Box Turtle Bulletin

Box Turtle BulletinNews, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric
“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
This article can be found at:
Latest Posts

The "Biblical" Worldwide Anglican Communion

Namibia Political Parties Hesitantly Supportive

Purdue Professor Spews "An Economic Case Against Homosexuality"

Australian Senate Refuses to Oppose Uganda's "Kill Gays" Bill

My Prayer

Linda Harvey Fears Tolerance

Uganda Women's Group: "Kill the Gays"

Referendum 71 Update - 11/5

Featured Reports

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

Daniel FettyThe 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.

Three Pro-Gay Groups Seek To Elbow Their Way Into Prop 8 Lawsuit

Jim Burroway

July 8th, 2009

My first reaction on learning that Attorneys Theodore Olson and David Boies were filing a lawsuit in federal court to challenge the constitutionality of Prop 8, I was cool to the idea. But now with two other lawsuits from Massachusetts which are also challenging the Defense of Marriage Act, as well as the frustrations many of us are feeling over the distinctly unfierce advocacy taking place in Washington, I’ve changed my mind. I’m glad that Olson and Boies are going forward.

That said, I have to wonder what’s going on with three pro-gay groups who have petitioned the court to be admitted as parties to the case. The three groups — American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights — have asked the judge to allow them represent three gay community groups in the lawsuit seeking to overturn Proposition 8.

These same groups were among the eight who immediately opposed the lawsuit when it was first announced. Last week, they reversed their position and filed amicus briefs in support of the plaintiffs, which is, I think, a very positive move. They seem to have warmed to the idea, much as I have.

But now all of the sudden they want to become parties of the lawsuit itself, even though they wanted nothing to do with the move in the beginning. Olson and Boies oppose their petition, saying that involving more groups would delay and unnecessarily complicate the proceedings. I agree. It worries me that one of the more important LGBT cases making its way in the federal courts could wind up having four different captains trying to pilot the ship. That alone should worry us.

But there’s something else that’s troubling. Kristin Perry, Sandra Stier, Paul Katami, and Jeffrey Zarrillo are the four Californians named as plaintiffs in the suit. They have the grievance, they’ve selected their lawyers, and they are ready to go to court to have their rights upheld. That’s what plaintiffs do in lawsuits. And so it seems to me that those four plaintiffs should have a right to have their case argued on their behalf by lawyers of their own choosing. They shouldn’t have to contend with three other outside groups with differing agendas who think they know better on how to try the case — especially when their first stab at knowing better was to publicly denounce the lawsuit to begin with.

Comments

POST COMMENT | COMMENT RSS 2.0 | TRACKBACK URL

Prop 8 Case Update: LGBT Groups Seek to Intervene « Law Dork, 2.0
July 8th, 2009 | LINK

[...] Burroway criticized Lambda, the ACLU and NCLR for “Seek[ing] To Elbow Their Way Into Prop 8 [...]

mgh
July 8th, 2009 | LINK

seriously, that’s the best you can do in terms of a response?

have you looked at their papers? these groups are not unequivocally in support of this case.

they’re trying to maximize the chances of success, and minimize the catastrophe that might occur if we lose.

they are actually beholden to the LGBT community — how is that a bad thing, again?

John
July 8th, 2009 | LINK

If you think this suit is about the individual clients, have I got a Governor hiking in Appalachia for you…

Unfortunately, your theory of litigation is contradicted by the very idea that the federal rules of civil procedure allow for intervenors.
The whole point of intervenor status is when some parties have interests that may be different than that of the individual plaintiffs. If the plaintiffs were seeking relief that would only affect them, that would be one thing. But here, 4 plaintiffs have chosen to sue in a case that adjudicates the rights of all LGBT Californians, and could possibly shape the rights of all LGBT Americans.
Notably, if 4 other plaintiffs wanted to sue with Lambda, for example, as their lawyers, that case would be consolidated with this one.

The groups seeking to intervene have actual litigation experience on gay rights issues, as opposed to Boies and Olson, who did not even have views on these issues.

Lindoro Almaviva
July 8th, 2009 | LINK

These 3 groups were the first ones to throw stones when the lawsuits were announced because the plaintiffs and the lawyers failed to ask for their permission. Furthermore, they criticized the move as if to say that they were the only ones who knew, and had a copyright on when should this type of action should be started.

Now they want to jump in the bandwagon mostly for 2-3 reasons:

1. Their failure to bring out any real change, and their failure to be a true voice for gay people in the administration.

2. The perception by the LGBT community that they are no longer working for the community but for their own welfare.

In summary, the perception among the LGBT community that these organizations have become part of the establishment and thus no longer effective. When your constituents believe that you have gone to bed with the ones you are supposed to be watching, your ability to be effective is greatly challenged.

I see their move as a political move, as an attempt to regain respectability in the LGBT community and more importantly to regain currency in the community.

I told the HRC I was not going to give them money when they called me 2 weeks ago and specifically mentioned their actions in the past 3 months as the reason why i was not renewing my membership. Surely i am not the only one here.

