Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

Friday, December 04, 2009

New smear launched against Kevin Jennings using old tactics of omission

Dept.of Education official Kevin Jennings is being attacked again.

From Mediamatters.org:

Conservative blogs have claimed that Department of Education official Kevin Jennings is unfit as "Safe Schools Czar" because he supposedly promoted "child porn" by allowing an education organization he founded to recommend for students in grades 7-12 books that included sexually explicit content.

. . . In a December 4 post on his Gateway Pundit blog - headlined, "Breaking: Obama's 'Safe Schools Czar' Is Promoting Child Porn in the Classroom" - Jim Hoft wrote that "Scott Baker from Breitbart-TV.com and Co-Host of 'The B-Cast' submitted this shocking report today on Obama's deviant Safe Schools Czar Kevin Jennings." In the post, Baker wrote that the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which Jennings founded and previously served as executive director, published a reading list for students in grades 7-12 that contained books which included "X-Rated" and sexually explicit content.

But like all the other attacks against Jennings, this one is full of holes.

Know your lgbt history - Which Way Is Up

Richard Pryor's 1977 movie Which Way Is Up proves that lgbts can be disrespected tremendously even when we are not on the screen.

In this movie, (a vile exercise that was so very beneath the talents of everyone involved), Pryor portrays a man seduced by corporate interests. As he moves up the corporate ladder, he finds himself losing control of his life.

Amongst other things, Pryor's character is juggling two women. Because of a vow he made to his girlfriend, he cannot have sex with his wife.

Needless to say, his first wife and all of their friends think he is gay (and I'm being nice here because they use a slur for gay).

The irony is that when Pryor becomes an outcast, he decides to show his friends his girlfriend and son.

And the revelation impresses them.

You get that? To these men, being gay is something to be ashamed of but having a wife and a girlfriend makes you "the man."

Like I said before, a vile, nasty movie:

Ugandan bill called genocide, religious right leader warns of D.C. 'bloodletting' and other Friday midday news briefs

Ugandan church leader brands anti-gay bill 'genocide' - Say it again. Louder this time!

FOTF's Citizenlink blog: GLSEN is sexualizing Santa - Okay this is beyond stupid but so typical of Focus on the Family.

Harry Jackson Warns of "Bloodletting" In DC - What in the hell is that supposed to mean?

Matt Barber vs Adam Lambert - I know you all are tired of the "Adam Lambert" thing but this is good. People for the American Way catches the Liberty Counsel in a HUGE lie.

Chase: NOM Ineligible for Charity Contest - Chase smacks down the National Organization for Marriage!

Is Ugandan anti-gay bill a sign of moral righteousness?

I got an interesting comment on my site last night.

Now while I rarely like to focus attention on those who comment on my posts, this is a special case.

It's about that awful anti-lgbt Ugandan bill:

I suppose, we all know that Uganda can never be USA or EU etc etc. We are all missing the point by trying vilify Ssempa and Rick Warren. These two guys only just became friends recently. Ssempa has been in the strong fight against immorality in his country since 1988. His ministry has hardly seen any downfall in the fight against immorality in Uganda. We should then focus more on how to help Uganda rid out what she doesn't like since homosexualty is a dehumanizing act. In fact in Africa where most of you have never lived for more than a week, homosexuality is absolutely unacceptable. It will always be fought ferociously. There is no room for such here. So let's all join arms and support Uganda in its quest to maintain there moral culture. Thank you.

One more thing, Warren has never funded Ssempa. I was even shocked that the many times Warren has come to Uganda, he has never visited Ssempa's ministry. Ssempa has built up himself on Righteousness, Justice, Dedicated Service to his God and Generosity.

It's amazing how this man sidestepped the content of the bill in order to justify it. I don't see any morality in persecuting a group of people and frankly when I read what he wrote, it reminds me of when the late Ugandan leader Idi Amin persecuted Asians. It's an old but effective formula - scapegoat a group of people for a nation's problem, persecute them via violence or laws, and then claim that you are doing "God's work."

