Religious right promises to throw a hissy fit if the Supreme Court rules against DOMA, Prop 8

Several religious right groups have signed a statement of resistance should the Supreme Court rule in favor of marriage equality. But if you ask me, I have no idea what the hell they are threatening to do:

As Christian citizens united together, we will not stand by while the destruction of the institution of marriage unfolds in this nation we love. The Sacred Scriptures and unbroken teaching of the Church confirm that marriage is between one man and one woman. We stand together in solidarity to defend marriage and the family and society founded upon them. The effort to redefine marriage threatens the proper mediating role of the Church in society.

 Experience and history have shown us that if the government redefines marriage to grant a legal equivalency to same-sex couples, that same government will then enforce such an action with the police power of the State. This will bring about an inevitable collision with religious freedom and conscience rights. We cannot and will not allow this to occur on our watch. Religious freedom is the first freedom in the American experiment for good reason.

 ... If the Supreme Court were to issue a decision that redefined marriage or provided a precedent on which to build an argument to redefine marriage, the Supreme Court will thereby undermine its legitimacy. The Court will significantly decrease its credibility and impair the role it has assumed for itself as a moral authority. It will be acting beyond its proper constitutional role and contrary to the Natural Moral Law which transcends religions, culture, and time. As Christians united together in defense of marriage, we pray that this will not happen. But, make no mistake about our resolve. While there are many things we can endure, redefining marriage is so fundamental to the natural order and the true common good that this is the line we must draw and one we cannot and will not cross.

Go here to see a veritable who's who list of the folks who signed this statement including FRC head Tony Perkins, Focus on the Family head James Dobson, failed Fox News presidential candidate Benjamin Carson, and even Alveda King. Talk about your lack of quality control.

Whoop te do.

Should the Supreme Court rule in our favor, there isn't anything these folks can do but two things:

Nothing and like it.

 

'Religious right cheering shut down of ex-gay group' and other Thursday midday news briefs

Hate Groups Cheer End Of Exodus - Well I have officially seen it all. 

Greater Than AIDS Billboard In Dallas Criticized For Accepting, Promoting Homosexuality - So some folks think that teaching AIDS education should encompass teaching shame about being an lgbt. I don't think so. 

Landmark Study Finds Widespread Anti-Gay Housing Discrimination - This is NOT good.  

Will there be a black vs gay Prop. 8 meme redux, or will the work building stronger coalitions prevail? - Oh mercy, I hope not. Whatever the rulings may be, let's show some common sense.

Survivors of 'ex-gay' programs have intense confrontation with Exodus International president

Last night, news traveled around the lgbt community that Exodus International, one of the largest and oldest organizations pushing "ex-gay"therapy was shutting down and its president, Alan Chambers, was issuing an apology for the hurt the organizations has caused the lgbt community. While the jury is out on whether or not this mea culpa is sincere, take a look at a preview of a program which will be airing tonight on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). Journalist Lisa Ling is joined by a group of survivors of "ex-gay" programs and they confront Chambers. This preview is probably one of the most intense things I have ever seen.

'Ex-gay' leader apologizes to the lgbt community for pain he caused

If you heard a gigantic pop today, it's because of the multitude of religious right heads exploding. And why? Because of this: Alan Chambers, head of Exodus International, the oldest and largest group pushing "ex-gay" therapy has publicly apologized for the hurt his organization has caused.

From Buzzfeed:

In a letter “to members of the LGBTQ community,” Alan Chambers, the head of Exodus International, a group that has long backed “change therapy” for gays and lesbians, issued an apology Wednesday, stating, “I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced.”

The public statement comes in advance of a Thursday airing of the television broadcast “God & Gays” on Our America with Lisa Ling on OWN, in which Ling talks with Chambers about these issues.

In his apology, Chambers wrote, “I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents.”
Later, he added:

I hope the changes in my own life, as well as the ones we announce tonight regarding Exodus International, will bring resolution, and show that I am serious in both my regret and my offer of friendship. I pledge that future endeavors will be focused on peace and common good.

Nice, but you are gonna have to do more Alan. Check out the rest of the story here. 

UPDATE - According to the story, not only is Chambers apologizing but Exodus International is shutting down. I can just see the religious right heads spin.

'Fox News has a problem with the transgender community' and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Fox News' Coverage Of Transgender Community Challenged By Equality Group - For the longest time, I predicted that Fox News would become a problem to the lgbt community. I'm glad to see some of my brothers and sisters finally getting hip to the problem.  And yes I said the lgbt community as a whole because if you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.

Fox News’ Transphobia Problem - And here is the report mentioned in the first news brief.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski Becomes Third Republican Senator To Back Marriage Equality - Way to go, Senaor Murkowski!  

West Virginia Democrat Signs On As The 52nd Sponsor Of The Employment Non-Discrimination Act - Meanwhile, we have 52 sponsors for ENDA!

Delaware Poised to Adopt a Transgender Rights Law - Good for Delaware!

Family Research Council unveils poor effort to stop gay equality

With the fight over the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) heating up, we can always count on organizations like the Family Research Council to be the "loyal opposition," even if they have to distort the issue.

The organization has recently announced a special site entitled Stop ENDA in which it lists reasons why it's not a good idea to protect lgbts from employment discrimination. Granted the reasons are highly specious and should lead to more questioning of FRC spokespeople at to their claims. My guess is that Tony Perkins and company will not be asked to speak specifically to them or will dodge if asked:

ENDA is a "one size fits all" solution to alleged discrimination that erases all marriage-based distinctions. It grants special rights to homosexuals while ignoring those of employers. The federal government should not force private businesses to abandon their moral principles.
FRC Action opposes this legislation on the following grounds (which by the way FRC offers absolutely no proof of):

• Such legislation affords special protection to a group that is not disadvantaged.

• The issue is not job discrimination.

