Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: 01/01/2010

Friday, January 29, 2010

Know Your LGBT History - The Women

What can be said about this movie - one of the greatest of all time and one of my top favorites.

So many gay men of my generation and the one before can repeat the majority of lines in it by heart.

The Women (1939) needs no introduction but I will try anyway. It amazes me that the back story behind this movie (a film about relationships in New York high society that featured no men but women dealing with their relationships with men) didn't garner either a book or a movie.

In some ways, the back story is more interesting than the movie. In one corner, you have Norma Shearer, the queen of the movie lot who was the star of the movie guarding her territory and status. She portrays Mary Haines, a woman who suddenly finds out that her husband has been stepping out on her.

In the other is Joan Crawford who needed this movie to be a hit because she was recently labeled as "box office poison." She took the role of man-stealing Crystal Allen on a hunch that it would revitalize her career. And it did.

Then there is Rosalind Russell who, after it was all over, was believed to have been the actual winner. In the middle of the battle between Shearer and Crawford, her character, Sylvia Fowler (the comically evil instigator of the entire situation), stole the show. And it gave her a reputation as a comic actress - one which she rode into screen history.

Those of us who are movie buffs know the story behind The Women - the fights, the petty battle for position between Shearer and Crawford, and how gay director ~~Michael~~ George Cukor held it all together.

But in the middle of all of this, one story has been omitted.

The movie contained what could be seen as a thinly veiled lesbian character. Her name was Nancy and she was portrayed by actress Florence Nash.

It being 1939, the movie couldn't come out and designate Nancy as a lesbian, so a lot of hints were thrown around. She was an "old maid," a "liberated woman who had her own career," etc. etc.

To me, the most telling comes in an exchange she has with Russell's character in the first scene. The exchange starts at 7:40:

Transcript:

Nancy: You just can't bear Mary's happiness, can you? It gets you down.

Sylvia: How ridiculous. Why should it?

Nancy: She's contented to be what she is.

Sylvia: Which is what?

Nancy: A woman.

Sylvia: And what are we?

Nancy: Females.

Sylvia: Really? And what are you, pet?

Nancy: What nature abhors. An old maid. A frozen asset.

And for the benefit of the brothers and others who love this movie (and those who have never seen it), the following clip features some of the funniest lines:

Janet Jenkins/Lisa Miller case gets Nightline treatment and other Friday midday news briefs

Janet Jenkins/Lisa Miller case featured on ABC's Nightline

Youth Radio: Young, gay and homeless - Let's not forget our lgbt children in our rush for marriage equality and the repeal of DADT

Union school board backs book - Some good news for Friday.

Republican U.S. Rep Mike Pence: marriage equality will result in societal collapse - Mercy!

It's time for the lgbt and black communities to start listening to lgbts of color

I want to do something different today.

Monday is February and the beginning of Black History Month, so I'm starting early on it.

It occurs to me that in both the lgbt community and the black community, lgbts of color never seem to be able to get in the conversation. We are boggarted because it seems that both communities don't see us as people, but as commodities.

So I am posting clips from an old episode of In Focus, news magazine show in Atlanta, GA.

The episode is talking about homosexuality in the black church. And what makes this episode excellent is that it is doing something that neither the black or gay community can never seem to do - letting lgbts of color get a word in edgewise.

I would ask those who claim to be for lgbt or African-American equality to view the clips and ponder one point - how in the hell are you working to secure my rights if you won't listen to what I have to say?:

Thursday, January 28, 2010

James O'Keefe, Andrew Breitbart, and the lgbt community

We are all getting a kick out of the tribulations of phony journalist James O'Keefe, but let's not be so quick to make fun that we forget a few things.

O'Keefe was receiving salary from Andrew Breitbart, the founder of the site Big Government. That's the weirdo on the video above being interviewed (the video is painful. Someone needs to talk about punditry in Washington)

You do remember Big Government, do you? That's the site behind the huge crop of lies against Obama appointee Kevin Jennings. From Media Matters comes a listing:

Blogger Hoft's smear campaign against Jennings. Writing for the website Gateway Pundit, Jim Hoft has authored a series of factually dubious attacks on Department of Education staffer Kevin Jennings and the organization Jennings founded and previously led, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Hoft's Jennings posts -- which he has labeled "Fistgate," even though many of those allegations have little or nothing to do with the sexual practice of fisting -- often draw upon the work of MassResistance, a Massachusetts based anti-gay organization that has been labeled a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Even conservative commentator Dean Barnett has stated that the organization "verges on being a hate group."