Naturally I gave him an reply but if any of you would like to, feel free. I must say that no matter how angry the letter gets you, please do not stoop to baseless name-calling or attacks on individual heritages.

One more about about the Ugandan bill - For a limited time, Truth Wins Out has an excellent video of Rachel Maddow going into more detail regarding the bill and members of the Republican party.

Related posts:

Martin Ssempa and the Family - Why Rick Warren won't speak out against anti-gay Ugandan bill

Rick Warren continues to lose integrity over proposed Ugandan anti-gay bill

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Matt Barber's slur of Chai Feldblum's name was unnecessary but so very indicative

Earlier today, I made mention of Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber's anti-ENDA piece in One News Now. But I want to talk about it further because it really bothers me.

Barber made the usual nonsensical arguments against ENDA, i.e. it should be opposed because religious business owners (not churches, mind you) should be "forced" to hire someone if they feel that homosexuality is a sin:

ENDA would force – under penalty of law – Christian, Jewish, or Muslim business owners to hire people who unrepentantly choose to engage in homosexual or cross-dressing behaviors, despite the fact that those volitional behaviors are in direct conflict with every major world religion, thousands of years of history, and uncompromising human biology.

This is no different than compelling a deeply religious business owner to hire and accommodate an "out and proud" adulterous "swinger." It's a direct assault on the inalienable rights of people of faith. It pits the government directly against the free exercise of religion and is, therefore, unconstitutional on its face.

It's a dumb argument. America is not a theocracy so the alleged views of "major world religions" are irrelevant.

And also, Barber's point leaves him wide open for refutation. What if a Muslim business owner didn't want to "hire and accommodate" a Christian or vice versa?

And on that same token is it right for the owner of a restaurant (a secular endeavor) to be able to higher and fire people based on his personal religious beliefs? Where do we draw the line here? What if the owner of the restaurant had racist beliefs? Should those be accomomdated.

My guess is that Barber didn't think this through because he was so busy attempting to draw a wedge between race and sexual orientation in the last part of his piece.

But his attack on EEOC nominee Chai Feldblum is what really stands out:

Chai Feldblum (pronounced "high" as in "stoned") is a lesbian activist and sexual anarchist attorney who supports legalized polygamy and bisexual polyamory. She has been nominated by President Obama to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This is like having Michael Moore guard the donuts. In the past, Feldblum – ENDA's chief framer and, if confirmed, one of five commissioners charged with its enforcement – has candidly summed-up the mindset behind the bill.

He forgot to mention that on her off days from planning the lgbt overthrow of America, Feldblum enjoys pulling the tags off of mattresses while making scary faces at babies behind their mothers' back

But what I can't shake is this question - was it really necessary to slur her name?

Barber's entire hot mess of an article is ridiculous but the part about her name was just ugly.

Maybe he thought he was being cute or witty but it struck me as in bad taste and yet another example of the hypocrisy of folks on his side of the so-called culture war.

Barber's juvenile name-calling belongs on an elementary school playground and not in a serious public discussion regarding discrimination. And most of all, definitely not in a publication that considers itself Christian.

If Barber and his allies are the heroes and people like Feldblum are the villains, then we are all in Bizarroland.

Related posts:

The religious right fears Chai Feldblum because she believes in basic fairness

The religious right attacks another openly gay Obama appointee

Anti-lgbt activists have no regrets over Uganda, Matt Barber slurs Chai Feldblum's name and other Thursday midday news briefs

VIDEO: U.S. Ex-Gays Have No Regrets for Launching Uganda Antigay Genocide Campaign - I hope Truth Wins Out forgives my excessive biting on their news today:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Uganda Responds To International Furor Over “Kill Gays” Bill - Apparently WE are over reacting.