• The first "religious exemption" clause is very narrow and offers no clear protection to church-related businesses.

• The second "religious exemption" clause fails to offer protection for all hiring by church-related organizations or businesses.

• It is unlikely that the "religious exemption" included in the bill would survive court challenge.

• ENDA would mandate the employment of homosexuals in inappropriate occupations.

• ENDA violates employers' and employees' Constitutional freedoms of religion, speech and association.

• ENDA would approvingly bring private behavior considered immoral by many into the public square. 

Between you and me I really want to know what does FRC mean about "the employment of homosexuals in inappropriate occupations." My guess is FRC is implying that gays shouldn't be school teachers.

And then to top it off, FRC includes a video about an alleged incident involving a Christian ministry ordered to undergo "sensitivity training."

 

 But there are several problems with this video, including:

• it's about a Canadian ministry,

• the video is from a year ago, and

• none of the principal parties are interviewed. FRC's Peter Sprigg interviews an editor from a conservative news organization on the incident.

If this is FRC's best effort in its attempt to stop ENDA, then the organization needs to go back to the drawing board. FRC offers no proof that ENDA isn't a good idea, but instead displays the prejudices which prove just why ENDA is necessary.

The Daily Show attacks 'gay intolerance'

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

This is EPIC! The Daily Show takes on the semantic argument from the religious right that gays are "intolerant" of their "intolerance" and proceeds to thrash it within an inch of its life.

'Five-year-old takes on, defeats homophobic church' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

First a request:

 

Kudos to my buddy Scott Wooledge for creating this image for my booklet. I ask that you do me the favor of copying and pasting it along to your friends Facebok. I know I have driven you all crazy with the promotion of my booklet, so it's only fair that I give you an explanation of why it is so important to me.

Through 'How They See Us,' I hope to precipitate a sea change or a war of rhetoric, if you will. Yes, I said a war of rhetoric and by that I mean a knock-down, dragged out war of words. In our zeal and eagerness to strive forward, our community often forgets the things which held us back, i.e. the dark places we were shackled due to the ignorance and hatred of others.

We forget that physical violence, negative legislation often began with lies, pseudo-science, and distortions designed to appeal to both people's religious beliefs and their fears. We now laugh at the rhetoric while forgetting how powerful it was in its past naked form and how even more dangerous it is while covertly pushed. For over 30 years, the religious right created a body of lies and junk science based on fear, exploitation, and blatant lies.

And I simply can't let it go. When I was a child, I had the unfortunate chance to be seated on the front row as this rhetoric killed a loved one. He wasn't beaten to death. No one struck him physically. They just sliced at his soul with their words and actions until his spirit was extinguished. Death was the next logical step for him.

And that's why we must never forget the lies told about our community by these organizations. How many more of us had our spirit slowly extinguished because of these lies? They are responsible for so much pain, self-hatred, suicides, near suicides (including my own), and so much more vile hatred.

That's why I get angry when I see and hear folks on our side of the spectrum take this stuff lightly. To so many, particularly our children, hearing and reading this stuff without someone challenging it is the difference between life and death.

But enough about my soap box.

In other news:

Westboro Baptist Church Responds To 'Lemonade For Peace' Sale With Anti-Gay Taunt - A five-year-old takes on and defeats a hateful church and  - surprise - they are such sore losers.

Federal judge rules against nurse disciplined for comments critical of homosexuality - Good for the judge. Religious beliefs is no excuse for not respect your co-workers.

FRC back to scanning Google Images for drag queens; ENDA must be back in news - Hence the point I was trying to make with my first post.

Daily Show calls out recent incidents of anti-gay protests

John Oliver of the Daily Show analyzes the recent progress of lgbt equality and skewers those who oppose it.

Nomoredownlow.tv is an excellent series which needs more attention

Nomoredownlow.tv is probably the best online serious you have never heard about. It covers lgbt issues from a people of color perspective. In this particular episode:

Are we under the microscope? Is the media sensationalizing our failed relationships?  Has our quest for equality led to more public scrutiny? In this edition of the award winning web series, NoMoreDownLow.TV, we examine the media’s coverage of African American same gender loving people and their relationships. Then, we’ll also meet Kai, a Transman who made a bold decision to become the person he wanted to be. Plus, we’ll introduce you to Dr. Boogie, one of Hollywood’s most sought after celebrity hair stylists and discover his passion for breading Italian Mastiff Dogs. Co-host Janora McDuffie & Kendell are on location at One National Gay & Lesbian Archives on the campus of the University of Southern California.

'Documentary explores the 'gay is the new black' argument' and other Monday midday news briefs

Goodbye Pam’s House Blend: after nine years, closing the coffeehouse July 1 - First a little sad news. One of my best buddies and mentors, Pam Spaulding, is retiring her blog, Pam's House Blend. The Blend was one of the most important and powerful voices for the lgbt community and stood on the forefront of how online activism shaped the lgbt community for the positive. On a personal note, Pam was one of the few people who encouraged, guided, and pushed me to be a better blogger. I owe her tremendously. 

Are LGBT People ‘The New Black’? - This sounds like an awesome documentary! 

To NOM, The Children Of Gay Couples Are Just ‘Accessories’ - Good grief, NOM. Can you get even more mean? 

 NJ Assembly Committee Moves Conversion Therapy Ban - one step in a long but necessary process to protect lgbt children.  

Conservative Group Warns of Divine Punishment for Obama's LGBT Pride Event - Whatever, guys.

Anti-gay hate group leader supports homophobic Russian bill

Many of us in the lgbt community tend to laugh at Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth for good reason. The stridency in which he pursues his obsession to demonize the lgbt community has provided us with some seriously comical moments as well as opportunities to point out just how sad folks on his side of the spectrum are.

