O'Reilly capitulates after harassing openly gay legislator

Apparently, there seems to be an ever so small degree of journalism integrity in Bill O'Reilly's ever so small conscience which led him to make the following statement after harassing openly gay Colorado legislator Rep. Mark Ferrandino.

O'Reilly had spent several segments of his show implying that Ferrandino was protecting pedophiles, causing many folks to cry "foul."

 

Transcript: 

 O’REILLY: I have to report the truth here. First truism, homosexuality has nothing to do with the crime of pedophilia. Second, everyone we report on is defined and that guy is proud of his circumstance and promotes it, so we reported it. 

Even as he admits that homosexuality has nothing to do with pedophilia, O'Reilly still tries to give himself a lifeline. Equality Matters isn't having it. The site slightly reminds folks of the time in which he did conflate pedophilia with homosexuality:

O’Reilly’s explanation for his attacks still doesn’t pass the smell test, but it’s at least an improvement from when he openly defended linking homosexuality to pedophilia last summer.

 

The love of bigots . . .

I know. The Catholic Church has a new Pope and he is as bad as the last one. Oh well, I wasn't all that surprised. What surprised me today is yet another reference to the "homosexuality/outlet plug reference." To those who are not familiar with this inane thing, it is yet another way as to how the religious right attempts to reduce lgbt relationships to that of sexual matters, like so:



Yet another demonstration of the saying, "the love of bigots is more dangerous than their hatred."

'NOM-bought black pastor group working hard for the money' and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Same old, same old anti-gay bigotry from NOM-bought black pastor shell group - William Owens and his wife have to earn their $40,000 from NOM somehow.

Video: Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) says gays have 'disordered relationships' - Oh brother. Here we go again. Why, if lgbts are bullies, are our relationships constantly attacked. What is this? The zillionth time? Okay forgive me for being snarky, but girlfriend's wig/weave is a bit more disordered than any gay relationship I've ever seen.

Fox’s O’Reilly Backtracks After Accusing Gay Colorado Lawmaker Of Protecting Child Molesters - O'Reilly's explanation for his slander and harassment are just as bad as his journalistic skills.

 Obama Evolves Even Further, Denies That State Marriage Bans Are Constitutional - Okay, all of the Larry Kramer wannabes hush up (for at least three minutes) and let the man slowly stick his head out of the turtle shell.

Gay College Student Made to Drink Holy Water to Be Cured of Homosexuality - Let me guess . . . it didn't work.

Anti-gay parenting study author casting his lot with NOM

Regnerus

If folks are hoping that Mark Regnerus will plead any mea culpa regarding new allegations about his anti-gay parenting study and how the anti-gay funders may have influenced it, I think the following announcement from Jennifer Roback of NOM's Ruth Institute should give an indication that as to why that probably won't happen:

Protect Marriage Conference in San Diego May 30

I wrote to you earlier about the Ruth Institute annual three day pro-marriage conference here in San Diego for university students and young adults, called, “It Takes a Family to Raise a Village,”  or ITAF.  I want you to know that the deadline for application is coming up on March 15th, later this week.  So please, please, tell your students, interns, seminarians or other young adults who would benefit from the  ITAF program that they need to get on with it and apply now!!

This seminar-style conference brings together young adults, 18-30, for an intense inter-disciplinary, inter-faith program that will help them make an informed and compassionate case for natural marriage, one man, one woman for life.  Our graduates have gone on to form clubs, start their own blogs, be guests on radio programs and write for established internet outlets. This year our conference is in a beautiful San Diego resort, the Town and Country. We’ll be hosting about 35 students and a dynamic panel of speakers.

This three day event is FREE for students and includes all the lectures, food, transportation in San Diego, lodging, plus a travel stipend to assist them in travelling to San Diego.

And guess who just happens to be one of the speakers at this "Protect Marriage" conference:

 Mark Regnerus, Ph.D. He is associate professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Austin, and a research associate of the university’s Population Research Center. His areas of research are sexual behavior and family formation. He is the author of the important new work on adult children of parents who had same sex relationships. He is also the author of two books on the sexual behavior of teenagers and young adults.

To me, it's more fascinating that his study - the item which he is more famous, or infamous, for is conveniently not mentioned in his biography except for a vague reference.

 I should mention that Roback and other speakers of the conference, i.e. Robert Gagnon have been extremely vocal as to their objections not only of lgbt equality but gay parenting and same-sex households in general.

I think it's safe to assume that Regnerus no longer cares about faking objectivity when it comes to where he stands on the subject of gay parenting.

Related post - Time to twitter bomb the right, Boehner about the Regnerus study

Former MN legislator regrets her DOMA vote in powerful testimony

Forget that crazy man I was talking about earlier today who gave insane testimony to stop marriage equality in Minnesota. THIS testimony is the most powerful. It's from Lynne Osterman, a former legislator who voted for DOMA and now regrets her vote:

'MN marriage equality hearing witness talks anal sex' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Courtesy of Joe.My.God., a "concerned citizen" speaking against marriage equality during a hearing this morning in Minnesota. Lord hammercy! 



In other news:

 Minnesota Legislator Interrupts Proceedings To Introduce Ex-Gay Friend - Speaking of those hearings - yesterday, legislator tried to pull a fast one.  

NARTH Loses Tax Exempt Status - NARTH is an anti-gay junk science group. I say a lot more of them need to lose their tax-exempt status.

 Video: FRC hopes SCOTUS confuses us for a theocracy, society of junk science - Another junk science-ridden anti-gay video, Family Research Council? Really? Y'all know what to do.

One last thing:

I got this interesting message from someone who wished to be anonymous:

Please do not assume that the faculty and students at UT support Regnerus's false work. Many have avidly spoke out against him, written about his article, and signed petitions against him. While the institution has been remiss to do anything against him, that is not the same thing as the faculty and students who have opposed his craptacular explosion of feculence. Many have apologized in public to their LGBT alum for what he has done to the name of Sociology at UT. Go after the institution but not the faculty and students who have dedicated themselves to undoing the damage Regnerus has caused to the department and school. 

It's nice to know that folks at Regnerus' university are as disgusted with his "study" as we are. Remember to tweet the National Organization for Marriage, the Family Research Council, Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, the University of Texas (Austin) and House Speaker John Boehner. Demand that they comment on the new allegations regarding the Regnerus study.  No rude comments and no threats.

@NOMupdate

 @FRCdc

@spriggfrc

@SpeakerBoehner

@UTAustin

And speaking of how to contact Mark Regnerus, I have been told that the following is his religious blog with an open comment section. Or you can reach him from his webpage by emailing him at  regnerus@prc.utexas.edu. (I am unsure whether or not you should include that last period). The same applies for him as the others.  Demand that he comment on new allegations regarding his study. But no rude comments or threats. Always respond to injustice with dignity.

Time to twitter bomb the right, Boehner about the Regnerus study

Regnerus

Seems to me that if I were a professor and my work and credibility had been questioned, I would respond.

 If I were a member of highly connected organization in Washington, DC or a member of Congress and a study cited in a brief to the Supreme Court which I supported had been called into question, I would respond.

But I am not University of Texas (Austin) professor Mark Regnerus nor am I connected with the Family Research Council or the National Organization for Marriage. And I am definitely not a member of Congress.

So instead of responding in this scenarios, I sit back and scratch my head at the silence.

Last year, when Regnerus' study was published, the religious right and their cohorts went press crazy, announcing to every news organization who cared that Regnerus' study made the case against marriage equality, gay adoption, and same-sex families in general.

They even ignored the pesky fact that the study was extremely flawed, choosing instead to overwhelm truth with repetition fueled by a very good media campaign. 

These groups, and the Republicans in the House of Representatives, even cited the study in briefs to the Supreme Court to defend anti-gay laws (DOMA, Prop 8).

But now, two days after the Huffington Post and the American Independent published an article bringing to light shocking allegations against Regnerus and his study, these folks haven't commented.

Not a word has been said from the right or Regnerus. Not even a cough.

It's not by accident of course.  The silence is deliberate because they are hoping that the story passes through the news cycle without so much as a peep. And when that happens, they will poke their heads out and continue to spout nonsense about traditional morality and family, as if nothing has happened.

Don't let them get away with it. Here is what you can do.

The following are the twitter addresses of the National Organization for Marriage, the Family Research Council, Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, the University of Texas (Austin) and House Speaker John Boehner. Demand that they comment on the new allegations regarding the Regnerus study.  No rude comments and no threats.

@NOMupdate

 @FRCdc

@spriggfrc

@SpeakerBoehner

@UTAustin 

I looked for Regnerus' twitter address but couldn't seem to find it. If anyone has any way of contacting him, please inform readers in the comments section below.