Scott Lively: American, European gays are to blame for harsh anti-gay laws in Uganda - An old post from Sunday but VERY apropo to the siuation.

Rep. Alcee Hastings Seeks Immunity For Gay Troops Testifying At Hearings To Repeal DADT - I totally agree with this!

Next CA Speaker of the House is gay - Well this is good news.

The discriminatory 'Non-Discrimination Act' - Matt Barber makes the case against ENDA but also against non-discrimination on the basis of religious beliefs. After all, religion is a choice and not a "non-behavioral characteristic." And don't miss the ugly slur on EEOC nominee Chai Feldblum's name. Only an idiot would link the name "Chai" to ("high" as in "stoned")

Martin Ssempa and the Family - Why Rick Warren won't speak out against anti-gay Ugandan bill

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow and journalist Jeff Sharlet recently discussed Uganda's anti-gay bill which, among other things, would push the death penalty for sexually active HIV positive lgbts and imprison any relative, pastor, or doctor who failed to report an LGBT person to police within 24 hours.

In the interview, Maddow and Shartlet discussed the relationship between Warren and several Ugandan leaders who are pushing for this legislation as well as their relationship with religious right leaders in America.

Big hat tip to TruthWinsout.org

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Related post:

Rick Warren continues to lose integrity over proposed Ugandan anti-gay bill

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

We may not have won in New York yet but we will

Editor's note - Training at my job is whipping my behind. Thank goodness it lasts only two more days.

By now, you all know the news that marriage equality was defeated in New York via a 38-24 vote of the legislature.

I'm sure everyone on our side of the spectrum has voiced their anger and will continue to do such while Maggie Gallagher, NOM, and company will talk about it being a great victory for their side.

Now the last time I spoke out over a marriage equality loss (i.e. the vote in Maine), some folks didn't appreciate my "stop whining and don't get discouraged" tone.

While I'm not going to be as mean this time, I'm still in the camp of "this is a momentary setback in the cause of lgbt equality."

Let me explain my point.

One of the main reasons why I despise when we lose marriage equality votes, referendums, etc is because it demoralizes the community. We allow it to suck the very life out of us.

No matter what happened that was positive for us at the time of whatever defeat, no matter how many victories we have lodged, everything is judged in the prism of "we lost this marriage equality vote so life sucks for us."

And I don't think marriage equality losses should have that much power over us.

So we lost the vote in New York this time. It doesn't mean that we can't continue to try.

And it doesn't take away from the fact that Georgia elected the nation's first (but not the last) African-American lesbian state legislator

Nor does the loss in New York take away the fact that Ebony magazine put an out lesbian of color on the cover of its magazine for the first time ever.

Or a young gay Asian was elected to be mayor of Campbell, CA

Or the Washington, D.C. Council voted to legalize same sex marriage in spite of threats by the Catholic church.

Or our victory regarding the Washington statewide vote for domestic partnership became official today.

Or (and yes I'm going to say it) actress Meredith Baxter came out today. Forget that fact that she is a celebrity for a second. This is a woman who for the first time ever was proud to publicly announce her love for someone she has had a relationship for seven years.

To hell with anyone who says "what took her so long." I say "you better go, girl!"

We are getting there. We ain't there yet but it would make no sense to stop pushing forward because I believe that we are closer to our goals than we like to give ourselves credit for.

So while I'm not happy with the vote in New York, I refuse to get discouraged.

And I hope that the rest of my lgbt brothers and sisters and those who support us don't, either.

Georgia elects nation's first black lesbian state legislator, Meredith Baxter Birney comes out and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Georgia elects nation’s first black lesbian state legislator - Hot damn!

Young, gay Asian becomes mayor of Campbell - How is this for two for two!

Audio: #ILoveNYEquality - Goodasyou.org provides coverage of the ongoing debate for marriage equality in the New York legislature

D.C. Council votes to legalize same-sex marriage - Apparently the goal for today is to see how fast the religious right's collective head can spin.