But then there are times in which LaBarbera does something which underscores just how also truly vile he is. Take this newest post on his webpage which supports a Russian bill supposedly banning giving any information to children regarding the lgbt orientation. This is how LaBarbera justified the law:

Now under that picture is the caption:

WHAT RUSSIANS DON’T WANT: A male drag queen activist with the San Francisco-based group “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” prepares for a local Easter Egg hunt sponsored by the anti-Christian homosexual activist outfit. (The same “Sisters” group sponsors the annual sadomasochism-celebrating ”Folsom Street Fear” in San Francisco.) Russians do not want to follow America’s reckless and decadent promotion of gender confusion, sexual perversion, and anti-biblical ideologies to youth. 

LaBarbera and others who support this madness claim that it provides a "pro-family" perspective and a protection for children. However this is what the law actually does:

Russia passed a bill providing jail terms and fines for anyone convicted of insulting religious feelings, and another bill forbidding homosexuality. Signed by President Putin, the bill says gay rights activists and religion insulters are criminals. 

Russia's parliament State Duma has unanimously passed a federal law banning gay propaganda in the course of Kremlin’s push to enshrine deeply conservative values that critics say has already led to a sharp increase in anti-gay violence. The law passed 436-0 Tuesday, with only one deputy abstaining from voting on the bill which bans the spreading of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" among minors. The new law makes it illegal to equate straight and gay relationships, and the distribution of material on gay rights. It introduces fines for individuals and media groups found guilty of breaking the law, as well as special fines for foreigners. 

The fact that LaBarbera would push the "protect the children" angle and ignore the other aspects of this awful law simply underscores his dishonesty.  And what makes it so much more insulting is how he exploits an innocent picture of a child with a drag queen in order to exploit fear.  So what if the child is talking to drag queen. Big deal. 

I personally prefer that picture to this one below, Nikolay Alexandrovich Alexeyev a Russian gay rights activist,  getting punched during a protest of that awful bill:

It's kind of telling how LaBarbera distorts an innocent picture to provoke fear and ignores an actual picture which displays end game of the fear that he exploits.

But it also should serve as a reminder. As funny and pathetic as LaBarbera is, we should never forget, while poking fun at his foolishness, just how truly sinister he is.

'NOM distorting Danish study' and other Friday midday news briefs

What NOM Gets Wrong About The New Danish Marriage Study - Before you yawn and proclaim "big deal," remember that the road to lgbt inequality is paved with incidents of the lgbt community being nonchalant when those who oppose us tell lies. 

FRC prays for 'converted' gays - Seems to me that before you pray for someone else's "salvation," you need to first look towards your own.  

Children’s Museum That Discriminated Against Gay Couple Demands Apology For Backlash - I have something to say to you, but it isn't an apology.  

Black Gay Men Positively Out: Many Men, Many Closets (Part 2) - Love, love, LOVE this post!

Marco Rubio's bigotry is the worst kind

Remember the above sound byte from Florida Senator Marco Rubio from a while back? He was whining about being called "bigoted" because he is allegedly "pro- traditional marriage."

 Of course this is how he feels about the ability to fire someone for being gay:




Or adding gays to immigration legislation:

"If this bill has in it something that gives gay couples immigration rights and so forth, it kills the bill. I'm done," Rubio said Thursday during an interview on the Andrea Tantaros Show. "I'm off it, and I've said that repeatedly. I don't think that's going to happen and it shouldn't happen. This is already a difficult enough issue as it is."

Marco Rubio opposes allowing gays to be married. He opposes adding gay couples to comprehensive immigration legislation. And he opposes protecting gays from job discrimination.

My question is just at what point is it okay to entertain the notion that Rubio has a nasty bias against the gay community?

Sen Rubio reminds me of when white racists attempted to push the false narrative that they weren't "anti-black," but "pro-white." 

No matter how noble or unassuming he attempts to make it sound, we are still talking about denying people rights simply because of who they are.

And here I thought that WAS bigotry.

When they imply that lgbt children are sexual predators . . .

People like Janet Porter of Faith2Action can sometimes make me forget how they actually help lgbt equality by opening their mouths and showing their ignorance.

It's bad enough when people like Janet Porter portray us gay men as sexual predators, but when they imply the same about our youth, it's time to put them on blast.

For your edification, Porter is the same type who once prayed or rather demanded that God give people like her control of the media:



 

Janet Porter is a quintessential problem with American Christianity - people so wrapped up in their own egos that they refuse to acknowledge how their bearing of false witness turns so many people away from Christ.

Hat tip to Right Wing Watch.

Boy Scout decision left anti-gay group with egg on its face

According Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association, his group wasn't even expecting the Boy Scouts admit gay members. They never even prepared a statement to be made in the event that the ban was voted down.

'Disowned gay man rocks judges, audience on 'America's Got Talent'' and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Man Disowned by Parents for Being Gay Blows Roof Off 'America's Got Talent': VIDEO - A sad story with a thus far happy ending. I say thus far because it's up to the young man to continue to work towards his potential. 

 
Marriage Equality Opponents Claim Banning Same-Sex Marriage ‘Bans Nothing’ - Not surprising. They get paid big bucks for the shuck and jive.  

LGBTs to protest Madigan over marriage shortfall - Other than some encouragement, I have been relatively silent on the situation about Illinois and how the lgbt community there failed (thus far) to pass marriage equality. But now I will say this - stop the damn self-cannibalization. Stop wasting time pointing fingers. Start preparing for the next time. Attaining equality is not supposed to be easy and you will fail sometimes. It's how you bounce back - if at all - which say a lot. 

 Church Sign Welcomes Boy Scouts After Gay Ban Is Lifted - Major kudos to this church.

Pat Robertson: Gays wanting to force acceptance for sexual activity

As ignorant as this comment is, you would be surprised how many people - some who will no doubt claim that they have gay friends - espouse this point of view.

