Religious right spokesman smears Civil Rights Movement to attack SPLC

The Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber is obviously angry at the Southern Poverty Law Center over its list of anti-gay hate groups because his group didn't make the cut.

How else can one explain the lunacy of his words today?

According to People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch, Barber said the following during a radio interview:

The SPLC has grabbed the tiger by the tail and now they get the teeth. They are really marginalizing themselves outside of a very liberal echo chamber; the SPLC has really embarrassed itself and really marginalized itself in the mainstream.

Of course Barber doesn't provide proof of this claim, so his words are pure speculation and bad speculation at that. His words are as pitiful as those of a hunter facing a hungry bear while armed with a pea shooter and exclaiming, "I got you where I want you."

But hold on because Barber goes further off of the deep end later in the interview when he says the following:

And now they (SPLC) find themselves fighting against the very Christian leadership that led the Civil Rights movement, the very Christians that fought for abolition under the Republican Party, under Abraham Lincoln, now they have those very Christians in the cross-hairs.

Barber is trying to push the lie that SPLC is attacking religious right groups based on their so-called Christian opposition to homosexuality. SPLC has said that deliberately repeating distortions and negative propaganda about the lgbt community is the reason why organizations were named as anti-gay hate groups.

But Barber's comments about the Civil Rights Movement deserve more criticism.

In my readings about the Civil Rights Movement, from what I have heard in interviews with those involved in the marches, speeches, and planning, and what I have seen on video footage, I have been made aware of:

• Many people black and white, heterosexual and lgbt, male and female marching, singing, and basically risking their lives against the onslaught of mad racists,

• Speeches uniting us all in a common purpose of dignity and love,

• And especially the contributions of certain gay black man (Bayard Rustin) who played a key role in the Movement, especially the 1963 March on Washington.

But I don't remember anything about precisely coiffed, pitch perfect talking point repeating, but hypocritical, soulless denizens of the religious right leading any marches, making any speeches, or even shaking hands with those who marched or risked their lives.

However I do remember many veterans of the Civil Rights Movement from Coretta Scott King, Julian Bond, and John Lewis standing up for the rights of lgbts.

And I do remember that in April of last year, Barber accused Lewis of lying regarding the racist behavior of tea party members when Congress was working to pass the health care bill.

Lastly, I also remember what Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition (another organization designated as an anti-gay hate group by SPLC) said in 2007 about Lewis defending lgbts:

“Rep. Lewis is a member of the Old Guard of civil rights activists who have sold out to the homosexual movement . . ."

My advice to Barber is that if he wants the Liberty Counsel to get on SPLC's hate group list,  he should keep talking about "gay sex" the way he does.

But if he does, he shouldn't be surprised if while Liberty Counsel makes the list of anti-gay hate groups, he makes a list himself - that of the "booby hatch."

Homophobic pastor pleads not guilty to conspiracy charges and other Monday midday news briefs

Scalia: Women Don't Have Constitutional Protection Against Discrimination - And apparently according to him, neither do gays. The man is a nut AND a Supreme Court Justice.

Chick-fil-A Partners With Rabid Anti-Gay Group - Well that sucks. No more lemonade for me.

At Last…Proof That Celibacy Makes You Crazy - I was about to say this explains my insanity but then I read the article. I'm not THAT crazy.

Obama Had Strong Standing With Gay Community Even Before DADT Repeal: Poll - Uh oh.

Martin Ssempa, 3 Others Plead Not Guilty To Conspiracy Charges - I feel awful for saying this but wouldn't it be interesting for Ssempa to be found guilty and have to share a cell with the "booty warrior?"

Anti-gay hate group has problem with California not being forced to find a 'cure' for homosexuality

Religious right groups who have been either named by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups or profiled for their usage of anti-gay propaganda are quick to whine about being "unfairly attacked."

However, as demonstrated many times on this blog, SPLC has a more than adequate point in focusing on these groups, and not simply because of their blatant attacks on the lgbt community, but also how they deliberately distort even the smallest moves of progress pertaining to the lgbt community.

An example of this is how SPLC-named anti-gay hate group, American Family Association, is describing changes to the California welfare code. Through its phony news service, One News Now, AFA put out the following:

Calif. welfare code: Homosexuality inborn

A Christian social worker is taking exception to a new California law that declares homosexuals are "born gay."

Beginning this New Year, California will implement AB 2199 and ultimately strike down the requirement on the State Department of Mental Health to conduct research on the "causes and cures of homosexuality." According to Veronica Esqueda, a renal social worker in Los Angeles, the measure will portray alternate lifestyles as acceptable and normal.

"I do think it's going to open up their comfort level, and I think it's going to make it more acceptable," she explains. "Obviously, I am one that believes that it's not an error -- you are born the way God intended you to be," she notes, adding that she believes homosexuality is a choice.

One News Now is adding details to the situation which clearly don't exist. AB 2199 does the following:

Amends existing law that requires the State Department of Mental Health to plan, conduct, and cause to be conducted scientific research into the causes and cures of sexual deviation, including deviations conducive to sex crimes against children, and the causes and cures of homosexuality, and into methods of identifying potential sex offenders. Requires the department to plan, conduct, and cause to be conducted scientific research into such crimes and identifying those who commit them.