And it's the coming out that everyone is talking about. My "turn gay" ray keeps missing Phillip Seymour Hoffman and instead seems to hit everyone else instead:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Rick Warren continues to lose integrity over proposed Ugandan anti-gay bill

Rick Warren continues to compound the error of his ignorance.

According to ThinkProgress:

In recent days, Pastor Rick Warren has come under fire for refusing to condemn an Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda that would make some homosexual acts punishable by death. “[I]t is not my personal calling as a pastor in America to comment or interfere in the political process of other nations,” said Warren. On his Twitter feed, Warren is now trying to change the subject, claiming that “no one” cared when 146,000 Christians died last year (so why should he now care about gay men and women in Africa?):

Whether or not Warren is padding numbers here is irrelevant.

Regardlesss of whether it is 146 people or 146, 000 people, no should be persecuted because of their faith and by that same point, no one should be persecuted because of their orientation. A true man of God would find that commonality.

Family Research Council's anti-lgbt stance built on distortions

Editor's note - bear with me this week, folks. I've got training at my job in addition to my usual duties. My postings will continue but a little off schedule.

In a post on ThinkProgress, the anti-lgbt history of the Family Research Council was recently examined due to an email sent out by the organization claiming that President Obama is trying to "impose homosexuality" via ENDA:

In a four-page solicitation letter mailed to supporters this month, which was obtained by ThinkProgress, the conservative organization went even further in its rhetoric, claiming that President Obama wants to “impose homosexuality and silence Christianity in workplaces”

It's the usual balderdash from Tony Perkins and company but it's good that ThinkProgress is devoting attention to FRC.

The ThinkProgress piece links to a Media Matters Action post which also looks at the Family Research Council's history of being anti-lgbt by including the many extreme and totally anti-Christian comments and stances taken by the group.

But I want to add a little more.

The Media Matters Action post did an excellent job breaking down just how anti-lgbt the Family Research Council is, but I think some specific attention should be paid to just how deceptive they have been in pushing their anti-lgbt stance. The following posts by me and others demonstrate few instances in which the group have distorted facts to make the case against lgbt equality:

November 23, 2009 - Family Research Council caught falsely accusing Congresswoman of religious bigotry - While not lgbt-oriented per se, this post demonstrates just how the Family Research Council will truncate a quote to push a false image of religious persecution.

November 18, 2009 - Video: FRC invited Chai to speak; now slicing both her footage and her back - Goodasyou.org shows how FRC used spliced footage to make the case against EEOC nominee Chai Feldblum.

October 27, 2009 - Family Research Council's coldhearted attack on lgbt senior citizens -In an ugly attack on lgbt seniors, the Family Research Council uses the work of the discredited researcher Paul Cameron (Editor's note - the Media Matters Action post inaccurately says that Cameron started the Family Research Council. While this is not true, the organization has a history of using his work, irregardless of his dubious history.)

Family Research Council: Obama program to help gay elderly is wasted since gays die young anyway. Is FRC again using "science" of known hate group? - Americablog Gay added another view of the FRC/lgbt senior controversy.

October 26, 2009 - It's just good for FRC that crimes against truth aren't tracked - From Goodasyou.org comes another FRC distortion. This time, it's about hate crimes statistics.

October 21, 2009 - Family Research Council brags about ability to fool 80,000 people - FRC pushes the lie that hate crimes legislation will "silence" Christians.

October 1, 2009 - Family Research Council head misrepresents credible information to hurt ENDA - In testimony against ENDA, FRC head Tony Perkins uses anecdotes and distorts a study on lgbt health.

June 9, 2009 - More attacks on GLSEN'S Kevin Jennings - Now the Family Research Council gets in the act - During the attacks on Obama appointee Kevin Jennings, FRC distorted incidents about his life.

