Know Your LGBT History - Alan Turing

Alan Turing was one of the greatest scientists of all time. He is considered to be the father of computer science and artificial intelligence. It was his intelligence which helped the Allies defeat the Nazis during World War II. And what was his reward? Disgrace and suicide simply because he was gay. Never forget our heroes.







Past Know Your LGBT History posts:

'NOM's Starbucks boycott failing hard thus far' and other Friday midday news briefs

NOM's Starbucks Boycott: Day One - So far, NOM's boycott of Starbucks is FAILING!!!

Workplace Discrimination Costs Businesses $64 Billion Every Year [INFOGRAPHIC] - It's not nice to discriminate against lgbts. In fact, it costs.


A Great Rebuttal to the ‘Day of Dialogue’ Card - Every year, the religious right attempts to put a wrench in GLSEN's "Day of Silence." And every year, they fall on their faces.

GLAAD's Commentator Accountability Project Demands Honesty from the Religious Right - Okay, you have seen me pump this piece up ad naseum, so allow me to continue. It's an original piece I wrote especially for the Huffington Post. And it has been received as a huge success.

Anti-gay pundit fails to debunk gay parenting study

Stanton

Maybe I'm an old fashioned type of guy but it seems to me that if someone has publicly called homosexuality an "evil lie of Satan," you wouldn't necessarily believe his supposed "debunking" of a study which supports the idea of gay parenting.

Such is the case with Focus on the Family's Glenn T. Stanton.

According to Equality Matters, Stanton took it upon himself attempt to debunk a study dealing with lesbian parents. But as Equality Matters proves, Stanton did less of a good job debunking the study and more of a good job showing his anti-gay bias:

Anti-gay groups are excited about a new Focus on the Family (FoF) brief that purports to debunk a popular study demonstrating the effectiveness of same-sex parenting. The brief, written by FoF’s Glenn T. Stanton, criticizes the U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS) – “the longest-running and largest prospective investigation of lesbian mothers and their children in the Unites States.”  According to Stanton, the NLLFS is “an orchestrated persuasion piece conducted and funded by gay-rights activists” and suffers from major methodological flaws.

A closer look at his critique, though, reveals just how desperate anti-gay groups are to attack studies about gay parenting that don’t affirm their talking points.

Stanton listed three reasons why the study should be debunked:

Study’s Authors Are Biased Activists
Study’s Sample Was Too Small, Not Representative
Study Contradicts Social Science On Family Structure


Equality Matters takes intricate detail in breaking down Stanton's errors and bias. For example, take Stanton's first claim that the study's authors are "biased activists:"

Stanton devotes much of his criticism of the NLLFS to pointing out the obvious – that the study was funded and conducted by groups and individuals interested in advancing LGBT equality. Stanton specifically criticizes the NLLFS’s “investigators” for specializing in LGBT studies and research:

Their professional research has been solely in the field of lesbian research. Examine the bibliographies offered in each of their published studies to date. They offer the reader no survey of the vast literature on how various family forms impact child development and well-being in varying degrees. They consult - nearly exclusively - only published studies that examine gay or lesbian issues.

Stanton also goes to great lengths to depict one of the study’s authors, Dr. Nanette Gartrell, as an “out of the mainstream” radical.

He fails to mention that Dr. Gartrell was educated at some of the nation's leading universities - Stanford, University of California, and Harvard. He also failed to mention that in her 35-year professional career she served on the medical school faculties of Harvard and UCSF, and that her published research focuses on a variety of topics including sexual exploitation of patients by health professionals.

Of course, none of this has anything to do with whether the NLLFS actually presents reliable information on the topic of same-sex parenting. Stanton even admits that his criticisms of the study’s authors amount to little more than an ad hominem:

But the facts that NLLFS is initiated and conducted by lesbian activists, funded by foundations backing GLBT activism and that the Principle Investigator is outside the mainstream of the lesbian community do not mean the study is not a reputable academic investigation. It only lets us know who’s behind it and their possible motivations.

