Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: 05/01/2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

Robert Knight: Obama and gays are trying to destroy American values!

Just as in the case of George Rekers, not too many people are in the know about Robert Knight.

Knight has had a history as long as Rekers when it comes to demonizing and stigmatizing the lgbt community. Whereas Rekers created the junk science in the background, it was Knight standing in the foreground on the talk shows, in debates, and in front of Congress repeating the junk science.

Don't get your hopes up. I sincerely doubt that he will be caught in a scandal with a "luggage lifter" any time soon.

With Knight though, there is no need to look for hypocrisy in his personal life in order to cast doubt on his credibility. His words alone are enough to do that.

Gone are the days when Knight helped create anti-gay legislation as a member of the Family Research Council or repeated false data as a member of Concerned Women for America.

These days one can find Robert Knight spouting the same nonsense about lgbts but as a writer with Coral Ridge Ministries, a far cry from the limelight he once held:

This week, their (homosexual activists) target is the military. Soon, it will be passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would criminalize traditional morality in every workplace with 15 or more employees. After that, they will try to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. Finally, they aim to pass an "anti-bullying" law that will threaten schools with losing federal funds if they refuse to force kids to read Heather Has Two Mommies and Gloria Goes to Gay Pride. The agenda is breathtakingly ambitious, and would be unimaginable to previous generations.

These radical laws would be a watershed moment for socialists, who are at war with family and religion as impediments to a growing state. . .

To Knight, it's never about the fact that lgbts merely want the right to live and work freely unencumbered by people's religious beliefs or ignorant stereotypes. To him, it's all about a nefarious plot to destroy "traditional values."

It's a talking point that Knight should be used to. This is what he said in 2003 about Nashville’s attempt to add sexual orientation to its non-discrimination code:

Few public officials and businessmen realize that when they allow the addition of “sexual orientation” to their nondiscrimination codes, they are tying their own hands when it comes to objecting to:

· A man in a highly visible sales job coming to work in a dress and high heels;

· A woman in a highly visible position coming to work in men’s clothes;

· A person of indeterminate sex who insists on using either the men’s room or the women’s room;

· A person of either sex who indulges a taste for extreme sexual promiscuity and pornography during working hours despite being charged with representing the company’s tone and character;

A man who frequents prostitutes while on business trips and claims that it is none of the company’s business, regardless of the company’s public image.

Also, according to the site Wired Strategies (see section called Gays are diseased, die early, and are less productive than heterosexuals) Knight freely cited discredited researcher Paul Cameron in front of Congress in a past attempt to defeat the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA):

“homosexual behavior is extremely unhealthy, contributing to the spread of AIDS, hepatitis A, B and C and other sexually transmitted diseases….A study of more than 6,400 obituaries in homosexual publications reveals that homosexuals typically have far shorter life spans than the general population. Other reports indicate that homosexuals are more likely to have drug and alcohol abuse problems. It is unfair to force businesses to pay the extra insurance expense and lost productivity that inevitably results from homosexual behavior.” [Editors note: the source for this "research" is the discredited Dr. Paul Cameron - see below for extensive information about his extreme beliefs]

- Robert Knight, Family Research Council, testifying at ENDA Hearings, July 29, 1994 – committee on Labor and Human Resources, US Senate.

Knight's newest column can be viewed as infuriating if it weren't so pitiful. Usually when someone tries a comeback, he does something new instead of the same old stale nonsense.

But I guess when lies are all you have, you really can't do anything else.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Know Your LGBT History - All in the Family

It's been a good week in so many ways. Now I want to push an relaxing ease by not focusing on politics but another segment of Know Your LGBT History.

This week's segment was supposed to run last week but got pre-empted. It is an episode of the classic television show, All in the Family - the sitcom about bigoted New Yorker Archie Bunker, his lovable wife Edith, his daughter Gloria, and his liberal son-in-law Mike.

Through this mult-award winning show (one of the few which swept the Emmy categories by winning at different times Best Comedy Series, Best Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series, and Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series), producer Norman Lear tackled controversial issues never before seen on television, such as the one in this episode, Judging Books By Covers.

Archie despises Mike and Gloria's friend Roger because he thinks Roger is gay. However, we learn that one of Archie's best buddies, former football player and uber-macho man Steve, is in fact gay.

I think Lear was trying to make a case here about using stereotypes to judge people. There was one facet of the episode that I didn't like, though. I think it was established that the character Roger was not gay, but what if he was?

What's wrong with an effeminate gay man?

One interesting note about this episode is that the late President Richard Nixon hated it. An added bonus after a video of the episode is a clip featuring Nixon talking about it. It's HIGHLY telling about Nixon's hypocrisy and his ignorance regarding history. To him, gay men are nasty but committing impeachable offenses are just peachy. Also, I'll have him to know that there were more gay Roman emperors than the last six.

