Commentator on Pam's House Blend demonstrates a perfect smack down

I read something today on Pam's House Blend that was so awesome that I just have to spotlight it on this blog.

Apparently former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum wrote some ridiculous screed about Proposition 8 in California. Other than the usual tired "those who support traditional marriage will now be looked at as bigots" whine that Maggie Gallagher uses constantly, Santorum also said the following:

What happens if we permit this tiny minority to reshape marriage? The next step is to use the new law to suppress the liberties of Christians. Already:

* A Christian adoption agency--Catholic Charities!--has been shut down by the government because it will not do adoptions for gay married couples

* A volunteer fireman, who risked his life to rescue friends and neighbors in need, was told his services were no longer wanted--because he signed a petition supporting marriage as the union of husband and wife.

* A father was arrested for trying to prevent a public school from teaching his son that gay marriage is normal.

* In New Jersey, a Methodist organization just lost part of its state tax exemption because it refused to permit civil union ceremonies on church-owned property.

This is an old but effective anti-gay industry tactic: distort current events to demonstrate how the lgbt community wants to silence Christians.

Well a commentator on Pam's House Blend, cindik, took it upon herself to break down these stories. And in doing so, she demonstrates the correct way to fight the anti-gay industry. When they distort, show the truth and back it up. I hope Pam will forgive me but I want to post cindik's comment. It's too awesome for words:

* A Christian adoption agency--Catholic Charities!--has been shut down by the government because it will not do adoptions for gay married couples

At least he's specific about the charity, but which government? And how did they shut it down?

The Boston Archdiocese's Catholic Charities said Friday it would stop providing adoption services because of a state law allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children. - CBS news

That's right, Boston's Catholic Charities decided to end their services because of a state law that required organizations that received state funds to not discriminate against gay and lesbian people.

* A volunteer fireman, who risked his life to rescue friends and neighbors in need, was told his services were no longer wanted--because he signed a petition supporting marriage as the union of husband and wife.

This is very sketchy. Who is this guy? Where was he volunteering?

It turns out that volunteer fireman Leo ''Skip'' Childs was not chosen for a vacancy on the Truro, MA board of fire engineers and they instead chose one of the other candidates they interviewed, Jeff Perry. A former selectman for he town, Paul Asher-Best, apparently was against choosing Childs because Childs had signed a petition against same sex marriage in Massachusetts. Cape Cod Times

So the opinion of the selectmen was to choose another person for the board, perhaps in part due to the fireman's endorsement of a measure to go against the state's Supreme Court ruling on the rights of others.

* A father was arrested for trying to prevent a public school from teaching his son that gay marriage is normal.

Rick, Rick, Rick. Can you be more vague?

Parker and his wife, Tonia, 34, who was also in court yesterday, said the dispute arose because they asked school officials to notify them about classroom discussions about same-sex marriage and what they called other adult themes. They also wanted the option to exclude their boy, now 6, from those talks.

Parker said he met with school officials to gain those assurances and then refused to leave until he got them. Parker stayed at Estabrook School for more than two hours, according to Superintendent William J. Hurley, as officials and Lexington police urged him to leave. Finally, they arrested him for trespassing.- Boston Globe

And incorrect, it turns out. He wasn't arrested for trying to prevent his child from being taught that same-sex marriage is normal, he was arrested for refusing to leave the school.

* In New Jersey, a Methodist organization just lost part of its state tax exemption because it refused to permit civil union ceremonies on church-owned property.

Kudos, Mr. Santorum. You identified the state, the denomination, and the loss (partial tax exemption).

Of course, it wasn't a religious tax exemption, as one might have incorrectly inferred from Mr. Santorum's omission of detail. It was a tax from the New Jersey EPA for having a green space open to the public.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday denied a Methodist organization's request to continue getting tax breaks for a public pavilion in Ocean Grove, N.J., where it allows weddings but not same-sex civil-union ceremonies.

The state ruled that the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association's space, formerly tax-exempt under New Jersey's Green Acres Program, is not eligible for tax breaks because it is no longer open to all members of the public.- Gay.Com

It also turns out that LGBT-owned businesses were a big part of the revival of the area, which is still owned by a Methodist organization. - New York Times

And the financial impact? About $175/year.

So these aren't outright lies, but they are vague, misleading anecdotes. Hey, I have an idea - what if we start a new trend? We could change "rickrolling" to mean a link to a video of Rick Santorum saying something misleading.

Alright cindik! You better work it, girl!!!

The difference between good news and propaganda

How sweet is this:

Openly gay Democrat Mike Colona won the Missouri State Democratic primary for St. Louis Tuesday night. With no Republican opponent to face in the fall he will head straight to the state House.