Breitbart eagerly embraced and promoted Hoft's false attacks on Jennings. Hoft's "Fistgate" attacks on Jennings and the GLSEN have been faithfully cross-posted on BigGovernment.com, and Breitbart himself has used Twitter to promote Hoft's work. Among the smears and distortions Breitbart has embraced:

Hoft deceptively linked Jennings to "fisting" workshop he criticized. Hoft claimed that a 2000 conference sponsored by the Boston branch of GLSEN included "a workshop where GLSEN activists promoted 'fisting' to 14 year olds," citing a recorded exchange that occurred during a "Queer Sex and Sexuality" workshop at that conference. In fact, Jennings reportedly criticized some of the workshop's content when the recordings were first released in 2000, and the people involved in conducting the controversial discussion were state employees and contractors, not GLSEN employees.

Hoft falsely claimed high-school students received "fisting kits" at 2001 GLSEN conference. Hoft falsely claimed that "fisting kits" -- which he placed in quotes -- were distributed at the 2001 GLSEN/Boston conference. But Hoft has presented no evidence that the kits distributed by Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts were actually intended for fisting. Indeed, while the conservative newspaper Massachusetts News -- cited by Hoft -- reported in 2001 that the kits were "intended for 'fisting' or oral sex," the paper described the kit's contents as "a single plastic glove, a package of K-Y lubricant and instructions on how to make a 'dental dam' out of the material" and offered no support for the claim that the kits were "intended for 'fisting.' " Even FoxNews.com has reported that Hoft "alleged that Jennings and GLSEN were involved in Planned Parenthood's purported distribution of 'fisting kits,' " but that the kit "was actually for making a 'dental dam' -- designed to prevent STD transmission during oral sex."

Hoft falsely suggested Jennings' organization handed out explicit safe-sex booklet to children. Hoft falsely suggested that that GLSEN had distributed to children an explicit safe-sex booklet that included "a list of the local gay bars" and "Pushed Anal S*x in Parks With Strangers." In fact, a community health group -- not GLSEN itself -- reportedly said that it had mistakenly "left about 10 copies" of the booklet on an informational table it rented at a 2005 GLSEN conference at Brookline High School in Massachusetts; the group reportedly apologized for doing so; GLSEN stated that if it had known the booklets had been at the conference, it would have demanded they be removed; and the Brookline school superintendent reportedly said he believed no students had actually taken the booklet.

Hoft falsely claimed Jennings "Pushed Books That Encouraged Children to Meet Adults at Gay Bars For Sex." Hoft falsely claimed that Jennings "Personally Pushed Books That Encouraged Children to Meet Adults at Gay Bars For Sex," citing MassResistance's falsehood that a book Jennings recommended to high school and college students, One Teenager in 10, "encourage[s] teens to, among other things, go to gay bars and have sex with adults to see if they like it." Media Matters for America has reviewed the book, compiled all references to gay bars, and determined that the book at no point encourages teens to "go to gay bars and have sex with adults." In fact, a majority of the youth testimonials included in the book that mention gay bars refer to them negatively.

Breitbart.tv also smeared Jennings. An October 6, 2009, Breitbart.tv post grossly distorted comments Jennings made to a GLSEN audience in 2000 to claim he "criticize[d] schools for promoting heterosexuality." In fact, in the audio files posted at Breitbart.tv, Jennings promoted a curriculum that demands "respect [for] every human being regardless of sexual orientation, regardless of gender identity, regardless of race or religion or any of the arbitrary distinctions we make among people," and said that efforts to promote a specific sexual orientation through schools were ineffective.

O'Keefe went after ACORN and caused the organization considerable trouble. Just imagine what he could have tried with various national and statewide lgbt organizations.

It's a part of a huge picture of targeting us all via slander and innuendo. O'Keefe got over his head and got so stupid that he got caught.

I'm sure there are others waiting in the wings.

Just something to remember.

Florida anti-gay adoption law dying a slow death? and other Thursday midday news briefs

Oh yeah. Opposition to LGBT equality is ALL ABOUT THE LOVE!

Hat tip to Goodasyou.org and the New Civil Rights Movement for the picture

Ruling a third strike against Florida's gay adoption ban - While ruminating over Don't Ask, Don't Tell and marriage equality, let's not forget this VERY important issue.

Polis Introduces Youth Protection Bill - Again, another issue that shouldn't be neglected.

Because you never know what 'right' he will seek next - These phony experts seem to be "testifying" everywhere.