Mercy we have come a long way:

And now, here's Nixon:

Glenn Beck picks on Obama's 11-year-old daughter and other Friday midday news briefs

Glenn Beck smears Obama's 11-year-old daughter - Not necessarily an lgbt issue per se, but what one that I cannot ignore. Damn the crap about the First Amendment because there is such things as ethics and responsibility and a man who has several million listeners and viewers has NO BUSINESS making fun of an 11-year-old child. So this is the man who is supposed to bring America back from the brink? Maybe "teabaggers" who believe this shouldn't worry about being connotated as having testicles in their mouths and devote time to removing their heads from their asses.

Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal: The Family Research Council's intellectual Waterloo - This VERY WELL WRITTEN smackdown of Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council needs more attention because it proves a point that I have tried to make on a few occasions. The lgbt community needs to stop being soft with the religious right for fear of being thought of as "intolerant." No one should tolerate lies even if they are told in the name of God. We need to start stomping VERBAL mudholes in religious right groups so that everyone knows the extent of their lies.

AFA’s Bryan Fischer Attempts to Explain His “Nazis Were Gays” Comments - Bryan Fischer tells deliberate lie to cover up his first one.

Phony Pediatric Front Group Dumps George Rekers - Or crap doesn't like the smell of other crap.

Iowa GOP committeeman to gay candidate: I’ll sink you - Look at this. Someone slips and shows his true face.

One News Now re-edits AP story for sake of anti-gay spin on DADT

The following is the lead paragraphs of the Associated Press article regarding last night's House vote to hopefully repeal DADT:

U.S. moves to end army's gay ban

WASHINGTON - Congress has taken two big steps toward ending the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.

In quick succession Thursday, the Senate Armed Services Committee and the full House of Representatives approved measures to repeal the 1993 law that allows gay people to serve in the armed services only if they hide their sexual orientation.

Here are the lead paragraphs of the same article published by the American Family Association's One News Now with Associated Press writer's (Jim Abrams) byline:

Congress bows to gay agenda...repeals 'repeals don't ask don't tell'

WASHINGTON - Congress has given in to pressure from gay activists and the White House and voted to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.

In quick succession Thursday, the Senate Armed Services Committee and the full House approved measures to repeal the 1993 law that allows gay people to serve in the armed services only if they hide their sexual orientation.

No one should be surprised. One News Now is owned by the American Family Association, the same organization which employs Bryan Fischer. Fischer thinks that lgbts caused the Holocaust. And aside from that, usually One News Now is a sounding board for other one-sided articles against the lgbt community (its polls are a slanted colossal joke).

But even after taking all of that into account, editing a story for the sake of spin strikes me as especially sleazy, even for them.

Related posts:

Look out! Here comes a new distortion about changing sexual orientation

Black pastor declares war on Democractic party over gay rights while I laugh my ass off

Day of Silence success leaves religious right sputtering

Religious right misleads about testimony in DADT hearing

Attacks on gay students no big deal to the religious right

Hypocrisy of the day - Gary Glenn (again)

Gays serving openly in the military = reinstating the draft

Thursday, May 27, 2010

One hurdle down on repeal of DADT - not time to pop the champagne YET

Champagne will NOT be popped until the work is completed, but this is still a big deal:

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to end 'don't ask, don't tell,' the 1993 policy that bars openly gay men and lesbians from serving in the military.

The vote followed passage earlier by a Senate committee that took a first step toward ending the policy that allows gays to serve in the military only if they don't disclose their sexual orientation.

In a 16-12 vote, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved a provision to repeal the 1993 "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the only Republican to vote for the amendment to a defense spending bill, said it passed after "vigorous and aggressive debate."

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., who promoted the measure with Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., said: "It's time for this policy to go. It doesn't reflect America's best values of equal opportunity, and it's not good for the military."

Repealing the 1993 law, a priority of gay rights groups that President Barack Obama has pledged to pursue, still faces a tough road.

The full House took up the identical amendment late Thursday amid fierce opposition, particularly among Republicans who cited letters from military service chiefs urging Congress to hold off on the legislation until the Pentagon completes a study of the impact on military life and readiness.

The measure could face a filibuster when it reaches the Senate floor.

For my money, the ignorant comment of the night against the repeal was by Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon of California:

Congress going first "is the equivalent to turning to our men and women in uniform and their families and saying, 'Your opinion, your view, do not count."

McKeon is proof that some people can't wrap their heads around the fact that many of our soliders are lgbts who merely want to openly serve the country they love.

Homophobia certainly makes one stupid, doesn't it?

Ugandan anti-gay bill creator wallows in the filth of his own homophobia

It has been said that sometimes you have to let purveyors of ignorance and hate speak freely because sooner or later they tend to damage their own cause.

This saying should be remembered when listening to an interview with MP David Bahati, the creator of that awful anti-gay Ugandan bill.

