News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric
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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.The Impossible Happened In New Hampshire, Ctd.
Jim Burroway
March 22nd, 2012
Building on Timothy’s post yesterday, the New Hampshire General Court’s website has been updated with the roll callon a vote on the proposed marriage repeal vote. A “yea” vote was to agree that the bill was “inexpedient to legislate,” thus killing the bill. The vote tally was:
| Yea | Nay | Not Voting | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republicans: | 119 | 115 | 59 |
| Democrats: | 92 | 1 | 11 |
| TOTAL: | 211 | 116 | 70 |
More Republicans turned out to vote for preserving marriage equality than showed up to vote against. Another one in five Republicans found reasons not to show up that day. This is a very far cry from where the Republican Party is nationwide, but turning points always start somewhere. It’s fitting that this one should come in the “Live Free or Die” state.
Republicans respond to divine message
Timothy Kincaid
March 21st, 2012
[inspired by a comment from Priya Lynn; and further proof that accountants are not artists]
NH is voting on marriage reversal
Timothy Kincaid
March 21st, 2012
Unfortunately, I am not receiving the feed in a way that makes any intelligible understanding of the process possible. Adding to the difficulty, the New Hampshire legislature seems to vote on amendment numbers and on items on “page 246″ which is fine for those voting but gives little information to us out here in the blogosphere.
So I cannot give any form of liveblog. Nor have i found anyone doing so.
Letting People Do Things They Used To Be Prohibited From Doing Is Just Like Slavery
Jim Burroway
March 21st, 2012
Or something like that, according to NOM’s Brian Brown who likened his efforts to roll back marriage equality to those of abolitionists “in the late 1800s.”
The Catholic vote
Timothy Kincaid
March 20th, 2012
Here’s a little factoid that missed my notice: (NYT: Bruni)
Exit polling suggests that [Santorum] lost the Catholic vote to Mitt Romney, a Mormon, by 7 percentage points in Michigan and by 13 in Ohio. These weren’t isolated cases. In primary after primary, more Catholics have gravitated to Romney than to Santorum (or, for that matter, to Newt Gingrich, a Catholic-come-lately who collaborated with his third wife to make a worshipful documentary about Pope John Paul II).
Seems the Catholics in America are just not all that fond of the idea of having the mandates of Rome dictated by a theocratic state. Probably because they are familiar with them.
The Baptist position on marriage
Timothy Kincaid
March 20th, 2012
For the non-religious, this commentary may be meaningless. But those schooled in the minutia of denominational affiliation know that one of the pride points of being a Baptist is (or until recently has been) congregational independence.
Which makes Jimmy Carter’s position on civil marriage far more Baptist than that of the increasingly autocratic Southern Baptist Convention:
I personally think it is very fine for gay people to be married in civil ceremonies.
I draw the line, maybe arbitrarily, in requiring by law that churches must marry people. I’m a Baptist, and I believe that each congregation is autonomous and can govern its own affairs. So if a local Baptist church wants to accept gay members on an equal basis, which my church does by the way, then that is fine. If a church decides not to, then government laws shouldn’t require them to.
Harvey: stop allowing students not to speak
Timothy Kincaid
March 19th, 2012
Linda Harvey has well deserved her designation as head of one of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (one-member) hate groups. Harvey hates Teh Ghey in all variations, forms, or iterations and she especially hates when Teh Ghey are allowed to be heard. Or be silent. It doesn’t really matter, she just wants the opposite of whatever Teh Ghey wants.
Which is what makes her annual rant about the Day of Silence so amusing. For just a moment, set aside the purpose of the Day of Silence and what it is intended to do. Take away the gay v. “pro-family” element and just look at what she says. The absurdity is delicious:
A coalition of pro-family groups is urging parents to keep their children home from school on the “Day of Silence,” if your school is allowing students to refuse to speak in class.
At least this year she’s dropped “disrupting the classroom” from her objections to silence.
Parents and Guardians: Call your children’s middle and high schools and ask if students and/or teachers will be permitted to refuse to speak during class on Friday, April 20, 2012.
I just have to laugh at this every time I read it. I can picture the school receptionist, “I’m sorry, Ma’am, but you’re upset that students will not talk in the classroom?”
When administrators refuse to listen to reason and when they allow the classroom to be exploited for political purposes, parents must take action. If they don’t, the politicization of the classroom and curricula will increase.
And she’s not trying to be ironic. Really. And finally we reach the pièce de résistance
It is unconscionable that conservative parents remain silent, acquiescent, fearful non-participants in our public schools while homosexuals and their ideological allies engage continuously in vociferous, vigorous, and bold action.
