The Daily Agenda for Saturday, May 25
The Daily Agenda for Friday, May 24
Boy Scouts of America Votes To Allow Gay Members, Retains Ban On Gay Leaders
Nevada House votes to reverse marriage ban
The Daily Agenda for Thursday, May 23
It's Not the Principle, It's the Prejudice
Congratulations Mitch!
Gay Couples Excluded from Immigration Bill Markup
Featured Reports
What Are Little Boys Made Of?
In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.
Slouching Towards Kampala: Uganda’s Deadly Embrace of Hate
When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.
David Benkof: Behind the Mask
At first glance, David Benkof appears to be a young gay man who believes that same-sex marriage will damage the institution of marriage, that there are better options for gay couples than marriage, that the community should join him in prioritizing other more pressing issues, and that the marriage discussion is harming the efforts of gay couples in red states to get recognition for their unions. He also claims that he’s a gay columnist, that he speaks for an influential collection of gay thinkers, and that he is part of the gay and lesbian community and that he shares our goals and dreams. But none of that is true.
“Repeat After Me”: The Reparative Therapy Echo Chamber
The April 2008 edition of the pay-to-publish vanity journal Psychological Reports featured a new report from NARTH. Written by NARTH president A. Dean Byrd, past president Joseph Nicolosi, and Richard W. Potts, the report carries the unwieldy but self-descriptive title, “Clients perceptions of how reorientation therapy and self-help can promote changes in sexual orientation.” While the title describes what the authors meant to show — how clients describe the benefits of reparative therapy — the report itself actually illustrates something very different: the ex-gay movement’s remarkable ability to instill an almost robot-like parroting of ex-gay rhetoric among their clients.
Testing the Premise: Is MRSA The New Gay Plague?
The Toronto Star said that a new study “discover[ed] a new strain” of a super-bug “hitting gay men.” Headlines in Britain screamed, “Flesh-eating bug strikes San Francisco’s gay community,” and anti-gay extremists across America spread the alarm that gays were introducing another plague into “the general population.” But there was a small problem with all of this: None of it is true!
Paul Cameron’s World
In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.
From the Inside: Focus on the Family’s “Love Won Out”
On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.
Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"
The Heterosexual Agenda: Exposing The Myths
At last, the truth can now be told.
Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!
And don't miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.
Testing The Premise: Are Gays A Threat To Our Children?
Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.
Straight From The Source: What the “Dutch Study” Really Says About Gay Couples
Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.
The FRC’s Briefs Are Showing
Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.
Review: The Gay Report
When Karla Jay and Allan Young published The Gay Report in 1979, it quickly a favorite source of statistics for many anti-gay extremists. But before you accepts these statistic at face value, you should examine the inner workings of this survey very carefully. What you learn might surprise you.
Daniel Fetty Doesn’t Count
The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.
News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric
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Stefano A
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
Hi, Jim:
Why does Robert Tindall think people are so skeptical about the defeat of Arizona’s Prop 102?
Personally, I’d be more skeptical about Florida defeating their amendment based solely on the degree of state sanctioned homophobia.
Is Tindall so skeptical about Arizona because Prop 102 wording limits marriage only as opposed to the earlier ballot which would have also limited civil unions and domestic partners?
Again, personally, Tindall seems to have a rather defeatets outlook. The fact that Arizonans defeated the earlier ballot might be used to again call upon Arizonans to encourage them to once more stand up and say that their constitution should be used to protect and enshrine rights, not take them away.
Jim Burroway
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
Tindall isn’t skeptical — he’s just repeating the skepticism that he’s heard others express when he’s talked to them. I would agree however that those who are speaking to Tindall have a defeatist outlook, one that isn’t at all warranted.
In 2006, most of the national groups felt that Arizona was “too conservative” to defeat the so-called “marriage amendment.” But what they didn’t understand that Arizona’s conservatism has a very strong libertariant streak. When they say “keep government out of my business,” that also translate as “keep government out of all of our business.”
Stefano A
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
Let’s hope that “libertarian” streak prevails or translates into an attitude that the constitution should not be used to take rights away.
This is not to say that the social conservatives should ever be underestimated — I think Ohio did that in 2004 — and a strong push against Prop 102, such as the one you are leading must continue.
