News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric
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Aravosis Not Impressed by “Benefits”
Timothy Kincaid
June 17th, 2009
In a Salon article, John Aravosis expressed his dissatisfaction with President Obama’s planned announcement of federal employee benefits.
Tonight, President Fierce will try to make amends by signing either a memorandum, a directive, or an executive order, directing some federal agencies, but not others, to provide some benefits, but not others, to some gay federal employees, but not others, at some undisclosed time in the future. (And the benefits may reportedly go away when Obama leaves office.)
First problem, federal agencies already have the right to provide these benefits to gay employees — and several, including at least one DOD agency, do. Second problem, the administration can’t tell us exactly which benefits they’re talking about and for which employees. That’s because this was all hastily thrown together after the incestuous and pedophilic gays nearly brought down a Democratic National Committee gay pride fundraiser scheduled for next week. A gay blogger got hold of the event’s guest list and published it, and once Washington, D.C.’s gay paper, the Washington Blade, announced that it would be staking out the entrance to the event with camera and video, the $1,000 a head attendees started dropping like flies.
Jennifer Vanusco at the Huffington Post gives details of the rather uninformative statements by John Berry:
Berry also said that a memo would be sent out to all Federal departments asking them to look for additional benefits they could extend, and instructing them that making employment decisions on the basis of anything other than job performance - including sexual orientation and gender identity - is not acceptable.
but she reminds us
this guidance was already extended by Bill Clinton and was followed by George W. Bush. And the “benefits” are already provided by many supervisors at their discretion.
California Prop 8 Decision Thursday?
Jim Burroway
May 19th, 2009
We’re hearing rumors. Joe.My.God says baracades have been spotted in the Castro. The Supreme Court releases decisions on Monday and Thursday. Due to the emotional stake so many people have in the decision, it stands to reason that the Court would give law enforcement advance notice of a pending decision. Are San Francisco police acting on a heads up?
Update: Equality Network is passing around an email saying they have it from “reliable sources” that the decision will come down Thursday. All speculation on what that decision would be is just that: speculation. The Court will give twenty-four hours notice of their announcement of the decision on its web site at 10:00 a.m. PST.
Regardless of the decision, good or bad, there are Day of Decision rallies planned across the country for Thursday. Please check here for details.
Is Swine Flu the New Straight Plague?
Jim Burroway
April 27th, 2009
Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. But the constant stream of news coming out of Mexico reminds this writer of the hype surrounding whatever fill-in-the-blank disease that has been trotted out in times past to stigmatize the LGBT community. Of course this time, now that straight people are engaging in behaviors (attending school, going to movies, etc.) which provide such fertile ground for these exotic viruses to fester, we see the World Health Organization leap into action while the President of the United States urges everyone to take a deep breath.
Obama’s assurances aside though, what if — think of it — what if this viral outbreak escapes into the general population? Won’t all hell break loose?
Oh wait. Straight people are the general population.
And what a difference a population makes. It was just a little over a year ago that anti-gay activists hyped an outbreak of a drug-resistant strain of staph (MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in the Castro as the latest “gay plague.” That hype disappeared about as quickly as it began, but today it serves as a textbook example of how quickly research based on a stigmatized population can become fodder for further stigmatizing.
And when I say it’s a textbook example, I mean it. Greenhaven Press, an imprint of textbook publisher Gale’s Cengage Learning, has published Resurgent Diseases: Opposing Viewpoints
Resurgent Diseases begins the chapter with a reprint of Sabin Russell’s San Francisco Chronicle which helped kick off the MRSA scare to begin with. My article follows, which is appropriate because I wrote it, in part, as a direct answer to the Chronicle article. This makes the juxtaposition of these two articles in the same textbook ideal. The four other articles rounding out the chapter discuss the balance between individual rights and public health, and the role that governmental authorities and non-governmental organizations can play to address resurgent diseases.
With the latest fears surrounding the swine flu outbreak, Resurgent Diseases may be among the more timely textbooks to come along in a long time.
Appearance on Michelangelo Signorile Show
Jim Burroway
March 31st, 2009
At 4:30 ET, I will be joining Wayne Besen on the The Michelangelo Signorile Show to talk about the boycott of Jamaica. You can listen on Sirius OutQ, 109 or XM 98. If you’re not a subscriber, you can get a free three-day pass and listen online.
