Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“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…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyPosts for June, 2010
June 19th, 2010
The following is a reprint of an opinion editorial in the June 19, 2010 edition of the Arizona Daily Star. It reflects the views of the author and may not necessarily reflect those of other authors at Box Turtle Bulletin.
Jason Cianciotto and Major Alan G. Rogers at Jason's wedding on June 28, 2006
Maj. Alan Greg Rogers was killed by an improvised explosive device during his second tour of duty in Iraq on Jan. 27, 2008. I wish Yuma Mayor Al Krieger could have met Alan – his life and ultimate sacrifice exemplifies why Krieger owes gay and lesbian servicemembers far more than a faux apology for his recent statement about “limp-wristed” soldiers.
Over a decade earlier, Alan and I became friends while he was stationed at Fort Huachuca. His life was as complex as it was inspiring – he was adopted at 5 years old, an intelligence officer in the Army, an ordained Baptist minister, African American, and he also happened to be gay.
Alan loved serving his country, loved his Christian faith and was proudly gay. He not only refused to forsake any part of himself because of anti-gay discrimination, he gave his life for his country despite that discrimination.
After his burial in Arlington National Cemetery, The Washington Post published a story about Alan’s life, lauding him as a hero, the recipient of two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. However, many of us who knew Alan were struck by what wasn’t part of the story: the fact that he was openly gay and worked to overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Criticized for excluding such a significant part of Alan’s life, the Post admitted that “there was enough evidence – particularly of Rogers’s feelings about ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ – to warrant. . . . adding that dimension to the story of his life. The story would have been richer for it.”
In August 2008, that complete story was told by New Yorker magazine, in “A Soldier’s Legacy: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but Alan Rogers was a hero to everyone who knew him.” In the article, Alan’s friend Shay Hill shared that Alan believed “you don’t change the system by alienating those who are against you. You change the system by trying to convince those who are against you.”
Alan would have appreciated the opportunity to meet Krieger because he believed in creating change as an insider.
For example, as one of only 25 officers sent to Georgetown University in 2004 to earn a master’s degree in public policy, Alan analyzed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” for his thesis. He concluded that repeal “would yield higher readiness rates, save potential millions of dollars in investigations and discharge processing of gays and improve our overall national security posture.”
It was risky for Alan to write about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” while still enlisted, but he wanted to be a living example of why the military has more to gain than lose by welcoming gay soldiers.
He protected his 20 years of service by making personal sacrifices, including the ability to settle down with a partner while he was still enlisted. This was one of Alan’s goals when he retired, which he planned to do after returning from Iraq. He never had the chance.
In a letter Alan wrote to accompany his will, he concluded, “I know that I am going up yonder to be with my Lord. Please tell those who remain not to grieve too much but to have a big party and celebrate. . . . My only regret is that I have never found that special one to grow old with and watch the sunset with.”
It’s time to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” – for Alan and for the estimated 65,000 gay and lesbian soldiers who risk their lives for their country. If Krieger took the time to get to know even just a few of these heroes, I know he would agree.
For more information about Alan’s life, media coverage after his death, and a link to a PDF of his master’s thesis about “Don’t Ask, Don’t, Tell,” check out his biography page on Wikipedia.
June 19th, 2010
Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle is returning from a trip to China and Japan today. She has stated that she will make her decision as to whether to sign or veto her state’s civil unions bill after this trip.
If she is going to veto the bill, she needs to inform the legislature by June 22nd, just a few days from now.
June 18th, 2010
From Tulsa World
Champagne corks popped at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center on Thursday night after the City Council voted to add sexual orientation to Tulsa’s nondiscrimination policy.
Oklahomans for Equality members cheered and jeered at a rally as they watched councilors discuss the issue and their votes on a large-screen TV at the center.
“As a gay, black man in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it’s a monumental night,” said Tracy Allen, incoming volunteer coordinator at the center.
Yes. The Tulsa in Oklahoma. And the vote was 6 to 3.
Which means that it’s official. The Great American Culture War is over and we’ve won; now it’s all just a matter of time.
