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 lobbyJuly 17th, 2010
Today NOM’s Big Bus of Animus came to Albany, NY. And the rhetoric and spin from the National Organization for Marriage is reaching comical proportions.
NOM: “Local supporters were happy with the turnout, explaining that downtown Albany is a “ghost town” on weekends.”
More NOM: “We started off in Augusta with close to 200 people on Wednesday, had roughly 150-200 in Manchester on Thursday, and around 100 in Albany today.”
Courage Campaign: “It’s fair to say that Albany turned into yet another NOM FAIL, due to the beauty of creative counter-protest and the paltry NOM attendance (Danny hand-counted 57 attendees).”
Yes, it looks like NOM continues to have problems with simple mathematics. Or perhaps they suffer from Honesty Deficiency Syndrome.
In Albany, local supporters of equality came up with a very creative way of countering NOM’s message. Inspired by their warnings of gathering storms, the community showed up with colorful umbrellas and surrounded the rally.
And NOM & crew are not happy. NOM’s Louis Marinelli is getting increasingly bitter as each day goes by.
Today he continued his pattern of putting the names and pictures of gay people on his blogsite, this time a young activist named Danny. While this is a common tactic for the some of the crazier of the anti-gay loons, I’m not sure what Marinelli is hoping to accomplish. I guess he thinks that this is still 1972 and that gay people are living in the shadows hoping no one finds out that we are gay.
He also waved his martyr flag with a little story about how some woman wasn’t able to dictate to the “rude interlopers” where they should stand or which way they should face.
Poor NOM, things aren’t going so well for them in the North East. Tiny crowds, “rude interlopers”, and unflattering photos of NOM’s Brian Brown scowling, glaring, and snarling. We’ll see how things for for them tomorrow in Rhode Island.
UPDATE:
Marinelly has lost it. He’s really completely lost it.
He has now dedicated an entire blog post to the fact that some counter-protester brought his dogs. Seriously.
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Candace
July 17th, 2010
You’re not kidding that he’s lost it. His blog post was ane entire page of rants about absolutely nothing. Some protestor brought his dogs to the protest. SO???
I guess Mags was the only thing keeping this bunch from nose-diving into teh crazy.
ebohlman
July 18th, 2010
Marinelli’s post reminds me of Brian Camenker’s behavior regarding the Macy’s Pride Week display in Boston a few years back. Camenker actually went around doing bust measurements on store mannequins to support his claim that one of the mannequins in the display had overdeveloped breasts.
I think the technical term for this phenomenon is “perseveration” (which is something quite distinct from “perseverance”).
Those who read Respectful Insolence (and if you don’t, you really, really should) would recognize that Marinelli is giving Orac a run for his money in terms of the verbosity (but not substantiality) of his posts.
Lynn David
July 18th, 2010
Love the guy who suggested that those with a carry permit wear their gun to a NOM event. Certainly couldn’t be any worse than the guys who brought rifles to Obama rallies in ’08.
What the heck is hateful about bringing your dog to a couterprotes? Marinelli is clutching at straws hoping to make a point when he obviously isn’t doing so on the bus tour.
Timothy (TRiG)
July 18th, 2010
Did you see this comment from Fiona on the earlier post where he first mentioned the dogs?
TRiG.
Tony P
July 18th, 2010
T-3:18 for the Cavalcade of Bigotry to drag its slimy religious carcass into my city of Providence.
And to quote that old Jacksons song, I’ll be there.
Let Marinelli get in my face. He wants to take our pictures and put them on his blog, I can do the same thing only take pictures of the bigots and post them on my blog.
Richard Rush
July 18th, 2010
Wow, he’s bow-wow-phobic, too. Ooooh, Marinelli’s a real manly man.
John Doucette
July 18th, 2010
What kind of dogs were they? 15 pound terriers or 150 pound rotweilers? Either way, I’m sure they were really threatening dogs.
Richard Rush
July 18th, 2010
It’s no wonder NOM’s gig is failing. How many people would want to “pack up the babies and grab the old ladies” to attend Sister Hate’s Traveling Condemnation Show when they could hear Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show at a Neil Diamond concert? There’s even a shout-out to gay people about half way through.
VapoRob
July 18th, 2010
I wonder if he has ever complained about all the straight heterosexual rednecks who have been taking guns to rallies and letting them be seen. I mean wow, are those dogs actually barking or threatening any of the heterosexuals? Maybe we should all start wearing guns to counter protests. After all, it is our 2nd amendment right!
Piper
July 18th, 2010
The picture posted looked like the dog was an overweight black lab, looked like one of my friends dog’s not intimidating at all!
Mike
July 18th, 2010
A labrador is gathering. It’s fur is dark. It’s bark is strong. And I…am afraid.