'Don't say gay' bills deferred to senate committee - These bills are archaic. How did we miss talking about them?

Family Research Council rails about 'sexualization' of the Armed Forces

While I know that everyone wants to zero in on Obama for his comments regarding Don't Ask, Don't Tell, check out this from an email message by the Family Research Council:

Last night in his State of the Union Address, President Obama repeated his call for Congress to repeal the military eligibility law that was passed in 1993, and to allow homosexual conduct within the ranks of the armed forces.

This would put our military in the strange position of actively recruiting personnel who have an expressed intention to violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice (which still prohibits certain forms of sexual conduct, including homosexuality). Forcing soldiers to cohabit with people who view them as sexual objects would inevitably lead to increased sexual tension, sexual harassment, and even sexual assault. America's military exists to fight and win wars --not to engage in radical social engineering.

It's amazing how the lies never really change. During the original hearings in the Clinton Presidency, Army and Navy officials circulated the discredited studies of Paul Cameron. Senator Sam Nunn, who opposed gays in the military, took the press on a tour of shower facilities in an attempt, I guess, to emphasize how "normal soldiers" are in danger if lgbt soldiers are allowed to serve openly.

That's the opposition, folks. And if we either laugh or marvel at the ignorance of FRC's statement, we do it at our own peril. We should remember that the organization belongs to a conglomerate of groups, talking heads, and assorted blogs all pushing the same lie - that somehow allowing gays to serve openly in the military will lead to danger.

So while Obama is relevant to a degree, in a larger sense he is rendered irrelevant if FRC and other organizations (not to mention Fox News, Big Government, etc.) can stitch together a good fear story to make Americans doubt the necessity of eliminating DADT.

And you just know that they are going to try. The question is what are we going to do about it?

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

SOTU speech over - my thoughts and ramblings

President Obama's speech is over and before the overpaid pundits tell us why we should love or hate it, let me give a few thoughts.

I liked it. It was on point but now it's time for him to push action.

And yes, I noticed what he said about DADT. And I know that others noticed his mention of the commitment to overturn the policy.

Now before some of us start ruminating in that particular way which we do, I would ask that you remember the faces of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They weren't exactly looking all that happy.

Maybe I am misinterpreting their desire not to show emotion, but then again, maybe I'm not.

Overturning DADT should happen and it will. But it won't be easy. We should remember that. Instead of directing venom at Obama's way because he "isn't moving fast enough," I would suggest that we continue to do what we do - and that is to exert pressure on the President. Remind him that we helped to get him elected and we lgbts as Americans deserve our rights.

But let's not get caught away with the hyperbole. Yes, we are all tired of being second class citizens but talking about how sick and tired you are may make you feel good via facebook or the blogs, but it entails more than that.

To tell the truth though, I have been very disturbed by some folks' overeagerness to paint the President as a "bigot." He is pragmatic to the point of annoyance at times, but to call him names reveals a haste that's not conducive to the community.

And if I may take it further, I especially hate how these discussions over Obama's commitment to the lgbt community have made us snipe at each other. I have different opinions about Obama's commitment to the lgbt community. I don't like some of the things he has done, but I am willing to give him credit on other things.

But sometimes I don't want to mention how I feel because I don't want to be sniped at by some (pardon the expression) self-satisfied, "righteously indignant" individual who seems to be so obsessed with his/her opinion of lgbt rights that an understanding of other opinions seems to be out of his/her mindset.

I don't think it's right that someone who doesn't know me all of the sudden feels justified to trivialize my life simply because I don't share that person's opinion.

We may disagree but no one likes being called names or having their commitment to lgbt equality minimized simply because they take different views of President Obama. Regardless of how you feel about the President, you shouldn't feel that you will be attacked by your own people.

But it's happening all of the time. And it reveals an inability to understand that while we are all lgbt, we come from different environments and different opinions on how we should take steps to get what we need in terms of equality.

We don't all come from the Castro, or any other big city metropolis. We don't all listen to Lady GaGa (until last month, I have never heard of Lady GaGa). And some of us don't follow the struggle for lgbt equality as much as others.

But at the very least, lgbts owe each other basic respect.

If we don't, then we are no better than Peter LaBarbera and the rest of the religious right.

Obama and DADT: What do you think the President will say?

Tonight is the night of President Obama's State Of The Union address.

If one listens to hyperbole, then it will be the most important speech of his presidency . . . until his next State of the Union address.