June 18th, 2010
In May, the police raided the offices of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) and arrested two staffers on “pornography” charges and for “undermining the authority of the President”. The raid and arrest appear to have stemmed from a letter sent to GALZ from former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown which was critical of President Mugabe’s campaign against the rights of gay and lesbian Zimbabweans. They were released on May 25, and have court dates in on June 30 and July 1.
One of the staffers, Ellen Chademana, had scheduled a trip to the United States prior to her arrest to take part in a training seminar. She was to leave today and return on June 28, in time for her trial.
But ZimOnline is reporting that the state has revoked the order of the court.
The state on Thursday barred a Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) staffer from travelling to the United States (US) after invoking a section of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (CPEA) to suspend an order granted by Harare Magistrate Don Ndirowei.
Lawyers for GALZ administrative assistant Ellen Chademana told ZimOnline on Friday that the state invoked Section 121 of the CPEA to suspend Ndirowei’s order granting temporary release of her passport and relaxation of reporting conditions to allow her to travel to the US for a six-day training course.
June 18th, 2010
Utah’s on quite a roll. (SL Tribune)
Summit County has snagged the No. 6 spot on a growing list of Utah cities and counties that protect gay and transgender residents from discrimination.
This week, the Summit County Council voted unanimously, with two members absent but supportive, to pass two ordinances that forbid housing and employment discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
June 18th, 2010
Godwin’s rule says “”As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.” Well, it appears that Godwin’s Law applies to political rhetoric offline as well.
Take for example this very creative take on history from Glen Urquhart, a Republican congressional candidate in Delaware. Mr. Urquhart appears to be explaining why it is that he supports a theocracy.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=0kh4xhem8tM%26%23038%3Bhl%3Den_US%26%23038%3Bfs%3D1%26%23038%3B%22%3E%3CUrquhart: Do you know where this phrase, “Separation of church and state” comes from? Anybody know?
Unidentified man: I do
I know. But I’m the history teacher.
It was a letter.
Urquhart: Actually, that’s exactly not in Jefferson’s letter to Dansbury Baptist. He was reassuring them that our government wouldn’t transform their religion.
The exact phrase, “Separation of Church and State” came out of Adolph Hitler’s mouth. That’s where it comes from.
Next time your liberal friends talk about the separation of church and state, ask them why they’re Nazis.
Perhaps Urquhart should have listened more closely to the history teacher and less to the AFA’s Bryan Fischer. On January 1, 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to Danbury Baptist Association in which he included the following now-famous phrase:
I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.
And I’m pretty sure that Thomas Jefferson was not a Nazi.
June 18th, 2010
Guest author Justin Lee is the Executive Director of the Gay Christian Network.
Regular readers of Box Turtle Bulletin already know what damage the Christian community has often done to LGBT people, whether it’s going to Uganda to preach anti-gay messages or putting on ex-gay conferences like Love Won Out that teach parents to push their kids to become straight.
The way some Christians talk, you’d think that Jesus was a card-carrying homophobe whose public ministry consisted of preaching against homosexuality and “healing” people of “homosexuality demons.”
None of this is true, of course. As depicted in the Bible, Jesus spent his public ministry preaching a message of love and forgiveness, meeting people’s needs without judging them. He was most heavily criticized for being so accepting of the outcasts of his day. He never spoke a word about homosexuality; instead, the only people he publicly criticized were the self-righteous religious leaders who excluded others while glorifying themselves. And even though some believe that a handful of Bible verses cast a negative light on gay relationships, many Christians believe those passages have been misinterpreted, and they certainly don’t justify the kind of obsession we see in some Christian circles.
Nevertheless, many in the LGBT community are willing to concede the entire Christian faith to the likes of Fred Phelps and his “God hates fags” clan. They insist that Christians are beyond redemption, and that the only step forward for the LGBT community is to somehow rid the world of Christianity altogether. (I wonder how they plan to accomplish that!)
Those of us at The Gay Christian Network think otherwise.
We know that there are many LGBT and affirming Christians in the world. We know that too often, we’ve allowed the anti-LGBT Christians to speak for our faith while we remain silent. Frankly, they’ve been better organized and more vocal. And we aren’t willing to put up with that anymore.