Ah yes. If students are allowed to be “vociferously” silent then conservative parents must NOT be silent in response.
New Hampshire GOP Tries Different Tack On Marriage Repeal
Jim Burroway
March 19th, 2012
New Hampshire’s legislature is solidly in Republican hands with sufficient majorities to deliver veto-proof legislation to Democratic Gov. John Lynch. While many in the chamber want to repeal the marriage equality law which Gov. Lynch signed in 2009, it is believed that, so far, there have not been enough votes in the legislature to override an expected veto, leading repeal backers to try a different approach. Last week, Rep. David Bates, the sponsor of the repeal bill, proposed adding a new convoluted and confusing clause which would put before the voters in November this question:
Shall New Hampshire law allow civil unions for same-sex couples and define marriage as the union of one man and one woman?”
The question sets up a perfect trap: A yes vote bans same-sex marriage, but a no vote would … do what? It wouldn’t return same-sex marriage back into law, and may instead be used as justification for rescinding civil unions. Or it may do nothing no matter how New Hampshire residents vote, since the proposed referendum would be non-binding. But even as a non-binding referendum, it would still mean that LGBT people would still have to justify their families before New Hampshire voters.
A vote on the proposed bill is expected on Wednesday.
Not a gay organization
Timothy Kincaid
March 17th, 2012
Corporate America is currently the gay communty’s biggest supporter. Time and again companies have stepped up and supported equality even when under threat from a “million” moms or “families” who are enraged at the idea. This wasn’t always true, but nowadays the bigger the Big Business, the more they seem to want to sponsor events or contribute to campaigns or even lobby legislators on our behalf.
And while some in our community are not going to ever change their perspective about the role of business in society, most of us will happily accept their support. If Microsoft wants to work for marriage equality in Washington, that’s a good thing. If Apple and Levi’s give to fight Prop 8, we’ll use our iPhone to buy some jeans. If Macy’s tweeks the nose of the “marriage protectors”, we’ll chuckle while registering in their marriage register. And if a handful of Republican Wall Street types put enough money and pressure on the Republican controlled NY Senate that they pass a marriage bill, even dedicated liberal Democrats will swallow hard and smile while throwing rice.
Most of us.
But there are those who claim to be gay groups that put gay issues secondary to their radical political agenda. GOProud is a good example. They’ve never met an extremist homophobic Republican or an outrageous Republican position that they couldn’t endorse. Often with logic that would make a pretzel dizzy. And nothing is more important to GOProud than hatin’ on The Left; hate is their primary purpose and driving motivation.
And there’s also this:
As constituents and LGBTQ supporters, we demand that HRC stand with us, to stand against the exploitation of the less fortunate, and stand for those suffering at the hands of corporate criminals. We urge HRC to make decisions that support their mission statement of “equality and fairness for all.” WE DEMAND THAT HRC rescind their Workplace for Equality Innovation Award and revoke Mr. Balnkfein’s title as “national spokesperson for same-sex marriage.”
Lloyd Blankfein’s crime, that which disqualifies him from working for marriage equality in the minds of GetEqual, is being CEO of Goldman Sachs. Because, when it comes right down to it, GetEqual has a lot in common with GOProud. In choosing between advancing equality or hatin’ on the Wall Street fat cats, there’s no question.
And if advancing gay rights is but a secondary purpose – as is the case with GOPride and GetEqual – then you aren’t a gay organization.
UPDATE: I was insufficiently clear above. The group protesting HRC is GetEqual. I only included GOProud generally, as a balance, not because the object to Balnkfein. As far as I know, GOProud has never organized their political allies to picket any gay organization.
Obama Opposes NC Amendment 1
Jim Burroway
March 16th, 2012
President Barack Obama today came out against North Carolina’s proposed Amendment 1, which would ban same-sex marriage. According to multiple sources, the Obama campaign issued this statement:
“While the president does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the record is clear that the president has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples. That’s what the North Carolina ballot initiative would do — it would single out and discriminate against committed gay and lesbian couples — and that’s why the president does not support it.”
North Carolinians will vote on the measure during the May 8 primary.
Verdicts Returned in Rutgers Spycam Suicide Case
Jim Burroway
March 16th, 2012
Dharun Ravi, 20, the Rutgers University student who was accused of setting up a spy-cam and inviting friends to watch his roommate, Tyler Clementi, share intimate moments with another man, was found guilty today of invasion privacy, but was found not guilty on most of the charges of bias intimidation. He was also found guilty on charges of witness tampering, tampering with evidence, and hindering prosecution. He faces up to ten years in prison, and he could be deported to his native India, even though he has been a legal resident in the U.S. since he was a very young child.