Congrats To Pam For Picking Up A Lezzie
Jim Burroway
February 19th, 2009
Okay, wait. That didn’t come out right. What I mean is this: congratulations to Pam Spaulding for being honored as the Best Lesbian Feminism/Political blog by The Lesbian Lifestyle in its 2008 Lezzy Awards!
So just to be clear, no U-Hauls were rented in the winning of this award.
Box Turtle Bulletin Has Now Gone Mobile
Jim Burroway
December 24th, 2008
How’s this for a Christmas present? Box Turtle Bulletin has now gone mobile. Check it out on your iPhone. I don’t know if it works for Blackberry. If not, please let me know.
My Apologies
Timothy Kincaid
November 24th, 2008
I’ve not been able to post for the past few days and may find myself unable to spend much time in the next few days. I’ve been - and will be - busy. I hope to soon be able to commit more time.
Warning New Jersey and New York
Timothy Kincaid
November 7th, 2008
Delerious over how their campaign of lies succeeded in California, anti-gays are already planning on their next target:
Gallagher said anti-gay marriage groups plan to focus next on New Jersey and New York, where the state legislatures are being lobbied to pass laws legalizing same-sex marriage.
The plan is to mobilize the same religious factions that joined forces in California to deter lawmakers from “taking on this divisive social issue while we are in the middle of a huge financial crisis,” Gallagher said.
And they will use the same tactic of flat-out lying:
Leaders of the successful Proposition 8 campaign say an unusual coalition of evangelical Christians, Mormons and Roman Catholics built a majority at the polls Tuesday by harnessing the organizational muscle of churches to a mainstream message about what school children might be taught about gay relationships if the ban failed.
If I were in New York or New Jersey I’d start marching and protesting today.
Jeremy Hooper’s Engagement Party
Timothy Kincaid
October 11th, 2008
Our friend Jeremy Hooper at Good-As-You is having his engagement party tonight. Jeremy and his husband-to-be, Andrew Shulman, wish to marry in California in April.
We appreciate Jeremy’s talents and his contributions to equality. He approaches the fight with humor and patience and has achieved the oddest of accomplishments: an ongoing communication with the Phelps family. For all he’s given us, consider a gift to him.
I’m sure they would be most appreciative of an early wedding gift in the form of a contribution in their name to No on 8. Let’s honor Jeremy and Andrew’s choice of venue and keep marriage legal in California.
Appearance on Sirius OutQ 109 Monday Morning
Jim Burroway
October 5th, 2008
I will appear on Sirius Satelite radio’s OutQ 109 tomorrow morning with Larry Flick to talk about Arizona’s campaign to defeat Prop 102. My segment is set to begin at 8:00 am EDT — 5:00 am PDT, which is local time for me here in Arizona. That slurping sound you’ll hear will be me hitting the coffee. Hard.
If you’re not a Sirius subscriber, you can listen online by signing up for a free 3-day trial.
Radio Appearance on Larry Flick’s “OutQ In the Morning”
Jim Burroway
October 1st, 2008
I will appear on Sirius Satelite radio’s OutQ 109 tomorrow morning with Larry Flick to talk about Arizona’s campaign to defeat Prop 102. You may recall, Arizona became the first state in the nation to defeat one of these so-called “marriage amendments” in 2006. Now they’re back trying for a do-over after voters already said no once.
I will be on “Out Q in the Morning” with Larry Flick and crew beginning at 9:05 am EDT. That’s 6:05 am PDT, which is local time for me here in Arizona. Wish me a whole lotta luck on that!
If you’re not a Sirius subscriber, you can listen online by signing up for a free 3-day trial.
Update: Due to a scheduling conflict, they weren’t able to have me on the program this morning. I’ll let you know when we reschedule.
New Website Featuring Histories of Treatments for Homosexuality
Michael King
September 22nd, 2008
A group of researchers at University College London (UCL) have recently established a website about use of treatments to try to make homosexual people heterosexual.
The work led by Michael King arose from research funded by the Wellcome Trust from 2001 to 2004 into the oral history of such treatments in Britain since 1950. During this research a number of oral histories were collected from LGB people who had undergone treatment and the professionals who had developed and provided the treatments.
