Mass Resistance's funny war against Massachusetts' lgbt community

While I love making fun of Peter LaBarbera's stridency when it comes to stigmatizing the lgbt community, he doesn't come close to what Mass Resistance does in Massachusetts.

Mass Resistance is the religious right group that's so strident, it has probably done more for the case of lgbt rights by alienating everyone in the state.

It's the group also behind the so-called Fistgate scandal as well as the David Parker controversy; two unfortunate moral panics and the reasons why my hit count has egrown.

You think LaBarbera goes out of his way to demonize lgbts via pictures and such? Please. Compared to Mass Resistance, he is just a child who is holding his first camera.

Mass Resistance routinely films and takes pictures of pro-lgbt events, especially those with high lgbt youth participation. The group places these films and tapes on its webpage with language so lurid and melodramatic that it would give V.C. Andrews pause.

A perfect example is the recent Massachusetts Youth Parade the group attended:

Kids (below) using the excitement of public parade to show the world how they've "come out" as homosexual, thanks to hardcore activists in the schools. This is very sad to see.

Sounds terrible but I ask you, whats wrong with the following pictures (just some on the webpage that Mass Resistance shows as proof of the so-called indoctrination of children):





How dare these gay children hold hands with their partners in the daylight hours! Someone call the Attorney General.

Mass Resistance's ramblings gets worse. Apparently there was a prom held for lgbt youth. Mass Resistance called it a "transgender prom," but knowing the group's love of hyperbole, I don't trust their description.

Mass Resistance took pictures of attendees doing nothing wrong, added lurid and insulting captions to the pictures, and made unproven charges, such as claiming that the participants were smoking marijuana.

The page is here for your perusal and amusement.

Mass Resistance has also published an "report" by an unknown, unnamed college student named "Max" who allegedly attended the event on their behalf. Of course he had nothing positive to say:

"I remained in the building for an hour and a half and found the events inside disturbing, depraved and outright criminal."

. . . This “prom” was a recruiting propaganda event. The middle-aged fetishists handing out cards, the adult transsexuals dancing with underage school kids, the lack of supervision on the part of the organizers accomplished one goal and one goal only: to recruit as many teenagers as possible to the homosexual cause.

The homosexual cause is a cult. The people with the megaphones, covered in homosexual rainbow livery screamed about “gay pride” and “unity” as tourists walked by on that warm Saturday night. It was clear that the goal of this movement, just like that of any other cult, is to isolate kids from the rest of society, their parents and their friends, leaving them with only one option: to join the gay cause.

Damn, if only I could write fiction as good as "Max."

The lgbt community in Massachusetts have long gotten used to the exploits of Mass Resistance. They treat the group like an ugly birthmark; it's there, it's unsightly, but it causes no harm.

But while you are laughing, remember something. It's bullshit like that which make it so hard for our lgbt children to be open and honest. Yesterday, I talked about how the religious right are attacking GLSEN's Kevin Jennings for not betraying the trust of a gay youth who told him about a relationship with an older person. The talking point was that Jennings should have alerted the police and the child's parents.

And while religious groups want to read Jennings the riot act for that 1988 incident, none are saying a word about Mass Resistance attacking lgbt youth. In fact, one religious right figure (Peter LaBarbera of course) is presenting Mass Resistance's nonsense front and center on his webpage while adding a bit of hyperbole of his own.

I betcha that LaBarbera and Mass Resistance would give Hansel and Gretel hell for not letting the witch eat them.

Thursday midday news briefs

Those who followed my last post by now know that the discussion between me and the "sanctified lady with the stripper hat" has taken a weird turn.

She pulled the "gay sex is harmful and gay men eat feces" card out of her stripper hat. Yeah, she went there.

So subsequently, after informing girlfriend as to how her comments are no different than those of racists against black folks, I have decided to stop responding to her nonsense. I figure I got my points across and her comments accentuate my points.

Anyway, on to news briefs:

Five alternatives to another LGBT March on Washington - a good post from a good friend Matt Comer (the guy in the picture with me) via Pams House Blend.

Lesbian senator votes against Jesse Helms resolution - Alright, girlfriend!

