BBC Gets It Wrong -- Again! -- On the Anti-Homosexuality Bill
St. Petersburg Russia Approves Second Reading of "Ban-The-Gay" Bill
Rick Rolls Romney
The Daily Agenda for Wednesday, February 8
They've Always Held That View?
Email of the Day
Presidential Candidates React
NH Repubs have an excuse
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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Swampfox
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
Well, at least Reker’s story might get Governor Sanford’s story off the front page of South Carolina’s biggest newspaper, The State, for awhile. All I ask, what kind of scandal will hit South Carolina next?
Maurice Lacunza
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
How timely that the hat tipper made a screen shot. It shows the true nature of bigotry. It also makes you question the integrity of U of South Carolina. Is this another front of Pat Robertson or James Dobson? Is it a real university? Why scrub the website? What is there to hide?
Maurice Lacunza
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
Maybe Oral Roberts established U of SC. It makes sense, really; oral, Oral. See?
Johnson
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
He is now officially a “Non Person” in the world of Xtianists. Just like in Stalinist Russia–Neat!
Maurice Lacunza
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
I copied this from the Miami RipTide 2.0 article about Lucien’s disclosure.
Daniel says:
Where did George Rekers adopt his son? If he did it if Florida he would have signed on a legal form that he is not a homosexual. If he signed and turns out he is a homosexual then he committed fraud. This needs to be investigated.
Posted On: Thursday, May. 6 2010 @ 1:09PM
Any BTB Readers out there that can check out the validity of this post?
Richard Rush
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
Wow, I must really be a degenerate. For the first time since the Rekers story broke, I actually felt a twinge of compassion for the man while reading this post. I know I was wrong but I just couldn’t help it.
This post drives home that his life really is in the process of being destroyed, and I know it deserves to be. His 13-page Curriculum Vitae is effectively superseded now.
I suppose he has one last opportunity to finally make a positive contribution to humanity by publicly refuting his life’s work. But I can’t think of any other vile anti-gay bigot who has done that after being brought down, so I’m not holding my breath.
Schlukitz
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
If anyone should be holding their breath, Richard, it should be Dr. Wrecker.
And holding it. And holding it. And holding it.
Oh well, you get the idea. ;P
Todd
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
University of South Carolina is a publicly funded school, is it not?
Thank you for asking them what’s up.
It will be interesting to discover the criteria it uses in maintaining or terminating employment or other levels of affiliation.
It would also be interesting to learn if there was discrimination based on a retired professor’s homosexuality, or on reports thereof.
Caseyvt
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
My dears, this is the link for the Florida Attorney General’s Office complaint webpage. A.G. Bill McCullum hired Rekers to say all kinds of hideous things about us in court as the state’s expert witness.
http://myfloridalegal.com/contact.nsf/contact?Open&Section=Attorney_General
I complained about Rekers’ solicitation of prostitution, and demanded that his now-fraudulent testimony be stricken from the record, and that the AG demand a return of the $87,000 the office paid this nutjob.
When it asks whom you are complaining about, here’s our boy:
George A. Rekers
17890 W Dixie Hwy, Apt 417
North Miami Beach, FL 33160-4825
John Champneys
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
I was first incredulous, and then disgusted, when I turned on BBC Radio 4 this morning to hear the story.
Good old Beeb for airing it in East Anglia! (England)
Maurice Lacunza
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
To Richard Bush:
I agree with your sentiment..you wouldn’t be human if you were devoid of some compassion. I channeled my compassion into two emails that were personal to George Reker. I encouraged him to have a talk with God and come clean to himself. I get where you are coming from. It doesn’t detract though from what is happening. Reker’s hypocrisy is the reason his life is shattering. We should all take a note from it and remember that life can humble you overnight. Nonetheless the Christians have a saying, “God will not be mocked.” Perhaps that is what is happening here. Pity.
Bruce
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
This guy spent his whole life “treating” homosexuals out of homosexuality. I guess his methods don’t work. LOL.
Rob Tisinai
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
I’m working hard to feel compassion for Rekers, too. It gets even harder when read about the kids he tried to keep a gay couple from adopting. It’s horrifying and heartbreaking.
http://wakingupnow.com/blog/the-evil-of-george-rekers
Maurice Lacunza
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
To CaseyVT. I pondered the idea of filing a complaint with the Florida AG and I concluded that indeed, it is a reasonable response to a public hypocrisy (especially when laws and lifes are so greatly affected.)