Piper
July 18th, 2010
HAHA I love that!
Mark F.
July 18th, 2010
Well, lying is epidemic in all anti-gay groups, whether it’s NOM, Mormons or the Roman Catholic Church. Sad. I’d like to just say these people have dumb religious beliefs. But it is much worse than that.
Emily K
July 18th, 2010
1. The “man” he is referring to might actually be a lesbian, or a transgender person.
2. Any place where gays gather at Pride or at an event in a park, they’ll bring their dogs! I think much is the same about other human beings with canine companions. It’s a fun way to make your way through Pride – just try to visit all the friendly dogs that are out and about.
3. Those dogs look like such sweethearts! I’d pet them in a SECOND. I might even get in their faces and go “WHOOZAgooddog! WHOOZAgooddog!!”
4. Since I grew up with black labs in the family, I’d like to think I can spot a friendly one even in a photo.
Donnchadh
July 19th, 2010
What worries me is that gay marriage might come to be through the unpleasantness of its opponents rather than its merits. We need intelligent, sensible people with broad appeal arguing against it, and have it enacted by referendum. That will take away their last excuses.
Christopher
July 19th, 2010
Donnchadh, I agree that same-sex marriage should be legalized because of the sensible, coherent arguments in its favor, and I think those arguments, ultimately, will be the reason for recognition.
The unpleasantness of the opponents is, I think, directly caused by their lack of sensible arguments, and I believe their unpleasantness will cause people to view their position more critically.
TJMcFisty
July 19th, 2010
Exactly what I was thinking Emily, and of course, I’d bring my dogs, too. What dog owner wouldn’t? Is the protest outside? Are we just standing around–some shade? Absolutely!
They’re great for melting hearts as little poster carriers, too. Total no brainer.
Regan DuCasse
July 19th, 2010
Speaking of…I don’t want to generalize, but it’s no wonder that media networks like Here! and LOGO have pet adoption commercials like you wouldn’t believe. Every few minutes.
I’ve been sensing a seriously strong representation of animal owner/parents in the gay community.
Beautiful, well cared for happy dogs and cats.
The Labradors at this counter protest are obviously relaxed and docile.
Labs are exceptionally child friendly dogs.
And yeah. Marinelli’s complaint was weird, weird, weird.
Such a hissy fit over TWO dogs, that aren’t even barking.
The NOM reps are such wuss pussy lily livered poop pants.
Just like the reporting on the legal and city sanctioned anti Prop. 8 rallies were portrayed like a riot.
The presence of the Courage Campaign counter demonstrators with their color coded umbrellas and t shirts that read “Can You See My Love?”
NOM is seeing gestapos in jack boots.
Deluded AND cowardly. I mean…seriously…
Muscat
July 19th, 2010
Release the hounds!
Pender
July 20th, 2010
Here’s the comment I left him:
Penny Sautereau-Fife
July 20th, 2010
As the target of that blog about proving the harmless elderly labs belonged to a protester, I publicly embrace Louis declaring me “one of the most hateful members of the homosexual community I’ve ever come across”. HIS wording, not mine. Seriously, ew, bad mental picture.
Louis is actually our greatest ally whether he likes it or not. Commenters who in his older blogs had previously supported him read the comment of mine Louis screenshotted and posted comments expressing incredulity that he thought I was hateful. His condemnation of me actually cost him supporters!
So if he wants to pitch a tantrum and call me a hateful lesbian because I’ve repeatedly used fact and logic to provoke him into publicly displaying his hatemongering bigotry openly, I’ll wear that badge proudly.
If anyone is curious, and if the owners of BTB allow it, here is a link to my blog detailing the history between Louis and I that lead him to post the “SEE? The evil labs DO belong to the protesters!” blog that ended up shotting him in the foot.
http://trinityofhedon.blogspot.com/2010/07/nom-strategist-louis-j-marinelli.html
Thanks Louis! Keep up the bad work! You help gay equality more than anyone every time you open your mouth to shove your feet in it!
Penny Sautereau-Fife
July 20th, 2010
Shooting, not shotting. God my spelling goes to shite when I’ve gone two days on no sleep.
Timothy Kincaid
July 20th, 2010
Welcome, Most Hateful Lesbian (can I call you MHL for short?). Those who have not read the most hateful words ever posted to the internet my MHL, they can be found here.
As you can see, they are oh so very very hateful – much worse than the things Louis’ buddies say.
Penny Sautereau-Fife
July 20th, 2010
I think I shall have a teeshirt made, purple with big pink letters that reads “M.H.L.” and just let me wonder. You can call me MHL all you like. I’m proud that I piss Louis off so bad he ends up biting his own rear end.
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