The interview is courtesy of outtakes from the Current TV’s Vanguard documentary Missionaries of Hate which looked at how this bill came into being. Bahati was interviewed by reporter Mariana van Zeller.

Among other comments, Bahati claims that evangelicals in America have given him private support for his efforts, although he doesn't tell who these folks are.

Bahati also says that he has no compunctions in making family members suffer because of the bill and that Uganda is "leading the way" in this issue.

Don't let anyone fool you. Behind Bahati's self-righteous veneer is pure hatred.
Transcript:

Bahati: “I’m proud. I’m proud to be a part of the cause to defend our family here in Uganda, but also to protect our children. That is very positive to me. The negative is in the way of fighting pressure from all over the world for people who are sometimes not really informed on what is the real issue we are fighting, are people who are just depending on what they hear in the media, and sometimes and most of the time being distortions.

van Zeller: How did you feel when you heard President Obama come out and specifically reject this bill?

Bahati: Fist of all, I have a lot of support for President Obama. He has inspired is, me also, of young people across the world. WE know he stood on the platform of change. But clearly we know that homosexuality is not the change the world is seeking, but the evil the world should confront. At the same time, I thought it was improper for a man who knows African culture, related to African culture, at the same time a man of great faith to use the platform of prayer, to go to the pulpit of God and try to convince the world to embrace sin. I felt a bit low that he could do those things in that fashion. But I will continue to pray for him and continue to love him, but I know that along the line what matter most is the people of Uganda.

van Zeller: Do you think there are other people in America such as Rick Warren who deep inside back this bill, support this bill but are now coming out and rejecting it?

Bahati: The many friends that we have, especially evangelicals in America, when we speak to them privately they do support us. They encourage us, but they are in a society that is very hostile. And we appreciate that and we say do what you think is right for your conscience. But remember at the same time remember we are engaged in a spiritual battle. We are engaged in a very difficult battle and it is important that you come out clearly. But we accept that they are in a bit of a hostile environment because America has… so of the many leaders in America been blackmailed by pro-gay communities. But we have support in America. There are people who support what we are engaged in. Many, many Americans don’t accept homosexuality as a human right, who take it as sin. They know it.

But how we treat these homosexuals is a matter that all of us disagree. There are those who think we should appreciate them, be tolerant of them. But for us we are saying, no we shouldn’t. We should call sin, sin because we cannot relate the Bible.

van Zeller: How powerful do you think this “gay agenda” as you call it, how powerful do you think it is?

Bahati: Well in terms of resources, in terms of propaganda, resource in terms of money, they are very, very, very powerful. And we know that what we are against us a spiritual battle in a way, and we know that our commander is God. So we think at the end of the day, we are more powerful than them. People who believe in heterosexual family, people who believe in God are more in the world than those who don’t believe in God. And so we think they are powerful, they have their resources, they have money, they are using public relations funds to realize, to work with the media to put a negative propaganda around this one, but at the end of the day I think the people of Uganda, the resolve of the people of Uganda has remained very firm and we think that God is using this small bill to shake the foundations of sin around the world. And also we think that God may be using this country, Uganda, to provide leadership in the area of moral issues where actually the world needs it most.

van Zeller: Many people say that the visit of three American Evangelicals to Uganda back in March and the conference that was held here was the main catalyst for this bill.

Bahati: Well, I think that that is in a way to be a bit insulting our country, that you’re suggesting that Ugandans cannot think for themselves. They cannot try to address the issues they are faced with. And it is somehow… refreshes the memories of colonialism, so it is something that is very disturbing.

van Zeller: What would you, what do you think you would do if you found out that one of your relatives is a homosexual?

Bahati: If I knew that my brother and my relative is a homosexual, and the laws of Uganda require that if I know that I should report to police, then I would really respect the law of the country and report him or her to police.

van Zeller: Even if that meant that he would have to spend the rest of his life in prison?

Bahati: Yes, because I know if he was kept around he would be doing something bad to our society.

van Zeller: So you think that other countries would use this bill as an example of something they should follow as well?

Bahati: I think this is in a way providing leadership in the world where it is needed most, especially where the moral values are really decayed.

Big hat tip to Box Turtle Bulletin, which has been on top of this mess in Uganda since the start.

American Family Association spokesperson: Gays were responsible for the Holocaust in Nazi Germany

Oh Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Those who claim to follow you have lost their minds. This is the quote from the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer:

Homosexuality gave us Adolph Hitler, and homosexuals in the military gave us the Brown Shirts, the Nazi war machine and six million dead Jews. Gays in the military is an experiment that has been tried and found disastrously and tragically wanting. Maybe it's time for Congress to learn a lesson from history.

Since the news of a DADT compromise came into focus, the religious right have been melting down. So far, according to them, DADT should not be overturned because:

Gays will rape their fellow servicemen,

Gays will taint the Armed Forces with their "nasty, AIDS-diseased" blood,

and now this awful statement by Fischer which is a spit in the eye of everything accurate and decent.