'Viciously homophobic ad continues to haunt the lgbt community' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

This commercial hammers the necessity of publicly and repeatedly calling "bullshit" on religious right lies about the lgbt community. The lies in it are offensive enough, but it gets worse when you realize that this same commercial has been used in years past in pushes against pro-lgbt legislation.

In other news:

Video: Small band of religion-driven Chicagoans waste gorgeous spring day marching against civil inevitability - Another day, another flop of an anti-gay protest. 

 Anti-Gay Kids Museum Responds To Discrimination Charges By Raising Prices - Oh for Pete's sake, people! 

 Mike Huckabee Sad He Has To See Gays on TV - You will get over it, Huckabee.

Revisiting the NC pastor and the 'gay men wear diapers' claim

Last year, North Carolina was immersed in a ballot initiative over marriage equality. Unfortunately, not only did the lgbt community and our allies lose this fight, but it introduced the world to Patrick Wooden of the Upper Room Church of God in Christ and his beliefs regarding "gay sex." Wooden claimed that gay men need diapers, are "bleeders," and don't mind having sex even in that "disabled" state. His statements, in part, are the following:



Transcript: 

 “The God of the Bible made the human sperm, the God of the Bible designed it and it was not designed to be emptied into an area that is filled with feces, there is nothing for it to germinate with, it will most certainly mean the extinction of the human race. My belief is that if the medical community would just step forward and just would share with the American people what happens to the male anus, the problems that homosexuals have with their rectums, the damage that is done, the operations that are needed to sew up their bodies if you will, and how many of the men don’t even give these stitches time to heal before they are back out there practicing that wicked behavior. Some are bleeders, men who are not turned off by ingesting the feces of other men.”

Naturally while folks were repulsed by this disgusting statement, Wooden reaped the publicity without telling anyone where he had gotten his claim from.

But I may have a general idea and if it's what I think it is, then it makes the situation more disgusting. You see, I have a feeling that Wooden may have been repeating a scene from a 2000 movie called 3 Strikes.

This scene (I apologize for the bad quality of the video but it is the only one I could find) describes the scenario Wooden alluded to. A man wearing a bloody diaper suspended over a bed while a gay man not only drools at him through the hospital window, but is implied to begin raping him at the end of the scene:



The interesting irony is that the young man suspended above the bed in a diaper was not injured from sexual activity, but from a gunshot in the rear.

So what do you think? Am I speculating pretty hard here or is there a point to be made?

Whatever the case may be, I have emailed Mr. Wooden asking for clarification. I doubt he will give it to me, but it is something to think about.

Editor's note -  I can't resist telling you this fact. The screenplay for 3 Strikes was written by someone who calls himself "DJ Pooh."

What Billy Porter's mother can teach the Church about 'love'

The Tony Awards were last night and, like we do every year, lgbt performers showed out.
However, for my money, the best of the night goes to when openly gay performer Billy Porter received Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Kinky Boots.
It wasn't just the win and it just wasn't his speech. It was when he paid tribute to family and particularly how his mother accepted who he was as a gay man (staring at 28 seconds) even though she didn't fully understand his orientation.

While it may seem like a small detail to some, it's a huge detail to me.  It's not a matter that Mr. Porter's mother could understand her son's sexual orientation, it's the fact that she didn't desert him.

Sometimes that one thing - i.e. the faith that a parent has in his or her lgbt child - is the difference between life and death.

Fox News reporter smears transgender community with ugly tweets, poor article

Editor's note - Todays's news briefs will be postponed due work needing to be done for How They See Us's unveiling at September's SC Pride. 

Riddle me this. Who sent out the following derogatory tweets about the transgender community:

A. Fred Phelps,

B. A religious right talking head, or

C. Todd Starnes, a reporter for Fox News who should know better .

If you know this blog, then the answer is C. Starnes, who is steadily making a name for himself by posting attacks on the lgbt community disguised as articles, is at it again.

This latest article by Starnes details an alleged incident Nashville where there was one complaint about a transgender woman using the bathroom.  According to Equality Matters, Starnes' article

 . . . included various quotes from the disgruntled woman’s husband, inappropriately referring to the transgender woman as a man and commenting that her presence in the public restroom “poses a safety hazard”

As mentioned above, Equality Matters pointed out that this poor article is yet the latest attempt by Starnes to manufacture a backlash against the lgbt community by writing false stories portraying them as so-called attackers of American values.

Equality Matters has pointed out fives other times in which Starnes has posted misleading articles against the lgbt community in pursuit of this agenda.

Looks like the Nashville incident is number six.

Shameless promotion Saturday - How They See Us

Hey everyone, seeing that this weekend is rather uneventful, I thought I would take the time to continue to promote my booklet How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America.

How They See Us is probably one of the only few of its kind to call out and addresses specific bigoted claims lodged against the lgbt community by the religious right.  Through a use of graphics, photos, and information gleaned  from online, How They See Us exposes the cynical way religious right groups deliberately distorts science and religion to spread vicious propaganda while claiming that such propaganda is merely an expression of their religious liberty.

Since its posting on Scribd in January, How They See Us has gained tremendous underground success, garnering over 26,000 readers as well as being at one time the fourth most read nonfiction book and the number one most read political book on Scribd. And now I am working to unveil free hard copies at SC Pride in September, as well as attempting to reach the 50,000 reads threshold. If you have read it or downloaded a copy, by all means do so. It's free. If anyone has any problems, with the download and would like an adobe acrobat copy, email me at charlekenghis@aol.com
HowThey See Us

Know Your LGBT History - Kylar Broadus

A video spotlight on Kylar Broadus, founder of Trans People of Color Coalition and the first transperson to give testimony in front of the United States Senate. The video below is that history-making testimony from last year:

 

Past Know Your LGBT History Posts:

'Biblical scholars - Biblical marriage not defined as 1 man, 1 woman' and other Friday midday news briefs

Biblical Marriage Not Defined Simply As One Man, One Woman: Iowa Religious Scholars' Op-Ed - More proof that some folks claiming to uphold Biblical principles hardly ever read the Bible period.

