Saturday, February 27, 2010

Tea Party activist conjures up 'gay bowel syndrome'

Recently, I posted two interviews with discredited researcher Paul Cameron conducted by Midweek Politics Radio.

The response to these posts have been, in my view, successful. Many people who weren't aware of Paul Cameron became educated on his lies about the gay community.

But then there was a segment who asked why was I giving Cameron attention. They claimed that any focus on Cameron validated him. They were under the impression that if Cameron was ignored, he would go away.

Unfortunately, this mindset also includes other lies told about the gay community by religious right groups.

But what some in our community fail to understand is that these lies aren't going away and ignoring them won't make them disappear. They will continue to  be repeated and will continue to have the power to hurt the gay community. A perfect example is a recent incident during a Minnesota legislative hearing on marriage equality:

Barb Davis White, a Tea Party activist and Republican candidate for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, prompted shocked gasps from the packed hearing room when she said, “Rosa Parks did not move to the front of the bus to support sodomy.” Her testimony involved accusations that the movement for marriage equality is hijacking the civil rights movement.

“There is no difference between a black person and a white person other than their skin color when there’s a tremendous difference between a man and a woman,” said White, who was the GOP’s endorsed candidate against Rep. Keith Ellison in 2008. “Allowing a black woman and a white man to marry does not change the definition of marriage. However, allowing two men or two women to marry would fundamentally change that definition.”

White also garnered some laughs from the audience when she said, “Studies also show that the average homosexual has hundreds of sexual partners in his lifetime… and I repeat hundreds.”
“I’m here today to tell you that homosexuality and lesbian behavior is unhealthy,” claiming that gays and lesbians have higher rates of STDs than anyone else in the world, including “gay bowel disease,” an ailment that does not exist and is often used by religious right figures to paint gay men as diseased.

We as a community cannot cast aside the lies told about us anymore than we should ignore those who speak them. There are some things you can't sweep under the rug. They always have a way of coming back against you.

I think it's time we trot these lies out in the public as examples of  how deceptive religious right groups are. A lie is made powerless not by ignoring it but showering it with the truth.

Whether we realize it or not, all of the phony scare stories, the reliance on junk science, the truncating of public controversies can serve to backfire on religious right groups if  we used them to pose the following question: If these groups are moral and Christian, then why do they feel the need to lie on the gay community?


Bookmark and Share

Friday, February 26, 2010

Know Your LGBT History - Dracula's Daughter

Dracula's Daughter (1936) is one of my favorite movies for so many reasons, including the fact that it was the first vampire movie to incorporate lesbian attraction.

The movie is a sequel to Bela Lugosi's Dracula and tells how his daughter, Marya Zaleska (Gloria Holden) tries to free herself from the curse of vampirism.

According to wikipedia:

The lesbian implications of Dracula's Daughter were obvious from the start and were of great concern to the Production Code Administration. PCA head Breen took special notice of the scene between the Countess and her model, Lili, writing, "This will need very careful handling to avoid any questionable flavor." The day before the scene was to be shot, Universal's Harry Zehner asked Breen to read a draft of the scene. In response, Breen wrote:


"The present suggestion that...Lili poses in the nude will be changed. She will be posing her neck and shoulders, and there will be no suggestion that she undresses, and there will be no exposure of her person. It was also stated that the present incomplete sequence will be followed by a scene in which Lili is taken to a hospital and there it will be definitely established that she has been attacked by a vampire. The whole sequence will be treated in such a way as to avoid any suggestion of perverse sexual desire on the part of Marya or of an attempted sexual attack by her upon Lili."


Gay film historian Vito Russo noted in his book The Celluloid Closet that Universal highlighted Countess Zaleska's attraction to women in some of its original advertising for the film, using the tag line "Save the women of London from Dracula's Daughter!" He further cited Countess Zaleska as an example of the presentation of the "essence of homosexuality as a predatory weakness".[35] Some reviewers of the day picked up on and condemned the lesbian content, including the New York World-Telegram which noted the Countess's tendency to wander around "giving the eye to sweet young girls".

The infamous scene between Zaleska and Lili is seen below in the preview:



Past Know Your LGBT History postings:

Know Your LGBT History - Blacula

Know Your LGBT History - 3 Strikes

Know Your LGBT History - Paris Is Burning

Know Your LGBT History - The Women

Know your LGBT History - Soul Plane

Know Your LGBT History - The Player's Club

Special Know Your LGBT History - Fame

Know Your LGBT History - Welcome Home, Bobby

Know Your LGBT History - Barney Miller

Know your lgbt history - The Jerry Springer Show

Know your lgbt history - Martin Lawrence and that 'gay guy' on his show

Know your lgbt history - The Ricki Lake Show

Know your lgbt history - Which Way Is Up

Know your lgbt history - Gays in Primetime Soaps

Know your lgbt history - Boys Beware

Know your lgbt history - The Boondocks

Know your lgbt history - Mannequin

Know your lgbt history - The Warriors

Know Your LGBT History - New York Undercover

Know Your LGBT History - Low Down Dirty Shame

Know Your LGBT History - Fortune and Men's Eyes

Know your lgbt history - California Suite

Know your lgbt history - Taxi (Elaine's Strange Triangle)

Know your lgbt history - Come Back Charleston Blue

Know your lgbt history - James Bond goes gay

Know your lgbt history - Windows

Know your lgbt history - To Wong Foo and Priscilla

Know your lgbt history - Blazing Saddles

Know your lgbt history - Sanford and Son

Know your lgbt history - In Living Color

Know your lgbt history - Cleopatra Jones and her lesbian drug lords

Know your lgbt history - Norman, Is That You?

Know your lgbt history - The 'Exotic' Adrian Street

Know your lgbt history - The Choirboys

Know your lgbt history - Eddie Murphy

Know your lgbt history - The Killing of Sister George

Know your lgbt history - Hanna-Barbera cartoons pushes the 'gay agenda

'Know your lgbt history - Cruising

Know your lgbt history - Foxy Brown and Cleopatra Jones

Know your lgbt history - I Got Da Hook Up

Know your lgbt history - Fright Night

Know your lgbt history - Flowers of Evil

The Jeffersons and the transgender community   


Bookmark and Share

Religious right talking point about gay lifespan refuted and other Friday midday news briefs

Many patients diagnosed with HIV today will have normal life expectancies, European studies find - Religious right talking point destroyed!