Starting this weekend, we’re working with affirming churches from across denominational lines to begin a series of mini-conferences called “Reclaiming Christianity” as a way to take a stand. The events will include training in how to respond to Bible bashing, screening of a pro-LGBT Christian film called Through My Eyes, and group discussion on practical steps to take to combat homophobia in churches and local communities. We’d love the help of BTB readers in getting the word out.
The kickoff event will be this Saturday, June 19, in Raleigh, NC. After that, events are scheduled in Indianapolis, Birmingham, Detroit, and Houston, with more to follow. The events are being sponsored by local LGBT-affirming churches in each of these cities, and organized by The Gay Christian Network, an interdenominational nonprofit organization serving LGBT and supportive Christians around the world.
The Reclaiming Christianity events are designed to counter anti-gay and ex-gay events with an affirming Christian message. It’s time for our side to get as organized as their side is, and stop letting the ones with the megaphones define Christianity.
If you’re interested, we’d love for you to be a part of what we’re doing. Details are on the conference website at ChristiansWhoLove.com.
In the meantime, I’m listening. What do you think affirming Christians need to do to counter the anti-LGBT messages? And will the secular LGBT community ever be willing to work with them to make change, or have they been permanently been written off?
June 17th, 2010
In a move which shocked absolutely no one, the Southern Baptist Church took yet another vote to make sure that everyone is absolutely clear that they don’t like gay people. They don’t like them in the church, they don’t like them getting married, and they don’t like them serving in the military.
In a long-winded declaration which decried “Normalizing the open presence of homosexuals in the armed forces” repeatedly, over and over, ad nauseum, the Southern Baptist Church declared:
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 15-16, 2010, affirm the Bible’s declaration that homosexual behavior is intrinsically disordered and sinful, and we also affirm the Bible’s promise of forgiveness, change, and eternal life to all sinners (including those engaged in homosexual sin) who repent of sin and trust in the saving power of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we oppose changing current law to normalize the open presence of homosexuals in the armed forces, and insist on keeping the finding of Congress that sustains current law, which states that even “the presence in the armed forces” of persons demonstrating “a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts” creates “an unacceptable risk to . . . the essence of military capability”;
Praise Jesus, feel the love. We can be “forgiven”, but not “normalized”. And all that normalization would “destroy the finest fighting force the world has ever known.”
Of course this is all out of love. And the Southern Baptists, they don’t hate us, nosiree.
Well I have a question for Dr. Land and his merry band of Baptists: if you love us so much, if your policy positions are not based on hate, then why is it that there is not one single, solitary, stand alone, sitting out there, mild little instance – not one – in which you haven’t taken the position which is most harmful to the lives, liberties, freedoms, and happiness of gay people?
Ever?
June 17th, 2010
The very clear, not at all contradictory, easy as pie, self-explanatory, slap-happy purpose of marriage as laid out by Proposition 8 defender Chuck Cooper:
* the central purpose of marriage in virtually all societies and at all times has been to channel potentially procreative sexual relationships into enduring stable unions to increase the likelihood that any offspring will be raised by the man and woman who brought them into the world.
* the purpose of marriage is to provide society’s approval to that sexual relationship and to the actual production of children.
* the purpose of marriage, as Justice Stevens says, is to license cohabitation and produce legitimate children. That was the purpose of it.
* this fundamental historic purpose and who present, most importantly, uniquely, the threat to the society’s interests that marriage is designed to minimize, the threat of irresponsible procreation, the threat — the reality that when procreative sexual relationships between men and women are not channeled into marriage and these stable unions with these binding vows, then much more frequently the society has to — has to itself cope with the adverse social ramifications and consequences of that kind of irresponsible procreation
* but for reasons that we discussed earlier with respect to the opposite sex but infertile couple, allowing them to marry isn’t something that is inconsistent with the purposes of — the core procreative purposes of marriage and, in fact, in certain respects it advances those purposes and it would just not be possible or realistic, as case after case has said, for the state to try to implement its policy on a more narrow or fitted basis.
* There is a distinction, however, with respect to the fundamental procreative purpose, responsible procreative purpose of marriage; and that is that the gay couple, unlike the opposite-sex couple where one of the partners may be infertile, doesn’t represent — neither partner in the — with respect to the same-sex couple is — again, assuming homosexual sexual orientation — represents a concern about irresponsible procreation with a third party.
