Mark Sanford, Al Franken, religious right comments are going to make my head explode

At this rate, I am never going to post that piece on the American College of Pediatricians.

It's written and ready to go but I keep postponing it because of better posts.

Last night, it was the religious right's newest attack on Kevin Jennings. This morning, it was Peter LaBarbera's venture onto youtube (which by the way has a new update. Peter has turned coward and made the video private.)

And now, it's a multitude of stuff. I'm having an information overload.

First on the list is my philandering Governor Mark Sanford.

Just when I thought he couldn't make things worse for himself, he has an interview with the Associated Press which he reveals:

- His Argentine mistress is his "soulmate" but he is going to try and reconcile with his wife. I can hear Jenny Sanford putting the grits on the stove. If she calls asking you to come home Mark, you had better stay where you are.

- He not only met his mistress more times than he claimed but he also "crossed the line" with a few other women. However, Sanford says, he did not have sex with them.

What the hell does that mean?

And above it all, he keeps apologizing. Sanford doesn't have to apologize to me. I didn't vote for him. But then again, visions of him "doing the nasty" have invaded my sleep several times. So maybe I do want an apology.

This situation is worse than the Trent Lott apology tour after his comments at the late Strom Thurmond's birthday.

I'm convinced that Sanford is going way beyond trying to come clean. Mark Sanford is engaging in excruciating slow political suicide. Really, the entire thing left soap opera territory a long time ago.

Now we are steadily moving towards the territory of the torture porn movies that seem to be so popular nowadays.

We are now witnessing the political version of the movie "Saw."

How bad will it get? How long will it be before we start hearing about whips and chains and candle wax on the nipples?

And the other issues that are driving me crazy?

Senator Al Franken. Who would have thought? What's next? Governor Eddie Murphy?

Lastly, I hear that a bunch of religious right groups have formed into a single mindhead called the Freedom Foundation.

The usual cast of lying characters are there. It works for me personally. I like big targets when it comes to exposing liars.

I don't know what's worse; this silly group or the constituency of values it claims to represent. Check out these lovely comments from so-called Christian folks reacting to One News Now's article about the White House reception on Gay Pride Month:

The President cannot be a true Christian!

Obama is so anti-Christian that it's scary! He is fastly ripping this country to shreds and taking the foundation on which our country was built with him. We Christians have got to band together and stand up for what is right and Biblically sound to save us from ourselves! Too many people have lent their faith to a FOOL instead of relying on God. I believe Obama thinks he is a messiah, when in fact he is the Anti-Christ! Amen!!

It appears that Obama's main direction for his Administration is to do the work of satan. Don't know if Obama is even aware of this. So many things that he pushes/stands for are against Biblical Principles, God's instructions for us.

I think Obama "has issues" with America and is intentionally out to destroy it.

Why can't you see what Obama wants to do to this great nation. We will no longer be a nation where everybody else wants to live but where we are all trying to get away from. God made us a great nation and if we turn our back on God then He will turn His back on us and Satan will have his way with the United States.

The New World Order, where perversion is normal, normal is perverse, good is evil and evil good. And tolerance is praised and worshiped above all.

Nobama is a liar, a thief, a murderer, a sexual deviant, and an antichristian! Anyone who supports the evils Nobama is doing is guilty of the same sins Nobama is guilty of doing. It is one thing for a Christian to battle and fight against sin, but it is a totally different thing for someone to CLAIM to be a Christian then teach others to embrace and support sin. Anyone who thinks that a Christian can embrace and support the sin of homosexuality, and still CLAIM to be a Christian is not a TRUE CHRISTIAN at all! Be not deceived, GOD IS NOT MOCKED! Anyone practicing or supporting homosexuality is mocking God and spitting in God's face!!!

Obama is an example of what's wrong with American values. They've all sold their souls to Satan, yet many of them profess to be "Christian"...but in name only. An authentic Biblical Christian will yield only to God's laws and directives and not to the voice of a mere man...especially a personally and spiritually conflicted man as Obama. He does have an anti-christ spirit...it is way too obvious.

Tuesday midday news briefs

That didn't take long.

The comments and ratings for the Americans For Truth youtube video (talked about in this morning's post) have been disabled.

What's the matter, Peter? Did you expect to demonize lgbts without us registering some type of commentary on how you lie?

Also, the video has been viewed over 300 times and has received a rating of 1.

Good work folks!

On to newbriefs:

When do we think the AP will start caring about this? - Gasp! You mean One News Now likes to doctor Associated Press headlines? Why we must be on planet Earth.

Right Wing Hastens to Hold Up Gay Adoptive Dad, Alleged Pedophile, As Typical of All Gays - Paul Cameron is a sick sonofabitch. And this article proves it. My prayers go out to everyone in this situation, especially the child.

Labor Chief Deplores Defacing of Gay Pride Posters - Handle your business Mrs. Solis!!

POTUS to LGBT: "Welcome to Your White House" - Thank you for that, President Obama. Now how about backing up the speech.