Tony Perkins dished it, doesn't want to take it - Awwww! Tony Perkins' mouth got him in trouble.

According to Bryan Fischer, Christian Oppression Is Just Like Dred Scott & McCarthyism - The man needs professional help.

Dec. 8 vote to readopt Lesson 9 at elementary level violated Brown Act, plaintiffs argue - Oh good grief!



Bookmark and Share

ATTACK OF THE GAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Propaganda is defined by a specific type of message presentation, aimed at serving an agenda. Even if the message conveys true information, it may be partisan and fail to paint a complete picture.

Two years ago, the American Family Association released a video, "They're Coming To Your Town," which supposedly showed how gays supposedly took over the "Christian community" of Eureka Springs and turned it into a "nesting place for homosexuals."

Okay maybe my language is too intense but you simply have to see this video, which by the way is, of course, one-sided, has no basis in facts, and was either laughed at or ignored.

But the video does make a point. Forget that "we love them but we hate what they do" jazz. This pseudo Invasion of The Body Snatchers mess is how the religious right really sees us:









Bookmark and Share

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Why won't One News Now tell us what 'Miss Beverly Hills' said about gays?

The American Family Association owned news service, One News Now, is now weighing in on the "Miss Beverly Hills" controversy.

Lauren Ashley  an upcoming contestant in the Miss California beauty pageant  who was supposed to represent Beverly Hills recently came under fire for comments she made about gay marriage and gays in general:

"The Bible says that marriage is between a man and a woman. In Leviticus it says, 'If man lies with mankind as he would lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death and their blood shall be upon them.' The Bible is pretty black and white . . . "

"I feel like God himself created mankind and he loves everyone, and he has the best for everyone. If he says that having sex with someone of your same gender is going to bring death upon you, that's a pretty stern warning, and he knows more than we do about life."

Pretty stern stuff, even for One News Now because the "news service" doesn't tell exactly what Ashley said. But the article makes sure to take note of the backlash against Ashley, no doubt attempting to make her seem like an innocent Christian attacked by the so-called radical gay agenda:

Beverly Hills Mayor Nancy Krasne said Wednesday she is outraged over a Miss California USA contestant who is claiming to represent the city in the upcoming pageant and who spoke out against same-sex marriage in recent media interviews. Krasne said in a statement that 23-year-old Lauren Ashley does not live in Beverly Hills or represent the city in any capacity. Krasne said she was shocked to see statements made by a beauty pageant contestant under the name of Beverly Hills, "which has a long history of tolerance and respect."

Ashley recently told Fox News and other media outlets that same-sex marriage goes against God and the Bible.

Ashley's comments weren't that simple. She brought up images of death and "God's wrath" against the gay community. The question is why wasn't One News Now forthcoming about her words?

(Editor's note - It has been brought to my attention that One News Now merely repeated the Associated Press article which also did not go into detail as to Ashley's comments. I think that both publications erred in omitting these crucial details.)






Bookmark and Share

Why did Senator Scott Brown consort with a known anti-gay hate group? and other Thursday midday news briefs

It's a slow news day due to the healthcare summit. For those wanting a blow-by-blow account, you can go here at the Huffington Post.

Maryland to recognize gay marriages from other places - Excellent news from Maryland.

Scott Brown schmoozed tea baggers and MassResistance before voting with Harry Reid - What the hell is Senator Scott Brown doing consorting with a known anti-gay hate group?

Pa. court rethinks view on gays in custody cases - Another victory for us.


Bookmark and Share

Media Matters releases THE definitive debunking of DADT distortions

Media Matters recently released an excellent report debunking the myths and falsehoods spread about Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

I am publishing part of the report which features the distortions. Click on each distortion to see read the truth behind the lie:

MYTH: Don't Ask, Don't Tell is working

MYTH: Repeal would undermine morale and unit cohesion

MYTH: Military experts oppose the repeal of DADT

MYTH: The public does not support repeal of DADT

MYTH: Right-wing attacks on DADT repeal are not anti-gay

MYTH: DADT repeal would adversely affect retention 

MYTH: Experience of other nations aren't relevant because "nobody counts on" their armies

MYTH: Only progressives support the repeal of DADT

MYTH: DADT repeal would expose servicemembers to greater HIV risk




Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

South Carolina dating bill excluding gays sent back to subcommittee

Gays and lesbians and their allies in South Carolina won something of a victory today against a bill which excluded them:
South Carolina lawmakers put on hold Wednesday a youth dating violence that would exclude gay youths, but vowed to continue working on the measure in subcommittee.

The Senate Education Committee voted Wednesday morning to send the bill back to subcommittee, following a second failed attempt by Sen. Phil Leventis to delete the passage concerning sexual orientation.

The bill, introduced in the House last year by Rep. Joan Brady, would require the state Department of Education to develop a dating violence policy recognizing threats, physical or emotional abuse, or stalking occurring on school property, and referring the students to counseling.

. . . House Rep. Greg Delleney amended the bill in 2009 to define "dating partners" to apply only to heterosexual couples. The exclusion of same-sex relationships has drawn much criticism, with gay rights advocates saying the measure further discriminates against students who are already vulnerable to bullying, depression and self-doubt.

Rep. Delleney said he fears including gay teens in the bill's protection would lead to teaching in middle and high schools about same-sex relationships.

"The problem is, the language lessens one group of people over another, and that's wrong," Sen. Joel Lourie said on Wednesday

Although details are sketchy right now, from what I understand members of the SC Pride Movement, SC Equality, and Palmetto AIDS Life Support came out in full force at the meeting.

What happens next is anyone's guess, but for those keeping score, that's two victories for South Carolina's gay community against this exclusionary bill.