Naturally some folks aren't exactly happy about Colona's victory:

An openly homosexual attorney, who previously did legal work for a homosexual pornographer, has been elected to the Missouri legislature. - Homosexual politician running unopposed in Missouri

Believe it or not, One News Now is actually correct on this score. Colona does have ties to the adult industry via his law practice.

Of course One News Now didn't go into detail about this. Leave it to my favorite phony news site to not only miss the entire story, but use the opportunity to give our friend Peter LaBarbera room to gripe:

Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, does not know which is worse -- the fact that Colona openly campaigned as a homosexual, or that Democrats knowingly supported a former attorney for a homosexual pornographer.

"[T]his guy got endorsed by the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, NARAL, the leading pro-abortion group in the country," says LaBarbera. "...I think the sad thing is the Democratic Party is becoming the home of the most immoral politicians and candidates in the country."

Colona defended his work as the "Custodian of Records" for a homosexual porn website during the campaign, claiming that he was "keeping kids safe." LaBarbera's response? "You've got to love a politician's ability to always put a friendly spin on something, even something as nasty as being the lawyer for a homosexual porn outfit."

This is the actual story:

When a porn producer contributed to his campaign, Colona admitted to advising him. His role, he said, was limited to ensuring no minors were used in any porn production.

Some voters felt Colona must have been hiding something when several adult websites removed his name as the holder of records. “Resource for parents, so that's the spin? He works with these companies as a social service? That is a pathetic justification for a whore for hire!!!” wrote an anonymous commenter who listed fifteen websites with Colona's name as evidence of his participation in the industry.

Colona, however, continued to win endorsements – including the State Police Association and St. Louis Police Officers Association – and ultimately the Democratic primary.

A lawyer advising a client? Someone call the U. S. Attorney General!!!

I don't know what I love the most: the fact that a gay man was elected to public office or the fact that it is driving the anti-gay industry nuts.

And speaking of gay folks winning elections, I would be remiss if I did not mention:

Internet businessman Jared Polis beat two opponents in the 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary after pouring a record amount of his own money into a bitter and hard-fought race.

If Polis, 33, wins in November he would become one of the richest members of Congress. And he would be among only a handful of openly gay members and the first from Colorado.

I can just imagine James Dobson shaking in his shoes. It must be my birthday.

It's Tuesday so forgive my tangent

I am enjoying the Olympics. In a perfect world, Michael Phelps would be one of my concubines.

Yeah, I know. I generally don't go for pretty boys but he is such a good son to his mother.

And you know us mama's boys have got to stick together.

One problem I do have with the Olympics are the damned swimsuits. What hell are those one-piece long things they are wearing now?

Whatever happened to the good old days when all male swimmers wore speedos? Hell, if the suits are going to be that long, can they at least be white?

I'm with Huffington Post writer Karen Tanabe on this one:

It's called the Speedo LZR Racer. Credited with dozens of world records, it's not sewn but welded together, was engineered by NASA, produces 38% less hydrodynamic drag than a normal bathing suit, covers from ankle to neck and has all but ruined my favorite spectator sport since I could say "libido": men's swimming.

You have to forgive me but I have special memories that I cherish from the 1984 Olympics. That was when I first began to realize my gay orientation and my gaydar at the same time via two words:

Greg Louganis.

Seriously though, I love how this country develops new sports heroes during the Olympic Games.

I had never heard of Michael Phelps before this week. Nor any of the other swimmers.

And when the track and field time rolls around, I know I will have new heroes.

The only one I am aware of now is Tyson Homosexual.

I mean Tyson Gay. Come on, you know I had to work in an anti-gay industry dig in there.

And speaking of my favorite phony news service, it seems that One News Now has eliminated its comments section.

Now some may say that us "radical gay activists" caused this to happen due to our "jamming" of the comments section, but I disagree.

My belief is that One News Now doesn't want anyone the mindsets of those who read and agree with their articles.

And based on some of their comments, I would be ashamed too.

I am upset though. Reading those comments was half the fun of the site.

Whatever shall I do for fun now?

I would join free republic and post some comments there except for one thing.

The folks on that site are nuts. They would scare Freddy Krueger.

How to connect gays and pedophilia without any proof

For the past few posts, I have been on a tear against AFA's One News Now.

But in my defense, the phony news site makes it so easy.

And before today, I feel safe in saying that One News Now has just posted the most outrageous article I have ever seen.

To give the full gist of what I am talking about, I am going to post the entire thing. (I would link it but the lovely folks at One News Now have now rickrolled all of my links from its site. The joke's on them though. Redhaired men are my weakness):

Is the U.N. advocating homosexuality and pedophilia?

Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow - 8/11/2008 8:00:00 AM

The United Nations has granted consultative status to two homosexual activist groups.

For at least a decade now, activist groups have hammered away at the United Nations for recognition -- and they have finally won. Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel finds that unacceptable. "They are associated with pedophile groups like NAMBLA and others, and have advocated lowering the age of consent to levels that would essentially foster pedophilia," he explains.

Barber believes it is wrong to equate homosexual behavior with the color of one's skin, or their gender, and give them special status. "For the U.N. to side with radical homosexual activists, in this case, has only served to further discredit the U.N., and I think it's problematic in further damaging their reputation," he contends.

Activists, according to Barber, will be trying to use the United Nations and the International Court to force their agenda on an international level, including imposing it on Christians who believe homosexuality is a sin.

That's the entire article. No, I did not omit a thing.

The article has absolutely nothing to do with pedophilia, save one ridiculous comment from Matt Barber.

Barber doesn't even make a strong connection between the alleged "homosexual activist groups" and pedophilia.

Hell, we don't even know the names of the two groups.

One News Now, in pursuit of its Bizarro world of credible journalism, is accusing the United Nations of advocating pedophilia just because it gave two gay groups consultative status.

And to compound its error, One News Now lodges the accusation without a: giving the names of the groups and b: showing how the groups advocate pedophilia.

It all goes to prove that if journalistic integrity was dynamite, One News Now wouldn't have enough to blow the wings off of a gnat.


Yeah, I am going to knock out that messenger

Last week, Peter LaBarbera posted more x-rated pictures from Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco (which I will not link to.)

Apparently he did so because a supposed ally called him the carpet for posting his first batch of pictures.

Well today, he claims that he got some positive responses:

While our pathetically predictable homosexual critics played their usual game of “Kill the Messenger” (us), even AFTAH readers — far better informed on the homosexual agenda and GLBT lifestyles than most Americans — were stunned by the public depravities.

I hope that comment was partly directed towards me. The Peter and I argued via email almost the entire weekend about his need demonize the lgbt community through dirty pictures.

I am sure that others gave him hell (as they should have) for his actions. But I am extremely proud of some of the things I wrote him:

The way you presented those pictures do give the connotation that all gays partake in that sort of thing. You NEVER made it clear that you were not talking about all lgbts.

You go to a subcultural festival that, from what I understand also includes heterosexuals, infer it is indicative of the gay entire community and then turn around and say that it was not your intent to do so?

And your words to me further prove how you lie. - "It's a part of your movement."

What is that supposed to mean?

If you want to see a part of MY movement (because you see, I have never been to Folsom), I suggest you spend time with a same-sex led family as they try raise their children in the face of lies like you perpetrate. See the love and support they give to their children.

Go to the streets and see those innocent lgbt children who have been kicked out of their homes because their so-called Christian families have mindsets like yours.

Or better yet, since you love "parades" so much, come down to South Carolina Gay Pride that will be happening on Sept. 20 and feel free to take pictures. I should warn you that we don't do any of that wild stuff you saw in San Francisco, so you probably won't have anything to post to your site.

But you won't do any of this stuff, will you Peter. Reality would ruin the image you are trying to create.

You are a sad messenger. And as a Christian, you are even worse.

If you just relied on Biblical interpretations regarding homosexuality, you would be safe in expressing your opinion. But like Paul Cameron, you add incorrect ugly details. Why? Because you don't trust your own Biblical beliefs regarding homosexuality.

I remember what you said in that "War on Christians and Values Voters" convention in 2006 when you told folks to "bring shame" to lgbts. In your view of a perfect world, when people think of homosexuality, you want them to connotate it with disease, wild sex, big men in leather looking to sneak into schools and rape children or classroom gerbils if the children aren't available, and women who place socks in their pants.

But I have news for you. Look around. No one is buying this image except maybe some of your hardcore supporters and white supremacy webpages (don't act shocked because I am sure you are aware of this)

I don't know you personally, but trust me when I say you really need to step back and look at yourself before you lose the little bit of credibility you do have.

As you can read, it was a really good weekend.

Gay genes and straw men - One News Now makes it so easy

A permissive tactic of the anti-gay industry is the straw man argument.

This is attributing a weak argument to the lgbt community so when said argument is refuted, they can point and say "see how the radical homosexuals can't give good arguments to justify their behavior."

