ENDA Stuff - History in the making
I advise everyone to check out this site or this one if you want to listen or see the hearings on ENDA.
We are on the crux of history, folks. Regardless of how things turn out, the door is open and it will NOT be closed.
UPDATE - The House just passed ENDA!!!!!!!!!!!
PFOX member wins award and boy does he deserve it
Box Turtle Bulletin has just announced a new winner of its LaBarbera Award.
First, a little background. According to Jim Burroway, editor of Box Turtle Bulletin, the LaBarbera award (named after our friend Porno Petey):
will be awarded on an as-earned basis for the most outrageous, offensive, malevolent, crazy, excessive — you get the picture — statement or claim. (Paul Cameron is ineligible; otherwise nobody else would ever get a chance to win.) I thought about naming it for Fred Phelps, but he’s in a class all by himself.
Past recipients of the award have been such "luminaries" as Regina Griggs of PFOX and Rick Scarborough of Vision America.
Not to be undone, another member of PFOX, Gabriel Espinosa, has been chosen as the recent recipient.
And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. According to Box Turtle Bulletin:
The Montgomery County (Maryland) Council is considering a new gender identity nondiscrimination bill, which has generated a lot of heated debate. JimK at TeachTheFacts.org has published a couple of letters from the far-right fringe in opposition to the proposed measure. The sticking point is over men’s and women’s restrooms — who should be allowed to go into which one. Gabriel joined in with her cahrming little note, reportedly done up in about a 40-point font. Please excuse the French:
Bill 23-07
Allowing men who think they’re women into women’s bathrooms and locker rooms?
ARE YOU PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MINDS?
Hopefully, it will be one of your daughters who gets raped first!
Sincerely Yours,
Gabriel Espinosa
President
Furryllama Media Productions
Lawd, lawd, lawd
I love God, but his "followers" are a drag.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
The resurrection of the Matt Barber/AllState lie
In fighting against ENDA, some members of the anti-gay industry is resurrecting the Matt Barber lie.
For the benefit of those who do not know, Matt Barber is the policy director for Cultural Studies for Concerned Women for America. Before that time, he worked at AllState Insurance.
He was fired from that job, subsequently making himself a new cause celebre for the anti-gay industry. You see, Barber claimed (and still claims) that he was fired for being Christian.
What caused the entire fuss was a column Barber wrote against marriage equality. It's funny because the column said nothing about his religious beliefs. It did include a lot of bad information, including some Cameronesque studies. Apparently Barber did not research his topic.
However, it did identify him as an employee of AllState. Barber claims this was added accidentally by another party.
AllState fired Barber, claiming that he used company resources for his personal use. Barber contended that he wrote the column on his own time.
Barber sued AllState for violating his religious beliefs because he was not allowed to receive unemployment benefits as a employee who was fired for willfull misconduct. The Illinois Department for Employment Security said this was not the case, so Barber was able to get unemployment benefits. Barber continued with a lawsuit against AllState.
He was aided by religious right lawyers, anti-gay industry figures such as Donald Wildmon and the American Family Association, and blogs like Free Republic who claimed that he was the newest victim of the "gay Mafia."
Barber and AllState settled, even though no dollar amount was mentioned.
Barber was not fired for his religious beliefs. As it turns out, AllState could have had a justifiable reason for firing him, which is why he was not rehired:
In court documents, Allstate said Barber was not fired for his beliefs, but for using company resources for his personal activities.
Company spokesman Michael Trevino said that Allstate has never terminated an employee for expressing his or her personal views away from the office. Barber said he wrote the articles at home but admitted that he sometimes sent personal e-mails, including some related to his writing, from his company laptop. Barber also stated that he made no more personal use of his laptop than his co-workers did.
Barber's situation had nothing to do with religion or ENDA. But in the eyes of the anti-gay industry, a lie can become the truth if it is repeated long enough.
In fighting against ENDA, some members of the anti-gay industry is resurrecting the Matt Barber lie.
For the benefit of those who do not know, Matt Barber is the policy director for Cultural Studies for Concerned Women for America. Before that time, he worked at AllState Insurance.
He was fired from that job, subsequently making himself a new cause celebre for the anti-gay industry. You see, Barber claimed (and still claims) that he was fired for being Christian.
What caused the entire fuss was a column Barber wrote against marriage equality. It's funny because the column said nothing about his religious beliefs. It did include a lot of bad information, including some Cameronesque studies. Apparently Barber did not research his topic.
However, it did identify him as an employee of AllState. Barber claims this was added accidentally by another party.
AllState fired Barber, claiming that he used company resources for his personal use. Barber contended that he wrote the column on his own time.
