Monday, September 15, 2014

Are anti-gay groups downplaying 'dangers of homosexuality' lie they used to push? A reminder of past talking points

This what anti-gay groups want people to believe about lgbts


Editor's note - Monday is upon is and it seems to be a slow day. With that in mind, it is a perfect time to again visit past points I made about anti-gay groups and the "homosexuality is a dangerous lifestyle" lie they push. I've noticed that in recently posts and comments, anti-gay groups and spokespeople now vaguely talk about how supposed dangers of homosexuality, whereas in the past, they would give details by way of junk science or cherry-picked studies. Make no mistake about it, efforts by lgbt bloggers and allies (specifically the Southern Poverty Law Center) have definitely made anti-gay groups spooked about pulling out their false proof in regards to the so-called dangers of homosexuality. But that's to say we don't need a reminder of their claims:

Distortion - Lgbt homes are not ideal homes to raise children because gay supportive researcher Judith Stacey said so in her study:

“A study conducted by Judith Stacey and Timothy Biblarz, sociologists at the University of Southern California, revealed that children raised by homosexual couples ‘seem to grow up to be more open to homoerotic relationships.’ The study showed that 12 percent of girls raised in lesbian homes became active lesbians themselves—increasing the likelihood of lesbianism by more than 400 percent.” - Fast Facts, Gay Adoption, Coral Ridge Ministries

Researcher Judith Stacey thinks that children do well in homosexual homes. She says her study found that girls brought up by lesbians show greater interest in masculine activities and dress and seek non-traditional female jobs. Boys in lesbian homes are more feminine and more nurturing. Children in these homes also become sexually active with same-sex partners. - Children In Homosexual Homes Become Sexually Confused, Traditional Values Coalition

Truth - Judith Stacey had gone on record numerous times decrying how her research in lgbt homes have been distorted. According to respectmyresearch.org:

. . . Stacey and Biblarz noted preliminary evidence of some “modest and interesting” differences between children raised by heterosexual parents and children raised by lesbian and gay parents, but they affirmed that “parental sexual orientation has no measurable effect on the quality of parent-child relationships or on children’s mental health or adjustment.”

In addition, via this link, she calls Focus on the Family to the carpet for distorting her work.

Distortion - Lesbian and gay relationships are generally violent Part 1:

A study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence examined conflict and violence in lesbian relationships. The researchers found that 90 percent of the lesbians surveyed had been recipients of one or more acts of verbal aggression from their intimate partners during the year prior to this study, with 31 percent reporting one or more incidents of physical abuse.” - Comparing the Lifestyles of Homosexual Couples to Married Couples, Family Research Council

There is a higher rate of violence in lesbian and homosexual relationships than in married, heterosexual relationships. A study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence examined conflict and violence in lesbian relationships. The researchers found that 90% of the lesbians surveyed had been recipients of one or more acts of verbal aggression from their intimate partners during the year prior to this study, with 31% reporting one or more incidents of physical abuse. - Same-Sex Parenting is Harmful to Children Says REAL Women of Canada, Lifesite News

Truth - According to the Journal of Interpersonal Violence’s own web page:

The Journal of Interpersonal Violence offers the most up-to-date information on domestic violence, rape, child sexual abuse and other violent crimes . . . Focusing on both victims and perpetrators, the journal examines theoretical links between all types of interpersonal violence, exploring the similarities and differences between these types of crimes.

In other words, the Journal of Interpersonal Violence tracks domestic violence, as well as other violent crimes.

Those surveyed in journal articles are the victims of violence, verbal or otherwise, because this is what the journal is designed to track.

However, what religious right groups are doing here is the equivalent of taking a study of domestic violence in the African-American community published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence and using it to allege that black relationships are indicative of violent behavior.

Friday, September 12, 2014

'What the heck is 'pro-gay sharia' law?' & other Friday midday news briefs

Cardinal Francis George Says American Catholics Are Being Forced To Live Under Pro-Gay Sharia Law - What! Wouldn't that be a contradiction in terms? 

Video: If nothing else will get you to 'Ex-gay Awareness Dinner' then this will—not do the trick either - Perhaps a better title of this piece should be "if nothing gets you on the toilet when you feel you need to go, this will do the trick.

Moscow Forum Attended By American Activists Ends With Call For More 'Gay Propaganda' Bans - Created "in love and to protect the children," I bet. 

 NOM Presses On With Legal Fight Against Ruling That Toppled Oregon's Gay Marriage Ban - NOM has never heard of the phrase "give it up, turn it loose." I wish I had that much money to burn.

Third Circuit Upholds New Jersey’s Ban On Ex-Gay Therapy - Excellent news! 

 Wisconsin Judges Are Granting Adoption Rights To Same-Sex Couples - Even better news!

Louisiana marriage equality loss due to multitude of errors by judge



Even though we are winning court case after court case for the cause of marriage equality, let's not forget the loss in Louisiana and how the judge came to such a outrageously bad ruling. Matt Baum of the American Foundation for Equal Rights elucidates further on this topic in the above video.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

LaBarbera, AFA fake news site smile on anti-gay persecution in foreign countries

LaBabarbera
Last week, Gambia became the latest African country to crack down on its lgbt citizens by passing a law pushing for life imprisonment for what it calls "aggravated homosexuality."  According to CBS, the law is much like the recently passed and then overturned Ugandan anti-gay law.

