The Daily Agenda for Friday, February 10
Again anti-gays blindly and gleefully shoot themselves in the foot
Rep. Walsh leads with her heart
Advocate, WaPo, AP Get it Wrong On Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Uganda Executive, Parliament Tussle Over Anti-Homosexuality BIll
The Daily Agenda for Thursday, February 9
Something I'd Like to Know, But Never Can
The Solicitor General impact
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 therapist 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 450 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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Lynn David
March 3rd, 2009 | LINK
Small communities are often accepting. And some gay members of a community often become important members of such communities. But then there are always those whispers going on behind your back by those who might laud you in public.
cowboy
March 3rd, 2009 | LINK
What town does?
Even in San Francisco it’s more of a novelty to see two men holding hands.
Will you see gay PDA in the parks?
Gay equality is not just with marriage…it is acceptance where homosexuals can do the same things the heterosexuals do…in parks, in public, in their backyards, etc.
Zeke
March 3rd, 2009 | LINK
I’m from Oxford, Mississippi, home of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and it too has an out gay community that is accepted by the locals. Generally, in Mississippi, it’s more about who you came from and where you came from than who you are. Heritage and legacy seem to be more important to people than personal accomplishments. That is probably why gay people thrive in Natchez and Oxford. Both are beautiful and historic towns that live and breathe their Southern heritage and traditions (good and bad). Oxford is certainly not Chelsea or the Castro but I would bet that it is more accepting of its gay residents than people would imagine; especially in Mississippi or anywhere in the South.
Oxford also has the benefit of being a university town. I think university towns are generally more progressive than the communities that surround them. That was certainly true in the case of Oxford. I now live in Florida and I know that Gainesville (UF) and Tallahassee (FSU) are certainly more progressive and gay positive than the communities that surround them.
Anyway, Rock on Natchez!
Bruno
March 3rd, 2009 | LINK
Yeah but did you see this fantastic letter to that Natchez paper?: http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2009/feb/27/gay-community-not-source-pride/
steve
March 3rd, 2009 | LINK
And in the same paper – via a link to this story on the paper’s website – read a story of why people remain scared of Mississippi….
Gay community not source of pride
Diane Holland
Published Friday, February 27, 2009
Concerning the “Door by door” article on the proud gay community in Natchez, I am neither gay nor proud. I am sad and ashamed.
I like “pretty” things and Natchez’s rich history, but when my friends come to town to see beautiful Natchez, there are several antique shops and areas like Under-the-Hill that we just stay away from.
I don’t want you to think your lifestyle is accepted by my friends or me, so we spend money elsewhere.
You used the word “sophisticated” to describe the people of Natchez. One of the definitions of sophisticated is “to alter, pervert.” That sheds new light on the “sophisticated” plantation owners you mentioned.
Your article seemed to suggest that they used the young black slave women for sexual purposes, and now are going on to suggest they used the young black men or house boys as well?
And because of that, Natchez is more tolerant to this lifestyle? Well there goes another piece of beautiful Natchez history.
May I mention a piece of history that I’ve read about? There were two cities that were so gay and proud that God sent two angels to evacuate all the straight people before he rained fire and brimstone down and destroyed the cities.
The angels could find only four straight people. I hope there are enough straight people to keep Natchez from being judged.
Maybe we need more industry and less “pretty” things.
Diane Holland
Natchez resident
Zeke
March 3rd, 2009 | LINK
To be fair, one could find an equally ignorant and insulting response to a pro-gay story in New York or San Francisco. There are homophobes and fundamentalist in the most progressive states and cities in America and they NEVER fail to make their opinions known.
Casey Ann
March 4th, 2009 | LINK
I live in Natchez, and I was so excited to see the article about Natchez being a gay friendly community. Although everyone here knows this, I was pleasantly surprised to see it in print. One reason is that I hoped it would be picked up by sites like yours, and the word would spread across the country – and maybe we could attract some new residents. Although I am straight, I personally think gays greatly improve a community.
As for the woman who wrote the letter, don’t let her bother you. I know her, and her opinion is not influential or widely held. Yes, we have a few rednecks here, but the rest of us would be welcoming.
Chris Gerron
March 4th, 2009 | LINK
It must be pointed out that “we missed Natchez” over the persistent protests of Jim Burroway’s partner (that would be ME) who knew full well what wonders lay in store in historic Natchez.
Rob Lll
March 4th, 2009 | LINK
Thanks for posting this article. My partner and I will be in New Orleans later this year (he’s attending a conference there)and we’re planning on taking a road trip up to Memphis afterwards, an opportunity I couldn’t pass up given my obsessions with both Faulkner and the blues.
We will make a definite point of spending some time in Natchez (and Oxford).
Kevin
March 4th, 2009 | LINK
This woman just compared all straight people to the mythical person called “Lot”, who offered his daughter up to rapists to escape the same fate.
Also, the people in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah were trying to rape angels, which is why they were destroyed.
I’m glad to know that anti-gay assholes don’t actually read the bible they put so much currency in when they bash God’s LGBT children.
Rusty
March 4th, 2009 | LINK
While passing through Natchez recently I met a wonderful fellow “under the hill” and he took me on a carriage ride through the historic district, ending with dinner at a wonderful old restaurant, it was special. I can hardly wait for my “second helping” of Natchez and and my new found friend.
Natchez truly is an experience, kind of like stepping into “Gone with the Wind”. A really special place with really special people, both gay and straight.
Zeke
March 4th, 2009 | LINK
Rob LII, as an Oxford native I know I’m biased but Oxford is a BEAUTIFUL historic town and Ole Miss is one of the most beautiful university campuses in America. It would be well worth the visit especially if you’re a William Faulkner fan. His home “Rowan Oak” is owned and maintained by Ole Miss and is only three blocks from the house I grew up in.
Zeke
March 4th, 2009 | LINK
Oh, and for the BEST of the Blues, don’t miss Indianola (home of B. B. King) and Greenwood Mississippi (close to Oxford) as well as Beale Street in Memphis.
Shawyn
September 26th, 2010 | LINK
The above article in “The Democrat” came about because a reporter for the paper who came to live in Natchez after Hurricane Katrina noticed that there was a larger gay population here than he would have expected since moving from New Orleans. He was straight but thought it would make an interesting story.
I have to say that I was apprehensive when he approached us but we have lived here for 15 years and have always been made to feel welcome. We are members of the local Episcopal Church,the Opera Festival,the Little Theatre. With the exception of the two, yes only two, negative comments mentioned above the article was well received by locals. Mississippi is, after all, the “Hospitality State”.
We have a couple of businesses in Natchez and hope to have created a place where all are welcome. Someone said that the article would hurt our business but it hasn’t. If anything it may have helped. Sometimes late at night I look around and wonder how the different ‘types” all get along; but they do. Isn’t that the way it should be?
I hope anyone who is thinking about a visit to Natchez will make the trip. We look out over the Lazy Mississippi River and life is good here. We look forward to meeting you.
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