* The right to marry is bound up with and proceeds from the fundamental nature and its fundamental purpose relating to procreation and the existence and survival of — of the human race.
* we — as we attempt to step into the shoes of the state — don’t have to submit evidence to the Court in support of the claims of purpose and justification.
June 17th, 2010
Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for [gay-free] Marriage has posted her expectations based on the closing statement in Perry v. Schwarzenegger.
Chuck Cooper is a heckuva lawyer. At stake in this case is the future of marriage in all 50 states, and he’s right that this attempt to shut down the debate by constitutionalizing gay marriage will backfire. Americans have a right to vote for marriage. Ted Olson doesn’t seem to understand the argument, and judging from today’s exchanges neither does Judge Walker. I expect Judge Walker will overrule Prop 8. But millions of Americans do understand why marriage is the union of husband and wife and I believe the majority of the Supreme Court will as well.
I both agree and disagree.
Yes, Chuck Cooper is a heckova lawyer. In exactly the same way that Brownie did a heckova a job cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina. And I agree that after Cooper’s self-contradictory, confusing, and irrational argument in support of Proposition 8, no one understood his argument.
And while Maggie’s beliefs about what the Supreme Court will do have no greater validity than her beliefs about the definition of marriage (I have no presumption how they will decide), I do agree with her that it is likely that Judge Walker will find Proposition 8 to be in violation of the US Constitution.
June 17th, 2010
Ok, so long as you aren’t hurting me, I’ll let you come out at your own convenience. So I’ll not speculate about Queen Latifah’s sexual orientation. I’ll let her comments to Upscale Magazine speak for themselves.
Upscale: You’ve been asked so much about your sexuality. Wouldn’t it be easier at this point to just speak on it – once – and be done with it?
Queen Latifah: I don’t have to explain anything. I don’t have to confirm anything. Look, I need my time. I need my life.
and
Upscale: Do you feel like you’re understood by the people closest to you?
Queen Latifah: Absolutely. I don’t feel like I need to explain things to a perfect stranger. The people who matter know. And they love me for Dana [her real name]. I don’t have to tell Joe Blow. Joe, you worry about who YOU sleeping with.
Ok with me.
June 17th, 2010
The transcript of the closing arguments in Perry v. Schwarzenegger is now available. Please read them, you won’t regret the lost time. This is oratory at it’s best, advocacy at its most moral, and a complete and total exposure of the absolute lack of any reasonable basis for anti-marriage discrimination.
But just as an amusing side note, the formality of law does have its theater.
The same-sex couples who wished to marry in California after Proposition 8 passed sued Governor Schwarzenegger, Attorney-General Brown, and the county clerk in their official capacities. Here was the defense of the proposition on the part of Schwarzenegger and Brown:
THE COURT: Let me turn to counsel for the Governor and the Attorney General.
Ah, the governor’s counsel.MR. STROUD: Andy Stroud on behalf of the Governor, your Honor. The Governor waives his right to make closing argument and thanks your Honor for his time.
THE COURT: All right. I’m delighted that you are here.
(Laughter.)THE COURT: Yes.
MS. INAN: Michele Inan on behalf of the Attorney General. The Attorney General waives his time as well.
And that’s how you fulfill your obligation to defend the undefendable, not at all.
June 17th, 2010
From the New York Times interview with artist Eminem (Marshall Mathers) regarding his new album Recovery
You’ve been accused of writing gay-bashing lyrics in the past. Would you like to see gay marriage approved in Michigan, where you live?
I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want.
Which means that either the notion of equality for gay people has made its way into the “white trash” culture for which Eminem speaks, or Elton John’s habit of “building bridges, not fences” with notorious homophobes actually works.
June 17th, 2010
Lou Engle, who was recently revealed to be a behind-the-scenes supporter of Uganda’s proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill, will be speaking for the next three weeks at the Gateway House of Prayer in St. Louis. Engle will speak nightly between June 20 to July 12. Michael Brown will also be speaking as well.
