You can purchase an autographed copy of Anything But Straight by sending a $35 check or money order to:
-------------------------
Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
Unfortunately, this picture of Peter LaBarbera's Steamworks bathhouse card is only a spoof - just like his anti-gay work. For those who don't know, "Porno Pete" has attended more gay events than Mr. Leather, RuPaul and Mary Cheney combined.
Indeed, he was found picketing the tubs in Chicago last week during the Gay Games and protesting at Chicago's gay pride not long before that. This is nothing new for a man that has collected gay magazines and gone "undercover" to numerous gay events. But now that his secret is out in the open - he is angry and attacking me for telling the truth. Here is a letter he wrote to Planet Out because they mentioned his new nickname. My rebuttal comments are in red. ______________________________________________________________
"... (Porno Pete), why didn't you contact me first? Or do you always run with the most vicious smears just because a prominent gay activist uses them? Usually I get fair treatment in the gay press; not this time."(It is not a smear if it is true. LaBarbera's bizarre work involves a curious amount of time spent in porn palaces, S&M balls and bathhouses. He likes to discuss sexual practices that most gay men are even unfamiliar with. My first grade teacher would say he had a "potty mouth.")
"Yes, I once researched gay events, and still do occasionally, by attending them to get firsthand info."(Occasionally???? The issue isn't his "firsthand" account, it is that he keeps going back for second...third...fouth hand....opinions.)
"I sometimes went undercover so as not to get kicked out by "tolerant" gay activists (what are they trying to hide?). but other times I went openly, such as at the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Ass'n, where I once spoke at a panel debate opposite gay journalists dealing with whether the media has a pro-gay bias.(The first time I saw Peter was when he was undercover at a National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association meeting in New York in the early 90's. He was exposed by a journalist who knew his "Lambda Report" was an anti-gay publication. Since then, he has been at countless gay events, including press conferences. However, his aim has always been to distort GLBT life and demean our community. While I have let him into my events, it is entirely justifiable not to include a person whose chief aim in life is to insult gay people. LaBarbera has been particularly nasty towards transgender Americans and attacked me for supporting their rights. He has also made his living making sure that young gay kids continue to get beat up and harassed in school.)
No, I do not "collect" porn--never have--and I am not interested in or enjoy gay pornography. Frankly, it's pretty sick stuff, in my view. And no, I am not a homosexual nor did I ever struggle with those desires. (Isn't it funny how gay activists accuse their opponents of being homosexual as if that's the biggest slur they can come up with?) --(I have never claimed LaBarbera is a homosexual. I have just taken note that he enters the homosexual arena an inordinate number of times. He studiously avoids respectable gay venues and seems to find himself in sodomy dens. This, quite frankly, is weird and unnatural behavior. Pat Robertson is also anti-gay - but I have yet to see him at an S&M ball. Finally, homosexuality isn't the slur, as Peter suggests. What I am making fun of is a supposed "pro-family" advocate who has a taste for repeated exposure to the gay fringe underground.)
Wayne Besen relied on the false testimony of a former "ex-gay," Wade Richards, who worked a while for Americans for Truth before we (foolishly) urged him to speak at a press conference. Besen attended the event and apparently helped to recruit young Wade back into the gay life. Wade knew full well that my interests were as a critical researcher, but he wanted to strike back at me, so he accused me of collecting gay "porn."(First, I wasn't aware that LaBarbara had critical research credentials. His career pinacle was working for the Moonie Washington Times. Second, if LaBarbera had a problem with Richards, why did he use him as as a spokesperson? From my experience, Richards has been nothing but honest and trustworthy - the complete opposite of LaBarbera. Here is what Richards had to say about LaBarbera in my book, Anything But Straight:
"Peter was very intense," said Richards in Anything But Straight (Pg. 77). "The office freaked me out. I had never seen so much gay pornography in my whole life...It was crazy...[there were] thousands [of gay magazines] - all kinds...[He said they were] for research...I had no clue what fisting was until I met Peter LaBarbera...It was a crazy experience."
Richards wasn't "recruited, as Pete claims. No, he called me when he was ready to come out, citing that none of the "ex-gays" Peter hung around with had actually changed. It was Peter's failed program that led to him to call me.
Yes, I have purchased numerous gay magazine subscriptions and books over the years as part of my efforts to research the movement--just like some gay researchers peruse the writings of the Family Research Council or Dr. James Dobson. (Should we accuse "Ex-Gay Watch" of secretly supporting Christian conservatives because they spend a lot of time and energy researching them?) --(A moment ago, he accused Richards of misrepresenting the facts. One paragraph later, he admits that he has "numerous gay magazine subscription and books" supposedly for research. Sure, Pete, you need numerous subscriptions to do your job. I am a gay activist and I only have one gay subscription. It seems you protest a bit too much. And, ex-gay watch is collecting reading material, not straight skin mags.)
