Box Turtle Bulletin

Personal Cruelty

Timothy Kincaid

April 10th, 2008

Anti-gays often portray their attacks as being directed against a nebulous “homosexual agenda” or perhaps “the sin of homosexuality”. This is often packaged with a claim that they love individuals, or “the sinner”.

But sometimes their anti-gay activism reveals itself to be an obvious hateful attack on individuals.

For example, Tammy Baldwin has served as the representative for Wisconsin’s 2nd congressional district since 1999. And since that time Lauren Azar, her other half, has been accorded travel privileges on par with the spouses of other Congressmen. Although the House rules specify that spouses are given travel accomodations, the former House Speaker, Dennis Hastert (R-Ill), had waived the rules for Azar.

However, when Azar prepared to accompany Baldwin on a fact finding mission this year, the Pentagon blocked her from traveling on a military plane. The situation was resolved when current House Peaker Nancy Pelosi informed Defense Secretary Robert Gates that she was waiving the House rules to allow Azar to travel.

From the AP

The Pentagon still has in place its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which bars gays from serving openly in the military. But that had nothing to do with this case, said Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell.

“This is strictly about following our statutory guidelines and the House rules,” he said.

Morrell said that Pelosi asked Gates to honor her decision to waive House rules to allow Azar to travel and that Gates asked her to put that request in writing.

“She did so, and he — in this one case only — agreed to it,” Morrell said. “This is not a precedent by any means. This does not open the doors for life partners to travel on congressional delegations.” But Gates has agreed to review future requests on a case-by-case basis, Morrell said.

Now most living breathing people see this as a simple act of decency. Most folks would think it odd to insist that Baldwin be the sole Congressman to travel alone.

However, Elaine Donnelly and the AFA spin it differently

Elaine Donnelly of the Center for Military Readiness calls this situation “a slippery slope.” “This sets a disturbing precedent because it tends to suggest that marriage doesn’t matter, [and that] marriage of people of same-sex or any such association should be treated as the equivalent of marriage,” she contends.

Donnelly believes this gives ammunition to those who want to change the military’s policy of not allowing homosexuals in the military. “This is an incremental step forward for the gay rights agenda,” she continues. “These things are all interconnected. This radical social change doesn’t always happen overnight with a court ruling. Sometimes it comes creeping along incrementally.”

This is a single instance of a consideration granted to an associate in Congress. Donnelly’s concerns about a “slippery slope” ring hollow when compared to the assurances of the Pentagon.

So why, then, does Donnelly find Azur’s travel so objectionable? Why would she complain that Azur should not be granted passage?

Simply, because Baldwin and Azur are gay.

By her attack on the travel of a specific individual, Elaine Donnelly discredits any presumption of principled objection and reveals her agenda and herself to be petty, spiteful, and cruel.

More Response from Ford to AFA’s “Boycott Victory”

Timothy Kincaid

March 13th, 2008

Earlier this week, the American Family Association, declared victory in changing the advertising policy at Ford Motor Company and it’s various brands.

At that time the response from Ford, while encouraging, was not adequately specific to assure me that no agreement had been made or that Ford would continue its relationship with it gay market. But Jeff Bercovici at Conde Nast’s Portfolio.com has contacted Ford and reports the following comments:

But Ford spokesman Jim Cain insists the automaker had made no such promises. “I can tell you there was not a negotiated settlement to this boycott,” he says, sounding somewhat mystified by AFA’s triumphalism.

While Ford has scaled back some of the marketing and philanthropy AFA objects to, any such decreases were merely part of a broader retrenchment in response to dismal market conditions, says Cain. “We’ve been in real financial difficulties. There’s been reduced spending in lots of areas.”

But, he adds, Ford continues to be involved with groups such as PFLAG and Human Rights Campaign, both of which agitate for gay marriage.

I will take the Ford spokesman at his word. And I will watch to see whether any increase in performance at Ford Motor Company will result in the resumption of marketing and philanthropy towards the gay community.

