Mat Staver's lie defining moment of Values Voter Summit

The Family Research Council's Values Voter Summit is over and as predicted, it was as nauseating as hell.  It's the one time of the year which I don't envy the folks who stand on the very front line to monitor anti-gay groups and the like.

They have to actually attend or intensely watch mess like this.

So what to me is the stand out moment of the Values Voter Summit? Is it the fact that Sen. Ted Cruz won the straw poll again but has absolutely no chance of winning the presidency (proving that there is a merciful God) or Sarah Palin's incredibly stupid botch of White House address (girlfriend, even a first grader knows that address)?

No. To me, one can basically describe not only this Values Voter Summit, but every other one of those monstrosities, and the entire mindset of the anti-gay right by the speech of the Liberty Counsel's Mat Staver.

According to People for the American Way's Religious Right Watch:

Mat Staver spent a good portion of his speech at the Values Voter Summit today fuming over a letter sent by People For the American Way, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and five other civil rights and LGBT organizations to Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus, asking members of the GOP not to participate in the conference, citing the anti-gay extremism of its sponsors.

Staver's organization, Liberty Counsel, is among those very sponsors and he is not very happy about being labeled an anti-gay extremist, despite this long and documented record of being one.

Staver fumed that he is being attacked merely for believing "in God's natural created order of male and and female and marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

 "For me believing in something that is that obvious," he complained, "I am considered by some groups to be a hater. But I hate no one. I hate no one, but I believe in God's truth and I will not be silent in the face of intimidation." In an effort to prove that he is not an extremist, Staver then went on to liken himself to Jesus when he turned over the tables of the money changers in the temple before declaring that marriage equality teaches that children do not need mothers or fathers. "That is an absolute lie from the very pit of Hell," he said.

I would almost understand Staver's anger except for one simple problem - Staver is on record, in writings and videos, spouting all sorts comments which contradicts his claims of innocence.

Such as the following, courtesy of GLAAD:

Claims LGBT advocates are doing "the bidding of the devil"
 
Claims negotiating with what he calls 'homofascists' (i.e. advocacy groups like GLAAD) is 'almost like negotiating with terrorists'

On coexisting with LGBT rights: "You cannot coexist, you cannot give up on something, that is literally an attack on God himself.”

 Claims marriage equality obliterates the idea of God: "Same-sex marriage is ultimately the abolition of gender; it’s ultimately the abolition of any moral behavior with regards to human sexuality. This whole assault on marriage is really an attempt to obliterate not only morality but Judeo-Christian morality, to obliterate marriage and to even obliterate the idea that there even is a God."

On the repeal of the discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: "We believe they've slapped the military in the face and have betrayed the men and women in the service by using the military to push the homosexual agenda. We will ask the House to refuse to fund the repeal, which will take millions of dollars to fund."

Claims that children with gay parents will end up “behind bars for committing violent crimes.” (0:00 - 0:56)

Claims: "Same-sex marriage, same-sex relationships is destructive to individuals and it’s destructive to our very social fabric."

“It may sound crass, but take a fan for example, and instead of having the male plug, have the female plug, and try to see if you can make it work. You’re not going to be able to plug it into a wall. The fact is nature teaches you -- you don’t have to have anything -- that’s why a five-year-old can understand that this is against nature. That’s why it’s been called a crime against nature. (0:00 - 0:27)

 Says President Obama has a "sexual anarchist agenda"

 Staver is not an anamoly when it comes FRC's Values Voter Summit or the anti-gay right. He is just one in a large number of these folks on the right who  claim that they are being unjustly persecuted for being Christian and that they don't voice hate, even though there is a paper trail more than a mile long which contradicts their claims.

Yet they keep saying "we are not haters."  "Those things they say about us aren't true." "These people are lying on us because they want to destroy America's Christian heritage."

It seems to me that the values of these folks are less about Christianity and more about the Jedi mind trick. Whatever the case may be, all of this stuff is going to come to a head one day. People like Staver can only outrun the truth for so long before they get winded and tired.

And truth never gets winded or tired.

Yes, this is what we can expect from the Values Voter Summit. We've been hearing it thus far

Before the monstrosity of the Values Voter Summit commenced, Media Matters compiled some of the worst comments uttered by the speakers from past interviews as an indication of what the weekend will be like. And yep, that's what we've been hearing thus far:

Let's throw a little bit of truth in Family Research Council's Values Voter Summit

The Family Research Council has begun its Values Voter Summit a few hours ago and already some of the media is throwing out sanitized reports of the proceedings by claiming that attendees are merely wanting to stand up for "religious liberty" and "Christian values."

Of course that's nonsense and I am undertaking a plan to break through the junk. There is a hashtag on twitter for this summit - #VVS14.