Last year when the bill was introduced, the community raised enough fuss to get it tabled.


Related post:

Will the South Carolina Legislature abandon gay teens?




Bookmark and Share

Liberty Counsel finally speaks on Lisa Miller case and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Don't Lie, Don't Misinform - Media Matters joins effort to demand the truth be told about Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Myths and falsehoods on Don't Ask, Don't Tell - Speaking of which, Media Matters also turned out this excellent report on the falsehoods regarding Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Liberty Counsel Finally Breaks Its Silence On Lisa Miller, Loses Similar Fight In California - It's a miracle. Now put Mat Staver on a lie detector.

NARTH misuses suicide statistics to undermine "partnership privileges" for gay men - And should we be surprised?


Bookmark and Share

Not another homophobic beauty queen!

As Carrie Prejean fades from the public view, the gay community has to deal with yet another loudmouth beauty queen from California.

And if you ask me, she makes Prejean look like Mother Teresa:

Carrie Prejean isn't the only beauty queen open to expressing her objection to same-sex marriage.

Miss Beverly Hills 2010 Lauren Ashley is also speaking out in support of traditional nuptials.

"The Bible says that marriage is between a man and a woman. In Leviticus it says, 'If man lies with mankind as he would lie with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death and their blood shall be upon them.' The Bible is pretty black and white . . . "

"I feel like God himself created mankind and he loves everyone, and he has the best for everyone. If he says that having sex with someone of your same gender is going to bring death upon you, that's a pretty stern warning, and he knows more than we do about life."

It's interesting how the Fox News article tries to sugarcoat Ashley's comments and underplay that part about Leviticus. Although the irony is that if she truly followed Leviticus, she wouldn' be half bare assed on a stage seeking a beauty crown.

The article goes on to say that she is echoing the comments which got Prejean in trouble and this is no true. God forbid that I look like I'm defending Prejean, but she never said a word about gays and death.

Of course there is an upside to this. Having learned their lesson with the Prejean affair, I don't think anyone is going to be anointing Ashley as the newest victim of political correctness. Although from reading the article, Ashley comes across as someone who wouldn't even say the word "doodie" for fear that it's profanity. She is a perfect religious right spokesperson.

But let's be real. Her comments are so damn mean. I'm almost want to see the religious right try to defend her nonsense.



Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Arrest ordered for Lisa Miller - it's about time

From Virginia AP News:

A Vermont judge has ordered the arrest of a woman who has refused to turn over her 7-year-old daughter to her former lesbian partner.

Family Court Judge William Cohen found Lisa Miller of Forest, Va., in contempt of court during a hearing Tuesday and issued the arrest warrant.

Miller was ordered to surrender custody of her daughter on Jan. 1 but failed to do so and has since disappeared. Their daughter is now considered a missing person.

I'm not featuring this post as a celebration but a prayer that this situation reaches a resolution.

Right is right and wrong is wrong and I'm sorry for those who do not share this opinion, but Miller has been wrong from the get-go. She agreed to raise little Isabella with Jenkins and then continued to play games in order to shirk the agreement. She continued to be in contempt of court orders and it is her fault she lost custody of little Isabella.

And now she is reduced to kidnapping. She needs to own up to her responsibilities like a real woman should.

What type of example is she setting for little Isabella?

Related posts:

Isn't it a shame when the kidnappers of children get no respect?

Janet Jenkins/Lisa Miller case gets Nightline treatment

FRC's Peter Sprigg voices support for kidnapping of child in custody case

Liberty Counsel attacking lgbt parenting again but won't comment on Jenkins/Miller case

Washington Post columnist: Lisa Miller needs to come out of hiding and face her chaos

Janet Jenkins pleads for help in finding her daughter

Janet Jenkins/Lisa Miller custody case still not resolved despite judge's orders

Jenkins gets full custody

Lesbian mother wins custody case against 'ex-gay' former partner

Stop misrepresenting the Lisa Miller/Janet Jenkins custody case


Liberty Counsel uses bad logic to deny lesbian the right to see her child


Mrs. Kramer Vs. Mrs. Kramer




Bookmark and Share

Cliff Kincaid losing his mind and other Tuesday midday news briefs

Cliff Kincaid of Accuracy in Media is Absolutely LOSING IT Over GOProud’s Presence at CPAC, Claims Gays are “Infiltrating” Conservatism - This GOProud controversy does have some benefits.

WV Couple Denied Apartment - Which is why we need ENDA.

Minnesota Lawmakers Debate Gay Marriage - And they are pro-gay bills!

Missouri university board member resigns after gay slur - Awww poor baby!

Army Leaders Oppose Moratorium on Gay Military Discharges - Uh Oh.


Bookmark and Share

Free Republic freak out over Sorba-GOProud feud

I went on the right-wing Free Republic site to get opinions on Sen. Lieberman's decision to introduce a bill repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Believe it or not, there was only one article with very few comments about Lieberman. The bulk of articles (14 at last count) centered on the recent controversy regarding Ryan Sorba of California Young Americans for Freedom condemning CPAC for allowing gay Republican group GOProud to attend and how he got booed from the stage:




Some comments from the wolves include:

I knew this was going to be bad news when the homosexual group GOProud started crowing about their mission to normalize the gay lifestyle. They have been quite open about wanting to introduce homosexuality into the armed forces and legitimize male/male 'marriages'. Only a few years ago, this would have been considered insanity. But we have become so desensitized to PC bs that now we are supposed to embrace it. God help our country if this is where the culture is headed.

I’ve notices on uptick of pro-gay “conservatives” in the last few days. It seems they want to infiltrate everything and destroy it. What’s worse is that as soon as they feel somewhat comfortable, this scum start making fun of social conservatives.

Ever notice how homosexuals usurp beautiful things from life and apply them as euphemisms for deviant behavior? The Rainbow, a symbol of God’s promise to Noah.
The word “gay”. Now “fudge”? Unacceptable. I love fudge and it is time we have draw the line. The F in FPAC more appropriately stands for “Fecal” . I’m sorry for being so crass but enough is enough.

