House of Commons officially passes marriage equality
British Commons Approves Marriage Equality Bill
Email address of Attorney General prosecuting 18 year old Florida lesbian
Gay Man's Murder Sparks Massive Rally
The Daily Agenda for Tuesday, May 21
Connecticut Scouts simply announce that they are accepting gay scout leaders
Church of Scotland allows ministers in relationship
Last Minute Bid to Sink Marriage Bill Fails in British Commons
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.
Mortanius
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
I’m sure it is God’s way of telling them they aren’t anti-gay enough and should step it up some. LOL.
Priya Lynn
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
I recognize the YMCA picture but what does the other picture spell?
Its hilarious that church members think this is a sign from god and they’re totally baffled by what god is saying.
John
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
God was apparently now amused and called a major foul on this play…
This is hilarious, I never heard of this status before! Pity I won’t be able to see it ever now unless they decide to set up another one. YMCA fans everywhere are keeping the hope alive…
Paul in Canada
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
It’s a sign, all right. But not from God. It’s a sign that the engineer forgot to build in a lighting rod given it’s exposure, height and dimensions in a flat, exposed area.
Silly, superstitious folk.
Craig L. Adams
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Now, now. Just because Touchdown Jesus caught on fire by an “act of God” does not mean that widespread acceptance of gay marriage is just around the corner. You need to contain your excitement. (But, it sure is funny.)
Jim Burroway
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
The other picture spells “O-H-I-O”. Jesus has his legs spread apart Egyptian-style under the pond to complete the “H”
Priya Lynn
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
I see, thanks Jim.
Timothy Kincaid
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
They don’t know the message? But it’s so clear.
It’s God’s condemnation of their ex-gay ministry and especially the part that Greg Quinlan played in establishing it.
Timothy Kincaid
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Jim,
There’s something odd about the second photo. Perhaps it’s the angle, but the depth and ratio seem off.
Swampfox
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
No message here, just lightning doing what it does. How many times in one year does lightning hit the top of the Empire State Building?……….over 100 times per year.
Daimeon
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Is it just me or does the fire look like some sort of bird swooping down?
Priya Lynn
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
If you were going to believe this was a message from god the only conclusion you could logically come to is that god is saying don’t worship Jesus, that’s a false god.
David Foreman
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
A friend of mine recently wrote an article against the idea that Katrina was an act of God’s punishment. (He was there when it happened.)
I would equally disavow any idea that this statue destruction was an “act of God.”
I’m not saying that God is totally “hands-off.” I don’t believe that for a second. He’s alive and well and lives in and through us.
BUT, and this is something many of my fellow believers can’t seem to get into their collective heads, sometimes, shit happens.
(By the way, that article is at:
http://www.ptm.org/10PT/summer/katrinaWrath.pdf)
Jim in MA
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Actually, I would say God is striking down the worship of idols. Worshipping a cross or a crucufix is idolatry. Worshipping any man-made effigy of God is basically idolatry, according to the bible.
I’m surprised the huge 20-foot solid-gold statue of an angel on the Mormon temple in Arlington, MA hasn’t been struck down yet. All that super-conductive gold hundreds of feet above everything else around it has to be a big lightning attractor!
Priya Lynn
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Jim, the mormon angel hasn’t been struck down because mormonism is the one true faith.
Timothy Kincaid
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Thanks, Priya Lynn,
that got an out-loud laugh from me
Jim Burroway
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Timothy,
The picture was probably taken from across the freeway using a telephoto lens with the camera held low to the ground. It’s an artistic trick photographers often use when they want to compress the depth of field.
Priya — Does mormonism being a lightningrod have anything to do with being the one true faith?
beachewtoy75
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
One thing that hasn’t been brought up yet…
Who the hell makes a statue that can catch on fire?!
Priya Lynn
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Jim said “Priya — Does mormonism being a lightningrod have anything to do with being the one true faith?”.
That’s it! Mormonism is a lightning rod because its the one true faith! I see it so clearly now…
David Foreman
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
The link I provided above didn’t seem to work so:
http://www.ptm.org/10PT/summer/katrinaWrath.pdf
beachewtoy75: Good observation!
cowboy
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Oh….the newest Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City had its encounter with lightning.
http://Www.ksl.com/?sid=6819386&nid=148
it turned the Angel Moroni face black. Was that a message from G.d too? It did not change a thing dogma-wise but we certainly got a chuckle out of it.
Priya Lynn
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
What?! A mormon temple got hit by lightning?! I’m so confused…
Candace
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Apparently God isn’t sure if he approves of Mormons or not, because only half of the statue turned black.