I think lgbts should not only take it over, but use it to push the actual picture of the anti-gay right by referring to things they don't want the media to talk about. I have already sent out six examples. Crude, but I think very effective. I encourage those who can or desire to to feel free and follow my lead by copying these or creating your own. I used GLAAD's wonderful Commentator Accountability Project for the following:

#VVS14 "Hitler recruited around him homosexuals to make up his Stormtroopers . . . they were his thugs." pic.twitter.com/q8caUVYFmo
— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) September 26, 2014

#VVS14 - " . . .homosexual men are more likely to engage in child sexual abuse than are heterosexual men." pic.twitter.com/iqwMdkd14X
— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) September 26, 2014

#VVS14 - Claims LGBT activists are going to "start rolling out the boxcars" and carting away Christians pic.twitter.com/Ihd7rZvrHe
— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) September 26, 2014

#VVS14 When the religious right say they 'love gays,' they mean this http://t.co/eled0ZqVXF pic.twitter.com/NE1IynW7x2
— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) September 26, 2014

Or you can feel free to send them tweets which link copies of my booklet- How They See Us: Exposing the Religious Right War on Gay America:

#VVS14 This is what they mean by 'religious liberty' - http://t.co/eled0ZqVXF pic.twitter.com/kAG0k6WrQr
— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) September 26, 2014

And this is my personal favorite:

#VVS14 The #religious right claims to love #gays, but is what they mean by "love" - http://t.co/eled0ZqVXF pic.twitter.com/gSIkLqeO0e
— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) September 26, 2014

Again, this is just a suggestion. As you can tell, I myself will be highly busy this weekend with these tweets. I hope others can join me with either these or tweets of their own.

How much verbal gay-bashing will we hear at the Values Voter Summit

This weekend will be the Family Research Council's Values Voter Summit. America will hear some of the most outrageous and ridiculously unsound rhetoric from folks who consider themselves the creme de la creme of morality and conservatism in American politics.

And all of it will be anti-gay.

If the past Values Voter Summits are any indication regarding, expect to hear some of the following nauseating inducing trash:

 





 

'Anti-gay groups team up to defeat pro-gay Republicans' & other Thursday afternoon news briefs

Conservatives Launch ‘Unprecedented’ Campaign Against Pro-Marriage Equality Republicans - NOM, the Family Research Council, and CitizenLink is encouraging folks to NOT cast their ballots for three Republicans who support marriage equality and also because two of the candidates are gay. I've heard of getting so angry that you grab your toys and go home, but grabbing other people's toys too? Wow! 

Anti-gay pastor says he’s victim of discrimination - His blatant homophobia kept him from getting a job at a Georgia health agency so now he is suing for discrimination. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT! 

 Anti-Gay Pastor Likens Fight Against Marriage Equality To The American Revolution - Since a black pastor made this statement, I can say the following with impunity and a clear conscience - NEGRO, PLEASE!!!!  

Can you honestly assess anything, Tony Perkins? #VVS14 - Apparently the Southern Poverty Law Center isn't the only person the Family Research Council lied on in its letter from last night.

Family Research Council engages in self-destructive bravado on eve of Values Voter Summit

Editor's note - This post was supposed to go out this morning but thanks to an impaired internet access, I am presenting it now.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council

Yesterday, several progressives groups including the NAACP, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and People for the American Way published an open letter in the Washington Post and The Hill which called out the Republican Party for its allegiance to anti-gay groups such as the Family Research Council and for the decision of several Republicans to attend that organization's upcoming Values Voter Summit. 

Last night, in a show of unbelievable stupidity, the Family Research Council took the bait by answering the letter via email with a bit of bravado and a lot of lies:

What annual event has the Left so worried that they are spending tens of thousands in advertising dollars to stop? You guessed it; the Values Voters Summit. In today's Washington Post, leftwing groups including GLAAD, (known for its failed campaign to fire Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson,) the anti-Christian Southern Poverty Law Center, and the George Soros-funded "Faithful America," signed onto a three-quarters page ad demanding that speakers "not attend the Values Voter Summit."

The lies came about when FRC attacked the Southern Poverty Law Center, which it has a special dislike of ever since SPLC declared it an anti-gay hate group in 2010:

Last year, the FBI dumped the SPLC as a website resource and the U.S. Army distanced themselves from the SPLC. A federal court ruled against the SPLC in a harassment lawsuit it brought against a pro-family group. Even the SPLC's own supporters are growing increasingly uncomfortable with the SPLC's attacks on free speech. It is odd that some people feel the need to attack those who are merely defending religious liberty and affirming the importance of the type o f relationship which naturally provides children with a mother and a father. There will continue to be disagreement on how marriage should be defined, but reasonable people can approach this subject respectfully, thoughtfully and passionately. If you are in the D.C. area this weekend, please join us at the Values Voter Summit as we exercise our First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly.

Don't be fooled by FRC's various claims.

Allow me to break it down.

1. Did the FBI dump SPLC as a resource?

No. According to the site Equality Matters:

As Good As You’s Jeremy Hooper noted, the FBI continues to list SPLC as a partner in the fight against hate crimes on its website.

The right-wing narrative is also contradicted by an official statement from the FBI. In a statement to The Daily Caller, and FBI spokesperson said:

“Upon review, the Civil Rights program only provides links to resources within the federal government,” an FBI spokesman told The Daily Caller. “While we appreciate the tremendous support we receive from a variety of organizations, we have elected not to identify those groups on the civil rights page.”