Michigan: Kalamazoo approves inclusive anti-discrimination ordinance - Way to go Kalamazoo!

Peter LaBarbera 'enters the youtube era'

Again that piece on the American College of Pediatricians is going to have to wait because the following is just too juicy not to comment on:



Somedays I hate technology.

Like this morning for example when I logged onto the Americans for Truth webpage (some people drink coffee to wake up, I like to laugh) and saw that Peter LaBarbera has posted footage from the 2009 Chicago Pride on youtube.

Interestingly enough, unlike LaBarbera's past photo footage of prides, the Chicago event seems relatively tame.

LaBarbera even has to manufacture some ridiculous claim that gays marching in the parade are anti-police via footage of a sign by some of those marching. Of course LaBarbera didn't think to question those holding the sign as to what it meant.

I guess he figured why take a chance on ruining a good innuendo.

LaBarbera's "entry" into youtube has both negative and positive repercussions.

The negative being we can expect to see more footage from other events posted on youtube complete with LaBarbera's "editorial comment" and innuendo.

The positive repercussions are that now we have another avenue to point out LaBarbera's blatant homophobia. And we also have the opportunity to tell him know what we think about his demonization of the lgbt community via ratings and comments just like we did with NOM's "Gathering Storm."

That is until we scare him so bad that he disables both.

I say let's start now. I've already given my rating and comment.

UPDATE - First Peter disables the comments and ratings. Now he has made the video "private," which means it is only viewable to those he chooses to show it to. But you can still watch the monstrosity on youtube.

I view this as a success. We made him pull a full retreat. And please bear in mind that no one tried to keep him from showing his video. But if he is man enough to demonize the lgbt community videowise then he should be man enough to put up the comments and ratings. (Editor's note - By saying this, I am not defending any ugly or threatening comments directed towards LaBarbera.)

The religious right thinks that character assasination is a Christian virtue

That piece I was going to write, The American College of Pediatricians and the Laundering of Junk Science, is going to have to wait until tomorrow morning due to the above ad.

The Family Research Council have now pulled out the big guns in its pitiful attempt to get GLSEN founder Kevin Jennings removed as head of the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools at the Dept. of Education.

The organization has begun a huge campaign complete with a webpage along with the above monstrosity as an ad.

First it was the "Jennings is teaching our children how to have gay sex" lie. Then it was "Jennings did not report the sexual abuse of a child" lie. Now FRC is jumping on the reliable "Jennings is trying indocrinate America's children into homosexuality" lie.

Through this campaign, FRC is manipulating Jennings's words against him. Of course they are being taken out of context.

Jeremy from Goodasyou.org have broken down this lie in an excellent post.

Some of us may find the entire situation funny. However to me, it's disgusting that FRC is trying to destroy Jennings simply because he is a gay man who believes that lgbt children should be protected.

That's what this is all about. Jennings scares them.

Jennings is helping to create a world where lgbt children are not afraid to come out of the closet and heterosexuals are not afraid of lgbts.

In this world, fear and ignorance cannot take root.

And we all know that the religious right thrive on fear and ignorance. They rely on scaring America's families with lies that aggressive lgbts will be invading their homes and schools and snatching away their children like some boogieman in old fairy tales.

Jennings via his work with GLSEN reminds folks that this country and its schools belong to lgbts as well as heterosexuals. He reminds folks that we have families too and our families deserve protection and respect.

Let's not allow FRC to take Jennings down, PERIOD.

Other HB/HM posts on Kevin Jennings and the religious right:

The war against Kevin Jennings - now it's getting pathetic

Attacks on Kevin Jennings sleazy, un-Christian

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'

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

Monday midday newsbriefs

Stonewall In 2009? Police Raid Texas Gay Bar, Arrest Patrons for “Public Intoxication” - No "witty" comments from me until this situation is fully evaulated.

House Leaders Plot Gay Rights Agenda - It's about time.

Wingnuttery From WingNutDaily: "See the impact of 'birth certificate' billboards nationwide" - Shades of how Obama will most likely stay in office - lunacy on the other side.
Catholic agency to cease new adoptions over gay parents - The birth of a new religious right talking point - "gays made the agency do it."

Now because we all need fiber in our diets:

'Gays' in the military - bad idea then, bad idea now - I asked it a while ago and I will ask it now. How is that Barber didn't tell the story of the gay man with "roaming hands" before, especially when Elaine Donnelly got destroyed in front of Congress. The most she had was a specious anecdote from the 1970s. I don't believe Barber's anecdote.

One last thing - I am currently working on piece that I hope will be widely read. It gives a view on yet another way the religious right tries to push bad information.

It's called: The American College of Pediatricians and the Laundering of Junk Science.

I hope to have it done and posted by either this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

THIS is what happens when lgbts of color have visibility

The Proposition 8 vote is a perfect example of what happens when lgbts of color are not acknowleged as a crucial part of the lgbt struggle for equality.

I don't see a need to go into detail about it because unfortunately the speculation and opinions have done nothing as far as I am concerned.

It's a lot of talk but no action.