The comment is also a spit in the eye of the innocent men,women, and children - be they Jewish, gypsy, gay, lesbian, and all other nationalities and walks of life - who were ruthlessly and so needlessly slaughtered in the Holocaust.

It's usually fun to watch the religious right go into meltdown, but this has ceased to be fun days ago. Some of these folks actually believe this mess.

And just so you know, Fischer's source for this lie is Scott Lively - one of the men responsible for that awful "kill the gays" bill in Uganda..

I doubt that there will be anyone from the religious right denouncing Fischer's comments. He will be one of the speakers at the next Family Research Council Values Voter Summit. And joining him will be Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. Mike Pence, and Mike Huckabee.

Does this scare the hell out of you? It should.

Hat tip to Jeremy Hooper. Hooper has a plethora of comments by Fischer which leads one to wonder not only about the integrity of his Christian beliefs, but also the beliefs of the American Family Association, who employ him.

Family Research Council pushes bogus report supporting DADT

In what has to be a desperate attempt to derail the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Family Research Council Senior Fellow for Policy Studies Peter Sprigg held a phone conference today with several reporters.

During this phone conference, he referred to what he called the "first-ever study of 'homosexual assault' in the military."

What? Did you expect anything different from a spokesperson of an organization which says that it was created in part to fight the alleged "homosexual agenda?"

Rather than go into detail about the "report," I would rather give two very good reasons as to why its validity should be doubted.

It's not that Sprigg's nonsense echoes a report by discredited researcher Paul Cameron, who earlier claimed that gays are four to seven more times likely to rape their fellow servicemen. Cameron also claimed that some perpetrators of heterosexual sex assaults can be termed as gay because apparently some gay men "like women too."

That offhand, sly referral to Cameron's lies isn't the reason why Sprigg's report should be lining birdcages.

The reasons involve past statements of Sprigg, such the one in 2008 when he said that he would like to see gays exported out of the United States:

Or earlier this year when on Hardball, he said that "gay behavior" should be outlawed:

I think it's a relatively safe assumption that (and I apologize to the late Mary McCarthy) every word Sprigg writes about the gay community is a lie including and and the.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Right-wing group: 'nasty, diseased' gays will ruin the military

Regarding the possible appeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, nothing puts the argument of this issue into a better perspective than the two following videos.

One is from a right-wing group called America's Survival. America's Survival is led by Cliff Kincaid, head of the right-wing group Accuracy In Media. Kincaid and AIM has a long history of smearing the gay community.

Earlier this year, AIM was forced to retract a story on its web page which inaccurately accused Obama appointee Kevin Jennings of being a pedophile.

And Kincaid is probably one of the only few people in this country who openly defends Uganda's anti-gay bill including the part about the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality."

Now listen to the testimony of Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, who was the first American to be wounded in war in Iraq. On March 21, 2003 Alva stepped on a landmine, sustaining heavy injuries to his leg:

In regards to the DADT repeal, whose corner should we be in? People like Alva, an openly gay man who sacrificed his body for this country . . . or people like Kincaid who has no problem stooping to the lowest common denominator, i.e. lies and fear stories?

The answer should be clear, but it never ceases to amaze me as to how so many folks tend to complicate a simple issue.

Related posts:

Family Research Council pushes bogus report supporting DADT

Cliff Kincaid's International Gay-Bashing

Cliff Kincaid: Outcry against Ugandan bill a conspiracy to save Kevin Jennings

Minnesota Republicans allied with 'kill the gays' ministry? and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Minnesota Republicans In Bed With Punk-Rock ‘Kill The Gays’ Ministry - The personification of a HOT MESS!

FRC's senior fellow called for gays' exportation/criminalization. Yet *we're* the "radical' ones!?! -And the Family Research Council is caught in another distortion.

McCain laments effort to 'jam' through repeal of 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy - You ever notice the constant sexual images and semantics members of the right uses when opposing pro-lgbt legislation and the like?

African Newspaper Roundup: Homosexuality Not A Western Import, and Other “Horrors and Revulsions” - Let's not forget the struggles of our brothers and sisters in Africa . . . even if the American black community has.

Virginia Supreme Court to Gays: You Have No Employment Protections - This is why we need ENDA.

Researchers and Physicians: The Religious Right Distorts Our LGBT Research!

In a recent issue of the Minneapolis City Pages, University of Minnesota professor Greg Remafedi has gone on record complaining that the American College of Pediatricians, a sham group camouflaging religious right distortions as legitimate research, distorted his work. The article reads:

When the University of Minnesota Medical School professor followed the links he was being sent, he was dismayed. A group called the American College of Pediatricians had sent a letter to more than 14,000 superintendents across the country, claiming that the best thing schools can do for students who come out of the closet is nothing at all: no support, no affirmation, no gay-straight alliance clubs on campus.

