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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David C.
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
I can hear the drums now…
~~
Entirely predictable MOM-nuts spin. Is anybody really surprised?
Dollars to doughnuts Missy P figured out that if she could just get out of her contract with the California pageant, she could have a lucrative career as a right-wing mouthpiece. I’m sure she would fit right in at Fox Noise—er—News.
Clearly, as I have pointed out in the previous post, her tenure was destined to end sooner or later once it cost Trump a buck or resulted in his embarassment.
Priya Lynn
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
The National Organization “for” Marriage said “She’s a young woman of great beauty who chose truth over the glittering tiara that Hollywood offers,”
That they seem to think, like Trump did, that her good likes somehow adds credibility to her evil viewpoint strikes me as profoundly stupid.
Priya Lynn
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
Oops, I meant to say “That they seem to think, like Trump did, that her good looks somehow adds credibility to her evil viewpoint strikes me as profoundly stupid.
quo III
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
For what it’s worth, “Maori” is spelt with an “o”, not a “u”.
David C.
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
I think this boils down to one thing: money.
Prejean either figured out or was coached into believing that she could make a decent buck off her controversial launch into public awareness. The wing-nut organizations like NOM et al will be lining up for access to the Prejean “brand”, that is if they can get a piece before someone like Fox signs her. It will be interesting to see what happens if she abrogates that contract.
homer
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
If she was ugly would they have protested so strongly? Why is it so important to NOM that she is a “beautiful” person? There are plenty of ordinary people who lose their jobs all the time because of their personal beliefs.
Timothy Kincaid
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
thanks quo. fixed it.
Timothy Kincaid
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
homer,
At the risk of being a bit unkind, I think it is important to NOM because anti-gays are not really used to having young, physically attractive people attached to their movement.
This is their chance to say, “hey, we have an beautiful girl” instead of, well, their usual supporters.
steve
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
Next job….Playboy!! what a role model for traditional marriage!!!
Jason D
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
I saw this on another message board unrelated to gay rights, but I think it fits quite nicely here, too:
The word for this is:
POUTRAGE!
Bruno
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
When do we think this press release was written? My guess is the day after Ms. Boobjob’s run-in with Perez.
Richard Rush
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
“Of course they will try to punish her, but we know she will be fine in the end, because her values are in the right place.”
Would that be like the precedent set by Anita Bryant? We all know how well that worked out.
AJD
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
Maybe some Native American groups would know about the “tribal war dance” remark.
Kristie
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
She has spent so much time since the pageant running here and there giving interviews and speeches about her “beliefs” that she hasn’t had time to return the calls of her bosses or fulfill her committments so she gets fired and suddenly that’s Hollywood’s fault?! No, it’s her own fault!
She was Miss California, not Miss Opposite Marriage and she seems to have forgotten that in the heady rush of her 15 HOURS of fame. I am really hoping that now that they’ve fired her she will sink into obscurity, but I don’t think any of us are that lucky!
Of course the anti-gay groups want to spin this so that it’s all part of the “gay agenda”, part of the gays dastardly plan to silence Carrie and take away her right to free speech, so she’ll milk that for a while I’m sure.
This girl could not think her way out of a paper bag, she poses for nudy pics when she is underage (according to her), she prances around on stage in a bikini to show off her boob job and win the prize for “prettiest” but they hold her up as if she is some great role model. They must have very low standards.
Emily K
June 10th, 2009 | LINK
I want to say that NOME’s response, which I posted before NOM posted their’s, was meant to be an exaggeration of what I thought NOM would say. But I can see that it really isn’t. O_o
The Lauderdale
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
You know, I’m down on NOM, and Prejean used up any sympathy I had a long time ago. But I have to say, I find the use of that last picture tasteless, and unprovoked. Why bring the Maori into a post condemning NOM? It’s about as conscionable as using a picture of Native Americans or Zulus in this context. Racist, and demeaning.
Diogenes
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
“Of course they will try to punish her, but we know she will be fine in the end, because her values are in the right place.”
How amusing…is NOM saying that her “values” are in her boobs and butt?
Trovore
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
“This is their chance to say, “hey, we have an beautiful girl” instead of, well, their usual supporters.”
*cough* Maggie ‘The Hutt’ Gallagher *cough*
Timothy Kincaid
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
Lauderdale,
Do you have a better picture that illustrates a tribal war dance? Perhaps something related to Hollywood?
I like this picture. The Maori look like they are not only celebrating their heritage but having fun doing it. But if there’s a pic that better illustrates of the ridulousness of NOM ranting about how “Hollywood will dance its tribal war dance over her body”, then I’m open for suggestion.
Kel Munger
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
Tim, I like the pic too (speaking as someone with a lot of Scots ancestry).
Of course, a “sword dance” usually used real swords, didn’t it? They were tough, those Scots.
An Aesthete's Lament
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
It seems a simple issue: She didn’t fulfill her duties. Until another reasons comes up, what’s the problem? She was chosen, she was given a list of responsibilities, she had difficulty performing them, and she was dismissed. End of story.
gary
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
So! PLAID, now is it?!?
Robert
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
Carrie was fired for not playing by the rules. She didn’t fulfill here scheduled obligations as miss California, she chose to do other appearances without approval, and she lied about having posed partially nude. And as of today, even more photos have been released showing her posing topless. She may be beautiful, but she has an obvious superiority complex. Her short reign has proven she doesn’t take direction, won’t be managed, and in the long run, wants to be a renegade. That’s hardly the behavior that a Miss Claifornia or a Miss America should be exhibiting. And she pissed of Donald Trump, which is not really that easy.
The Lauderdale
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
WOW!…the new picture *does* make me happy. I’m just sad that my own clan didn’t get a tartan till the ’60s.
Richard W. Fitch
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
With all due respect to those who attempt to be “PC”, the original photo of the Maori war dance was much more in keeping with the remarks of Maggie than a Scotsman doing his ceremonial fling. …….but then you can’t please all the people all the time. …
Benjamin
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
Talk about extreme! If you study the principles of Taoism you will learn that in the Yin Yang sign of balance are the outer edges of being extreme or out of balance. The political correctness has become extreme and out of balance. It’s true that Native Americans had traditional war dances and so did (do) the Native Pacific Islanders. You were simply pointing out a fact. If people get offended that’s their problem because they themselves are extreme. History is history and facts are facts. My native Cherokee and Osage tribal ancestry had war dances and I am not embarrassed or ashamed to admit this historical fact.
Benjamin
June 11th, 2009 | LINK
I so like the second picture the best though. :)
Timothy (TRiG)
June 12th, 2009 | LINK
Oh, let’s have both pictures. Why not?
TRiG.
Regan DuCasse
June 12th, 2009 | LINK
In what way could anyone gay ‘punish’ Ms. Prejean?
In what way did they EVER? Apparently, however obnoxiously Perez Hilton spoke of her, as well as a FEW other members of the gay media: THEY did not punish her.
Nor did they have the power. I haven’t seen any inclination to either.
Ms. Prejean and NOM pretty much sealed her fate.
It’s simply easier to “blame the gays”, regardless.
And I agree, for the most part the ‘face of the anti gay movement’ has been older, white and of religious ideology…even smugly ugly.
Mag Gallagher looks like a tank in bangs.
They exploited Ms. Prejean and didn’t consider what it would cost her.
So OVER these people!
octobercountry
June 12th, 2009 | LINK
I commented upon this on another board, but this story is simply ridiculous. NOM is holding up Prejean as a shining example of morality to be praised. Um, isn’t this the woman who posed for nude photographs and then lied about it? How on earth does this fit in with the ideals of NOM? It’s illogical—insane, really.
Flying Spaghetti Mon
June 17th, 2009 | LINK
I think Old Maggie has a rather unwholesome obsession with the comely Miss Opposite Breasts. If she likes her so much, why doesn’t she marry her… oh, riiiight. Never mind.
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