Monday, September 22, 2014

HRC's 'Export of Hate' report making the anti-gay right downright hysterical,

Editor's note - My photo essay on Saturday's South Carolina Pride festival has been postponed until this afternoon. The following post is very important. I had already written in the past about HRC's report on anti-gay groups spreading propaganda worldwide. However, the level and intensity of detail HRC has put into this report as well as the responses of several anti-gay groups and talking heads leads me to realize that more details, attention, and praise should be given:




I have never engaged in the negative banter about the Human Rights Campaign whether it was deserved or not because I've always felt such things are self-defeating.

But that's not to say that when the organization creates a direct hit against the religious right, you won't find me singing from the rooftops and dancing in the rain.

And such is the case with its report,  The Export of Hate. .

The Export of Hate is an intense and very thorough calling out of those anti-gay figures who are now attempting to spread their venom across the globe. According to HRC:

There is a network of American extremists who work tirelessly to undercut LGBT people around the world at every turn. They spew venomous rhetoric, outrageous theories, and discredited science. Some claim that LGBT people are responsible for the Holocaust, the Rwandan genocide, and the spread of HIV/AIDS. Others argue that LGBT people are luring away children, and that acceptance of LGBT people will lead to the destruction of families around the world. Some even suggest that the death penalty could be an appropriate punishment for simply being LGBT. It's time to take action.

 It surprises me that HRC published this report because I have never viewed the organization as one to take on the anti-gay industry with such directness. But I say more power to it.

Needless to say some folks aren't happy with HRC's report, such as Peter LaBarbera, who has a profile in the report. He said the following:

If criticizing intentionally motherless and intentionally fatherless homosexual-led households is hateful, then surely most of the world is hateful! The LGBT Lobby’s campaign to portray the fervent defense of historic, Judeo-Christian teachings on sex and marriage as Hate, Bigotry & Homophobia–Big Gay Inc’s top three slanders against people of faith and morals–is itself profoundly hateful and bigoted. But we should expect such calculated smears from a Sin Movement that is essentially engaged in a political and cultural war against Nature and Nature’s God. Casting aside the lies and slanders, we will not be deterred in our defense of Truth. God bless.

Of course in his mea culpa, LaBarbera never directly addressed what HRC's report said about him:

Americans for Truth About Homosexuality is known for posting inflammatory material and inaccurate material about LGBT people on its website. The organization has given a platform to discredited psychologist Paul Cameron and to notorious exporter of hate Scott Lively. The Southern Poverty Law Center considers Americans for Truth About Homosexuality a hate group.

Another person whose anti-gay activities garnered him an entry into the report, Scott Lively, got downright hysterical, accusing HRC of plotting to get him killed.

HRC's report is accompanied by short videos which use the exact words of every anti-gay figure mentioned in the report, such as Paul Cameron (featured at the top of this post). Other videos feature such folks as:

Michael Brown:



Mat Staver:

 

Brian Brown:



At the very least,  go to HRC's youtube site in order to see the videos on every anti-gay activist spotlighted in the organization's report. But by all means, PLEASE download The Export of Hate, read it, and send it to your friends and family.

I don't know what possessed HRC to let it's hair down and engage in the street fight against anti-gay propaganda, but who cares.

I say hell yeah! It's about time!

Related post: How They See Us: Unmasking the Religious Right War on Gay America

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