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 lobbyDecember 9th, 2013
Last week I posted a commentary about Michael Glatze’s marriage. Michael showed up in the comments section and posted his email address, inviting those who wished to ask him questions to do so out of the scrutiny of the public eye.
We discourage this as it seems that often those who seek to deny basic civil rights to their gay neighbors have difficulty distinguishing between challenging questions and death threats. In fact, whenever I see an anti-gay activist go onto a gay website and invite communication, it almost invariably means that quite soon they will be reporting death threats. And even if they have a long pattern of inviting communication, they will insist that they are in fear.
Although I redacted Glatze’s email, it was not before a few readers attempted to engage in dialogue. And, indeed, Michael Glatze was no exception to the ‘death threats are coming’ rule.
Shortly after getting his marriage photos out for public consumption, Glazte sent a letter to Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality (sic) in which he says,
And, thank you to those who have prayed for mine and Rebekah’s protection. It is not easy to have people consistently send you death-threats, simply because you left homosexuality and then decided to reach out, in many attempts at writing down your thoughts, to those who ALSO want to leave homosexuality.
And in the period since he invited unmonitored conversation, he wrote a commentary for World Net Daily in which he strongly implies that his life has been threatened. In a piece titled To hateful ‘gays’: Please respect my choices (though it’s unclear why he thinks that WND is the best vehicle to reach gay people, hateful or otherwise):
For those who have an interest in reading what I have to say, I have a few more things to communitcate here. For example, I want to make a little “shout out” to all of the angry homosexuals in our country who are currently spreading all sorts of hate and aggression on pro-homosexual blogs. Look, I am not interested in defending myself. I don’t really need to do that. I understand your plight, your point-of-view. I understand the desire to want me to be crazy, or lost in my head and mind, or confused. I understand that it would be just easier if I didn’t exist, or I would just crawl into a hole somewhere and die. But I’m not going to do that.
The only option would be to kill me, and I know that is a thought that has crossed some of your minds. So in a way, this is a plea for my own and Rebekah’s personal safety. I would like to ask that instead of desiring to plot my death, you may consider the possibility that I do have a legitimate right to life and a legitimate right to my own a) spiritual decisions, and b) life decisions – not to mention the wisdom and perspectives those decisions have given me.
And then later
I do believe that homosexuality is a flaw, a mistake, a distortion and something from which one can be completely restored. I do know that this viewpoint flies in the face of people’s personal decisions, as well as some popular politics in this world. And I am additionally aware that this viewpoint labels me as some kind of “right-wing fanatic” who ought to just be “wiped out.” I do pray to God for my safety every day.
These are rather serious charges. Death threats are not inconsequential and should Glatze – or anyone else – receive threats on their life or that of loved ones, it is extremely important that they contact the civil authorities immediately. These are criminal acts. Death threats in the form of email are traceable and police do take such threats seriously.
Michael invited me to come to him directly if I had any questions about anything he’s written, and I took him up on his offer. I’ve asked Michael to help explain these death threats and offered to cooperate should they have been initiated by his posting his email address at BTB.
BTB readers know better than to make threats of this nature. However, should any of you have made threats against Michael – or suggested that he should be “wiped out” – please let us know and we can try and give him some sense of assurance that BTB readers aren’t seeking to physically harm him.
I’ve not heard back from Michael, but I’ll certainly let you know whether he replies with any verifiable legitimate threats. Or if he doesn’t.
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Lindoro Almaviva
December 9th, 2013
Can we be so naive as to think that his intentions were actually good? I can not believe there was someone who actually fell for that and thought they could have an actual conversation with this gentleman.
Sam
December 9th, 2013
Michael also told me he got messages saying they wanted to rape his wife. Despite that, he says he and his wife are “pretty happy.”
I asked Michael if he could provide evidence of such threats and he refused; just as he refused to provide evidence that he’s now heterosexual.
Abinidab
December 9th, 2013
Besides there’s no reason to kill him. We all saw the wedding pictures. He’s already dead inside.