The letter, and the Facts About Youth website it pointed school officials to, was dense with footnotes citing scientific studies. Remafedi's research was at the top of the list.

The ACP argues that schools shouldn't support gay teens because they're probably just confused. "Most adolescents who experience same-sex attraction ... no longer experience such attractions at age 25," the letter says, citing a 1992 study by Remafedi.

Except that's not what Remafedi's research suggested at all. His work showed that kids who are confused about their sexuality eventually sort it out -- meaning many of them accept being gay.

The article also says that Remafedi wrote a letter to the ACPED's president, Dr. Tom Benton, requesting that his research be removed.

Benton refused to do so.

While Remafedi has voiced disenchantment over this new development, he should take solace in the fact that he is not the only physician or researcher who has had his or her work distorted by religious right groups and affiliates.

The organization Truth Wins Out has complied a listing of researchers, professors, and physicians who have complained about the distortion of their work pertaining to the LGBT community by the religious right.

They include:

University of Utah professor Lisa Diamond, who complained that NARTH (the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality), a group that also shares board members with the ACPED, distorted her research on sexual orientation.

Dr. Carol Gilligan, Professor of Education and Law at New York University, who complained that former Focus on the Family head James Dobson misrepresented her research to attack LGBT families.

Dr. Kyle Pruett, Ph.D., a professor of child psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, who has also complained that Focus on the Family distorted his work.

Dr. Robert Spitzer, Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University, who has consistently complained that religious right groups distorted his study to claim that the LGBT orientation is easily changeable.

Judith Stacey, Professor of Sociology at New York University, who has had to, on more than one occasion, cry foul over how religious right groups distorted her work on LGBT families.

There are still other examples, including:

National Institute of Health director Francis Collins, who rebuked the American College of Pediatricians for falsely claiming that he stated sexual orientation is not hardwired by DNA.
Six researchers of a 1997 Canadian study (Robert S. Hogg, Stefan A. Strathdee, Kevin J.P. Craib, Michael V. Shaughnessy, Julio Montaner, and Martin T. Schehter), who complained in 2001 that religious right groups were distorting their work to claim that gay men have a short life span.
The authors of the book Unequal Opportunity: Health Disparities Affecting Gay and Bisexual Men in the United States (Professors Richard J. Wolitski, Ron Stall, and Ronald O. Valdiserri), who complained that their work was being distorted by Focus on the Family.
University College London professor Michael King, who complained that the American Family Association was distorting his work on depression and suicide in LGBT individuals.

Also, it is worth noting that just like in the case of Remafedi, many of these distortions have not been corrected. In fact, the distortion of Stacey's work, as well as that of the 1997 Canadian study, can still be found unchanged on several religious right web sites. One has to wonder how many other examples are out there. However, one thing is clear: as long as this issue falls under the radar, there will be many more cases of religious right groups distorting legitimate studies and thumbing their noses at calls to correct these distortions.

Related posts:

Phony Medical Group Receives Numerous Rebukes for Inaccurate Anti-Gay Web Site

The American College of Pediatricians and the Laundering of Junk Science

The Christian Medical & Dental Associations - another group, another batch of lies

Religious right tries to smear the American Psychological Association

JONAH - Another ex-gay group pushing bad science

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Sorry Family Research Council, but the American people want DADT overturned

I got an odious email from the Family Research Council whining about the possible (and I use the term "possible" very loosely) overturn of DADT. Particularly annoying is this part:

The President and Congress need to hear the voice of Americans on this issue. Our military is for national defense, and is no place to advance a liberal political agenda. The time to act is now, as the House and Senate are voting this week. Please join me today in signing the petition to help keep our troops from being used to advance a liberal political agenda.

Well how is this article via CNN regarding the voice of Americans:

Most Americans say people who are openly gay should be allowed to serve in the U.S. military, according to a new national poll.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday indicates that 78 percent of the public supports allowing openly gay people to serve in the military, with one in five opposed.

"Support is widespread, even among Republicans. Nearly six in ten Republicans favor allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "There is a gender gap, with 85 percent of women and 71 percent of men favoring the change, but support remains high among both groups."

The poll's release comes just hours after Congressional Democrats reached an agreement Monday with the White House and possibly the Pentagon on a key legislative step toward repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bars openly gay soldiers from the military.

In a letter to President Barack Obama obtained by CNN, three congressional sponsors of legislation to repeal the policy outlined the proposed agreement that would set contingencies based on completion of a military review of the matter already under way and subsequent final approval from the president and military leaders.

Specifically, the proposed agreement calls for repeal to become final only after completion of the military review expected by the end of 2010, followed by a review certification from Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen.

The Pentagon released a statement Tuesday saying that "Secretary Gates continues to believe that ideally the DOD review should be completed before there is any legislation to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell law. With Congress having indicated that is not possible, the Secretary can accept the language in the proposed amendment."