NOM Baselessly Accuses Obama Administration Of Leaking Its Tax Return - Oh the poor babies. Heavy emphasis on "babies."  

Colorado Attorney General Files Complaint Against Anti-Gay Bakery - I repeat (again) that if you allow discrimination against lgbts based on 'religious liberty,' then where is the line drawn and who is next?  

Delaware Senate Approves Transgender Nondiscrimination Protections - Kudos to the Delaware Senate! 

Perkins: Obama's 'Pro-Homosexual Agenda' Is the Administration's Latest Scandal and 'Breach of Trust' - Actually the real scandal is how lightning never strikes where it should. Perkins is complaining about attempts by the Obama Administration to curb anti-gay violence in foreign countries.

A compilation of anti-gay hate speech from May 2012

Just think. A year ago about this time, we were bombarded with this mess. 

Family Research Council continues to spread DELIBERATE lies about DADT repeal

The Family Research Council continues to falsely claim that the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell is causing military sexual assaults. The following came from an email the organization just sent out:

The Pentagon downplayed the effects of open homosexuality when it was implemented in 2011 -- something it will have a tough time doing now, with the rate of male-on-male assaults at a record high. While the media rightly highlights the female victims, the Pentagon's 1,400-page report explains that service men are just as affected -- if not more so. According to the Defense Department's own numbers, military men suffered 2,000 more sexual attacks than their female counterparts in 2012, the first full year that open homosexuality was tolerated. All together, "unwanted sexual conduct" climbed to 26,000 cases (up from 19,000 in 2010) -- a 37% spike in two years. And some believe that's a low estimate -- in part because men are so relu ctant to report abuse, especially from other men. Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said a "focus" of the assault office "is specifically geared toward male survivors and will include why male survivors report at much lower rates than female survivors..." Unfortunately, most are victims -- not just of assault, but of this new sexually-charged environment.

Of course FRC doesn't even attempt to prove a correlation between sexual assaults on men and the repeal of DADT.  And I think there is a reason the organization won't.

Last year, the Penn Center published a study which found that there were no negative consequences to the repeal of DADT.

For FRC, it's the classic sin of omission. And it's something which the fake Christian organization has mastered.

Generally, FRC commits the sin of omission when citing Centers for Disease Control statistics about the lgbt community.  The organization uses CDC statistics about bad health and behavioral choices to claim that the lgbt orientation in itself is unhealthy.

However, FRC deliberately omits the fact that the CDC has said, on more than one occasion and generally in the same section on lgbt health which FRC distorts, that bad health and behavioral choices in the lgbt community are due to homophobia. Having to deal with a homophobic society (and often with no support system) has the effect of causing depression, stress, and bad behavioral choices with some in the lgbt community.

Okay, this is generally the point in my post which I make a snide comment about FRC's willingness to lie while at the same time claiming that it stands for Christian principles. But why bother. I've done it so many times that it gets tiresome.

The thing that we all need to take from this is not the fact that FRC is lying, but the sad reality that this organization will continue to lie unless more and more folks than little ole me on my blog calls them out on it.

'Family Research Council attracts the crazy' and other Thursday midday news briefs

Judge FRC's president not by his radio show caller, but by the way he responds to him - As GLAAD points out, no matter how holy Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council portray themselves as, whom they attract always gives away their crazy agenda. 

World’s Largest Study Of Same-Sex Parenting Finds That Children Are Thriving - Don't tell Mark Regnerus. You will just ruin his day. 

 Mark Regnerus’s Attacks On Landmark Same-Sex Parenting Study Fall Flat - Speaking of which . . 

David Lane: 'The Moral Majority' Must 'Wage War' Against 'The Pagan Onslaught Imposing Homosexual Marriage' - Oh bruuuther!

More footage from the failed homophobic 'cluster-yuk' at HRC

If you have not seen HRC's video of the failed anti-gay protest at its headquarters this week, you really need to. It breaks it all down to the main points.

Also, check out Truth Wins Out for Evan Hurst's absolutely BRUTAL play-by-play of the video.

11-year-old defeats homophobia!

Via the Huffington Post, a very happy ending to today's lead news brief post:

A openly gay 11-year-old boy's campaign against a homophobic Tennessee representative has succeeded.

Marcel Neergaard is a Tennessee boy who was home-schooled for sixth grade and even contemplated suicide due to severe anti-gay bullying, bullying that many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates say could have been fostered in public schools throughout the state if the "Don't Say Gay" bill had actually passed.

The bill, rejected in 2012, aimed at banning talk of sexual activity other than "related to natural human reproduction." It was resurrected by Representative John Ragan (R-Tenn.) this year as the "Classroom Protection Act." It included an amendment requiring school officials to inform parents if they have reason to believe the child might be gay. The bill also required schools to provide counseling for such students so as to prevent “behavior injurious to the physical or mental health and well-being of the student or another person.”

The proposed bill failed in March, but prior to that, in 2012, Ragan was honored with the educational "Reformer of the Year" award by StudentsFirst, a group dedicated to defending the interests of children in public schools and pushing for transformative reform.

Neergaard didn't think Ragan deserved such a title. So he started a petition on MoveOn.org to get the accolade revoked. And it worked. After getting more than 50,000 signatures, the bullied youngster's campaign caught the attention of StudentsFirst and today the group reneged Ragan's award.

See more of this article here.

' 11-yr-old teaches us all how activism is done' and other Wednesday midday news briefs

If this young man is the future of the lgbt community, then our future is in a very bright place. I'm floored by his courage. The following is the backstory of his petition:

Bullied Gay 11 Year Old Explains How ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bills Lead Him To Consider Suicide 

 Go here for the Facebook page about the petition.