Like all cases of homosexuals and pedophile rapists, you know that enforcing PC and killing the rape victim is a synonymous behavior.

That’s it. CPAC is now under control of leftard bloggers. Right after they let in GOProud, it was game over.

I am sure that the audience was salted with sodomites and their friends. Unfortunately, the sodomite lifestyle is full of pathologies, including their sex practices,drug and alcohol abuse, tendencies toward violence, grotesque promiscuity, lifestyle induced epidemic levels of STDs, obsession with having sex in public restrooms, public parks, and highway rest stops, and their sexual interest in children and adolescents. Media, sodomite advocacy groups, government agencies, and academia are trying to suppress or falsify information about these things, but you would have expected something better from CPAC than to treat the sodomites as if they are just another special interesat group in their hypothetical “Big Conservative Tent”.

The butt-poker who wrote the blog very liberally, pun intented, uses stock liberal words and phrases to confront Mr. Sorba. When the butt-pokers stop trying to set up their cruising farm-team by trying to sexualize 5 year-olds in our schools, I might cut them some slack.

Kick the fags out. They have a party - the other one.



No matter how bad I feel, I can always count on the folks at Free Republic to make me feel morally superior.



Bookmark and Share

Monday, February 22, 2010

Will the South Carolina Legislature abandon gay teens?

As you all know, there has been a small brouhaha in my state of South Carolina regarding a teen dating violence bill.

In May of last year, a bill was introduced in the SC Legislature that that required schools to create teen dating violence prevention policies. Rep. Joan Brady sponsored the bill. Another rep, Greg Delleney created an amendment requiring the bill to pertain to only heterosexual relationships.

Delleney said that he was afraid that the bill without the amendment would "force" schools to teach about same-sex relationships.

Because of this ridiculous amendment, a large group of gay and lesbian South Carolinians and their allies raised hell and held a press conference at the State House, leading to the bill being tabled.
However, the bill is not only back but recently came up for in discussion in the Senate Education Committee last week. The education sub-committee voted 3-2 to keep the discriminatory anti-gay language in the bill.

This coming Wednesday, the Teen Dating Violence Bill is one of six bills which will be discussed by the full committee (17 senators total).

And the situation gets more interesting, so to speak.

According to SC Pride Movement President Tamera Tedder, a representative of the SC Pride Movement spoke with Sally Coffin in regards to this meeting. Coffin handles K-12 legislation for Senator John Courson, who is the Chair of the Senate Education Committee. The representative learned from Coffin that comments from the public will NOT be heard at this meeting. Comments are only taken when the sub-committee meets, which occurred last week.

In other words, no one will be allowed to voice their opinion about the bill.

However, according to Tedder:

"While we cannot speak at the meeting, we can still show our disapproval by showing up at the hearing. We would like to have as many people as possible there to oppose the discriminatory language that is being used in this bill. The hearing will take place at 10:00 am in room 105 of the Gressette Building on the capitol grounds. There are 90 seats in the hearing room. Standing is not allowed and seats will go quickly."

Wednesday is going to be an interesting day at the State Legislature. And though I am not going to be able to make it, I will keep you posted on what happens.

Related post: 
Press conference justifies my faith in South Carolina




Bookmark and Share

DADT repeal moves forward? and other Monday midday news briefs

Lieberman to Introduce DADT Repeal Bill - How's this for a positive kick in the teeth?

General Petraeus: “I’ve Served With Individuals Who Were Gay And Lesbian” - That should piss off the right.

Stopping Gay Marriage Lowest Priority For CPAC Conservatives - A bit of sanity from the zanies.

Santorum Suggest Military Was 'Indoctrinated' Into Supporting DADT Repeal - And now a little santorum from Rick Santorum.




Bookmark and Share

Family Research Council echoes Paul Cameron on DADT

No matter how they try to disassociate themselves from him, no matter how they try to pretend that he has no influence on their claims about the gay community, some religious right groups seem to find it difficult to completely "quit" discredited researcher Paul Cameron.

Over a week ago, Cameron was interviewed on Midweek Politics Radio regarding a "new study" which he claimed proves that allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a bad idea.

According to Cameron, gays are four to seven more times likely to rape their fellow servicemen. He even says that some perpetrators of heterosexual sex assaults can be termed as gay because apparently some gay men "like women too."

Now due to Cameron's dubious history of bad studies, no one has paid attention to his "new study"  and it hasn't been cited, at least not by name.

Has it been surreptitiously referred to by the Family Research Council?

This came from a  recent fundraising email by FRC head Tony Perkins:

As a veteran of the Marine Corps, I believe the President's timing on this issue shows he is willing to jeopardize our nation's security to advance the agenda of the radical homosexual lobby. We can't let that happen.

Our military exists to fight and win wars, not engage in radical social engineering. Forcing soldiers to cohabit with people who view them as sexual objects would inevitably lead to increased sexual tension, sexual harassment, and even sexual assault. 

And just so you know, it was FRC who made put that second paragraph in bold letters. So now the organization is outwardly saying that allowing gays to serve openly in the military will lead to sexual assault over a week after Cameron claimed that he has a study proving this.

Coincidence? Maybe.

But knowing FRC's past history of citing Cameron's discredited work or bad theories, maybe not.



Bookmark and Share

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Black History Month LGBTs of color - James Baldwin

I confess that I have been a little lax on this series. I blame it on the religious right. But anyway, let's talk about one of my special heroes:

James Baldwin

When James Baldwin was an infant, his mother, Emma Berdis Joynes, moved to Harlem, New York, where she married a preacher, David Baldwin, who adopted James. The family was poor; and James and his adoptive father had a tumultuous relationship. James Baldwin attended the prestigious DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, where he worked on the school magazine together with Richard Avedon.[2] At the age of 14, he joined the Pentecostal Church and became a Pentecostal preacher.

When he was 17 years old, Baldwin turned away from his religion and moved to Greenwich Village, a New York City neighborhood, famous for its artists and writers. Here, he studied at The New School, finding an intellectual community within the university. Supporting himself with odd jobs, he began to write short stories, essays, and book reviews, many of which were later collected in the volume Notes of a Native Son (1955).

