Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

Friday, October 01, 2010

Know Your LGBT History - Beautiful Thing

It's been a sad time for the lgbt community, particularly our children. We fight so much for equality that sometimes we forget that there are other things we need to be concerned with such as self esteem and peer respect, as well as hope for the future. Those are the two things that our lgbt children need.

With that in mind, I want to feature one of the best movies that deals with lgbt youth.

Beautiful Thing (1996) is a simple movie of two young teens who fall in love in London. From Wikipedia:

Jamie (Glen Berry), a teen who is infatuated with his classmate, Ste (Scott Neal), has to deal with his single mother Sandra (Linda Henry), who is pre-occupied with ambitious plans to run her own pub and with an ever-changing string of lovers, the latest of whom is Tony (Ben Daniels), a neo-hippie. Sandra finds herself at odds with Leah (Tameka Empson), a sassy and rude neighbour who has been expelled from school, does several drugs, and constantly listens and sings along to her mother's Mama Cass records. While Jamie's homosexuality remains concealed, his introvert nature and dislike of football are reason enough for his classmates to bully him at every opportunity.

Needless to say, the two boys do fall in love and have to navigate a relationship throughout all of the mess.

And let me apologize for those who hate spoilers, but this movie has a happy ending which the following clip shows. Why am I revealing this? Because there is nothing wrong knowing that happy endings exist, whether in movies or real life:

Homophobic assistant AG takes leave of absence, Open season on lgbt youth?, and other Friday midday news briefs

Assistant AG takes leave of absence after national attention over blog against U-M student body president - A small degree of sanity reigns.

Johnson & Wales Student Commits Suicide - My God. Another life taken.

'It's really tough being different,' says supporter of site aimed at treating gays differently - If this doesn't get your blood boiling, nothing will. And for clarification's sake, studies say that lgbt youth are more likely to engage negative behaviors (i.e. suicide, drug and alchohol abuse) when they have to deal with a homophobic culture.

Peter LaBarbera Clarifies Why He Pulled His Post on NOM - An irrelevant homophobic loser spins another lie.

Parade Commodore to 14-year-old Girl: “Go To A Country Where They Hang People Like You” - Apparently it's open season on lgbt children and their allies.

URI student faces charges - What are these losers scared of?

In wake of anti-lgbt youth climate, Focus on the Family attacks GLSEN

Candi Cushman of Focus on the Family just released a critique of GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network)'s recent school climate report.

GLSEN's report found that in 2009:

. . . 7,261 middle and high school students found that at school nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students experienced harassment at school in the past year and nearly two-thirds felt unsafe because of their sexual orientation. Nearly a third of LGBT students skipped at least one day of school in the past month because of safety concerns.

Naturally, Cushman and Focus on the Family disputes this. To make a long story short, Cushman is claiming that GLSEN's report is inaccurate because it:

. . . lists four authors—all of whom are employed by GLSEN, including Emily A. Greytak, who became involved with a GLSEN chapter 12 years ago and has worked for the organization since 2006; Elizabeth M. Diaz, who, as a GLSEN employee since 2004, conducts workshops opposing abstinence education; and GLSEN employee Mark J. Bartkiewicz, whose “research interests include LGBT students’ access to comprehensive sexual health education and the effects of inclusive LGBT curricula.”

Hardly what you’d call an objective research team—and then there’s the little fact that they are paid by an organization that has openly acknowledged its goal of getting gay, lesbian and transgender themes “fully integrated into curricula across a variety of subject areas and grade levels.”

Cushman is pushing the same old lie that GLSEN is trying to "introduce homosexual themes" into schools in order to "indoctrinate" children.

It's the standard lie she and Focus on the Family pushes and it's nothing new.

But the sad thing is that this attack is coming in a climate in which we have seen a recent outbreak of bullying and suicides of young lgbts including:

An 11-year-old sixth grader in Ohio had his arm broken by teenagers who called him a queer and a sissy because he wanted to be a cheerleader.

There's the suicide, by hanging, of 13-year-old Seth Walsh, in California.