According to the American Family Association's fake news site,  One News Now, and anti-gay activist Peter LaBarbera, the desire of countries to penalize lgbts for simply existing is a good thing:

African nations opposing homosexuality are standing strong in spite of pressure from the U.S. that they promote the rainbow flag in their policies. Earlier this year Uganda passed a strong law against practicing homosexuality. The law was rejected by the nation's high court due to a technicality, but it's expected to pass on a second attempt. Nigeria has a similar law, and Gambia recently became the latest country to approve one.

 Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality notes that the U.S. is withdrawing aid from these countries until the laws are revoked. However in Uganda, an estimated 98 percent of the residents voiced support for their president's refusal to bow to U.S. demands, in spite of the withdrawal of economic aid. “Just because America has fallen so far that we now treat sin, in this case homosexuality, as a civil right doesn't mean we have the right to force that on other countries that have more wholesome and biblical values,”

The irony that someone who calls himself a Christian - in this case LaBarbera - actually supports persecution of anyone in the name of morality is shocking enough. But that shock is exacerbated with the article's next turn:

Similar pressure is also being applied to Nigeria, where meanwhile the terrorist group Boko Haram has been murdering Christians and moderate Muslims who don't support their extreme views. The U.S. finally recognized Boko Haram as a terrorist group and did send military advisors. “That should be our number-one priority,” LaBarbera says. “We shouldn't be talking about homosexuality right now, but Obama is pandering to his base. He is the most pro-homosexual and gender confusion president our country has ever seen. It is high in his priority list, unfortunately to the detriment of our own security needs.”

What type of Christian publication or spokesperson would voice support for the jailing of gays for simply being gay and then make a 180 degree turn to decry the persecution of Christians in the same article? Why is a different mindset on both issues even necessary? No one should be put in jail simply for being gay and no one should be murdered simply because of their religious beliefs.

The hypocrisy of One News Now and LaBarbera illustrate a sad commentary on Christianity in this country. To some so-called believers, Christianity in America is more like a clique or a club where they have false entitlements and think that their so-called faith supercedes their responsibility to treat people in a civilized and decent manner. To voice even a singular disagreement with them or point out the contradictions between their statements and actions adds up to "persecution" in their eyes.

And, in the case of One News Now and LaBarbera, it represents how supposed believers can even go against what is supposed to be their own core values without so much as a blink of shame.



 

'Pat Robertson gives BAD advice to parent of lesbian' & other Thursday midday news briefs

Pat Robertson: 'Girl-On-Girl Movies' Make Young People Think They're Gay - Proving once again that one would be better off asking Norman Bates' mother for advice on parents supporting their  children before asking Pat Robertson:

 

 In other news:

 In Cameroon, Drinking Bailey’s Makes You Guilty Of Gay Sex - Hold up. Didn't Pat Robertson say . . .  

Staver: Obama's America Is Worse Than Nazi Germany - So because of marriage equality and abortion, America is worse than Nazi Germany, according to the Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver. Oh the hyperbole! It burns! 

Russian ‘Pro-Family’ Conference Exposing Internal Dissension Among American Religious Right Leaders? - Dissension, yes. It would be perfect. The conference is still a drag. 

More detail on the above story - UPDATED: 'Cancelled' World Congress Of Families Kremlin Conference Begins Today, Possibly With Special Guest Star Brian Brown 

 LGBT people twice as likely to suffer from chronic mental health problems - And the study also says this is due to homophobia and how homophobia breeds mistrust. Of course the big question I have is how long will it take the anti-gay right to distort this study by citing how lgbts have chronic mental health issues while omitting the part about how homophobia creates this problem.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Linda Harvey has a SCARY obsession with gays in the schools

Linda Harvey
Have you ever seen that movie Repulsion in which the heroine (played by Catherine Denevue) is so repressed that she imagines men breaking into her house and hands coming out the walls just to violate her person?

I can't help but to think of that movie whenever I hear anti-gay activist Linda Harvey talk about lgbts. ESPECIALLY when she gets paranoid about supposed "gay indoctrination in public schools.

Girlfriend, you got PROBLEMS!


'Photo campaign looks at HIV-positive people' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

FRC's newest star pushes same old animus - The Family Research Council has a new fake expert. Does this mean Peter Sprigg is on his way out and I have a new figurative punching bag? 

Photo Campaign Documents A Day In The Life Of HIV-Positive People - An excellent photo campaign. I like it!  

Tennessee Pastor Robert Gallaty Suggests Gays 'Must Be Put To Death' Or Remain Celibate - Uh sheeiiiiiit! You must be crazy!

 Out LGBT Candidates Advance Closer To Making History In Massachusetts - Sweeeeet! 

 Duck Dynasty Patriarch: Sexual Diseases Are God’s ‘Penalty’ For Homosexuality - What was that line in that episode of Designing Women:
Imogene, get serious! Who do you think you're talking to? I've known you for 27 years, and all I can say is if God was giving out sexually transmitted diseases to people as a punishment for sinning, that you would be at the free clinic all the time! ... and so would the rest of us!