I wonder if Rep. Joe Wilson will open his mouth? I hope he does and I hope Michelle Obama wings him with a high heeled pump.

Seriously, tonight will be interesting on a lot of fronts, especially when it comes to Don't Ask, Don't Tell - the policy regarding gays in the military.

According to the Huffington Post, Obama is expected to call an end to it:

President Barack Obama will directly address the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in his State of the Union address on Wednesday evening, sources on Capitol Hill and in the gay-rights community tell the Huffington Post.

What exactly he will say about it remains a topic of intense debate, however -- though the betting among plugged-in sources is that he will call for its repeal.

"It is going to happen," said a source in the gay-rights community. "And it is going to be brought up in a somewhat significant way. But what that significance is we don't know." A Hill aide confirmed that the White House communications department told congressional press colleagues that the president would discuss the policy during his prime-time speech.

The article goes on to say that the pressure has been mounting for Obama to take a stance on the issue.

And why not? Maybe it's just me but the religious right as a whole seems to have abandoned this issue. Other than token opposition by Elaine Donnelly (and we all know what happened to her at the DADT hearing two years ago), there hasn't really been that much of a backlash against the notion of allowing gays in the military.

Still, if Obama does call an end to DADT, expect the customary cries about "military cohesion" and such to erupt.

It's what we have come to expect.

But seriously, what do you think he will say?

The floor is yours. BE NICE!!!

Military wastes money on DADT and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Military Spent $500 Million Implementing Gay Ban - Where are the teabaggers? THIS is wasted money!

Maggie Gallagher: 'I'm in favor of marriage equality' - SURE you are, Maggie.

ACORN "Exposer" James O'Keefe and Buds Caught Playing "Watergate, Cajun Style" - Oh come on. It's the story everyone is talking about. You know you want to know more about it.

AIDS Rent Cap Clears Hurdle - A very interesting story.

Iowa Governor To Proclaim Gay-Straight Alliance Day - A short article but very good news.

Notion of same-sex parenting debunked because Focus on the Family says so?

From Truth Wins Out comes this claim via Focus on the Family:

A study in the Journal of Marriage and Family concludes that any set of two or more compatible parents are as good for children as a married, biological mother and father. In particular, lesbians, they claim, "seem to outparent comparable married, heterosexual, biological parents."

Glenn Stanton, director of family formation studies at Focus on the Family, debunks the findings.

"They're just completely overreaching their hand," he said. "Are we to think that nature has really sent each one of us down a second-rate road of having to be raised by a man and a woman?"

The research dismisses more than two decades of studies that show a mom and a dad each contribute to their child's upbringing.

"The research is very, very clear and it backs up what God has put into process," Stanton said, "that a man and a woman are the best people to raise that child to healthy adulthood."

Stanton says the findings appear to reveal an agenda on the part of the researchers and not scientific conclusions.

That's it. We don't have the name of the study, when it appeared, or anything else about it.

All we know is that it "debunks" the notion of same sex parenting because Glenn Stanton (who has already admitted that he has no expertise in issues about the lgbt community) and Focus on the Family says so.

Okay.

Well based on the track record of Focus on the Family and its tendency to distort legitimate research (especially in the cases of. Dr. Carol Gilligan Ph.D:, Kyle Pruett, M.D., Angela Phillips, and Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc), I think that I would rather wait on independent confirmation rather than anything the organization or its spokespeople says.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The Daily Show presents 'Thank You, South Carolina'

I'm sorry. I know I should write about lgbt issues but I just have to mention this.

I think my state just made history. It's the first time that a Governor, Lt. Governor, and a U.S. Representative from the same state have all made the Daily Show.

And I didn't even mention the guy who had sex with the horse.

Hey, I didn't say it was good history.

Today, Jon Stewart deservedly skewers Lt. Governor Andre Bauer on his recent comments on the poor (which really doesn't bear repeating):

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Thank You, South Carolina - Andre Bauer

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Okay, why did South Carolina ban same sex marriage again?

Religious right trying to wash hands of Jenkins/Miller custody case and other Tuesday midday news briefs

GOPer: NH Selling Children To Gay Couples For $10,000 - Homophobia makes people lose their minds.

Obama To Discuss Gay Military Ban Wednesday - I'll believe it when I see it.

Liberty Counsel Tries to Wash Its Hands of Lisa Miller - Keep trying, folks.

More Right Wing Track-Covering in Lisa Miller Case - And the coverups continue.

Martin Ssempa's obsession with gay sex . . . and poo?

