza (the younger one).

2. I liked yesterday's game. In fact, I am going to play it again a few more times in the future.

3. A little over a week away from my first book signing and not only have my books not come yet but I haven't written down word one of my small speech.

And I hate the design of the poster that I am due to email to Kinko's tonight.

Can you say panic?

Well at least the sales from amazon.com are coming in. Very slowly, that is.

4. And I have a small conundrum. I am thinking about reconnecting with a dear friend of mine (shut your dirty minds, he is straight) whom I haven't seen or spoken to in over 10 years. Of course I would then have to tell him why I am 36 and have yet to meet the woman of my dreams.

And I don't know how he is going to take the news that I am gay. I hope if I tell him that he does not ask me did I ever look at him naked.

Well I can always say technically no. I never looked at him naked. Only certain parts of his body. And to answer your question, it looked spectacular.

All jokes aside, regardless of what anyone tells you, the rejection from a friend who finds out you're gay is like your soul getting sliced. And frankly, I am too old to be a victim of soul slicing. The wound may take longer to heal than it would if I were younger.

5. I hear our friend Peter LaBarbera is going to hold a press conference where he will show footage he took of Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco.

Please pardon me for not giving a shit.

6. Lastly (and yes this is a shameless plug), I encourage those who haven't already to check my site http://www.holybullies.com/ and buy a copy of my book, Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: Exposing the Lies of the Anti-Gay Industry.

Trust me when I say that it is THE book to have when you are forced to do battle with the anti-gay industry.

Now forgive me for leaving. I have two boxes of ice cream sandwiches with my name on them.

After all, who needs sex when one has chocolate?

A teachable moment in Kentucky

An anti-bias ordinance was recently passed in Jefferson County School Board in Kentucky. It was supposed to pass easily but ended up going through by one vote. And this is because of an interesting incident that took place during the hearing.

In speaking for the ordinance, Kat Crawford of Highland Middle School told of a situation where a person in her class said a derogatory comment about lgbts. According to Crawford, she talked to the young lady and told her how hurtful such comments could be. Possibly in attempting to prove her point further, Crawford came out to the young lady:

Crawford said she heard a girl tell other kids while on her way to scoliosis screening that "there are going to be lesbians working this," prompting snickers.

"I called the girl over and talked with her privately," Crawford told the board. "… I asked her what she said … and why she said it. I told her that I took offense to it (and said), 'How do you think that comment makes this lesbian feel?' "

Unfortunately, a board member used Crawford's story as an excuse to change her vote:

To me, that was the deal breaker," Linda Duncan said shortly after she voted against the policy.

"When I saw that this language could possibly protect those conversations, it was chilling to me. I could not support something (that) would put kids at risk," she said.

Duncan also said teachers "can't cross the line and discuss (their) sexual preference with a student -- it's just like religion, you can't take a moment and discuss it in school, it's not appropriate."

Unfortunately, others in the article also played the "teacher telling students their sexual preference" card. Luckily, there were folks who spoke to the media and told the difference between sexual orientation and sexual preference.

Personally, I am for the teacher. She had every right to do what she did. What if the student had said something negative about a certain religion that the teacher happened to be a believer in? It would have been totally appropriate for her to act in the same manner she did in this case.

But no one would be trying to accuse her of trying to "convert" the student, as they have in this case.

But I want to use the incident in order to play a game. I am going to pretend that I am Peter LaBarbera (I know, I am retching too) or some other anti-gay industry talking head. Taking that form, I am going turn this story into a series of talking points. After each talking point, I am going to point out the truth of the matter:

Anti-gay industry talking point 1 - The teacher was in the wrong because she talked about her sex life with the student.

Truth - No she did not. She did not mention anything regarding sexual activity to the student.

Anti-gay industry talking point 2 - The teacher embarrassed the student by calling her out simply because the student was giving her "deeply held religious beliefs" about homosexuality.

Truth - The student's comments had nothing to do with her religious beliefs.

Anti-gay industry talking point 3 - The student had a right to free speech.

Truth - The student had a right to free speech up to a point. Teachers and instructors have a responsibility to monitor the words of students in cases of profanity and derogatory language. The teacher was well within her rights to call the student out because the student's language was derogatory.

Anti-gay industry talking point 4 - The teacher should not be trying to force the student to accept homosexuality

Truth - The teacher was not trying to force the student to accept anything. She was simply telling the student that her language was hurtful, as was her responsibility as an instructor/teacher.

You see how the anti-gay industry works? That is why is it so important for us to know when incidents like this happen so that we can analyze how they distort the truth.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?)

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.

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.

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/

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?

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?