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Featured Reports
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 two hundred 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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Swampfox
December 12th, 2008 | LINK
These people are not homophobic. They don’t fear gays, they just hate us.
a. mcewen
December 12th, 2008 | LINK
Someone should alert Mike Huckabee.
David
December 12th, 2008 | LINK
Huckabee would dismiss it; “Oh, that doesn’t count, they were not really gay”
jeff
December 12th, 2008 | LINK
typical redneck trash.
Why did God make rednecks?? I guess even he can make mistakes.
Emily K
December 12th, 2008 | LINK
No, the answer would be that “all murder is wrong” and bullshit like that. They refuse to see that we are murdered for being like who we ARE. and even the STRAIGHT community suffers.
What kind of world must we live in when affection between two men is so disdained?? What a horrible place to grow up male.
HappyCat
December 12th, 2008 | LINK
It is stories like these that make me cry. Gay or Straight, it doesn’t matter, man’s inhumanity to man.
These people who did this are the same group that Bible Spice (Sarah Palin) attracted to the McCain/Palin campaign ralleys.
But this attack was just good ole christians exercizing their good ole christian faith.
Michael
December 13th, 2008 | LINK
When will society live and let live? Yes, this is the perfect example of Man’s inhumanity to Man. May God comfort the family.
Dave
December 13th, 2008 | LINK
jeff: “typical redneck trash.”
I thought the slur redneck was only properly used against white people. The assailants here were black men.
Dave
December 13th, 2008 | LINK
HappyCat: “These people who did this are the same group that Bible Spice (Sarah Palin) attracted to the McCain/Palin campaign ralleys.”
Nice bit of slander there, HappyCat.
Well, not really. A very poor attempt actually. Palin didn’t seem to help the McCain campaign make any inroads with the urban black community.
Your Gay Mobs. Let Me Show Them To You. « The Bloggernacle Back Burner
December 13th, 2008 | LINK
[...] Tagged Gay Mob Violence Brooklyn [...]
paul J stein
December 13th, 2008 | LINK
Gay bashing happens to ANYONE who can/is perceived to be gay. A straight buddy of mine (liberal redneck)was harassed by another straight guy for 6 months. He was using my vehicles for work with pride flags posted. Supervisors did NOTHING for 6 months. Now he’s having chest pains and anxiety attacks wondering how he’s gonna support his family since they laid him off and kept the basher employed. Oh ya , the company he worked for is a “Home Interiors” company in northern OHIO that is GAY OWNED and up till now had a great rating for diversity. Go figure!
cd
December 13th, 2008 | LINK
It seems not to have helped that the brothers were Latinos.
Regan DuCasse
December 13th, 2008 | LINK
The heartbreak is endless…I saw the surviving brother on the news.
He said that he and his brother go arm in arm all the time. His brother was visiting after not seeing each other in a long while.
In the interview, he said “People should be able to love each other, and who they love doesn’t matter. This is a free place, we are here for that”.
It tore my heart out. In his way, this man was speaking for ALL OF US!
Such grace for his pain.
My prayers, love and everything go out to the family.
AJD
December 13th, 2008 | LINK
I just read in the NY Times that he died.
JJQR
December 14th, 2008 | LINK
Thank you, Dave. We have to remain truthful as to who committed (and often commits) these kinds of homophobic assaults. Thanks for correcting their false wishful thinking.
Dave
December 14th, 2008 | LINK
You’re welcome, JJQR.
Ryan
December 14th, 2008 | LINK
I’m no fan of Huckabee, but I don’t think it’s right to invoke his name here. He has in no way advocated this kind of behavior. There are other, more extreme right wingers like Falwell, Phelps, Keyes, etc., whose comments inspire this level of hatred. But I don’t believe Huckabee is one of those people. He is a mild garden-variety homophobe.
Timothy Kincaid
December 14th, 2008 | LINK
Ryan,
I think the point was that Huckabee recently suggested that gays are unlike blacks because gays haven’t been subjected to physical violence on the same level.
John
December 14th, 2008 | LINK
I am a little disturbed by the tone of some comments that seem to suggest that since the attackers were black, that white homphobes can somehow wash the blood of this attack from their hands.
Constantly reinforcing the message that gays are a threat to our children, our institutions, our religious freedom and our general well being doesn’t make this society a safer society to live in if you are gay. Also, doing everything one can to minimize the criminal penalties that these sort of criminals recieve for their violence is right up there with aiding and abetting, as far as I am concerned.
Complicating the picture in this case is the unbelievably racist (anti-Hispanic) tone of the Republican primary campaign up to the selection of Sen McCain. McCain didn’t make much mention of immigration once he had the nomination, but we were hearing about if for about 2 years before that. Right wingers like Lou Dobbs continue to drone on about it. Wealthy well educated whites aren’t terribly threatened by Hispanic immigrants taking their jobs. However, less skilled white and black workers feel more vulnerable.
It might make some people feel less uncomfortable if they keep reminding themselves that the high profile homophobes didn’t swing the bat or hit these guys with their feet and fists. But they are kidding themselves by trying to pretend there is no connection, when they work so hard to maintain the hostile enviornment in which these attacks occur.
