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 lobbySeptember 21st, 2011
Just as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was about to be thrown onto the trash heap of history, we brought you the dramatic video a gay airman stationed in Germany as he came out to his father. In the weeks leading up to Tuesday, he had been posting videos on YouTube discussing his thoughts on coming out to his comrades, but in those videos he never showed his face. But on Tuesday, we saw him, unobscured, as he undertook the nerve-wracking task of coming out to his father over the phone, and the wave of relief that came over him as his father re-affirmed his love and pride in him.
As of this hour, his video has been seen 1,532,380 times, with 17,456 likes and 707 dislikes. ABC News followed up with Air Force Senior Airman Randy Phillips, who is stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Phillips says he feels comfortable now that he no longer has to hide:
It feels great. It’s nice not having to look over your shoulder or worry about who you are talking to, Phillips told ABC News the day after “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was officially repealed. “I never thought I’d be so comfortable with it. It’s very supportive. Everybody’s been so great.”
…Now that “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” has been repealed, Phillips, like many other enlisted men and women, can at last reveal his face, and cannot officially tell his fellow airman and commanding officers the truth. He told ABC News that he is happy that he has inspired others. He also said that now the whole family knows that he is gay.
As for Phillips’ father, he told ABC News that he was not exactly thrilled that his son put the clip on YouTube — but reiterated once again that he loves his son, and always will.
Latest Posts
Featured Reports
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.
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.
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.
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"
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“Google” is a trademark of Google Inc.
© Box Turtle Bulletin. All Rights Reserved.
Posts 
Posts via daily email:
Hunter
September 21st, 2011
This whole episode has been tremendously moving and heart-warming. I hope other service members who elect to come out meet with equally positive responses.
And the devil in me thinks this video and the follow-up should be required viewing/reading for Elaine Donnelley, in honor of her great work toward the repeal of DADT.
Kate
September 21st, 2011
Elaine would probably look like she smelled something bad (oh, wait, she ALWAYS looks like that) and moan about how he humiliated his family by broadcasting his sexuality and is threatening “unit integrity” at the Air Force Base…OMG, there will probably be SHOWERING in the near future – oh, the horror!
Seriously, though, I do feel for his dad; that’s a pretty big moment to be sharing with the world, especially if he didn’t tell his dad before he posted the video. I hope his father will be proud of the inspiration people will get from viewing the video (I totally needed the tissues), and also appreciate that everyone who sees that clip will be wanting to send him a “Best. Dad. Ever.” card.
TampaZekex
September 21st, 2011
“…and cannot officially tell his fellow airman and commanding officers the truth.”
I think that should read, “…and CAN officially tell his fellow airmen…”
MEP
September 21st, 2011
Loved it, loved it, loved it.
John
September 21st, 2011
One little aside, Phillips’ father lives in Alabama. That’s in the deep, very redneck south. I put this in to show that not everybody in the deep South is homophobic. Phillips is very lucky with who he has as a father.
Leonardo Ricardo
September 21st, 2011
Good men. Both!
andrew
September 21st, 2011
John, I totally noticed the same thing — the fact that you’re talking military, deep South, and dad… a generation ago any one of those might have been a deal-breaker for a lot of gay men.
Ray Harwick
September 21st, 2011
This:
http://www.theawl.com/2011/09/tear-jerking-soldiers-coming-out-day-marred-by-extreme-hotness
Ryan
September 21st, 2011
I’m very happy for the solider, but I guess today is the day I have officially become old, because the idea of posting your coming out to your father on youtube is utterly horrifying to me. That should be a private moment. Kids today! Bah, get off my lawn!
Timothy Kincaid
September 21st, 2011
He also said that now the whole family knows that he is gay.
That’s pretty much a given by now… even Fox News covered the story last night. And no, it was not with “another opinion”, just the story.
Rossi
September 21st, 2011
I agree with Ryan. Cringe-worthy at the same time being a great story. I watched through my hands. But I get the guy has been leading to this for some time through his other videos. Plus, okay, I’ll say it: He’s kind of the guy you want coming out on national TV. Way to represent.
Timothy Kincaid
September 21st, 2011
Also… I liked that he told his Dad, “everyone here knows and there’s no problem”
Leave A Comment