In other news: 

Tony Perkins: Gays less like 'Glee,' more like 'American Horror Story' - Oh good grief, Tony!

And as it turns out, Perkins makes up some statistics in his whine -  Perkins: 30 Percent of Characters on TV are Gay; Used to Shield 'Dangerous Lifestyle'

AIDS at 32: For Whom the Bell Tolls (32 Notables Share Their Stories) - an excellent piece.

Churches Move To Cut Ties To Scouts After Gay Policy Change - Come on guys. Don't be such meanies.

Heckling the First Lady was counterproductive no matter how much attention it gets.

Editor's note - I wanted to talk more about yesterday's pathetic anti-gay protest at HRC headquarters, but last night's heckling of Michelle Obama by a GetEqual activist is on my mind and it's moving me into a territory which I despise - publicly criticizing my own. But it has to be said, particularly because I was called an "Uncle Tom" by a member of my own lgbt community for daring to espouse such an opinion. I apologize for those who feel that this is free form rambling. But it is my opinion. And I should tell you that what you read below is not simply the product of my disappointment over last night's heckling, but how I have felt this year with some of my fellow lgbt activists: 

Last night's heckling of First Lady Michelle Obama by a member of the lgbt group GetEqual wasn't just dumb.

It was highly counterproductive. Furthermore, I have a serious problem with the idea that any attention is good, no matter how much of an ass you act to receive it. While I totally understand the why, I also believe in picking one's spots. Was the heckling indicative of the lgbt community needing to speak out or our forced silence? No. It is indicative of a mindset of self-described elite members of the lgbt community attempting to boggart the conversation and not caring who they hurt to get their attention.

While some may feel that what was done last night was awesome, many others feel that it is indicative of the mindset of a group of folks who cling so desperately to the Act-UP/Queer Nation mentality of 20 years ago because they are either too lazy, too rushed, or too limited to grasp the idea that perhaps new ideas are needed to fully embrace the lgbt community's present day status of being more inside the bubble than outside. These folks need to take into account that our struggle for equality is not centered around cliques, a circles of friends, or a bunch of like-minded pseudo intellectual folks who will either complicate the issue or refuse to do more to make the case for equality IN the community.

And then there is that nagging idea that this "shout your head off/show your butt" mentality is indicative of some in the lgbt community who don't want to embrace new and different folks who may be  - shall we say -  a bit less eastern and a bit more Southern, a bit less rooted in the stereotypical lgbt social strata, a bit less rooted in the clique mentality, a bit more methodical in our planning, or a bit more "ethnically challenged." In short, this heckling was dumb. It was ill-timed, slack, and counterproductive. It demonstrates the mentality of a group who - while having the potential to be the next generation of equality leaders following in the footsteps of past leaders - do not yet have the maturity.

NOM president 's Congressional tirade backfires

Robert Eastman, head of the National Organization for Marriage was testifying in front of a Congressional committee today in a sad attempt to attach his organization to the IRS scandal. NOM  is claiming that the IRS leaked the organization's information.

 And NOM and other folks on the right will be talking about the above video clip, no doubt claiming that Eastman "socked it to" the Democrats and the I.R.S.

 However, that's not the case.

As a good friend of mine, Viktor Kerney, pointed out on his blog, while Rep. Earl Blumenauer - a Democrat on the Congressional hearing committee - sat through Eastman's tirade, he took the time to respond in the Huffington Post:

Last year, internal National Organization for Marriage (NOM) strategy documents were leaked, stating that the organization seeks "to drive a wedge between gays and blacks" by promoting "African American spokespeople for marriage," thus provoking same-sex marriage supporters into "denouncing these spokesmen and women as bigots," and "to interrupt the assimilation" of Latinos into "dominant Anglo culture" by making the stance against same-sex marriage "a key badge of Latino identity."

Does this sound like social welfare to you?

Social welfare organizations should work in the public interest -- not to divide, exploit, and conquer.

When I brought this up at the hearing today, Dr. Eastman, Chairman of the Board of NOM, angrily groused, "To say that defending traditional marriage doesn't qualify for defense of the public good is beyond preposterous."

To Dr. Eastman, I say that it is the denial of my constituents, and all Americans, the right to marry the person they love is preposterous. To exploit racial and religious differences so you can fundraise for and enforce your specific worldview is preposterous.

But your right to be preposterous should not extend to taking political positions under the guise of a social welfare organization, raising money and campaigning.

We all agree the IRS was wrong to target specific groups. But political organizations like the National Organization for Marriage can't have it both ways. If they want to engage in politics, that is their right, and they should register accordingly. But NOM's mission couldn't be farther from promoting social welfare -- and looking at the polls and recent ballot box victories, citizens across the country are proving that they agree.

Rep. Blumenauer's post is indicative of the fact that because of Eastman's testimony,  NOM seems to be facing renewed scrutiny of its not-so-moral actions. Less than an hour ago, Chris Geidner from Buzzfeed put out the following tweet:

Chris Geidner ‏@chrisgeidner 53m

NOM keeps complaining about the IRS & saying they're filing a lawsuit. I keep asking if they've filed &, if so, to see it. They haven't.

Someone should ask Eastman how does his foot taste since he put it so deep in his mouth.

'Anti-gay protest at HRC headquarters a miserable FLOP' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

As if it's any surprise (but come on, you want to know anyway), the anti-gay protest  by Peter LaBarbera and his merry cast of homophobes at HRC is a big bust. As I understand, it's still ongoing and no doubt there will more footage. But for now, enjoy the following picture and video as much as I have. The words are ridiculous, but the absence of people is just scrumptious.

Maybe I need to protest HRC if they are that welcoming.

 

 In other news:

Family Research Council Boasts Making Gay Illinois Legislator Cry - Dear FRC, you just KNOW we will remember that one.

Bar Association Group Issues Resolution Against Gay & Trans "Panic" Defenses -  Kudos to the American Bar Association!