David in the O.C.
December 10th, 2013
Oh please. Why would anyone care about some delusional self-loathing gay man? We’ve seen *Michael* dozens of times before. An ultra-religious gay man that is pretending to be straight to please his God. Does he actually believe that he is somehow special because he chose to live his entire life lying to himself and others? He’s an object to be pitied, not attacked. Of course, all of this plays right into the *Christian martyr* syndrome that religious fanatics like Michael feed off of. Yes, the evil homosexual activists are all out to get him. Because they have nothing more important to do with their lives except to hunt down an ex-gay basket case. Sure Michael, whatever you say.
By the way, it is not an individual “personal decision” when people claim that sexual orientation is innate. A half-century of medical and psychological research has come to that scientific conclusion. It’s not an opinion. It’s fact: sexual orientation is not a choice. Behavior is a choice. Like when a gay man chooses to behave as if he were straight. Even if he manages to marry a woman, and father some children. It still doesn’t change his innate sexual orientation. Just ask megachurch Pastor Jim Swilley:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/14/jim-swilley-gay-pastor_n_783279.html
Neil
December 10th, 2013
It’s practically a truism of public life that the more widely you publish your opinions, the more likely you’ll receive attention from all manner of unbalanced people. You don’t even need to have a controversial message.
LGBT people, on the other hand, are not merely subject to threats, but actual physical assaults in public. Professional organisations exist that make it their business to promote the criminalisation and incarceration of LGBTs, using every vile, slanderous rhetorical trick in the book to help their cause.
Many of those same organisations champion countries with legal regimes of imprisonment and worse while ignoring the existing violence against LGBTs in those countries.
In context, the concerns of Glatze about a few internet trolls seem rather shallow.
Ben in Oakland
December 10th, 2013
Lots of people, usually homobigots, report death threats. Te ctual proof of said threats never seemsto be forthcoming. Every time they have Made that claim in court, it has been dismissed by the court as unsubstantiated.
All right, Mr. Glatze, time to show some actual proof. Substantial threats made to you or your wife by a verifiable and identifiable source who can be shown to be gay and who has acted with anti-Glatze motivations.
Victor
December 10th, 2013
We all know it is only a matter of time before this man is caught in a tryst with a rentboy or equality self-loathing staffer. His marriage to this lovely well-intentioned young lady is doomed and it, along with Glatze himself will soon be cast upon the dungheap of history along with all the others. It is pathetic. No one truly, safely ensconced in their heterosexuality would have the need to make of their own lives a public spectacle worthy comment, let alone death threats which I cannot conceive any LGBT person in their right mind would make. Glatze is a sad, sad man best left to the fate he has chosen. But something tells me the simple heterosexual life is not what he truly craves – because if he did he’d go off and live it and shut the hell up. His only identity is derived from his contorted ‘ex-gay’ celebrity status. And as everyone on Earth knows – except for Glatze and those who cling to his delusion – being “ex-gay” doesn’t make you straight.
Josh
December 10th, 2013
“I understand the desire to want me to be crazy, or lost in my head and mind, or confused. I understand that it would be just easier if I didn’t exist, or I would just crawl into a hole somewhere and die.”
I’m sorry, but you’re just not that important to me…. The experiences of a seemingly tiny group of ex-gays (or whatever he calls himself) don’t destroy my world view. Maybe a few of them actually can change their orientation, but even so it seems clear the vast, vast majority of us can’t, and it’s irrelevant for me personally anyway. I don’t believe in his god, though I understand the tremendous sense of community he’s gained through his fervent belief. (From another article on him, about coming out as gay: “instantly you gain a sense of community,” he said in an interview with Concerned Women for America. “You gain also a sense that you’re doing something important, that you’re fighting prejudice and you’re raising awareness, and I felt invigorated by that and I felt emboldened to want to fight for that,” he said.” Seems like he’s just doing the same thing now but from the other side? Maybe the message doesn’t matter as much as he thinks?)
