FRC's Tony Perkins crows about 'Duck Dynasty' while hiding his fear of debating

Of course Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council is crowing like a rooster over the recent 'Duck Dynasty' controversy.

"Although the victory belonged to the Robertsons, the real winners may be the American people -- who finally witnessed homosexual activists for what they are: intolerant bullies. As FRC has said for years, the goal of GLAAD and others is to silence anyone who dares challenge the idea that homosexual behavior should be celebrated. We've seen these vicious tactics used against wedding florists, bakers, photographers, sports journalists, students, and teachers who've been fired, hauled into court, fined, suspended, and ordered to violate their religious beliefs by endorsing same-sex "marriage." For once, the American people have stood up and shouted, "enough!" I had the opportunity to talk about this incredible sea change over the holidays. If you missed it, check out the video from those interviews on ABC's "Nightline" and Fox News's "Kelly File . . ."

If you ask me, I think he is overestimating the entire thing by calling it a "sea change for three reasons.

First, wasn't he and others on his side making the same ridiculous comments last year about how the "American people stood up to gay bullies" during the Chic-Fil-A controversy? And we see how much of a "sea change" that did NOT turn out to be.

Secondly, I find it ironic that Perkins would mention his interview on the  "Kelly File" It was on that program which Perkins allegedly REFUSED to debate lgbt activist and bloggger Jeremy Hooper, thereby forcing host Megyn Kelly to interview Hooper and then Perkins in one-on-one sessions. A good journalist knows how to find a new angle in any news story, but unfortunately everyone seems to have missed this one, including the lgbt media.

Lastly, if Perkins wants to talk about ugly tactics and intolerant bullies, perhaps he should take another look at his organization, as this clip shows:



According to Media Matters:

Perkins has called gay people "pawns" of the "enemy," said that gays will experience "eternal damnation," praised a Ugandan bill that would impose the death penalty for homosexuality, and declared that members of Congress who voted to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell had the "blood of young Marines" on their hands. His organization has been labeled a "hate group" for routinely peddling the myth that gay men are more likely to be pedophiles than straight men. In addition to regularly spouting anti-LGBT rhetoric, Perkins has also been linked to white supremacist groups in his native Louisiana.

Of course Kelly didn't ask Perkins about any of these issues even after assuring Hooper that she would.

It's relatively easy to use an interview to bolster your view of a "sea change" when you have the person doing the interview in your hip pocket, isn't it Tony?

Robin Roberts: ' “I have never been happier or healthier than I am right now.'

Those who read this blog know that I have railed several times against the lgbt obsession with celebrities. However, this time is an exception.

African-American lesbians don't have as much visibility as they should, not even in the black media. While gay black men, bisexuals, and transgender men and women have to deal with being stereotyped, black lesbians are generally erased, as if they don't exist.

So when Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts came out, it was a good thing.

And today was even better as she debuted a picture of her and her girlfriend, Amber, at her niece's wedding while talking her happiness and health:

Roberts:“I’m going to tell you all this, because you have had a front row seat for that tumultuous year,” Roberts said. “I have never been happier or healthier than I am right now. And my year-end post was just full of gratitude and just telling everyone all that I’m grateful for, including my girlfriend, Amber, who loved me through a very difficult year.”

'SCOTUS puts hold on Utah marriages, religious right plots for 2014' and other Monday midday news briefs

Supreme Court Halts Utah Same-Sex Couples’ Marriages While Case Is Appealed - Come on folks. You really didn't it was going to be that easy, did you? TEMPORARY setbacks are inevitable in the fight for equality. 

 
Utah’s Novel Argument: Banning Same-Sex Marriage Encourages ‘Diversity’ In Parenting - An analysis of Utah's anti-marriage equality argument.

 Scary Summit: Religious Right Leaders Meet To Plot Big-Money Blitz For 2014 Elections - It's this sort of thing which scares me more.  

How the right profits from the culture wars - This is a fascinating article. 

 CeCe McDonald, Transgender Woman, To Receive Early Release From Men's Prison - A sister were defending herself and winds up in prison. I am so glad she is getting out.

Utah marriage equality opponents want 'uprising' over the issue

Oh lighten up, people. It's only marriage equality. However, what you do propose is ludicrous.

Know Your LGBT History - The 1965 San Francisco New Year's Ball Raid

We hear so much about the raid at Stonewall and its history in lgbt equality. However our community mythologizes it so much that a lot of other events of equal importance get left by wayside. The 1965 San Francisco New Year's Ball Raid is an important part of lgbt history because not only was it one of the first times that heterosexuals were given a front row view of how the police harassed the lgbt community back then, but it also created links between the lgbt community and the inclusive religious community.

