We agree entirely. And that is what we try to do here at BTB. Thanks for being a part of that effort.

I agree, and I have my own voice. . .I certainly don’t want it to be misinterpreted. At the same time, I feel it’s important to let others know when their words are being corrupted.

This is why I brought the question “Did you really say this, or is it out of context . . .” to the source. Not only because I suspected foul editing, but a sincere concern about comments from a leader of marriage equality in my home state.

My voice is small.

I know better than to engage conversation on his website, but many don’t. . .and fall into the trap.

MirrorMan said, “The fact that he never posted my comment speaks volumes . . .”. Similar to any AFA or FOF site. . . typical. However, what we can do is call them on the carpet for their lies and misrepesentations when we see them, and do our best to expose lies for what they are. . .Perhaps that’s a blog, a phone call or an email to the party being quoted asking for clarification.

Still, considering people like Leonard Pitts, Jr. and Dan Savage have the prestige of syndication, yes Mr. Benkof’s resume seems a bit sparse to be able to say he has a “good track record.”

At this point I think it is clear that if anyone wishes to have any measure of control over their own voice, it is in their best interest to only communicate with Benkof in a public forum where the context and content can be verified.

In addition to the many members of the community that have stated publicly that David Benkof has not accurately characterized their position or their conversation, I have received a number of communications from individuals who have expressed that Benkof has either misstated their views or has berated them when they did not answer his inquiries the way he wished. This has not been restricted to gay people, by the way.

Because they’ve requested that I not publish their statements, I’ll not name them. Y’all just have to decide whether or not to believe me.

:)

Only to get angered again with his out of context quote of Legal Marriage Alliance of Washington/Michael Taylor-Judd.

The “I must have deleted that email” or “It may have gone in the spam filter” excuse has gotten pretty lame.

Jews represent a much smaller religious group, which becomes even more tiny when you restrict yourself to the Orthodox. I can’t imagine anything more self defeating than for Benkof, a member of a minority religious group, to go around advocating the imposition of religious law on those who don’t share it. The more logical path towards self-preservation is to advocate for freedom of (and from) religious tyranny.

I get that, really. But what David fails to understand is that the first amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”, not only guarantees freedom OF religion, but freedom FROM religion. If my belief is not shared by you, you don’t have to follow it. But he wants to put his religion as superior to mine by enshrining it in writing in the legal constitution. That is unethical, illegal, discriminatory and prejudicial.

And he has no right to do that no matter what his beliefs are or whatever cosmic muffin he prays to. It’s all well and good that is what God commanded Moses, their teacher, but he wasn’t MY teacher! So pardon me if I take offense to his bleatings. In the words of Soft Cell, “Sorry, I don’t pray that way!”