That said, his letter makes him sound pretty crazy to me. For one thing, he’s shockingly positive. This is the best time of his life, it’s beautiful that others can have their own view point, etc., while simultaneously he fears for his life. It just seems unrealistic, or at least unsustainable. And, he makes no mention of going to the authorities with his fears for his safety. Instead he writes an article whose main impact will be to make fundamentalist Christians think gay people are so scared of what this man represents that we have to make death threats. The worst current comment to the article says in part, “That is why i caution everyone to think hard about ‘coming out’ because once you do, generally you cannot change your mind without the entire gay mafia attempting to target you for death.” (That comment has 2 upvotes and no downvotes. Not a lot of traffic yet, I guess.)
I wish him all the best, but my initial opinion is that he sounds like a high functioning, eloquent, crazy person.
Hunter
December 10th, 2013
Two points:
“(though it’s unclear why he thinks that WND is the best vehicle to reach gay people, hateful or otherwise)”
What makes you think he’s trying to reach gay people? It’s showtime — posturing, if you will. “Brave, lonely me, the eternal victim.”
“I’ve not heard back from Michael, but I’ll certainly let you know whether he replies with any verifiable legitimate threats. Or if he doesn’t.”
I’m betting on the latter, because I strongly doubt that there are any legitimate threats.
Ryan P.
December 10th, 2013
I wish Michael all the best in his choice. If he chooses to change, that is his choice. Remember that in the end, we all are where we are because of choices. We choose to be out in the open rather than be in the closet. It isn’t an easy decision. I know of family pressure to be something I am not and I chose to be who I am instead of what my family wanted me to be. It ended up costing me a family, but I gained a whole family within the community and my birth mother and uncle (I am adopted).
That being said, to be Christ-like, we should accept his choice and be supportive not demeaning or rude to anyone that does not think like us or want us around. If he chooses to post in anti-gay blogs, I would hope that he would post concepts about being loving toward others as Christ taught.
This is just my two cents worth.
Lord_Byron
December 10th, 2013
If he received any actual threats I condemn the actions of the person or persons threatening Michael. Having said that I doubt that he will verify if he actually received threats or what he perceived as threats.
I also doubt that he received real threats and it seems to me, again personal opinion, that he is suffering from a bit of a martyr complex. Personally I don’t care what he thinks as he is irrelevant to my life. As others stated in the other post I do take umbrage with the policy aspects of what he says and does.
Steve
December 10th, 2013
Don’t believe a word. He’s a pathological liar.
Roger
December 10th, 2013
Josh is so absolutely right.
Michael, doesn´t need anyone to make himself look like a lunatic. he´s doing a great job without any help…
Any sane person who received a life threat would be running to the police/FBI, whatever. he went to… Peter LaBarbera.
What else is necessary to show how desperatly he craves for attention?
This is the kind of damage homophobia does to people´s soul. It´s sad, really heart breaking.
Corey Mondello
December 10th, 2013
I honestly doubt he got even one “death threat”. If someone told him to “kill yourself” or “you should be wiped our” is NOT a death threat, but I see our friend has figured out how to get in good with conservative Christians: become a victim!
Richard Rush
December 10th, 2013
Just a few snippets from the WND article that I found odd:
“And since, fortunately for me and for my friends and family, I’m not dead yet, I’m kind of happy about the fact that life continues to be something I am able to enjoy.” (kind of?)
“. . . I would like to say this: I love my God. I love my life. I am grateful for every breath. I am grateful to God for humanity. And I am so grateful for Rebekah.” How did he manage to omit saying, “I love my Rebekah?” Is he just “grateful for Rebekah” because she agreed to be his beard?
“Rebekah is a wonderful person. We are made for each other. It is really cool to finally get to be married, after living in different walks of life and avoiding marriage at all costs since I was a teenager. I am now almost 40 years old!” (A new NOM bumper sticker: “1m1w marriage is really cool“
Priya Lynn
December 10th, 2013
Enough of this hand-wringing over BTB readers sending Michael emails.