The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted May 21-23, with 1,023 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.

If FRC had any integrity and dignity, the group would hush up and recognize that it's on the wrong side of history here.

Of course who am I kidding? FRC has been on the wrong side of history since its inception.

Why should it change direction midstream?

Related post:

Family Research Council refuses to acknowledge lgbt servicemen and women

Anti-gay marriage group HAS to show its financial records and other Tuesday midday news briefs

White House Seeks To Speed Up 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal - We will see. I'm not breaking out any champagne as of yet.

Judge rules in Maine gay marriage case - Anti-gay marriage group NOM has to open its books and reveal its finances. This ought to be interesting.

Ex-Gay Promotes African Fundie Re-Education Camps, Prison, and Government Surveillance of Bedrooms - Holy $!@*! Scott Lively strikes again.

Louisiana Panel Rejects Gay Adoption Ban Repeal Effort - Minor setback. Keep pushing, brothers and sisters!

High school: We did not stage a 'sham prom' for Constance McMillen

While we are encumbered by other issues, let's not forget past situations which, while seemingly fading from the public eye, still deserves our undivided attention.

Such as the situation regarding Constance McMillen and her fight for lgbt respect:

A rural Mississippi school district that was sued by a lesbian student who wanted to bring a same-sex date to the high school prom is denying accusations it routed her to a "sham prom" at a country club while most of her schoolmates partied elsewhere.

The Itawamba County School District addressed the claims made by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Constance McMillen in papers filed Friday with the U.S. District Court in Aberdeen.

It's been nearly two months since McMillen attended a prom at the Fulton Country Club that drew fewer than 10 other students from Itawamba Agricultural High School. Most of her classmates attended a separate event at the nearby Evergreen Community Center, to which McMillen was not invited, and later posted pictures from the dance on Internet sites.

At the time, McMillen had already sued the district over its policy banning same-sex prom dates and for canceling an April 2 school-sponsored prom after the teenager pressed to bring her girlfriend to the event and wear a tuxedo.

U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson ruled in March that the district had violated McMillen's rights, but he didn't force the district to reinstate the prom. District officials had told the judge that McMillen was free to attend a parent-sponsored prom.

School District Superintendent Teresa McNeece and Attorney Michele Floyd have said little publicly about the issue despite numerous calls seeking comment.

The ACLU alleged that McNeece and Floyd attended a meeting March 29 with parent organizers, where the decision was made to hold separate proms. In court documents, the school district said McNeece and Floyd did attend a meeting, but officials "deny that the parents decided instead to hold two proms, one for the plaintiff and one for her classmates."

This situtation is far from over.

Related posts:

Reasons why the 'sanctity' of proms MUST be preserved from Constance McMillen

Constance McMillen's classmates learn the costs of gloating

McMillen: I Was Sent to Fake Prom

Monday, May 24, 2010

Ugandan anti-gay bill documentary has Scott Lively playing defense

Wednesday night, Current TV’s Vanguard series will be talking about the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill in a documentary that, if it's as powerful as its trailer, needs to be seen, sent to members of Congress, all of the media, lgbt included, and remembered for posterity.

The press release is as follows:

CURRENT TV’S VANGUARD PREMIERES “MISSIONARIES OF HATE” WEDNESDAY, MAY 26 AT 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

Episode Chronicles Increasing Strength of Anti-Gay Movement in Uganda, and the American Influence on Uganda’s Laws and Attitudes

New Bill Would Increase Penalties Against Homosexuality, Make Homosexuality Punishable by Imprisonment or Death

LOS ANGELES – May 21, 2010 — The fourth season of Current TV’s Vanguard continues with “Missionaries of Hate,” premiering Wednesday, May 26 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Uganda to delve into reasons behind the increasing strength of anti-gay sentiment spreading throughout the country, which prompted the creation of a proposed law that would severely increase penalties against homosexuality, making the practice punishable by imprisonment or death.

“Missionaries of Hate” explores the impact American Evangelicals have had on the movement, and features exclusive video of American Evangelical Lou Engle’s visit to Uganda on May 2 to support the major backers of the proposed legislation. Mariana van Zeller also interviews Pastor Martin Ssempa, one of the most famous religious leaders in Uganda and an anti-gay crusader, whose preaching methods include showing gay pornography in church. She also talks to Ugandan citizens (both gay and straight) about their feelings on homosexuality, the new proposed law, and the effect it will have on their lives.

It hasn't even aired yet and there is already speculation that it has Scott Lively, one of the people who led Uganda to consider this awful bill, trying to push up a defense. The following is from his webpage:

Friends,

I’m looking for a good Christian media source to interview me on film on the Uganda issue for posting online. I intend to get off defense and counter-attack the false witnesses with hard facts about Uganda and the dishonest way the media has addressed the story. Please forward this to any pro-family journalists you know and ask them to contact me at sdllaw@gmail.com.

