Upcoming AP article will feature religious right crybabies

In an Associated Press article that was published then taken back, various religious right figures are whining that lgbts are picking on them.

The article was originally published Burlington Free Press but was taken back. The following note was left:

Editor's note: This story was mistakenly published on Wednesday on burlingtonfreepress.com ahead of Sunday's release date.
We regret the error.
Please check back on Sunday to read this story.

I can only hope that the article's author, David Crary, goes back and does more research because ThinkProgress totally panned it:

Rather than recognize the historic and systemic oppression and violence against the LGBT community, AP reporter David Crary instead gives multiple anti-LGBT groups (including several hate groups) a pedestal for propagating their lies. Here are the individuals Crary invited to whine that their bigotry is not well-received:

JIM CAMPBELL (Alliance Defense Fund): The ADF regularly spreads negative stereotypes about the LGBT community as part of their legal “defense” of Christian hegemony.
 

RICHARD BARNES (New York State Catholic Conference): The Catholic Conference has defended the vitriolic rhetoric of Sen. Rubén Díaz (D) and been a primary opponent of marriage equality in New York.

CHUCK COLSON (The Manhattan Declaration): In addition to signing the odious Manhattan Declaration (a willful commitment to ignore any laws that protect same-sex couples’ equality), Colson, a convicted felon from the Watergate Scandal, regularly condemns LGBT people.

ALAN CHAMBERS (Exodus International): Exodus International is perhaps the most dangerous anti-gay propaganda machine, reinforcing the harmful junk science that same-sex orientations are disordered and can be changed.

ROBERT GEORGE (National Organization for Marriage): Crary neglects to even mention George’s connection to NOM, let alone that he is, in fact, its chairman and cofounder. NOM regularly reinforces the victim meme by distorting supposed “consequences” of LGBT equality. It’s no surprise George helped draft the Manhattan Declaration.

Think Progress said that those representing our side - Evan Wolfson (Freedom to Marry), Fred Sainz (Human Rights Campaign), Evan Hurst (Truth Wins Out) and James Esseks (ACLU’s gay rights project) - was forced to play "defense."

I managed to read a little bit of the article before it was taken back and I liked what I saw. But ThinkProgress does have a point.

The lgbt community is forced to play defense too often. However, this isn't totally the fault of the news media.

When have you seen a good expose in the major lgbt magazines (The Advocate, Out, etc) detailing religious right lies?

When has the lgbt channel Logo ever covered this subject with as much fervor as they show episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race or reruns of Absolutely Fabulous? And don't even get me started about the idea for news segment strictly devoted to the lgbt community on this channel?

Our problem is that we expect the media to do the work when we should be the ones doing it - and before the right starts attacking us on a specific issue. We should be directing the media where to go and pushing their attention to stories and issues pertaining to the lgbt community.

Anything beats complaining after the fact.

NOM helping to push pedophilia, incest lies and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Rick Perry Proud To Stand With the Bigots At The AFA - Rick, your allies at the AFA aren't exactly helping your cause.

NOM giddily slides down Vicky Hartler's slippery slopes - Yes NOM is helping to push the pedophilia angle. And now incest is added to the mix.

And apparently NOM isn't above stealing videos to do this - NOM Endorses Hartzler's Anti-Gay Comments

Mitt Romney Suggests Activists To Blame For His Opposition To Gay Marriage - Someone want to be president REALLY BAD.

Anti-transgender bill defeated in Maine legislature - Not bad at all, Maine.

Homophobe attacks Old Navy for combating lgbt bullying, suicides

Here is an example of the nonsense I was talking about yesterday in regards to Texas governor Rick Perry's prayer event:

A nationally prominent retail store has announced it will sell "gay pride" T-shirts in support of presidentially proclaimed "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month."

Old Navy will sell rainbow-styled T-shirts as part of the its "Love Proudly: Pride 2011" campaign. The shirts reportedly went on sale June 1 and will be available at select stores throughout the country. Old Navy announced it will donate 10 percent of the proceeds to the "It Gets Better Project," a pro-LGBT campaign.

Gary Cass of DefendChristians.org says Old Navy is promoting a lifestyle that is in "complete rebellion against God."

"Rather just focusing on giving good products to their customers, they want to use their products now to advocate for a very controversial topic, much less a very immoral and very deadly topic," notes Cass.

Now I could say that it's very interesting that this article (by the American Family Association's One News Now) omits the fact that the "It Gets Better" project combats the issues of bullying and suicides amongst lgbt teens, but why bother?

I think it's relatively clear why this fact wasn't mentioned.

And I could say that Gary Cass is yet another charlatan in the conservative evangelical movement looking to make a name for himself by pulling the martyr card - although attacking Old Navy is a step up from defending the discredited Paul Cameron and churches who performed "exorcisms" on gay teens. And that this is the second time he has attacked the "It Gets Better" project

But again why bother?

Here is the point I want to make:

It's just a damn t-shirt, not the end of American society as we know it.

And it is yet another example of how far Christianity has fallen in this country and how far it will continue to fall until someone (preferably a true person of faith) steps up and calls out people who use the faith to divide and gain material prominence for themselves.