Box Turtle Bulletin

Blog Invasions

This is something we’ve never encountered before.

We try to maintain a certain amount of decorum on this web site while welcoming diverging points of view. We have a few regulars here who rarely agree with what we post, but I can say that I value their inputs. One commenter, the various incarnations of “qou,” is particularly adept at posting some very challenging and informative comments, and I always look forward to seeing input like his.

However, something has been occurring in comments lately which, frankly, is not particularly encouraging. And that is this: it appears we’ve been invaded.

The invaders appear to all come from one group blog that I had never seen before. If the number of comments on that blog are any indication (and the number of comments often aren’t), then it appears that perhaps that blog doesn’t have many readers. And if the commenters themselves are any indication (and in this, I think they are) they are limited largely to other authors of that group blog.

Now, look at the number of posts they’ve put up. Since last Wednesday, those eleven authors have put up eighteen posts. Not bad. But in that same period, four of those authors have dominated the comments on this humble web site, posting eighty individual comments on these two threads alone. Out of 246 comments as of this writing, they account for nearly a third of all comments.

I appreciate their passion. I really do. And I also appreciate a few of the issues they’ve raised. But as I have watched the sheer volume of these comments scroll past my desktop, it has become apparent to me that they’ve decided not to merely discuss, but to so thoroughly dominate a thread with an overwhelming number of posts as to effectively shout it down.

One beleaguered commenter said, “Rather than continuing this futility, I am going to go back to lurking for the time being.” That’s a shame, and it’s the last thing we want here. But if we allow this behavior to continue, others will follow that commenter’s lead and the argument will appear to have been “won” by silence. It appears to me that this is the intent of the members of this group blog.

In the midst of their eighty comments on this blog, that group has managed to log exactly one post on their blog that’s directly related to the posts by Dr. Chapman and Mr. Stanton. And you know what? It’s really not a bad post, although of course I don’t agree with it. I won’t be commenting there, but maybe some of you might look it over and share your thoughts. I would however ask that you show much more respect there than they did here. Be respectful, and don’t do unto them what they have done unto you.

Really, if someone is going to leave eighty individual comments on two threads of this blog, perhaps they should spend more of their time and energy on their own blog. To help encourage them to do that, I have made an update to our comments policy. I am also banning them from commenting on this web site for the time being. This applies to all members of that group blog.

Did the Justice Department Fire Prosecutor Because She Is a Lesbian?

The Justice Department under former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales operated in such a manner as to invite questions about its hiring and firing policies. While to date such questions have been about whether prosecutors were fired for partisan or ideological reasons, now NPR is raising questions as to why Leslie Hagen, by all accounts an ideal prosecutor and a loyal Republican, was let go.

So, what was Goodling’s problem with Hagen?

The Justice Department’s inspector general is looking into whether Hagen was dismissed after a rumor reached Goodling that Hagen is a lesbian.

We know that the Justice Department under both John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales was discriminatory against its gay employees, disallowing them to meet on the same terms as other employee groups. We also know that the current Attorney General, Michael Mukasey, appears less hostile to gay citizens and employees. Let’s hope that if heterosexuality has been used as a prerequisite to employment in the past, those responsible are brought to scorn and equal opportunity be made the rule for the rest of Mukasey’s term.

Exodus’ Local Ministry Aligns with Sally Kern

Today over 1,000 people showed up to demonstrate their support for Sally Kern, the OK state legislator who got caught on tape claiming that “the homosexual agenda” was a greater threat to the nation than terrorism. In addition to the usual anti-gays, Kern’s homophobic rants received the support and endorsement of the local Exodus International affiliated ministry.

Stephen Black, executive director of First Stone Ministries in Oklahoma City, said he once was gay. His organization, he said, helps men and women overcome homosexuality.

“There is a political agenda and a cultural message about homosexuality (and) that it is destructive to our country,” he said.

Black was a speaker at the rally. While First Stone claims to “educate churches and Christians how they may respond biblically, compassionately, and knowledgeably to those impacted by homosexuality”, evidently they are more interested in portraying their neighbors as a bigger threat than terrorists and spreading lies about “livestyles” and gays “infiltrating” and “shorter lifespans”.

Ironically, First Stone gets its name from the scripture “Let him who is without sin cast the First Stone.” Considering that he showed up today to cast stones, Black must think himself sinless.

As for Kern, she’s convinced that she’s a martyr

Kern said a biblical verse came to her after her comments were posted last month on the Internet. The passage is Philippians 1:12, where the apostle Paul wrote, “I want you to know that what has happened to me has served to the advancement of the gospel.”

Exodus has of late been trying to claim that it seeks to reach out to same-sex attracted people, not demonize them. But associating Exodus’ Oklahoma City ministry with the blatant and vile homophobia of Sally Kern and her ragtag collection of haters does little to validate such claims.

See also:
Sally Kern Is a Little Confused
Sally Kern’s Economic Fallout
Sally Kern’s Meeting with PFLAG on Tape
Exodus’ Local Ministry Aligns with Sally Kern
Certified Cameronite: Sally Kern
Kern Speaks to College Republicans
Sally Kern: Out of Context? The Complete Transcript
We Be Jammin’
Muslims and Gays United
OK State Rep. Sally Kern’s Son is “Straight and Not Gay”
Sally Kern Exaggerates Death Threats
A Letter to Sally Kern
LaBarbera Award: Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern

Exodus Ministry Leader Speaks At Sally Kern Rally

As a matter of record I wanted to note Stephen Black, executive director of First Stone Ministries in Oklahoma City spoke at a rally today in support of Rep. Sally Kern. Source

Today In History: BXG!

On April 2, 2007, one year ago today, Beyond Ex-Gay was founded. And what a year it’s been. It has been my pleasure to play a very small part in this young group’s activities over the past year. They’ve accomplished a lot in a very short time. Happy birthday, BXG!

Image from Peterson’s blog.

We’re Everywhere

Including Sioux Fall, South Dakota. Sioux Falls is home to about 125,000 people, five television stations, four minor league sports teams, three interstate highways — and now, two gay bars.

Texas County Official’s Job In Jeopardy Due To Sexual Orientation

According to the Dallas Morning News, Justin Nichols is to face an April 15 public hearing before the Collin County Commissioners Court, to discuss his status as coordinator of the county’s teen court program.

Justin is currently running as an openly gay city council candidate for the city of Plano, a Dallas suburb. The Dallas Voice covered the historic race of Plano’s first ever gay candidate. That soon led to anonymous attack emails being sent to Collin County commissioners and other political activists accusing him of being a child molester. That led an unnamed commissioner to call a hearing to determine Nichol’s fate.

Many anti-gay extremists claim that gays are far more likely to sexually abuse children on average. This despite evidence to the contrary. In Nichols’ case, there has not been any allegations brought forward whatsoever — no accusers, no arraignment, charges, no arrest, no trial. And yet Nichols will have to stand before the Commissioners Court and defend his job.

Update: Justin’s hearing before the Commission was canceled. But it doesn’t mean he’s off the hook:

While Mr. Nichols has requested that any discussions related to his job take place in public, the panel has the option of meeting in private about pending litigation, county officials said. The case of Mr. Nichols, who said he has retained legal counsel, could fit that description.

Also, the county had scheduled a job evaluation with Justin on Tuesday, but they canceled the appointment that morning.