Gay and Lesbian Adults More Likely to Read Blogs and Use Social Networking Tools - I sincerely hope so! I've been at this thing for almost three years and my face, hair, and nonexistent social life have been suffering serious neglect.

Why Miss California really got fired - Parts 1, 2, and 3 - I know, I know. I am SUCH a tool. But this needs to be shown because you just know that NOM and company are going to make Prejean into a martyr:

Me and my reprobate mind - responses to my column on lgbts of color

Tomorrow will be the last day that my column will be on the State newspaper's online EXTRA opinion webpage.

Surprisingly, the responses have been very positive.

I was given a lot of kudos for what I wrote. And many good discussions took place.

At my job, a lot of folks gave me support. Even those who may haved disagreed with my column respected me for being honest. It reminds me about just how limited folks are when they try to predict how African-Americans behave regarding lgbt issues.

The main thing is not religious disagreement but a lack of information. The fact of the matter is that many African-Americans are not educated about lgbts of color and the gay community in general. When we are able to break through that wall of ignorance, people will realize that black folks aren't monolithic when it comes to lgbt rights

However . . .

There is always some silly people who show their asses. And there was one in an AOL forum. I submitted my columns to several African-American forums on AOL, including a religious forum because I felt that this is a religious issue. This is the one response I received from a young woman:

I live in NYC.

See them every day, insecure and disgusted with themselves....

I don't need to be reminded.

My reply:

Well I don't know about New York but I know that if your own people are stabbing you in the back, you aren't inclined to feel good about yourself.

Still homosexuality is a black issue. And lgbts of color deserve as much dignity and respect as other facets of the black community.

Her two responses to me and another person who called her out on being so negative:

1. I was only concerned for a minute.

Go on to hell as you've decided to do.

If the LORD can't reach you, I can't either.....

And that goes for every confused unhappy homosexual practitioner who has turned away from GOD.

HE's turned you over to your own reprobate spirit.....

Have fun while you can.

2. My people are the people of the ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD. Those are my brothers and sisters in CHRIST.

Homosexual practitioners are not part of that group.

My response to her nonsense:

Well you have a right to your belief my friend.

But until there is any holy book (Bible or otherwise) that say you sit on the right hand of God, I will think of your belief simply as your opinion. None of us are God so it is no one's place to condemn someone to hell.

This is the main reason why us black folks can't have a simple discussion on important issues like these.

Like I said before, we have to break through the ignorance. And it seems to be like horse manure in a stable - knee deep.

Attacks on Kevin Jennings sleazy, un-Christian

Yeah, yeah I know. Donald Trump fired Carrie Prejean as Miss California.

Cue the violins already.

But while a lot of eyes will no doubt be on that, the religious right have turned their war against GLSEN founder Kevin Jennings up a notch.

Ever since Jennings, founder of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), was appointed by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to be Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, religious right groups, bloggers, columnists, and spokespersons have been impugning him and the reputation of GLSEN.

Now the Family Research Council has sent out an email blast asking that folks tell Duncan to remove Jennings from office.

The charges lodged against Jennings have ranked from ridiculous to disgusting:

Jennings uses profanity

Big deal. Based on the audio tapes of former President Richard Nixon and what we know about former President Harry S. Truman, Jennings's use of profanity qualifies him as presidential material.

Jennings is prejudiced against religious conservatives.

Well not all religious conservatives. He only dislikes the ones who stigmatizes the lgbt community via lies, discredited studies, and anecdotes and legitimate studies taken out of context.

Jennings and GLSEN oversaw a conference where children were "instructed" how to have gay sex.

As I have said repeatedly, other than helping to sponsor this conference, neither Jennings nor GLSEN had anything to do with the alleged incident. Also because of illegal taping by a religious right group, a moderator lost her job. However, she was fully exonerated, rehired, and given back pay. In addition, the audio tape that supposedly proved the case against the conference was called misleading.

Jennings talked about counseling a high school student who was in a relationship with an older man. However, he did not alert the authorities or the child's parents.

This is from the FRC email I received:

Jennings has spoken publicly about a high school student he once counseled who was in a sexual relationship with an older man -- yet Jennings never reported this abuse to the authorities, the school, or the child's parents.