AB 2199 only says that health officials are no longer required to seek a cure for homosexuality when dealing with clients. The law is 60 years old and antiquated. And there is no science that says homosexuality needs to be cured. AB 2199 says nothing about homosexuality being inborn.

But it does say that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. This is in line with a vast majority, if not all of scientific opinion on the subject.

Rev. Eddie Long will not fight charges of sexual coercion, will try to mediate instead

This addition to the Eddie Long controversy happened last year but it is something that should be known.

Months after making a huge announcement in front of his congregation that he intends to fight charges lodged against him by four former male congregants of sexual coercion, the Rev. Eddie Long has instead chosen to mediate with his accusers to avoid going to trial.

From the Huffington Post:

With little fanfare or news coverage, the four sexual coercion lawsuits confronting Bishop Eddie Long had the first hearing recently, with both sides opting for mediation to avoid a trial.

Why no major news outlet or editorial columnist has discussed the implications of such a move is nothing less than egregious in nature. Despite the initial media crush and coverage and the incessant analysis of Bishop Long's statement on his website and "sermon," there's been nary a peep in response to the quest for mediation.

Granted, if the future mediation in February does not solve the dispute, there is a tentative trial date set for July 11, 2011. This could still end up being resolved in a courtroom.

Bishop Eddie Long agreeing to mediation of sexual coercion charges is an end-run around the universally accepted moral and ethical responsibilities of any ecumenical leader. Mediation of sexual allegation grievances is tantamount to an admission of "some" guilt, "some" form of ministerial misconduct. Innocent folk don't make deals if the claims against them are baseless and untrue. Mediation for the accused is a forfeiture of the right to ever claim innocence, and readers should be absolutely clear on this point.

At this point, it is not known why Long has agreed to mediate but it is worth mentioning that late last month, it came out that he is linked to a questionable mortgage scheme that is under investigation by federal authorities.

The controversy began in September when two young men sued Long, accusing him of coercing them into sex. Long was accused by a third man and then the controversy got huge when not only two of the men chose to do television interviews, but pictures of Long (allegedly sent to one of the men) surfaced. Then a fourth accuser came public.

The nature of the scandal is especially biting to Long because he is publicly known for not only opposing gay marriage but also homosexuality in general. In 2004, he led a march of over 25,000 opposing gay marriage and gay rights.

Hat tip to Americablog Gay.

Related post:

Eddie Long scandal - Chronology of what has happened and where we are now

Hate crime numbers go up in New York State and other Monday midday news briefs

Porter Planning Another Values Voter Presidential Debate - Crazy Jane returns. I swear some members of the religious right is just like Jason Voorhees.

Marriage on the rocks in NH as haters will seek 'a rollback of human rights' - Take way rights given cause you don't want "those people" to have them. Oh yeah, that's fair.

Basu: Blanket ban on gay men is myopic - I agree.

Hate crime numbers up in New York State - Ugh.

Ugandan gays win court victory against homophobic newspaper

Fast on the heels of the blackmail scandal involving homophobic pastor Martin Ssempa, Ugandan lgbts have another victory to celebrate:

In October 2010, Rolling Stone newspaper had boldly called for gays to be hanged in one of their headlines. "Hang Them," the headline read. The ensuing story showed photos of people presumed to be gays in Uganda, and even indicated locations of their homes.

And according to gays in Uganda, the newspaper article led to some of those whose photos, names and home adresses appeared in the newspaper to be attacked and beaten up by people who claimed to be anti-gay.

But after taking the case to court and applying for damages whilst requesting for an injunction against the newspaper, a Uganda court Monday ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.

The court has also issued a parmanent injunction against Rolling Stone newspaper never to publish photos of gays in Uganda, and also never to again publish their home addreses.

Justice Kibuuka Musoke’s ruling read in parts: "Gays are also entitled to their rights. This court has found that there was infringment of some people’s confidential rights. The court hereby issues an injuction restraining Rolling Stone newspaper from future publishing of identifcations of homosexuals."

Granted, that awful "kill the gays" bill pushed hard by Ssempa and others still has a possibility of passing the legislature and still hangs over the head of Ugandan lgbts. However, this victory and the situation with Ssempa is no doubt welcomed news to a population that has been the scapegoats of hatred for so long.


Hat tip toTowleroad

Sign of the Apocalypse: Fox News makes fun of religious right over CPAC controversy

I loathe religious right groups for the lies they tell about the lgbt community. And I despise the Fox News channel for its constant mantra of distortions and propaganda.

So how the hell do I react when a Fox News program, Red Eye, makes fun of social conservatives, i.e. religious right groups over their decision to boycott the conservative CPAC conference simply because of the inclusion of a gay group, GoProud?

Just hold my nose and enjoy the show. As an extra attraction, Red Eye also makes fun of our "favorite homophobe," Porno Pete LaBarbera:




Hat tip to Joe.My.God