According to the Daily Monitor, Ugandan anti-gay bill supporter Martin Ssempa recently held a press conference. At this particular event, he was supposed to introduce two Ugandans who claimed to be "ex-gay."

However, Ssempa's actions caused the press conference to end rather early:

Pastor Martin Ssempa on Tuesday plumbed the depths of notoriety when he offered graphic images of gay sex as proof of the need for tough penalties against homosexuals.

But midway through his presentation, saved on a computer, most of his audience walked out, some visibly disturbed, leaving him to wonder if he had done anything wrong. The cleric seemed genuinely rattled when he asked: “Why should I be traumatised?”

One man, who was part of a group of American students invited to the press conference by Rubaga North MP Beti Kamya, was seen crying, his colleagues consoling him as the group left the National Theatre.

But this press conference is nothing compared to the one he held on Jan. 15.

According to the Huffington Post, during that particular event, Ssempa took the liberty of showing a slideshow so disgusting that one has to wonder about his mental state:

A pornographic slideshow of black and white photographs of men engaging in scatological fetishism is revealed. "I want to show you from their website", he proclaims, a devious smile forming. "I've taken the time to research what homosexuals do in the privacy of their bedroom. It is inhuman, it is animalistic, and it cannot be right. I want to show you these pictures." The audience lurches forward, leering at the pictures and groaning in disgust. Ssempa, enthusiastically goes on:

I want to say homosexuals eat each other's poop. Homosexuals stick their hands into their rectum. Homosexuals stick all sorts of deviant sexual things into their rectum. I want to show you this is from their website. So the first picture that I want to show you, you can see this man has just eaten the other person's poo poo and is rubbing it on his mouth, and I'm going to ask that we print for each of you a photocopy of this story so you get it fully.

Then, of course, they are grabbing each other's gentials, that is level number one, touching each other, grabbing each other. Then number three, now they are licking eachother's anus and are licking poop. And they call poo poo, chocolate. You see it is a change of words. I want you to see, Sheikh please forgive me but I want these people to see, they say a picture is worth one thousand words. This is a man eating the other person's poo poo, can you see that one? Please from BBC, I want you to tell them, we know what they do.

I cringe to wonder what Ssempa will "unveil" should he hold another press conference. Sometimes words aren't enough to criticize the depths that people will stoop to in order to stigmatize the lgbt community.

And by all means, don't think Ssempa's behavior merits laughter. I know that there are some out there who seek to minimize Ssempa's madness by making him an object of ridicule.

Ssempa is not like Peter LaBarbera. His words and actions are unfortunately resonating with some people.

Just ask the lgbts in Uganda.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Homosexuality and pedophilia - the false connection

This video is from Rob Tisinai and his webpage wakingupnow.com and it breaks down the lie that homosexuality and pedophilia are connected.

We have seen religious right organizations and talking heads pushing this false connection from Anita Bryant to the Proposition 8 supporters. And they only push it because we don't aggressively refute it. I think that it's high time we started:

I also strongly suggest the folks bookmark and pay attention to wakingupnow.com

It's an awesome webpage.

Study refutes religious right talking point and other Monday midday news briefs

Study asks if mom and dad are the best match for children - It's a good question and a good refutation.

Wayne Besen: Our Lazy Foes Are In Hibernation - I'll believe it when I see it. You know how those folks are.

A warning shot on 'Don't Ask' - I don't necessarily like to link from Politico, but Socarides makes a good point.

The More Moderate, Less Heated Religious Right? - Are journalists lazy?

South Carolina resurrects bill excluding lgbt teens

What's wrong with South Carolina?

One would think that my lovely home state, after enduring the scandal of a Governor cheating on his wife, and now dealing with a Lt. Governor with the charity of Ebenezer Scrooge, wouldn't want to compound the error by demonstrating that the entire governing body of elected officials are totally devoid of decency or common sense.

Think again. A bill against dating violence, which specifically excludes lgbt teens, is being brought back up by the Legislature.

Last year, State Rep. Janet Brady introduced a bill that was supposed to prevent violence in teen dating relationships. It would have required school districts to distribute written materials to parents and students about the dangers of teen dating violence. It sounded like an excellent bill. However another legislator, Greg Delleny, thought it necessary to add an amendment to the bill specifically saying that the bill would apply to only heterosexual couples.

Delleny said he didn't want schools to be "forced" to teach about same sex relationships.

Lgbts and our allies statewide protested and the bill was tabled.

However, it is back. Apparently it was sent to SC Senate Education Committee last week. One wonders what will happen next.