The suicide, by means of his father's Beretta, of 13-year-old Asher Brown, in Texas.

and finally, the suicide of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, which needs no introduction because we know the story.

In the long run, it doesn't matter who backed the GLSEN report or who created it.

Because based on recent events, the report has a degree of accuracy.

If Cushman or Focus on the Family really cared about the children, they would realize this instead of releasing a ridiculous critique that does nothing but demonstrate how uncaring and clueless they really are.

Related posts:

Focus on the Family's attack on anti-bullying efforts take centerstage on AC 360

Focus on the Family cites George Rekers in fighting anti-bullying efforts

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Eddie Long scandal - Chronology of what has happened and where we are now

Allow me to break down the Eddie Long scandal as best as I can including photos and videos:

Tuesday, Sept. 21 - Prominent anti-gay black pastor accused of sexual coercion - Two young men in Georgia, Anthony Flagg, 21, and Maurice Murray Robinson, 20, filed a suit in DeKalb County, Georgia alleging that Long used his position as pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church to coerce them into sex. Long's spokesman denies the allegation.

Wednesday, Sept. 22 - Eddie Long hit with third sexual coercion lawsuit but is defended by congregation members - Long is hit with another sexual coercion lawsuit by Jamal Parris, 23. Long is defended by his congregation members.

Thursday, Sept. 23 - Eddie Long scandal now includes pictures - The lawsuits take a strange turn when attorney B.J. Bernstein, who are representing the three men suing Long releases two pictures of Long dressed in spandex and workout clothing supposedly sent to one of the alleged victims.

Friday, Sept. 24 Eddie Long rumored to step down amid possibly more allegations of sexual coercion - A fourth young man Spencer LeGrande, files suit. Meanwhile, pastors in Atlanta gather to pray for Long.

Sunday, Sept. 26 - Eddie Long determined to fight allegations of sexual coercion - Long tells a packed house at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, that he was innocent of the charges and that he was determined to fight them:

Wednesday, September 29 - Jamal Parris, one of Eddie Long's accusers, gives a sad, riveting account - One of Long's accusers, Jamal Parris, speaks to the press:

Thursday, Sept. 30 - Another Eddie Long accuser speaks out - The fourth young man to file a suit, Spencer LeGrande, also talks to the press:

Another Eddie Long accuser speaks out and other Thursday midday news briefs

Another accuser of Eddie Long speaks out:

In other news:

Obama Speaks About His Faith, Gets Accued of Being An Ignorant, Lying "Limousine Marxist Hypocrite" - Because you know these folks, who frequently bear false witness against the lgbt community, are the "true Christians."

TWO Deeply Saddened By Three Gay Teen September Suicides Resulting From School Bullying - What the hell is going on here?

MI Attorney General: Fire anti-gay cyber-bully Andrew Shirvell - I don't get this. Everyone knows that Andrew Shrivell is harassing and stalking Chris Armstrong, the college student. I guess Attorney General Mike Cox will be spurred to do something if Armstrong harms himself. I hope it doesn't get to that point.

Immigration Bill to Include LGBTs - It's about time.

Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber stands up for gay persecution

In a hysterical screed published by the American Family Association's One News Now, Matt Barber of the Liberty Counsel sets his aim at the United Nations:

The United Nations is pressing for acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle worldwide, which was made evident during a recent human rights meeting in Geneva.

A written statement from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on U.N. members to abolish laws that discriminate against homosexuals. The statement comes two months after a homosexual activist group received U.N. accreditation.

"The United Nations just continues to spiral further and further down into the abyss of irrelevancy," laments Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs at Liberty Counsel. "Their radical, leftist, post-modern secular humanist, globalist agenda is just as clear as it has ever been."

That agenda has become a point of concern for some countries that depend on the United Nations and its agencies, but Barber points out that at the same time, "this is why so many nations around the world that embrace traditional values, that embrace sexual morality, have really written the U.N. off as an extremist conglomerate of really left-wing 'wacktivists.'"

As par for the course with One News Now, Barber's insane comments are the only thing published about the U.N.'s actions.