Then again, maybe because the angel was made of METAL, instead of, oh –say, STYROFOAM, it’s a little more resilient to divine wrath.
http://heraldextra.com/news/state-and-regional/image_f62d34ca-3803-5f3e-9f9e-087d91e0e367.html
Candace
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
LOL Ms. Betty Bowers (America’s Best Christian) gives her take on the incident:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/Mrs-Betty-Bowers-Americas-Best-Christian/312383761871
Candace
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
I hate Facebook… apparently one can’t link directly to a page clicked on. Well, the link to the article is on the page. It’s snarky, enjoy.
cowboy
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
And as a point of clarification about something someone typed above. They are not solid gold (the statues of Angel Moronis on top of Mormon Temples). Even the Mormons are not THAT rich.
The one statue on the Oquirrh Temple in Salt Lake Valley was not properly grounded. (or so the claim.). They had a replacement statue in storage to use. Besides, the spires are natural lightning rods.
I’m just surprised the Mormon G.d doesn’t strike/smite me whenever I cross over onto Temple Square when I take a jaunt downtown here. I’m a heritic because I read BTB.
cowboy
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Heretic. I swear my iPhone changed what I typed to heritic.
Scott P.
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
What the hell does the LDS Church need with ANOTHER temple in the Salt Lake Valley?
But the image of Moroni, zapped and blackened, brought me a chuckle.
cowboy
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
Mr. P,
There are 4 temples now in the valley. Mother Ship downtown. Jordan River. Draper. Oquirrh.
If anything… I would have thought the earthquake in So. California recently was a warning from G.d.
Candace
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
There’s a Mormon Temple about 2 blocks from my house… will have to go over there and see if there’s an angel on the top……..
Erik
June 15th, 2010 | LINK
“It’s a sign from God that we need to learn something as Christians as whole that we’re not doing something right.” Another agreed: “It scares me, like, it really does. I just think about what that symbolizes and to me that’s a sign, and not a good one.”
Let me get this right. God crucified his son and that’s something to be celebrated, but by destroying a statue of his son, he thought he’d send an ominous, cryptic message.
Better watch out, the Village People will be next.
Mark F.
June 16th, 2010 | LINK
Well, an all powerful God could have stopped this lightning strike, so this must mean something.
Erik
June 16th, 2010 | LINK
Give God a break. He (or she, if you prefer) has been trying to cap an oil spill. Maybe God’s just practicing removing things from water and going from what he already knows.
Bill S
June 16th, 2010 | LINK
I don’t think it’s got anything to do with idol worship. I think God simply found the statue to be an ugly, tacky eyesore.
I certainly did.
Matt
June 16th, 2010 | LINK
I used to live in Dayton and would throw up a little in my mouth whenever I drove by that eyesore. Good riddance.
It originally cost a quarter of a million to build (I wonder what their charitable budget is in contrast?), and the church has stated that they do plan to rebuild it. Clearly that church has their priorities in order…
Richard Rush
June 16th, 2010 | LINK
And God saw that statue his fervent admirers made in 2004, and behold, it was not very good. So He burned it in 2010. Or did He?
Seeing as how God likes to be vigorously praised a lot, maybe he was fond of the statue. After all, God is not really known for having good taste – what with His being satisfied with slavery and designing lions to eat zebras, for examples. So, instead of the fire being an act of God, maybe it was an accident or an act of Satan, in which case, why didn’t God prevent it? Was God not powerful enough? If so, then he’s not a god.
Or does God just not care? Maybe God views all that vigorous praising of Him as excessive ass-kissing. In that case it may be a sign that He’s not interested in being a nitpicking busybody about human behaviour here on earth. And that would mean the Super Christians are wrong about the nature of God.
The Super Christians really need to be careful how they explain the fire, since that will explain a lot about the nature of their God.
Jason D
June 16th, 2010 | LINK
it’s a sign that your statue should be made of something less flammable such as stone or metal.
The Lauderdale
June 17th, 2010 | LINK
Maybe God just doesn’t like kitsch.
God: [looks down] What the – oh hell no! [zap]
ijboiubhopiuboi ;ojn
June 19th, 2010 | LINK
THIS WAS NOT AN ACT OF GOD. THERE IS NO GOD, AND FOR THAT FACT THERE WAS NO LIGHTNING ROD THAT’S WHY IT BURNED DOWN. IT’S A 62 FOOT TALL STATUE WTF DID THEY THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN??!!??
AND MORMONISM IS A FREAK’N CULT!!!!!
Priya Lynn
June 19th, 2010 | LINK
No, ijboiubhopiuboi;ojn, mormonism is the one true faith, didn’t you hear? The solid gold mormon statue hasn’t been hit by lightning!
Julianto Pandin
December 10th, 2010 | LINK
Wow!!
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