'Kill the gays' bill supporter reduced to showing gay porn in church

It's getting increasingly clear that neither Peter LaBarbera nor Paul Cameron has anything on anti-gay Ugandan pastor Martin Ssempa when it comes to stigmatizing the gay community or being a walking Freudian slip.
Check out his lastest exploit:

A pastor seeking to bolster Uganda's anti-gay laws which already make homosexuality punishable by life imprisonment screened gay porn in a Kampala church Wednesday in a bid to drum up support.

The screening was attended by around 300 supporters crammed into an evangelical church in the Ugandan capital after plans for a "million-man march" were thwarted by police.

"We had planned to have a million-man and -woman march in Kampala but unfortunately we were told that we could not march because of security concerns," Martin Ssempa told the crowd.

"The major argument homosexuals have is that what people do in the privacy of their bedrooms is nobody's business but do you know what they do in their bedrooms?," the pastor asked.

Ssempa then displayed a slide show of gay pornographic pictures.

"This one is eating another man's anus (eds: correct)," the pastor said, before going into graphic scatological descriptions.

Of course some folks weren't happy over this:

Noma Pakade, from the African gay rights group Behind the Mask, accused the pastor of perpetuating violence by his anti-gay campaign.

"Showing pornography in church in the presence of minors is twisted homophobic propaganda, where homosexuality is equated to paedophilia and pornography," she told the BBC.

"It is not surprising, but rather disappointing, that in Africa in the 21st Century yet again discrimination and prejudice is legitimised through religion."

This isn't the first time Ssempa showed porn in order to stigmatize the gay community. Last month, he held a press conference showing alleged images of men eating excrement. Needless to say, the press conference didn't go well.

I'm praying that the horrid bill he supports doesn't become law, but already, I think, Ssempa has reached the plateau where people are wondering is he fighting against gays or maybe some hidden urges in himself.

Hat tip to the Huffington Post.

Paul Cameron: Gays are 'compelled' to have anal sex

Last week, various blogs (this one included) brought you an interview with discredited researcher Paul Cameron from Midweek Radio Politics.

In the interview, Cameron claimed that according to a "new study" (done by him of course), gays serving in the military are four to seven times more likely to rape their fellow servicemen.

Just par for the course when it comes to Cameron's continued attempts to demonize the gay community.

Well believe it or not, there is a second part of this interview. It's shorter than the first and in it, the host proceeds to rip Cameron from one end to another. And Cameron's response is to talk about how gays are "compelled" to have anal sex.

The man is disgusting, but remember that he is also the one who formed the basic building blocks of religious right junk science used against the gay community.

Intersection between Christian beliefs and junk science is a dangerous location.

A situation which hardly ever gets discussed when it comes to opposition to gay equality is the bad intersection between Christian beliefs and distorted science.

To some who call themselves Christians, opposing gay equality on  religious grounds isn't enough. Some Christians align themselves in or with "traditional values" groups  and religious figures who have created a body of "scientific work" which supposedly proves that homosexuality in itself is a "dangerous lifestyle" that is indicative of dastardly deeds, sexually transmitted diseases, and an early death.

However it should be noted that this body of "scientific work" is rife with junk science and studies either cherry-picked or taken out of context.

A perfect example is a recent piece by Catholic Online entitled Opposing the Homosexual Agenda: Religious Bigotry or Science and Justice?. The author, Sonja Corbitt, tries to make the case that there are justifiable reasons to discriminate against gays and lesbians. And the research she cites is highly dubious:

A "Review of Research on Homosexual Parenting, Adoption, and Foster Parenting" was done by George A. Rekers, Ph.D., Professor of Neuropsychiatry & Behavioral Science, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina. It is a well-known review, and in it, Rekers cites numerous national and international studies that revealed:

• Households with a homosexually-behaving adult uniquely endanger children.

•Households with a homosexually-behaving adult expose children to significantly higher rates of psychological disorder, (particularly depression), suicide, and substance abuse in homosexually-behaving adults, which results in higher rates of child depression, child maltreatment and neglect.

• Households with a resident homosexually-behaving adult are substantially less capable of providing the best psychologically stable and secure home.

• Households with a homosexually-behaving male contribute to a potentially higher risk of removal due to the sexual abuse.

• A husband/wife relationship is significantly healthier and substantially more stable socially and psychologically.

• The best child adjustment results from living with a married man and woman compared to other family structures.

• Compared to a family without a homosexually behaving adult, empirical evidence and 30 years of Rekers´s own clinical experience with children strongly support the conclusion that a home with a homosexual-behaving individual subjects a child to a set of disadvantages, stresses, and other harms that are seriously detrimental to a child´s psychological and social development.

This review is an extensive survey of many, many studies and their research; the science behind it was used at state levels to guide public policy regarding child custody decisions, adoption, and foster parenting, as well as to defend and uphold laws to this effect in other states and on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America. These laws were upheld by the US Supreme Court.

At first glance, Corbitt's citation of Rekers sounds reasonable. But there are a few facts she omitted.

Rekers, a former professor at the University of South Carolina and a founder of the Family Research Council, has testified against the lgbt community in adoption cases.

In 2004, he was an expert witness in a case involving gay adoption in Arkansas. The state had banned gays from adopting in 1999. In January 2005, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Timothy White ruled against the state of Arkansas. Furthermore, he called Rekers' testimony "extremely suspect." He also accused Rekers of testifying solely for promoting his "own personal agenda."

In 2008, Rekers was also an expert witness in a case defending Florida's gay adoption ban. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cindy Lederman ruled against the state. In her decision, she said "Dr. Rekers’ testimony was far from a neutral and unbiased recitation of the relevant scientific evidence. Dr. Rekers’ beliefs are motivated by his strong ideological and theological convictions that are not consistent with the science. Based on his testimony and demeanor at trial, the court can not consider his testimony to be credible nor worthy of forming the basis of public policy."

Lederman may have been put off by the fact that Rekers said based on "research,"  a case could be made for banning Native Americans from adopting children.

