Know Your LGBT History - 'The Fabulous Gays' of Steambath

Steambath was a 1970 Off-Broadway play written by Bruce Jay Friedman which tells the story of a man who dies and discovers that the afterlife is in fact a steamroom.

In 1973, PBS aired a production of this play which featured the late Bill Bixby and Valerie Perrine. That production is famous because Perrine became the first female to have her breasts displayed intentionally on network television.

Perrine's nudity was such a hallmark that the inclusion of two gay characters (played by Neil J. Schwartz and Patrick Spohn) seem to be an afterthought.

 That's a real shame . . .  or maybe not as you can see by this clip of their high-stepping performance of "Let Me Entertain You."

Of course I don't consider this clip offensive. I don't necessarily consider it positive either. It's just there.

And it is a performance that I bet you will never see done on Glee. (Editor's note - proceed with caution because there is male nudity):

 

Past Know Your LGBT Posts:

'Bigot makes fool of himself during religious right conference' and other Friday midday news briefs

Well today is the start of the religious right's "Values Voter" Summit and as predicted, it is a cornucopia of homophobia, pandering, and downright idiocy supposedly in the name of God. To get a good view of how inane it is - check out this very short twitter war between the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer and the Southern Poverty Law Center in regards to SPLC's press conference denouncing the lies of the groups sponsoring this monstrosity. Bryan lost by the way:

In the future, Bryan, if you are going to gloat, make sure you have something to gloat about. For all-day updates on this hot mess, go here.


Southern Poverty Law Center Reminds GOP Of The Hate Groups Behind Values Voter Summit - And speaking of the SPLC, the group ran an ass-kicking ad in the Washington Post this morning.

PFOX "Ex-Gays" Denounce Anti-Bullying Bills At FRC's Hate Conference - And we are surprised because?

NOM at Values Voters Summit - Look what crawled its way into the "Values Voter" Summit. Anyone packed the RAID?

Opponents Of FAIR Education Act Smear LGBT Community To Misrepresent Effect Of Law - And look what the organizers of this mess is trying to do in CA.

Punching, Burning, Electrocuting And Stabbing Your Gay Son Will Probably Not Make Him Straight - Awful story.

Paula Ettelbrick, Veteran LGBT Leader, Dies - Thank you for your services and your footsteps for us to walk in. You rest now. We will take it from here ;p.

Tony Perkins comments on SPLC press conference

Today is the beginning of the dreary religious right "Values Voters" conference which will see - amongst other things - GOP presidential candidates mingling with folks who seem to think that God gave them the patent on the words "morality," "family," and "values."

In anticipation of this, the Southern Poverty Law Center and Truth Wins Out will be holding a press conference today highlighting the venomous anti-gay rhetoric of two groups involved in this conference - the Family Association and the American Family Association.

The press conference is the latest salvo in very public fight between SPLC and various "values" organizations designated as hate groups by the organization because of their tendency to demonize the gay community through propaganda, inaccurate rhetoric, or junk science.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council weighed in on the SPLC's press conference:

Perkins said the SPLC news conference reflected an attempt to prevent free discussion of ideas and noted that he doesn’t show up at SPLC events to protest the civil rights organization’s beliefs.

“Southern Poverty Law Center is obviously desperate to try to shut down public debate,” he said.

Perkins is again casting FRC and AFA as the victims, which is what he and others affiliated with these groups have been doing since last year when the controversy began. However, SPLC is not seeking to shut down anyone. If anything, the organization wants to have a conversation as to why the FRC uses junk science - such as the work of the discredited researcher Paul Cameron (a man who claims that gays stuff gerbils up their rears) - to demonize the gay community.

Or why the organization has made the following other inaccurate claims:

• Homosexuals molest children at far higher rates than heterosexuals.

• Same-sex parents harm children.

• Homosexuals don’t live nearly as long as heterosexuals.

It would be in FRC's best interest to answer these charges. However  there will be no conversation as long as FRC double down on the "we are being attacked because of our faith" and "SPLC is trying to shut down the debate" whines.

The organization has YET to come out with a detailed response to SPLC's charges even after claiming earlier this year that it would.

SPLC, Truth Wins Out preparing to take on anti-gay hate groups

From the press release:

Apreill Hartsfield
334.956.8458
apreill.hartsfield@splcenter.org

Southern Poverty Law Center to Hold Press Conference Outside Values Voter Summit

The Southern Poverty Law Center will hold a press conference this Friday, Oct. 7, to release a report on the Family Research Council (FRC) and American Family Association (AFA), two groups that spread false propaganda that demonizes the LGBT community. The FRC is hosting the annual Values Voter Summit this weekend Washington, where many prominent public officials will be speaking. The AFA is a major co-sponsor.

WHO: Mark Potok, Director, Intelligence Project, Southern Poverty Law Center
Wayne Besen, Truth Wins Out

WHEN: Friday, October 7
8 a.m. (EDT)

WHERE: Omni Shoreham
2500 Calvert Street NW (at Connecticut Ave.)
Washington, DC

###

The Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Alabama with offices in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, is a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society. For more information, see www.splcenter.org.

Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights anti-LGBT religious extremism. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.