AFA’s Ford Boycott is Over

Timothy Kincaid

March 11th, 2008

Two years ago this week the American Family Association declared that they and their anti-gay allies would boycott Ford Motor Company. They had made demands on Ford - which they thought were being met - until gay groups convinced Ford that homophobia would not stand unchallenged. Ford did not want to be portrayed as caving to a campaign of bigotry.

The boycott was called after Ford reneged on an agreement with American Family Association to stop funding homosexual groups which promote homosexual marriage.

Specifically, AFA had insisted on the following:

1. Ford would not renew current promotions or create future incentives that give cash donations to homosexual organizations based on the purchase of a vehicle.
2. Ford would not make corporate donations to homosexual organizations that, as part of their activities, engage in political or social campaigns to promote civil unions or same-sex marriage.
3. Ford would stop giving cash and vehicle donations or endorsements to homosexual social activities such as Gay Pride parades.
4. Ford would cease all advertising in homosexual websites and media outlets (magazines, television, radio) in the U.S. with the exception of $100,000 to be used by Volvo. The Volvo ads would be the same ads used in the general media and not aimed at the homosexual community specifically.

Now the AFA is lifting their boycott. They believe that their demands have been met.

Concerned over the claims, blogger Joe.My.God contacted Ford. He received the following reassurances (more details at his site):

The AFA has made its decision and is ready to move on. Our principles have not changed. We are committed to treating everyone fairly and with respect, including our dealers, customers and employees. Ford will continue to market its products widely to attract as many customers as possible and make charitable contributions to strengthen communities to the extent business conditions allow. Difficult business conditions in recent years have reduced our overall spending across the board.

Generally, gay bloggers seem to read in the above statement some indication that Ford remains committed to marketing to the gay community. I wish that I was so convinced.

I have found that when questions like, “Do you love me” elicit vague responses such as, “I love everyone”, the real answer is “no”. This is especially true when questions of gay rights and equality enter the picture.

You seldom find a raging homophobe or dedicated anti-gay activist who doesn’t “love the person bound by homosexuality”. Every argument against hate crimes includes “we oppose crimes against all people”. Every opposition to non-discrimination policies is phrased, “we oppose discrimination against everyone but don’t think special groups should be listed”.

So when I read non-specific vague promises of “treating everyone fairly” and “market [our] products widely to attract as many customers as possible”, my first assumption is that Ford will no longer be target marketing the gay community. If you intend on continuing advertising to gay customers, well you just say so. Ford’s statement didn’t even mention the word “gay”, much less any indication that AFA’s claim is without basis.

I believe it is still far too soon to know what has been promised or what will occur. Ford will have ample opportunity to clarify whether any concessions have been made to AFA and that all advertising in gay media will cease. Alternately, Ford could run an add next month in the Advocate.

So far I find this situation troubling. But I’m sure that by June I’ll know whether or not to take “Don’t Buy Ford” signs to gay pride.

AFA Finds Goldfish Sexy

Jim Burroway

November 17th, 2007

At least that’s how it looks to me. The American Family Association sent out this Action Alert, alarmed that hotels are replacing Gideon Bibles with “Sex Kits.”:

Hotels replace Gideon Bibles with “sex kits”

Now is the time to let the hotel chains know that you want them to keep the Gideon Bibles

The latest fad with some hotels is to replace their Bibles with “intimancy [sic] kits.” For instance, at New York City’s trendy Soho Grand Hotel guests can enjoy a gourmet mini-bar, an iPod, a flat-screen TV and even the company of a complimentary pet goldfish. But no Bible.

That’s the problem with the AFA crowd. There’s no telling what they’ll find sexy.

GOP Top Tier Ignore the “Values Voters”

Timothy Kincaid

September 17th, 2007

The great circus of extremism known as the Values Voters Debate is being held today, and the Republican front runners will not be there. NBC6 is reporting that Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain and Fred Thompson all have “scheduling conflicts” and wouldn’t be caught dead at the event.

One can hardly blame them. The debate is moderated by WorldNetDaily’s Joseph Ferar and will host questions from “the American Family Association, Liberty Council, Creation Studies Institute and the like”, including the brother of Terri Schiavo.

But though Janet Folger is terribly disappointed (and predicting dire results for those who are skipping the lunacy), there are some candidates so extreme (or so desperate) that they are willing to publically tie their wagons to young earthers, Ford boycotters, xenophobes, and homophobes.

