'British Supreme Court tanks 'religious liberty' argument in ruling' and other Wednesday midday news briefs

British Supreme Court Rules Against Discriminating Bed & Breakfast Owners - Boom! The phony "religious liberty" argument fails in Great Britain. 

INDIANA: Mary Cheney To Host Fundraiser To Fight Proposed Gay Marriage Ban - Oh snap! Dick Cheney's little girl is catching an attitude. Personally I totally approve. Now I know there are some lgbts who will be "where the hell was she when . . ." but I disagree. There is a time to talk about that sort of thing but now isn't the time. In a war, you don't read potential allies the riot act . . . at least not yet.  

Texas National Guard to allow same-sex couples to register for benefits - Score one for the good guys. 

Oregon Family Council Compares Gays to Neo-Nazis - Oh come on! No gay man alive would be caught dead in those tacky uniforms.

Family Research Council continues to post inaccurately bad studies on lgbt community

Last week, I wrote about how the Family Research Council was posting an outdated and flawed study, Comparing the Lifestyles of Homosexual Couples to Married Couples to denigrate same-sex couples.

This week, I am now reporting that the organization has done even worse by posting yet another flawed study. However, this study denigrates the lgbt community as a whole

The study, The Negative Effects of Homosexuality,  was actually removed from FRC's webpage in 2008. An employee of the organization, Kathy Athearn, told me that the study was one of a few removed because it contained outdated sources.

But it has now returned to FRC's webpage and it has not been updated.

The study is supposed to show the so-called “dangers of homosexuality" and all of the religious right talking points about lgbts are touched on including:


Gays have a short life span,
Gays and lesbians don’t know how to be monogamous,
Gays and lesbians have high rate of domestic violence.

But strangely enough, this study includes the same inaccurate information as the study I talked about last week:

- A citation of the book Homosexualities: A Study of Diversity Among Men and Women by Alan Bell and Martin Weinberg as a correct generalization of lgbt sexual habits despite the fact that it was published in 1978 and was not meant by the authors to be a correct assessment of the lgbt community in general.  A passage from Homosexualities clearly says:

“. . . given the variety of circumstances which discourage homosexuals from participating in research studies, it is unlikely that any investigator will ever be in a position to say that this or that is true of a given percentage of all homosexuals.”

- A citation of the book The Male Couple: How Relationships Develop by David P. McWhirter and Andrew M. Mattison despite the fact that the book was written 1984 and was not meant to be a correct assessment of the lgbt community in general.  A passage from The Male Couple says:

“We always have been very careful to explain that the very nature of our research sample, its size (156 couples), its narrow geographic location, and the natural selectiveness of the participants prevents the findings from being applicable and generalizable to the entire gay
male community.” 

But there is more:

Gay Bowel Syndrome (GBS): The Journal of the American Medical Association refers to GBS problems such as proctitis, proctocolitis, and enteritis as "sexually transmitted gastrointestinal syndromes." Many of the bacterial and protozoa pathogens that cause gbs are found in feces and transmitted to the digestive system: According to the pro-homosexual text Anal Pleasure and Health, "[s]exual activities provide many opportunities for tiny amounts of contaminated feces to find their way into the mouth of a sexual partner . . . The most direct route is oral-anal contact."

"Gay bowel syndrome" is a term no longer used because it is considered outdated and many physicians  no longer use it.

Then there is this citation:

Reduced Life Span. A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology on the mortality rates of homosexuals concluded that they have a significantly reduced life expectancy:

In a major Canadian centre, life expectancy at age twenty for gay and bisexual men is eight to twenty years less than for all men. If the same pattern of mortality were to continue, we estimate that nearly half of gay and bisexual men currently aged twenty years will not reach their sixty-fifth birthday. Under even the most liberal assumptions, gay and bisexual men in this urban centre are now experiencing a life expectancy similar to that experienced by all men in Canada in the year 1871.

In 2001, the researchers of this study complained that religious right groups were distorting their work. As a matter of fact, as recent at last year, one of the researcher, Julio Montaner, was still complaining about how the study was being distorted:

"To use my report to support the notion that gay and bisexual sex is somehow the reason why people die early is misusing the data," Montaner said.

Montaner noted that his group’s original report was conducted at a time when the HIV epidemic was poorly controlled and treatments were ineffective. Since then, there have have been great strides in treating the disease and preventing its spread, Montaner said. In British Columbia, annual diagnoses of new infections have dropped from 900 in the mid-1990s to 300 in recent years, he said. Deaths from HIV also have fallen sharply, he said.

Let me take a guess. It's all about "religious liberty," isn't it, FRC?

THIS is what the American anti-gay right did to Uganda

The trailer of this documentary 'God Loves Uganda' is easily the most heartbreaking thing I have seen in a long time. This is what the American anti-gay right did to this country and it's awful.

Go here to Political Research Associates to read an interview with the creator of this documentary, Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams.

'Anti-gay right rally to defend supporter of Russia's homophobic laws' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Religious Right Piles On To Defend Proponent Of Russia Anti-Gay Laws - To the American religious right, a secular bakery owned by "Christian" making a cake for a gay couple = persecution but a country which forbids your freedom to assemble or to express yourself, and whose police will do nothing while homophobes beat the hell out of you in their presence = "preservation of morality and Christian values." Things have certainly changed since Jesus was crucified. 

Correction: Greeks are not giving themselves HIV to get government benefits - That's one urban legend shot to pieces, thank goodness. But why oh why couldn't they handle the lies about black men on the "down low" as swiftly? 

 Arkansas Supreme Court Overturns Ruling Preventing Gay Man’s Partner From Sleeping Over When Son Is Present - Good news part 1!

 Judge Orders Expedited Marriage For Gay Couple - Good news Part 2 but for a bittersweet reason.

Truth Wins Out catches the 'attention' of anti-gay news source

It looks like one of my mentors, Wayne Besen, and his group Truth Wins Out has hit the "big time."