The group now wants to expand the work on the website by asking for contributions from people around the world who may have undergone a treatment to attempt to become straight. This might have been hormone or other medical treatment, psychotherapy, aversion behavior therapy, and various forms of reparative therapy.
Their stories can be posted on this website. Friends or relatives of someone who has received or is receiving treatment may also want to give their stories. The group is also eager to hear from professionals, be they doctors, psychotherapists, counselors or psychologists who may have undertaken these treatments at any time in their career.
You can send your account in written, audio or video format. If it is suitable it will be added to the stories already on this website.
See also from BTB’s “Today In History” series:
“Aversion Therapy for Sexual Deviation”
A Simple Technique To Cure Homosexuality
Appearance on Michelangelo Signorile’s Show
Jim Burroway
September 17th, 2008
I will be on the Michelangelo Signorile’s radio program on Sirius OutQ 109 this afternoon, beginning at 3:30 EDT (12:30 PDT) to talk about Arizona’s Prop 102, the so-called “marriage amendment.” I will be talking about the challenges our campaign faces in getting the message out and why Arizona’s ballot battle is important.
If you don’t have a subscription to Sirius satellite radio, you can listen on the web by signing up for a free three-day trial at http://www.sirius.com/outq.
I’ve Arrived…
Jim Burroway
August 20th, 2008
…in Washington, D.C., for the annual conference of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) — a group that just happens to be very open and welcoming to those among us who practice those alternative journalism-styles you’ve heard rumors about (i.e. “bloggers”). I’ll be here to participate on a panel discussion on scientific research and journalism:
Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics: Writing On Research
Increasingly, reporting scientific research can be like walking through a minefield. Advocacy groups are interpreting research findings for their own political ends and some are even creating research to support their positions. This session will provide advice on how to win the science spin game.* Moderator: Rick Moore, Director of Communications, Rockway Institute
* Cindi Creager, Director of National News, GLAAD
* Jim Burroway, Editor, Box Turtle Bulletin
* Neil Savage, Freelance Science & Technology Writer
For readers who happen to be in the area, stop by and say hi. I’ll be the nerdy-looking one.
Jesse Helms Dead at 86
Jim Burroway
July 4th, 2008
Former Republican Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina died today. He was 86.
You can search the archives of this web site and see that I have never before called anyone a bigot. It’s just something that I generally don’t do. But the word was coined precisely to describe people like Helms. He was a genuine, unabashed bigot, and he made his bigotry a hallmark of his career. Now that he is dead, his bigotry will be enshrined as his lasting legacy.
Throughout his public career, Helms was always on the wrong side of history. During his daily editorial broadcasts on Raleigh’s WRAL-TV, he railed against desegregation, calling the University of North Carolina the “University of Negroes and Communists.” In 1968 when Duke University students staged a vigil in response to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, he remarked, “They should ask their parents if it would be all right for their son or daughter to marry a Negro.”
He held a special antipathy toward gays and lesbians. In a 1995 radio broadcast he remarked, “Homosexuals are weak, morally sick wretches.” He opposed governmental funds for AIDS research, complaining that “It’s their deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct that is responsible for the disease.” He opposed funding for research, treatment, and providing medically accurate information about the disease. We may never know how many people died partly because of his intransigence.
Twenty years later, we are still trying to undo Helms’ damage. He was responsible for the HIV travel ban, barring visitors and immigrants with HIV from entering the United States. The U.S. is one of only twelve countries in the world with such a ban. We share that distinction with the likes of Sudan, Russia, Libya and Saudi Arabia. The ban’s repeal is awaiting a vote in the Senate, which may come as early as next week.
The bigot is dead. Happy Independence Day.
Weather Report
Timothy Kincaid
June 16th, 2008
It’s 5:01 here in California, same-sex marriage is legal, and the sky hasn’t fallen. The sun is shining and there are no tornadoes on the horizon.
TiVo and Focus On the Family Partner for a Father’s Day Contest
Jim Burroway
June 5th, 2008
G-A-Y’s Jeremy Hooper has discovered that Focus On the Family has partnered with TiVo for an “I Know A Super Dad” contest, in which sons and daughters are asked to submit an essay explaining why their dad is a “super dad.” Winners will get a TiVo Series2 DT DVR with a full year of TiVo service.
But it raises a question: how many gay dads do you think would be Super Dads in Focus/TiVo’s eyes? Or how many dads who love and support their LGBT sons and daughters would Focus/TiVo be wiling to certify as a Super Dad?
We know there are lots of Super Dads out there who fit both discriptions, so so let’s find out. Between now and Father’s day (June 15), we encourage you to enter Focus/TiVo’s contest and explain why your Dad is a Super Dad. We also ask that you send a copy of your stories to us, maybe along with some photos, too! (Just make sure you have permission!) You can send them to: Superdad@boxturtlebulletin.com
We’ll post the best Super Dad stories between now and Father’s Day. You can immortalize your Super Dad on the World Wide Web! What better prize is there than that?
Okay, how about this: The best Super Dad story gets a free BTB T-shirt. It’s no TiVo, but hey, it’s something.
Internet Radio Appearance Tonight
Jim Burroway
May 8th, 2008
I will be a guest this evening on Peter Godbold’s “Strictly Confidential,” an LGBT internet radio talk show on the Head-On Radio Network. Sorry, I can’t help but be reminded of that “Head-On” pain relief commercial. Hopefully this will be much more entertaining. I expect to be on the air (or whatever the internet streaming equivalent is) at about 9:30 EDT / 6:30 PDT. See you there.
A Shameless Plug
Jim Burroway
April 24th, 2008
A slightly edited version of my article on ONE Magazine’s 1958 Supreme Court victory has been published in the March-April 2008 Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide. I’m excited for a couple of reasons. I’m proud of having raised awareness of the very first pro-gay Supreme Court ruling in history. And I’m a huge fan of the Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide because of the intelligence and depth of coverage of the important issues facing us. Since I let my Advocate subscription lapse, this is the only remaining LGBT print subscription I have. Believe me, the G&LRW is no Advocate; there are no fluff celebrity profiles here.
Okay, I stand corrected. Noël Coward is on the cover — but you the picture.
Blog Invasions
Jim Burroway
April 2nd, 2008
This is something we’ve never encountered before.
We try to maintain a certain amount of decorum on this web site while welcoming diverging points of view. We have a few regulars here who rarely agree with what we post, but I can say that I value their inputs. One commenter, the various incarnations of “qou,” is particularly adept at posting some very challenging and informative comments, and I always look forward to seeing input like his.
However, something has been occurring in comments lately which, frankly, is not particularly encouraging. And that is this: it appears we’ve been invaded.
The invaders appear to all come from one group blog that I had never seen before. If the number of comments on that blog are any indication (and the number of comments often aren’t), then it appears that perhaps that blog doesn’t have many readers. And if the commenters themselves are any indication (and in this, I think they are) they are limited largely to other authors of that group blog.
Now, look at the number of posts they’ve put up. Since last Wednesday, those eleven authors have put up eighteen posts. Not bad. But in that same period, four of those authors have dominated the comments on this humble web site, posting eighty individual comments on these two threads alone. Out of 246 comments as of this writing, they account for nearly a third of all comments.
I appreciate their passion. I really do. And I also appreciate a few of the issues they’ve raised. But as I have watched the sheer volume of these comments scroll past my desktop, it has become apparent to me that they’ve decided not to merely discuss, but to so thoroughly dominate a thread with an overwhelming number of posts as to effectively shout it down.
One beleaguered commenter said, “Rather than continuing this futility, I am going to go back to lurking for the time being.” That’s a shame, and it’s the last thing we want here. But if we allow this behavior to continue, others will follow that commenter’s lead and the argument will appear to have been “won” by silence. It appears to me that this is the intent of the members of this group blog.
In the midst of their eighty comments on this blog, that group has managed to log exactly one post on their blog that’s directly related to the posts by Dr. Chapman and Mr. Stanton. And you know what? It’s really not a bad post, although of course I don’t agree with it. I won’t be commenting there, but maybe some of you might look it over and share your thoughts. I would however ask that you show much more respect there than they did here. Be respectful, and don’t do unto them what they have done unto you.
Really, if someone is going to leave eighty individual comments on two threads of this blog, perhaps they should spend more of their time and energy on their own blog. To help encourage them to do that, I have made an update to our comments policy. I am also banning them from commenting on this web site for the time being. This applies to all members of that group blog.