Ugandan anti-gay bill may contain nasty loophole and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Loophole Allows Uganda to Execute Anyone ‘Related’ to Homosexuals - Why should anyone be surprised?

House of cards collapsing on opponents of gay soldiers - Yeah but how long will it take for DADT to be repealed?

Mullen finds ‘little resistance’ among troops to repealing DADT - Another bit of good news.

Independent evaluators concur: Democrats in Congress passed a stimulus bill that really worked - Not necessarily an lgbt issue per se but since folks are riding Obama like a prized pony, I felt the need to put this in.

Gay seniors program wins $475,000 grant - Again I thought that lgbt seniors didn't exist. Isn't that right, Tony Perkins?

Group overusing the 'men invading women's restrooms' lie in Florida

Riddle me this - an organization uses a tactic against a non-discrimination bill which not only fails but fails overwhelmingly.

Should the organization use the tactic again?

Usually an organization wouldn't. But in this case, we are dealing with one of those pesky "traditional values groups."

In Gainesvile, FL, a group calling itself the Concerned Citizens of Gainesville are trying to keep Craig Lowe from becoming Mayor. They have two problems with him.

First that he is openly gay. Secondly that he helped to lead the effort to defeat a repeal of an anti-discrimination law last year. The repeal effort lost by a huge majority (61 percent). And what's more interesting is that supporters of the repeal (the losers) used the tired talking point of how the law would lead to men invading women's restrooms.

If the "bathroom"  tactic didn't work to repeal the anti-discrimination law, then what makes the "Concerned Citizens of Gainesville" think that it can defeat Lowe?

Never mind that Lowe has spent many years in public service, including serving on the Gainesville Commission since 2003 because to them, it's all about the bathrooms..

Those who want to support Lowe's campaign can go here.

Is supporting gays the same as supporting Nazis and pedophiles?

The city of Charleston in my state of South Carolina will be hosting its first Gay Pride.

Conservative columnist John Rackliffe isn't happy about that. Nor is Rackliffe happy that North Charleston's mayor Keith Summey has agreed to be the Grand Marshall of this event:

How should a Christian and former North Charleston resident react to such a gesture? Knowing what I know about how God feels about homosexuality, should I be supportive of the Mayor’s decision? After all, like Summey suggested, he is mayor for all of North Charleston’s residents no matter what their sexual preference. Perhaps, as an elected official, Mayor Summey cannot exercise his stated belief that he “is not supportive of their lifestyle.” Perhaps, he has no choice but to cater to the whims of his citizenry.

Mayor Summey has a choice. What if NAMBLA (look it up), wanted to hold a rally on the steps of North Charleston High School? Should the citizens of North Charleston tolerate it? How about the American Nazi Party? What if the wanted to celebrate Adolf Hitler’s birthday in Park Circle, should the people of North Charleston be accomodating because they have the right to express themselves too?

That sort of hyperbole is par for the course for Rackliffe, who has written other very interesting pieces on the lgbt community such as The homosexual agenda, 'out of the closet' and after your children.

Rackliffe's biography calls him a "born again Christian" who "desires to share his love of Jesus Christ with others through writing and civil discussion."  Comparing gays and lesbians to Nazis and pedophiles doesn't strike me as Christian and it certainly doesn't strike me as civil.

But I find his candor refreshing in its honesty.

There are some on Rackliffe's side of the spectrum who imply that gays are too pushy, too volatile, and therefore are causing problems with their attempts to "change" the view of supposedly what's normal. Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage seems to have cornered the market on phony piety, continuously wringing her hands in abject misery over being "unfairly labeled as a bigot simply because she wants to defend traditional values."

But however nauseatingly untrue Rackliffe's words are, it is nice for someone on his side of the spectrum to drop the mask and show what the push against gay equality is really all about.

It's about spreading ignorance and fear based on presumptions of religious superiority.

And in this case, it's about being extremely presumptuous regarding the role of public servants (i.e. elected officials).

Why else would Rackliffe criticize Mayor Summey for agreeing to show support to an event put on by law-abiding, tax-paying citizens and compound the verbal error by comparing these same citizens to Nazis and pedophiles?

Despite what some folks may believe, homosexuality is not against the law (although some people clearly wish that it would be) and there is no "gay lifestyle" (at least I haven't gotten the newsletter from "National Headquarters" detailing one).

 But gays and lesbians are contributing very much to society, living normal lives, and raising families.

Why should Mayor Summey treat them any differently than any other group of constituents?

By agreeing to be Grand Marshall, maybe Summey wanted to assure them that as an elected public official,  he represents their interests also. After all, isn't that his job?

Blog swarm HRC on Don't Ask, Don't Tell and other Tuesday midday news briefs

DADT blog swarm: contact HRC to publicly demand the President to take the lead on repeal in 2010 - An excellent idea. Let's get on the ball here!

Police halts anti-gay demo as pro-gay activists secretly meet in Kampala - The situation regarding the Ugandan anti-gay bill gets more tense.

Smitherman is approved to adopt son - Excellent news on the family front.

The Right Wing's Meaningless Manifesto - Another $!*# declaration? How about a declaration AGAINST declarations?

Another 'ex-gay' leader, another dubious religious leader

From the excellent site TruthWinsOut.org comes this revelation about another "ex-gay" leader:

A Truth Wins Out (TWO) and South Florida Gay News (SFGN) investigation revealed today that a Wall Street criminal mastermind who was convicted in 1987 of “fraud of spectacular scope” has secretly reinvented himself as a moral leader who “cures” gay and lesbian people. Known as “Abba Dabba Do” in the financial world, Arthur Abba Goldberg was sentenced to 18 months in jail for bilking poor communities with complicated bond schemes and served six months in prison.

“We have long considered Arthur Goldberg a con-artist, but our investigation shows he is also an ex-con,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. ”His diabolical past mirrors his dishonest present-day work with the ex-gay industry. Whether it was shady deals on Wall Street or shading the truth on gay issues, Goldberg is someone who lacks credibility and can’t be trusted.”