The organization has the American Family Association's One News Now spinning horror stories about it:

A radical homosexual group, "Truth Wins Out," is calling for the termination of Dr. Mike Rosebush, who has been named as the chief of Character and Leadership Coaching at the Colorado Springs school. Air Force cadets at AF Academy.

Rosebush is a former homosexual who has successfully come out of the lifestyle and has been an advocate for reparative therapy. Peter LaBarbera, founder and president of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, calls "Truth Wins Out" a "vicious homosexual activist group."

 "Ex-gays are now one of the most politically incorrect groups in American, one of the most persecuted groups," says LaBarbera, noting that reparative therapy counseling is being banned in two states, California and New Jersey.

Homosexuals want so badly to convince the public that their lifestyle is acceptable, they want to do damage to those who have left because it proves their spin is simply not true, LaBarbera claims. He adds: "For the homosexual movement that demands respect, it's pretty odd that they are leading the hateful charge against ex-gays and ex-lesbians, people who are mostly Christian, who left the homosexual lifestyle through the grace of God. But, boy, do they catch the hatred and the intolerance from the liberal left and the homosexual lobby."

Despite the claims of groups like "Truth Wins Out," many people have come out of the sinful homosexual lifestyle and now live normal healthy lives. 

Isn't always so "odd" how religious right groups and activists seem to brand every gay group as "radical." And of course One News Now didn't even seek out any comments from Besen or Truth Wins Out.  If One News Now had acted like an actual news organization, it would have been informed of the following, which is included in Truth Wins Out's press release on the matter:

Rosebush served as a vice president for Focus On The Family, as a professional member of NARTH, and was the director of the Professional Counselors’ Network for Exodus International. He also co-authored a handbook on “unwanted homosexual attractions” with NARTH’s Joseph Nicolosi and George Rekers, the longtime “ex-gay” activist who was infamously caught taking rent-boys on European vacations. Rosebush has devoted his life to disproven, harmful junk science, and with such credentials, has no place serving in a counseling role in the United States Military.

 . . .  Rosebush’s former employer, Exodus International, closed its doors this year, acknowledging that “reparative therapy” and other efforts to change a person’s sexual orientation do not work and often do damage. Every major professional medical and mental health organization concurs with this assessment. However, NARTH and Focus On The Family have not taken steps to acknowledge this truth, and there is no evidence that Dr. Rosebush has decided to embrace real science and ethical counseling methods. As such, cadets at the Air Force Academy are in danger of being counseled in ways that violate all the accepted tenets of the counseling profession. Though the Air Force Academy claims that Rosebush does not directly counsel cadets, the organizational nature of his job — which seems very similar to his role with Exodus International — puts them at risk just the same.

The fact of the matter is that with  gays and lesbians being allowed to serve openly in the military coupled with the fact that "ex-gay" therapy has no basis in truth or accuracy, Truth Wins Out's concern in this matter is genuine and sincere. In other words, this is not a case of a so-called radical gay group targeting an man because he is supposedly ex-gay. This is a case of a group bringing attention to the fact that a man with a long history of embracing anti-gay junk science now being put in a position where he could potentially place the well-being of some of our service members in jeopardy.

Homophobic, racist haters will hate (because that's all they can do)

I was looking for a video of President Obama awarding Bayard Rustin's partner, Walter Naegle, with Rustin's Medal of Freedom.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find video footage of it. However, check out what I did find. Some bozo who doesn't even deserve to be identified attacking Rustin and the Civil Rights Movement.

So why am I posting it? Simple. Bayard Rustin got his due last week and he will be remembered as one of the greatest men this country has ever known.

This fool on the video won't be remembered even if his name was on the Hollywood sign.

So I take GREAT satisfaction in watching this video. Haters will hate because that's all they can do:

'After repeal of DADT, rough patches still confront gay troops' and other Monday midday news briefs

After Repeal Of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Pockets Of Difficulty For Equality - After the repeal of DADT, we still have rough patches to smooth out.  

Calif. trans law ‘unlikely’ to qualify for referendum - Keep your fingers crossed but it's looking for our transgender children.  

School Board Member: Trans Students Should Be Castrated Before They Can Use Restrooms - Vile, disgusting woman to say this.

Wisconsin Governor Defends Ban On Same-Sex Marriage As ‘Healthy Balance’ Of LGBT Rights - Is Scott Walker for real? Unfortunately yes.  

Alex Newell, Actor Who Plays Transgender Character On 'Glee,' Responds To Bill O'Reilly - Handle yo' business, my friend!

Lgbts should start calling the shots against the anti-gay right

Maybe it's just me but the following debate on Crossfire between S.E. Cupp and Ralph Reed depresses the hell out of me:



Ralph Reed's talking points drives me crazy like nails on a chalkboard and find myself asking why does the issue continue to be danced around?

Ultimately the issue of lgbt equality goes beyond marriage. If lgbts do attain marriage in all 50 states, we will continue to deal with the lies and distortions thrown at us by folks like Reed. My question is why is this never part of the conversation?

Why can't we ask folks like Reed about the myriad of times they have compared gay men to pedophiles or why they have claimed that "homosexuality is an unhealthy lifestyle?"

Why isn't there some type of national conversation regarding the constant times people like Reed have cherry-picked actual science or relied on junk science to give a false view of the lgbt community?

But no. We are constantly fighting this battle on their terms, using their words and phrases even though we know words like "religious liberty" and "religious freedom" are a cynical dodge.

We will never fully attain equality unless we combat the anti-gay right, not on their terms, but the terms they refuse to address.

Know Your LGBT History - The Story of Miss Atlanta Lively

Professional wrestling has had a lot of strange storylines and angles, many of them covered here because of how they exploited or played off of the lgbt community.

However, probably the strangest and most violent had to be the story of Miss Atlanta Lively.