Clementi commited suicide in September, 2010 by jumping off of the George Washington Bridge, following two incidents in which Ravi set up a spycam in the students’ dorm room while Clementi was alone with another man. Clementi discovered Ravi’s Tweets inviting fellow student to watch.
The jury returned its verdicts shortly before noon EDT today after three days of deliberation in a trial that lasted nearly four weeks.
UPDATE: Sentencing has been set for May 21. He will remain free until then.
Email of the Day
Jim Burroway
March 15th, 2012
I see huddling homosexuals. Send me 20 bucks.
Dear Jim,
It’s hard to write you this. My office is in trouble. And I need your help. I have been working overtime fighting against the radical Homosexual Lobby.
Today, I’m worried.
Despite passing Thought Control and repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the radical Homosexual Lobby is drooling for more this year in Congress. And with this Congress, they have adopted new tactics.
I see well-known agents of the radical Homosexual Lobby everywhere. They are huddled in dark corners scheming and plotting. They meet secretly with members of Congress in hopes of tempting them to advance their perverse agenda with campaign cash and the promise of votes.
This, in spite of the fact that we’ve defeated a major portion of the Homosexual Lobby’s perverse agenda in the past. Together, we held off the Gay Bill of Special Rights in 2011, and cut off the efforts of pro-homosexual Obama White House, but we had to spend everything to do it. The Homosexual Lobby knows this, and it knows as well as you or me that if we can’t finance ourselves, we won’t be able to stand up to them in the future.
…That’s why I need to ask you today to seriously consider making an emergency contribution to Public Advocate. Even a donation of $20 or $40 would make a huge difference.
Tennessee Backs Away From “Don’t Say Gay” Bill
Jim Burroway
March 13th, 2012
If it’s possible to die of embarrassment, then the nationwide uproar over Tennessee’s proposed “Don’t Say Gay” bill may well kill the bill. The (Nashville) Tennessean reports that the bill’s sponsors have agreed to put off debating the bill until the end of the legislative session, using a procedural move often used when sponsors decide not to push a bill:
Sponsors had been under pressure to amend the original bill, which would have banned any teaching about homosexuality apart from “natural human reproduction” before eighth grade. The measure was meant to keep schools and teachers from initiating discussions about gays and lesbians, but even its backers conceded Tuesday that it might have brought unintended consequences. “We found out there really is not sex education curriculum in K-8 right now,” said state Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, the bill’s original sponsor.
After slapping his forehead an exclaiming a Homer-esque “Doh!”, backers say they will instead shift their focus towards abstinence-only education.Another Sponsor, Rep. Hoey Hensley (R-Hohenwald), said that he would push for the bill again if the abstinence-ed bill fails. Gob. Bill Haslam criticized the “Don’t Say Gay” bill earlier this week, saying it was an unnecessary distraction that could cause more problems than it allegedly solves.
An encouraging sign from New Hampshire
Timothy Kincaid
March 13th, 2012
It is clear that New Hampshire Rep. Bob Bates would ban recognition for same sex couples entirely if he were to have his way. It is becoming increasingly clear that Bates is realizing that he may not get anything.
When Republicans won veto-proof majorities in both state houses, conventional wisdom assumed that they would reverse the state’s marriage law.
And bates was quick with a bill that would not only ban equality but make a mockery of civil unions. (AP)
Bates’ first amendment to the repeal bill would have allowed civil unions for any two adults and would have let anyone refuse to recognize the unions. It also would have allowed anyone to discriminate against such couples in employment, housing and public accommodations based on religious or moral beliefs.
But with a populace that has accepted – and now supports – the marriage law and with party leadership more interested in fiscal issues, the likelihood of that threat has diminished. Now it seems promising that enough Republicans will vote to retain the law so that Democratic Governor John Lynch’s promised veto will hold.
And Bates is beginning to sound a little desperate.
His latest proposal is to revert to civil unions for same sex couples but not siblings or bowling buddies, but to put it to the people in November in a non-binding resolution. While he says that this would give the legislature time to reverse itself if marriage has public support, it is obvious that his hope is that he could marshal enough Republicans to ignore the people’s position. (It is politically easier to block the passage offerings equality than it is to reverse it – even against popular opinion).
While watching weather vanes is not a very exact political indicator, this sounds like good news to me.
Am I too late for the “Tranny Look-Alike Contest”?
Timothy Kincaid
March 9th, 2012
If I believed in reincarnation, I’d be convinced that someone truly slimy in a previous life is being punished by being Khloe Kardashian in this one. Completely lacking in class or personal dignity is one thing, but to be astonishingly stupid while doing so is a fate I’d wish on no one.