“Mr. Goldberg’s silence today about his illegal conduct yesterday is a clear indicator that 18 months in prison 20 years ago has not inhibited his willingness to deceive others in order to advance himself today,” said SFGN Publisher Norm Kent. “You free yourself by admitting your wrongs, not erasing them. Goldberg is hardly in a position to be advocating how gay men and women should be authentic with their own lives when he is a fraud with his.”

Upon completing his parole, Goldberg dropped his conspicuous middle name, Abba, and co-founded Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality (JONAH) in 1999.

He is currently the president of Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality (PATH), an umbrella group for “ex-gay” referrals and the Executive Secretary of the notorious National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). He is also the President of Congregation Mount Sinai, a temple in Jersey City and a Principal for the International Center for Gender Affirming Processes (CGAP). Goldberg is a key ex-gay industry insider and viewed as an architect of its strategy and message machine, says TWO and SFGN.

More here.

For those who are interested, I wrote a piece last year about JONAH demonstrating how it, like so many of these other phony "Christian" groups, distort legitimate studies to demonize the lgbt community.

Mr. Goldberg seems to have gone from one racket to another.

Hypocrisy of the day - Gary Glenn (again)

Gary Glenn of the American Family Association of Michigan got a little press from the right-wing One News Now today:

A pro-family advocate in Michigan says he's honored to be on the front lines in fighting for First Amendment rights to speak out against homosexuality.

Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, is concerned that the "Hate Crimes Act" signed into law last year will be used to prosecute those who speak in favor of traditional biblical morality. He cites a personal example.

"Several years ago Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit and I were personally accused by the National Gay &Lesbian Task Force in a news release of being responsible for inciting the alleged beating death of a 72-year-old homosexual man in Detroit, merely because we had actively supported Michigan's Marriage Protection Amendment reaffirming marriage as only between a man and a woman," he remarks.

Glenn says aside from the fact that officials found that there was no assault and the man died of natural causes, it illustrates the point that preachers of biblical truth are being targeted. He encourages boldness.

"Don't be intimidated," he counsels. "Continue to speak biblical truth; continue to tell people that marriage is and always has been between one man and one woman -- that's what's best for society, best for children. And stand up against these continuing restrictions on the exercise of free speech."

Glenn is speaking of the case of 72-year-old Andrew Anthos, who died mysteriously in 2007. Anthos, shortly before his death, had told family members that he was attacked because of his sexual orientation. However, the police and medical examiners concluded that his death was the result of a fall and there was no evidence that he was attacked.

But Glenn plays a little loose with the facts regarding the Gay and Lesbian Task Force letter. This is what it said:

"For years, Michigan has been subjected to the homophobic rants of Gary Glenn of the American Family Association of Michigan, while so many otherwise good and decent people have been silent. Just two years ago, the state endured an ugly campaign, led by Cardinal Adam Maida, to 'protect marriage' by writing anti-gay discrimination into its constitution. Based on that amendment, a three-judge panel of Michigan's court of appeals voted last month to terminate medical insurance coverage for families of LGBT government workers throughout the state.

So while the letter did somewhat link him to Anthos's death (which was probably unfair), Glenn really has no right to plead total innocence here. He wasn't "merely standing up for marriage." The letter speaks to his long history of vilifying the lgbt community.

Like in 2006 when he spoke against gay/straight alliances in public schools because according to him, they "promote risky behavior,"

Or when he opposed anti-discrimination policies on the assumption that they would make bathrooms co-ed,

Or when he opposed anti-bullying legislation because according to him, it "promoted the homosexual agenda."

Or that ridiculous lawsuit he has help to launch against hate crimes legislation, legislation which does nothing to punish anyone for speech unless that speech is advocating violence,

Or last week when he declared that there should criminal sanctions against  "homosexual behavior." The discussion that he had with me afterwards in which he tried to justify his words only spoke to his desire to further stigmatize the lgbt community even to the point of using information designed to help us as a weapon against us.

And that's the huge hypocrisy of folks like Glenn. They claim that they are being attacked for merely standing up for "Christian values."  It's a good lie they tell as long as no one is made aware of low they stoop to defend their idea of morality.

UPDATE - Check out One News Now's "poll" on hate crimes legislation and the "variety" of questions it offers:

What kind of impact do you believe the Hate Crimes Act will have on freedom of expression for Christians? (related article)

1. 
   

   Christians will be prosecuted

2. 
   

   Christians will be intimidated

3. 
   

   Christians will do what they are told

Paul Cameron claims gays will rape willy-nilly if allowed to serve openly in the military

There are times when I loathe having to cover the religious right's attacks on lgbt America.

And this moment is at least 12 of those times.

Believe it or not, discredited researcher Paul Cameron  (and head of the anti-gay hate group the Family Research Institute) has come out with a new study which (like so much of his earlier inaccurate work) denigrates the lgbt community. He talks about it here on Midweek Politics Radio.

No I don't have a transcript but I am sure one will be forthcoming.

To make a long story short, Cameron claims that the data he "compiled" shows that gays are four to seven more times likely to rape their fellow servicemen.He even says that some perpetrators of heterosexual sex assaults can be termed as gay because apparently some gay men "like women too." (that piece starts at 1:30).

Among other things in the interview, Cameron also addresses (i.e. dances around) his dismissal from the American Psychological Association. Too bad he didn't discuss his censures and rebukes from the American Sociological Association, Nebraska Psychological Association, and Canadian Psychological Association. Or the complaints about his work from others such as A. Nicholas Groth. Or the story he made up about a gay man castrating a child in 1982.

My guess is that other than a few crackpot bloggers, no one on the right will overtly agree with Cameron's assessment or cite the newest monstrosity he calls a study. But we've already heard covert twinges of Cameron's lies, i.e. the talking point that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly will "sexualize" the military.

And after the anti-gay conference going on at Liberty University today, I am sure we will hear more sly references to Cameron's discredited work.

The irony is that when the issue of gays in the military was discussed after Bill Clinton's election, the opposition paraded Cameron's lies front and center. Now very few people will touch him, at least not openly.