This is the story. The bad guys in this angle was manager Jim Cornette and his team, the Midnight Express (Loverboy Dennis and Beautiful Bobby):

In 1985 in the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Association, the three kept attacking the Boogie Woogie Man Jimmy Valiant and his girlfriend, Big Mama:

That is until a very mysterious woman, who never spoke a word came, in and knocked out members of the Midnight Express with one punch. Who was she? She was called Miss Atlanta Lively. This led to a trio of Valiant, Big Mama, and Miss Atlanta Lively vs. The Midnight Express in an Atlanta Street Fight at Starrcade 85: The Gathering. Two things you need to know about this match: It was not a comedy match and this was the old days of pro wrestling where they bled extensively. The match in question begins at 1:48:22

Of course you probably realized that although Miss Atlanta Lively didn't break character, she was a man. This man in fact - "Hands of Stone" Ronnie Garvin:



No commentary here. Just an observation. Isn't pro wrestling strange?

Past Know Your LGBT History Posts:

'Useless anti-gay group angry over Jingle Bells commercial' and other Friday midday news briefs

One Million Moms Reacts to the 12 Balls of Christmas - And the 2013 edition version of the ridiculous "War on Christmas" has an opening salvo as this useless religious right group complains about the above commercial. I personally fail to see what the problem is. And where was this group when the following commercial ran:

 

Come on. A white guy forced to show the size of his butt to his African-American boss. They could have blamed it on the election of President Obama. Megyn Kelly and Fox News would have. 

And in other news:  

Air Force Academy Defends Employment Of Ex-Gay Therapist - This ought to be an epic defense. At least it had better be.  

Ugandan Minister of Ethics Conjures Up GAYS in Schools to promote Anti-Gay Legislation - Oh God. A witch hunt!  

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin Cuts Off All Spousal Guard Benefits In Stunning Display Of Childish Bigotry - I fail to see how being mean-spirited is a Christian value.

Stephen Colbert takes on, annihilates Russia's anti-gay laws

Comedy can sometimes be the best weapon against homophobia

Michele Bachmann deliberately excluding same-sex families from adoption resolution

Bachmann

Someone should ask Rep. Michele Bachman does the exclusion of lgbt families in the adoption resolution she is working on a part of her "religious liberty?"

From Buzzfeed:

New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney — the out gay father of three — said in an email to supporters Thursday that Rep. Michele Bachmann is “intentionally excluding families like [his]” from an adoption resolution she introduced.

In a message sent to supporters Thursday, Maloney says Bachman is excluding families with gay or lesbian parents by declining to include LGBT-inclusive language in the resolution.

When he found out that Bachmann and Rep. Karen Bass would be introducing a resolution for National Adoption Month and Day, he asked the pair to include language supportive of LGBT parenting in the resolution . . .

. . . .Bass, a Democrat from California, said she was receptive to the language. Writing of the children he is raising with his partner, Randy, Maloney sent a letter to Bachmann, asking her “to recognize the contributions of LGBT families with adoptive children” in the resolution by including the language. Bachmann’s office said the congresswoman would not support the language’s addition, according to Maloney’s office.

Bachmann’s office did not immediately respond to a question Thursday about her views on LGBT parenting or adoption, or about the resolution itself.

Update: Rep. Michele Bachmann spokesman Dan Kotman told BuzzFeed, “The resolution honoring National Adoption Month is a bipartisan effort sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans. The focus of the resolution is on helping vulnerable children, as has always been the case when we have introduced it in previous years.”

Okay, this is bull. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to make the argument that when lgbts adopt children, we are doing what we can to help the vulnerable. The question I have is why do we even have to make that point?

And if this controversy blows up - which it needs to do - and some fool even attempts to make the semantic argument that lgbts are being "intolerant" because we aren't "respecting" Bachmann's beliefs that lgbt families should be excluded in this resolution, THIS QUEEN RIGHT HERE is going to go into orbit!!!!!

'Report: Conservative media helping to further transphobic violence' and other Thursday midday news briefs

The Conservative Media’s Responsibility For Transphobic Violence - Yet another report which should get mainstream attention. Equality Matters nails how the conservative media has contributed to a transphobic atmosphere. Just like the post I published this morning, the lgbt community and our media should demand focus on important issues and Alec Baldwin throwing out a slur to a reporter is NOT as important as this issue or the issue of anti-gay scientific misconduct.
 

When research is really "research": A look at the Michigan Four - So Michigan will defend its anti-marriage equality law by having four discredited researchers testify in court, including Mark Regnerus. How much popcorn will I need for this one?  

8 Highlights From The Illinois Marriage Equality Exorcism - Aw man, I missed the exorcism!

 Equal Marriage Passes Crucial Vote In Scotland - Two more votes to go.

The anti-gay right needs to be exposed for their scientific misconduct

Today is "Throwback Thursday," but rather than focus on a kooky, fun fact, I want to focus on something which I find to be sad and disturbing.

Over the years, I have pointed out at least 12 times in which physicians and researchers have pointed out how the religious right have distorted their work to fuel anti-gay propaganda. Allow me to recap:

Last year, Seton Hall professor Dr. Theodora Sirota complained that Rick Fitzgibbons of  the NARTH (the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality) misused her work to make the case that children in same sex households are not raised better than children "in stable homes with a mother and a father."

National Institute of Health director Francis Collins, who rebuked the right-wing 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

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

Peter LaBarbera fails to ruin the party for Illinois marriage equality bill signing

There are times when you must admit that you have lost and fade away with a smidgen of dignity.

Apparently no one told this to "Porno" Pete LaBarbera.

Even as we speak, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has just signed the state's marriage equality bill, thus making Illinois the 16th marriage equality state.










Meanwhile, poor LaBarbera is outside of the party looking like the world's most pathetic wallflower:

Photo courtesy of Waymon Hudson

'Bayard Rustin, Sally Ride receive Medal of Freedom' and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Bayard Rustin (left), Sally Ride (right)

From Chris Geidner of Buzzfeed - Walter Naegle, Bayard Rustin's partner, & Tam O'Shaughnessy, Sally Ride's partner, sat together at today's ceremony

Obama Awards Medal of Freedom to 16 Americans - Including the late Sally Ride and my personal hero, Bayard Rustin. Two lgbts who made history with their achievements.

Illinois governor expected to sign gay marriage into law - Number 16 with a thunderbolt! 

Oklahoma Drops National Guard Benefits For All Couples To Avoid Serving Same-Sex Couples - This here is some repugnant #@$%!

 Despite Klingenschmitt's Efforts, Our YouTube Account Has Been Restored - Nice try, "Pastor Chaps," but Right-Wing Watch will still be able to show your homophobic rants.  

Truth Wins Out Calls On Air Force Academy To Terminate ‘Ex-Gay’ Charlatan Hired As Cadet Counseling Chief - Now watch how Fox News's Todd Starnes and the rest of that bunch whine about "religious liberty." Sorry but they have no case here.

Top picture courtesy of The New Civil Rights Movement.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance 2013

From GLAAD:

The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was started by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence that year and began an important memorial that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

"The Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people -- sometimes in the most brutal ways possible -- it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice."
- Transgender Day of Remembrance founder Gwendolyn Ann Smith

Let us all, lgbt and heterosexual alike, strive for the time where we are able to celebrate the lives and contributions of our transgender brothers and sisters instead of their deaths through ignorance and hate.

New website calls out, nails deceptive anti-gay parenting study

Yesterday, I posted about how a judge in Florida had ordered Central Florida University to give up all of the documents with regards to the discredited Regnerus study.

Unfortunately, according to blogger Joe Jervis, the university is fighting tooth-and-nail to keep the information hidden even to the point of being in contempt of court.

In the meantime, however, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation - the organization which filed the lawsuit on behalf of writer, blogger, and activist John Becker -  has developed a website (The Regnerus Fallout) which not only calls out Regnerus's deceptive study but also nails all of the parties involved.

Check it out!!!

Hat tip to Joe.My.God.

'Anti-gay activist tries to compliment me. Big mistake' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Austin Ruse

This morning, I got a very interesting message from Austin Ruse. Ruse is a columnist for that vile propagandist piece of trash Breitbart.com as well as president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Instiute (C-FAM).

C-FAM was recently embroiled in controversy over its support of Russia's anti-gay laws as well as other anti-gay laws worldwide. I recently published a post detailing a past one-on-one online conversation I had with Ruse in which he regurgitated some of the most vile anti-gay talking points. Apparently, he must have loved my post because he sent me the following:

The thing I like about you, is you give me a full hearing. We may disagree and you may call me names, regrettably, but you quote me in full. Much appreciated... 

Naturally, I responded in the manner which I have become accustomed to - brief, to the point, but not giving up an inch:

All the better for people to see you as a homophobic charlatan, Mr. Ruse. I'm merely providing the rope.

Allow me to include some further points that I failed to make to Mr. Ruse in my initial response:

Don't  try to sugarcoat your homophobia to me in the guise of polite conversation and congenial comments. I know where you stand with regards to how you feel about lgbts and I won't pretend to be nice as to where I stand. I won't be rude to you, but life is too short to bullshit our way through phony platitudes of politeness. I don't like you, Mr. Ruse. I find you extremely fake and even more vile. Your organization perverts the word "family," making it into a caste system where me and mine are not allowed. In addition, you rationalize the persecution of my lgbt brothers and sisters on a worldwide scale. So spare me any kind words because I have a feeling that what's in your mind regarding me isn't exactly as equally kind. There is nothing good about you, Mr. Ruse  It's as simple as that. 

In other news:  

NRO Trots Out Discredited Researcher To Defend Junk Same-Sex Parenting Study - How interesting. Using a discredited racist to defend homophobic junk science.

 Mary Cheney Finds Her Voice - I may be in the minority here but I feel sorry for Mary Cheney. She sacrificed for family and now the family is stabbing her in the ribs. That's just wrong.  

Methodist Church Convicts Pastor For Officiating His Son’s Same-Sex Wedding - Oh give me a break!  

'Ask Amy' Advice Columnist Tells Mother Pressuring Gay Son To Change Sexuality Is Wrong - Awesome advice!

Lesbians falsely accused of child molestation soon to be set free

Editor's note - I wasn't going to post this morning but when I saw the following, I just had to put the word out. After reading this, check out my post from last night as to how the Family Research Council is using a flawed, out-of-date study to demonize lgbt couples:

In 1994, Elizabeth Ramirez, then 20, was arrested in San Antonio, Texas, for allegedly molesting her two young nieces, aged 7 and 9.

In two bizarre trials, she and three other women, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh and Anna Vasquez, all lesbians, were accused of repeatedly assaulting the girls during a nightmarish week-long orgy in 1994. A medical expert and the prosecutor hinted that the women had been performing a Satanic ritual, and pointed to what they claimed was scientific evidence of their guilt. A judge sent the women to prison -- 35 years for Ramirez, 15 for each of the others.

For more than a decade, the women sought the attention of advocates for prisoners and of the press, insisting that they had been falsely accused, but their calls for help went unanswered. And then, in 2006, a Canadian college instructor named Darrell Otto began researching the case. Otto became convinced that the women were innocent and reached out to the National Center for Reason and Justice, a New York-based organization that pushes for the release of those believed to be wrongly accused of crimes against children. He set in motion an effort to free the women that has finally culminated in victory.

 On Monday, a judge acknowledged that the witness testimony used to convict Ramirez, Mayhugh and Rivera was faulty and agreed to release them under bond. The fourth woman, Vasquez, is already out on parole. Reached by phone, she told The Huffington Post the news was "exciting and overwhelming."

Check out the rest of the story in The Huffington Post.

Family Research Council relying on an outdated, flawed study to smear lgbt couples

Tony Perkins of FRC

It's bizarre how certain things happen.

I was just looking on the Family Research Council webpage and I found the following statement:

Trending

Comparing the Lifestyles of Homosexual Couples to Married Couples

"Married and Gay Couples Not All that Different," ... (more)

 

So apparently on the FRC webpage, this study seems to be popular and that's not necessarily a good thing because it is flawed on so many levels. The headline should give you an indication of one flaw, i.e. the comparison of  homosexual couples to married heterosexual couples.The study ignores the simple fact that lgbts can now marry in 15 states.   