Here are some facts that the One News Now article omitted:

In a message to a panel discussion in Geneva on ending violence and criminal sanctions based on sexual orientation and gender identity, which was delivered by UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay, Mr. Ban noted that the responsibilities of the UN and the obligations of States are clear.

“No one, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. No one should be prosecuted for their ideas or beliefs. No one should be punished for exercising their right to freedom of expression.”

In May, during a visit to Malawi, the Secretary-General called for laws criminalizing people on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity to be reformed worldwide. Such laws, he noted, fuel violence, help to legitimize homophobia and contribute to a climate of hate.

While in Malawi, he had also lauded the “courageous” decision by the country’s leader to pardon a gay couple who had been sentenced to 14 years in prison, voicing hope that the African nation will update its laws to reflect international standards.

Ms. Pillay noted in her own remarks that, despite significant progress made in a number of States, there is still no region in the world today where people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual transgender or intersex (LGBTI) can live entirely free from discrimination or from the threat of harassment and physical attack.

“But in 78 countries, individuals still face criminal sanctions on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” she told the event, which was held on the sidelines of the 15th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council.

So what the United Nations is actually trying to do is to eliminate persecution against lgbts in other countries.

And apparently to Barber, this persecution, which in some cases includes jail time and physical violence, embodies "traditional values."

You know, there are times when I get frustrated because I feel that I'm not communicating just how hypocritical and hateful some members of the religious right actually are.

Then someone like Matt Barber comes along and makes my job so much easier.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Did someone suddenly declare war on lgbt youth?

I am at a loss for words tonight. Two awful stories and I don't understand either one. Did someone suddenly declare war on our lgbt children?:

Asst. AG won't stop harrassing gay student and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Michigan’s Assistant AG Harrassing Gay Student: ‘I Don’t Have Any Hate In My Body At All’ - Suuure you don't.

Math is hard: Media outlets fumble with CDC data on MSM HIV rates - Not that it matters to the religious right.

LGBT orgs launch site on NOM - What took them so long?

PFLAG marks 20 years of support to family, friends of gays, lesbians - Something to celebrate.

Jamal Parris, one of Eddie Long's accusers, gives a sad, riveting account

All I can say here is that this is sad:

Partial transcript:

''I loved him. I'm always going to have love for the things that he taught me.... You finally have a father that you've always wanted for and always dreamed of.... He would just walk away from you if you don't give him what he wants. So you end up turning into something you never thought you would be, which is now a slave to a man that you love....

''So, while the media and the rest of the people around the city, around the country look at us like how could grown men let another man touch him, what you have to understand is this man has manipulated us since childhood.... This man turned his back on us when he had no more need for us. That's not a father, that's a predator.... You are not a man, you are a monster.''

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

You are a bigot, Matt Barber. Be proud of your title

I haven't written about the Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber in a while because I was distracted by more important matters.

However, a piece he wrote on World Net Daily attracted my attention. Kind of a drop, huh Matt. You were on news programs a while back and now you are on birther central.

Barber's piece, unoriginaliy named The 'gay' deathstyle, leaves nothing to the imagination as to what it's about. Just a silly combination of bastardized statistics backed by Biblical verses. It's nothing new from Barber. But the following caught my attention:

Another problem lies in the fact that far too many Christians have contributed to the dilemma by failing to speak truth, in love, on the issue of homosexuality (pastors with "gay" congregants and family members, I'm talking to you). Nobody likes to be unfairly labeled a hater, "homophobe" or bigot, but fear of such attacks offers no justification for failing to speak truth in love.

And that's the galling feature of folks like Barber. They claim to speak in love as long as they don't have to answer about how they choose to speak.

For the benefit of everyone, allow me to recap the ways in which Barber speaks the truth in love to the lgbt community.

For those not familiar with Barber, in 2005, he lost his job at AllState Insurance in part for penning an anti-gay column. Since that time, the story was spun that he was fired due to his beliefs and he has parlayed that narrative into cinchy gigs with Concerned Women for America, the Liberty Counsel, and a book deal. However, like all religious right stories of gay persecution, there are details omitted (such as Barber using AllState Insurance equipment to write his column or him identifying himself as an employee of AllState in the same column).

