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 lobbyLatest Posts
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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.
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Ben in Oakland
February 17th, 2010
I’m not 100% sure, but the two links go to identical stories with different authors.
Is plagiarism still the sincerest form of flattery?
Individual comments just made me go huh? One woman started having thoughts she never owuld have had had two other women not flirted with each other.
RT wonders why a young man would be so comfortable flirting with other guys. Maybe because no one cares despite RT’s best efforts?
“Experiencing same-sex attractions.” I never realized before how distance making, isolating, depersonalizing, objectifying, irresponsiblitizing that phrase is until I read it in this article. blew me away. Those boys aren’t actually FEELING anything, they are experiencing same sex attractions. wow, that explains everything. It’s like watching avatar with the sound turned off.
Seriously weird.
Burr
February 17th, 2010
I thought “bromance” was just about guys doing “guy stuff” together and being really close friends in the process. It’s about guys being able to be close without having to bring sexuality into it.
Feigning gayness is just a stupid, insulting attempt at humor most of the time, or sometimes the camp is a cover for what they really want to express.
In any case, talk about obsessing over the trivial..
Timothy Kincaid
February 17th, 2010
It amuses me the games that these anti-gay activists will play with themselves to distort language in order not to have to address fact or consider understanding.
No, he’s not gay, he’s just “experiencing sexual ambiguity”. The problems that they face when they just can’t use clear language is that often the words they choose to avoid clear communication already have meaning.
In this case, Ted Slater used a term that suggested that he thought the kid in band practice is intersexed (a “hermaphrodite”).
Alex
February 17th, 2010
Leave it to Randy Thomas & company to make something out of nothing. I guess this means he will have to expand his lexicon to include people who are “formerly bro-identified and are now on a post-bromance journey in Christ.” Pure silliness.
anteros
February 18th, 2010
I’ve met middle eastern guys who greet each other with a hug and kiss… in public. I’ve met african guys who walk together while hold hands… in public.
Big deal.
If certain public displays of affection between guys can generate this much interest, perhaps we need to question how appropriately “gayness” is defined, and whether homophobia is behind the offence taken or objections made.
Are we seeking to copyright what we consider “gayness” and label all those who we think infringe on that copyright and their behavior as “inappropriate”, “insecure”, “homophobic” or whatever else we can come up with?
So what if somebody fakes a lisp or acts effeminate just for fun? By taking offence or keen interest in their mannerisms, aren’t we claiming ownership of the same behaviors we reject as stereotypical?
What if these were instances of inside jokes?
Of course, as observers of such behavior, we cant always tell if it’s genuine affection being displayed, an inside joke or sexual harassment.
I think somebody would know if such behavior is deliberately being used to mock, belittle or otherwise offend any gay people in their presence. We’ve all been called names, it’s nothing new – deal with it or dont.
If somebody has reason to believe that a certain line has been crossed and that they are being sexually harassed – deal with it or dont.
Gabriel Arana
February 18th, 2010
I actually wrote about this after the anti-heterosexism conference: http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=i_love_you_man
It is sort of funny how getting close to men is supposed to make you like them less.
Brady
February 18th, 2010
I was pretty amazed when I saw this post. Many (most?) cultures in the world see they types of behavior they are describing as perfectly normal and non-sexual. It’s pretty obvious to me that the situations that brought about this post are innocent, non-sexual encounters between friends. Honestly (and I hate to be rude), but only someone “struggling with SSA” could see this as anything else. There’s something to be said for reading too much into things based on one’s own thoughts and experiences.
Ephilei
February 18th, 2010
I asked my straight South African if we could hold hands (here in Illinois). He thought I was straight at the time. He wasn’t down with that.
Anyway, I think the bromance phenomenon came because its normal and common for friends to be affectionate with each other, regardless of orientation. But male homophobia has made that unacceptable for straight men for fear of being perceived as gay. “Bromance” is a proclamation of affectionate friendship without sexual overtones. It will only last as long as homophobia lasts. In 100 years, heterosexuals won’t be offended if something thinks they’re gay.
AlexH
February 18th, 2010
Hmmm… It’s interesting how a lot of the comments posted on that other blog continuously referenced their “church” or “Christian” college; I guess it must be catered toward the devout crowd.
You know I would be fine with whatever ex-gays want to define themselves as, but when they use that as “proof” that other people can change that’s when I have the problem.
There’s a male porn-star out there who does some really hot bottoming in his films (with other men) but my friend told me that this guy says he’s “only into men for sex” and that he “prefers women for romantic/emotional relationships without sex.”
But at least he’s not out there saying “I’m cured! I’m cured!”
anteros
February 18th, 2010
Ephilei:
lol! I hope he didnt hurt your feelings.
Compared to other Africans, South Africans are generally more exposed to the pop concept of “gayness” and what kind of behaviors might result in one being perceived as gay… it’s the most gay friendly country on the continent, complete with gay subcultures, gay bars, pride festivals, even gay marriages. So, that dude probably knew what holding hands in public in Illinois might suggest to observers.
The guys I’ve seen holding hands in public were in Uganda, which ironically is an extremely homophobic country. Perhaps homophobia has driven the country’s gay subculture way underground. With so few openly gay Ugandans and an invisible gay subculture, ignorant members of the public are more likely to believe myths about gay people – like Ssempa’s claims that gay people recruit kids and practice fisting and rimming, than they are likely to be concerned about what holding hands with their buddies might suggest.
It looks like a spontaneous thing between good friends, untainted by homophobic concerns… platonic affection and nothing more… asking for permission to hold hands would probably draw attention to otherwise unconsidered reasons why it might not be such a good idea to hold hands.
I wish you better luck for next time:)
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