May 20, 2009 - Another flawed piece of work courtesy of the Family Research Council - Making an awful comparison between unmarried lgbt couples and married heterosexual couples, FRC pushes the study Comparing the Lifestyles of Homosexual Couples to Married Couples.

January 13, 2009 - The Family Research Council continues to use 'outdated' work - via communication with an employee of the Family Research Council, I discovered that the organization eliminated several anti-lgbt studies from its webpage due to "outdated sources." However, I also learned from the same employee that while the studies were eliminated, the information contained in the studies (and a lot of it can be considered "outdated" i.e. studies from the early 1970s) were included in future studies.

World AIDS Day, Hilary Clinton shows gumption, and other Tuesday midday news briefs

What you need to do and what you can do for World AIDS Day - self explanatory

U.S. Warns against International Efforts to Criminalize Homosexuality - Hilary Clinton shows the courage that Rick Warren SHOULD HAVE shown.

Southern Baptists oppose health insurance for gays - And we should be surprised because?

DC City Council votes to approve marriage equality - BAM!

'Declaration' of militi-pendence - More immoral signers of that Manhattan Declaration.

The AFA Turns on Huckabee - I would have preferred attention to be focused on Huckabee's love of anti-gay hate groups rather than because of this tragic incident.

Hate group leader joins Manhattan Declaration

Don't be fooled by the Manhattan Declaration. It's creators would like for you to think that it's a document that is the last line of defense in the so-called spread of anti-Christian bigotry.

But like so many public things, what is said should be judged by those those making the statements.

In this case, the motivations behind the Manhattan Declaration is best served by observing who signed it.

A while back, it came out that one of the signers, Rev. Peter J. Akinola of the Anglican Church of Nigeria supported laws that would imprison lgbts or anyone who would support lgbt rights.

According to the blog Goodasyou.org, there is another person signing the document whom attention should be paid - Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition.

I've talked about Sheldon and his phony group many times, most recently about how the group distorted marketing statistics to make a case against ENDA.

Ebony magazine puts out lesbian on the cover

For the first time that I can remember, Ebony magazine has placed an out-of-the-closet lesbian on the cover.

Comedian Wanda Sykes has graced the cover of the magazine as a part of its Power 150 list.

Sykes, an immensely talented Emmy-award winning comedian, came out last year during a Las Vegas rally in response to the Proposition 8 vote. Earlier last year, she married her partner, Alex and this year, the two became the parents of twins.

Granted, her cover is just one in a collection of eight covers, including that of Chris Rock, President Barack Obama, and Al Sharpton.

And also, unfortunately, the short blurb on her in the magazine makes a highly guarded, tiptoeing mention of her orientation.

But still, it's not a bad thing. And I should also note that the same issue of Ebony contains a very good interview with the openly gay director of the hit movie Precious, Lee Daniels in which he acknowledges his orientation.

These developments in Ebony magazine aren't necessarily the same as a door opening for lgbts of color, but they are a start.
And yes they are somewhat of a big deal.

Every lgbt issue in the media need not surround Adam Lambert or Perez Hilton.

Rick Warren demonstrates Christian uselessness, and other Monday midday news briefs

FAIL: Rick Warren tries to take a neutral position on Uganda's 'execute gays' bill - Want to know what's wrong with Christianity in America? Rick Warren gives us a HUGE clue.

While Britain and Canada Stand Up to Uganda, U.S. Races to the Bottom - Speaking of which, the United States needs to be on the ball ourselves regarding Uganda.

Transgender officer living his dream -- as a cop and a man - An excellent article

Gay Icon Harvey Milk to be Inducted into California Hall of Fame Next Week - Lest we forget

Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters ranked #11 in the top 25 gay activists sites - A little ego-booster never hurts anyone. I am appreciative when someone notices my work.

The voices of lgbts of color must be heard

This video, courtesy of a good friend of mine, Wayne Besen, is in response to another ignorant piece I read this weekend. The piece was about the lgbt and African-American communities and, like all pieces written about that sort of thing, chose to divide the two communities.