2. Did the US Army distance themselves from the Southern Poverty Law Center?

No. FRC exaggerated on the incident. Last year, an SPLC briefing was held at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. In this briefing, certain SPLC-designated hate groups were listed, including the American Family Association. Conservatives and religious right spokespeople - such as Fox News personality Todd Starnes - falsely claimed that SPLC was attacking AFA for its religious values, when in actuality AFA was listed as a hate group because of the false and slanderous things it says about the lgbt community. These folks caused so much of a stink that future briefings were halted.

3. Are former supporters of SPLC turning their backs on the organization?

 No. The link FRC provided as proof of this is a column from a conservative site, cnsnews.com, by an African-American woman named Catherine Davis. While she rails against SPLC, at no time did she ever indicate that she was ever a supporter of the organization.  Nor was her column about SPLC's supposed attack on free speech. It was criticizing the lgbt community. Davis was allowing the predominantly white conservative establishment to use her in order to exploit the supposed gay vs. black divide.

4. What was the lawsuit SPLC "lost" against a pro-family group?

Even that claim by FRC isn't totally true.  SPLC had sued an anti-gay group, Public Advocate (which is another SPLC-designated hate group), on the behalf of a gay couple whose personal photos the organization digitally altered and used for anti-gay campaign ads. The judge in the case only dismissed part of the lawsuit.

According to LGBTQNation:

U.S. District Court Judge Wiley Daniel agreed the photo’s use was noncommercial and a matter of legitimate public concern. However, he also ruled the couple and their photographer have a possible copyright infringement claim.

In June, the photographer, Kristina Hill, won a judgement of $2501 against Public Advocate for copyright infringement.

Let's be real about something - none of the organizations who signed that letter are so naive as to think they could stop the Values Voter Summit from taking place nor could they keep Republicans from attending.

And certainly the purpose of the letter wasn't to stifle speech.

The purpose of the letter was mainly strategic. Its goal was to educate the public and continue debate about the real face of the Family Research Council and other groups who claim to stand for morality and Christianity.

 Remember this passage in the letter:

These groups engage in repeated, groundless demonization of LGBT people — portraying them as sick, vile, incestuous, violent, perverted, and a danger to the nation.

The Family Research Council, the summit’s host, is vigorously opposed to extending equal rights to the LGBT community. Its president, Tony Perkins, has repeatedly claimed that pedophilia is a “homosexual problem.” He has called the “It Gets Better” campaign — designed to give LGBT students hope for a better tomorrow — “disgusting” and a “concerted effort” to “recruit” children into the gay “lifestyle.”4 He has condemned the National Republican Congressional Committee for supporting three openly gay candidates.

Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association, a summit sponsor, has said the U.S. needs to “be more like Russia,” which enacted a law criminalizing the distribution of LGBT “propaganda.” He also has said, “Homosexuality gave us Adolph Hitler, and homosexuals in the military gave us the Brown Shirts, the Nazi war machine, and six million dead Jews.”

Similarly, Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel, another summit sponsor, has compared those who do not denounce same-sex marriage to those who remained silent during the Holocaust. Marriage equality, he has said, is the “beginning of the end of Western civilization.”

And thanks to FRC's absolutely stupid decision to answer the letter, particularly with lies about SPLC, the groups who signed the letter succeeded in their purpose.

FRC's behavior reminds me of the fable of the vicious dog who bit so many people that a bell was hung around its neck so as to warn folks when it was coming.  The dog, totally ignorant, took the bell as sign of distinction and rang it constantly.

Imagine how stupid it felt when an older dog said, "what you mistake for a mark of fame and honor is actually a reminder of how much of a disgrace you are."

Feel free to ring your bell anytime you want by responding to the claims that you are a hate group, FRC. No matter how much you lie, we know the truth.

And what you really are - a bad dog without a leash nipping at the heels of every lgbt you can find.

LGBT, African-American, liberal & religious groups call out the anti-gay right, Republican Party

The following letter appeared this morning in The Washington Post and The Hill:

 OPEN LETTER TO REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
COMMITTEE CHAIR REINCE PRIEBUS

Where Does the GOP Stand on Gay Bashing?

Dear Mr. Priebus,

Fifteen years ago, your predecessor called for party members to shun the Council of Conservative Citizens because of the group’s “racist views.”

“A member of the party of Lincoln should not belong to such an organization,” GOP Chairman Jim Nicholson said. His comments had their intended effect: Senior members of Congress distanced themselves from the group.

Today, Chairman Priebus, we ask that you take a similar stand and call upon Republican officials to disassociate themselves from the groups behind the upcoming Values Voter Summit.

The reason is simple: These groups engage in repeated, groundless demonization of LGBT people — portraying them as sick, vile, incestuous, violent, perverted, and a danger to the nation.

The Family Research Council, the summit’s host, is vigorously opposed to extending equal rights to the LGBT community. Its president, Tony Perkins, has repeatedly claimed that pedophilia is a “homosexual problem.” He has called the “It Gets Better” campaign — designed to give LGBT students hope for a better tomorrow — “disgusting” and a “concerted effort” to “recruit” children into the gay “lifestyle.”4 He has condemned the National Republican Congressional Committee for supporting three openly gay candidates.

Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association, a summit sponsor, has said the U.S. needs to “be more like Russia,” which enacted a law criminalizing the distribution of LGBT “propaganda.” He also has said, “Homosexuality gave us Adolph Hitler, and homosexuals in the military gave us the Brown Shirts, the Nazi war machine, and six million dead Jews.”

Similarly, Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel, another summit sponsor, has compared those who do not denounce same-sex marriage to those who remained silent during the Holocaust. Marriage equality, he has said, is the “beginning of the end of Western civilization.”

This kind of extremism should not be legitimized by elected officials, because it is contrary to our nation’s highest ideals. As you have said, “People in this country, no matter straight or gay, deserve dignity and respect.”

Yet, as in years past, several prominent members of your party — including U.S. Sens. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal — are currently planning to address the Values Voter Summit that begins on Thursday in Washington.

So, the question now is: Will you live up to your own words and tell the members of your party to shun groups that demean other people and deny them dignity? Will the GOP condemn anti-LGBT bigotry as vigorously as it opposed racism 15 years ago?

Political leadership makes a difference. We ask that you urge the members of your party not to attend the Values Voter Summit.

Sincerely,

Michael Sherrard, Executive Director
Faithful America

Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO and President
GLAAD

Chad Griffin, President
Human Rights Campaign

Wade Henderson, President and CEO
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.

Michael Keegan, President
People For the American Way

J. Richard Cohen, President and CEO
Southern Poverty Law Center

I doubt this letter is going to do anything to move Preibus or the Republican Party to denounce the religious right, but I don't think that was its sole purpose. Regardless, it is wonderful to see these groups openly call out and denounce the religious right.

And I hope to see more things like this because it would signal that we are moving in a new direction in this so-called cultural war; a direction in which lgbt organizations and their allies play offense rather than defense.

'Southern Baptist Convention kicks out gay-friendly church' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

Beware The Gay Antichrist! The Seven Most Appalling Moments In Values Voter Summit History - I'm amazed that Right Wing Watch could condense the list to just seven.

Southern Baptists Kick Out Gay-Friendly Church - Because if churches welcome gays, it would help their self-esteem and if gays have high self-esteem, they won't engage in negative behaviors. Then what will the religious right use to claim that homosexuality is a "dangerous lifestyle?"

Barber: Marchers Should Denounce 'Homosexual Enslavement Lifestyles' At St. Patrick’s Day Parade - For God's sake, give it a rest, Matt Barber. 

I'm Gay. Get Over It,' State Senator Announces During Push For LGBT Hate Crimes Bill - To paraphrase Maggie Smith in Murder by Death - "I like him . . . I really, really like him."

 Anti-Gay Pundits Recycle Doomsday DADT Rhetoric To Defend Military's Transgender Service Ban - Who cares if the rhetoric isn't true. As long as it scares people.

Stories of LGBT African Americans

This video is from three years ago, but it's very pertinent. Being gay and African-American is a unique experience which doesn't get as much attention as it should, i.e. those of us who are that identity rarely get to talk about our lives. Instead others boggart and talk about us as if we are lab experiments. As the lgbt community slowly moves to equality, let's not forget that our struggle transcends age, country, and especially race:

Debunking the Top Five Myths About LGBT Non-discrimination Laws

This video, courtesy of Equality Matters, should be required viewing for everyone supporting lgbt non-discrimination laws. I've seen those against these laws demonstrate the ability to repeat talking points and lies on cue. We need to pick up that ability when it comes to debunking the talking points and lies.:

Family Research Council exploiting Meriam Ibrahim to bash Obama, lgbts' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Tony Perkins Uses Meriam Ibrahim To Promote Anti-Obama, Anti-Gay Agenda - How morally bankrupt is the Family Research Council? Even when the organization helps to save a woman from being executed in Sudanese country, it tells lies about the situation to bash Obama and the lgbt community. 

In Utah’s same-sex marriage debate, should the children be off limits? - Looks like our opposition is getting highly tacky. 

 Louisiana State Judge Rules Against Same-Sex Marriage Ban - BOOM! 

 Americans Growing Anti-Gay, Want Even More Religion In Their Politics - To willful men, the injuries they procure must be their own schoolmasters. Careful what you wish for, folks.

  U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan officiates her first same-sex wedding - Sweet! 

 Bisexual Visibility Day: 22 Reasons Why We're Celebrating - 22 very good reasons.

FRC's 'Values Voter' summit will be another anti-gay hot mess

It's that time of year again when the Family Research Council unleashes one of its  "Values Voter" summits on America. It's going to be a cornucopia of homophobia, anti-Obama lies and basic nastiness under the guise of  "protecting morality."

Everybody who is anybody in the right-wing will be there from Michelle Bachmann to Sarah Palin (although I doubt Palin will be talking about that brawl her family got into recently). From Right Wing Watch comes a short who's who listing:

Tony Perkins 

Tony Perkins is president of the Family Research Council, the chief sponsor of the Values Voter Summit. Now a widely recognized spokesman for social conservative causes, Perkins served two terms as a Republican legislator in the Louisiana House of Representatives before launching a failed bid for the U.S. Senate in 2002.

Perkins has: Contended that the anti-bullying “It Gets Better” project is “immoral,” “disgusting,” and promotes “perversion.”