The irony is that in that column, Barber cited the discredited work of Paul Cameron - "many people are shocked to learn that the average life expectancy of a homosexual male is only about 45 years old – 30 years younger than that of a heterosexual male."

Then let's talk about his words.

1. Barber described lgbt relationships as “one man violently cramming his penis into another man’s lower intestine and calling it ‘love."

2. And then this is why he felt that lgbt-inclusive anti-discrimination laws are a bad idea: “Imagine, if you will, a 280 lb linebacker who likes to wear a dress and high heels and lipstick, you know comes to church wanting a job at the front desk as a receptionist and they turn him away because they don’t feel that that represents their values or the image that they’re trying to hold at that church, under ENDA they could be held accountable for discrimination against that individual.”

3. In September of last year, he emphasized that folks speaking against homosexuality focus on the "ick factor" of gay sex, or talk about gay sex extensively.

4. In June of last year, he criticized Home Depot for daring to acknowledge that same-sex households exist.

5. Slurred the name of an Obama appointee in a pitiful attempt to be clever.

Sorry Matt but if these are examples of you speaking the truth in love, I think I will take my chances with your hate. Of course, I think I and the rest of the lgbt community have done just that.

Same-sex households disrespected again and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Moonie Times Op-Ed: ‘Gay Families’ Are Not Real!- It would be very advantageous for us to meet these assaults on our families head on.

Ugandan Tabloid Grossly Distorts An American Paper’s Interview With Gay Asylum Seeker - This is just filthy how this story was distorted.

An artist who is protesting a church DVD against gay marriage was suspended from her job at the Basilica. - This ought to be interesting.

What Does Reality TV Say About Gay Men? - It's an interesting question.

15-year-old takes his own life due to anti-gay bullying

How often is this going to happen before we start taking anti-bullying seriously. What's extra sad about this case is that this child had a supportive family but felt that he couldn't tell them what was going on. That's the one thing which must be emphasized to children with supportive families - that they don't have deal with their problems alone:

15 year old Justin Aaberg is described as always smiling, a good student and a talented cello player. On July 9, Justin's family found him in his bedroom after he committed suicide.

"I'm sure things piled up," says Justin's mom, Tammy Aaberg. "I don't know what happened that day his last day. I don't know what happened that made him do it but it had to have been pretty significant."

Justin came out about being gay when he was 13. His family says they were always supportive and only knew of one instance when Justin was harassed at school. Just told his mom "it was no big deal."

In the weeks since their son's death Tammy and Shawn Aaberg have learned from Justin's friends he had been harassed for being gay for years. "Some kids in 8th grade and Sandberg went up to him and grabbed his balls and said you like that don't you?" Tammy was told a friend found Justin crying in the hallway but he refused to tell the school counselor what happened.

According to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network almost 85 percent of GLBT students surveyed reported being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation. Within the past year teaches in the Anoka-Hennepin district say five students have taken their own lives, three were struggling with sexual identity. "Growing up I was the first openly gay person in my town and I was bullied relentlessly," says Jay Kovach.

After hearing the statistics and Justin's story Kovach helped organize a fundraiser, spaghetti dinner and silent auction in Coon Rapids to help pay for Justin's funeral expenses. Hundreds of friends family and strangers attended the fundraiser and to show support for those struggling in the GLBT community. Teachers tell Fox 9 five students in the Anoka-Hennepin School District committed suicide within the past year, three of them were struggling with their sexual identity.

Related posts:

Focus on the Family's attack on anti-bullying efforts take centerstage on AC 360

GLSEN responds to Focus on the Family distortions

Focus on the Family cites George Rekers in fighting anti-bullying efforts

Monday, September 27, 2010

Don't let your anger rule your mind on Nov. 2

I know that there are a lot of folks angry at the Democrats and President Obama right now. And I know some of you are planning to show your anger by sitting out of the Nov. 2 midterm election.

But don't be stupid. No matter how angry Obama and the Democrats got you, there are some people out there just waiting to do worse.

Sure you feel angry and betrayed, but it helps to realize that politics is game. It's an unfortunate game we must play to get what we need and it's the only game in town.

