July 5th, 2013
Founded in 1906, Los Angeles’ Sinai Temple is one of the nation’s larger and more vibrant Conservative synagogues, serving the affluent Westwood community. It is also one of the spiritual home of many Persian Jews who fled Iran when the Iranian Revolution turned that nation into an intolerant theocracy.
There’s an interesting article in the NY Times about how the decision by Rabbi David Wolpe to bless same-sex marriages has upset and challenged that congregation.
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.
Ben in Oakland
July 5th, 2013
It never ceases to amaze me.
Iranian Jews, forced out of Iran by religious intolerance and religious dominionism, free to a country which protects their religious beliefs. They then turn around and denounce others for reasons of religious intolerance and religious dominionism.
The more I see of intolerant religionists and dominionist religionism, the more I am glad the I turned my back on religion 40 years ago.
Michael Smith
July 5th, 2013
I have all the faith in the world that the Westwood Temple will come around and deal with it.
My husband and I lived in a condo on Doheny, where nearly all the units (about 500 or so) were owned by Farsi-speaking Jews of Iranian discent. We were one of the few non-Jewish families in the building. No doubt, many of our former neighbors attend this temple.
What I learned about them, is that 1) they’re very religious, 2) they’re very clique-ish, and 3) they respect the beliefs and rights of others.
Sure, it will take time for them to adjust, and to look at things from a different perspective. But I think they’re on the right track.
Mazel Tov!
Steve
July 5th, 2013
Despite the name “Conservative Judaism” is actually in the middle of the spectrum. The equivalent to conservative/fundamentalist Christians are Orthodox Jews.
Though I guess Iranian Jews may indeed have picked up some the religious fervor and intolerance of the society they grew up in.
Leave A Comment