I think Peter LaBarbera is mad at me
I was going to talk about the hypocrisy of anti-gay industry news source One News Now, but something just happened that is too damned good to keep to myself.
You all may recall that a while back, Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth (in name only) wrote me asking for an advance copy of my book.
I wrote him back directing him to the page of my publisher where he could order a copy.
Well last night, I received an email from him yet again.
Now since he asked me to, I am not going to publish that email.
But to make a long story short, he again asked for a free review copy of my book.
He also defended his web page's usage of legitimate health information (about gay sex) to bash lgbts on the whole.
This was my answer back to him:
i saw your very AMUSING bit today - i was going to answer but i read something on pam spaulding's site that was brilliant and it did speak to what i have said in my book about how your side distorts credible health information (http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3482):
The book that Peter uses as his basis for his attacks is actually a very handy medical guide that talks about the risks of STDs and how to prevent them and STILL live your truth as a gay person.
You did not deliver, you distorted.
now about my book - i believe i sent you a link to my publisher. by your email reply to me just now, it is obvious that you did not purchase by book via that route. - i suggest you go to a site that has a used copy of it if you do not want to pay full price.
I have to tell you all honestly that despite this email, I was contemplating sending a copy of my book galleys to Peter. I even asked a friend about it.
I also prayed on it.
What happened when I opened my email this afternoon is proof that God is powerful and we should never take in the lie that He does not love us just as we are.
You see Peter responded to my email. And he did not have the foresight to ask me not to print it:
Nope, sorry, not paying to see what baloney you are going to say about me. I'm not a masochist, despite what all the nuts on your side say. :)
It is not distorting to show the disproportionate health risks of behaviors like anal sex. You guys are in total denial.
This is my answer to him:
peter, a couple of things.
get over yourself. You are not that important. You are just a pawn. It is for that reason that only three paragraphs of a 168 page book (my book) is devoted to you.
re: regarding anal sex - it IS distorting when you totally ignore that heterosexuals engage in it and make it seem that this sex act is a hallmark of being gay. NOT ALL GAY PEOPLE ENGAGE IN ANAL SEX, PETER!!!!
You used information devoted for to ensure health in order to bash gay people. It is no different than using information regarding sickle cell anemia to bash African-Americans on the whole.
You have a right to believe what you want about gay people but if we (us being lgbts) think that you are wrong, we have a right to give correct information.
You have a nice day and be blessed.
What I am about to say is not set in stone. But I am of the mind that if Peter wants a copy of my book, let him buy it. His atttiude was stank and very un-Christian.
But I did enjoy the email exchange.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Halloween gets even more strange - Guess who is reading my book
I was checking the progress of my book via amazon.com and discovered something both interesting and disturbing.
It seems that some of the same folks who bought my book could be purchasing books from such luminaries as
(wait for it)
Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, Robert Novak, Dinesh D'Souza, and Ronald Reagan.
Not exactly pro-gay and not exactly progressive.
So on one hand, it is good that folks who view themselves as the opposition are paying attention to my book. But on the other, the community I wrote the book for seems to not have taken to it.
So come on folks and support me! You can pretend I'm Lance Bass.
Seriously though, I guess it's time for phase three - book tours.
That means I will probably need to get a haircut, join a gym, and buy new clothes.
Nah, too much work. I'll just get a face lift.
One more thing - if you have seen my book and liked what you read (or didn't like what you read), feel free to tell others how you feel via a review on amazon.com or other places.
Geez I sound like such a tool.
Oh well, it could be worse. I could be reduced to appearing on morning talk shows wearing an 8 p.m. cocktail dress.
Although that's not a bad idea. I do have nice legs.
Look out Matt Lauer!
I was checking the progress of my book via amazon.com and discovered something both interesting and disturbing.
It seems that some of the same folks who bought my book could be purchasing books from such luminaries as
(wait for it)
Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, Robert Novak, Dinesh D'Souza, and Ronald Reagan.
Not exactly pro-gay and not exactly progressive.
So on one hand, it is good that folks who view themselves as the opposition are paying attention to my book. But on the other, the community I wrote the book for seems to not have taken to it.
So come on folks and support me! You can pretend I'm Lance Bass.
Seriously though, I guess it's time for phase three - book tours.
That means I will probably need to get a haircut, join a gym, and buy new clothes.
Nah, too much work. I'll just get a face lift.
One more thing - if you have seen my book and liked what you read (or didn't like what you read), feel free to tell others how you feel via a review on amazon.com or other places.
Geez I sound like such a tool.
Oh well, it could be worse. I could be reduced to appearing on morning talk shows wearing an 8 p.m. cocktail dress.