And when there is only one game in town, you have only two options:

1. act all huffy and puffy when things don't go your way

2. or be patient and learn to master it.

Our problem is dual. The opposition has learned the second point while we are stuck on the first.

Better yet the following video by the Victory Fund illustrates the point much better than I can:

Win or lose my friends. There is NO third option.

Hat tip to Rod2.0Beta

Related post:

Gay rights groups continue to miss the real enemy

Chris Barron of GOProud speaks with a forked tongue and other Monday midday news briefs

There are really two things that any self-respecting lgbt should dislike about Chris Barron of GOProud - his face.

Guest column: GOProud's Chris Barron: Winning Hearts And Minds - Here he is last week pretending to be concillatory to Pam's House Blend

Bryan 'only gays were savage enough for Hitler' Fischer: Ann Coulter was simply FABULOUS! - And today, he shows his true face by saying things like:

What a charming two-faced young man

And in other news:

Civil rights legend Julian Bond on Eddie Long: 'He is a raving homophobe' - The Eddie Long controversy is long from over and Julian Bond has a couple of things to say about it.

New Hampshire Gay Marriage Repeal Effort Underway, Rep. Jim Splaine Warns - They just can't leave well enough alone.

Appeals court: Transgender identity irrelevant - Good. You cannot use someone's trans status as an excuse for assault.

Something that needs no introduction but a lot of attention

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Eddie Long determined to fight allegations of sexual coercion

Bishop Eddie Long didn't step down in the face of allegations that he coerced four young men into sexual activity.

Instead, he told a packed house at his church, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, that he was innocent of the charges and that he was determined to fight them:

Georgia pastor Eddie Long took to the pulpit to tell his side of the story on Sunday, days after four lawsuits were filed claiming he coerced young males into sexual relationships.

Speaking to the massive congregation packed into the Atlanta-area New Birth Missionary Baptist Church for an 8 a.m. service, Long said that "this is probably the most difficult time" of his entire life, but he intends to fight the allegations against him.

He said his first responsibility was his family, and the members of his Atlanta-area church. However, he added that he would be "remiss" not to address "the world."

"I've been accused, I'm under attack. I want you to know, as I said earlier, that I am not a perfect man," he said. "But this thing, I'm going to fight."

Long added that he's "not the man that has been portrayed on the television. That's not me."

"And I want you to know one other thing," he told the cheering crowd Sunday morning. "I feel like David against Goliath, but I've got five rocks and I haven't thrown one yet.

He then turned on his heel and walked away from the pulpit, ending a 20-minute address that was peppered with references to Scripture and often interrupted by loud standing ovations from worshippers.

Related posts:

Eddie Long rumored to step down amid possibly more allegations of sexual coercion

Eddie Long scandal now includes pictures

What will the Eddie Long scandal do in addressing black homophobia in the church?

Eddie Long hit with third sexual coercion lawsuit but is defended by congregation members

Prominent anti-gay black pastor accused of sexual coercion

Friday, September 24, 2010

Eddie Long rumored to step down amid possibly more allegations of sexual coercion

It is usually here that I come out with my Know Your LGBT History segments, but due to the extreme nature of the following, it has been pre-empted. And by the way, let's have some feedback on my Know Your LGBT History segments. Not only is it good for my ego to know that people are reading it, but it helps me in deciding whether or not I want to keep featuring them.

The walls seems to be closing on Bishop Eddie Long.

From Black Voices:

It has been reported that the Bishop Eddie Long is going to step down as pastor after his sermon set to be delivered on Sunday. Long is currently the pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. He was recently challenged by three young men who filed suit against the pastor for allegedly coercing them into sex.

There are also reports that as many as 30 young men have contacted the plaintiff's attorney, BJ Bernstein, in an effort to file suits of their own or join the existing lawsuit.

Bishop Eddie Long's sex scandal has been in the headlines of national news for several days. Since the story broke, there have been suspicious pictures released that feature Bishop Long wearing muscle shirts and spandex, posing in the bathroom. Some have wondered why Long would send these images to his "spiritual sons."