 

Another flaw is that the study is highly out-of-date. Its author, Timothy Dailey, hasn't been employed by FRC for a number of years now. As a matter of fact, I pointed out several flaws in Comparing the Lifestyles of Homosexual Couples to Married Couples as far back as 2009.

Allow me to do a recap. Amongst the errors, Comparing the Lifestyles of Homosexual Couples to Married Couples contains:

- A citation of the book Homosexualities: A Study of Diversity Among Men and Women by Alan Bell and Martin Weinberg as a correct generalization of lgbt sexual habits despite the fact that it was published in 1978 and was not meant by the authors to be a correct assessment of the lgbt community in general.  A passage from Homosexualities clearly says:

“. . . given the variety of circumstances which discourage homosexuals from participating in research studies, it is unlikely that any investigator will ever be in a position to say that this or that is true of a given percentage of all homosexuals.”

- A citation of the book The Male Couple: How Relationships Develop by David P. McWhirter and Andrew M. Mattison despite the fact that the book was written 1984 and was not meant to be a correct assessment of the lgbt community in general.  A passage from The Male Couple says:

“We always have been very careful to explain that the very nature of our research sample, its size (156 couples), its narrow geographic location, and the natural selectiveness of the participants prevents the findings from being applicable and generalizable to the entire gay
male community.”

In addition to outdated work, the study also distorts the work of researchers Timothy Biblarz and Judith Stacey to make the case against children being raised in lgbt homes.

Claims regarding the numbers of children being raised in homosexual and lesbian households vary widely and are often unsubstantiated. According to a study on homosexual parenting in the American Sociological Review, researchers have given figures "of uncertain origin, depicting a range of...6 to 14 million children of gay or lesbian parents in the United States." According to the study's authors, Judith Stacey and Timothy J. Biblarz, the higher estimates are based upon "classifying as a lesbigay [sic] parent anyone who reports that even the idea of homoerotic sex is appealing." Instead, the authors favor a figure of about one million, which "derives from the narrower...definition of a lesbigay parent as one who self-identifies as such."

However, FRC and Dailey conveniently fails to mention that Stacey and Biblarz's study found:

. . . that lesbian and gay parents were as competent as heterosexual parents. The article did note some differences between families with gay and lesbian parents and those with heterosexual parents, but was careful to emphasize that these were differences, not deficits. Many of those opposing parenting rights for lesbian and gay people seized on these differences, using them to assert that gay and lesbian parents were not as effective as heterosexual parents.

Furthermore, during an interview with the organization Soulforce, Stacey complained about the distortion of her work:

"Significant, reliable social scientific evidence indicates that lesbian and gay parents are as fit, effective, and successful as heterosexual parents. The research also shows that children of same-sex couples are as emotionally healthy and socially adjusted and at least as educationally and socially successful as children raised by heterosexual parents." Later in the interview she commented: "There is not a single, respectable social scientist conducting and publishing research in this area today who claims that gay and lesbian parents harm children." She explained that the research does find some differences between families with gay and lesbian parents and those with heterosexual parents, but emphasized that they are differences, not deficits. For example, daughters of lesbian moms tend to be somewhat more career-oriented than other daughters. That anti-gay activists had cited these differences as evidence supporting their efforts to deny partnership and parenting rights to lesbians and gays was for Stacey "a serious misreading and abuse of our work."

Anti-gay group NOM facing potential double legal trouble

Potential court cases are giving NOM's Brian Brown something to cry over.

Right now, if I was a member of the National Organization for Marriage, I wouldn't be in a good mood.

Not only did the organizations lose two marriage equality battles in Hawaii and Illinois, but it is now hit with the following, courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign:

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has repeatedly refused to make its 2012 990s publicly available following their November 15 deadline – a direct violation of federal law. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) first made an in-person request for the public financial documents last Friday morning and again today – both times, NOM was unable to produce the documents. Federal law requires organizations to publicly release their 990s the same day an in-person request is made. As a result, HRC has filed a complaint with the IRS in order to compel NOM to abide by the law.

“NOM’s inability to meet one of the most basic accounting standards for any organization makes you wonder what exactly is going on – are they simply demonstrating the same flagrant disregard they have for numerous state campaign finance laws, or is there something in these documents that reflects even more poorly on the organization and their failed work?” said Fred Sainz, HRC Vice President of Communications. “Brian Brown apparently had enough time on Friday to pull together a fundraising email feigning outrage at the marriage equality victory in Hawaii, but didn’t have time to ensure his organization was running in accordance with the law. NOM should do the right thing and immediately release these financial documents that the public has a right to see.”

But hold on because it gets better. Last week, a judge in Central Florida ordered the University of  Central Florida to turn over records related to a study on gay parenting. For those who follow this blog, that study should sound familiar. It was created by University of Texas professor Mark Regnerus  and was discredited for its bad research techniques. In addition, there were questions as to how much of a part did the National Organization for Marriage and affiliated spokespeople and organizations play in the creation of this supposedly objective study.

On Friday, the attorney of John Becker, the activist who originally sought the documents, filed a contempt of court charge because UCF has YET to turn the documents over:

The UCF Board of Trustees faces the possibility of major sanctions, including fines or jail time, for failing to produce records in one of the public records lawsuits it’s defending. John Becker’s attorney, Andrea Mogensen, filed a motion for contempt against UCF for refusing to comply with court orders telling UCF to produce records relating to a controversial study by Mark Regnerus on gay and lesbian parenting. According to the motion, Becker seeks sanctions, including fines or imprisonment, for UCF’s Board of Trustees for failure to comply with the court’s Nov. 13 order, which stated that UCF had until Nov. 14 to produce the records. But even after UCF’s lawyers asked the court for clarification over the production of the records and received an extension to produce the records, UCF continued to disobey the court’s orders, the motion states. 

We have yet to see the last of these two cases and I hope my popcorn is finished cooking before the final act starts.