Is National Organization For Marriage Bankrupt? - I sincerely doubt it but isn't it a pleasantly delicious thought?

Pictures and videos courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign. To cut the volume , click the mute button on the upper left hand of the videos. It's funnier that way.

When third-rate anti-gay activists protest the Human Rights Campaign . . .

When famously talented musicians team up for an album, the term used to describe this collaboration is a "supergroup."

If that's the case, what do you call a bunch of infamously homophobic stooges teaming up for a silly protest of one of the nation's foremost lgbt equality groups?

It's a thought to ponder because 11 a.m. today, several of them will be gathering in front of the Human Rights Campaign headquarters in order to protest Gay Pride Month as well as attempting to connect HRC to the IRS scandal.

Let's look at the ringleaders in this ecclesiastical hulapalooza:

LaBarbera

Leading the protest is the group Americans for Truth, led by Peter LaBarbera.  LaBarbera has been known to endorse any, and I mean any research that makes lgbts the bad guys even if that research is by discredited sources, such as  Paul (gays stuff gerbils up their rectums) Cameron or Ugandan "kill the gays" bill supporter and author of a factually-challenged book linking gays to the Nazi Party Scott Lively. Of course he is also known for attending leather events and "street fairs" with his camera, looking for "filthy images" to publicize on his webpage as an example of the so-called real face of lgbt America. And he always makes sure to give "loving detail" to the acts featured in the pictures.

And let's not forget his bad sense of humor, such as when he posted the following picture of openly gay former Congressman Barney Frank as a TSA agent on his webpage:

Barber

Then there is Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel, a man whom many - myself included - have accused of having an unhealthy devotion to talking about gay sex.  In 2009 during a conservative conference, Barber demanded that folks opposing lgbt equality start talking more about gay sex in order to expose the "ick factor" that people have about it. He claimed that this was the "Achilles heel" of the lgbt equality movement.

In fact, Barber will be remembered for one interestingly graphic statement he made about his idea of gays having sex:

“one man violently cramming his penis into another man’s lower intestine and calling it ‘love."

Of course, less polite people than myself would probably accuse Barber of being jealous.  Other than that, Barber has made a nuisance out of himself with several homophobic actions, including tweeting an ugly statement about gay sex (he does talk about that a lot) during President Obama's 2011 State of the Union address and recently, sending out a very nasty cartoon in protest of the Boy Scouts allowing gay youth to participate:

Harvey

Rounding out this cast of characters is triple Z-rated activist Linda Harvey from Mission America, a homophobe who seems to never get called on by major religious right groups nor does she seem to never appear on television shows. It's probably because one gets the impression that her expressed views are too out there even for folks like Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council.

For example, there is the time in 2011 when she advised parents to not allow their children to see gay physicians. Or the time when she claimed that gays don't really exist (which would make today's protest irrelevant if you think about it). Or last month when she said that employees should have the right to fire gays in order to "uphold moral standards."

Activist Wayne Besen once called Harvey the "most homophobic woman in America." I think he said that because he felt sorry for her.  Harvey really serves no purpose in the religious right food chain other than aiding lgbt bloggers and groups such as People for the American Way prove that behind the lovey-dovey, "hate the sin but love the sinner" rhetoric of the religious right beats an ugly heart.

I'm almost jealous that I won't be at the HRC protest today. I haven't had a good laugh in a long time.

Related post - How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America

Gays are linked to Nazi Germany by the religious right (again)

I don't think Jeremy Hooper minds me taking this from his site to share with you. It's from a Liberty University radio show featuring Liberty University colleagues Matt Barber and Cynthia Dunbar. Skip this monstrosity until 8:55 where you will hear the two claim that gay activism we see now was the same "type" pushed in pre-Holocaust German. It certainly lets you know why we don't hardly ever see any professors from legitimate universities on Liberty Counsel's radio show.

I don't think they can handle the stupid. It even burns on my computer screen. Hooper slays this junk best with the following statement:

 . . . Dunbar fulfills Godwin's Law with a claim that the current push for LGBT activism is the "same type of thing" that happened in the run up to the mass murder of the Jewish people (and others, including gays).

'Discredited professor continues to wreck his reputation' and other Monday midday news briefs

Anti-Gay Researcher Confirms Religious Bias At NOM Conference - As long as Regnerus aids NOM in its attempt to harm same-sex families, we will spotlight his distortions.

10 Frequently Asked Questions About Blogging for LGBT Families Day - Today is 'Blogging for LGBT Families' Day. In light of the above news brief, it's an event which is needed.

Louisiana House gives final approval to surrogate parenting bill that would bar unmarried, gay couples - This disgusting bill is so bad that it has both the lgbt and the religious right communities against it.  

Video Spotlights Homophobic Images From The Past - Finally, a little bragging is in order. A video I created using images from my booklet, How They See Us, was posted on Buzzfeed by yours truly. I'm bragging because it took me four tries to find the perfect way to put something on Buzzfeed about my booklet.

Homophobes to showcase their sad anti-gay obsession on Tuesday

If you have not heard by now, a bunch of religious right talking heads intend to protest in front of the Human Rights Campaign headquarters in a sad attempt to falsely connect the organization to the IRS nonsense. They are also protesting against the idea of lgbt equality in general:

Peter LaBarbera, President of the Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, explained: "On Tuesday morning we will gather in front of the world's most powerful homosexual lobby group, Human Rights Campaign, in Washington, D.C., during so-called 'Gay Pride Month' (June) to proclaim the politically incorrect truth: that proud homosexuality is against God; against Nature; very unhealthy; and a serious threat to children and religious freedom. Thankfully, it is also changeable -- as proved by the existence of countless thousands of happy former 'gay' men and ex-lesbians. "Our bottom line is that homosexuality is nothing to be proud of. In fact, practicing homosexual behavior, a destructive sin, is something to be ashamed of. Out-and-proud homosexualism -- far from being a 'human right' -- is actually a human wrong." 