On the Bishop Eddie Long sex fiasco, which I discussed this morning on MSNBC, there appear to be three angles of consideration: Legality, morality and hypocrisy. Legally, one has to determine if Long violated his fiduciary responsible to take care of the young men under his guidance. Secondly, there is the question of whether the men he may have slept with were of legal age and whether or not there was coercion.

I wasn't aware of the claims of 30 young man, but there has surfaced a fourth lawsuit:

A fourth young male member of Bishop Eddie Long's megachurch is suing the prominent pastor, claiming Long coerced him into a sexual relationship.

The lawsuit was filed by Spencer LeGrande, a member of New Birth Charlotte. New Birth Charlotte is a satellite church run by Long in Charlotte, N.C. The lawsuit said Long told LeGrande "I will be your dad" and invited the 17-year-old to journey to Kenya with him in July 2005. LeGrande said that Long gave him a sleeping pill on that trip and that the two engaged in sexual acts.

The Associated Press does not typically identify alleged victims of impropriety, but attorney B.J. Bernstein has said all four of the men who filed lawsuits consented to being identified publicly.

Meanwhile, pastors in Atlanta are gathering to pray for Long:

I predicted it a while back. This thing has hit like a nuclear bomb.

Hat tip to Joe.My.God. for the video

National Organization for Marriage refuted again and other Friday midday news briefs

But first, it would seem that what I wrote this morning had a negative effect on some of you. Most specifically:

Where the f#@! have you been for the last 40 years? You must have had your head up your a#!, because a lot of us HAVE been fighting the good fight against the evagleicals and the GOP. How dare you pretend that we haven't. Many of us raged against them as we watched our brothers and sisters die of AIDS, while they callously blamed them for their illness. We have fought long and hard, that is why it is now so offensive that those who promised to be our allies have turned on us. You accuse us of not standing up to the real enemy, yet you have the nerve to attack US, your own community? Are WE the real enemy? You should be f@%!ing ashamed of yourself. As far as I'm concerned you can go f&$;!( yourself.

My response:

You prove my point. Could you divert that energy and rage - sans the profanity- to groups like frc and afa. They are to blame for the calamities you described.

Now onto news briefs:

National Organization for Marriage refuted again:

Pawlenty Joins FRC's Watchmen to Fight Pawns of Satan - Another pathetic bid for the presidency by Pawlenty. I guess he got tired of fighting "crossdressing third grade teachers."

Anti-gay megachurch pastor denies seducing young men - Eddie Long makes a statement on the sexual coercion charges.

Dumbest homophobic mess EVER: Indianapolis bakery offended by rainbow cupcakes - You read that right.

Gay rights groups continue to miss the real enemy

I'm going to say something that will probably get some people angry.

All of this anger against the Democrats and the Obama Administration, while appropriate and on some levels very useful, also underlines just how much off the mark the lgbt community is.

The point came to my mind when I read the following piece about GetEqual, the direct action group getting a lot of attention:

GetEqual has a real problem with the Democrats who have introduced (and often passed in the House) these bills for gay rights but they never go after the Republicans who kill these bills in the Senate. In fact, they don’t even go after the few Democrats who helped to kill these bills. They would rather blame Obama… over and over and over again.

The video they released features Obama, Barney Frank, and the HRC and outwardly blames them for the failure of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell to be repealed… But Barney Frank is a member of the House – which did in fact repeal DADT. DADT was blocked from coming to a vote in the Senate. Two Democrats from Arkansas helped Republicans to block it… But Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor are missing from GetEqual’s video.

One must really contemplate who GetEqual is really working for.

The piece was criticizing videos made by GetEqual attacking HRC, Obama, and Barney Frank for supposedly breaking promises they made to the lgbt community. Now I don't agree with everything in that piece. I totally resented the negative comments said about blogging buddy and mentor, Pam Spaulding. However, the piece got me thinking.

Earlier this year when Family Research Council spokesman Peter Sprigg commented on Hardball that he wants "homosexual behavior to be outlawed," where were we?

Or how about when he said he wanted us exported out of the United States?