I've heard this claim made by various religious right sources and they are all vague on the incident. Through some digging, here is what I found out.

The alleged incident came from One in Ten: Gay and Lesbian Educators Tell Their Stories. Jennings was recounting an incident in 1988:

I remember Brewster, a sophomore boy who I came to know in 1987, my first year of teaching at Concord Academy, in Concord, Massachusetts. Brewster was a charming but troubled kid. His grades didn't match up with his potential, his attendance could be irregular, and he often seemed a little out of it. He was clearly using some substance regularly, and was not very happy with himself. But I didn't have a clue as to why--at least not at first.

. . . Toward the end of my first year, during the spring of 1988, Brewster appeared in my office in the tow of one of my advisees, a wonderful young woman to whom I had been "out" for a long time.

"Brewster has something he needs to talk with you about," she intoned ominously. Brewster squirmed at the prospect of telling, and we sat silently for a short while. On a hunch, I suddenly asked "What's his name?" Brewster's eyes widened briefly, and then out spilled a story about his involvement with an older man he had met in Boston. I listened, sympathized, and offered advice. He left my office with a smile on his face that I would see every time I saw him on the campus for the next two years, until he graduated.

. . . I remember April 3, 1993, when I went to Club Cafe, a gay restaurant in Boston, for the annual awards dinner of the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights. An organization I had helped found, GLSTN (the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network), was being honored that night, and I had come to accept the award on our behalf. I sat with some friends, my back to the center of the room, and soon got engaged in conversation. From behind me, I heard a familiar voice. "Care for a drink, sir?"

I turned and it was Brewster. Shocked, we were both speechless for a moment, before we hugged each other and caught up. He was now twenty-two, taking time off from college, and living with his boyfriend. His smile showed that he had found his way to a happy adulthood. In that moment, I remembered why I had gone into teaching in the first place.

So should Jennings have alerted the police and Brewster's parents?

I honestly don't know. It's a judgment call.

He only knew what Brewster had told him and didn't see any particulars. Also, 1987 was a different time when it came to lgbs. I attended high school back then and I remember that even a notion that you were gay would warrant a "beatdown."

And who knows what would have happened to Brewster? Would he have been angry at Jennings for betraying his trust? Would his parents have kicked him out for the alleged relationship? Would Brewster have gotten so depressed that he would contemplate suicide?

Jennings was in a touchy situation and he choose to act in a way that he felt would best benefit Brewster.

But here is the one thing I am sure of.

If anyone read the Jennings excerpt or the entire book in general with more in mind than scandalizing someone, they would truly understand why Jenning did what he did.

When I read the Jennings excerpt, I see a young man wanting to reach out to lgbt children and counsel them when they are going through the same hell he did as a child. He made a judgment call. That's something we all do from time to time.

And I see that there is a serious problem facing our lgbt children when they come out to an unsupportive world. It's the same thing Jennings saw, which was the reason he founded GLSEN.

In the long run, FRC and others who use the Brewster incident to demonize Jennings are proving that they don't really care about Brewster or any other lgbt child having to deal with potential violence and isolation because of their sexual orientation.

They only care about their agenda.

And to me, that's the real crime.

More on the Kevin Jennings, GLSEN situation:

'Fistgate' and President Obama - religious right pushes a pitiful attempt of guilt by association

More right wing lunacy on Kevin Jennings courtesy of Kevin McCullough

More attacks on GLSEN'S Kevin Jennings - Now the Family Research Council gets in the act

Wednesday midday news briefs

In economic downturns, anti-gay wrath seems to be the one sure bet - Hey American Family Association, I am a "radical gay activist." If I start a company, could I get you to boycott. It would be good for business.

Exclusive: 'Pregnant Man' Gives Birth to Second Child - Wait for it. The religious right will soon have a fit. I know they are foaming at the mouth at Free Republic.

NC: Stop the bullying - the School Violence Prevention Act heads to final House vote - Let's keep our fingers crossed on this one.

Woman launches legal battle after son is placed with gay foster parents - This article cheeses me off. If this woman doesn't want her son placed with gay foster parents then perhaps she should step up and take care of him herself.