Defined efforts by the Obama administration to advance LGBT rights abroad as a push for “radical sexualism” and “global homosexuality.”

 Praised a Uganda bill that would have condemned gays and lesbians to death as an effort to “uphold moral conduct that protects others and in particular the most vulnerable.”

Warned that LGBT rights advocates will launch a holocaust against Christians, placing those that oppose same-sex marriage into “boxcars.”

Mat Staver 

Mat Staver is the dean of the Liberty University School of Law and the founder and chairman of its affiliate, Liberty Counsel, which is a sponsor of the Values Voter Summit.

 At a previous Values Voter Summit, Staver claimed that progressives are using LGBT rights and secular government in order to “ultimately implode America” and that the “agenda of the homosexual movement” is to destroy freedom and Western civilization.

Through his position at Liberty Counsel, Staver has: Suggested that the president was using health care reform to create his own personal army of Brownshirts.

 Claimed that President Obama “does not respect America” and wants to intentionally cripple the country so he can gain global power.

 Called the legalization of same-sex marriage “the beginning of the end of Western Civilization,” warning it will lead to “forced homosexuality.”

 Benham Brothers 

Twin brothers Jason and David Benham were catapulted to national attention this year when an HGTV show that they were set to star in was cancelled following revelations about their anti-gay, anti-choice, anti-Muslim activism. Since the show’s cancellation, the brothers have become a cause célèbre for the Religious Right, which has lifted them up as an example of the supposed persecution of conservative Christians in America.

One or both of the brothers have: Asserted that the LGBT equality movement is part of a “spiritual fight" between God and the “kingdom run by Satan.”

Urged the city of Charlotte, NC to deny permits to an LGBT Pride event, calling it a “vile” and “destructive” activity that “should not be allowed in our city.”

Compared the fight against marriage equality to opposing Nazi Germany.

Called an Islamic community center a “den of iniquity” and referred to Muslims as “the enemy attacking" America.

For more about the rest of the "Values Voter" attendees, go here.

SC Pride's 25th anniversary - the pictures tell the entire story

Saturday, South Carolina Pride celebrated its 25th anniversary with its annual parade and festival through the downtown streets of Columbia, SC .

This year was highly successful as over 30,000 attendees joined together for fun, fellowship, and basic love for each other regardless of age, race, or sexual orientation. Granted, when it comes to pride celebrations, all of the attention seems to be devoted to the big cities of San Francisco and New York.

But we in South Carolina do rather well for ourselves:

And just like a good picnic attracts ants, a good pride parade attracts these people:

THIS is what anti-gay groups want the lgbt community to 'tolerate'

My post this morning on the Human Rights Campaign report, The Export of Hate has generated a lot of positive feedback.

And a good part of it came from the spotlight videos which HRC created to accompany the report on the anti-gay figures who are attempting to spread their homophobia around the globe. I think I know why this is happening. The videos, using footage and exact footage of these anti-gay talking heads, have taken a life of their own because they speak to a serious part of this so-called cultural war.

The continuing mantra of anti-gay spokespeople and groups is that lgbts are basically hypocrites because we supposedly want "tolerance" for our opinions and views but refuse to show tolerance for views that disagree with ours.

That frame of mind is basic semantic garbage carefully crafted to take attention away from the exact words and views of those who oppose our right to equality. While this claim puts the lgbt community on the defense, no one talks about the ugly claims they make about us, our lives, and our lives and how these claims destroy our dignity as human beings.

So by request (because I've had quite a few this morning), I am going to spotlight more videos from HRC's youtube accompaniment to The Export of Hate and with those spotlights, I am going to ask the simple question which I DARE anyone from the other side of the argument to answer:

Why in the hell should the lgbt community tolerate this:

Brian Camenker: 

Janice Shaw Crouse:

 

Robert Scott Lopez:

 


Peter LaBarbera: 

 

 Scott Lively:

 

To see other videos, go here. 

 To download the report The Export of Hate, click the title

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

'Gay teen, mother comes out to each other ' & other Friday midday news briefs

Gay Teen And Mother Come Out To Each Other - Did you hear the urban legend about the child who came out to his mother only to have his mother come out to HIM? It's not an urban legend. It really happened. 

Texas Hotel Reportedly Cancels Ugandan President’s Stay Over His Anti-Gay Views - BYE!

 Listen To A Fox News Hero Lash Out At Gay People On A Conference Call - EW! EW! EW! He was like a walking, breathing personification of that anti-gay "Deathstyle" comic book I show from time to time.  

South Carolina Pride celebrates 25 years fighting for equal rights for all - Sorry but I have to brag about this again. 25 year BABY!!!!!!  

The Secret Antigay U.S. Money Behind The WCF and the Global Evangelical War on LGBT Rights - TWOCares is doing some awesome work here and what the organization is finding out is spooky. It goes beyond demonization by way of lies, cherry-picked and junk science studies. This shit is getting REAL and I'm ready for it.

Scenes from South Carolina Pride parades

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of South Carolina Gay Pride, I am posting news footage from the 2012 and 2013 parades. Folks like Peter LaBarbera will be so disappointed that they can't exploit these clips.