And don't get me started on the many, many, many anti-gay comments of Bryan Fischer. Other than People for the American Way's statements, there has been no push back against Fischer or the American Family Association, his employer. At least not by the lgbt community.

In fact, when folks like Fischer, Sprigg, etc. say the things they say about us, where is our anger? Where are the vigorous statements from the Human Rights Campaign or those who consume themselves with labeling HRC as "Gay, Inc.?"

But yet some of us can heckle President Obama at a speech. And some of us can write pointlessly nasty comments on places like Facebook.

I think sometimes we are aiming our fire at the wrong targets. Groups like the Family Research Council, the American Family Association, etc hold a lot of power and I think it's because we haven't challenged them like we should.

These are the groups that have for over 30 years:

relied on the discredited work of Paul Cameron to smear the lgbt community,

truncated legitimate science to make us sound like the "diseased other" in American society,

took unfair possession of the word "family" in an attempt to exclude us, and

exploited religious beliefs and fears to get away with all of this.

So while we raise holy hell with our allies for not doing what they are supposed to do, the question remains are we guilty of the same dereliction of action?

Don't get me wrong. No group has ever gained equality without exerting pressure on its allies, i.e. those who hold the keys to this equality. But at the same time, one has to ask why is the lgbt community leaving organizations like the Family Research Council, Concerned Women for American, Focus on the Family, etc. free and untouched to continue their mischief ?

This isn't a matter of changing minds. It's a matter of drawing attention to what these organizations have been doing under the guise of "family values."

You see, when people turn on their televisions and see these religious right spokespeople being quoted on news programs, they aren't aware of the levels of inaccuracy they have stooped in order to form their anti-gay talking points.

And they will never know unless the lgbt community call out these organizations with as much vigor as we voice our displeasure with Congress and President Obama.

In the long run, no matter how slow and sloppy they move, the Democrats aren't our enemy and neither is President Obama. It's those organizations who exploit religious beliefs through lies, distortions, and junk science. And as far as I know, we have YET to come up with a plan to put them on the defensive or to make them explain their behavior.

Until the lgbt community makes a concerted effort with combating religious right groups who filter lies against us, we will get nowhere, no way, no how.

Not even if Jesus Christ were elected President.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Eddie Long scandal now includes pictures

This situation with Eddie Long has just gotten more interesting, including pictures:

New details and scandalous pictures have emerged on the internet showing the once prominently viewed Pastor and Bishop Eddie Long who’s known from growing the church from 150 members when he was appointed as Pastor in 1987 to now close to 30,000 members, in a controversial position.

As previously reported on HipHopRx.com, Bishop Eddie Long, Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in suburban Atlanta (Lithonia, GA), is accused of sexually abusing some of his young male followers who were teens at the time that the incident(s) allegedly took place.

Earlier this week, the three men who are now in their 20’s filed separate lawsuits against Eddie Long, a married man and father of four. The latest alleged victim filed a lawsuit against Long, the church as well as Longfellows Youth Academy Inc.

On Thursday, pictures hit the Internet like a whirlwind and no one knows how the photos surfaced which show the Bishop wearing spandex and workout clothes which is stated to have been sent to an accuser in November of 2008. According to attorney B.J. Bernstei who is representing the three men suing Eddie Long, they received dozens of emails from Long, but they are not overly sexual.

The same day, Eddie Long was expected to make an appearance on the Tom Joyner Show following the sex abuse accusations (Thursday morning), but he canceled his appearance which seemed to have occurred after the photos were leaked. Long’s attorney Craig Gillen instead took his place and spoke on behalf of his client stating that the young men were taken on trips as part of a mentoring program.

One of the young men is accused of breaking into the Pastor’s office.

The young men accused Bishop of Eddie Long of offering them gifts, money, luxury hotel rooms and more to lure them for sexual favors.

Meanwhile, Bishop Eddie Long states that he would like to respond to the allegations which he states are false, but he is following the advice of his attorney and expects to address the sexual allegations against him on Sunday at his church during service.…

Where he no doubt will receive a standing ovation. Between you and me, I would like to here more details about these pictures. They are definitely causing discussion but they are no smoking gun.