Tonight’s forum, which will be moderated by Joseph Farah, the editor of WorldNetDaily, will feature Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Congressmen Duncan Hunter (California), Ron Paul (Texas), and Tom Tancredo (Colorado), John Cox — and former U.S. Ambassador Alan Keyes, who announced his candidacy over the weekend.

Those with nothing to do (and I truly mean nothing to do) can tune in to watch the also-rans claim to each be more extreme than the other.

Did You Really Mean It, Alan Chambers?

Timothy Kincaid

August 21st, 2007

In September of last year, Alan Chambers was the principle author (with four other Exodus employees) of a book titled God’s Grace and the Homosexual Next Door.  On page 115, Mike Goeke offered the following advice:

Stand up for gay people. The church and conservative Christianity hasn’t been a safe, welcoming place for homosexuals. Oftentimes pastors and youth leaders make insensitive remarks about homosexuality or gay people. These remarks can be devastating. When you’re a witness to unkind words, or a judgmental attitude, or hate, stand up for gay people. Boldly and graciously confront injustice and hatred. Jesus always stood up for the sinner, and we should as well.

Which brings me to my as-of-yet-unanswered question: Why are Scott Davis, Mike Ensley, and Alan Chambers all going to an anti-gay rally next month with some of those who have been the most guilty of unkind words, judgmental attitudes and hate.  I cannot think of better illustrations of people who embody injustice and hatred towards gay people.

If you can’t “stand up” to these people, Alan, then just who were you talking about?  Why are you going?

I’m still waiting for an answer.

A Question of Company

Timothy Kincaid

August 20th, 2007

See Update below 

A “pro-family” crowd is gathering in Florida next month at something called the Family Impact Summit to “inform and empower involved Christian citizenship”. They’ll be talking about religious freedom, racial reconciliation, global warming (is it global whining?), and life issues. Oh yes, and homosexuality.

Lots and lots and lots and LOTS of homosexuality. In fact, there isn’t a panel period that doesn’t have at least one discussion on homosexuality including:

• Homosexual Agenda
• Homosexuality and Youth
• Homosexuality and Ministry
• On the FL Marriage Amendment and how to do a petition drive in your community or church
• New and relevant research on homosexuality

And who will be there? The speakers list includes some of the most strident homophobes in the conservative movement. Let me be clear - these are not just people who oppose homosexuality or same-sex couples for religious reasons. No, these are people who actively seek to dehumize gay persons by using derogatory language, lies, and false accusations. These are people who regularly campaign to exclude gay persons from the civil liberties and freedoms that they demand for themselves.

Let them speak in their own words:

Tom Minnery (Focus on the Family): There has been a recent attack on the freedoms of gay citizens in Poland. News reports indicate that many gay Poles are so fearful of the increasing violence and homophobia that they are leaving the country. In May, Minnery told a Polish “family” gathering, “[A]t this conference, we have taken great encouragement from the determination of the Polish people to honor the definition of the family. It is your strength that we have taken great hope from.”

Tony Perkins (Family Research Council) - “homosexual men are more likely to abuse children than straight men” and “homosexual behavior is a “death-style” that is sending young people to an early grave.”

Gary Bauer (American Values) –“Homosexual activity is not a civil right, it is a lethal and immoral behavior, and opposition to homosexual behavior is not a discrimination issue, but a moral one.” Bauer supports sodomy laws and not only opposes anti-discrimination laws because of “threats to religious freedom” but actually supports anti-gay hiring and renting practices. Bauer is believed to be one of the principal reasons that the Reagan administration was not proactive in combating AIDS.

Ken Blackwell (failed Ohio gubernatorial candidate) – Homosexuality “is a lifestyle, it’s a choice, and that lifestyle can be changed. I think it’s a transgression against God’s law, God’s will.” Blackwell also compared same-sex marriage to barnyard animals, saying “I don’t know how many of you have a farming background but I can tell you right now that notion even defies barnyard logic … the barnyard knows better.”

Don Wildmon (American Family Association) – this is the guy who lead the boycott against Disney for allowing gay people to organize Gay Days (an unofficial event) and against Ford for advertising in gay magazines. In the process he makes wild exagerations and unsubstantiated claims. His group also publishes the highly fictional and virulently anti-gay OneNewsNow. They push the video, “It’s Not Gay”, a rant about the evils of homosexuality masked as an ex-gay presentation. This video featured Michael Johnston who was later exposed as engaging in unsafe drug-fueled orgies while claiming to have overcome his same sex attractions.

Catherine Harris (Failed Florida Senatorial Candidate) – claimed the separation of church and state is “a lie”. “Civil rights have to do with individual rights and I don’t think they apply to the gay issues. I have not supported gay marriage and I do not support any civil rights actions with regard to homosexuality.”

Bob Knight (Media Research Center) – for many years Knight was the voice of Concerned Women for America. There was never an anti-gay position too extreme or a notion to ridiculous for Bob Knight to spout it out in the press. “They are luring kids into a homosexual behavior” and “There is a strong undercurrent of pedophilia in the homosexual subculture.”

Linda Harvey (Mission America) – “Professed homosexuals should not be allowed to teach or lead groups of youth” and “Open or suspected homosexuals should never be elected” and “The vast majority of people involved in homosexuality are projected by many studies to be people that are employed sporadically, because of their lifestyle. They are more unstable.”

Bill Federer (author) – “statistics show[] 300% greater incidents of child abuse in homosexual households versus traditional marriage homes” and “There would be no way to protect children from sexual predators if homosexuals were allowed to marry and adopt”.

Mike Heath (Christian Civic League) – this is the guy who tried to get others to help him identify elected officials who were suspected of being gay. “Homosexuality is a sin that arouses God’s anger in a special way” and “Individuals who speak out against the homosexual agenda often lose their livelihoods. Worse, gay activists have attacked, beaten, and spat upon individuals who protest their politically-correct celebrations of ‘diversity.’”

Peter Sprigg (Family Research Council) – “research clearly shows that homosexual behavior specifically and the homosexual lifestyle generally are associated with serious threats to the physical and mental health of those who engage in them”. His book, Outrage, reveals “the tangible harms and significant costs to society wrought by homosexuality — including higher rates of promiscuity, sexually transmitted diseases, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse” and “Homosexuality is harmful to society, and young people have no business committing to a sexual identity until they’re adults.”

Get the idea?

Along with this virtual Who’s Who of Homophobia there are a number of other speakers who seem to have been selected due to the one thing they have in common – extremist credentials. Surely, no one who is seeking to reach out to same-sex attracted people would want to have anything to do with this hate-fest.

Yet into that mix are added Scott Davis, Mike Ensley, and Alan Chambers of Exodus International and Dr. Warren Throckmorton.

Wait!! Really??

But aren’t these the same guys who claim over and over and over that the church needs to welcome homosexuals and help them reclaim their heterosexuality? Don’t they say that anti-gay language and bigotry have to go?

Huh? How does that fit with joining in a conference of noted homophobes which seems obsessed with a political agenda against the rights of gay people?

What do you have to say, guys?

UPDATE:  Dr. Warren Throckmorton has responded indicating that he will not be attending the Summit.  See his comments below.

American Family Association Denounces “Redbook”

Jim Burroway

August 11th, 2007

Rev. Don Widmon’s American Family Association has issued an action alert calling for a boycott of Redbook magazine, saying that it “encourages a pagan, hedonistic lifestyle.”

Well heck, I could have told him that. When I wrote “The Heterosexual Agenda” I used Redbook articles going back to 1975. Where has he been for the past 32 years? Tupelo?

Snopes.com Classifies AFA Claim As An Urban Legend

Daniel Gonzales

June 18th, 2007

Those of us in the reality-based community can point out the American Family Association’s lies about the hate crimes bill till we’re blue in the face but a new ally has joined the fray. Snopes.com, the site dedicated to busting rumors, scams and chain-emails that circulate on the internet has taken the AFA to task. The AFA’s claim the Hate Crimes Prevention Act will restrict freedom of speech is now in the company of emails promoting gas-outs and others claiming Bill Gates will pay you a million dollars if you forward an email.

And that’s exactly where the AFA’s emails belong. I’m glad other people are catching on.

You Can Support Hate Crimes Legislation — Courtesy of the American Family Association

Then again, maybe not!

Jim Burroway

June 16th, 2007

Update: Err, Okay. I’ve been punked. This looks like a parody — and a pretty hilarious one. This is the real thing on which it’s based.

This much is true:

The American Family Association’s Don Wildmon sent out an urgent message to his fan base, asking them to go to the AFA web site and sign a petition demanding that Congress defeat the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act. Wildmon’s email is about as charming as they come:

If pastors and other Christians don’t aggressively oppose a bill now in Congress, in the near future they will be subject to huge fines and prison terms if they say anything negative about homosexuality.

The proposed law would make it a crime to preach on Romans Chapter 1 or I Corinthians Chapter 6. Or even to discuss them in a Sunday School class.

If churches and individuals want to keep the government from telling them what they can and cannot preach and teach about homosexuality, they better get involved now!

House bill H.R. 1592 and Senate bill S. 1105 would make negative statements concerning homosexuality, such as calling the practice of homosexuality a sin from the pulpit, a “hate crime” punishable by law. This dangerous legislation would take away your freedom of speech and your freedom of religion.

Wildmon’s email provides hyperlinks for the text “Senate bill S.1105,” but in an act of abject cowardice, he doesn’t link to the text of the bill. Instead, he links to his own web site. Why? Because if anyone actually read the bill itself, they’d know that everything he says in this email is a bold-faced lie.

But here’s the best part. (And this is where the parody kicks in.) He wants you to take action by signing a petition. But be careful how you do it (as “reported” by Baptists for Brownback):

Christians ONLY Click Here

Only your first and last name and zip code will be included. DO NOT type anything Pro-Homosexual, Anti-AFA, or anything against the Bill in The slot for the FIRST NAME, LAST NAME, or ZIP CODE BECAUSE CONGRESS WILL ACTUALLY SEE AND BE ABLE TO READ ANY Pro-Homosexual, Anti-AFA in formation in that part.

Again, if you CLICK ON THE LINK you CAN SIGN THE PETITION. BUT BE SURE NOT TO ACCIDENTILY TYPE ANYTHING PRO-HOMOSEXUAL, ANTI-AFA in the those spots because it WILL RUIN THE EFFECT OF THE AFA MESSAGE.

Okay, so it’s a parody. But think about it. It could work, couldn’t it?

Driving Don Wildmon Crazy

Timothy Kincaid

May 23rd, 2007

Donald Wildmon’s anti-just-about-everything organization, American Family Association, has been threatening and boycotting Ford Motor Company for over a year because they are too gay friendly. Wildmon demands that Ford not advertise to gay consumers because, well… selling to gay people is taking sides in a culture war? Yeah, you figure it out.

The AFA has since been taking credit for Ford’s financial woes, carefully ignoring that all American auto makers are suffering. If Ford runs an ad they declare it evidence of Ford’s evil agenda. If Ford doesn’t run an ad they declare it evidence that their pressure is working.

But if one really wants to know whether the AFA boycott is negatively impacting Ford, you only have to look at the response from their competitors. For the first time, General Motors has created an ad specifically targeted at the gay community (click thumbnail to see).  Poor Don Wildmon, he must be apoplectic.

Former AFA Lawyer Joe Murray’s Second Interview

Jim Burroway

April 3rd, 2007

Pam Spaulding has published a second interview with Joe Murray, a former staff attorney for the American Family Association. Murray has shown a remarkable change of heart in these interviews. Where he once wrote, “The Sodomy Squadron has been flying high, for the Supreme Court has deemed sodomy a fundamental right,” He now says this:

Look, there is no need to see gays as the enemies; such a view is not healthy. I used to believe that gays were part of a grand cultural conspiracy, out to replace the Christian culture, but found this to be untrue.

For the most part, gays want exactly what I want — a family, respect, happiness, the right to follow their dreams. Is this too much to ask? Would granting these rights shred our cultural fabric? Surely not.

Pam and her readers asked Joe Murray several questions on a wide range of topics.

On what motivates anti-gay activists, some of whom seem to exhibit a single-minded obsesion:

I cannot and will not speak to the character of someone’s heart. I will, however, make on observation.

I have found that when individuals have such high levels of obsession with an issue and completely allow a single issue to take over, there are either some subconscious issues at play or it is just basic fear. This statement is not geared towards Miss Schlafly, but human beings in general. Until one comes to terms with his subconscious or fears, the obsession continues. At least that is what I have learned over my short life.

On anti-gay activists’ fundamental dishonesty in how they lobby against hate crime legislation:

As for hate crimes, I am absolutely sickened by the propaganda campaign that has found its way onto the political landscape. FRC, AFA, and TVC are already scaring supporters into thinking that the hate crimes law will result in preachers leaving the pulpit and checking into prison. This is absurd.

Now, I do not know the motivations of these folks, and I will not say what is in their hearts, but how can trained professionals really think that the hate crimes bill will shred the First Amendment?

Further, just read Conyers’ bill - it does not punish thoughts, it punishes actions that were the product of hateful thoughts. In other words, just thinking or stating a thought will not place you in a paddy wagon.

On his own change of heart, and lessons that gays and lesbians can draw from it:

I would also caution gay folks from channeling their understandable anger towards the Church. Gay Americans (and Christians) have every reason to be upset with the way they have been treated over the years. They have been treated like second class citizens, and there is not justification for such behavior.

But when some gays lash out against the Church, they lash out against something held dear by many people and take the bait of those seeking to portray all gays as anti-Christian at heart. And whether such anger is reasonable becomes moot as the images plastered in action alerts shape the minds of Main Street Americans.

…images of radical folks bashing the church, dressing as nuns and mocking key tenets of my faith did not help my turnabout. But it was my internal restlessness that caused me to open my eyes, and my heart, to the possibility I missed something.

And this admonition for the Church:

…There is no doubt in my mind that anytime an entire group of individuals are singled out and demonized because of a trait they have no control over such persecution must be resisted at every level.

One would think that spokespeople of a faith whose early pioneers were fed to the lions would be a little more conscientious of this fact.

Another great, informative interview. And you can read the first part of that interview here.

American Family Association Columnist Has a Change of Heart

Jim Burroway

March 27th, 2007

Pam Spaulding has published an amazing interview with Joe Murray, a former columnist and staff attorney for the American Family Association. Pam had written about some of his anti-gay columns before. That’s why she was very surprised to read a column in which Joe Murray attacked the AFA’s “borderline bigoted” behavior and condemned the manner in which the AFA supported General John Pace’s remarks that “homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral.”

Pam was very impressed with Joe Murray’s column. She contacted him and asked if he would be interested in doing an interview. He agreed, and that interview is now online. Here are some highlights.

On Murray’s evolution in his opinion on homosexuality:

After adopting the AFA party line for some time, something in the back of my head kept tearing away at my conscience. How could AFA, an earthly organization, declare the divine intention of the God and condemn the souls of homosexuals? How was it that men could make the declaration of who was getting into Heaven and who was getting the one-way ticket to Hades?

I thought who are these people to say who is getting into Heaven and who is not? I thought of the story of Joan of Arc, who, when she was being burnt at the stake, was ask the question of whether she would go to Heaven.

Her response? “If I am not, may it please God to put me in it; if I am, may it please God to keep me there.” In other words, it is God, not man, who decides who gets to pass through the gates of Heaven. So, how could groups like AFA even hint that gays were doomed to hell? This smacked of the politics of man, not the divine mercy of God.

On why he wrote some of the things he did:

…I have always been concerned about the values coming out of the Castro District. I see the hatred some of these people have towards my Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and I just took their anger as proof that some folks on the Christian right were accurate in their depiction of the “homosexual agenda.” I failed to investigate the matter and just adopted the party line — this was a monumental error on my part.

It was not until I began to look closer at the issue that I came to realize that: (a) not all of the gay community is represented by those marching in the streets of San Francisco and (b) those in the streets had a right to be angry, for they have been told for years that they were immoral, sinful and shameful. How horrible must it be to be condemned due to a trait you had no control over. I thought, hell, I would be angry, too. Even further, when I looked at society, I found that most of our societal institutions worked against the gay community.

On the AFA’s obsession with homosexuality:

As for the fixation with the “homosexual agenda,” you are right — it is a significant part of the ministry’s drive. I am not able to judge the hearts of other men, so I cannot speak to whether they truly believe that homosexuals are out to “convert” the children of America or they are merely using this issue as a method of fundraising. Either scenario, though, is disturbing.

And I while say, it is my own personal view that at least some inside AFA find the obsession with this issue uncanny. AFA needs to open its eyes to the idea that gays are not the enemy. I did.

On why the AFA do what they do:

… I am equally confused with AFA’s actions. AFA preaches the Gospels, but uses broad stereotypes to pigeonhole an entire community of individuals. I will not tell you what is in the hearts of these people, but I will look at the evidence.

If AFA believes they are trying to help people, they are sorely misguided. As stated by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, “an ounce of help is better than a pound of preaching.”

On the evangelical church’s reaction to Ted Haggard:

As for me, it always amazes me how quickly some Christians turn on one another. The Haggard story is one of sadness, for it tells the tale of a man who has been so indoctrinated with hate and fear, that he has been fighting something he cannot fight. He is denying his very identity. I only hope that Haggard’s story humanizes the treatment of gays inside the church and causes people to reevaluate their position, but I am doubtful about this.

On anticipating the anti-gay lobby’s tactics in the near future:

My best guess is that AFA, and groups like them, will try to paint the gay rights movement as a radical fringe that is poisoning the cultural well and seeking to impose their will on a defenseless America. In other words, fear will be the main motivating force.

I am sure that pictures of half naked gay men will make their way into action alerts, as well as concerns over homosexual indoctrination in the school house. Hate crimes will be an issue and many will try to scare preachers into believing that the passage of the hate crime bill will penalize the Sunday morning sermons. This is shameful.

This is an amazingly candid interview. Pam is soliciting questions in her comments for a possible Part Two. Go over there and read the entire interview for yourself. It’s a rare and informative glimpse into one of the more powerful anti-gay lobbying groups in America.

“It’s Not Gay”: It Most Certainly Isn’t

But Michael Johnston's Back

Jim Burroway

January 20th, 2007

The American Family Association’s video It’s Not Gay is back in the news again, now that its principal star has begun to re-emerge from a scandal that brought down his ministry.

Michael Johnston was at one time a darling of the ex-gay movement. He founded Kerusso Ministries, and built it on his testimony of contracting HIV while engaging in dangerous and promiscuous sexual activity before “walking away from homosexuality” through a spiritual transformation. He parlayed that testimony into national prominence, working with James Kennedy’s Corral Ridge Ministry in 1998 to produce a commercial in which he appears with his mother. In response to the National Coming Out day that is observed every October 11, he initiated his so-called “National Coming Out of Homosexuality Day” to coincide with the larger event. Charismatic, articulate, calm, young and good looking, Johnston was a bright star in the ex-gay constellation.

Johnston’s fortunes came crashing down in 2003 when it was learned that while he was traveling around the country decrying the “depravity” of homosexuals, he was hosting orgies, taking drugs and practicing unsafe sex without disclosing his HIV status. He immediately closed his ministry and went underground. A spokesman for the American Family Association concluded “I don’t foresee he would ever be back in a place of public ministry, especially in an outreach to homosexuals like the ministry he had.”

Before Johnston’s downfall, his story was the centerpiece for the American Family Association’s 2000 video, It’s Not Gay. In it, Johnston is joined by other anti-gay activists, including Richard Cohen (then president of PFOX), Kirmit Rainman (Focus on the Family) and David Pruden (Evergreen Ministries). The video, as is typical with most anti-gay propaganda, is loaded with unsupported statistics (Cohen exclaims at one point that “80% of homosexual men have a sexually transmitted disease!”) or statistics that are derived from unreliable and unrepresentative sources. The two “medical experts” were about as obscure as you can get: an osteopath and a urologist from Middletown, Ohio (misspelled “Middleton” in the video).