Entertainment sources tell the same story, but for amusement sake I’ll quote the Christian Post (they must be beside themselves in glee):
The 27-year-old conducted an on-air interview with reality TV star Scott Disick on her program “Mix Up w/ Khloe Kardashian Odom” on Dallas radio station Mix 102.9, when she began criticizing his style.
“What kind of homo are you? Seriously? That is not what men…a straight man doesn’t carry a Birkin Bag,” Kardashian told Disick.
The word “homo” is slang for homosexual, but the slang is often used to insult gays, and 28-year-old Disick was not impressed with Kardashian’s choice of words.
“Listen to me. First of all, you shouldn’t say homo on the radio. It’s not a bad thing to be a homosexual. You’re making it sound like a negative thing. Third I’m not a homosexual. Fourth, I didn’t come out of the closet. It’s a man bag,” Disick shot back at Kardashian.
A defiant Kardashian went on to defend her use of the word, insisting that she is not homophobic and in fact the opposite.
“First of all, let me just tell you: I am the queen of my gay community which I love and adore. And I promote doing the tranny look-alike contest. I am queen bee over here so don’t even try it,” Kardashian warned.
All I can say is that for a queen bee, whatever that might be, Khloe seems to have an instinct for just the wrong word and very little understanding of LGBT people. None of the transgender people I’ve encountered were trying to look like anything other than themself, consistent with their internally experienced gender.
And, just in case she momentarily got confused and really meant drag queen (or perhaps drag queen bee), I offer this advice:
Khloe, if some drag queen said she was trying to “look just like Khloe Kardashian”, believe me, honey, that wasn’t a tribute.
The Eleven New Additions to the SPLC’s Anti-Gay Hate Groups List
Jim Burroway
March 8th, 2012
The revision came out this morning, but at the time I didn’t know who was new and who wasn’t among the now 26 hate anti-gay hate groups. Based on this cache from archive.org, these are the additions:
- United Families International, Gilbert, AZ. (Carol Soelberg)
- Save California, Sacramento, CA. (Randy Thomasson)
- SonsOfThundr / Faith Baptist Church, Primrose, GA (Billy and Sandra Ball)
- You Can Run, But You Cannot Hide, Annandale, MN (Bradlee Dean)
- Parents Action League, Champlin, MN (Note, this is the group that fought anti-bullying programs at the Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District)
- Jewish Political Action Committee, Brooklyn, NY.
- Windsor Hills Baptist Church, Oklahoma City (Tom Vinyard)
- Misson: America, Columbus, OH (Linda Harvey)
- True Light Pentecost Church, Spartanburg, SC (H. Walker)
- Tom Brown Ministries, El Paso, TX.
- Public Advocate of the United States, Falls Church, VA (Eugene Delgaudio)
The San Diego-based Biblical Family Associates is no longer on the list this year. It appears to be inactive. Sandy, Utah-based America Forever has also been dropped after reportedly disbanding in 2010.
COMMENTS (8) | LINK
Dem convention chairman for marriage plank
Timothy Kincaid
March 8th, 2012
To the growing list of prominent Democrats who are calling on the Party to make marriage equality part of their platform, you can add the Chairman of the 2012 Democratic National Convention. (LA Times)
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, serving as chairman of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, called for the party’s platform to push for the legalization of gay marriage.
8
Jim Burroway
March 4th, 2012
Last night was the West Coast premiere of of a reading of Dustin Lance Black’s play “8″, based in the trial transcripts of the Federal Lawsuit that resulted in Prop 8 being declared unconstitutional. If you didn’t get a chance to see it as it streamed live last night, you can catch it here.
(When the video begins playing, click the red box that says “skip ahead”)
While Obama Evolves…
Jim Burroway
March 2nd, 2012
…twenty twenty-one U.S. Senators are calling for an endorsement of marriage equality in the Democratic Party platform. When the Blade’s article first went up today, the number was at eighteen (you can see that in the article’s URL). They’ve had to update it twice three times since just this morning to include the two three additional Senators, and they say they will update it as more Senators respond the the Blade’s requests for statements.
Amazon taking pre-orders for “This Is What Love in Action Looks Like”
Daniel Gonzales
March 2nd, 2012
If you haven’t been able to catch a festival screening of “This Is What Love in Action Looks Like” and wanted to see it then you’re in luck. Amazon just listed the film for sale with orders shipping on May 8th at a price of $24.99
If you’re not familiar with the film you can read my review here, I’ve seen a lot of films about the ex-gay movement and this one is by far the best and most compelling.