Lou Engle on stage with other supporters of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill at a TheCall rally in Kampala (Michael Wilkerson / Religion Dispatches)
Last month, Engle conducted a TheCall Rally at the sports field of Kampala’s Makarere University. According to numerous reports, that event was a political rally calling for passage of the draconian legislation which imposes the death penalty under certain circumstances. It will also provide criminal penalties for family members who refuse to report gay people to police. Engle’s rally featured key bill supporters, including the bill’s sponsor MP David Bahati, Ethics and Integrity Minister James Nsaba Buturo, and Ugandan pastor Julius Oyet. Jeff Sharlet, author of The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power
The Gateway House of Prayer appears to be an outgrowth of the Kansas City-based International House of Prayer. Gateway House of Prayer is located on S. Lindbergh Blvd. in the western St. Louis suburb of Rock Hill.
June 16th, 2010
There have been a lot of talk about the so-called “post-gay” phenomenon. Andrew Sullivan has posted quite a few examples of it on his web site over the past few years. “Post-gay” describes a world in which gay, straight, bisexual, whatever have all achieved true equality and acceptance, to such an extent that maintaining a separate social structure remains moot. It’s John Lennon’s “Imagine” for sexual orientation, a world without fears, rejection, discrimination; no more sorrow and no more pain.
Post-gay is a world of complete assimilation, and this assimilation would happen not because people went back into the closet, but because the very concept of a closet no longer makes any sense. Nor would the idea of a gay club or a gay ghetto. It would come about when the culture war is over, with those who fought against LGBT equality having lost and those who fought for LGBT equality having been made irrelevant.
That’s what is meant by “post-gay.” It describes a world that is completely alien to those who oppose LGBT equality. In fact, it is their worst nightmare. Which is why it is beyond offensive to see Exodus International vice president and perennial culture warrior Randy Thomas to expropriate the term “post-gay” as a euphemism for “ex-gay”:
I contend (hat tip to Peter Ould) that people like us are on a Christian post-gay journey where the gay vs. ex-gay vs straight labels are no longer sufficient … or even appropriate … to describe who or what we are about.
What Thomas describes as a “Christian post-gay” journey is the complete negation of what post-gay is all about. If Thomas had bothered to really pay attention to the WBUR radio program on the subject that he linked to, he would see that.
To be truly post-gay, Thomas would have to believe not just that the labels no longer matter, but the meaning behind the labels no longer matter either. In other words, being gay is no longer an issue, but also that having a relationship with someone of the same sex is also no longer an issue. Obviously, that is a non-starter for him. Otherwise, he would no longer work for an organization that spends a million dollars a year convincing other people that being gay — or being in a same-sex relationship, if that is all he really cares about — is an issue. A big issue. An issue big enough to dedicate his life to making it an issue for everyone else everywhere he goes. From London to Mexicali and all points in-between.
If Exodus were post-gay, then that means that Exodus will meet next week at their annual conference to spend four days and nights talking about something that is no longer relevant. They will cap it off with a Love Won Out conference, again to talk about something that is no longer relevant. Exodus President Alan Chambers will be speaking for six nights at a church in Rio de Janero in July, presumably to talk about something that is no longer relevant.
Exodus is working on a post-gay journey? Tell that to the people who have been impacted by Exodus’ message of “truth and love” to the LGBT community. Tell that to the people of Uganda.
In fact, Thomas isn’t interested in a truly post-gay world, but a “Christian post-gay world,” which he admits in an earlier post is simply a euphemism for “ex-gay”:
Ex-gay is an identity label based in what we are not and I have never seen how that is supposed to be positive. The secular media likes it because it quickly pigeonholes a sound bite. I have reluctantly used it in the past, Exodus has reluctantly used it from time to time but I only know maybe 4 people who actually like using that term.
He doesn’t like “ex-gay”? Fine. But abusing the English language to confuse people into thinking that what you’re describing is the complete opposite of what they think you’re describing is fraud, pure and simple.
Thomas’ “ex-gay equals post-gay” charade is as disingenuous as PFOX’s “ex-gay discrimination” tirade, and equally as offensive. In today’s climate, Thomas is no more post-gay than I am. I look forward to the day when Box Turtle Bulletin becomes irrelevant. So does Thomas, I suspect. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that that day looks very, very, different to him than it does to those who truly envision a post-gay world.
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