SC Equality, one of the many organizations in the state who do excellent work regarding lgbt equality and education, said the following:

Fair-minded South Carolinians who believe in equality must help stop this discriminatory bill. Please call or email the members of the SC Senate Education Committee now, and tell them that EVERY student in the state deserves to be protected from violence.

The names of committee members are below. Their links take you to their senate pages. Please call (best option) or choose the "send message" link to tell them that all students, regardless of sexual orientation, should be included in age appropriate education on dating violence.

Courson, John E. , Chm.
Setzler, Nikki G.
Matthews, John W. , Jr.
Hayes, Robert W. , Jr.
Rankin, Luke A.
Fair, Michael L.
Peeler, Harvey S. , Jr.
Leventis, Phil P.
Jackson, Darrell
Anderson, Ralph
Ryberg, W. Greg
Grooms, Lawrence K. "Larry"
Martin, Larry A.
Malloy, Gerald
Lourie, Joel
Massey, A. Shane
Davis, Tom

Saturday, January 23, 2010

You know you are doing something right when they attack you like so . . .

To the owner of this blog:

The way you get over your fascination with homosexuality is to stop sucking on other men's penises and allowing them to poke you in your Nasty Bacteria and Feces filled Ass!

That's how you get over it!

I got that message from an anonymous commentator in California who seemed to be upset that I "dare" call attention to pastor Miles McPherson's deception in trying to link homosexuality and pedophilia and also his cowardly attempts to quietly backtrack when his claims became public.

The anonymous commentator didn't try to defend McPherson or refute anything I said. He just came on spouting all sorts of ugly nonsense.

I guess when someone like McPherson tells lies, why should we be surprised about the immaturity of those who support him?

Related posts:

Does Miles McPherson want to hide his gay=pedophilia belief from Proposition 8 trial?

The reliable writer's remorse of one Miles McPherson

Friday, January 22, 2010

Know your LGBT History - Soul Plane

I hope that Monique gets the Oscar for Precious.

But if you ask me, she should have gotten some award for being the only funny spot in the movie Soul Plane (2004).

The fact that GLAAD missed raising hell about this movie will irk me until my dying day.

Soul Plane was an urban movie about a black man who sues the an airline (after his dog is killed in an accident while he was stuck on the toilet mid-flight) and proceeds to start his own airline with the proceeds.

This movie was so bad that it ruined black movie watching for me for a long time.

And the worst was the gay character, Flame, played by Gary Anthony Williams. To this day, I still ruminate over the various things about Williams' portrayal which continues to piss me off:

1. The character goes beyond being a stereotype. He crosses new dimensions of offensiveness.

2. Almost every time he is featured, he is talking about sex or having sex. It was also annoying how the other male characters would give him backwards glances as if to say "what is THAT doing here"

3. Then there is that very offensive scene where he and other various unnamed gay characters (and Catholic priests - this movie just offended everyone) mistake a request from the cockpit for one of oral sex and proceed to knock the other passengers down trying to get there.

4. But the worst is the scene at the end where he hits on another character played by bad black movie mainstay John Witherspoon. Witherspoon's character is a blind man who earlier manually copulated with a baked potato (you read that right). What gay man in his right mind would hit on him?

If I had time to analyze Flame's character, I would definitely make the cause that he is representative of how the black community as a whole sometimes view lgbts of color.

But it's Friday and I don't have that time. So I will just show you this clip (probably the tamest clip featuring Flame. It features him and the other "stewardesses" in a music video) which more than proves my point. It starts at 39 seconds. And by the way, the Osama Bin Laden joke was crass also:

More backtracking from Miles McPherson and other Friday midday news briefs

The reliable writer's remorse of one Miles McPherson - Jeremy from Goodasyou.org adds more details to McPherson's habit of scrubbing away past homophobic statements.

Uganda anti-gay bill may change, says MP Bahati - He should do the right thing and get rid of the bill, period.

Who Was The Reporter The Lexington MA Wirthlins Spoke To About Their Child's Book? - Or how to gain a religious right fix in anti-lgbt initiatives.

Ruby-Sachs: Supreme Court Campaign Finance Decision Puts Gay Rights At Risk - Everyone seems to be reeling from the Supreme Court decision yesterday regarding campaign finance. This is a look on how it could harm lgbt rights.

D.C. visitors help rescue woman from Union Station Metro tracks - A little positive news for your Friday.