It's progress for sure, but still can't someone put this man's lies to final rest before any more guillible people believe them?

Hat tip to People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch 

Related posts:

Homophobic 'researcher' Paul Cameron in all of his repulsive glory

More homophobic lies from the Paul Cameron Poland tour

Why we should care about Paul Cameron

Know Your LGBT History - 3 Strikes

It's snowing in South Carolina and it's like when the USC football team makes it to a bowl game - it happens so rarely that when it does, folks down here tend to freak out.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

And I will apologize again for today's segment of Know Your LGBT History. I know that I should be positive seeing that it's Black History Month and I was last week with Paris Is Burning.

But it's equally important to show the flipside in terms of the media images that lgbts of color have to deal with.

3 Strikes is a bad movie. And not in a Plan 9 From Outer Space good way. It's an insult all around to everyone involved. It tells the story of a young man who has just been released from prison for the second time. This means, according to the 3 strikes law, if he is arrested for another crime, he will be going to jail for a looong time. And as luck would have it, the young man who picks him up from prison gets caught in the middle of a police shootout.

Which means . . . never mind. This movie doesn't deserve an explanation. It insults everyone involved, especially the lgbt community in this scene which is supposed to be funny but reveals the mindset of the movie's writer about gay men. Apparently he felt that we are so sex crazed, we will rape someone in the hospital wearing a bloody diaper.

And it gets better. For a long time, Black Entertainment Television would show this movie. And that was funny because it was filled with so much profanity that the network would have to blot out the dialogue from a lot of scenes. If you hadn't watched this movie on video or at the movies, you wouldn't know what was going on.

The hateful hospital scene is seen here via a bad copy (sorry but I just don't have the stomach to put a good copy of this scene on my blog):




Past Know Your LGBT History postings:
 
Know Your LGBT History - Paris Is Burning

Know Your LGBT History - The Women

Know your LGBT History - Soul Plane

Know Your LGBT History - The Player's Club

Special Know Your LGBT History - Fame

Know Your LGBT History - Welcome Home, Bobby

Know Your LGBT History - Barney Miller

Know your lgbt history - The Jerry Springer Show

Know your lgbt history - Martin Lawrence and that 'gay guy' on his show

Know your lgbt history - The Ricki Lake Show

Know your lgbt history - Which Way Is Up

Know your lgbt history - Gays in Primetime Soaps

Know your lgbt history - Boys Beware

Know your lgbt history - The Boondocks

Know your lgbt history - Mannequin

Know your lgbt history - The Warriors

Know Your LGBT History - New York Undercover

Know Your LGBT History - Low Down Dirty Shame

Know Your LGBT History - Fortune and Men's Eyes

Know your lgbt history - California Suite

Know your lgbt history - Taxi (Elaine's Strange Triangle)

Know your lgbt history - Come Back Charleston Blue

Know your lgbt history - James Bond goes gay

Know your lgbt history - Windows

Know your lgbt history - To Wong Foo and Priscilla

Know your lgbt history - Blazing Saddles

Know your lgbt history - Sanford and Son

Know your lgbt history - In Living Color

Know your lgbt history - Cleopatra Jones and her lesbian drug lords

Know your lgbt history - Norman, Is That You?

Know your lgbt history - The 'Exotic' Adrian Street

Know your lgbt history - The Choirboys

Know your lgbt history - Eddie Murphy

Know your lgbt history - The Killing of Sister George

Know your lgbt history - Hanna-Barbera cartoons pushes the 'gay agenda

'Know your lgbt history - Cruising

Know your lgbt history - Foxy Brown and Cleopatra Jones

Know your lgbt history - I Got Da Hook Up

Know your lgbt history - Fright Night

Know your lgbt history - Flowers of Evil

The Jeffersons and the transgender community    
 

Black History Month Jewels and other Friday midday news briefs

The NBJC celebrates Black History Month -- and names present-day jewels of the week - And I am proud to say that my very good online buddy Pam Spaulding has been chosen as a "jewel of the week." Congratulations, Pam. The honor is WELL DESERVED!

R.I. officials elect 1st openly gay speaker - Kick ass! Another honor for Black History Month because he is an lgbt of color.

Why I Loathe The Term ‘Same-Sex Attraction’ (SSA) - You and me both, Wayne!

Right-Wing Accuracy In Media: Abandoning freedom of speech and the press are a “natural reaction” to pro-gay “propagandizing” - Hateful group continues to support Ugandan anti-gay bill. Paging the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Gillibrand Lays Out Strategy For DADT Repeal – Moratorium Or Repeal, Tucked Into Defense Bill - However we can get it done, get it done!

Gays serving openly in the military = reinstating the draft

According to the American Family Association's One News Now, if gays are allowed in the military, the draft will have to be reinstated because it will be difficult to get new recruits:

A national defense analyst and Pentagon advisor says if those pushing for repeal of the 1993 law banning homosexuals from military service are successful, it will be difficult to maintain an all-volunteer force.

. . . Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis (USA-Ret.) was part of the military working group that helped craft the 1993 law known as Section 654, Title 10, which strictly prohibits homosexuals from serving in the military. He believes lifting the ban would alienate those people most likely to volunteer for the military.

"If you begin to erode the base -- primarily conservative, many are religious, and of course they're very patriotic... -- if you begin to erode that, guess what? You have no alternative if you want to fill the ranks than to draft," Maginnis decides.

He is convinced that President Obama could care less about how unpopular such a move would be. "The politicians don't want to vote for that, so that's really...the crux of what these people are about to do," the defense analyst explains. "Obama could care less about the military. He's paying back a political payola to the homosexual community."

And to prove this assertion, Maginnis offers . . . nothing. No studies, no proof, not even a magic show. Just his opinion. And his opinion pretty much makes up the article.

World Net Daily using Kevin Jennings to attack student anti-discrimination bill

We haven't heard anything from the right about Obama appointee Kevin Jennings since their pathetic attempts to get him removed last year.