GLSEN founder -- suitable for Safe Schools leader? - And the religious right continues to attack Kevin Jennings. I envision "that letter" asking President Obama to dismiss Jennings to come any day now. I will be paying attention if this story continues.

Something guaranteed to piss you off - The sequel

Months ago, I wrote a post bringing attention to a repulsive anti-gay comic book that masqueraded as correct information regarding the lgbt community.

It was a 1986 comic was created by a man named Dick Hafer.

Well the site which featured the comic book has found yet another one by Hafer and it's just as nasty, probably more repulsive. It was created just as AIDS came on the scene. Notice how the work of discredited researcher Paul Cameron is cited:







The webpage featuring this comic is not anti-gay. It's a site that looks at "problem-based comics" from the past.

But it is still an excellent look at the past of anti-gay activism and we must ask ourselves (yet again) are the messages we get from the religious right today really any different from the ones Hafer threw out?

Reposting of two entries: Matt Barber's lies and the attacks on GLSEN

Was Matt Barber's story about roaming gay hands in the military truthful? I doubt it

Something I read this morning has been bugging me so much that I have to post about it.

Anti-gay spokesperson Matt Barber wrote a press release patting the U.S. Supreme Court on the back for its recent decision not to hear a case challenging Don't Ask, Don't Tell - the policy of gays in the military.

Now in this piece, Barber says the following:

I served twelve years in the Army National Guard. During basic training a young man who later turned out to be homosexual was discharged after making unwanted advances toward other soldiers and for inappropriately touching several while they slept in the barracks.“A lengthy investigation ensued. Troops were pulled away from their regular training to answer questions. It was a tremendous distraction for our entire platoon. This incident most definitely disrupted unit cohesion and harmed troop morale.

I have a serious problem believing Barber's story and here's why:

The one thing I know about Barber is that he never misses a chance to attack the lgbt community on our supposed wrongs and proclivities. His entire career has been built on being a phony martyr of the alleged gay agenda.

But to my knowledge, this is the first time I have ever heard him recount this story. I find it hard to believe that Barber would let such an juicy anti-gay anecdote be unheard until now.

And the ironic thing is that Barber is quoted repeating the alleged incident in a One News Now article which also quotes Elaine Donnelly. Donnelly is the head of a the Center for Military Readiness and has been vocal with attacking the concept of gays in the military.

The question I have is where was Barber and this story last year when Donnelly was figuratively and deservedly butchered in front of a Congressional committee last year for her abysmal testimony against allowing gays in the military.

You will remember that one example she cited about an alleged incident in 1974 concerning a white female who was accosted by a group of lesbians.Why didn't Barber supply her with his incident, which would have been a more up-to-date story.

Let me first apologize if the concerns I have relayed are inaccurate.

But for now, I think that Barber's story of roaming gay hands in the military is a vague and skillful lie.


More attacks on GLSEN'S Kevin Jennings - Now the Family Research Council gets in the act

While the lgbt community is distracted by marriage equality, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and anger at President Obama, the religious right is attempting to play the death of a thousand cuts game on GLSEN's Kevin Jennings

There seems to be an attempt to create a rising storm regarding President Obama's pick of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) founder Kevin Jennings as Assistant Deputy Secretary in the Office of Safe Schools.

The religious right have been steadily attempting to portray Jennings as a danger to children and another cog in the so-called gay conspiracy to indoctrinate children.

The usual characters, Peter LaBarbera, Linda Harvey, and One News Now, have already cast Jennings as some sort of psychological lamia out to strip children of their innocence.

Now the Family Research Council via its blog has gotten into the act.

Let's look at the group's claims:

View of Christians

Addressing a church audience on March 20, 2000 in New York City — just days before “Fistgate” — GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings offered a stinging (and quite intolerant) assessment of how to deal with religious conservatives:

Twenty percent of people are hard-core fair-minded [pro-homosexual] people. Twenty percent are hard-core [anti-homosexual] bigots. We need to ignore the hard-core bigots, get more of the hard-core fair-minded people to speak up, and we’ll pull that 60 percent [of people in the middle] … over to our side. That’s really what I think our strategy has to be. We have to quit being afraid of the religious right. We also have to quit — … I’m trying to find a way to say this. I’m trying not to say, ‘[F---] ‘em!’ which is what I want to say, because I don’t care what they think! [audience laughter] Drop dead! It should be noted that GLSEN and Jennings make heavy use of the words “respect” and “tolerance” in their public rhetoric and in descriptions of their programs.