Congressional leaders vocal in opposing Ugandan anti-gay bill

Yesterday, Rep. Tammy Baldwin chaired a Congressional hearing on the Ugandan anti-gay bill. Her words should be taken to heart by those who would dare to support the measure (i.e. Peter LaBarbera and Robert Knight.)

In addition, 90 U.S. Congressional leaders have denounced the bill:

In the letters, the Members of Congress call the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2009 “the most extreme and hateful attempt by an African country to criminalize their LGBT community.” The Members asked President Obama to use his “personal leadership, and that of our country, in seeking to deter these legislative proposals,” and warned President Museveni that, “Should the bill be passed, any range of bilateral programs important to relations between our countries and, indeed, to the Ugandan people inevitably would be called under review.”

The Ugandan legislation would increase the penalty for same-sex sexual acts to life in prison, limit the distribution of information on HIV by criminalizing the “promotion of homosexuality,” and establish the crime of “aggravated homosexuality” punishable by death for anyone in Uganda who is HIV positive and has consensual same-sex relations. Further, the bill includes a provision that could lead to the imprisonment for up to three years of anyone who fails to report to the government within 24 hours the identities of everyone they know who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, or who supports human rights for people who are.

Hat tip to Box Turtle Bulletin.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Why are the 'moral values' groups silent about Ugandan anti-gay bill?

This morning's post about Peter LaBarbera, Robert Knight, and the Ugandan anti-gay bill is significant because other than Knight and LaBarbera, the religious right have been conveniently silent about the bill.

I half expected Matt Barber to spin some illogical nonsense about it but even he has been silent.

I think he may have spent too much capital on that feud with Exodus International, the one where he aligned himself with LaBarbera and embarrassed all parties involved, including his employer, the Liberty Counsel.

But I find it so conspicuous that these "moral values " groups in the middle of the fundraising, organizing conferences to "take back America," and huge prayer telecasts couldn't take a little time out of their busy schedules of phony doom prognosticating to give even one, albeit transparent, comment about the situation in Uganda.

How far has Christianity in this country sunk that the supposed leaders of the "moral believers of Christ" will not comment on a prospective genocide.

But who am I kidding? The religious right on the whole have been silent about Uganda for the same reason that the Liberty Counsel has been silent about the Janet Jenkins/Lisa Miller custody case.

They don't want people to be reminded that they are in part responsible for it.

It's their rhetoric and talking points about lgbts which the proponents of this bill are spouting. It was their people (i.e. Scott Lively, etc) who came over to Uganda and spread stories about "evil gays" hurting children.

And now like a cartoon character who causes a huge accident and then walks away from it whistling nonchalantly with his hands in his pockets, organizations like Concerned Women for America, the Family Research Council, the American Family Assocation, and others like them are quietly disassociating themselves from this mess that they helped to create by keeping silent.

Keep it up, guys. You won't get away scott free.

Ugandan anti-gay bill proceeds and other Thursday midday news briefs

Uganda’s Cabinet Rejects Withdrawal of Anti-Gay Bill - Pitiful. Just pitiful.

Hak-Shing Tam To Be Called As Hostile Witness - Having to defend statements linking lgbts with the harming of children is a fate I wish for all members of the religious right.

Gays lack clout, Prop. 8 trial witness says - But I thought we controlled the media, and Washington, and Hollywood, and Europe and . . .

Illinois Family Institute Tries to Rewrite History - Illinois religious right group caught in a HUGE lie.

Maggie's cross - Maggie Gallagher isn't happy with the Proposition 8 trial. Awwwwwww!

Jon Stewart Destroys Fox News For Reveling In Scott Brown Win (VIDEO) - I had to get this in. No one destroys liars quite like Jon Stewart.

Take note, Peter LaBarbera - true Christians don't defend genocide

I don't know about Peter LaBarbera. It's obvious that he feels just a bit jealous over the attention focused on Massachusetts, otherwise he wouldn't have felt the need to go so far off the deep end in the newest hot mess of a post on his webpage entitled:

What Qualifies the United States to Lecture Uganda on Homosexuality?

In this piece, LaBarbera is defending another column written by fellow religious right member (and Paul Cameron enabler) Robert Knight. That piece attacked The New York Times for daring to question Uganda's wisdom in pushing the bill which criminalizes people for simply being gay.