But according to Media Matters, World Net Daily is making up for that silence:

A homosexual congressman from Colorado has proposed a law critics say would give controversial federal school safety czar Kevin Jennings - a longtime homosexual-rights advocate - almost unlimited authority to mandate indoctrination in public schools at taxpayer expense.

"It doesn't get much more fascist than this! It's a sexual revolutionary's dream," wrote Linda Harvey of Mission America.

Under the legislation by Democrat Rep. Jared Polis, Jennings "can create pro-homosexual programs and policies to their hearts' delight," Harvey wrote.

Jennings founded the "Gay, Lesbian Straight Education Network" and now heads the office of "Safe and Drug Free Schools" at the Department of Education.

Polis' proposal would provide special protections for students who claim they are discriminated against because of their "perceived sexual orientation." The bill would call down the wrath of the federal government on offenders by classifying "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity" alongside race, color, sex, disability or national origin as factors on which protections are based.

The irony of Harvey's statement accusing Jennings of having a hand in this bill is that she later contradicts herself in the same article:

"While I have no hard evidence, it's got Kevin Jennings' fingerprints all over it," Harvey said. "His safe and drug free schools plan can take full advantage by creating new rules schools would have to follow."

America is such a great country in our freedoms but Harvey being quoted about this bill is proof of the fact that freedom of speech must come with a little discernment. Not everyone who voices an opinion about an issue has the facts.

Or in this case, will let the facts stand in the way of a good lie.

Remember, Harvey has no expertise in anything but rumor mongering. She is a former ad executive who "found the Lord."  She also believes that anyone who supports lgbt rights in any form shouldn't be around children because they will cause those children to be molested. In other words, Harvey is clueless. She doesn't what the hell she is talking about.

Media Matters gives accurate clarifications about the bill:

Jennings not referenced in bill. The bill at issue, the Student Nondiscrimination Act of 2010, does not specifically reference Jennings, his position, Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools, or his office, the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.

Bill does not "mandate indoctrination." The bill does not "mandate indoctrination" in public schools, but rather bans discrimination based on "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity" in public schools, and defines "harassment" on those bases as discrimination

Bill does not grant anyone "almost unlimited authority." The bill directs federal departments that provide funding to public schools to promulgate rules allowing for the termination of that funding if that school fails to take action to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Those rules are subject to approval by the president.


Bill is has a Republican co-sponsor. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) is listed as an original co-sponsor of the bill.

However, we know how the oppositions works - pour on innuendo and outrage and while omitting the facts. I'm pretty sure we will hear more lies about this bill.

My guess is that we can expect another series of phony exposes from Big Government and more ugly attacks on Jennings and Polis from right-wing sites and blogs.

And who could potentially suffer from this? Lgbt students. Again they will done the most harm by those (i.e. Linda Harvey, World Net Daily) who claim to have their best interest at heart.

Editor's note - the Media Matters piece has more information on Harvey's anti-gay history. Read it with a strong stomach.

Religious right distortion explosion!

There seems to be an explosion of religious right inaccuracies taking place today. You think they are geting desperate?

No, the SF study did NOT illustrate that half of gay marriages are “open” - A classic example of how the religious right distorts a news article to make the case against the lgbt community.

The far right's mono-game: Deny gays of monogamy, enshrine them as a monolith - Another view of how the religious right distorted the news article on lgbt monogamy.

Religious groups want gay judge removed from Prop-8 trial - They know they are probably going to lose this case so they jump on what seems to be a weakness. However they don't offer any proof of wrongdoing by the judge. They simply say that because he is gay, he can't be impartial. However, the judge's past rulings prove them wrong.

'Sleight of hand' measure favors homosexuals - It's a One News Now article but we all need a little fiber in our diets. Plus many commentators are skewering Matt Barber. Barber being called out on his lies is ALWAYS a nice thing to watch.

Does Matt Barber Speak For Liberty Counsel? - And speaking of Barber, is there some friction between him and the Liberty Counsel over statements he makes?

S.F. school board OKs new gay support program - how about a bit of good news to counter all of the nonsense.

Masturbation, Gary Glenn, and other Thursday musings

For those interested, Gary Glenn's silly war on this blog continues.

You will remember that earlier this week, Glenn (of the American Family Association of Michigan) voiced the opinion that "homosexual behavior" should be criminalized. When I wrote a post criticizing this opinion, he wrote back spouting nonsense and studies taken out of context, which I refuted.

Now one would think that it's over but think again because Glenn keeps coming back spouting the SAME distortions (you read that right) on the comments page of that post. Apparently instead of winning the argument on the basis of facts, he is trying to tire me out.

It's highly entertaining. But for those who want something more entertaining, enjoy this very short clip from Michelle Turner, a woman who started Citizens for Responsible Curriculum. CRC was a group which started a huge controversy in Montgomery County in Maryland in 2004 when it objected to sex education classes.

From the webpage of the group Teachthefacts.org (which was founded to combat this group):

The most intense criticisms were about the sexual orientation part, with the arguments consisting mainly of a laundry-list of complaints about the stereotype of the gay man. One court document argued that if the schools taught about various orientations students will become gay, catch AIDS, and come back to sue the school district. Costing the taxpayers millions, see? That's why we shouldn't teach the facts. The two groups that filed lawsuits, over and over again, were the Citizens for a Responsible Whatever and PFOX. PFOX is not a friend of the school district, and PFOX is not a friend of any gay person. PFOX's premise is that being gay is bad, and their recommendation is that gay people should just quit it and turn straight.

It was a hard fight, and in the end our side won a decent curriculum but the other side intimidated the school district and kept important information out under the threat of more lawsuits. Some school board members made firm statements about the new curriculum, and in the end all of them except one predictable member voted in favor of it.