This isn’t some ticking bomb ready to go off. Anti-gay activists get tons of email from gay supportive people and there’s just about never something in them they can use against the equality cause.
When anti-gay activists do receive death threats they parade them far and wide to show how persecuted they are. If Michael had any actual death threats he’d be bragging about them long and loud by displaying their actual text.
CPT_Doom
December 10th, 2013
I find it ironic that Mr. Glatze has, by his own admission, chosen to join the most violent subculture in our society – straight men – and is now complaining about threats of violence. Which group exactly is responsible for the overwhelming majority of murders, rapes, assaults and all other violent crimes? It sure ain’t gay men.
iDavid
December 10th, 2013
The more distraught a lost gay soul is about there religion/sexuality, the more likely it is they will marry a beard. This is nothing short of a gay beard marriage.
To stay in the limelight about it is just more drama of his unresolved self, hoping for redemption by an unknowing straight public who has absolutely no reality on what being gay actually is, or who Glatze really is inside. Straight freaks just want him straight, they don’t care one iota about his authentic self, and have convinced him he shouldn’t either.
Poor guy, he drank the coolaid and is in a phobic state fearing for his life; at least so he says though I sense a smirk of lying coming from his calculating inventions.
Nevertheless, it’s not people outside of him that will “get him”, or that he should fear; it’s his own soul that will deal the final blow to his over done and very confused ego. The sooner the better for all the damaged souls involved in his unfortunate charade.
iDavid
December 10th, 2013
PS The ultimate death knell: Not that this may make any sense, but who can actually kill someone whom a death threatening fear “god” has already murdered?
I would think the best he could possibly do now, is allow himself to be raised from the grave. And who can do that? He can; by applying authentic reason coupled with common sense.
Michael
December 10th, 2013
Hi everybody. Just one more attempt… if you would like the actual truth about me, rather than just sitting here and talking about me in all these ways, as if I don’t exist, my personal e-mail account is [Redacted]. I believe that the truth is more powerful than lies, and that there are some people more interested in the truth than in lies, which is why I am posting my e-mail address here – for those people.
As far as those who *aren’t* interested in the truth?? Well, I can’t do a whole heck of a lot about that. More than likely, those people (who may be you, reading this) will continue to talk about me behind-my-back, making insinuations about my character, etc., etc. But, let it be made clear that the actual Michael Glatze has attempted to reach out and say, “hey… I am real. I do have a real life. I have a right to my viewpoint, and my religion. And, if anyone is interested in actually hearing from me, here you go.”
Michael
Michael
December 10th, 2013
note: now, BTB has taken out my e-mail address from my comment. So, how is someone supposed to reach me? Oh, right… no one actually ever wanted my side.
Just let it be made clear – my attempts to reach out to you, people whom I have not met – are now being stifled by the editorial viewpoint of BTB. Let’s just not pretend this is any sort of open dialogue, or honest conversation.
Again, if anybody is actually interested in honest conversation, my e-mail address is [Redacted]
Timothy Kincaid
December 10th, 2013
Michael,
We think it best that communication between you and our readers be subject to public scrutiny. You are free to say whatever you like here, your views will not be edited.
But your personal email will not be posted here. I very much wish to avoid any threats against you, real or perceived.
David in the O.C.
December 10th, 2013
I just noticed this snippet that Richard posted above:
“It is really cool to finally get to be married, after living in different walks of life and avoiding marriage at all costs since I was a teenager. I am now almost 40 years old!†(A new NOM bumper sticker: “1m1w marriage is really cool“)
The bumper sticker comment got my attention. Aligning yourself with NOM is pathetic; and promoting heterosexual marriage when you clearly aren’t heterosexual is truly sad. I take great offense that Michael hasn’t just decided how to live his own life, but he’s also decided that gay people (that don’t pretend to be straight like him) shouldn’t be able to marry the person that they love. No one in society prevented you from getting married (regardless of your actual sexual orientation). If you actually respected the lives of other people and their own personal choices, you’d extend the same courtesy to gay citizens as well. The 5-year marriage to my husband doesn’t impact your life, and it literally isn’t any of your business.