What matters is the structure, execution and reporting of the study itself.

According to Dr. Gartrell, many of the researchers involved in the study are heterosexual. 

Moreover, Stanton fails to mention his own “motivations” for criticizing the NLLFS. FoF’s website displays an article in which Stanton condemns homosexuality as “a particularly evil lie of Satan” which “profoundly and thoroughly” challenges the image of the “Triune God.”

All in all, the Equality Matters piece is an excellent read of the dangers of someone with whose expertise are simply "writing about family" and calling himself a Christian taking it upon himself to debunk work which he obviously doesn't know from a wart on his finger.

Stanton's pitiful attempt to debunk this study proves that he is way out of his league.

But I guess he figures he can fake it because apparently "Jesus loves him."

Racist, homophobic graphic of Obama rocks NC marriage equality fight

Last week when President Obama voiced opposition to the upcoming North Carolina referendum vote which would ban marriage equality in the state, several groups supporting this referendum voiced their displeasure.

However, the prize for bad taste and lack of subtlety goes to the Meck Deck, an official blog of the conservative John Locke Foundation for the following image which should lead decent people speechless:

The graphic, which has since been taken down, accompanied a piece which claimed that Obama was "pandering for votes." My guess is that the author was implying that Obama was offering fried chicken to African-Americans and sex to gays The awful mess was written by Tara Servatius, former right-wing radio commentator for Charlotte's WBT AM, and a former regular contributor to Meck Deck.

I say former regular contributor because she abruptly resigned. According to Pam's House Blend, John Hood, president of the John Lock Foundation sent out a press release claiming that Servatius was merely a freelance writer. He also said that he was embarrassed and angered over the incident.

'Bigots pull 'Nazi card' against GLAAD' and other Thursday midday news briefs

Liberty Counsel member and resident anti-gay pundit Matt Barber (seen here not looking very happy - draw your own conclusions) once said:

"It's often said that the first to call the other a Nazi has lost the argument."

With that in mind, let's take a look at two honorary members of Barber's list of argument losers:



AFA's Bryan Fischer:

Linda Harvey:

"Recognize this? Hate branding, focusing on Jews, succeeded in branding them as the “enemy” in public opinion in Nazi Germany. It’s the method used today by Islamic radicals who spread ludicrous fables about Jews in many mosques."

The irony is that Harvey didn't even make GLAAD's list (jealous much, Linda?). However thanks to statements like the one above, her organization, Mission America did make Southern Poverty Law Center's list of anti-gay hate groups.

Gary Bauer latest to acknowledge #glaadcap inclusion, latest to decontextualize phrase 'free speech' - And then there is anti-gay pundit Gary Bauer. While he doesn't pull the Nazi references (give him time,) he does whine about free speech. Check out his list of homophobic statements:

- Pushes inaccurate science: "More importantly, however, the government has an obligation to promote public policy that is best for the general welfare and to discriminate against behaviors that adversely impact society and public health. Tobacco use is heavily regulated by the state and smoking is strongly discouraged. A major study conducted by Oxford University demonstrated that homosexual conduct is three times more deadly than smoking. Homosexual behavior is fraught with adverse health affects. (sic) Again, this is not opinion, but documented medical fact."  (*The researchers behind that Oxford study, conducted at the height of the AIDS crisis, have condemned the way folks like Bauer have twisted their findings)

- Chose the Obama Administration's choice to simply invite gay-headed families to the annual White House Easter Roll as one of the "100 Mistakes, Misstatements and Missteps in Obama’s First 100 Days"

- "Ex-gay" advocacy: "Story after story calls for everything from new hate crimes laws, to same-sex marriage, to pro-homosexual education policies. But policies like these would only compound the tragedy of homosexuality."

Like I said, guys. Own your statements or apologize for them. This censorship whine is old.

In other news:

Michael Heath Returns To Maine - Bad for the religious right. Good for us.