But Turner and CRC from time to time still persists, like this clip from the Daily Show demonstrates.
Turner doesn't particularly care for letting folks know that masturbation is pleasurable:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Moment of Zen - Sex Ed for Kids
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Black History Month lgbts of color - Nell Carter

After the situation with Gary Glenn regarding "criminalizing the homosexual lifestyle," (I think I whipped his behind), I feel like showcasing something positive, so it's time for another Black History Month LGBT Hero:

Nell Carter:

 From the Encyclopedia of Alabama: 

Birmingham native Nell Carter (1948-2003) first came to public attention as a Broadway performer, but she achieved her most lasting fame as the star of the television series Gimme A Break! The diminutive but commanding Carter overcame a difficult and traumatic childhood to achieve a successful career as a singer and dancer in several theater productions in New York during the 1970s, including her most acclaimed show, Ain't Misbehavin'. She then reinvented herself as a television star, taking on the role of the brash housekeeper on Gimme A Break! Plagued by health problems and a turbulent private life, Carter died at the age of 54 while preparing for a new theatrical role. 

Nell Carter was born Nell Ruth Hardy in Birmingham on September 13, 1948, to Horace and Edna Mae Humphrey Hardy. She was one of nine children. Nell displayed an early love for music and began singing in her local church choir. She soon progressed to appearing on a local radio show and performed with gospel groups as well. Early misfortunes would set the tone for Hardy's later life. Her father was electrocuted after stepping on a power line when she was a child, and at age 15, she was sexually assaulted at gunpoint and bore a child, who she named Tracey, as a result of the rape.

After graduating from Birmingham's Parker High School, Hardy continued to perform locally but soon moved to New York City to pursue better opportunities. It was around this time that she changed her last name to Carter. She performed in a variety of venues, including cabarets and nightclubs in the evenings, and from 1970 to 1972 also studied at the School of Drama established by basketball player turned actor Bill Russell. Also during this time, Carter earned a small part on the soap opera Ryan's Hope. After appearing in several Broadway productions, Carter traveled to London, England, for more theatrical training.

Lgbt youth facing problems in San Diego and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Golden gays get some more - Shhhh! Don't tell Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council. Elderly lgbts aren't supposed to exist.
Oak Park Library's pioneering effort gets national nod - The library received an award for its section on the transgendered community. Congratulations!

Sex trafficking plagues San Diego's LGBT youth - Our lgbt youth faces another problem that folks like Glenn will no doubt blame us all for.

Did the Anglican Church of Uganda Endorse Criminalization With Death Penalty? - You be the judge.

AFA's Gary Glenn makes desperate attempt to justify his call to 'criminalize homosexal behavior'

Yesterday, I wrote a post about how the American Family Association of Michigan's Gary Glenn publicly said he thinks that "homosexual behavior" should be criminalized.

Naturally what I wrote totally disagreed with his premise. Glenn didn't exactly like what I wrote so he wrote me back.

What ensued is a back and forth, which I think demonstrates just how folks like Glenn will attempt to manipulate facts and figures for their own purposes.

A summary is the following: Glenn lists reasons why "homosexual behavior" should be outlawed, but his reasonings are either studies taken out of context or work which specifically places the blame on homophobia for  the health issues in gay men (of course Glenn omits the lesbian community). When this is pointed out to him, Glenn refuses to retreat but engages in what seems to be a version of  "Pickett's charge." And like the original Pickett's charge, his desperate push is destroyed. His comments are in rude and mine are in blue.

Glenn:

Hi Al,

Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm happy to directly address precisely what I mean when I said that homosexual behavior is proven to be a threat to public health and safety.

I was referring to the dramatically increased incidence of mental illness, substance abuse, eating disorders, STDs, life-threatening diseases such as AIDS, cancer, and hepatitis, and premature death by up to 20 years among individuals who engage in homosexual behavior.

My sources for the references above would be the Journal of the American Medical Association, Oxford University's International Journal of Epidemiology, the Centers for Disease Control, the Lesbian and Gay Medical Association, the (homosexual) Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition, the Canadiam Medical Association Journal, etc., etc. -- none of whose researchers, far as I know, are named Cameron.

I was also referring to "Life in the Bushes," the propensity of an apparently sizeable segment of individuals who engage in homosexual behavior to engage in multiple on-the-spot anonymous sexual encounters in city parks, highway rest stops, public rest rooms, "gay" bookstores, etc. -- a practice advertised and promoted any any number of "gay" websites.

For example, as the Royal Oak (Mi.) Daily Tribune reported March 23, 2000, regarding a police raid on one such location:

"(Hazel Park City Manager Joseph) Young also said the Oakland County Health Department had been called to check the business after suspected 'bodily fluids' had been found there. 'Essentially it revolves around conditions existing in the building that we feel make it unsafe,' said (Hazel Park Police Chief David) Niedermeier."

Or as the Detroit Free Press reported March 24, 2000:

"Investigators said gay sexual activity was common at seven of the adult bookstores raided Wednesday. The seven bookstores had so-called buddy booths, which let patrons masturbate while watching one another, said Ypsilanti Police Det. Sgt. Craig Annas. Some of the booths had portals that allowed sexual activities to take place between partners in different booths, Annas said. 'The result is that male semen gets all around these rooms,' endangering the public through possible exposure to infected bodily fluids, he said. ...But Jeff Montgomery, executive director of Detroit-based Triangle Foundation, a gay-and-lesbian-rights group, defended the bookstores and said the raids were politically motivated harassment of gays."

Or as openly lesbian Detroit News columnist Deb Price commented regarding such public health-threatening activity in her weekly homosexual advocacy column:

"The Los Angeles County Health Services found half of HIV-positive men were having sex in public places without telling their sex partners of their status and often not using condoms."

That's what I was referring to, Al, when I said homosexual behavior and the homosexual lifestyle are a "proven threat to public health and safety."

No weaseling or Camorenesque talking points required.

Me:

Actually Mr. Glenn, while you didn't refer to Cameron per se, you did use his distortive (sp) techniques. For example:

You mentioned the so-called short life span of gay men. Now if I am not incorrect, you got that citation from the Oxford University's International Journal of Epidemiology. And you are referring to a 1997 study done by Canadian researchers. What you omitted was the fact that in 2001, those same researchers went on record complaining about how their work was being distorted by people like yourself .