 

'Anti-gay activist: HRC is trying to get me killed!' and other Thursday midday news briefs

Scott Lively Says New HRC Report ​'Is Trying To Incite Murder Against Me' - Now now, Scotty. HRC's report merely tells the truth about your overseas activities to incite homophobia. Activities, I might point out that you have bragged about on numerous occasions. Lively even takes time to go into further drama queen mode on the Southern Poverty Law Center. I'm almost insulted that he didn't mention lgbt bloggers who made sure that his homophobic explosives went viral.
 

Adorable 4-year-old boy learns about gay marriage from his mom - It's sad that a four-year-old gets it better than supposedly Christian adults.  

This Is What Happens To Transgender Kids Who Delay Puberty - An important revelation which is needed to dispel the lies and ignorance about our transgender brothers and sisters. 

 Linda Harvey Warns Of 'Homosexual Sex Centers' For LGBT Youth; Wants Schools To Teach 'There's No Such Thing As A Gay Person' -Linda Harvey acting like a crazed homophobic fool AGAIN! But I want everyone to take something out of this. Harvey cites Centers for Disease Control studies about HIV to make her case that homosexuality is supposedly a dangerous lifestyle. However, she clearly practices the sin of omission. The CDC has on more than one ocassion placed the blame for this on how homophobia isolates the lgbt community and hinders us from receiving adequate health care and knowledge. Of course Harvey conveniently omits that point. Distorting CDC studies seems to be the only thing that anti-gay groups and organizations are doing now seeing that lgbt bloggers have refuted their original points of distortion with regards to lgbt health.  

8 Things Parents of Trans Kids Want You to Know - Excellent piece by a good friend of mine.

Wisc. GOPer Drops Out Of Race Over 'F*gs' And 'N*ggers' Tweets - BUSTED by my friends at NOManiacs. Take a bow, folks!

Family Research Council's marriage equality 'study' = more smoke, mirrors, and deception

Editor's note - In the past, the Family Research Council used to publish "studies" which demonized the lgbt community. Those "studies" were bad pieces utilizing either junk or cherry-picked science.  While the organization seems to not be publishing new "studies," it continues to spotlight past ones. Case in point - Ten Arguments From Social Science Against Same-Sex Marriage:

 Ten Arguments From Social Science Against Same Sex Marriage which, FRC claims is "trending on its site, supposedly speaks against gay marriage. Like every other "study" published by FRC, this one is filled with errors.

In the piece, Family Research Council is basing the argument against gay marriage on the claim that "children need both a mother and a father."

FRC makes the claim that lesbians household "raising children without a father" is wrong because according to them:

Among other things, we know that fathers excel in reducing antisocial behavior and delinquency in boys and sexual activity in girls.

And gay households "raising children without a mother" is wrong because:

fathers exercise a unique social and biological influence on their children. For instance, a recent study of father absence on girls found that girls who grew up apart from their biological father were much more likely to experience early puberty and a teen pregnancy than girls who spent their entire childhood in an intact family.

However, very little (if any at all) of the literature/studies FRC cites to make these conclusions have anything to do with same-sex households.

When the organization does address the studies involving same-sex households, it throws out an insulting addendum:

A number of leading professional associations have asserted that there are "no differences" between children raised by homosexuals and those raised by heterosexuals. But the research in this area is quite preliminary; most of the studies are done by advocates and most suffer from serious methodological problems. Sociologist Steven Nock of the University of Virginia, who is agnostic on the issue of same-sex civil marriage, offered this review of the literature on gay parenting as an expert witness for a Canadian court considering legalization of same-sex civil marriage:

Through this analysis I draw my conclusions that 1) all of the articles I reviewed contained at least one fatal flaw of design or execution; and 2) not a single one of those studies was conducted according to general accepted standards of scientific research.

This is not exactly the kind of social scientific evidence you would want to launch a major family experiment.

There is a huge problem with FRC citing Nock's testimony. He gave it in 2001. Since that time, there have been numerous other studies , as well as personal stories from children in same-sex households which back up the conclusion that same-sex households are a perfectly fine place to raise children.

But keep in mind the phrase by FRC when criticizing studies involving same-sex households -  most of the studies are done by advocates and most suffer from serious methodological problems.

If these studies is biased and have no credibility, then why do FRC have no problem citing them when attacking same-sex households:

Judith Stacey-- a sociologist and an advocate for same-sex civil marriage--reviewed the literature on child outcomes and found the following: "lesbian parenting may free daughters and sons from a broad but uneven range of traditional gender prescriptions." Her conclusion here is based on studies that show that sons of lesbians are less masculine and that daughters of lesbians are more masculine.

She also found that a "significantly greater proportion of young adult children raised by lesbian mothers than those raised by heterosexual mothers ... reported having a homoerotic relationship." Stacey also observes that children of lesbians are more likely to report homoerotic attractions.

Her review must be viewed judiciously, given the methodological flaws detailed by Professor Nock in the literature as a whole. Nevertheless, theses studies give some credence to conservative concerns about the effects of homosexual parenting.

FRC's audacity is incredible here. The organization is saying "Stacey is biased for same-sex marriage, so we cannot totally believe what she says. However, we will believe the part which puts gay marriage in a negative light."

