March 6th, 2009
California’s Proposition 8 has become an event greater than itself. No longer a vote on whether same-sex couples can call their relationship “marriage”, Prop 8 has become a symbol, a rallying cry, an event that transcends its happening. Protests over its passage have not been limited to the state’s borders, or even the nation’s.
A further evidence that this ban is representative of the global fight over equality for gay people came this week in London (BBC) from Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Speaking about Proposition 8 in California,
Mr Brown said “this attempt to undo good that has been done is unacceptable”.
He added: “This shows why we have always got to be vigilant, always got to fight homophobic behaviour and any form of discrimination.”
Those inclined to irony might note that same-sex marriage is not legal in England, either. However, over there the amost-marriage-but-by-some-other-name has federal recognition and in California it does not.
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.
AJD
March 6th, 2009
It’s also worth pointing out that while same-sex marriage isn’t legal in Britain, it’s not banned, either.
Also, not to nitpick, you should say that civil unions there have national, not federal recognition, as the UK is a unitary state, not a federal state.
Eddie89
March 6th, 2009
WOW! That’s awesome! The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom tells the world that California’s Proposition 8 is a bad idea!!!
Fantastic!
Wish he could have made this comment BEFORE the election!!!
Fred
March 6th, 2009
In reply to AJD
Given that Britain has an ‘unwritten constitution’ I am not sure how same-sex marriage could be banned beyond simply not being legal.
Since devolution to different degrees to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the U.K. as a whole, I am not sure whether the UK should be regarded as a federal state or not. Muddying the waters still further England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own separate legal system, there is no equivalent of the US Federal courts.
Dave
March 6th, 2009
I think Mr. Brown would be best served by minding his own business.
As the head of government for the United Kingdom he is naturally concerned with the foreign policy of the United States. How this leads to an interest in the proper application of the Constitution of California is rather inexplicable.
It should be noted that since the UK has no written constitution, no British politician has any experience in dealing with applying one governmental policy. Parliament in the UK rules in the name of the monarch; no court can rule that any act of parliament is unconstitutional.
The whole controversy in California started with a dispute over the correctness of court ruling on the constitutionality of California’s laws on marriage. Mr. Brown is very much out of his depth when he comments on this affair.
Fred
March 7th, 2009
In reply to Dave
There are two ways to read Mr Browns comments (as far as I can tell from the quotes I have seen). First as you say direct criticism of what has happened in California, the second is, roughly, that what has happened in California is terrible and we mustn’t let it happen here. I suspect that his meaning was the latter. Although there is no way that a there could be a majority vote of the UK electorate that removed any gay rights, I suspect that Mr Brown was trying to vaguely suggest that some gay rights they might be removed if a Conservative government were elected. (IMO it is very doubtful that a Conservative government would try to roll-back existing gay rights although there may well be little forward progress.)
Parliament does NOT rule in the name of the Monarch. The English Civil War clearly established Parliament as a separate institution from the Monarchy. Mr Brown leads Her Majesty’s Government but Parliament does not belong to Her Majesty.
Dave
March 7th, 2009
Fred,
I’m afraid I cannot accept your interpretation of the prime minister’s words. He said, “this attempt to undo good that has been done is unacceptable.†By “this attempt” he clearly meant California Proposition 8.
As for my statement about the parliament ruling in the name of the monarch, I didn’t intend to imply that the monarch owned Parliament. I meant the monarch’s sovereignty is in Parliament.
Eddie89
March 7th, 2009
He’s on our team. I welcome Prime Minster Brown’s support.
Leave A Comment