Three year ago today, I began my blog, Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters. Initially it was to serve as publicity about my book (of the same name). However, the blog has taken a life of it's own. What I wrote three years ago is as relevant today as it was then:
There are a bunch of organizations in this country who thrive on ignorance, fear, and a sense of entitlement.
They refer to themselves as "pro family" and even members of the gay community regard them as the religious right
With all due respect, I don't see them as that. They are an anti-gay industry who seeks to gain political power by building on the religious beliefs and ignorance of people of faith. And they have been pretty successful.
Central to this success are their so-called studies on the gay community. In order to prove that gays and lesbians should not have any protection of laws, they have created a written and oral pattern of deception that is not only blatant in its attempts but shameful in its audacity. In their zeal to prove the worst about the gay community, the anti-gay industry runs roughshod over science and truth. They have created a houses of pseudo-scientific studies based on distortions, lies, headless monsters, and legitimate studies taken out of context , which are then pushed by fake experts, Ph.D.s, conservative columnists and bloggers, and ignorant people of faith all willing to sacrifice their integrity on the altar of an alleged higher calling.
We know the claims these studies make:
gays have a short life span
gays molest children at a higher level than heterosexuals
lesbians abuse their partners at a high level
gays are more violent and are prone to crimes
gays are promiscuous and cannot handle the concept of marriage.
For two years, I have studied the methodologies of so-called "pro family" groups (i.e. Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America, the Traditional Values Coalition, etc) and am glad to say that their claims are rooted in lies, outright deceptions, and legitimate studies with portions cherry picked out.
In 2007, I will publish my book, Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters, detailing just what how the anti-gay industry propagandizes about the gay community. Through this blog, I will publish some of my findings and update everyone as to the progress of my book. I will update this blog on a weekly basis.
Now I must emphasis that I am not attacking anyone's religion. I respect a Christian's right to believe that homosexuality is an abomination. I also respect the right of the Boys Scouts of America to prohibit gays from serving as members. Of course I also believe that if the organization had any integrity at all, it should refuse any form of public monies because some of this money is derived from gay sources via taxes. And isn't accepting money from those who you feel will not conform to your moral code just as bad as allowing them in your group.
But I digress.
What I am saying through my book and my blog is that distortions and lies in the name of God are still distortions and lies. And anyone who knowingly uses them and can still refer to themselves as a person of faith needs to examine themselves.
If anyone wants to read past postings, check out the Best of Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters to the right of this blog.
Alvin,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your anniversary!
I came across your blog about six or eight months ago and have found it a great resource. As a 59 year old straight white woman raised in a small New England town, there are a number of things I didn't grow up with. The 60s, Viet Nam, and civil rights expanded my horizons considerably, but it's only in the last couple of years that I have looked to the internet for more understanding in the area of gay rights. Frankly, until the anti-discrimination fight here in Maine, it just hadn't crossed my radar. Now, with Marriage Equality on the line, and participating in the fight, I have been trying to arm myself with facts and counter-arguments. Your blog has been of inestimable help in countering the ignorance and lies of the right.
Thank you, and please, don't let the b*stards get you down. We will win this.
CC
Thank you ColdCountry ;p
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! It's certainly great having you around.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks so much for keeping this up for so long, Alvin. I've read your commentaries on the blend for a while now and I've recently become a huge fan of Holy Bullies. Your work is always one of the highlights of my day.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone. I'm glad to that you appreciate my work and I hope to do better work in the future ;p
ReplyDelete