For an example of this tactic, I turn to that "bastion of fairness," AFA's One News Now:

One of the untouchable dogmas of the homosexualist movement is the assertion of the existence of a "gay gene" -- or a genetic marker that causes same-sex attraction. The assertion of a genetic factor in homosexual preference has never been demonstrated by scientists, and now at least one prominent campaigner in the British homosexual movement has admitted this fact. - Homosexual activist admits there is no gay gene

No doubt, the anti-gay industry will be breaking out the champagne over this "discovery." I am sure that we will hear this "admittance" repeated as a talking point on anti-gay industry webpages, blogs, and by their spokespeople.

But there is one problem.

I love the clever way One News Now phrases the article's lead sentence: One of the untouchable dogmas of the homosexualist movement is the assertion of a "gay gene."

But who in our "movement" has ever said anything about a gay gene? Can One News Now be more specific about this?

Of course not. Per usual, they identify us as nameless, faceless hordes with nothing but mischeif on our minds:

Homosexual activists have adopted the "gay gene" theory to bolster their assertion that any objection on moral grounds to homosexual activity is akin to objecting to left-handedness or skin color. It has supported the accusation that Christians and others who object to the homosexual movement are racists and bigots.

There have been many studies on the root cause of homosexuality. Nothing concrete has ever been established, except for the fact that sexual orientation in general is too complex to be switched on and off like a light switch.

In fact, the "prominent campaigner" cited in the One News Now article, Peter Tatchell, even says this:

Sexuality, he wrote, is "far more ambiguous, blurred and overlapping than any theory of genetic causality can allow. Examples of sexual flexibility...don't square with genetic theories of rigid erotic predestination."

But far be it from One News Now to not take a gay man's words out of context. The phony news site seems to less concerned with being accurate and more concerned with dehumanizing lgbts and attributing every action we make as a part of some huge nefarious plan:

The "gay gene" theory has been used by homosexual activists "to deny choice, to make it appear that homosexuals cannot help it, and to argue that any criticism of the gay lifestyle is as silly as criticism of being left-handed or red-haired," says (Bill) Muehlenberg. "And this has been a deliberate strategy by homosexual activists. They have done a very good job to convince a gullible public that homosexuals are born that way and cannot change."

Business as usual indeed.

A little more about the McDonalds boycott

It IS a slow news day. I apologize for not having anything of interest to post. But I do want to leave you with this one very funny item:

Comedy Central's Jon Stewart took time to make light of the American Family Association's recent boycott of fast food giant McDonald's over a decision "not to remain neutral in the cultural war over homosexuality."

Quipped Stewart: "This is the first time you realized McDonald's was gay? Do you have a TV? Have you ever seen their ads?!"

On May 22, 2008, American Family Association chairman Donald Wildmon wrote to McDonald's USA, threatening the boycott in protest of the seating of their Vice President of Communications, Richard Ellis, on the Board of Directors of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, along with a $20,000 corporate donation to the organization.

More here, including the very funny clip.

Hateful video on youtube

From goodasyou.org comes this:

This video is clearly going to be pulled within hours, if not minutes. And that being the case, there are some of you who surely think we should just ignore rather than highlight it. However, we think it's very important for people to realize just how heated anti-gay bias still is among some American teens. The sort of heat that literally suggests gay people should be killed:

Is it wrong to be Gay? HELL YES IT IS!!!

You read that right. It is a nasty, vile video that needs to be gotten rid of. Expressing an anti-gay view is one thing. Advocating violence against lgbts (or any group of people) is just wrong.

Since I am a youtube member, I flagged the video and sent the authors a message telling them so. This is what I received as an answer:

pathetic a%* p#%(y who cant stand the fact that we're right.

How I hate to be beaten down with "intelligent repartee."

UPDATE - The video is gone!! Way to go, youtube.


Give it up, girlfriend!!!!

Elaine Donnelly seems to enjoy embarrassing herself.

Fresh from her recent humiliating performance in front of the Congressional committee looking at allowing gays to openly serve in the military, Donnelly posted the following mind-boggling piece of wannabe logic via our friend Peter LaBarbera:

I was prepared for and would have welcomed questions on the issue itself, but the unprofessional behavior of some members made serious discussion impossible.
All of this hostility actually proved the point I was trying to make: If Congress repeals the 1993 law stating that homosexuals are ineligible for military service, anyone who disagrees will face the presumption of “bigotry,” “homophobia,” or worse. Denied promotions will cause thousands of people to leave the volunteer force, or avoid it all together.

She is excluding a lot of her testimony, such as the part regarding gays and HIV or the alleged 1974 lesbian gang rape of a female soldier, or her claim about the transgender community.

Donnelly's attempts to play the victim can easily be refuted by anyone wanting to see the footage of her full testimony. She stunk, plain and simple.

I do like it when members of the anti-gay industry continuously run their heads into brick walls, but this is getting pathetic.

I'm actually starting to feel sorry for her.