But, no, I don't "collect" gay porn. (You've told us already -- it's just research)
Wade lied to smear me, and Wayne never bothered to check his new recruit's "facts" because that would have gotten in the way of him slamming a right-winger, I suppose. (It was an eye witness account. If Peter wants to invite me to see his magazine collection - I'm all for it! I happen to enjoy porn, albeit in very small doses. I tend to get bored rather quickly, so I might only make it through part of Peter's first stack.)
The fact is, porn is a prominent part of the gay male world, and some magazines I collected had pornographic content (surprise!). --(And straight people don't read porn and watcch xxx movies? Maybe if he'd pry himself away from gay sex joints, he'd find the time to read straight porn mags, visit swingers clubs, film spring break sex orgies, frat house sex parties and whore houses in Vegas and street walkers in every big city in America. But, no. It is only gay porn that seems to capture Porno Pete's imagination. You know, these days you can even get straight porn in most major hotels.)
Most were simply gay publications like the Washington Blade.(The Blade is rated PG13 on a good day and on a bad day R. There are more graphic scenes in most video games.)
On my side of the issue, we think porn use/addiction is a big problem; hopefully some gays will agree with us, but regardless, the endless effort to portray ME as a gay perv because I try to expose the wrongs of your movement makes about as much sense as saying GLAAD supports the Federal Marriage Amendment because they write about it a lot.(Pete we, love the sinner, but you must admit, your sins are a tad weird. What the GLBT community is fed up with is that you brazenly exploit us for political gain with no conscience. You are a right wing lobbyist who bears false witness and uses distorted depictions of our lives to pass hateful legislation. If you cared about fairness, you'd attend a PFLAG meeting or take pictures of gay veterans during pride parades. Why not attend the GLAAD Media Awards or an HRC black tie dinner? No, you just want to slither through the tubs at unGodly hours - in the name of God. What you do Peter, is produce pure, unadulterated propaganda and hate. You have made it difficult for kids in school and torn families apart.
Most disturbing, is that LaBarbera has seen his pet "ex-gays" fail three times in a row - yet he tragically keeps beating this dead horse. First, he backed John Paulk, until I photographed him in a gay bar. Then, he touted Wade Richards - a man he now unfairly attacks. Then, he jumped on the Michael Johnston bandwagon, before I exposed him as a fraud. You would have thought Peter would have learned something by now. But, he has no interest in the facts, even as his tired strategies have repeatedly failed. This is profoundly immoral and unBiblical behavior on the part of LaBarbera.
On a personal level, I like Peter. He is friendly and gregarious. This is not about a personal battle between us. I just wish he would deal with his issues, whatever they might be, instead of destructively battling his demons on the public stage. The lives of too many GLBT youth are at risk for LaBarbera to continue to play his Gay Games.
50 Comments:
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posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 1:22 PM
Bravo! Thanks for saying what needed to be said. LaBarbera has proably caused countless suicides.
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posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 1:28 PM
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posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 1:29 PM
I wasn't aware that gays were going to snake handling churches, taking pictures and calling it mainstream christianity. That is the equivalent of what Pete does. This is different than gays going to churches to understand the rhetoric. The difference is clear.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 1:34 PM
I only remove comments from utterly obnoxious people who lack class and dignity.
My comments section is one of the most open on the net. It is a forum for all people - all I ask is that they adhere to basic standards of decency. Compare my blog to those of right wingers and you will see mine is a free speech zone.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
7/18/2006 1:34 PM
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posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 1:42 PM
At least my 'grotesque language' and 'sexual gestures' (whatever the hell that means) are mildly entertaining and funny. You're such a sourpuss anon. Removeth thy dildo from thine anus. Now Andy and Opie, stop fighting over me. Aunt B (Queer)
posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 2:00 PM
One CAN be Christian and not try to change orientation. And frankly, if LaBarbera were attending mainstream gay events rather than playing at the sex clubs, he wouldn't be criticized so. He is seeking to denounce the fact that gay men and women live normal lives by focusing on the less savory activities of the community. It is his attempt to demonize the entire community by trying to play up the sexually deviant behavior of some. And before one of you opens your mouth, not all gay behavior is deviant.
posted by jekelhyde, at
7/18/2006 2:00 PM
And BTW Anonymous, if you assesment was true that Wayne removes posts that he disagrees with, I would think yours would have been removed.