 From Box Turtle Bulletin (which gave me the idea to spotlight this event):

 Early San Francisco LGBT-rights advocates had long recognized that much of the opposition to homosexuality rested on religious objections, and that if any progress was to be made, it was necessary to foster links between the gay community and the bay area’s religious leaders — at least those leaders who might be inclined to be supportive, whether publicly or privately. Earlier in 1964, Daughters of Bilitis founders Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, together with Glide Memorial Methodist Church, formed the Council on Religion and the Homosexual. CRH was notable for two reasons: not only was it the first organization in the U.S. to incorporate the word “Homosexual” in its name, but it was also the first organization to bring straight and gay people together to minister to the gay community.  

 And that opportunity for those early straight allies to get a first-hand taste of what gay people routinely experienced came on New Year’s Day of 1965, when CHR held a New Years Mardi Gras as a fundraiser at California Hall. When the ministers informed the San Francisco Police Department on December 23 of their planned costume party, the police tried to coerce the hall’s owners into cancelling the rental. Organizers again met with police on December 29, for negotiations which the ministers described “strained.” SFPD officials couldn’t understand why these ministers were arguing on behalf of gay people. Observing the wedding bands on the ministers’ fingers, one officer reportedly said, “We see you’re married. How do your wives accept this?” Their wives, the ministers explained, would be at the ball also, along with other members of their congregations. Police tried to question them on theology and warned them that they were being “used” by local homophile organizations, but the ministers persisted. Finally, the two parties reached a deal where police promised not to arrest anyone in costume, including those in drag.  

 Those promises quickly proved empty. As guests began arriving at 9:00 p.m. on New Year’s Day, they encountered police officers snapping photographs of everyone as they entered the building. The obvious attempt at intimidation deterred many — organizers expected 1500 to show up but only about 500 actually attended. Later that evening, police demanded entry into the building. Three CRH lawyers explained that the party was a private party under California law and that police could not enter without buying tickets or showing a warrant. The lawyers were arrested, along with a ticket-taker, and charged with obstructing an officer. Two other gay men were arrested for “disorderly conduct” after one of them tripped over a chair; police accused him of trying to kiss another man and both were hauled in. Throughout the night, police repeatedly entered the hall to conduct “fire code inspections.” The ball was scheduled to end at midnight, but organizers decided to end the ball an hour earlier. Their next job was to get their guests safely out of the building. One minister was threatened with arrest while escorting two guests to their cars 

. . . . The following morning seven of the ministers who had attended the party held a press conference where they described the pre-event negotiations and the resulting “intimidation, broken promises and obvious hostility” of the San Francisco Police. The American Civil Liberties Union agreed to represent those under arrest. The New Year’s Mardi Gras party, occurring as it did some five years before Stonewall, proved to be a turning point for gay rights in San Francisco. As the Mattachine Society’s Hal Call  recalled, “That was when we got newspapers, TV, and radio on our side. The police were so brutal. And with some respectable clergymen on our side, that was a turning point.” Phyllis Lyon said that it was “our first step into some kind of connectedness with the rest of the city.” City officials, embarrassed by the obvious police misconduct, responded by designating officer Elliot Blackstone as the first liaison between the department and the LGBT community. (At his retirement dinner in 1975, Blackstone was saluted by LGBT community leaders for his ensuing twenty years of advocacy and support.)

Past Know Your LGBT History Posts:

'Social conservatives may support hate group leader's bid for US Senate' and other Friday midday news briefs

FRC's Tony Perkins

Social conservatives could get behind Tony Perkins for U.S. Senate in Louisiana - Family Research Council head Tony Perkins as a United States Senator should scare the hell out all of you. 

Chris Kluwe Blasts Vikings For Cutting Him Over LGBT Advocacy - This controversy hasn't even BEGUN to near the ending yet.  

Brendon Ayanbadejo Backs Chris Kluwe - Awesome!

 CDC Reverses Discriminatory Breast Cancer Screening Rule for Trans People - Good news!

 Jamaican Dancehall Star Sizzla Banned From Music Festival For Anti-Gay Lyrics - Free speech my foot! This is not a free speech issue.

Why won't FRC's Tony Perkins engage in face-to-face debate on lgbt equality?

Earlier today, I talked about the revelation that during a recent appearance on Fox News, Family Research Council head Tony Perkins refused to engage lgbt activist Jeremy Hooper in a face-to-face debate. Most likely it's probably because when he has to debate his anti-gay position against someone who knows their stuff, the following happens: