Box Turtle Bulletin

Not Gay

That’s what he says, anyway. Fair enough, but it’s still clear that this ‘mo is a queer as a three dollar bill.

At the 1:50 mark:

“Homosexuality is an abomination. It’s a sin that God will damn. If they stay in that sin, they will be damned to hell and rightly so. Because they need to be quarantined because they’ll continue in their rebellion and they’ll try to bring that gangrene into heaven, and God’s not having it.”

Hood tells his life story in another video here.

Update: The Recycle Your Faith web site, which appears to have produced this video, doesn’t seem to be a particularly anti-gay web site per se, but a site trying to foster dialogue. Here are two videos posted just last week which take a gay affirming view. And speaking of “not gay”, these videos feature someone else who is really not gay. Kathy Baldock, an Evangelical Christian, studied the clobber verses and decided that most of Evangelical Christianity — including Adam Hood — has it completely wrong about homosexuality. Her “rewind” video is particularly moving.

At the 3:00 mark:

The nastiest words I get are from Evangelical Christians… I am told that I’m going to hell, I’m told that I’ve got the blood of thousands of people on my hands, that I’m a tool of Satan, I’m called a really inappropriate word…”

Kathy has a blog here.

Heterosexual menace: the Smileys

In April 2008, John Smiley was enjoying a trip to San Francisco. He had spent the day at the zoo with his wife and two kids and then, he wrote, “this wonderful afternoon was followed by a great dinner and an announcement that the grandparents would watch the kids so Cindy and I could have a long overdue night out together.” But John’s night out with his wife ended in tragedy, a gun shot in the back.

When coworkers of Smiley, a prison guard, heard that he had been shot by an angry parolee, they rallied to help him. They donated their vacation time, provided emotional support, donated $30,000, and organized the annual annual John Smiley Golf Tournament to raise more funds.

And, of course, there was Smiley’s workers’ compensation claim, saying that because he was shot by a parolee that it was a job related injury worthy of $2.5 million.

But sadly there was a bit more to the story. Fraud investigators discovered a little detail that Smiley reported incorrectly. Smiley wasn’t actually shot by a parolee. (Sacramento Bee)

Court records say Smiley was shot in the predawn hours of April 27, 2008, after going to a swingers club with his 36-year-old wife, where they engaged in sex with strangers. A dispute arose after Smiley’s condom broke while he was having sex with a woman he had just met, and her companion later confronted Smiley outside and shot him, court records indicate.

So the Smileys now face prison for felony fraud charges.

Who can deny the notorious promiscuity that is rampant in the heterosexual subculture – and which often continues even after two heterosexual adults have children. The heterosexual community’s normative acceptance of casual sex, anonymous sex and nonmonogamy in couple relationships represents a dramatic departure from accepted norms and values.

If adult men and women chooses to embrace heterosexuality, that’s one thing. But a man and woman imposing their heterosexual lifestyle on innocent, impressionable children is something quite different.

We need to protect children from heterosexuals and their deviant lifestyle. It is wrong to force children into a situation where they have a man and women modeling immoral behavior — condemned by God and all major religions — as the most important role models in their lives.

Clearly heterosexuals cannot be trusted to raise children and for the sake of our future we must remove our precious young ones from their predatory grasp.

Today’s venture into the absurd, including most of the language, was inspired by Peter LaBarbera.

GOP Gubernatorial candidate marches in Boston gay pride

We are accustomed to Democratic candidates – often for high office – showing support and seeking voters among their gay constituents. But last weekend an event occurred that is telling about the future of our community. Charlie Baker, the Republican candidate for Governor, joined the Democratic candidate Deval Patrick, by marching in Boston’s gay pride parade.

Well, yes, it is Massachusetts. And Baker’s running mate is openly gay. But still, this is the GOP candidate.

And perhaps the most interesting aspect is that no one even seem to think that this is in any way interesting. No national party members are ranting. Local GOP officials are happy. Senators from Alabama and Oklahoma are not calling for his head. Rush isn’t frothing and Newt isn’t out looking for a write-in to support.

No one cares.

Oh, the MassResistance crowd is angry (especially because he marched with the guys who set up KnowThyNeighbor.org). But they can’t get anyone to return their calls these days.

And that is an encouraging sign.

The threat to DADT repeal may come from Obama rather than McCain

Two news reports offer an odd turn of events.

From the anti-gay uber-conservative Washington Times

No filibuster on gays

There will be no filibuster of the pending defense budget bill that contains a repeal of the military’s gay ban — at least not from Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who is leading the fight to preserve the ban.