I followed your link and sent the following complaint. I post it here in case other persons want to copy and paste any or all of it.
COMPLAINT:
Sadly George Rekers publicly acknowledged that he hired a RentaBoy for lifting his luggage. This is a paid escort who has spoken to the press today and alleged that Rekers received sexual benefits in exhange for money. A reasonable person would conclude that Rekers has revealed his true identity as a homosexual.
Of note to the AG office is that Rekers gave sworn testimony against gay persons who desired to adopt children in the state of Florida. Did he not also adopt two children himself? Did he sign a statement claiming he was not a homosexual? This show of hypocrisy brings to question two issues: One, did he give a false statement when adopting children, and, Two, whether or not Rekers is a credible court witness. He clearly deceived the public regarding his sexual identity/behaviors. Did he also lie to the AG office in his sworn statements?
Today he has shifted his position regarding the RentaBoy three times. He said he was evangelizing the homosexual on a luxury trip to Europe. Then he said he didn’t know that the boy was a prostitute. Then he said that he interviewed many others for the job of lifting his luggage. Which is it?
Was his testimony to the State of Florida based on science or religion? If it was religious, then we should ask, Which Boy Would Jesus Rent? (WBWJR).
Further, he should return the 87,000 dollars that he was paid if it is determined that his testimony should be stricken.
Americans should not have to be lied to. His website, http://teensextoday.com/category/porn/, is filled with disinformation. He quotes Ted Bundy when he talks of the evils of pornography.
This man is not representing bonafide information to the fields of science, psychology, religion and neurology. I think that it is reasonable to request, respectfully, that his testimony be stricken from the court records and that he properly re-file any papers that deny his sexuality regarding his adoptions.
TheraP
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
If Reker has a psychology license, anyone in Fla should complain to the licensing board. He’s been misrepresenting himself, may be guilty of malpractice for claiming to bring about change (when he can’t change himself and there’s no research basis for such a therapy), and what if he’s used his clients (or former clients) as sexual partners, which is contrary to ethics, and perhaps illegal as well in Fla? All of this should be looked into by the Florida licensing board.
Go BTB!
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
Good for you. The University of South Carolina needs to explain its actions. Let’s keep the heat on here. He was reputable enough before, why not now?
jcrr
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
Compassion?? It’s called karma and it really is a bitch, ’cause you reap what you sow. This is a sick man who deserves endless shame, period.
Swampfox
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
The University of South Carolina openly employs gays and lesbians and I imagine that both medical universities in South Carolina, the one in Charleston and Columbia do the same. Rekers had been employed by the medical university in Columbia, the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
andrew
May 6th, 2010 | LINK
You know, it’s possible they pulled his CV because he’s been unmasked as a fraud and a liar. Moreover, they probably wanted to avoid the hits that would come from media and online scrutiny to his CV hosted on their servers.
Richard Rush
May 7th, 2010 | LINK
andrew, you may have misinterpreted my earlier comment as though I was saying his CV was pulled from the USC website. I don’t know if it was ever there. I had found it via Google on Rekers’ personal website (professorgeorge.com), but the next day it was gone. So I assume Rekers removed it himself. However, it is still available (today) in the form of google docs at the link I posted.
Sean Mac
May 7th, 2010 | LINK
As a graduate of the University of South Carolina, I very strongly defend my alma mater. USC is an intensely accepting and caring university, which welcomes a very broad range of students. It’s about as far from anti-gay as you can possibly imagine.
USC’s slogan is GO COCKS. The school licensed their brand to a gay-owned company called “Big Cocks Fan”. It’s not a crazy conservative atmosphere. It’s a work hard, play hard, be productive school.
Oral Roberts and Columbia International are the closed-minded universities in the region.
James
May 8th, 2010 | LINK
On the contrary, I do think the U. of South Carolina deserves some heat, but for a different reason.
They had no problem keeping Rekers around as a “Distinguished Professor of Neuropsychiatry” even though he peddles crackpot theories about changing sexual orientation. He’s a fraud who is using his position at the university to legitimize widely discredited practices. That university must hold its scientists to very low ethical standards.
That’s the real issue, not whether the administration is homophobic. (I doubt they are.)
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