Now in your other examples, you mentioned incidents having to do with such things as substance abuse, eating disorders, STDs, and mental illness. HOWEVER, you make a inaccurate implication that these things are indicative of the lgbt orientation.

Another voice for the 'criminalize homosexual acts' hot mess

As noted in a post earlier today, Gary Glenn of the American Family Association of Michigan became another voice (after that of American Family Association's Bryan Fischer and Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg) for "criminalizing homosexual acts:"

“The short answer to your question is yes, we believe that states should be free to regulate and prohibit behavior that’s a violation of community standards and a proven threat to public health and safety — including, as most of the United States did throughout its history, homosexual behavior.”

I'm a little disappointed that Glenn wasn't pressed by the Michigan Messenger about how being gay is a "proven threat to public health and safety." We all know that statement as a Paul Cameron talking point and it would have been interesting to see Glenn weasel his way out of explaining the Cameronesque connection to his statement.

People for the American Way makes it a point to inform everyone of the following hypocrisy in Glenn's stance:

It should also be pointed out that Glenn is among the plantiffs in the Thomas More Law Center's lawsuit challenging the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 on the grounds that protection for gays is part of an effort to "criminalize the Bible and use the threat of federal prosecutions and long jail sentences to silence Christians from expressing their Biblically-based religious belief that homosexual conduct is a sin."

So Glenn, while pursuing a claiming a phony case of persecution is pushing for actual persecution.

His statement makes me more anxious about the upcoming conference on "homosexuality" next week at Liberty University.  I don't think we've heard the last of this entire "let's criminalize homosexual acts" nonsense.

Maybe I'm being overly paranoid but if Colorado in 1992 and the Proposition 8 vote in 2008 taught me anything, it's never take any religious right attempt as lightweight and nonsensical.

Another call for criminal sanctions against the gay community and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Jon Stewart tells it like it is about Palin and the "tea party" folks



And in other news . . .

Family group says it wants homosexuality criminalized - This is getting more and more insane.

Regina Griggs lies. Like a liar. Sadly. And Often. Here's just a smattering of proof... - Regina Griggs of PFOX caught lying . . . again.

Daniel Alter to be first openly gay man ever to be nominated for federal bench - Someone call the Exorcist because religious right heads are going to spin.

AFA's Fischer cites hate group as reason for criminal sanctions against gays

A week after called for the "criminalization of homosexual behavior,"  the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer has continuously attempted to justify his comments.

But he should have quit while he was ahead because yesterday, he finally hit the nadir of nuttiness with the following:

As the Family Research Institute reports, historian Paul Johnson has written that decriminalizing homosexuality, which was done beginning in the 1960s for ill-conceived reasons of supposed compassion, has left us now today with a "monster in our midst" - a powerful, vicious, and punitive homosexual cabal that is determined to overthrow completely what remains of Judeo-Christian standards of sexual morality in the West.

As he points out, the process took place in three stages. First, homosexual behavior was decriminalized, while still being regarded as a "great moral evil." But decriminalization enabled homosexual activists to openly organize, until they pressed for and received declarations that not only was homosexual conduct not an evil, but was in fact the moral equivalent of heterosexuality.

Then once this milestone was achieved, homosexual activists pressed beyond equality to privilege, where now today homosexual behavior has been given special protections in public life, protections which come at the expense of religious liberty, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech and freedom of association and lead to the punishment, intimidation and harassment of any who oppose their agenda.

I'm totally unfamiliar with Paul Johnson but I am very familiar with the Family Research Institute. We all should be.

It is deemed an anti-gay hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center mostly because its founder, Paul Cameron, has spent a considerable amount of time over the years creating junk science and outright lies to demonize the lgbt community:

"Right now, here in Lincoln, there is a 4-year-old boy who has had his genitals almost severed from his body at Gateway in the rest room with a homosexual act… It’s really awkward. I could see where Gateway would want to suppress this. I could see where the parents would want to suppress it. It could be just a rumor. But enough things have happened recently so that such a thing doesn’t have to be invented.” - Paul Cameron told this story to a group in 1982 in Lincoln, Nebraska in an attempt to kill a gay rights ordinance. The police discovered the story to be false but the ordinance was defeated.

“(Cameron) misrepresents my findings and distorts them to advance his homophobic views. I make a very clear distinction in my writing between pedophilia and homosexuality, noting that adult males who sexually victimize young boys are either pedophilic or heterosexual, and that in my research I have not found homosexual men turning away from adult partners to children . . . I consider this totally unprofessional behavior on the part of Dr. Cameron and I want to bring this to your attention. He disgraces his profession.” - Dr. A. Nicholas Groth in 1984 after discovering that Cameron distorted his work. 
 
"Paul Cameron (Nebraska) was dropped from membership for a violation of the Preamble to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists - American Psychological Association, 1983
 
The science and profession of psychology in Nebraska as represented by the Nebraska Psychological Association, formally dissociates itself from the representations and interpretations of scientific literature offered by Dr. Paul Cameron in his writings and public statements on sexuality. Further, the Nebraska Psychological Association would like it known that Dr. Cameron is not a member of the Association. Dr. Cameron was recently dropped from membership in the American Psychological Association for a violation of the Preamble to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists - Nebraska Psychological Association, 1984
 
Dr. Paul Cameron has consistently misinterpreted and misrepresented sociological research on sexuality, homosexuality, and lesbianism" - American Sociological Association, 1985

The Canadian Psychological Association takes the position that Dr. Paul Cameron has consistently misinterpreted and misrepresented research on sexuality, homosexuality, and lesbianism and thus, it formally disassociates itself from the representation and interpretations of scientific literature in his writings and public statements on sexuality. - Canadian Psychological Association, 1996


If Fischer thought citing anything from this discredited hate group would give him credibility in his attacks on the lgbt community, then he is sadly mistaken.

However if he was gearing to demonstrate just how morally empty he and the American Family Association are, then he wins the blue ribbon.