Personally I want to see who takes up his request.

Based upon his past actions, I'm curious to see who fits his definition of the word "pro-family."

Big hat tips to Truth Wins Out and Professor Warren Throckmorton.

Related posts:

UK Times: Anti-gay laws in Africa are because of anti-gay Americans

Scott Lively demonstrates how to throw gasoline on an anti-gay brush fire

Scott Lively advocated 'criminalizing homosexuality' as far back as 2007

More proof that Scott Lively knew exactly what he was doing in Uganda

Scott Lively practiced 'pink-baiting' in Uganda

'I would kill a gay son'

Martin Ssempa claims to be misunderstood

'Kill the gays' bill supporter reduced to showing gay porn in church

Martin Ssempa talks about 'poop' to demonize lgbts

World Net Daily writer evokes Martin Luther King, Jr. in support of Ugandan 'kill the gays' bill

Rachel Maddow annihiliates 'ex-gay' Richard Cohen over Uganda bill

Sex scandal hits South Carolina governor's race and other Monday midday news briefs

A vote is coming up on DADT. Here is what you can do (hat tip to Jeremy Hooper):

Step 1) Call the DC offices of each of your state's two Senators. http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Step 2) Call the DC office of your district's federal Representative.
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

Step 3) Post a comment on this page letting [folks] know how it went:
Give 'Em Hell - Congressional Call Swarm for DADT

And in other news . . .

Source: Folks Admitted to Haley Affair a Year Ago - Nikki Haley WAS in the lead for the Republican nomination in the South Carolina gubernatorial race after that Sarah Palin endorsement. Amazing, this is the SAME state which won't allow gay marriage. Watch they blame this one on Obama.

Fine, social conservatives: Then we expect you to forfeit all religious protections by end of day - Homophobia makes people so stupid that they tend to cut their own throats.

The Family and Uganda's Anti-Gay Legislation - Another piece about how American homophobia is hurting lgbts in Uganda. And the most important part about it? How a seemingly innocent act by a U.S. legislator (and member of the right-wing group the Family) probably added to the conditions which led Uganda to consider passing that hateful bill. I haven't seen manipulation that skillful since Noah Cross in Chinatown.

UK Times: Anti-gay laws in Africa are because of anti-gay Americans

A recent article by the UK Times underlines and emphasizes a point already made about the recent bunch of homophobic laws in Africa. They are because of American religious right figures:

After a 16-month investigation, during which he interviewed scores of witnesses in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria, Mr(Kapya)Kaoma (an Anglican priest from Zambia who is project director of Political Research Associates — a Massachusetts-based progressive think-tank) concluded that Africa’s anti-gay crackdowns are, at least in part, “made in the USA”.

“Through their extensive communications networks in Africa, social welfare projects, Bible schools and educational materials, US religious conservatives warn of the dangers of homosexuals, and present themselves as the true representatives of US evangelicalism,” he wrote in Globalising the Culture Wars: US Conservatives, African Churches and Homophobia, a damning report on the issue.

He told The Times: “We are not dismissing the fact that some of the money they send for Africa is going to good use. What we are concerned about is that the people who receive it are being trained in a conservative ideology. It will be like, ‘If I give you this, you must dance to my tune’.”

The results are becoming clear. In Malawi, where this week an openly gay couple were sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labour, and across the continent, gays and lesbians face lives of increasing dread. It is hard to underplay the depth of anti-gay sentiment expressed in Africa. “Everyone is looking over their shoulders,” said Mwangi, a gay man from Nairobi, who did not want his family name published. “People don’t even want to come to this bar now because they know it has a reputation as a meeting place for gays. Before, no one gave a damn. Everyone came here, prostitutes, straights, the lot,” he said.

The article goes on with comments from anti-gays Scott Lively and Richard Cohen, who, in one form or another, ducks and dodges their homophobic influence in African nations.

The reason for me posting this piece is this: too often when points are made about the negative effects of homophobia, these points are left alone when they should be repeated continuously or drilled into everyone's consciousness if you will.

The fact of the matter is that self-righteous American homophobes are responsible for a lot of pain and hatred in African countries

And that's something we must never forget and make sure that no one else forgets either.

Also, something else has been nagging at me regarding this entire situation for a while now.

Just where in the hell has the African-American community been throughout all of this. I can't help but to compare this situation to when apartheid was prevalent in South Africa and there seemed to have been constant attention about it in the black community, especially the black media.

Unfortunately in this situation regarding African-on-African hatred fueled by white outsiders, there seems to be an omission of information. .

I think that's a real shame.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Baptist minister: 'We need hunt-a-homo week'

Yesterday, I talked about the hilarity of homophobia.

Today, I'm taking a different tone.