K in VA
July 9th, 2009 | LINK

The GLAD case in Massachusetts, plus the case the state filed yesterday, have a far, far greater chance of success, thereby taking a step forward toward full equality later. These are smartly conceived, surgically targetted cases that could begin the process of dismantling DOMA.

The Olson-Boies case (because — let’s face it — the case is really about two prominent lawyers more than their clients) could, I’ll agree, be a huge victory. But, given the conservative Federal courts today and for years to come, the case is likely to go down. Olson and Boies will still be wealthy, hot-shot lawyers if that happens. But our cause will have been set back for years to come (and I’m not just talking about marriage: if they lose, adoption and foster parenting will probably lose as well, and so will general momentum toward other rights).

The three smart groups wanted a larger role in California because they hoped to focus the case on potentially winnable issues and downplay the big losers. They’re right.

Bill in IL
July 9th, 2009 | LINK

Lindoro -

You seem to be conflating HRC (who I agree, are highly ineffective) and these three legal groups who, along with GLAD, are responsible for almost all the legal progress LGBT folk have made recently.

I just think that it’s the height of arrogance for two straight guys who are gambling with the future of all LGBT folk to tell our legal groups that they don’t want our help. Really?

If the groups don’t get let in, and Olson/Boies lose, THEIR marriage licenses should be revoked.

Pender
July 9th, 2009 | LINK

But there’s something else that’s troubling. Kristin Perry, Sandra Stier, Paul Katami, and Jeffrey Zarrillo are the four Californians named as plaintiffs in the suit. They have the grievance, they’ve selected their lawyers, and they are ready to go to court to have their rights upheld. That’s what plaintiffs do in lawsuits. And so it seems to me that those four plaintiffs should have a right to have their case argued on their behalf by lawyers of their own choosing.

But this isn’t really a case or controversy between two private parties. It’s impact litigation, intended to change the law across the nation, and the adversarial process is kind of an odd system for impact litigation. Intervention rules and amicus briefs are designed to address that weakness.

But I’m glad to see you’ve come around to supporting this lawsuit.

Lindoro Almaviva
July 9th, 2009 | LINK

Bill:

What does that mean? Why can’t a straight person litigate a case for a gay person? Since when are black lawyers doing black cases and Hispanic lawyers doing immigration cases?

Sorry, but I have to disagree with your view there.

A Stitch in Haste
July 9th, 2009 | LINK

[...] Box Turtle Bulletin: But now all of the sudden they want to become parties of the lawsuit itself, even though they wanted nothing to do with the move in the beginning. Olsen and Boise [sic] oppose their petition, saying that involving more groups would delay and unnecessarily complicate the proceedings. I agree. It worries me that one of the more important LGBT cases making its way in the federal courts could wind up having four different captains trying to pilot the ship. That alone should worry us. [...]

Jim
July 9th, 2009 | LINK

Lindoro Almaviva, these 3 groups are the ones who won marriage in California and Iowa and who are responsible for every other major victory our community has ever had in the courts. They have brought about “real change” for decades. I think you have a legitimate beef with HRC and those types of lobbying groups, but the legal groups are completely different. We should be welcoming them. It’s great to have Ted Olson as the front man, but this case is really high stakes and very risky for everyone in our community. I for one am happy to have people who have done all the previous marriage cases involved.

Priya Lynn
July 9th, 2009 | LINK

That Boies and Olson don’t want these successful groups involved further suggests to me that they’re in this to lose and set back the equal marriage cause as far as possible.

Jason D
July 9th, 2009 | LINK

I’m glad they don’t want their help. Those 3 were quick to attack the case, and provide no reasoning why they have changed their mind — other than to piggyback on the success and say “see, we did that, too.”

I’m all for them trying to provide support and help, but to try to insert themselves into the case they originally opposed (the case hasn’t changed, btw) is pure coat-tail riding. Seems they don’t want to be shown up by 2 straight men.

Priya Lynn
July 9th, 2009 | LINK

I’m glad they don’t want their help. Those 3 were quick to attack the case, and provide no reasoning why they have changed their mind — other than to piggyback on the success and say “see, we did that, too.”

This is a long way from a success at this point. If they were sincere about wanting to win they’d take all the support they could get.

Kevin Kaatz
July 10th, 2009 | LINK

I’m not sure why it matters who joins the case and when. What matters is that we win, or at least have a good chance at winning. Attacking these three groups because they ’saw the light’ a bit later doesn’t make any sense–nor is it going to help the cause.

Prop 8 Case Update: LGBT Groups Seek to Intervene
July 12th, 2009 | LINK

[...] Burroway criticizes Lambda, the ACLU and NCLR for “Seek[ing] To Elbow Their Way Into Prop 8 Lawsuit.”] AKPC_IDS [...]

Leave A Comment

All comments reflect the opinions of commenters only. They are not necessarily those of anyone associated with Box Turtle Bulletin. Comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

(Required)
(Required, never shared)

PLEASE NOTE: All comments are subject to our Comments Policy.