Related posts:

Homophobic 'researcher' Paul Cameron in all of his repulsive glory

More homophobic lies from the Paul Cameron Poland tour

Why we should care about Paul Cameron

Hat tip to Right Wing Watch

Don't forget about us during Black History Month

With Oscar season and Black History Month rolling around at the same time, it's gratifying to see Lee Daniels get recognition for being the first black gay man nominated in the category of Best Director.

However, some media reports got it wrong when they claimed that he is the first gay black man to receive an Oscar nomination. The late actor Paul Winfield receives that honor because of his 1972 Oscar nomination for Best Actor for Sounder.

This error is especially poignant to me because it illustrates just how difficult it is for members of the black gay community to receive any type of recognition for what we have contributed to society.

Usually we are ignored during Black History Month. Or worse yet, our achievements are noted but our orientation is stepped over as if its dog dirt on a freshly manicured lawn.

This could happen for a number of reasons but I like to place a degree of blame on this ridiculous war that the black and gay communities find themselves manipulated into regarding who suffered the most. Regardless of the points made by either group, the one who receives the largest casualties in this battle for position is the gay community of color.

The richness of our lives and our contributions to America are diminished because we are seen as commodities in this tug of war.

Meanwhile, young black gays and lesbians are exploited and taught to hate themselves by either self-hating ministers or other black leaders with an agenda.

But despite this, I take a degree of solace in something.

No matter how the spotlight of attention from the larger gay community eludes us, no matter how many black minister lackeys the (predominantly white) leadership of the religious right can dredge up to deny the connection between the gay and black communities, no matter how many times our lives are seemingly diminished or ignored by well-meaning gay and black leaders, certain facts about who we are don't change.

We are:

Barbara Jordan, who taught Americans a new love and respect for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution during the Nixon impeachment trials,

Lorraine Hansberry, who explored how racism can destroy the souls of black men and women through her monumental play, A Raisin in the Sun,

Bayard Rustin, who shook up the world by successfully planning and executing the 1963 March on Washington,

and Lee Daniels and Paul Winfield, who reached and continues to reach the top of their profession through skill and poise.

These five are only a small number of the thousands of same gender loving people of color who taught Americans to dance, sing, dress, and love each other and themselves a little more.

I refuse to accept any notion that the black gay community is simply a commodity in a useless war of position. Nor should any part of our identities be sacrificed for the sake of expediency.

So as we go through Black History Month 2010, I implore everyone to not forget about the black gay community.

Because we simply won't let you.

Religious right trying to divide black, gay communities (again) and other Monday midday news briefs

Hate Crimes Protection for Gays Is "Demeaning [to] the Black Community" - The old game of "divide and conquer." The religious right could care less about the lgbt or black communities.

Weird how far-right turns all of prez's LGBT picks into 'bigots'. Funny how that works, huh? - Anatomy of a religious right distortion.

Potomac students get fliers saying therapy turns gays straight - Don't be so quick to dance for joy, PFOX. This is a victory for lgbt clubs and organizations also. If you can distribute your lying fliers, then lgbt friendly ones can distribute THEIR truthful ones.

Military Times poll shows sharp decline in support for DADT - Slowly but surely, DADT is going out the door.

Harold Ford Jr. Rejects the ‘Ex-Gay’ Myth in Maureen Dowd Column - We ain't falling for your pro-lgbt semblance, Mr. Ford. But it's nice to hear you kowtow.

Gay African-American becomes first to garner Oscar nomination - Article gets it wrong. Paul Winfield, who received a nomination in 1972 for Best Actor (Sounder) was the first. But it's good that Daniels is getting attention.

In honor of 200,000, a reason to oppose interracial dating

Yesterday, Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters celebrated its 200,000th hit. Not bad for a part-time blog, huh. In celebration of this, I want to republish one of my most popular posts. It is especially poignant today when one takes into account the increasingly amount of venom recently against the lgbt community from the religious right:

I've been having a very interesting email exchange with Peter LaBarbera regarding his stigmatization of the lgbt community.

For LaBarbera, every lie he tells is justifiable because of his belief that gay men have "health risks" greater than that of heterosexuals. In fact, it's something he likes to highlight every chance he gets:

“Barack Obama’s homosexual agenda is beginning to take shape – but he has no election mandate to impose GLSEN’s radical vision of celebrating homosexuality, bisexuality and gender confusion (transsexuality) in U.S. schools,” LaBarbera said. “Anti-religious bigots should not be setting policy for schools — and promoting dangerous sex and gender identities to youth is the antithesis of ‘safety.’ (Men who have sex with other men (MSM) suffer from much higher rates of sexual diseases – including anal cancer, HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea — than non-MSMs.)

Also:

LaBarbera also argues that many liberal school districts teach false facts about AIDS. He says they imply that everyone is at equal risk for contracting the disease -- even though in 2005 71 percent of U.S. male AIDS cases involved homosexuals. He contends that many American young people are not being informed about other health risks associated with homosexuality either -- such as increased infections of the Hepatitis B or C virus and the herpes virus. "We have all this evidence out there that homosexual behavior is dangerous," the activist point out, "and yet our politically correct elites are promoting gay identity" to teens and children.

And he is not the only one to assert this "gays are dangerous because of their behavior" claim:

If there was ever a clarion call for our entire society to say with one united voice that homosexual behavior is a danger to health and should be discouraged at all costs, this is it. We've found one voice as a society with regard to drug use and drunk driving; it's time we find it with regard to homosexual behavior. - Bryan Fischer

In fact, multiple studies have established that homosexual conduct, especially among males, is considerably more hazardous to one’s health than a lifetime of chain smoking. - Matt Barber


The "homosexuality is a health risk" factoid is a popular talking point in religious right circles. It stems from manipulating legitimate medical information regarding disease and the lgbt community. Rather than go into detail about just how this information is manipulated, I'm going to take another route.

I found this video on youtube. I dare anyone to tell me the difference between it and the nonsense about the supposed "health risks of homosexuality" factoid pushed by the religious right: