Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Baptist minister: 'We need hunt-a-homo week'

Yesterday, I talked about the hilarity of homophobia.

Today, I'm taking a different tone.

The following is not an easy video to listen to, but it's necessary not only to the lgbt community, but for those who claim that we are being too pushy, that we are trying to "redefine" American values, that we hate Christianity, etc.

The video is an audio sermon by Shenandoah Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Owens. According to Dan Savage:

Jeff Owens "is a man of great expression, compassion, and wisdom," who currently leads the Shenandoah Bible Baptist Church, "one of America's most exciting churches," a church located in a part of West Virginia that serves as a suburb of Washington D.C. Pastor Owens is "a soulwinner, fervent preacher, and takes an uncompromising stand against sin; but the hallmark quality of Dr. Owens is his genuine love and concern for people." In this sermon Pastor Owens lovingly and compassionately calls on his flock to terrorize and murder gays and lesbians:

Shenandoah Baptist Church's Pastor Jeff Owens: BURN AND SHOOT FAGS! from Joe Jervis on Vimeo.

Among the highlights of this "lovely sermon" is the following:

"We need to stop burning flags and start burning fags. We need hunt-a-homo week. We need to take 'em all out and shoot 'em with a scatter shotgun"

Now a video of Owens's sermon was featured on youtube. Naturally it was taken down after its message became public. But let's thank Joe Jervis of Joe.My.God for saving the sermon and making sure that no one forgets what Owens said.

There are no words which I can say that would properly convey my absolute disgust. But I think Savage says it best:

Now for all you moderate Christians offended by this sort of thing—by Owens' sermon, by my posting about it—if you want to tell anyone that Owens doesn't speak for all Christians, go tell Owens. I'm sick of hearing it,

In other words, don't get angry at the lgbt community for merely reacting when some fool advocates our destruction in the name of Christianity.

Seems to me that any anti-Christian comments made by the lgbt community isn't a proof that the community wants to destroy the religion. It simply shows that we have worries that some who claim to practice Christianity want to destroy us.

UPDATE - Owens sent out a message apologizing for the sermon. He claims that he preached the sermon 15 years ago and that he no longer feels that way about those in the "gay lifestyle."

While it is all well and good that Owens no longer believes in violence against the lgbt community, I still have a problem with his condescending tone.

Also, why in the world was this 15-year-old sermon saved to be placed on youtube anyway?

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Wounded Children - a tract too homophobic for even Chick Publications

Believe it or not, there is a level of anti-gay too extreme for Chick Publications.

Supposedly there was a tract called Wounded Children that was recalled years ago. Wounded Children supposedly tells the story of how a child becomes gay and is "made a victim of the gay lifestyle."

Because it was recalled, I couldn't find anything on the Chick Publications site.

HOWEVER, through the magic of youtube, I found a copy of Wounded Children along with verbal accompaniment:

Now if this is too boring for you, then the following video is right up your alley. It is an adaptation of Wounded Children presented exactly as it was from the tract, accept for minor changes:

Editor's note: There is a part two but unfortunately the sound has been disabled due to copyright.

It's a real shame, too. I was dying to see how this story would turn out.

Related posts:

Lgbt parenting - myths vs. reality

Mark Sanford is missing, SLDN protests, and Chick publications - this is a strange day

Never fear, Chick Publications is here! or What some people really think of gay marriage

Friday, May 21, 2010

Know Your LGBT History - Tongues Untied

I WAS going to feature an episode of All in the Family but then I got a special request for this afternoon's feature, Tongues Untied (1989).

And as luck would have it, I'm glad I received this request because Tongues Untied will be one of the movies at tomorrow night's lgbt of color film festival which will be held at the University of South Carolina tomorrow night as a part of the SC Black Pride Young, (Gay) Gifted, and Black Mini Film Festival.

Tongues Untied is an excellent film by the late Marlon Riggs, an African-American gay man and filmmaker. From Wikipedia:

. . . Tongues Untied seeks, in its author's words to, "...shatter the nation's brutalising silence on matters of sexual and racial difference." The film blends documentary footage with personal account and fiction in an attempt to depict the specificity of black gay identity. The "silence" referred to throughout the film is that of black gay men, who are unable to express themselves because of the prejudices of white and black heterosexual society.

The narrative structure of Tongues Untied is both interesting and unconventional. Besides including documentary footage detailing North American black gay culture, (Marlon) Riggs also tells of his own experiences as a gay man. These include the realising of his sexual identity and of coping with the deaths of many of his friends to AIDS. Other elements within the film include footage of the civil rights movement and clips of Eddie Murphy performing a homophobic stand-up routine.

At the time of its release, the film was considered controversial because of its frank portrayal of gay sexuality. Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan cited Tongues Untied as an example of how President Bush was using taxpayer's money to fund "pornographic art". In his defense, Riggs stated that, "Implicit in the much overworked rhetoric of community standards is the assumption of only one central community (patriarchal, heterosexual and usually white) and only one overarching cultural standard ditto."

Rekers scandal continues to undermine religious right lies and other Friday midday news briefs

Parents for Democracy in Education group questions queer curriculum in high schools - Want a view of how much damage the Rekers scandal caused the religious right? Check out this article from Canada.

This man is a dean. At a law school. Parents send kids to him to learn. About law. - I am constantly amazed by Jeremy Hooper's ability to stand close to the religious right and dissect their lies.

Franken bill would protect gay students - Way to go, Al Franken!

Cities across the USA to observe Harvey Milk Day - Happy Harvey Milk Day!

Oz ’Family Values’ Office Holder Resigns After Being Filmed Leaving Bath House - Holy @$! Is Australia having it's own George Rekers scandal?

Lesbian who sued over prom date transfers schools - Constance, never forget that you stood up for yourself and those who couldn't stand up. You created steps for those to come after you to climb up on.

Chely Wright tells the truth- don't be ashamed of your God-given lgbt orientation

Chely Wright is one of my new heroes. In her interview with Oprah Winfrey, the country singer lays it down like it should be about her lgbt orientation. We need more voices being open and out about this sort of thing, particularly for the sake of the children.

Regardless of how any of us feel regarding the nuances of the fight for lgbt equality, one thing we MUST ALL agree on is that we should never be ashamed to be as God has made us. Period.

I love this clip, especially the story about the soldiers who continued to support her. Also, it also shows where Wright's courage came from. Her father is an amazing man. He reminds me of my late father.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Porno Pete LaBarbera continues lying vendetta against Progressive Insurance

Peter LaBarbera seems to be carrying his nonsensical vendetta against Progressive Insurance to another level.

And bear in mind, it's not because Progressive has harmed him in any way. Peter objects to the fact that Progressive Insurance has the temerity to not only treat its lgbt employees with respect, but also support lgbt causes.

After posting a letter from someone who supposedly canceled his insurance because of Progressive's support of the lgbt community, LaBarbera is continuing the same vein of lies in his newest post by claiming that not only Progressive but other corporations fund and support lgbt pride parades.

And the picture he uses to push this nonsense is the same one I talked about this morning - the picture of two go-go dancers from a gay pride in Sydney, Australia.

But Peter distorted this picture to give the impression that the dancers are naked.

Nor does he offer any evidence that any corporation, Progressive included, funded this parade.

By linking Progressive and other corporations to lgbt pride parades while posting a distorted picture having nothing to do with them, LaBarbera is sinking low.

It's the equivalent of fanning people's racial prejudices by posting a picture of a kissing interracial couple.

Peter seems to be on a "streak" here. My guess is that on a daily basis, he will be "revealing" more information about how Progressive pushes the so-called gay agenda. Bear in mind that LaBarbera most likely already has a reservoir of information which he will pervert.

By pushing the phony angle of "it's worst than what we thought," LaBarbera will reveal the information bit by bit for the purpose of suspense.

Allow me to take a possible morsel from his mouth. It's about the Peter Lewis, the owner of Progressive. He will be receiving the 2010 America's Future Lifetime Leadership Award from Campaign for America's Future for his funding of progressive causes.

It's a wonderful honor but watch, if LaBarbera mentions it, how he will try to tarnish the occasion by accusing Lewis of trying to undermine "family values" in the same manner others on the right attack George Sorors for his funding of progressive causes.

But the most annoying part of LaBarbera's afternoon diatribe is this statement.

This is how we regain our culture: taking one principled stance at a time, and using our considerable power as consumers to defend morality and truth. In the last decade or so, the corporate world was essentially ceded to the “gay” lobby without much of a fight — while pro-family advocates were busy opposing the homosexual activist political agenda in Washington, D.C. Now look at the tragic result: major corporations are using their immense resources to promote sexual immorality and gender confusion throughout society. And the agenda they are financing wars against Biblical values and directly threatens YOUR religious freedom.

One wonders: what have the Christian employees been doing all these years at companies like Progressive? Why haven’t more people of faith spoken up in their place of employment — urging their superiors not to waste valuable corporate resources to fund and promote the homosexual and transsexual agenda? And why aren’t more Christians and moral advocates demanding true corporate “diversity” — which includes respecting those employees who support real (man-woman) marriage and who oppose homosexual practice and gender confusion?

First of all, this is not your culture alone nor is it your country alone. You have neither title nor deed to it. It belongs to all of us, lgbts included. The fact that you can't share is none of our concern because the truth is that you will share it all, one way or the other.

Lastly, what do Christian employees do, Peter?

True Christians, employees or otherwise, would recognize the fact that lgbt employees have every right to be as open about their lives and families as they do.

And at the very least, they don't post distorted pictures of go-go dancers.

Again I would suggest that readers call Progressive Insurance and thank the company for its policy of fairness. And offer congratulations for Peter Lewis on his award. Call Progressive at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (800-776-4737) or fax your own letter to 800-229-1590. (A Progressive phone/e-mail contact page is HERE.)

Related posts:
Peter LaBarbera's homophobic lies reap a small benefit

Rekers scandal continues to undermine the religious right and other Thursday midday news briefs

How The Rekers ‘Rent Boy’ Scandal Could Undermine Prop. 8 Supporters’ Court Battle - The Rekers scandal is like the gift that keeps on giving to the lgbt community.

Malawi “People Like You” Given 14 Year Sentence - This is disgusting. We all need to keep the Malawi couple in our prayers.

Montgomery College picks new president - And she is African-American too! Yes it is a big deal because we need more lgbts of color in the public eye, especially intelligent, successful ones.

Rand Paul On 'Maddow' Defends Criticism Of Civil Rights Act, Says He Would Have Worked To Change Bill - Not necessarily an lgbt issue per se . . . then again maybe it is.

Barber: "Solicitor Kagan, Do You Identify as a Lesbian?" - The hot mess that is Matt Barber.

FDA starts process of lifting gay blood donor ban - This is good news!