Contrary to a smattering of press reports, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee is not trying to find the votes to block the bill, which may reach the floor next week. A filibuster takes 60 votes to override.

“Sen. McCain is not filibustering the bill,” his spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan told special correspondent Rowan Scarborough.

However that does not mean that the repeal will go through. From the AP

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says President Barack Obama could end up vetoing legislation that would lift the ban on gays serving openly in the military.
…
But Gates tells “Fox News Sunday” that Obama probably still would veto an upcoming spending bill that includes the repeal — if the bill also contains money for defense projects he says are wasteful.

If the bill is vetoed, the legislature will either override the veto or begin the process of revising the bill. It seems unlikely that there are adequate votes or political will to override the President. So political horse trading will resume.

Some legislators want to keep the spending in the bill so as to protect interests in their community. And DADT may become a bargaining chip because, let’s face it, very few legislators give our interests much priority.

Hawaii civil unions bill may be on the ‘possible veto’ list

Time magazine is reporting

On Monday, Hawaii Republican Gov. Linda Lingle is expected to include the civil unions bill on her list of bills she may veto. She has until July 6 to indicate her intentions. Otherwise, on that date, the measure will become law without her signature.

This is not a veto. This is, however, a way for the governor to buy another three weeks before she has to announce her decision.

In the meanwhile several businesses with a large presence in Hawaii have announced their support for the civil unions bill.

A week after issuing that statement, however, seven large businesses came out in support of the bill, the latest being the state’s largest health insurer, Hawaii Medical Service Association, which joined Time Warner Cable Inc., Marriott International Inc., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. , Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. and Aon Corp .

Heterosexual menace: pastor – son love triangle and murder

Things are not going well for the good people of First New Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Houston. First their church building mysteriously burnt down and then there were some rather peculiar allegations against their pastor (Houston Chronicle)

The son of a Houston minister told Harris County sheriff’s detectives he was paid to kill his father’s wife last month, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Pastor Tracy Bernard “T.B.” Burleson, 44, and his son, William Darnnell Fuller, 20 — both jailed without bail on charges of murder — also were having romantic relationships with the same woman, who is accused of trying to burn the murder weapon, according to detectives and court documents.

Both men are charged in the May 18 shooting death of Pauletta Ross Burleson, 56, at the family’s home in north central Harris County. The men’s romantic interest, Tyonne Marie Palmer-Pollard, 31, is charged with tampering with evidence.

Can you imagine the glee with which The Peter would leap on this story if any of the participants were gay?

Mayor Krieger, meet Maj. Rogers, a fallen hero who happened to be gay

The following is a reprint of an opinion editorial in the June 19, 2010 edition of the Arizona Daily Star. It reflects the views of the author and may not necessarily reflect those of other authors at Box Turtle Bulletin.

Jason Cianciotto and Major Alan G. Rogers at Jason's wedding on June 28, 2006

Maj. Alan Greg Rogers was killed by an improvised explosive device during his second tour of duty in Iraq on Jan. 27, 2008. I wish Yuma Mayor Al Krieger could have met Alan – his life and ultimate sacrifice exemplifies why Krieger owes gay and lesbian servicemembers far more than a faux apology for his recent statement about “limp-wristed” soldiers.

Over a decade earlier, Alan and I became friends while he was stationed at Fort Huachuca. His life was as complex as it was inspiring – he was adopted at 5 years old, an intelligence officer in the Army, an ordained Baptist minister, African American, and he also happened to be gay.

Alan loved serving his country, loved his Christian faith and was proudly gay. He not only refused to forsake any part of himself because of anti-gay discrimination, he gave his life for his country despite that discrimination.

After his burial in Arlington National Cemetery, The Washington Post published a story about Alan’s life, lauding him as a hero, the recipient of two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. However, many of us who knew Alan were struck by what wasn’t part of the story: the fact that he was openly gay and worked to overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Criticized for excluding such a significant part of Alan’s life, the Post admitted that “there was enough evidence – particularly of Rogers’s feelings about ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ – to warrant. . . . adding that dimension to the story of his life. The story would have been richer for it.”

In August 2008, that complete story was told by New Yorker magazine, in “A Soldier’s Legacy: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but Alan Rogers was a hero to everyone who knew him.” In the article, Alan’s friend Shay Hill shared that Alan believed “you don’t change the system by alienating those who are against you. You change the system by trying to convince those who are against you.”

Alan would have appreciated the opportunity to meet Krieger because he believed in creating change as an insider.

For example, as one of only 25 officers sent to Georgetown University in 2004 to earn a master’s degree in public policy, Alan analyzed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” for his thesis. He concluded that repeal “would yield higher readiness rates, save potential millions of dollars in investigations and discharge processing of gays and improve our overall national security posture.”

It was risky for Alan to write about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” while still enlisted, but he wanted to be a living example of why the military has more to gain than lose by welcoming gay soldiers.

He protected his 20 years of service by making personal sacrifices, including the ability to settle down with a partner while he was still enlisted. This was one of Alan’s goals when he retired, which he planned to do after returning from Iraq. He never had the chance.

In a letter Alan wrote to accompany his will, he concluded, “I know that I am going up yonder to be with my Lord. Please tell those who remain not to grieve too much but to have a big party and celebrate. . . . My only regret is that I have never found that special one to grow old with and watch the sunset with.”

It’s time to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” – for Alan and for the estimated 65,000 gay and lesbian soldiers who risk their lives for their country. If Krieger took the time to get to know even just a few of these heroes, I know he would agree.

For more information about Alan’s life, media coverage after his death, and a link to a PDF of his master’s thesis about “Don’t Ask, Don’t, Tell,” check out his biography page on Wikipedia.

Hawaii civil unions watch

Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle is returning from a trip to China and Japan today. She has stated that she will make her decision as to whether to sign or veto her state’s civil unions bill after this trip.

If she is going to veto the bill, she needs to inform the legislature by June 22nd, just a few days from now.

Tulsa passes protections

From Tulsa World

Champagne corks popped at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center on Thursday night after the City Council voted to add sexual orientation to Tulsa’s nondiscrimination policy.

Oklahomans for Equality members cheered and jeered at a rally as they watched councilors discuss the issue and their votes on a large-screen TV at the center.

“As a gay, black man in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it’s a monumental night,” said Tracy Allen, incoming volunteer coordinator at the center.

Yes. The Tulsa in Oklahoma. And the vote was 6 to 3.

Which means that it’s official. The Great American Culture War is over and we’ve won; now it’s all just a matter of time.

Zimbabwe bans gay activist from visiting US

In May, the police raided the offices of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) and arrested two staffers on “pornography” charges and for “undermining the authority of the President”. The raid and arrest appear to have stemmed from a letter sent to GALZ from former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown which was critical of President Mugabe’s campaign against the rights of gay and lesbian Zimbabweans. They were released on May 25, and have court dates in on June 30 and July 1.

One of the staffers, Ellen Chademana, had scheduled a trip to the United States prior to her arrest to take part in a training seminar. She was to leave today and return on June 28, in time for her trial.

But ZimOnline is reporting that the state has revoked the order of the court.

The state on Thursday barred a Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) staffer from travelling to the United States (US) after invoking a section of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (CPEA) to suspend an order granted by Harare Magistrate Don Ndirowei.

Lawyers for GALZ administrative assistant Ellen Chademana told ZimOnline on Friday that the state invoked Section 121 of the CPEA to suspend Ndirowei’s order granting temporary release of her passport and relaxation of reporting conditions to allow her to travel to the US for a six-day training course.

Summit County makes six

Utah’s on quite a roll. (SL Tribune)

Summit County has snagged the No. 6 spot on a growing list of Utah cities and counties that protect gay and transgender residents from discrimination.

This week, the Summit County Council voted unanimously, with two members absent but supportive, to pass two ordinances that forbid housing and employment discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Nazi’s get blamed for the darndest things

Godwin’s rule says “”As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.” Well, it appears that Godwin’s Law applies to political rhetoric offline as well.

Take for example this very creative take on history from Glen Urquhart, a Republican congressional candidate in Delaware. Mr. Urquhart appears to be explaining why it is that he supports a theocracy.

Urquhart: Do you know where this phrase, “Separation of church and state” comes from? Anybody know?

Unidentified man: I do

I know. But I’m the history teacher.

It was a letter.

Urquhart: Actually, that’s exactly not in Jefferson’s letter to Dansbury Baptist. He was reassuring them that our government wouldn’t transform their religion.

The exact phrase, “Separation of Church and State” came out of Adolph Hitler’s mouth. That’s where it comes from.

Next time your liberal friends talk about the separation of church and state, ask them why they’re Nazis.

Perhaps Urquhart should have listened more closely to the history teacher and less to the AFA’s Bryan Fischer. On January 1, 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to Danbury Baptist Association in which he included the following now-famous phrase:

I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.

And I’m pretty sure that Thomas Jefferson was not a Nazi.

Gay Christian Network Anounces “Reclaiming Christianity” Initiative

Guest author Justin Lee is the Executive Director of the Gay Christian Network.

Regular readers of Box Turtle Bulletin already know what damage the Christian community has often done to LGBT people, whether it’s going to Uganda to preach anti-gay messages or putting on ex-gay conferences like Love Won Out that teach parents to push their kids to become straight.