'Cheney sisters have ugly feud over marriage equality' and other Monday midday news briefs

Mary Cheney: Liz Cheney Is On 'Wrong Side Of History' With Anti-Gay Marriage Stance - Oh boy. The Cheney sisters are having a public feud over marriage equality. Liz wants that Senate seat, she is publicly standing against marriage equality even though she has privately been more than cordial to her sister Mary and her partner. Pretty soon, Joan Fontaine and Olivia DeHavilland are going to be called in the mediate. Seriously though, in my two cents, family is more important than a Senate seat. Liz should remember that. 

Video: Sen. Rubio keynotes for rabidly anti-LGBT org; org. advocates 'leaving the gay lifestyle' - Oh Marco! You'll never get the presidency that way.  

Pa. Gay Marriage Suit Takes Big Step Toward Trial - Oh this is going to be good!  

Religious Right Leaders Defend Russia's Anti-Gay Law - Why of course those losers do. 

'Facing Fear' Subjects, Former Neo-Nazi And Gay Attack Victim, On Their Unique Relationship - This story gives me hope for the future.

Austin Ruse - the ramblings of a homophobe

Austin Ruse

Last week, there was a controversy regarding a group of American activists who was initially denied a meeting room in the United States Senate:

The office of Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) revoked access to a Senate meeting room for a right-wing confab planning to discuss how American social conservatives can learn from Russia's draconian crackdown on LGBT people. Among the participants slated to speak at the event was Breitbart.com columnist and notorious homophobe Austin Ruse.

BuzzFeed's J. Lester Feder reported on November 14 that Kirk - who supports marriage equality and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) -- had shut down the planned November 15 "Family Policy Lessons From Other Lands: What Should America Learn?" conference. A Kirk spokesman explained that "Sen. Kirk doesn't affiliate with groups that discriminate."

Later that day, Speaker of the House John Boehner managed to secure the room for these activists. However, I found it interesting that Austin Ruse was involved with these activists. But maybe I shouldn't have been. Three years ago, Ruse and I had a serious verbal confrontation via my blog because of a  United Nations General Assembly voted to delete the terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" from a proposed anti-discrimination document.

Our back-and-forth confrontation should give you a look at Ruse's anti-gay mindset (his comments are in blue. Mine are in red):

A year ago the Holy See and the Bush administration tried to get the General Assembly to endorse a statement condemning precisely the kind of violence against homosexuals that you cite. The effort was quashed by France and her allies in Europe? Why? Because these efforts are not really about stopping violence. They are about forcing a broad range of homosexual "rights" on traditional peoples using the least democratic venues possible.

Austin Ruse

President

C-FAM

Your statement is a wonderment. Just how do you "force" homosexual rights on "traditional peoples?" Austin, please get rid of the phraseology because you aren't speaking to the choir here. Why don't you be specific in your objections.

It is fairly detailed, but what happens is that UN human rights monitoring bodies re-write language from established human rights treaties. These human rights treaties were negotiated by sovereign states and ratified, largely, by democratically elected Parliaments. This new language is decided by individuals whose names no one knows without looking and voila there is a new human rights category that nobody knows about and nobody has agreed to. This new language is then adjudicated in national courts where they often find ideological friends This is profoundly anti-democratic and indeed is a kind of coercion. The language that was rejected by the GA was precisely as I describe. Last summer the human rights committee reinterpreted the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to include "gender identity and sexual orientation." Quick, name even one member of that committee! This new language was then placed in a UN GA resolution for the purposes of further banging the drum for a new "treaty norm." This effort this time was defeated. Even so, we expect to see court cases being heard on the committee's original reinterpretation.

But Austin, you didn't answer my question. You went through a lot of legalese and "harum," "harum," but did not defend your original point. How does one force "homosexual rights" on "traditional peoples?" You seem to be talking about the process here. But when you (were) originally quoted, you were talking about the fact that the process had to do with gays and lesbians? Is it the process that you disagree with or the fact that through the process, folks are seeking to protect lgbts. And if the latter is the case, you really need to defend defining "traditional peoples" as countries who would persecute and imprison lgbts.

When non-democratic bodies like unknown UN committees and courts make decisions like this and then impose them on the people, that is force. Should have made that clearer.Thought i did.

But you didn't make it clear.  . . .  in the One News Now article, you were all "how dare they try to elevate the homosexual agenda to a global right." Don't you think you aren't being honest?

'SC judge takes himself off of marriage equality case' and other Friday midday news briefs

EXCLUSIVE: Judge bows out of SC gay marriage suit - Well this is interesting. The judge overseeing the SC marriage equality case has himself removed because as a member of the executive board of the Indian Waters Council of the Boy Scouts of America, he voted for the policy to admit gay Boy Scouts, but not gay Scout leaders. It should give you an indication to just how HOT this case is going to be.  

Illinois Bishop Will Offer Exorcism For Marriage Equality - I won't do it but by all means, feel free to make snide comments about the lack of exorcisms when came to Catholic priests molesting children. 

John Boehner Clearly Doesn’t Understand Why ENDA Is Necessary - Uh, Boehner is bull@#!ing.

California anti-trans coalition has no plan for transgender protection - And this surprises whom? Nobody. 

Houston's Harris County adopts sweeping policy aimed at protecting LGBT inmates - This is a good thing. 

How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America - In light of my morning post regarding anti-gay groups in America trying to seek what they can out of Russia's anti-gay law, this link is highly important regarding their claims and lies. If you have a problem downloading it, email me at charlekenghis@aol.com and I will email you an adobe acrobat copy.

Religious right groups want to 'study' Russian anti-gay laws

Sen. Mark Kirk

The bad news - there is a group of American religious right organizations supportive to Russia's anti-gay laws and looking to replicate that madness in the United States.

The good news - Illinois Senator Mark Kirk canceled their access to a room in the United States Senate where they were going to have a Friday event. Kirk's office later issued a comment - “Sen. Kirk doesn’t affiliate with groups that discriminate.”