So instead, how about a demonstration of what happens when lgbts of color ARE in fact acknowledged:

According to an article in the American Prospect, lgbts of color are leading the fight for equality in Washington, D.C.

In doing so, they are not only getting things done but are serving as a huge roadblock against black pastor (and religious right flunky) Harry Jackson being designated as the "face of the anti-gay marriage movement:"

The anti-gay-rights movement has long sought to use the relative religiosity of the black community to marshal its support. Anti-marriage-equality leaders often cite the results of Proposition 8 in California, which was supported by a majority of African American voters in the state, as proof that the black community as a whole is against gay marriage.

In Washington, D.C., the anti-gay-rights movement attempted to put recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states to a citywide referendum (it was rejected by the Board of Elections and Ethics) hoping that the city's mostly black population would come out against it. This dynamic may explain why Bishop Harry Jackson, an African American religious leader, has been put forth as the face of the anti-gay-marriage movement.

There's only one problem: The face of LGBT leadership in D.C. is often black. Nationally, anti-gay-rights activists have had a great deal of success in encouraging black voters to oppose gay rights, partially because LGBT rights are seen -- incorrectly -- as a "white issue." But in Washington, D.C., the diverse composition of the marriage-equality movement means that marriage-equality activists don't have to "reach out" to the black community, because they're already part of it.

This should be a cover story of The Advocate instead of that ridiculously ludicrous monstrosity of Is Gay The New Black.

(My stomach hurts every time I think of that stupid, stupid, stupid headline.)

This article is a must read for all lgbt organizations, activists and wannabe lgbt activists from Michelangelo Signorile to Dan Savage to everyone else.

The link is here.


Hat tip to Box Turtle Bulletin for alerting me about this article.

Who's crazier? The church that tries to 'exorcise' homosexuality or those who would defend it?

By now, everyone has heard of the video of the Connecticut church that featured the so-called exorcism of a "homosexual spirit" from a 16-year-old child.

I posted youtube video of the incident a while back. It has since been removed but you know you can't keep something that good from being played in other mediums.

The church, Manifest Gloried Ministries, is an African-American church and that to me is one of the saddest things of all. It demonstrates just how removed the modern lgbt rights movement is from the lgbt of color community.

More infuriating than that are the comments made by the church's head Pastor Patricia McKinney, who was featured in the video supposedly exorcising the child:

"Manifested Glory Ministries is not against homosexuality. We do not hate them. We do not come up against them. We do just not believe in their lifestyle."

That's just the biggest degree of doublespeak since the term was invented. If the church has nothing against the lgbt community then why does it feel the need to think of homosexuality as a demonic spirit that needs to be exorcised?

But far be it from logic to be on the forefront of McKinney's mind. After all, she is "anointed" and "anointed people" don't need logic or common sense.

The church is now facing a lot of criticism. But they also have their defenders.

The Christian Anti-Defamation Commission is blaming the lgbt community for the entire incident. The group claimed that the church was merely exercising its religious beliefs and is now being persecuted:

CADC wants to know where is the tolerance for a church who tried to help a young man who freely asked for help to overcome homosexual temptations? No church deserves to be maligned for trying to help a troubled teen who asked for prayer.

Why are homosexuals so outraged?

Yeah why are we so outraged? How dare we complain of being thought of as Satanic spirits out to do mischief and cause harm. We just don't know our place. It needs to be nipped in the bud. The next thing you know, we will be defending ourselves when someone physically bashes us.

The Commission also says:

Because the video is being so widely viewed on the internet, homosexual activists have viciously attacked the church. These are the same people who demand tolerance for their sexual sin. But they have no tolerance for Christians who are practicing their Constitutional religious liberty. As far as we know, this young man went to church on his own prerogative and left the church unharmed.

By contrast, we know that homosexuals are allowed to participate in vile Gay Pride Parades and perverted fetish festivals on public property throughout the country. These events often involve criminally lewd and lascivious conduct that take place in the presence of children, yet they go unpunished.

I'm not even going to answer that silliness except for to say that not all gay pride parades are the same. Down here in South Carolina, our events are extremely family-friendly. But that is neither here nor there.

Really though, the justification by the Christian Anti-Defamation Comission of the church is just ridiculous. Any points it is trying to make is obscurred by the fact that THIS GROUP IS ACTUALLY DEFENDING A CHURCH FOR ATTEMPTING TO EXORCISE A 'HOMOSEXUAL DEMON' FROM A CHILD.

The only thing credible about the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission is its name. This is the same group that defended Paul Cameron and Scott Lively, two men who due to their intentional tendencies to tell lies on the lgbt community had their groups declared as official hate organizations by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The real sad story is the 16-year-old child who seems to think that his natural impulses and desires are the result of being possessed. He is a prime of example of what could happen to our lgbt children (particularly our lgbt children of color) when the right resources aren't made available to them.

If you ask me, I think demonic spirits may have something to do with that.

UPDATE - According to Rod 2.0 Beta, the child in the center of the controversy now attends an lgbt-affirming church. That is good news indeed!