The way some Christians talk, you’d think that Jesus was a card-carrying homophobe whose public ministry consisted of preaching against homosexuality and “healing” people of “homosexuality demons.”

None of this is true, of course. As depicted in the Bible, Jesus spent his public ministry preaching a message of love and forgiveness, meeting people’s needs without judging them. He was most heavily criticized for being so accepting of the outcasts of his day. He never spoke a word about homosexuality; instead, the only people he publicly criticized were the self-righteous religious leaders who excluded others while glorifying themselves. And even though some believe that a handful of Bible verses cast a negative light on gay relationships, many Christians believe those passages have been misinterpreted, and they certainly don’t justify the kind of obsession we see in some Christian circles.

Nevertheless, many in the LGBT community are willing to concede the entire Christian faith to the likes of Fred Phelps and his “God hates fags” clan. They insist that Christians are beyond redemption, and that the only step forward for the LGBT community is to somehow rid the world of Christianity altogether. (I wonder how they plan to accomplish that!)

Those of us at The Gay Christian Network think otherwise.

We know that there are many LGBT and affirming Christians in the world. We know that too often, we’ve allowed the anti-LGBT Christians to speak for our faith while we remain silent. Frankly, they’ve been better organized and more vocal. And we aren’t willing to put up with that anymore.

Starting this weekend, we’re working with affirming churches from across denominational lines to begin a series of mini-conferences called “Reclaiming Christianity” as a way to take a stand. The events will include training in how to respond to Bible bashing, screening of a pro-LGBT Christian film called Through My Eyes, and group discussion on practical steps to take to combat homophobia in churches and local communities. We’d love the help of BTB readers in getting the word out.

The kickoff event will be this Saturday, June 19, in Raleigh, NC. After that, events are scheduled in Indianapolis, Birmingham, Detroit, and Houston, with more to follow. The events are being sponsored by local LGBT-affirming churches in each of these cities, and organized by The Gay Christian Network, an interdenominational nonprofit organization serving LGBT and supportive Christians around the world.

The Reclaiming Christianity events are designed to counter anti-gay and ex-gay events with an affirming Christian message. It’s time for our side to get as organized as their side is, and stop letting the ones with the megaphones define Christianity.

If you’re interested, we’d love for you to be a part of what we’re doing. Details are on the conference website at ChristiansWhoLove.com.

In the meantime, I’m listening. What do you think affirming Christians need to do to counter the anti-LGBT messages? And will the secular LGBT community ever be willing to work with them to make change, or have they been permanently been written off?

Southern Baptists support discrimination in the military

In a move which shocked absolutely no one, the Southern Baptist Church took yet another vote to make sure that everyone is absolutely clear that they don’t like gay people. They don’t like them in the church, they don’t like them getting married, and they don’t like them serving in the military.

In a long-winded declaration which decried “Normalizing the open presence of homosexuals in the armed forces” repeatedly, over and over, ad nauseum, the Southern Baptist Church declared:

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 15-16, 2010, affirm the Bible’s declaration that homosexual behavior is intrinsically disordered and sinful, and we also affirm the Bible’s promise of forgiveness, change, and eternal life to all sinners (including those engaged in homosexual sin) who repent of sin and trust in the saving power of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we oppose changing current law to normalize the open presence of homosexuals in the armed forces, and insist on keeping the finding of Congress that sustains current law, which states that even “the presence in the armed forces” of persons demonstrating “a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts” creates “an unacceptable risk to . . . the essence of military capability”;

Praise Jesus, feel the love. We can be “forgiven”, but not “normalized”. And all that normalization would “destroy the finest fighting force the world has ever known.”

Of course this is all out of love. And the Southern Baptists, they don’t hate us, nosiree.

Well I have a question for Dr. Land and his merry band of Baptists: if you love us so much, if your policy positions are not based on hate, then why is it that there is not one single, solitary, stand alone, sitting out there, mild little instance – not one – in which you haven’t taken the position which is most harmful to the lives, liberties, freedoms, and happiness of gay people?

Ever?

The evolving “purpose” of marriage

The very clear, not at all contradictory, easy as pie, self-explanatory, slap-happy purpose of marriage as laid out by Proposition 8 defender Chuck Cooper:

* the central purpose of marriage in virtually all societies and at all times has been to channel potentially procreative sexual relationships into enduring stable unions to increase the likelihood that any offspring will be raised by the man and woman who brought them into the world.

* we — as we attempt to step into the shoes of the state — don’t have to submit evidence to the Court in support of the claims of purpose and justification.