The bad news - see item one and get spooked:

Late Thursday, Illinois Senator Mark Kirk’s office abruptly canceled access to a Senate meeting room for a Friday event scheduled by a social conservative organization that is supportive of Russia’s “homosexual propaganda” ban, event organizers told BuzzFeed.

LGBT activists were outraged to learn that the World Congress of Families, which is currently planning a global summit of supporters of the “traditional family” to be held in Moscow in 2014, would be holding an event in a meeting room in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The WCF is a project of the Howard Center for Family, Religion, and Society, based in Rockford, Illinois.

“Shame on you, Senator Kirk, for allowing vocal radical sexual minorities to drown out the voices of the natural family and faith that have made our nation free, prosperous, and stable for more than 200 years,” said Larry Jacobs, managing director of the World Congress of Families in an email to BuzzFeed. “Obviously Senator Kirk doesn’t care about families and children and freedom and has chosen to side with the policies of decline, death and disease promoted by the Sexual Radicals.”

A spokesman for Kirk, Lance Trover, told BuzzFeed on Thursday night, “Sen. Kirk doesn’t affiliate with groups that discriminate.”

WCF convened a planning meeting in Moscow last month that brought together leading American LGBT-rights opponents — including Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage and Tom Minnery of Focus on the Family — with top Russian supporters of the anti-propaganda law and social conservatives from several other countries. The event scheduled to be held Friday in the Dirksen building was billed in a WCF press release as a discussion of “what can our pro-family legislators learn — positively and negatively — by studying our colleagues’ actions abroad.”

  . . .The panelists include Austin Ruse of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, Senior Fellow at the Concerned Women for America’s The Beverly LaHaye Institute, and Steven Mosher, President of the Population Research Institute. It was scheduled to be hosted by Howard Center President Allan Carlson. 

Go to Buzzfeed for the rest of this story and see this document via the Human Right Campaign for the anti-gay backgrounds of the panelists.

Throwback Thursday - The Electric Company

I now interrupt the regularly scheduled denunciation of religious right lies with clips of songs from that old 1970s series 'The Electric Company.'

The usual scheduled program of religious right refutations will be back tomorrow morning:

 

 

 

'Anti-gay spokesman implies that potential gay parents lust after babies' and other Thursday midday news briefs

Klingenschmitt: Photo Of Gay Couple With A Baby 'Looks To Me A Little Bit Like Lust' - If the above video gets you mad, then GOOD! It's why I do what I do. We cannot be taken in when the religious right groups and personalities make themselves appear to be innocent and credible. Behind every Tony Perkins is a Gordon Klingenschmitt. And behind every innocuous statement about the "gay lifestyle" and "religious liberty" is tripe like this. Don't get so disgusted that you forget that in the fight for lgbt equality, we have to spotlight the hatred of the other side, no matter how nauseating that hatred is.  

FRC priorities: Pray for marriage inequality, discriminatory photographers, and, oh yeah—the typhoon victims too - If you were praying to God, what would dominate your prayer? Concern for the folks caught up in that awful typhoon in the Philippines or a reverse and defeat pro-lgbt laws like ENDA, and marriage equality. What if you were the Family Research Council? 

REPORT: LGBT Workers Of Color Face Many Barriers In The American Workforce - Something you probably won't see or hear about on African-American networks or news programs. And that's a real shame.  

Daily Caller Publishes Racist, Ableist Op-Ed To Attack Protections For Transgender Students - There is something to offend everyone in this piece.

It's official! Hawaii is a marriage equality state

It's official. Hawaii is now a marriage equality state as of yesterday when Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed the bill into law. And as the video below shows, the final vote in the Senate was contentious. But it should inspire the lgbt community.  Things worth having are worth fighting for, no matter how hard the fight to come may be.

Bryan Fischer and the 'ex-gay Neo Nazi porn star' who was 'swallowed by Satan'

So while Hawaii becomes the 15th marriage equality state (to be followed by Illinois), Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association chose to interview man who claims to be an ex-gay Neo Nazi porn star who was "swallowed by Satan."

What does all of this mean? Other than the fact that moderate Christians need to step up and speak out against these crazy people before more people turn against their religion, I don't know. I'm still scratching my head over this one:

'Fox News bungling coverage of lgbt discrimination' and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Fox News' Disastrous Coverage Of LGBT Discrimination Case - How Fox News continues to distort stories regarding lgbt equality should be a front page article in all of the lgbt publications. But it won't be because we are desensitized. 

238 Trans People Murdered Worldwide In The Past Year - This here is a terrible development. We often forget about our transgender brothers and sisters. 

Meet The Anti-LGBT Extremists Behind The Campaign To Repeal California's Transgender Protections - And I put the blame on ignorance expressed in this article. 

Congress Votes To End The Outdated Ban On HIV Organ Transplants And Research - Holy smokes! Congress did something useful. Well it did kinda snow in South Carolina last night. 

 Rios: Report On Gay Waiter Who Received Anti-Gay Message A 'Ruse' To Help ENDA - Okay, who leaked this to Rios? Whoever did gets dropped in my shark tank.

Anti-gay spokesman spins ENDA horror story via distorted comments

Matt Barber

Another day, another religious right anti-gay smear.

This one is coming from an old expert in the field of anti-gay propaganda, Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel. He recently authored a piece, ‘Gays’ Admit ENDA Game: Outlaw Christian Morality, which spouts the usual nonsense about gays supposedly wanting to "criminalize Christianity."

Based upon comments from various lgbt activists which he freely distorts, Barber spins the old religious right horror story that we are out to put folks like him in jail or take away their freedoms.

One of the folks whose words Barber distorts happens to be Chai Feldblum, head of the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission:

Chai Feldblum is a lesbian activist and sexual nihilist lawyer who, in the past, has publicly supported legalized polygamy and bisexual polyamory. She is Obama’s recess-appointed commissioner to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). As ENDA’s chief framer, Ms. Feldblum would be charged with its primary enforcement. This is the classic fox-guarding-the-hen-house scenario.