It's the usual cast of ignorant characters from Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel to Linda Harvey of Mission America. And of course, the probable ringleader is the pathetically infamous one, Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth.

Hence the above audio clip. It's an old one but I find it very apropo to the situation. It's from a 2010 interview between LaBarbera and Concerned Women for America's Martha Kleder and it underscores LaBarbera's sad obsession with demonizing the lgbt community.

During the interview, LaBarbera not only admits citing the research of Paul Cameron (a discredited anti-gay researcher kicked out of several medical groups and who believes that gays stuff gerbils up their rectums), but also says he sees nothing wrong with it.

Long story short - while LaBarbera rails against the so-called Biblical wrongness of homosexuality, he has no problem with using discredited science to prove this so-called wrongness. LaBarbera is so obsessed with homosexuality that he becomes what he rails against - something that is destructive and unhealthy.

A lot of times, many of us in the lgbt community laugh - and with excellent reason - at LaBarbera. But we shouldn't ever forget what he is symbolic of - a movement of bullheaded individuals so intent on proving that homosexuality is against God's law that they have no problem with breaking His other laws, i.e. the ones which speak against lying and bearing false witness.

It's definitely something to remember and underscore when LaBarbera and company have their Tuesday protest.

Video spotlights anti-gay images of the past

For those who haven’t seen it, the following video is one I made featuring images from my book, How They See Us. If the images upset you, then good. They are supposed to. They serve as a reminder of how far the lgbt community has come and how far we still need to go.

Know Your LGBT History - Ex-gay therapy

Some things (no matter how vile they are) need no introduction. Here are a few clips about "ex-gay" therapy and the role it plays in harming our community:

 




Past Know Your LGBT History posts:

'Ex-gay therapist claims to turn 'gay brains' heterosexual' and other Friday midday news briefs

Ex-Gay Therapist Promises to Turn Gay Brains Straight - Mercy! These religious right folks:

 

 In other news:

 “Pederastic Cotton Candy”: WND’s Five Craziest Responses To The Boy Scouts Vote - Mind-numbing homophobia as only World Net Daily can deal.  

Laura Ingraham Dispenses Dangerous Advice For Raising Transgender Youth - Laura Ingraham needs to remember that she has a gay brother, so every ignorant thing she says about lgbts hurts him. 

Anti-gay activists to hold anti-Pride press conference in front of HRC building - Great. Porno Pete is holding a press conference in front of the Human Rights Campaign headquarters next week. Now if we were to do the same thing in front of the Family Research Council headquarters, they would call a S.W.A.T. team.

At Muslim LGBTQ retreat, attendees try to reconcile their faith and sexuality - Excellent article! 

 Illinois Conservatives Demand Right To Discriminate In Marriage Equality Bill - It's a ruse. They don't want a marriage equality bill in the first place.

Attack on gay families undercuts message of anti-Christian 'persecution'

Lord, hammercy, where to start?

You can watch the entire thing, but if you really want to hear something, start at 8:22 where Matt Barber and Mat Staver from the Liberty Counsel begin going on tangents regarding what's wrong with gay adoption.  Watch how Matt Barber continues to cite the Regnerus study (even though that study has been continuously refuted and discredited) to make the case against same-sex households.

And then Barber compounds the offense by viciously attacking same-sex families. According to him, gays "purchase children"  and says "it's like having little pets."

There comes a time when you stop getting angry at folks like Barber and Staver. Why should you? They make the lgbt community's case for us in regards to the animosity against us by the religious right.

It's really funny when you think about it. While Tony Perkins and Maggie Gallagher weave a tapestry of lies about gays "persecuting" Christians for their "deeply held beliefs," behind them are Barber and Staver putting a torch to that tapestry every time they open their mouths.
 

Maine Supreme Court: NOM has to give up the name on its donor list

From the Boston Herald comes news that will make you dance the "good foot:"

Maine's supreme court on Thursday cleared the way for a state ethics commission to obtain the donor names of a national anti-gay marriage group that helped defeat a gay marriage law in 2009 before the practice was legalized by voters last year.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court rejected an appeal by the National Organization for Marriage, upholding subpoenas issued by the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices for donors to the organization. NOM, as it is known, has been fighting to keep its donor list confidential for 3½ years.

"It's very frustrating to be dealing with such a litigious group as this. You have to wonder what they're trying so desperately to protect," Attorney General Janet Mills said.

The national organization helped defeat the Maine law in 2009 through a referendum. Gay marriage was legalized in the state after a second referendum in 2012.

The U.S. Supreme Court already declined to hear a separate appeal challenging the constitutionality of the state's financial disclosure law, ending a separate challenge in federal court.

Go here for more information.

'AFA spokesman: Satan responsible for Boy Scout decision' and other Thursday midday news briefs

WND: Gays Following Hitler's Mein Kampf, Need 'Hormone Treatment' - I'm simply speechless.

  AFA spokesman: 'Satan is using' gay Boy Scouts - I think that the love affair between the religious right and the Boy Scouts is officially over.  

Did Conservatives Only Support The Boy Scouts For Anti-Gay Discrimination? - Uh yeah.  

The Cake Wars- This is fascinating. According to an undercover investigation, the bakers who won't do a cake for a gay wedding because it "violates" their Christian beliefs will make cakes for other things that Christians may be shouldn't support such as divorce or having multiple children out of wedlock. 

Owning The Middle - Brittney Griner: Black, lesbian, and proud of both distinctions.

'Christian' host launches nasty attack against parents who do not 'protect' children from gays

 Okay this is just mean. It's bad enough to attack lgbts but Matt Trewhella of Missionaries to the Preborn takes it to another level of viciousness by increasing his circle of hatred to include parents who supposedly won't 'protect' their children from lgbts. What nonsense.