Barber sued AllState for violating his religious beliefs because he was not allowed to receive unemployment benefits as a employee who was fired for willfull misconduct. The Illinois Department for Employment Security said this was not the case, so Barber was able to get unemployment benefits. Barber continued with a lawsuit against AllState.
He was aided by religious right lawyers, anti-gay industry figures such as Donald Wildmon and the American Family Association, and blogs like Free Republic who claimed that he was the newest victim of the "gay Mafia."
Barber and AllState settled, even though no dollar amount was mentioned.
Barber was not fired for his religious beliefs. As it turns out, AllState could have had a justifiable reason for firing him, which is why he was not rehired:
In court documents, Allstate said Barber was not fired for his beliefs, but for using company resources for his personal activities.
Company spokesman Michael Trevino said that Allstate has never terminated an employee for expressing his or her personal views away from the office. Barber said he wrote the articles at home but admitted that he sometimes sent personal e-mails, including some related to his writing, from his company laptop. Barber also stated that he made no more personal use of his laptop than his co-workers did.
Barber's situation had nothing to do with religion or ENDA. But in the eyes of the anti-gay industry, a lie can become the truth if it is repeated long enough.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Damn, Peter. You must be slipping
What is with our friend Peter LaBarbera.
I think he may be phoning it in.
Case in point - A recent posting on his American for Truth (in name only) webpage:
Study Finds Extensive Partner Abuse among Homosexual, Bisexual Men
From that headline, it sounds like Peter, as a card carrying member of the anti-gay industry, is up to his usual tricks of distorting legitimate studies in order to demonize the lgbt community.
Until the rest of the post is read. I put the important piece in bold:
A new study in the Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of The New York Academy of Medicine found that 32 percent of gay and bisexual men - nearly one in three - are victims of intimate partner abuse.
Little has previously been researched and documented about the patterns of intimate partner abuse in same-sex male couples. This study’s results provide an important addition to the body of knowledge on this subject, and a call to action for health providers treating men who have sex with men (MSM).
“Men in same-sex relationships experience abuse rates similar to those faced by women in heterosexual pairings,” said lead author Eric Houston of the Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago. “Intimate partner abuse among MSM does not receive the same attention as it does among heterosexual couples. As a result of the lack of attention, many MSM who need help may not be recognized unless the healthcare provider is appropriately trained and takes time to assess for abuse.”
So Peter, how does this information make same-sex relationships seem worse than heterosexual relationships?
You must be slipping my friend.
One News Now and the tale of the poll
We have been inudated with lies that ENDA will lead to discrimination against Christians and such.
But how do some of these same so-called Christians feel about considering sexual orientation or gender identity in employment?
Do they view it as an issue that should be considered?
According to a recent poll on the anti-gay industry site One News Now, 43.9 percent of poll respondees said factors such as an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity should always be taken into consideration when a person is hired or fired.
And you just know that the 43.9 percent aren't necessarily pro-gay.
Something to think about.
What is with our friend Peter LaBarbera.
I think he may be phoning it in.
Case in point - A recent posting on his American for Truth (in name only) webpage:
Study Finds Extensive Partner Abuse among Homosexual, Bisexual Men
From that headline, it sounds like Peter, as a card carrying member of the anti-gay industry, is up to his usual tricks of distorting legitimate studies in order to demonize the lgbt community.
Until the rest of the post is read. I put the important piece in bold:
A new study in the Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of The New York Academy of Medicine found that 32 percent of gay and bisexual men - nearly one in three - are victims of intimate partner abuse.
Little has previously been researched and documented about the patterns of intimate partner abuse in same-sex male couples. This study’s results provide an important addition to the body of knowledge on this subject, and a call to action for health providers treating men who have sex with men (MSM).
“Men in same-sex relationships experience abuse rates similar to those faced by women in heterosexual pairings,” said lead author Eric Houston of the Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago. “Intimate partner abuse among MSM does not receive the same attention as it does among heterosexual couples. As a result of the lack of attention, many MSM who need help may not be recognized unless the healthcare provider is appropriately trained and takes time to assess for abuse.”
So Peter, how does this information make same-sex relationships seem worse than heterosexual relationships?
You must be slipping my friend.
One News Now and the tale of the poll
We have been inudated with lies that ENDA will lead to discrimination against Christians and such.
But how do some of these same so-called Christians feel about considering sexual orientation or gender identity in employment?
Do they view it as an issue that should be considered?
According to a recent poll on the anti-gay industry site One News Now, 43.9 percent of poll respondees said factors such as an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity should always be taken into consideration when a person is hired or fired.
And you just know that the 43.9 percent aren't necessarily pro-gay.
Something to think about.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
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.
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.
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.
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