JJQR
December 14th, 2008 | LINK
Those attackers probably never heard of Huckabee. Blame violent gangsta rap for this case.
John
December 14th, 2008 | LINK
JJQR wrote: “Those attackers probably never heard of Huckabee. Blame violent gangsta rap for this case.”
So, are we to assume by this comment that you are referring to all young people as not being politically informed, or is this more directed toward young black men? Or is it the subset of young men who commit vicious hate crimes (regardless of their race)?
I doubt that not all young thugs in our society listen to gansta rap. We also saw unprecedented interest in the 2008 Presidential election by young people of all races.
I don’t have a problem with feeling strongly that violent criminals deserve to be punished for their crimes, but I am not comfortable with punishing an entire class of people (young black men) for crimes they didn’t commit. After all, with support, hard work and opportunity, a young black man might just grow up and become President some day.
Emily K
December 14th, 2008 | LINK
I think another important thing to remember is that nobody in either party was white. We also have no idea the socio-economic status of any of the men. Or do we? I am not privy to this info. People who are college-educated are much less likely to be homophobic. In addition, ideas of masculinity in the black and hispanic communities are much harsher than whites. This is why the “down low” culture is so pervasive in those groups. Now, the victims came from a country where physical affection is normal between brothers. But here in America it’s not. It looks like a cultural clash all ways around – not just a homophobic one. Which makes it all the more shameful.
Dave
December 15th, 2008 | LINK
“Complicating the picture in this case is the unbelievably racist (anti-Hispanic) tone of the Republican primary campaign up to the selection of Sen McCain.”
What unbelievably racist tone? Wanting to gain control of our border with Mexico is hardly evidence of racism.
“Wealthy well educated whites aren’t terribly threatened by Hispanic immigrants taking their jobs. However, less skilled white and black workers feel more vulnerable.”
Hispanic immigrants aren’t the concern. What worries people is illegal immigrants taking jobs and lowering wages.
José Sucuzhañay dead after Brooklyn hate crime attack « Unfinished Lives
December 16th, 2008 | LINK
[...] Box Turtle Bulletin: “Capital Crime: Appearing Gay” [...]
Jason D
December 16th, 2008 | LINK
“Those attackers probably never heard of Huckabee. Blame violent gangsta rap for this case.”
I prefer to blame the individuals for their own actions, not artists who may or may not be fanning flames or simply acting as the mouthpiece for what their fans ALREADY think and feel.
And yes swampfox, these are homophobes. Hate is a strong emotion, it does not come from a neutral or confident place. It comes from fear. They may not be intimidated by gays, but they certainly fear them.
John
December 16th, 2008 | LINK
Dave,
If you haven’t figured out that the primary concern among the right wing anti-immigrant advocates is Hispanic immigrants, you are just ignoring the obvious. They don’t hide it, so I am not sure why you are trying to do so.
If you lived in California, you would know the history of the demise of the Republican Party in our state. Republican Pete Wilson used immigrant bashing to squeak out a victory or two. As a result, Hispanics in CA now view the Republican Party as anti-Hispanic racists. Other than Schwartzennegger (who really is more of a celebrity candidate, rather than a Republican), Republicans are screwed in CA and may remain a minority party for another generation.
You can pretend as much as you want that the anti-immigrant bashing is anti-Hispanic racism, but Hispanic AMERICAN VOTERS clearly see it for what it is and have voted accordingly.
Dave
December 16th, 2008 | LINK
John,
I don’t see why I should care about what you consider the demise of the California Republican Party or the reasons you give for it. I responded to your comment about the GOP presidential primaries, which involve the entire country.
The largest source of illegal aliens in the U.S. is the border with Mexico. It is natural therefore that people worried about illegal immigration should be more than a little annoyed with Mexico. But it does not follow that such people are motivated by anti-Mexican sentiment.
That some of these people are anti-Mexican are anti-Latino doesn’t mean that they all are. Remember, it is bigotry to generalize like this.
If the source of most U.S. illegal aliens was China, the left would say that opposition to illegal immigration was motivated by anti-Chinese prejudice. If most illegal aliens were from India, they’d say that bias against Indians was causing the illegal immigration concerns. And on and on and on with every place on earth (or at least the non-European places). This is a glaring non-sequiter.
And you, John, can pretend that all Americans who disagree with you on illegal immigraton are racists. Those who care about the territorial sovereignty of the United States, however, see your slander for what it is. And they too vote accordingly.
John
December 16th, 2008 | LINK
Gay baiting with anti-same sex marriage campaigns. Race baiting with anti-immigrantt campaigns. Folks getting murdered because they are percieved as being gay and happen to be Hispanic. Nah, I am sure they aren’t related.
Sleep well, Dave. Sleep well.
Dave
December 18th, 2008 | LINK
John,
Again with the slander? Reread my comment.
“Sleep well, Dave. Sleep well.”
I usually do.
JJQR
December 18th, 2008 | LINK
I was cerainly not blaming all young black men for this assault. I always blame the individuals. But as to ascribing blame as to what sometimes inspires these assaults, in this case, I’ll still place my bets on gangsta rap culture over Palin/McCain/Huckabee. People have to recognize and admit that there is also violent homophobia (and racism) that aren’t from sources that are Republican, religious, conservative, or Caucasian.
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