The claim that Jennings is bigoted towards Christians is debatably inaccurate. The quote says nothing about Christians, but rather some folks who oppose lgbt equality.

And based on how these individuals and organizations have opposed lgbt equality in the past, Jennings has a point with his comments.

However that is not the point. FRC tries to imply that Jennings is bigoted towards Christians much like a racist would be bigoted towards African-Americans. And the quote the organization uses just doesn't justify that implication, despite the profanity used by Jennings.

You will notice that the example mentioned "fistgate." FRC's blog goes into detail about this alleged incident further down:

GLSEN and “Fistgate

”GLSEN, which promotes homosexual clubs and the homosexual lifestyle in high schools, middle schools and grade schools and is the driving force behind the annual “Day of Silence” celebration of homosexuality“

The most notorious education scandal involving homosexual activists is a GLSEN sponsored conference that occurred on March 25, 2000, dubbed ‘Fistgate’ by conservatives. Three homosexual activists employed by the Massachusetts Departments of Health and Education led a youth workshop titled ‘What They Didn’t Tell You about Queer Sex & Sexuality in Health Class’ — part of the annual Boston-GLSEN ‘Teach Out’ conference held at Tufts University. The ‘Queer Sex’ session, advertised to ‘youth only ages 14 to 21,’ was attended by Massachusetts family advocate Scott Whitemen, who taped it while standing in the back of the room.In the workshop, instructor Michael Gaucher, prompted by a teen’s question, verbally guided the students on the mechanics of ‘fisting’ — a homosexual slang term for a sadistic sex act in which a man inserts his hand and arm into another person’s anal cavity.

Another instructor, Margot Abels, said fisting ‘often gets a really bad rap,’ and described it innocuously as ‘an experience of letting somebody into your body that you want to be that close and intimate with.’ Abels and Gaucher also guided the students on techniques of oral sodomy and lesbian sex.”

"Fistgate," which I have talked about repeatedly, is one of those phony moral panics created by Massachusetts religious right group Mass Resistance. The group illegally entered and taped a discussion from a Massachusetts state conference on teens and sexual behavior.

My take on the so-called controversy is here.

But the most important thing about this situation regarding Jennings and GLSEN is other than helping to sponsor the conference, neither Jennings nor GLSEN had anything to do with the questions asked or the controversy that took place because of it.

One last point I want to make:

On Statutory Rape

‘In his own writings and books listed on the GLSEN [Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network] Website, I’ve reported, Kevin Jennings has given tacit nods of approval to sex between young teens and adults,’ (Linda) Harvey told WND. ‘In addition to that, the writings and books, many of which I’ve read and are incredibly graphic, seem to normalize early teen same-sex sexual behaviors.’

As I have said so many times before, Linda Harvey is a phony expert. She is the founder of Mission America and a former ad executive who became "born again." She has no credentials or expertise.

She also has a very, very negative view of anyone who is lgbt supportive. This is what she said three years ago:

When people have views supporting homosexuality, they should not be involved with youth in any way, period. Because they:
will provide inaccurate, misleading information to kids;
may limit a student's opportunity to hear warnings about the behavior;
may advocate or model inappropriate behavior;
may be directly involved in the molestation of kids themselves;
or may be in a position to allow others to do so.

I think it's safe to say that Harvey is not a credible source of information regarding lgbts.

The attacks on Jennings is important because they are taking place while the lgbt community is distracted with marriage equality, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and our anger at President Obama for allegedly not moving fast enough on our issues.

How long will it be before a letter signed by several religious right groups asking for Jennings's removal goes out to the media?

We had better get on the ball with this before we are caught with our pants down.

Past writings on the religious right attacks on Jennings and GLSEN:

'Fistgate' and President Obama - religious right pushes a pitiful attempt of guilt by association

More right wing lunacy on Kevin Jennings courtesy of Kevin McCullough