I've read ignorance like that before and it exasperates the hell out of me. And then more mentally defeating are the responses by wannabe gay activists who are so quick to either brand the entire black community as racist or play the game of "ignore lgbts of color" with as much finesse as the original column they were responding to.

My take on the entire thing is this - both communities are selfish in that there are elements in the black and lgbt community who need to stop boggarting the situation.

My advice to those in both communities is stop screaming so loud that you refuse to acknowledge those in your community who don't have the resources like Ebony or Jet magazine or BET or whose issues won't be on the front burner of discussions in the Advocate or on Michelangelo Signorile's show.

Your issues are important but not the only ones which should be given some degree of attention.

African-Americans should support lgbt issues because it is a black issue. African-Americans lgbts exist.

The problem is getting not only the black community but also lgbt community at large to acknowledge it.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Scott Lively: American, European gays are to blame for harsh anti-gay laws in Uganda

Apparently we lgbts in the United States and Europe are to blame for the harsh anti-gay laws they are trying to pushing in Uganda.

At least that's the case according to anti-lgbt activist Scott Lively.

An article with the right-wing LifesiteNews.com said the following:

While a proposed and much-criticized anti-homosexuality law in Uganda is definitely too harsh, the law comes as a direct response to the heavy-handed pressure from international gay-activist politicians on Uganda to accept homosexuality as normal, according to one Christian expert who was recently in the African country to testify against the current wording of the bill. In fact, as Dr. Scott Lively, the President of Defend the Family pointed out, the preamble to the bill, and the bill itself contain numerous references to stopping international pressure on Uganda to accept Western sexual values that are abhorrent to Ugandan culture.

. . . Dr. Lively, a pro-family activist and attorney based in California was in Uganda in March to testify before Ugandan legislators now considering the legislation. In an interview with LifeSiteNews (LSN), Dr. Lively explained that the impetus for the bill was "a lot of external interference from European and American gay activists attempting to do in Uganda what they've done around the world - homosexualize that society." One of their main concerns, explained Lively, "are the many male homosexuals coming in to the country and abusing boys who are on the streets."

Of course Lively provides no evidence of his charges, especially the claim about gays coming into Uganda to rape street children. And I still can't shake my shock at the implications of his statements.

So we are to blame because we are "forcing" people to "accept homosexuality."

Family Research Council caught in a big lie, Matt Barber picks on 10-year-old, and silly anti- Adam Lambert protest

I am just reposting some of the most interesting posts from this week:

Family Research Council caught falsely accusing Congresswoman of religious bigotry - If only the lgbt community could muster up such force to make the Family Research Council own up to all of the times it cites Paul Cameron as well as the many times it distorts legitimate studies to spin false images of our community.

Lesbian mother wins custody case against 'ex-gay' former partner - Watch out for the religious right barrage of nonsense to come crashing down regarding this case. It has been their cause celebre for a long time.

One News Now readers revolt against Matt Barber's attack on 10-year-old - It could be just wishful thinking on my part but it seems to me that Barber's comments has crossed a line that many readers of this supposed Christian publication wished he didn't.

Phony moralists show true colors with anti-Adam Lambert group: - Hollywood is pretty much all a bunch of homo's spreading their gay ideaology while hatin on Christians! (It's awful to be insulted by someone who can neither spell nor is aware of the basics of good punctuation)

AFA tries to sugarcoat the end of its embarrassingly premature boycott against GAP - However it is nice to note that while everyone else is settling down to eat turkey this Thanksgiving, the AFA will be dining on crow.

Charleston, SC City Council pass non-discrimination ordinance - To me this is like finding money in your pocket when you think you are penniless. While attention may be focused (sometimes too focused) on places like Maine and California, we shouldn't forget that lgbts exist in all states of the country and our fight for equality should be on more than one front. . . See what you can get when you work together.