Ben in Oakland
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
I would be more than happy to do what I can from here. I can write for you, if you have a need for that. I’ve asked my sister, who now lives in AZ, to vote against it. I will send you some money as well.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do.
Timothy Kincaid
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
Stefano,
Florida has the advantage of a higher bar. They have to get 60% there to amend their constitution.
Boo
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
So you’re saying Arizona has sort of become the T to the California and Florida HRC?
Stefano A
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
Yes. But Florida is only about 2% short of having met that bar in the latest polls. Also, Florida has a much larger historical record of passing anti-gay legislation (or at least stalling it) and, I think, a much more anti-gay prone population in general excepting some proactive civil-rights politics in Broward County (i.e. Miami) than either Arizona or California.
Both Arizona and California have strong conservative influences, but they seem to be at least less “mean” about it (i.e., “I don’t like but I’m not going to write it into the constition” attitude — think SD mayoral comments) than Florida . And the GOP party itself in Florida funded what(?) 50% (or more) of the money for the pro-amendment press?
I think re: Florida, people are looking at those poll results and saying they’ll never make 60%. I’m not so sure about that.
One thing encouraging about California is the major papers (the Times, Union-Trib e.g.) and all three mayors of San Francisco (I think), Los Angeles, and San Diego coming out against Prop 8… and the “terminator” himself. I’m not sure of any major players that way in Florida coming out against their amendment, excepting maybe the city of Miami politcos.
Stefano A
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
Addendum
Even homophobic mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson finally spoke out against Prop 8.
It’s just a got feeling and, again, on a personal level, in my opinion, I think both California and Arizona stand a better chance of defeating their ballot measures than does Florida. I just don’t put a lot of faith in those Florida poll figures. Simply put, I don’t trust them. Time and time again (as in Ohio in 2004) the polls were way off when the actual voting day arrived.
Stefano A
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
PSS
What does concern me quite a bit about California and Arizona, however, is the large out of state influence of the Mormon church. They’ve truly declared war. It seems almost every day, or every other day, in the Salt Lake City Tribune they’ve been speaking up and “calling to arms”. They’re right up their with Focus on the Family, et al., in terms of recent vociforousness — and a voice being backed with cash.
Stefano A
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
I suppose the bottom line of what I’m saying is that, simply put, when it comes down to where I’d put money it would be California and Arizona. Although I agree all three battle states are important battles, I’ll admit to a somewhat defeatest attitude when it comes to Florida simply because both Arizona and California already have passed more gay-positive legislation and I see Florida is being a much larger hill to climb.
Stefano A
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
Whoops!
I think I misspoke there.
I was just checking on some things and Florida and Arizona may be about equal in terms of the lack of state-wide rights/protections.
Dave
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
Stefano A wrote:
“Florida has a much larger historical record of passing anti-gay legislation and, I think, a much more anti-gay prone population in general excepting some proactive civil-rights politics in Broward County (i.e. Miami) than either Arizona or California.”
Miami is in Dade. Ft. Lauderdale is in Broward.
Stefano A
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
Oh, that’s right.
Thanks for correcting me.
Eddie89
September 20th, 2008 | LINK
Also, don’t forget that Florida is the ONLY State in the country that has an outright, Statewide BAN on adoptions by gay people. Thanks to Anita Bryant and her “homosexual” witch hunts of 1977.
That’s 31 years of continued LGBT discrimination, at least in the case of adoptions.
I’ve made my donation to FIGHT Amendment 2 in Florida! And spread the word to all my friends and family in the sunshine State!
I also donated to the fight against Prop. 8 in California and Prop. 102 in Arizona! As well as informed every single living individual that I know and don’t know to vote against these measures, depending on where they live. Or even where they don’t live, I tell them to tell their friends that may live in one of the other states.
I also created a custom signature line in my email program so that every single email I send or reply to tells people to Vote “NO” on these measures!
johnson
September 22nd, 2008 | LINK
I really would like for John and Cindy McCain to speak up on this issue. It is their state, after all. With Cindy owning the largest Beer Distributorship in the state, I would also be very interested in what the Gay Businesses that support her (to the tune of millions annually, I’m sure)think about it.
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