During this time Baldwin began to recognize his own homosexuality. In 1948, disillusioned by American prejudice against blacks and homosexuals, Baldwin left the United States and departed to Paris, France.

In Paris, Baldwin was soon involved in the cultural radicalism of the Left Bank. His work started to be published in literary anthologies, notably Zero, which was edited by his friend Themistocles Hoetis and which had already published essays by Richard Wright. He would live as an expatriate in France for most of his later life.

On November 30, 1987 Baldwin died from stomach cancer in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. He was buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, near New York City.

James Baldwin's candor about being gay is why I admire him the most. The following is a small clip about his life:



Past Black History Month lgbts of color posts:
 
Nell Carter

Sylvester

Paul Winfield

Barbara Jordan  


Bookmark and Share

Friday, February 19, 2010

Know Your LGBT History - Blacula

Let's bring down the craziness of the week a bit with this entry of Know Your LGBT History:

In spite of its name and reputation for being a blaxploitation film, Blacula (1972) is actually a good movie with genuine scares in some places.

The movie is about an African prince who is cursed with vampirism by Dracula after an attempt to get him to stand against the slave trade. He is awakened in the 20th century where he causes extreme mayhem while searching for the reincarnation of his true love.

A big plus of Blacula is the portrayal of the title role by Shakespearean actor William Marshall, which is another example of how talent can take a bad movie and make it into something more.

You actually feel sorry for him in some scenes, especially at the end. And this could probably be a first. How often do you feel sorry for a bloodsucking creature of the night?

But for the purpose of this blog, the following scene shows how Marshall's character (who is not named Blacula, but Mamawaulde) is awakened by two gay men.  No they don't try to have sex with him. They bought his coffin  with other antiques during a rummage sale:



Past Know Your LGBT History postings:

Know Your LGBT History - 3 Strikes

Know Your LGBT History - Paris Is Burning

Know Your LGBT History - The Women

Know your LGBT History - Soul Plane

Know Your LGBT History - The Player's Club

Special Know Your LGBT History - Fame

Know Your LGBT History - Welcome Home, Bobby

Know Your LGBT History - Barney Miller

Know your lgbt history - The Jerry Springer Show

Know your lgbt history - Martin Lawrence and that 'gay guy' on his show

Know your lgbt history - The Ricki Lake Show

Know your lgbt history - Which Way Is Up

Know your lgbt history - Gays in Primetime Soaps

Know your lgbt history - Boys Beware

Know your lgbt history - The Boondocks

Know your lgbt history - Mannequin

Know your lgbt history - The Warriors

Know Your LGBT History - New York Undercover

Know Your LGBT History - Low Down Dirty Shame

Know Your LGBT History - Fortune and Men's Eyes

Know your lgbt history - California Suite

Know your lgbt history - Taxi (Elaine's Strange Triangle)

Know your lgbt history - Come Back Charleston Blue

Know your lgbt history - James Bond goes gay

Know your lgbt history - Windows

Know your lgbt history - To Wong Foo and Priscilla

Know your lgbt history - Blazing Saddles

Know your lgbt history - Sanford and Son

Know your lgbt history - In Living Color

Know your lgbt history - Cleopatra Jones and her lesbian drug lords

Know your lgbt history - Norman, Is That You?

Know your lgbt history - The 'Exotic' Adrian Street

Know your lgbt history - The Choirboys

Know your lgbt history - Eddie Murphy

Know your lgbt history - The Killing of Sister George

Know your lgbt history - Hanna-Barbera cartoons pushes the 'gay agenda

'Know your lgbt history - Cruising

Know your lgbt history - Foxy Brown and Cleopatra Jones

Know your lgbt history - I Got Da Hook Up

Know your lgbt history - Fright Night

Know your lgbt history - Flowers of Evil

The Jeffersons and the transgender community  




Bookmark and Share

More anti-gay insanity courtesy of CPAC and other Friday midday news briefs

Elaine Donnelly and pals 'inform' CPAC about the dangers of DADT repeal at presser - After the Stephen Baldwin dig at Obama (see below), I think that I'm done with CPAC.

Stephen Baldwin On Obama: 'Homey Made His Bed' (VIDEO) - Nothing says "intestinal disorder" quite like conservative Christian implied racism. I said it once and I will say it again -  Stephen Baldwin was sooo much more useful to the universe when he was showing his bare ass in B-rated movies.

Turns Out Everyone Who Opposed Bob McDonnell Was Right - A certain governor seems to have declared war on the rights of gay citizens.

Frank: House on track for ENDA passage, ‘less sure’ about Senate - The Beach Boys said it best - "wouldn't it be nice."

Why This Black Gay American Still Supports President Obama - Good perspective from Earl Fowlkes.  Everyone need to read this.



Bookmark and Share

Thursday, February 18, 2010

World Net Daily writer evokes Martin Luther King, Jr. in support of Ugandan 'kill the gays' bill



The above video is the essence of the term "going too far."

This video by World Net Daily writer Molotov (and believe me when I say that the name fits) Mitchell has been around for months. It was shocking when I first saw it and when I view it now, I am still repulsed.

In this video, Mitchell criticizes Rick Warren for speaking out against the infamous Ugandan "kill the gays" bill.

And just so that no one mistakes his position, Mitchell goes into detail as to why he thinks Uganda is correct for pushing this bill, which goes as far as punishing gays and lesbians with the death penalty.

Amongst Mitchell's points:

The Bible is totally on Uganda's side,

Uganda is merely reacting because an "evil homosexual king, Mwanga" raped young boys and murdered a group of them who would not have sex with him (never mind that this incident took place between the years of 1885-1886),

Uganda "doesn't want to kill homosexuals, they just want them to stop practicing homosexual acts,"

If gay Ugandans don't like the law, they can leave,

and the Founding Fathers would have agreed with Ugandans. I believe his words were (at 2:51): "Ugandans are making decisions that our very Founding Fathers made so long ago but we are terrified to touch today."