Richard Cohen, former president of PFOX and current director of something he calls the “International Healing Foundation” was one of the “experts” featured in the video. The is the same Richard Cohen who was permanently expelled from the American Counseling Association in 2003 for ethics violations, and has been denounced for espousing “touch” or “holding” therapy to “cure” homosexuality. In the video, not only did he provide the unsubstantiated claim that 80% of gay men have a sexually transmitted disease, he also cherry picked other outdated and non-representative “studies” (including the McWhirter book that the FRC used in their fraudulent brief to the Maryland Supreme Court) to claim that 95% of gay couples are not monogamous.

But the star of the show is Michael Johnston himself. It’s his face we see and voice we hear throughout the video as he describes his life as a “former homosexual.” We hear him describe all of his behavior — and his contracting AIDS — as being the consequences of homosexuality, as though homosexuality were a power outside himself. He blames his decisions to be promiscuous, to enter into poor relationships, and to engage in unsafe sexual activity — including his decision to spread his infection to others without disclosing his health status — on “the homosexual lifestyle”. He appearently does not consider his own responsibility for his choices, choices which could have included exercising self-control, and living as a faithful, honest, responsible, mature gay man. Instead, he avoids the question of his personal responsibility for making the choices he made, and blames them on homosexuality itself. And in doing so, he paints a picture that leaves the false impression that all gay men behave exactly as he did.

When the scandal first broke, Johnston sought refuge at a live-in facility with Pure Life Ministries at an undisclosed location in Kentucky. From there, he apparently disappeared, out of the limelight, and most assumed that would be the last we would hear of him. But now Wayne Besen reports that Johnston has emerged from his self-imposed isolation as a speaker for Pure Life. According to Pure Life’s website, Johnston “walked away from the gay community in 1988 after almost 11 years of involvement in homosexuality and testing positive for HIV in 1986.” But the same website says he led a double life, which leads one to question whether he really walked away or not.

So Michael Johnston said he experienced a wonderful spiritual transformation before. He even went on television to announce it. But what happened? Did it not take? What sort of spiritual transformation did Mike not undergo before that he has undergone now? He said in his 1998 commercial that he “walked away from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ.” What’s different today? Pure Life has an answer:

For the first time in his life, Mike has gained a genuine understanding of what it really means to be a follower of Jesus and God has given him a fresh vision of helping others find real freedom; this time not for the purpose of self-promotion but to glorify Christ.

I don’t know. Maybe it’s a different Jesus Christ this time from the one Johnston proclaimed before. Maybe God not really mean it the first time. At any rate, we can be assured that he’s not acting in self-promotion. Not this time. Not on a full-page of a web site featuring his photo and proclaiming his availability as a public speaker.

And in case you were wondering, his video is still for sale at the American Family Association’s website. They’ve even been stepping up their promotion of it through e-mails to the faithful offering special discounts. But nowhere on that website will you learn the real story behind the video, or of its star. While the contents of the video are fraudulent, the title is very appropriate. It’s Not Gay does not describe what it is to be gay. It’s not gay at all. Instead the video describes what happens when someone makes a series of bad choices without taking personal responsibility for his actions.

That’s not gay. That’s just pathetic.

American Family Association Picks Up The “Ailing General” Theme

Jim Burroway

January 5th, 2007

They must have shared a conference call or something:

Conservative military watchdog Elaine Donnelly of the Center for Military Readiness (CMR) says she believes pro-homosexual activists are using an ailing former U.S. Army general [John Shalikashvili] to push their agenda in the hopes of overturning the ban enacted by Congress on homosexuals serving in America’s armed forces… Donnelly notes that Shalikashvili has in the last year or so suffered a debilitating stroke and is, in her words, “struggling to retain his health.” She says it is “really sad” to see someone like the general being used by the homosexual propaganda machine as “the latest tool of a public relations campaign.”

You can read Gen. Shalikashvili’s op-ed piece for yourself. Both Focus and AFA are now dismissing his stance as the ramblings of an “ailing general” who has become a “tool” for homosexual activists. It looks like this will be the agreed-upon theme for the day. Expect to see more of the same.

See also:

Focus on the Family’s Reaction to Gen. Shalikashvili