The gymnastics behind this logic is astounding, especially when one takes into account that this is a distortion of Stacey's study. She has gone on record on more than one occasion complaining about how organizations like FRC cherry-pick her work.  

And on that same note, FRC also cited the work of Yale Child Study Center psychiatrist Kyle Pruett to make the case against gay marriage in the piece, even though Pruett has also complained  about how his work was being "cherry picked"  by religious right groups and spokespeople.

FRC is equally dishonest when it makes the claim that gay men will not be faithful in marriages.

One recent study of civil unions and marriages in Vermont suggests this is a very real concern. More than 79 percent of heterosexual married men and women, along with lesbians in civil unions, reported that they strongly valued sexual fidelity. Only about 50 percent of gay men in civil unions valued sexual fidelity.

According to its footnotes, FRC received this information from two sources. One was:

Esther Rothblum and Sondra Solomon, Civil Unions in the State of Vermont: A Report on the First Year. University of Vermont Department of Psychology, 2003.

Of course this leads one to ask if this study looked at civil unions in Vermont during the first year, then are the more recent updates.

The second source is more intriguing:

David McWhirter and Andrew Mattison, The Male Couple (Prentice Hall, 1984) 252.

Gay marriage wasn't legal in 1984.

It's nonsense like that which has led to the lgbt community containing victory after victory in the courts. It's easy to sway folks with "studies" filled with footnotes even if the citations are inaccurate. Pity that they don't have the guts to bring that junk in the courts.

'South Carolina Pride will celebrate 25 years!!!!!' & other Wednesday midday news briefs

Flying the Flag: South Carolina’s Pride Movement Celebrates a Quarter Century - In the heart of the south, in the midst of stereotypes and homophobia, the South Carolina Pride Movement has stood for 25 years and will be celebrating this anniversary on Saturday. While everyone's eyes and minds are on the big meccas like NY and CA, SC Pride has stood up to homophobic legislators, ignorant public leaders, and has generated many years of success. To be honest, SC Pride is indicative of the entire South Carolina lgbt community. We are like Motown in its heyday in that you can't attribute our success to simply one person because we have so many superstars fighting for equality and respect. 

Christian Conservatives Praise Putin For Anti-Gay Laws – Ignore His Persecution Of Christians - And the winners of the Della Reese "dumbest asses in captivity award" . . . 

 Laurie Higgins: 'Counter-Insurgency Needed' To Stop 'Homo-Activism' - That would be one hell of a boring counter-insurgency. Folks would be defecting to our side.  

Sean Hannity: Parents Should Be Allowed To Teach Kids ‘Being Gay Is Not Normal’ - Yes they should, but neither the lgbt community nor our children should have to accommodate that ignorance. If your parents teach you something that nasty, schools shouldn't have to take your beliefs over the existence of lgbt children or children who live in same-sex households attending the same schools.

Mainstream media is catching on to NOM's broader agenda - AT LAST!!  

Video: Brian Brown's fellow panelist gives insight into Moscow panel's extreme views on homosexuality, marriage - This situation regarding Brian Brown, NOM, and Russia has the potential to be explosive. Let's encourage folks like Jeremy Hooper who are on top of it.

No 'Christian charity' for gay couple?

Recently in Arizona, there was a bittersweet victory for a gay couple:

In a ruling that calls into question Arizona's gay marriage ban, a judge handed a victory Friday to a gay man who lost his spouse to cancer last month and was denied death benefits because the state prohibits same-sex unions.

U.S. District Judge John Sedwick allowed Fred McQuire to be listed on his spouse's death certificate, marking another development in the national debate over gay marriage as state and federal judges across the country have struck down bans in more than a dozen states at a rapid rate since a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year.

 . . . A death certificate listing McQuire as the surviving spouse of George Martinez was issued late Friday afternoon at a state records office in Tucson, one of McQuire's lawyers said.

McQuire and Martinez were partners of 45 years who got married in California this summer, fulfilling one of their final wishes as they both dealt with serious health issues. Martinez, a Vietnam War veteran, was in the throes of pancreatic cancer blamed on exposure to Agent Orange when they got married, calling it "demeaning and unfair" to have to go to another state to exchange their vows.

 . . .  Before the ruling, McQuire, 69, wiped away tears as he talked outside court about the disappointment of being told by government officials that he wasn't considered Martinez's lawful husband. He said he was expecting that kind of reaction, but it still hurt deeply. "It doesn't make it easier," McQuire said.

"George would have loved to have been here today," McQuire said outside court, still wearing a gold and diamond wedding ring on his left hand. McQuire issued a written statement after the ruling was handed down. "No one else should have to deal with the pain and humiliation of not being able to take care of something as simple and sensitive as a death certificate for their spouse," he said.

It's a story which should tug at your heart no matter how you feel about marriage equality. This is not about redefining anything, but rather a couple looking for simple dignity.

Of course some folks are making themselves immune to feeling even a small bit of kindness in regards to this situation and instead are pushing conspiracy theories. From One News Now:

Micah Clark of the American Family Association of Indiana contends "these liberal judges know exactly what they were doing." 

 "They are activists," he alleges. "But rather than fully force same-sex marriage upon a state, they are chipping away at this through a public policy matter, knowing that this weakens marriage laws and [that] future judges can totally overturn the law by pointing back at these decisions."