But the most offensive item from this video comes at 3:00 when Mitchell actually evokes the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to justify not only this bill but his labored defense of it: "Like the great Dr. King told us, 'the moral arm of the universe is long but it bends towards justice.' Ugandans, stay on the right side of history."

Mitchell's diatribe is probably the most disgusting thing I have ever seen and the fact that he actually evokes the words of Dr. King, a man who died for the causes of justice and nonviolence, to support a bill which would create genocide is beyond foul.

And it further illustrates the futility of the argument taking place between the gay and black communities about whether or not the civil rights movement of yesterday is the same as the gay rights movement of today.

Both communities need to recognize that while they are playing a useless game of position, people who share both identities (gay and black) are getting wiped out.



Bookmark and Share

CPAC welcomes homophobes and other Thursday afternoon newsbriefs

Meet CPAC speaker, "XPAC" youth outreach leader and gay-hating bigot Kevin McCullough - The title of this post states the obvious but I've jumped all over Kevin McCullough on several occasions for inaccurate homophobic statements he has made. It's time for someone else to get in on the fun.

Video: And the winner of #CPAC10's 'Who'll 1st liken us to Hitler?' contest is... - And where would a right-wing conference be without ugly references to our families?

Lesbian Mayor E. Denise Simmons Joins Senate Race - One story you probably won't hear about. Click on title to see why.

Black and Openly Gay New President for Grinnell College - Another story which needs more attention.

VA Anti-Gay Gov. McDonnell Strips LGBT Employees of Protections - And we should be surprised because . . .?




Bookmark and Share

'Kill the gays' bill supporter reduced to showing gay porn in church

It's getting increasingly clear that neither Peter LaBarbera nor Paul Cameron has anything on anti-gay Ugandan pastor Martin Ssempa when it comes to stigmatizing the gay community or being a walking Freudian slip.
Check out his lastest exploit:

A pastor seeking to bolster Uganda's anti-gay laws which already make homosexuality punishable by life imprisonment screened gay porn in a Kampala church Wednesday in a bid to drum up support.

The screening was attended by around 300 supporters crammed into an evangelical church in the Ugandan capital after plans for a "million-man march" were thwarted by police.

"We had planned to have a million-man and -woman march in Kampala but unfortunately we were told that we could not march because of security concerns," Martin Ssempa told the crowd.

"The major argument homosexuals have is that what people do in the privacy of their bedrooms is nobody's business but do you know what they do in their bedrooms?," the pastor asked.

Ssempa then displayed a slide show of gay pornographic pictures.

"This one is eating another man's anus (eds: correct)," the pastor said, before going into graphic scatological descriptions.

Of course some folks weren't happy over this:

Noma Pakade, from the African gay rights group Behind the Mask, accused the pastor of perpetuating violence by his anti-gay campaign.

"Showing pornography in church in the presence of minors is twisted homophobic propaganda, where homosexuality is equated to paedophilia and pornography," she told the BBC.

"It is not surprising, but rather disappointing, that in Africa in the 21st Century yet again discrimination and prejudice is legitimised through religion."

This isn't the first time Ssempa showed porn in order to stigmatize the gay community. Last month, he held a press conference showing alleged images of men eating excrement. Needless to say, the press conference didn't go well.

I'm praying that the horrid bill he supports doesn't become law, but already, I think, Ssempa has reached the plateau where people are wondering is he fighting against gays or maybe some hidden urges in himself.

Hat tip to the Huffington Post.

Bookmark and Share

Paul Cameron: Gays are 'compelled' to have anal sex



Last week, various blogs (this one included) brought you an interview with discredited researcher Paul Cameron from Midweek Radio Politics.

In the interview, Cameron claimed that according to a "new study" (done by him of course), gays serving in the military are four to seven times more likely to rape their fellow servicemen.

Just par for the course when it comes to Cameron's continued attempts to demonize the gay community.

Well believe it or not, there is a second part of this interview. It's shorter than the first and in it, the host proceeds to rip Cameron from one end to another. And Cameron's response is to talk about how gays are "compelled" to have anal sex.

The man is disgusting, but remember that he is also the one who formed the basic building blocks of religious right junk science used against the gay community.


Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Intersection between Christian beliefs and junk science is a dangerous location.

A situation which hardly ever gets discussed when it comes to opposition to gay equality is the bad intersection between Christian beliefs and distorted science.

To some who call themselves Christians, opposing gay equality on  religious grounds isn't enough. Some Christians align themselves in or with "traditional values" groups  and religious figures who have created a body of "scientific work" which supposedly proves that homosexuality in itself is a "dangerous lifestyle" that is indicative of dastardly deeds, sexually transmitted diseases, and an early death.

However it should be noted that this body of "scientific work" is rife with junk science and studies either cherry-picked or taken out of context.

A perfect example is a recent piece by Catholic Online entitled Opposing the Homosexual Agenda: Religious Bigotry or Science and Justice?. The author, Sonja Corbitt, tries to make the case that there are justifiable reasons to discriminate against gays and lesbians. And the research she cites is highly dubious:

A "Review of Research on Homosexual Parenting, Adoption, and Foster Parenting" was done by George A. Rekers, Ph.D., Professor of Neuropsychiatry & Behavioral Science, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina. It is a well-known review, and in it, Rekers cites numerous national and international studies that revealed:

• Households with a homosexually-behaving adult uniquely endanger children.
•Households with a homosexually-behaving adult expose children to significantly higher rates of psychological disorder, (particularly depression), suicide, and substance abuse in homosexually-behaving adults, which results in higher rates of child depression, child maltreatment and neglect.
• Households with a resident homosexually-behaving adult are substantially less capable of providing the best psychologically stable and secure home.
• Households with a homosexually-behaving male contribute to a potentially higher risk of removal due to the sexual abuse.
• A husband/wife relationship is significantly healthier and substantially more stable socially and psychologically.
• The best child adjustment results from living with a married man and woman compared to other family structures.