The following is not an easy video to listen to, but it's necessary not only to the lgbt community, but for those who claim that we are being too pushy, that we are trying to "redefine" American values, that we hate Christianity, etc.

The video is an audio sermon by Shenandoah Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Owens. According to Dan Savage:

Jeff Owens "is a man of great expression, compassion, and wisdom," who currently leads the Shenandoah Bible Baptist Church, "one of America's most exciting churches," a church located in a part of West Virginia that serves as a suburb of Washington D.C. Pastor Owens is "a soulwinner, fervent preacher, and takes an uncompromising stand against sin; but the hallmark quality of Dr. Owens is his genuine love and concern for people." In this sermon Pastor Owens lovingly and compassionately calls on his flock to terrorize and murder gays and lesbians:

Shenandoah Baptist Church's Pastor Jeff Owens: BURN AND SHOOT FAGS! from Joe Jervis on Vimeo.

Among the highlights of this "lovely sermon" is the following:

"We need to stop burning flags and start burning fags. We need hunt-a-homo week. We need to take 'em all out and shoot 'em with a scatter shotgun"

Now a video of Owens's sermon was featured on youtube. Naturally it was taken down after its message became public. But let's thank Joe Jervis of Joe.My.God for saving the sermon and making sure that no one forgets what Owens said.

There are no words which I can say that would properly convey my absolute disgust. But I think Savage says it best:

Now for all you moderate Christians offended by this sort of thing—by Owens' sermon, by my posting about it—if you want to tell anyone that Owens doesn't speak for all Christians, go tell Owens. I'm sick of hearing it,

In other words, don't get angry at the lgbt community for merely reacting when some fool advocates our destruction in the name of Christianity.

Seems to me that any anti-Christian comments made by the lgbt community isn't a proof that the community wants to destroy the religion. It simply shows that we have worries that some who claim to practice Christianity want to destroy us.

UPDATE - Owens sent out a message apologizing for the sermon. He claims that he preached the sermon 15 years ago and that he no longer feels that way about those in the "gay lifestyle."

While it is all well and good that Owens no longer believes in violence against the lgbt community, I still have a problem with his condescending tone.

Also, why in the world was this 15-year-old sermon saved to be placed on youtube anyway?

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Wounded Children - a tract too homophobic for even Chick Publications

Believe it or not, there is a level of anti-gay too extreme for Chick Publications.

Supposedly there was a tract called Wounded Children that was recalled years ago. Wounded Children supposedly tells the story of how a child becomes gay and is "made a victim of the gay lifestyle."

Because it was recalled, I couldn't find anything on the Chick Publications site.

HOWEVER, through the magic of youtube, I found a copy of Wounded Children along with verbal accompaniment:

Now if this is too boring for you, then the following video is right up your alley. It is an adaptation of Wounded Children presented exactly as it was from the tract, accept for minor changes:

Editor's note: There is a part two but unfortunately the sound has been disabled due to copyright.

It's a real shame, too. I was dying to see how this story would turn out.

Related posts:

Lgbt parenting - myths vs. reality

Mark Sanford is missing, SLDN protests, and Chick publications - this is a strange day

Never fear, Chick Publications is here! or What some people really think of gay marriage

Friday, May 21, 2010

Know Your LGBT History - Tongues Untied

I WAS going to feature an episode of All in the Family but then I got a special request for this afternoon's feature, Tongues Untied (1989).

And as luck would have it, I'm glad I received this request because Tongues Untied will be one of the movies at tomorrow night's lgbt of color film festival which will be held at the University of South Carolina tomorrow night as a part of the SC Black Pride Young, (Gay) Gifted, and Black Mini Film Festival.

Tongues Untied is an excellent film by the late Marlon Riggs, an African-American gay man and filmmaker. From Wikipedia:

. . . Tongues Untied seeks, in its author's words to, "...shatter the nation's brutalising silence on matters of sexual and racial difference." The film blends documentary footage with personal account and fiction in an attempt to depict the specificity of black gay identity. The "silence" referred to throughout the film is that of black gay men, who are unable to express themselves because of the prejudices of white and black heterosexual society.

The narrative structure of Tongues Untied is both interesting and unconventional. Besides including documentary footage detailing North American black gay culture, (Marlon) Riggs also tells of his own experiences as a gay man. These include the realising of his sexual identity and of coping with the deaths of many of his friends to AIDS. Other elements within the film include footage of the civil rights movement and clips of Eddie Murphy performing a homophobic stand-up routine.

At the time of its release, the film was considered controversial because of its frank portrayal of gay sexuality. Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan cited Tongues Untied as an example of how President Bush was using taxpayer's money to fund "pornographic art". In his defense, Riggs stated that, "Implicit in the much overworked rhetoric of community standards is the assumption of only one central community (patriarchal, heterosexual and usually white) and only one overarching cultural standard ditto."