Anyone that is standing in the way of another person’s liberty and freedom is anti-American as far as I’m concerned; and the gay community (and their straight allies) will do everything in their power to prevent people like you from forcing their CHOSEN religious ideology on the rest of us. You don’t have the right to do that in our secular society.
Ben In Oakland
December 10th, 2013
What is the truth, said jesting pilate, and would not stay for an answer.
Priya Lynn
December 10th, 2013
Michael said “I have a right to my viewpoint, and my religion.”.
No one said you didn’t, stop pretending anyone’s said that to you. You just make that claim in order to pretend you’re defending yourself when in fact you’re attacking innocent gays and lesbians. What you don’t have a moral right to do is to oppose equal rights for gays and lesbians
Roger
December 10th, 2013
Oh dear the deranged mythomaniac is complaining about the lack of HONEST conversation.
or is it just another desperate tentative to post his emails address not once but TWICE here at BTB in hopes that this time he´ll get a real death threat for him to show around, since it didn´t worked at the first time? Does he really think people are this stupid??
Nathan
December 11th, 2013
Micheal, you’re being fundamentally dishonest–and I’m not talking about your sexuality. You bemoan that gays aren’t respecting your life choices while at the same time refusing to extend any respect to ours. Please do us a small courtesy and stop pretending we’re the intolerant ones in this conversation–we’re not seeking to ban the legal recognition of your relationship.
I don’t condone any death threats, obviously. But, if you’re believe you’re feeling venom from the gay community, I can promise you it isn’t because you’ve chosen a somewhat unusual lifestyle in the form of an ex-gay relationship. It’s because you’re using that relationship as a bludgeon to beat us down by publicly siding with anti-gay forces.
You have to make a choice, Micheal. You can either keep your opinions and relationship a private and non-political matter–as you claim you desire–or you can be public about them and accept that people are going to criticize you for being intolerant. You can’t have it both ways.
iDavid
December 11th, 2013
Good to say that Timothy. If “the truth” is so difficult that he can’t say it on this blog, then he is too scared to be real and honest anyway. Seems he wants to be public but can’t seem to do it fully.
My bet he is way more attracted to men than women, but simply can’t deal on that issue with the inner pressure of all he thinks he needs to believe. It would be fine if he wasn’t taking the whole gay community down with his misery, not unlike any ex-gay i.e. Randy Thomas and Alan Chambers. They just love/hate those maniacal man-made erroneous biblical clobber passages way too much. It’s a religious addiction that hurts all, all too much.
It’s unfortunate they are so in love with guilt and fear. It actually must be very very very tough. He may very well be somewhat in love with his wife, but such dwindles and then the truth creeps in once again and things get strange. For goods sake lets hope he doesn’t start having children to bolster his low luster hetero-ness. One can’t argue with one’s sexual orientation and win. That bird has no wings.
Oh well, it’s his life.
katz
December 11th, 2013
Michael: Oh good, you’re back! So I’m still wondering if it’s possible for women to have a personal relationship with God or if they only relate to God through their husbands. Can you fill me in?
Sandhorse
December 12th, 2013
Katz,
If there is any merit to Michaels theory; that woman only relate to God through their husbands. Then the only outcome for Rebekah is that she will one day come to believe that God is a fairy tale.
iDavid
December 13th, 2013
Jesus’s Spirit United Within Football Players’ Scheming Plot
Unfortunately, this video is the kind of Christ centered support Glatze missed out on in his life. And though the kid who stars in this video is partially disabled, gay and bisexual people do not fall into this category. Nonetheless, had Glatze had true authentic Christian support taught by Jesus known only for a short time during and after Jesus departed the scene, his life struggles most likely would not have been nearly as difficult as he has chosen to make them out to be.
Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUhCucpRuX8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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