 Clark adds that the decisions undermine state laws which are decided by state lawmakers and the people. "Death certificate policies, other licenses, marriage licenses have always been the purview of state legislatures and state policy matters," he notes. "Judges are not policy writers; they're deciders of the law concerning the Constitution. But many of these activist judges want to write public policy and what marriage policy is and force that upon a state." 

Now usually this is where I would come in with a unifying statement ripping apart Clark for his lack of Christian charity  as well as pointing out how his zeal to demonize the concept of marriage equality overrides any sympathy for the gay couple involved in the situation.

But I don't think that would be necessary.  Why bother pointing out the existence of a jackass when he easily gives himself away by braying.

New 'ex-gay' documentary, same old bull

Talk about your rehashing of antiquated lies about being an lgbt. But it does serve to illustrate a point I've made consistently.

It doesn't matter how many time you refute and embarrass anti-gay spokepeople and organizations. They generally lie low and then rise up with the same mess. To them. it's not a battle of truth but attrition. They count on repeating the same lies continuously until they either make us blase or beaten down from weariness.

Now no doubt, observers and gameplayers  of semantics will accuse me of being intolerant of those who supposedly chose to "leave" the loosely named "gay lifestyle."

Let me say right off that it's a load of bull. I have no problems with those who claim that they are "ex gays." What I do have a problem how easily and without thought many of these  'ex-gays' align themselves with anti-gay groups and speakers like you will see above.

If you want the lgbt community to respect the choices of your lives, my dear 'ex-gays," then stop trying to make our lives a living hell.

James Dobson is no longer relevant in marriage equality fight

Why does the subject of marriage equality turn people like religious leader James Dobson into one-note drama queens?

 In the clip below of an interview, Dobson talks with Billy Hallowell, the Faith and culture editor at Glenn Beck's "The Blaze and goes off negatively about marriage equality:



Poor Dobson. He pushes that ridiculous line about marriage equality destroying culture without realizing that time has passed him by. It's no longer 2004 when he helped to command and direct the opposers of marriage equality to victories and spotlight.

This is the new age when folks have realized that portents of doom about marriage equality were just lies fueled by either cynical folks out to make a buck through the exploitation of religious beliefs or self-righteous, conceited folks who have actually have no clue.

I think that Dobson is the latter, but it really doesn't matter which type he is. Either way, he come across as just plain tired.

Anti-gay leader's activities in Russia attracting negative Congressional attention

Looks like NOM president Brian Brown's "international homophobic partnerships" is attracting attention. But I doubt that the criticism of  US Congressman would be attention that Brown or NOM would want.

From FrontiersLA:

Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA)

“I think it’s awful and whether it’s people going to Russia to help propagate these discriminatory laws that are increasing in places like Russia and East Europe and Africa or whether it’s some of our captains of industry that are going to Moscow and trying to seize of business opportunities like this. It really calls into question their commitment to our country and its ideals. So I think it’s horribly counter-productive and only a further incentive to the belligerent, dangerous, backward policies of Putin and his cronies.” - Congressman Adam Schiff after being informed about Brown's activities. Schiff sits on the Appropriations Committee and the Foreign Operations Subcommittee

FrontiersLA also said:

Schiff’s comments come a day before the Human Rights Campaign released a major expose entitled “Global Advocacy of American Anti-LGBT Extremists Exposed.”

 . . . Last October, Fred Karger of “Rights Equal Rights” wrote Sec. of State John Kerry and Attorney General Eric Holder asking that they investigate whether Brown violated the Logan Act, a “federal statute making it a crime for a citizen to confer with foreign governments” against US interests. Karger notes that Brown testified before Russian Duma officials—including a subcommittee chaired by Mizulina, who then helped write the anti-gay propaganda and adoption laws—and asks if Brown did so without prior authorization of the US government. Karger has not yet received a reply. 

I have a feeling that if Brown keeps his nonsense up, we won't be hearing the last of this mess.

And I am so looking forward to it.

'Mainstream media looks at NOM's attempt to aid homophobia on worldwide scale' & other Monday midday news briefs

America's gay rights battle goes global - As vile and noxious as the entire situation is, it is a comfort that Yahoo News officially mainstreams what the lgbt community always knew about Brian Brown and NOM, i.e. the organization is not out to "protect" marriage but stamp out lgbt equality even if they have to team up with nasty homophobes on a global scale. 

More details about the above story - READ: HRC's 'Export of Hate' report puts American activists on notice
 

'In America's Darkest Hour ... God Stepped In To Save The Day': A History Lesson From FRC - As evil and homophobic as the Family Research Council has been over the years to the lgbt community and in lieu of all of the times that organization has played fast and loose with the truth in order to smear us, the group would be best served to stop dwelling on how God "saved the day" for America, but rather be thankful that he didn't aim a bit of lightning its way. 

 Idaho Has Spent Over $70,000 Defending Its Ban On Same-Sex Marriage - DAMN! I think my last sentence speaks for itself. 

 Transgender Girl Crowned Homecoming Princess - Good for her!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Louisiana marriage equality loss due to multitude of errors by judge

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