• Compared to a family without a homosexually behaving adult, empirical evidence and 30 years of Rekers´s own clinical experience with children strongly support the conclusion that a home with a homosexual-behaving individual subjects a child to a set of disadvantages, stresses, and other harms that are seriously detrimental to a child´s psychological and social development.

This review is an extensive survey of many, many studies and their research; the science behind it was used at state levels to guide public policy regarding child custody decisions, adoption, and foster parenting, as well as to defend and uphold laws to this effect in other states and on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America. These laws were upheld by the US Supreme Court.

At first glance, Corbitt's citation of Rekers sounds reasonable. But there are a few facts she omitted.

Rekers, a former professor at the University of South Carolina and a founder of the Family Research Council, has testified against the lgbt community in adoption cases.

In 2004, he was an expert witness in a case involving gay adoption in Arkansas. The state had banned gays from adopting in 1999. In January 2005, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Timothy White ruled against the state of Arkansas. Furthermore, he called Rekers' testimony "extremely suspect." He also accused Rekers of testifying solely for promoting his "own personal agenda."

In 2008, Rekers was also an expert witness in a case defending Florida's gay adoption ban. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cindy Lederman ruled against the state. In her decision, she said "Dr. Rekers’ testimony was far from a neutral and unbiased recitation of the relevant scientific evidence. Dr. Rekers’ beliefs are motivated by his strong ideological and theological convictions that are not consistent with the science. Based on his testimony and demeanor at trial, the court can not consider his testimony to be credible nor worthy of forming the basis of public policy."

Lederman may have been put off by the fact that Rekers said based on "research,"  a case could be made for banning Native Americans from adopting children.

Ugandan anti-gay bill may contain nasty loophole and other Wednesday midday news briefs

Loophole Allows Uganda to Execute Anyone ‘Related’ to Homosexuals - Why should anyone be surprised?

House of cards collapsing on opponents of gay soldiers - Yeah but how long will it take for DADT to be repealed?

Mullen finds ‘little resistance’ among troops to repealing DADT - Another bit of good news.

Independent evaluators concur: Democrats in Congress passed a stimulus bill that really worked - Not necessarily an lgbt issue per se but since folks are riding Obama like a prized pony, I felt the need to put this in.

Gay seniors program wins $475,000 grant - Again I thought that lgbt seniors didn't exist. Isn't that right, Tony Perkins?






Bookmark and Share

Group overusing the 'men invading women's restrooms' lie in Florida

Riddle me this - an organization uses a tactic against a non-discrimination bill which not only fails but fails overwhelmingly.

Should the organization use the tactic again?

Usually an organization wouldn't. But in this case, we are dealing with one of those pesky "traditional values groups."

In Gainesvile, FL, a group calling itself the Concerned Citizens of Gainesville are trying to keep Craig Lowe from becoming Mayor. They have two problems with him.

First that he is openly gay. Secondly that he helped to lead the effort to defeat a repeal of an anti-discrimination law last year. The repeal effort lost by a huge majority (61 percent). And what's more interesting is that supporters of the repeal (the losers) used the tired talking point of how the law would lead to men invading women's restrooms.

If the "bathroom"  tactic didn't work to repeal the anti-discrimination law, then what makes the "Concerned Citizens of Gainesville" think that it can defeat Lowe?

Never mind that Lowe has spent many years in public service, including serving on the Gainesville Commission since 2003 because to them, it's all about the bathrooms..

Those who want to support Lowe's campaign can go here.



Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Is supporting gays the same as supporting Nazis and pedophiles?

The city of Charleston in my state of South Carolina will be hosting its first Gay Pride.

Conservative columnist John Rackliffe isn't happy about that. Nor is Rackliffe happy that North Charleston's mayor Keith Summey has agreed to be the Grand Marshall of this event:

How should a Christian and former North Charleston resident react to such a gesture? Knowing what I know about how God feels about homosexuality, should I be supportive of the Mayor’s decision? After all, like Summey suggested, he is mayor for all of North Charleston’s residents no matter what their sexual preference. Perhaps, as an elected official, Mayor Summey cannot exercise his stated belief that he “is not supportive of their lifestyle.” Perhaps, he has no choice but to cater to the whims of his citizenry.

Mayor Summey has a choice. What if NAMBLA (look it up), wanted to hold a rally on the steps of North Charleston High School? Should the citizens of North Charleston tolerate it? How about the American Nazi Party? What if the wanted to celebrate Adolf Hitler’s birthday in Park Circle, should the people of North Charleston be accomodating because they have the right to express themselves too?

That sort of hyperbole is par for the course for Rackliffe, who has written other very interesting pieces on the lgbt community such as The homosexual agenda, 'out of the closet' and after your children.

Rackliffe's biography calls him a "born again Christian" who "desires to share his love of Jesus Christ with others through writing and civil discussion."  Comparing gays and lesbians to Nazis and pedophiles doesn't strike me as Christian and it certainly doesn't strike me as civil.

But I find his candor refreshing in its honesty.

There are some on Rackliffe's side of the spectrum who imply that gays are too pushy, too volatile, and therefore are causing problems with their attempts to "change" the view of supposedly what's normal. Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage seems to have cornered the market on phony piety, continuously wringing her hands in abject misery over being "unfairly labeled as a bigot simply because she wants to defend traditional values."

But however nauseatingly untrue Rackliffe's words are, it is nice for someone on his side of the spectrum to drop the mask and show what the push against gay equality is really all about.

It's about spreading ignorance and fear based on presumptions of religious superiority.

And in this case, it's about being extremely presumptuous regarding the role of public servants (i.e. elected officials).

Why else would Rackliffe criticize Mayor Summey for agreeing to show support to an event put on by law-abiding, tax-paying citizens and compound the verbal error by comparing these same citizens to Nazis and pedophiles?

Despite what some folks may believe, homosexuality is not against the law (although some people clearly wish that it would be) and there is no "gay lifestyle" (at least I haven't gotten the newsletter from "National Headquarters" detailing one).

 But gays and lesbians are contributing very much to society, living normal lives, and raising families.

Why should Mayor Summey treat them any differently than any other group of constituents?