Although that's not a bad idea. I do have nice legs.
Look out Matt Lauer!
What is a sodomite exactly?
Okay I know it's Halloween but Max Blumenthal took it too far.
I would rather sit through a showing of three Lucio Fulci movies (look it up) and five back-to-back showings of Soul Plane rather than do what he did.
Max Blumenthal attended and filmed the recent anti-gay industry Values Voters summit.
An online buddy clued me in to Mr. Blumenthal's journey through the real shadow of the valley of death.
Blumenthal's video captured the usual cast of deplorable characters (including a more animated than usual Janet Folger - who will figure greatly in a second volume of Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters should I decide to write one), but the one who attracted my attention was Star Parker.
Ms. Parker is a member of the segment of the black community not really talked about. These folks (Jesse Lee Peterson is one, Walter Williams is another, Harry Jackson is a third) take advantage of religious right influence and money to build and become part of "think tanks."
In exchange for this money, prominence and influence, they allow themselves to be prostituted bia columns, appearances on television shows, and books where they occasionally bitch at Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton, make comments about how white people caught in racially embarrassing situations aren't really racist, and generally give the incorrect connotation that black folks are stupid cause all we do is bitch at white people and if we didn't, our lives would be more fulfilling.
Ms. Parker is very interesting in her odiousness. This is seen through an appearance on ABC's The View where she rambled on so long that even Barbara Walters wanted to slug her.
Anyway, in Mr. Blumenthal's video, she has a very interesting name for gays.
I could comment but all my energy was drained as I kept from screaming:
"Just who is this heifa calling a sodomite!"
Okay I know it's Halloween but Max Blumenthal took it too far.
I would rather sit through a showing of three Lucio Fulci movies (look it up) and five back-to-back showings of Soul Plane rather than do what he did.
Max Blumenthal attended and filmed the recent anti-gay industry Values Voters summit.
An online buddy clued me in to Mr. Blumenthal's journey through the real shadow of the valley of death.
Blumenthal's video captured the usual cast of deplorable characters (including a more animated than usual Janet Folger - who will figure greatly in a second volume of Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters should I decide to write one), but the one who attracted my attention was Star Parker.
Ms. Parker is a member of the segment of the black community not really talked about. These folks (Jesse Lee Peterson is one, Walter Williams is another, Harry Jackson is a third) take advantage of religious right influence and money to build and become part of "think tanks."
In exchange for this money, prominence and influence, they allow themselves to be prostituted bia columns, appearances on television shows, and books where they occasionally bitch at Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton, make comments about how white people caught in racially embarrassing situations aren't really racist, and generally give the incorrect connotation that black folks are stupid cause all we do is bitch at white people and if we didn't, our lives would be more fulfilling.
Ms. Parker is very interesting in her odiousness. This is seen through an appearance on ABC's The View where she rambled on so long that even Barbara Walters wanted to slug her.
Anyway, in Mr. Blumenthal's video, she has a very interesting name for gays.
I could comment but all my energy was drained as I kept from screaming:
"Just who is this heifa calling a sodomite!"
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Tuesdays can be stranger than Mondays
Idiotic comment of the day:
ENDA "will ultimately force people of faith to go to sensitivity training" and threatens Christian employees "who may wear a cross or talk about Christ at work." - Andrea Lafferty, The Traditional Values Coalition
That comment is a blatant lie on so many levels. ENDA will not prevent people from wearing crosses are talking about Jesus at work. And Ms. Lafferty knows this. ENDA has nothing to do with religious expression.
The ironic thing is that even if it did, a Christian talking about Jesus would still be safe from the alleged "gay menace."
Jesus never said a word about gays.
Dan Abrams and why he is my hero
A lot of times, I tune out television journalism. I am a print man and to me, television journalism can sometimes devalue the entire industry by reducing issues to soundbites.
But every now and then, I get happy when television commentators do something awesome.
I am not really aware of who Dan Abrams is but he is my hero.
Recently, my undeclared nemesis and one of the reasons why my book was written, Robert Knight made an appearance on Abrams's MSNBC show.
He was there to criticize J.K. Rowlings for declaring that one of her Harry Potter characters, Dumbeldore, was gay.
Now for the record, Knight is a rude interview subject. He talks for a long time (a cynical tactic when you are debating an issue on a television show with a time limit) and tries to interrupt when other talk.
I feel that the Dumbledore controversy is ridiculous and even though Abrams didn't come out and say such, he not only demonstrated this point but showed just how dopey Robert Knight can be.
Take a look at it here.
