Ex-Gay Leader Sentenced For Criminal Sexual Assault of Male Clients
Andrew Comiskey Doesn't Believe In Apologies
Murkowski makes three
Massachusetts GOP Senate Candidate goes to Pride
The Daily Agenda for Wednesday, June 19
Another Exodus Conference Is Upon Us. Let's Review.
For Our Opponents: Talking to Your Kids About Same-Sex Marriage
The Daily Agenda for Tuesday, June 18
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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After more than a decade of speculation, Ricky Martin finally announced that his is “a fortunate homosexual man.”
Pomo
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
I was in the closet when he was popular so I didn’t think much about this but I never assumed that he was or wasn’t. At any rate, good for him!
Priya Lynn
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
Since when do young whippersnappers right memoirs? Memoirs are something people in their 60′s or later do.
Priya Lynn
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
Ooops, that should be write, not right – brain fart.
Leonardo Ricardo
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
I´ve lived in Puerto Rico on and off for over twenty years…Ricky Martin has always been at Notable Citizen and I find that now he enhances that standing in the community even more by being open and self-honest and more honorable. Far reaching pueblos, often not so Gay Friendly, throughout Latin America will hear the good NEWS regarding another successful fellow spirit/traveler who no longer will accept the burden of unnecessary and unjustified shame and guilt. Heads up WORLD!
Tommy
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
I was in highschool when he hit it big, and I had the most obsessive crush on him.
Soren456
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
Wow! Who ever saw this coming?
AbsoluteTom
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
Next Headline – EARTH IS ROUND ???
Emily K
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
This is me being surprised. -_-
Cole
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
Great for Ricky! Former Menuedos member Angelo Gracias ia also gay.
anteros
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
ignoring the lyrics, i always thought livin’ la vida loca was his coming out song. lol.
very brave of him… i’m glad he came out… gracefully… and in his own time. sounds like it’s been a very positive thing for him.
i wish him peace, happiness and millions of new fans.
Eddie89
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
Congratulations Ricky Martin!
Glad to have you as an out and proud member of our community!
andrew
March 29th, 2010 | LINK
This is a man coming out in a Latino culture — I’m sure not easy. Not being Latino myself, I wonder what effect this has culturally in that region, and on Latin culture generally?
Eddie89
March 30th, 2010 | LINK
As a Hispanic myself, this is extremely huge news not just for the gay community in general, but for the entire Hispanic community as well.
Being gay or even perceived as gay is still extremely looked down upon from a societal stand point and religious.
So, considering that Ricky Martin has risked alienating his fan base, his Hispanic community and his religion (I’m not sure how or if Ricky Martin is religious) this is certainly a big, bold step!
One thing is certain, that if I was a young, gay Hispanic teen today, knowing that Ricky Martin is an out, gay man, would certainly give me more strength and courage to accept myself as gay too.
Richard W. Fitch
March 30th, 2010 | LINK
Perhaps we are on the brink of a celeb’s sexuality being a non-issue. Wouldn’t that be tremendous!!
Mortanius
March 30th, 2010 | LINK
It’s amazing how many Celebs “come out” years after their peak while pretending to be Straight or at best ambiguous. Just goes to show you, people will sell themselves out for money and fame and hide who they are. Nonetheless, thanks for finally coming out and encouraging others who are celebs to stay in the closet till they’re done. /yawn, the sun coming up this morning was more breaking news.
Priya Lynn
March 30th, 2010 | LINK
Mortanius said “It’s amazing how many Celebs “come out” years after their peak while pretending to be Straight or at best ambiguous. Just goes to show you, people will sell themselves out for money and fame and hide who they are.”.
Lots of people who aren’t rich or famous stay in the closet until later in life. Ricky may have done so for the same reasons those people do rather than because he was selling out for money and fame – we just don’t know.
Tommy
March 30th, 2010 | LINK
Wow, what an American/English speaking centric view you have Mortanius. What can’t be made a little better with ethnocentrism?
Ricky Martin may not be a major star in the English speaking portions of America, but his popularity in Latin America hasn’t waned at all.
Swampfox
March 30th, 2010 | LINK
Social pressure still is still so severe is that we are sometimes forced to deny while others continue to speculate. I can only pray that this brings some inner peace to him.
Regan DuCasse
March 30th, 2010 | LINK
I can’t argue with any of the posts, especially since I am lacking experience with such social pressures a gay person, especially a gay person who got famous as a teen.
I do have a very good friend, a former child actor, who was outed while he was in his 20′s and I know what trauma that caused him.
But one thing is a fact: Ricky is f**king HOT!
He’s all kinds of gorgeous. What’s not to love? He’s avoided the many tiresome scandals we’ve heard regarding OTHER celebrities, or celeb wannabes.
Which says a lot about him being a classy person.
And I’ve seen pics of his twins, he is blessed to have such beautiful babies!
I simply wish them all continued health, wealth and the blessings that love bring.
Jason D
March 30th, 2010 | LINK
Priya has a very good point. For my own example, it took until I was 22, my entire college career for me to finally come Out just to myself.
The assumption is that Ricky knew the past 10 years, when it’s possible he may not have been that self-aware. I can remember all the tortured explanations I had for myself, my attractions, my lack of interest in women, etc.
And I was a theatre major surrounded by gay men in a supportive environment. I can imagine if I were in Ricky’s shoes how much harder it would’ve been to just be honest with myself, let alone anyone else.
Andrew
March 30th, 2010 | LINK
I agree with the comments on Ethnocentrism & the burden of coming out. I have seen so many stars struggle with this over the years, & can only imagine that the journey is even harder if you are being defined by millions of people daily. And yes, being a star in the USA is only a prerequesite for being a star in the USA. How many stars have lived childishly stunted because of their closeted experience? & how many have reached a trajic end without experiencing the power & maturity that comes with cominng out.
Burr
March 30th, 2010 | LINK
As far as difficulties in the Latino community, it probably depends. Speaking for myself as a Latino, I’ve had ZERO problems with my immediate and extended family, and from what I can tell it’s not really a big deal at all in Argentina. I’m sure the story is vastly different from country to country. We really aren’t all that alike aside from language (sometimes not even that!) and some shared history..
paul j stein
March 31st, 2010 | LINK
It is not like it was a secret, he just didn’t talk about it or address it. You Go GUY!
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