By agreeing to be Grand Marshall, maybe Summey wanted to assure them that as an elected public official,  he represents their interests also. After all, isn't that his job?



Bookmark and Share

Blog swarm HRC on Don't Ask, Don't Tell and other Tuesday midday news briefs

DADT blog swarm: contact HRC to publicly demand the President to take the lead on repeal in 2010 - An excellent idea. Let's get on the ball here!

Police halts anti-gay demo as pro-gay activists secretly meet in Kampala - The situation regarding the Ugandan anti-gay bill gets more tense.

Smitherman is approved to adopt son - Excellent news on the family front.

The Right Wing's Meaningless Manifesto - Another $!*# declaration? How about a declaration AGAINST declarations?


Bookmark and Share

Another 'ex-gay' leader, another dubious religious leader

From the excellent site TruthWinsOut.org comes this revelation about another "ex-gay" leader:

A Truth Wins Out (TWO) and South Florida Gay News (SFGN) investigation revealed today that a Wall Street criminal mastermind who was convicted in 1987 of “fraud of spectacular scope” has secretly reinvented himself as a moral leader who “cures” gay and lesbian people. Known as “Abba Dabba Do” in the financial world, Arthur Abba Goldberg was sentenced to 18 months in jail for bilking poor communities with complicated bond schemes and served six months in prison.
“We have long considered Arthur Goldberg a con-artist, but our investigation shows he is also an ex-con,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. ”His diabolical past mirrors his dishonest present-day work with the ex-gay industry. Whether it was shady deals on Wall Street or shading the truth on gay issues, Goldberg is someone who lacks credibility and can’t be trusted.”
“Mr. Goldberg’s silence today about his illegal conduct yesterday is a clear indicator that 18 months in prison 20 years ago has not inhibited his willingness to deceive others in order to advance himself today,” said SFGN Publisher Norm Kent. “You free yourself by admitting your wrongs, not erasing them. Goldberg is hardly in a position to be advocating how gay men and women should be authentic with their own lives when he is a fraud with his.”
Upon completing his parole, Goldberg dropped his conspicuous middle name, Abba, and co-founded Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality (JONAH) in 1999.

He is currently the president of Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality (PATH), an umbrella group for “ex-gay” referrals and the Executive Secretary of the notorious National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). He is also the President of Congregation Mount Sinai, a temple in Jersey City and a Principal for the International Center for Gender Affirming Processes (CGAP). Goldberg is a key ex-gay industry insider and viewed as an architect of its strategy and message machine, says TWO and SFGN.

More here.

For those who are interested, I wrote a piece last year about JONAH demonstrating how it, like so many of these other phony "Christian" groups, distort legitimate studies to demonize the lgbt community.

Mr. Goldberg seems to have gone from one racket to another.



Bookmark and Share

Monday, February 15, 2010

Hypocrisy of the day - Gary Glenn (again)

Gary Glenn of the American Family Association of Michigan got a little press from the right-wing One News Now today:

A pro-family advocate in Michigan says he's honored to be on the front lines in fighting for First Amendment rights to speak out against homosexuality.

Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, is concerned that the "Hate Crimes Act" signed into law last year will be used to prosecute those who speak in favor of traditional biblical morality. He cites a personal example.

"Several years ago Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit and I were personally accused by the National Gay &Lesbian Task Force in a news release of being responsible for inciting the alleged beating death of a 72-year-old homosexual man in Detroit, merely because we had actively supported Michigan's Marriage Protection Amendment reaffirming marriage as only between a man and a woman," he remarks.

Glenn says aside from the fact that officials found that there was no assault and the man died of natural causes, it illustrates the point that preachers of biblical truth are being targeted. He encourages boldness.

"Don't be intimidated," he counsels. "Continue to speak biblical truth; continue to tell people that marriage is and always has been between one man and one woman -- that's what's best for society, best for children. And stand up against these continuing restrictions on the exercise of free speech."

Glenn is speaking of the case of 72-year-old Andrew Anthos, who died mysteriously in 2007. Anthos, shortly before his death, had told family members that he was attacked because of his sexual orientation. However, the police and medical examiners concluded that his death was the result of a fall and there was no evidence that he was attacked.

But Glenn plays a little loose with the facts regarding the Gay and Lesbian Task Force letter. This is what it said:

"For years, Michigan has been subjected to the homophobic rants of Gary Glenn of the American Family Association of Michigan, while so many otherwise good and decent people have been silent. Just two years ago, the state endured an ugly campaign, led by Cardinal Adam Maida, to 'protect marriage' by writing anti-gay discrimination into its constitution. Based on that amendment, a three-judge panel of Michigan's court of appeals voted last month to terminate medical insurance coverage for families of LGBT government workers throughout the state.

So while the letter did somewhat link him to Anthos's death (which was probably unfair), Glenn really has no right to plead total innocence here. He wasn't "merely standing up for marriage." The letter speaks to his long history of vilifying the lgbt community.

Like in 2006 when he spoke against gay/straight alliances in public schools because according to him, they "promote risky behavior,"

Or when he opposed anti-discrimination policies on the assumption that they would make bathrooms co-ed,

Or when he opposed anti-bullying legislation because according to him, it "promoted the homosexual agenda."

Or that ridiculous lawsuit he has help to launch against hate crimes legislation, legislation which does nothing to punish anyone for speech unless that speech is advocating violence,

Or last week when he declared that there should criminal sanctions against  "homosexual behavior." The discussion that he had with me afterwards in which he tried to justify his words only spoke to his desire to further stigmatize the lgbt community even to the point of using information designed to help us as a weapon against us.

And that's the huge hypocrisy of folks like Glenn. They claim that they are being attacked for merely standing up for "Christian values."  It's a good lie they tell as long as no one is made aware of low they stoop to defend their idea of morality.

UPDATE - Check out One News Now's "poll" on hate crimes legislation and the "variety" of questions it offers:
What kind of impact do you believe the Hate Crimes Act will have on freedom of expression for Christians? (related article)








Bookmark and Share