In the past, Ms. Feldblum has repeatedly and candidly summed up the mindset behind the bill. She has publicly stated that the battle between religious freedom and unfettered sexual license (aka “gay rights”) is a “zero-sum game,” meaning the two cannot possibly coexist in harmony. It’s a “winner takes all” approach.

When asked about the Christian business owner or religious organization that morally objects to hiring people openly engaged in the homosexual lifestyle, Ms. Feldblum snapped: “Gays win, Christians lose.” And where Americans’ constitutionally guaranteed right to religious liberty comes into conflict with the postmodern concept of homosexual “rights,” Ms. Feldblum has admitted having “a hard time coming up with any case in which religious liberty should win.”

First of all, Feldblum does not support legalized polygamy or "bisexual polyamory." And I doubt she is a "sexual nihilist," whatever that is.

Secondly, let's look at her comment which Barber skimmed. When one reads what she actually said, it is less intimidating than what Barber implies:

Ensuring that LGBT people can live honestly and safely in all aspects of their social lives requires that society set a baseline of non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. If individual business owners, service providers and employers could easily exempt themselves from such laws by making credible claims that their belief liberty is burdened by the law, LGBT people would remain constantly vulnerable to surprise discrimination. If I am denied a job, an apartment, a room at a hotel, a table at a restaurant or a procedure by a doctor because I am a lesbian, that is a deep, intense and tangible hurt. That hurt is not alleviated because I might be able to go down the street and get a job, an apartment, a hotel room, a restaurant table or a medical procedure from someone else. The assault to my dignity and my sense of safety in the world occurs when the initial denial happens. That assault is not mitigated by the fact that others might not treat me in the same way.

Thus, for all my sympathy for the evangelical Christian couple who may wish to run a bed and breakfast from which they can exclude unmarried straight couples and all gay couples, this is a point where I believe the “zero sum” nature of the game inevitably comes into play. And, in making the decision in this zero sum game, I am convinced society should come down on the side of protecting the liberty of LGBT people. Once an individual chooses to enter the stream of economic commerce by opening a commercial establishment, I believe it is legitimate to require that they play by certain rules. If the government tolerated the private exclusionary policies of such individuals in the commercial sector, such toleration would necessarily come at the cost of gay people’s sense of belonging and safety in society. Just as we do not tolerate private racial beliefs that adversely affect African-Americans in the commercial arena, even if such beliefs are based on religious views, we should similarly not tolerate private beliefs about sexual orientation and gender identity that adversely affect LGBT people.

In other words, Feldblum believes that a business should not be allowed to discriminate against lgbts no matter the so-called "deeply held personal beliefs" of the owner.

Thirdly, Feldblum never "snapped Gays win, Christians lose.” In fact, she never said it.  The claim that Feldblum said "gays win, Christians lose" is a lie which has been already debunked several times, including by yours truly in a post early last year.  In that post, I uncovered that the claim was derived from a deliberate twisting of her words from another religious right spokesperson.

Matt Barber has nothing to worry about because no one in this country can be criminalized or have their freedoms taken away for being a hypocritical liar or a so-and-so who distorts Christianity for their own selfish purposes.

Although he certainly makes a good case for such a criminalization, doesn't he?  (just kidding)

American Family Association's version of Christianity includes not correcting articles on Benghazi

Via it's supposed news site, One News Now, the American Family Association implies that it presents news from a "Christian point of view."

This of course means heavy on the anti-gay articles, as well as articles bashing Obama and featuring false claims of anti-Christian persecution.

But in its zeal, One News Now misses the irony of what it covers via its headlines. There are several stories talking about how Christians are being attacked and not allowed to express their faith without reprisal in this country:

In NY: Saying no to 'gay wedding' puts your business at risk 

Chaplains withdraw from, sue training program over alleged harassment 

 AFA honors vets, concerned over their religious liberty Persecution of Christians should concern all faiths

 It's rather telling that the headlines of the above article appear on the same page as the following:

 Florida community pushes back against Islam in school textbook 

In other words, let's not attack the Christians when the Muslims will do just nicely.

But nowhere is AFA's strange idea of "Christian point of view more evident than in its reporting of the latest Benghazi controversy.

For the edification of those who are not aware, 60 Minutes came out with a "shocking" new report regarding the Benghazi controversy which has plagued the Obama Administration. Supposedly the report poses new questions as to the Obama Administration's claims about the tragedy. That is until 60 Minutes was forced to backtrack last week because it turns out its source told huge lies about where he was on that awful night. The investigative reporter, Lara Logan, apologized and acknowledged that the source was not truthful. The article featuring this report has been pulled from CBS's webpage.

This new revelation has cast a serious pall over 60 Minutes' credibility everywhere, except on One News Now. AFA's news site continues to feature two articles published before the new revelations:

 Judicial Watch: '60 Minutes' stripped away lies about Benghazi attack  

Maginnis: Report on Benghazi attack proves Obama critics were right 

As of now, One News Now has yet to post any articles acknowledging the new revelations about the 60 Minutes Benghazi report.

And don't even bother to type in a correction on the comments section of the two articles above because both sections have been closed meaning you can't make a comment.

Now we all know that Jesus didn't say a word about homosexuality, but someone should inform One News Now and the AFA what He said about lying and bearing false witness.

'DO NOT follow Pat Robertson's advice about what to ask gay son' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Dear parents, if your son comes to you with the news that he is gay, do not - and I repeat - DO NOT do what Pat Robertson advises you to do in this clip:

 In other news: 

 Conservative Coalition: Repeal of California Transgender Student Rights Law Will Qualify for Ballot - Ugh. Prop 8 redux with some of the same nauseating players.

New Jersey Judge Upholds Ban On Ex-Gay Therapy For Minors - Sweet!! Good news out of New Jersey. 

TWO Launches New Website To Educate About Science and Sexual Orientation - As always, one of my mentors, Wayne Besen, and the folks of Truth Wins Out are ahead of the curve.  

NOM Sure Has A Lot Of Politicians to Hold Accountable - NOM loses again. Answers back with empty threats.