Meanwhile,  Bryan Fischer from the American Family Association is doubling down on his hate:

Transcript:

The New York Times piece goes on to say “The conference, from Friday to Sunday in Washington, is sponsored by the Family Research Council, the American Family Association” that would be us, “and other evangelical Christian groups. It aims to energize social conservatives and test the fidelity of the candidates.” All true. “The conference planners have obliged Mr. Romney, scheduling him to speak right before Bryan Fischer, who is chief spokesman for the family association and is known for his strident remarks on homosexuality, gay rights, Muslims and Mormons.” Now again, when you just tell the truth, that’s all I’ve done, I’ve done nothing but tell the truth about homosexuality, about gay rights, about Muslims and Mormons. That’s all I’ve done. I didn’t make anything up; I have just told the truth. You tell the truth as far as the left is concerned, that makes you strident. In fact my comments, my speech, is gonna be followed by a panel of same-sex marriage opponents. And then the New York Times guy talks about People For the American Way calling on especially Mr. Romney to publicly disassociate themselves from Mr. Fischer and his quote “unmitigated bigotry.” So once again, tell the truth, as far as the left concerns, “unmitigated bigotry.”

Meanwhile, little ole me awaits the entire thing like a ravenous individual on Thanksgiving.

Or better yet, a bloodthirsty warrior who is running low on his "kill quota."

Related posts:

16 reasons why the Family Research Council is a hate group

The reason why the American Family Association is a hate group

Reasons why NOM should be named as a hate group 

'Hate group attacks Chaz Bono in attempt to stop pro-gay law' and other Thursday midday news briefs

As many of you know, the religious right have been trying to stop a law in California - SB48 (The Fair Education Act) - which revised an existing law and adds the gay community to a list of under-represented cultural and ethnic groups that are covered in textbooks and other instructional materials in schools.

These folks seek to repeal this law via referendum and they have also been stooping to nasty levels, such a allegedly lying to get signatures.

But the following graphic takes the cake. It is a part of  a Powerpoint presentation - which according to the anti-gay group the Family Research Council - should be shown in churches:

Hat tip to Jeremy Hooper


And in other news (if that graphic hasn't made you sick already):

Minnesota Catholic Conference: ‘What If A Bisexual Wants A Partner Of Each Kind?’ - Tacky, tacky.

One Way To Tell That Trans People Are On The Religious Right’s/Social Conservative’s Radar - It will get worse before it gets better.

Major News Outlets Still Relying On Hate Group Leader For 2012 Commentary - I personally think that this is good news. A good target is one which has a big red mark on its back. I mean that in a strictly figurative "let's not waste good opportunities to show the world that the Family Research Council is a hate group" type of way.

Religious right cause celebre sacrificing integrity of her name for case?

The case of Julea Ward demonstrates how not only money can push against truth but also how the religious right exploits potential cause celebres.

Last year, a federal judge, the Honorable George Caram Steeh, dismissed a case brought by grad student Julea Ward against Eastern Michigan University. The college expelled her from its graduate program for refusing to counsel a gay client:

"The university had a rational basis for adopting the ACA Code of Ethics into its counseling program, not the least of which was the desire to offer an accredited program," Steeh said in a 48-page opinion.

"Furthermore, the university had a rational basis for requiring its students to counsel clients without imposing their personal values.

"In the case of Ms. Ward, the university determined that she would never change her behavior and would consistently refuse to counsel clients on matters with which she was personally opposed due to her religious beliefs -- including homosexual relationships."

The judge said Ward's "refusal to attempt learning to counsel all clients within their own value systems is a failure to complete an academic requirement of the program."

Backed up with religious right money and pull (in this case the Alliance Defense Fund),  Ward is now appealing the decision.

Personally I am of the belief that if Ward wants to receive certification from Eastern Michigan University, she needs to follow the university's program. If she doesn't want to counsel gay patients, perhaps it would be better for her to seek a college which would accommodate her.

But something about this entire thing bothers me. It's a seemingly small thing but it sticks in my mind. Her name is Julea Ward. It is how she was referred to in past court documents and the media.

However, in this re-pushing of her case, several religious right sources - one being the National Organization for Marriage - are referring to her as Julie.

To some people, that difference may seem trite, but to me - a member of an ethnic group who has seen and had to deal with folks coming in trying to convert things about our heritage in a poor excuse to gain appeal to a wider base - the name change is bothersome.

Could it be that the folks handling Ms. Ward's case decided that eliminating the ethnicity in her name would help widen her appeal?

If this is so, perhaps Ms. Ward should stop worrying about Eastern Michigan University and start worrying about those claiming to be her friends.

Meet the folks trying to 'save America' for Jesus

People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch has compiled the best - or rather the worst - comments coming from the key sponsors and speakers at this weekend's Values Voters Summit.

Please bear in mind that these folks make their money by claiming that America is on a "moral decline" and it's up to them to pull the country back.

You tell me what's worse - the fact that there are some people who actually believe that mess or the fact that several Republican presidential candidates will be in attendance:



What would Jesus do indeed? Would He actually be proud to have these characters using His name for their madness? I think not.

Related post:

Who’s Who at the Values Voter Summit - Hold your nose and take a gander at a complete listing of who the GOP candidates will be kissing up to.

SPLC calls out those associating with anti-gay hate groups - The Southern Poverty Law Center is doubling down on exposing these charlatans.