And for the record, I met Knight in person (as chronicled by my book) and he is just a dreary and deceptive in person.
Idiotic comment of the day:
ENDA "will ultimately force people of faith to go to sensitivity training" and threatens Christian employees "who may wear a cross or talk about Christ at work." - Andrea Lafferty, The Traditional Values Coalition
That comment is a blatant lie on so many levels. ENDA will not prevent people from wearing crosses are talking about Jesus at work. And Ms. Lafferty knows this. ENDA has nothing to do with religious expression.
The ironic thing is that even if it did, a Christian talking about Jesus would still be safe from the alleged "gay menace."
Jesus never said a word about gays.
Dan Abrams and why he is my hero
A lot of times, I tune out television journalism. I am a print man and to me, television journalism can sometimes devalue the entire industry by reducing issues to soundbites.
But every now and then, I get happy when television commentators do something awesome.
I am not really aware of who Dan Abrams is but he is my hero.
Recently, my undeclared nemesis and one of the reasons why my book was written, Robert Knight made an appearance on Abrams's MSNBC show.
He was there to criticize J.K. Rowlings for declaring that one of her Harry Potter characters, Dumbeldore, was gay.
Now for the record, Knight is a rude interview subject. He talks for a long time (a cynical tactic when you are debating an issue on a television show with a time limit) and tries to interrupt when other talk.
I feel that the Dumbledore controversy is ridiculous and even though Abrams didn't come out and say such, he not only demonstrated this point but showed just how dopey Robert Knight can be.
Take a look at it here.
And for the record, I met Knight in person (as chronicled by my book) and he is just a dreary and deceptive in person.
Monday, October 29, 2007
A reiteration of the purpose of my blog and book
I would like to thank everyone who have read this blog and have supported me. I would also like to thank those who bought my book.
Lastly, I want to thank those who choose not to put a "hit" out on me for sending them so many posts on the Barack Obama/Donnie McClurkin situation.
I feel that I am blessed to be able to comment on this controversy and to bring attention to voices and issues that have not been heard.
But I would like to reiterate something.
This controversy is only a small part of a huge problem.
For a few days, I have huffed and puffed at Senator Obama and Donnie McClurkin.
But now, I want to reel myself back in by reposting the following main points of my book. The reason for my reposting is to remind myself as to the focus of my blog and book:
1. Using nonrepresentative or out of date studies to make generalizations, or
distorting legitimate studies to give misleading conclusions.
2. Repetition
3. Conspiracy Theory
4. Dire Consequences
5. Phony Experts
6. Dehumanizing Semantics
Top Anti-Gay Industry Lies
2. Gay men have a short life span.
3. The gay and lesbian community have a high rate of domestic violence.
4. Unhealthy behaviors (i.e. substance abuse, promiscuous sexual behavior) is
indicative of the gay or lesbian orientation.
5. Gay men molest children at a high rate.
6. Gays and lesbians want to silence Christians.
7. Gays and lesbians recruit people, particularly children, to their “life style.”
8. Gays and lesbians are following a six-point plan to take over America.
9. Any judge who rules in favor of the gay and lesbian community in a case is
an “activist judge.”
10. Anal sex is “homosexual behavior.”
11. Robert Spitzer’s study confi rms that gays and lesbians can change their
orientation.
13. Gay bowel syndrome is a legitimate medical term.
14. A man who molests a boy or a woman who molests a girl is automatically homosexual.
15. A convenience sample or out-of-date study can be used to generalize about an entire community.
I would like to thank everyone who have read this blog and have supported me. I would also like to thank those who bought my book.
Lastly, I want to thank those who choose not to put a "hit" out on me for sending them so many posts on the Barack Obama/Donnie McClurkin situation.
I feel that I am blessed to be able to comment on this controversy and to bring attention to voices and issues that have not been heard.
But I would like to reiterate something.
This controversy is only a small part of a huge problem.
For a few days, I have huffed and puffed at Senator Obama and Donnie McClurkin.
But now, I want to reel myself back in by reposting the following main points of my book. The reason for my reposting is to remind myself as to the focus of my blog and book:
The Six Distortion Techniques of the Anti-Gay Industry
1. Using nonrepresentative or out of date studies to make generalizations, or
distorting legitimate studies to give misleading conclusions.
2. Repetition
3. Conspiracy Theory
4. Dire Consequences
5. Phony Experts
6. Dehumanizing Semantics
Top Anti-Gay Industry Lies
1. Homosexuality is a lifestyle more harmful than cigarette smoking.
2. Gay men have a short life span.
3. The gay and lesbian community have a high rate of domestic violence.
4. Unhealthy behaviors (i.e. substance abuse, promiscuous sexual behavior) is
indicative of the gay or lesbian orientation.
5. Gay men molest children at a high rate.
6. Gays and lesbians want to silence Christians.
7. Gays and lesbians recruit people, particularly children, to their “life style.”
8. Gays and lesbians are following a six-point plan to take over America.
9. Any judge who rules in favor of the gay and lesbian community in a case is
an “activist judge.”
10. Anal sex is “homosexual behavior.”
11. Robert Spitzer’s study confi rms that gays and lesbians can change their
orientation.
12. Gays and lesbians want to force acceptance.
13. Gay bowel syndrome is a legitimate medical term.
14. A man who molests a boy or a woman who molests a girl is automatically homosexual.
15. A convenience sample or out-of-date study can be used to generalize about an entire community.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Thoughts from Sunday's vigil - that little story we never notice
A couple of hours ago, I took part in the South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement's vigil that was held outside Columbia's Township Auditorium.
The vigil was held to voice disappointment with Senator Barack Obama aligning himself with gospel singer Donnie McClurkin through a series of concerts.
McClurkin, in the past, has claimed to have been "delivered" from homosexuality. He has also gone on record comparing gays to pedophiles.
I am pleased with what happened. We had a small but determined group who used dignity and order to get our message out. It is interesting as to the spin that may be put out by the anti-gay industry, as well as the media, about the controversy.
No matter how many times it was emphasized that none of us care about McClurkin's personal decisions regarding his orientation, folks have continued to claim that we are angry at McClurkin's belief that he is "ex-gay" rather than his statements against the lgbt community.
But I am not upset over that. I am a very cynical person about such things.
However in this controversy, there was another story that will probably not see the light of day.
A black woman who stood in line for the concert marched over to us and declared:
"God made man for woman and woman for man."
She said a couple of other things of a Biblical nature (how homosexuality is ugly in God's sight, blah blah blah), but I tuned her out. I have learned that little trick over the years.
The ironic thing is that if this vigil was held in the 1950s, the subject would be about segregation and her role would be played by a white person claiming that the "separation of the races" was Biblically mandated.
The other ironic thing was that as she went on her tirade, I recognized a few of the faces going into the concert as those belonging to gay black men I knew.
As more attendees went in, I recognized quite a few more gay black men.
And let me tell you from the start that these men were not going into this concert looking to embrace McClurkin's message of being "delivered."
These men probably went in, clapped loudly, danced in religious ecstacy . . .
and then went back home to their psychological closets.
And that puts things in perspective.
The woman who came at us preaching probably thought she was doing God's will.
But who exactly did she think she was helping?
Certainly not those gay black men who stood in line for the concert.
If anything, her words told them that they have to choose between their lgbt orientation and their ethnic identity; an vicious and harmful lie.
For every so-called religious statement coming from her mouth, I could hear closet door after closet door slamming shut.
I could see even more black gay men (many of them married) trolling down the streets in the darkness of the night looking for a physical fix because they have been bamboozled to think that a quick thrust in the dark is all they deserve as gay men.
I could see more black women assembling themselves in "down low spotter groups" and doing inane things like checking their men's underwear for blood.
And I see the HIV/AIDS rate in the African-American community going sky high.
South Carolina's lgbt community took a stand today against ignorance and lies.
However in the middle of it all, God's Word was used as a whip to beat someone down, a chain to keep someone in a place that others thought he or she should be.
And to me, that's just sad.
This woman will probably go back to her church and claim that she stood up for God; as if God was just waiting on her to save Him.
Meanwhile, the gay organist will most likely play his usual song. The gay men in the church choir will probably sing as excellently as they do every Sunday. And those other gays and lesbians who attend her church will stay in their private miseries.
From what I understand, Mr. McClurkin distorted the issue at the concert.
He claimed that the issue was one about his personal decision to be "ex-gay" and did not address his comments linking homosexuality and pedophilia.
I am not surprised. Mr. McClurkin has continuously shown himself to be a huge charlatan. Why should he change? After all, lying in the name of God is very lucrative.
As to be expected, the audience gave him a loud applause.
And these are the same people who will, in the future, scratch their heads and wonder just how HIV/AIDS has become a scourge in the black community.
I have to ask myself
How can so many of my black brothers and sisters come so far and yet still be so far behind?
A couple of hours ago, I took part in the South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement's vigil that was held outside Columbia's Township Auditorium.
The vigil was held to voice disappointment with Senator Barack Obama aligning himself with gospel singer Donnie McClurkin through a series of concerts.