LaBarbera, of course, felt the need to add his comments to Knight's already hateful column:

Folks, I’ve been trying to avoid the Ugandan “Culture War” on homosexuality because I figure we’re busy enough with our own here in the USA. But that hasn’t stopped American homosexual activists and fellow travelers like Professor Warren Throckmorton of the “evangelical” Grove City College from insinuating themselves into the Ugandan situation. (Sadly, Warren has lost his faith in the ability of God to radically change homosexuals through Christ, and now busily works — even in Uganda! — to promote the faithless and disheartening message that most “gays and lesbians” cannot change their basic “orientation” . . .

Here’s the question I keep asking myself about the Uganda controversy: just what is it that qualifies the United States of America to lecture the Ugandans about homosexuality? Is it our public policy that enshrines immoral sexual behavior (oops: “sexual orientation”) and gender confusion (er…”gender identity and expression”) as a “civil right”? Is it our homosexual “marriage” laws that make a mockery of this divine institution (laws about which Prof. Throckmorton is curiously silent)? How about our pro-homosexuality educational propaganda in K-12 schools that corrupts young students’ minds in the name of “tolerance”? Or the 24/7 “gay bathhouses” and sex clubs that proliferate in urban centers across the United States to facilitate quick-and-easy (and anonymous) deviant sexual hook-ups? (“Come to America: where you can have all the safe sodomy you want! Discounts for students (no joke) and free condoms available for your perverted pleasure!”)

Again with the "gay bathhouses" and "sex clubs." If I were one for innuendo, I would definitely ask why is LaBarbera so consumed with talking about "gay bathhouses" and "sex clubs."

Why doesn't he ever talk about heterosexual sex clubs and swinging groups?

I'm not saying that LaBarbera is gay. I'm just trying make a point about how this man consumes himself with stigmatizing the lgbt community.

His ramblings always read like a Nazi propaganda film on Jewish people. They are no different than a racist skinhead reading off distorted FBI statistics to claim that African-Americans are more violent than whites.

His reliance on fear stories about gays, deviant sex, and the harming of children is no different than ugly lynch mobs conjuring up stories of black men raping white women in an attempt to justify their crimes.

Earth to Peter - if you can just stop the obsession over gay sex for a second, let me give you a few facts.

The Ugandan anti-gay bill is draconian. No one in their right mind would defend it. Among other things, it punishes people with life imprisonment or death for simply being an lgbt.

It forces family members and friends to "inform on" lgbts as if they are criminals.

It unfairly and inaccurately connects the lgbt orientation with pedophilia.

It stigmatizes lgbts and causes them to fear for their lives.

You ask what qualifies America to lecture Uganda on homosexuality but a better question is why would you as a Christian defend such a bill?

By your mindboggling defense of this bill, you (and Robert Knight) justify every name that the lgbt community has given you including "bigot," "liar," "hater," and especially "hypocrite."

From time to time, you pepper your anti-gay website with Biblical quotes celebrating holidays like Christmas and Easter.

You claim to cling to the Bible as if it's your refuge and strength, but it's obvious that you have been paying so much attention to the supposed verses about homosexuality that you have forgotten the verses which talk about how you should treat your fellow man.

And you probably didn't even read the verses about "love."

Regardless of how you feel about homosexuality or how you obsess about naked gay men, you can't justify any defense of this bill.

True Christians don't defend genocide.

But frankly Peter, I don't know what you are.

Related posts:

Slouching Towards Kampala: Uganda’s Deadly Embrace of Hate

Peter LaBarbera - the self-destruction of an anti-gay activist

Peter LaBarbera's pictures contradict his ramblings

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Words never to forget

This Massachusetts crap is bringing me down and is interfering with my usual blog posts.

We get it already. Democrats lost and got a much deserved wake up call. Lgbts are pissed and have been for a while and deservedly so (although between me and you, it seems that the only thing the community can do is not only be pissed, but think of cute little slogans to define how pissed we are).

So I want to throw out something tonight to remind us to never forget what it's all about. No matter how much we feel deserted by our supposed allies or how we feel put upon by those who will fight the idea of us living openly, proudly and with dignity, if we give in to seductive notions of self pity and anger without focus, we lose.

And that would be a shame because we are on the side of good.

And good never loses:

Rush Limbaugh brings up Mary Jo Kopechne and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Limbaugh on Brown's win: "This one's for you, Mary Jo." - No matter how low progressives feel, we can always count on Rush Limbaugh to make look morally superior. Thanks Rush.

Economist: Evidence backing gay marriage is in - And the evidence is mighty interesting.

Gay Rights Bills Threatened By Democratic Senate Loss - Well that's a possible given.

Natalie: I left over lesbian plot - Too bad. So sad.