FAMiLY Leader: Gay Behavior Is ‘Personally Harmful And Societally Harmful’ - And naturally, he is offended that a child living in same-sex household has been invited to speak at an area college. After all, these children are not supposed be acknowledged (snark).

State Department Condemns Nobel Prize Winner’s Anti-Gay Remarks - Good for the State Department!

FRC says Kirk Cameron 'simply disagreed' on marriage, on par with Obama; is lying - For one thing, President Obama never called homosexuality destructive. And I have to say this - for someone claiming that they are being "silenced," Cameron seems to be running to every media outlet. I mean actual Christian martyrs showed more dignity at the time of their deaths than THIS bozo.

NOM vs. Starbucks - no contest

After suffering the embarrassment yesterday in New Hampshire, the National Organization for Marriage seems to be careening to another one. The group is now taking on the company Starbucks. From NOM President Brian Brown:

Dear Marriage Supporter,

We are urging consumers across the globe to "Dump Starbucks" because the massive international corporation has taken a corporate-wide position that marriage between one man and one woman should be eliminated and that same-sex marriage should become the norm.

I emphasized that part of Brown's statement to demonstrate how much of a lie it is. Starbucks recently chose to endorse marriage equality in Washington State. At no time did Starbucks say anything about wanting "one man and one woman marriage" to be eliminated.

In stark contrast to Brown's accusatory tone, Starbucks has been very concise and cordial in explaining its position. Witness the following Q&;A between Starbuck CEO Howard Shultz and a NOM representative at the company's shareholder meeting yesterday:



And when asked pretty much the same thing by another NOMbie:



According to Jeremy Hooper, this is what we need to know about that second gentleman:

Tom Strobar is President of Citizen Action now (www.citizenactionnow.com) and author of the first shareholder resolution against child pornography, religious bigotry, fetal tissue research, abortifacient drugs and domestic partner benefits. Strobhar is the author of numerous articles on pro-life and pro-family business matters, including the only pro-life shareholder resolutions to appear on corporate ballots in 1991 through 2005. Strobhar has served as chairman of Life Decisions International (www.fightpp.org) and has been a Board member of the National Association of Christian Financial Consultants. A graduate of Columbia University, Mr. Strobhar has the dubious distinction of being described in Pat Buchannan’s newsletter as “a one man wrecking crew.” Glamour magazine described him as “The Financier,” “a major Washington power player,” and a “financial whiz.” SOURCE: SpecialGuests.com

Strobhar was also involved in the AFA's Ford Boycott back in 2006.

Well I feel like getting some coffee. Starbucks anyone?

New Hampshire keeps marriage equality, deals NOM a SERIOUS loss

You may accuse me of extreme hyperbole with this one but just minutes ago, the National Organization for Marriage was dealt with a tremendous upset in New Hampshire:

The New Hampshire House of Representatives has defeated an attempt to roll back the state’s marriage equality bill with a vote of 133-202. At stake first was the absurd amendment proposed by Rep. David Bates (R), which would have re-implemented civil unions and given voters a chance to weigh in on that decision in a non-binding way. That amendment failed 162-188. Then, there was a fierce parliamentary debate as to whether to consider a humorous amendment proposed by Rep. Seth Cohn (R) that would have prohibited marriage between people who are left-handed, but the effort to bring it forth was defeated. During the debate on the bill as originally proposed, Bates and other opponents of equality invoked comparisons between same-sex marriage and incest while protesting when others juxtaposed the measure with the racial segregation of the past.

NOM expected to win this one, even to the point of bragging on its blog about how the issue of marriage equality led Democrats to lose in the 2010 elections. It is true that New Hampshire has a Republican majority who was not only serious about reducing marriage equality to civil unions, but also overriding the veto threat by Gov. John Lynch.

I guess overriding the veto is not necessary now seeing that the bill FAILED!

Kudos to New Hampshire legislators for preserving fairness.