McClurkin, in the past, has claimed to have been "delivered" from homosexuality. He has also gone on record comparing gays to pedophiles.
I am pleased with what happened. We had a small but determined group who used dignity and order to get our message out. It is interesting as to the spin that may be put out by the anti-gay industry, as well as the media, about the controversy.
No matter how many times it was emphasized that none of us care about McClurkin's personal decisions regarding his orientation, folks have continued to claim that we are angry at McClurkin's belief that he is "ex-gay" rather than his statements against the lgbt community.
But I am not upset over that. I am a very cynical person about such things.
However in this controversy, there was another story that will probably not see the light of day.
A black woman who stood in line for the concert marched over to us and declared:
"God made man for woman and woman for man."
She said a couple of other things of a Biblical nature (how homosexuality is ugly in God's sight, blah blah blah), but I tuned her out. I have learned that little trick over the years.
The ironic thing is that if this vigil was held in the 1950s, the subject would be about segregation and her role would be played by a white person claiming that the "separation of the races" was Biblically mandated.
The other ironic thing was that as she went on her tirade, I recognized a few of the faces going into the concert as those belonging to gay black men I knew.
As more attendees went in, I recognized quite a few more gay black men.
And let me tell you from the start that these men were not going into this concert looking to embrace McClurkin's message of being "delivered."
These men probably went in, clapped loudly, danced in religious ecstacy . . .
and then went back home to their psychological closets.
And that puts things in perspective.
The woman who came at us preaching probably thought she was doing God's will.
But who exactly did she think she was helping?
Certainly not those gay black men who stood in line for the concert.
If anything, her words told them that they have to choose between their lgbt orientation and their ethnic identity; an vicious and harmful lie.
For every so-called religious statement coming from her mouth, I could hear closet door after closet door slamming shut.
I could see even more black gay men (many of them married) trolling down the streets in the darkness of the night looking for a physical fix because they have been bamboozled to think that a quick thrust in the dark is all they deserve as gay men.
I could see more black women assembling themselves in "down low spotter groups" and doing inane things like checking their men's underwear for blood.
And I see the HIV/AIDS rate in the African-American community going sky high.
South Carolina's lgbt community took a stand today against ignorance and lies.
However in the middle of it all, God's Word was used as a whip to beat someone down, a chain to keep someone in a place that others thought he or she should be.
And to me, that's just sad.
This woman will probably go back to her church and claim that she stood up for God; as if God was just waiting on her to save Him.
Meanwhile, the gay organist will most likely play his usual song. The gay men in the church choir will probably sing as excellently as they do every Sunday. And those other gays and lesbians who attend her church will stay in their private miseries.
From what I understand, Mr. McClurkin distorted the issue at the concert.
He claimed that the issue was one about his personal decision to be "ex-gay" and did not address his comments linking homosexuality and pedophilia.
I am not surprised. Mr. McClurkin has continuously shown himself to be a huge charlatan. Why should he change? After all, lying in the name of God is very lucrative.
As to be expected, the audience gave him a loud applause.
And these are the same people who will, in the future, scratch their heads and wonder just how HIV/AIDS has become a scourge in the black community.
I have to ask myself
How can so many of my black brothers and sisters come so far and yet still be so far behind?
Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters a bestseller on amazon.com!
I bet you thought that this was going to be another Obama post. Rest assured I do have one more thing to say because I was one of the spokespeople at today's Columbia, SC vigil.
But allow me to indulge in a bit of self celebration.
The sales of my book, Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters, have gone practically through the roof on amazon.com
So I am happy to say that my book is a bestseller. Granted, a bestseller on amazon.com but I ain't mad at it.
One victory at a time, I always say.
In fact, there is only one more copy of the paperback left to be bought (hint, hint, hint.)
Now just in case by some magical coincidence, this last copy (and the used copies and hardback copies) are sold out, interested people can still buy my book at xlibris.com and barnesandnoble.com
I bet you thought that this was going to be another Obama post. Rest assured I do have one more thing to say because I was one of the spokespeople at today's Columbia, SC vigil.
But allow me to indulge in a bit of self celebration.
The sales of my book, Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters, have gone practically through the roof on amazon.com
So I am happy to say that my book is a bestseller. Granted, a bestseller on amazon.com but I ain't mad at it.
One victory at a time, I always say.
In fact, there is only one more copy of the paperback left to be bought (hint, hint, hint.)
Now just in case by some magical coincidence, this last copy (and the used copies and hardback copies) are sold out, interested people can still buy my book at xlibris.com and barnesandnoble.com
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