About this business of having one's sexual orientation changed: In the Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus Christ is quoted as saying: "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away! It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire." Notice that He didn't say "cut off your foot, and God will give you a new one." God gives human beings all the inherent qualities He intends for them to have at birth, and that includes sexual orientation. If someone feels that his or her sexuality has brought him shame and dishonor in the sight of God, then he or she can choose to be celibate. They can't expect that God will send different sexual desires down to them from Heaven! Yet this is what the ex-Gay movement preaches in the name of Jesus Christ. What blasphemy! With its appalling physical and psychological torture treatments, the ex-Gay movement is nothing but an expression of mortal hatred for homosexual men and women. God is not, has never been, and will never be the author of hatred. Need I remind anyone who is?
For more on this topic, please visit my blogsite, Christ, The Gay Martyr and read the post entitled "Strange Fruit."
Wayne hit the nail on the head in several ways. What, exactly, are Peter LaBarbera's credentials for conducting "critical research" anyway? Despite the fact that his rather obsessive interest in the gutter seems limited to gay men, Miss LaBarbera uses the community as a moneymaking scheme for donations. That is his industry, his livelihood, his income. . .he should be grateful the gay community is around because it obviously must be what he uses to pay his mortgage.
At least he is admitting he is a right wingnut, instead of trying to crow the "conservative" angle - which points out even more clearly that his intent is to demonize and spread as much fear and smear as possible in a play for power. There is nothing "Christian" about that ploy.
Petey is nothing but a cheapass wingnut whore, picking through the garbage for another used condom to promote the idea that only gay men refuse to believe that every sperm is sacred.
Since Miss LaBarbera insists that she cannot be homosexual, then her reason for not critically researching the seedier side of the heterosexual "lifestyle" is obviously governed by wingnut market politics - there's just no profit in it.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 2:41 PM
Hey Wayne,
Is good that you remove FROM YOUR BLOG those sick comments that support the -equaly sick- right wing. If I wanna read the "oppinion" of a right winger, I know where to find them (like that sick show, the 700 club, or fox news.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 3:04 PM
Real Christianity has nothing to do with the pharisaic christianity that the right wingers practice, that is more like an cult or something.
There are many open and affirmative places where gays and lesbians can practice true Christianity, the one about love, not the one about "hell".
Dude, your folks lied to you... there is not hell, "sodomy" is not a "sin" and God does not hate anyone. The Bible was choosen by men like you and me, and the name of God is used in vain over and over again, not by Gay and Lsbians, but by those who think they can reaf God's mind.
I suggets you to study, read and -if you people do it- pray so you are enlighted and understand that there is not "sin" of "sodomy"
posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 3:13 PM
It always amazes me ... these maladjusted right-wingers lie about gay people, do everything in their power to deny us equal treatment under law, and then when we fight back, they recoil in anger and pretend outrage when they are confronted with the truth. But "truth" was never and is never what they really are about.
They are the most clueless bunch, intent only upon feeding their weird, hungry obsession with people who want nothing to do with them. Calling themselves people of God is just utterly laughable. They work to destroy lives, all the while claiming to "love" us. I can only pity them, for it is clear that they have no idea what true love is. And it is no wonder. If they were to dare to think for themselves, their fellow religionists would turn their backs on them in a second. That "love" would suddenly and instantly vanish into thin air, and Porno Pete would find himself out in the cold.
Of course, if they had any real lives, they would be out living them, but they don't. It seems difficult for Pete to simply stay home and build a life with his undoubtedly lovely wife without becoming so fixated on what goes on in the bedrooms of others. People who have happy marriages generally don't accumulate so many frequent flier miles, paid for by the sheep, no less.
Porno Pete's neuoticism displays itself quite clearly in the way he hounds gay people. What more could be said about Porno Pete, a married straight guy who compulsively lingers outside bath houses and the seedier gay venues?
Something is darkly wrong with that man, and he will die in his confusion, for I strongly doubt that he will ever discover the worthiness of living an authentic, constructive life. I wonder how many gays he managed to "introduce to Christ" this past weekend. One suspects it was Porno Pete who salavated at the comings and goings of the patrons he claimed to want to "help" outside Steam Works. My guess is that, in them, he sees his true self, hence the amazingly close proximity to such houses of disrepute.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 4:18 PM
Between Porno Pete this week and Richard the chair beater last week, you must really be stricking a nerve with these jerks. Good for you. They are obviously afraid their slight of hand with the "ex-gay" nonesense is starting to be noticed. Keep up the good work!
posted by Mary, at
7/18/2006 7:56 PM
Guys, it kinda bugs me when we refer to people like LaBarbera as "Miss" or "her" or imply that he's really gay. I don't think that being gay is an insult and I'd rather not have my orientation sullied by comparison to extremist bigots. I also don't view females as "less than" so I think that calling someone "her" is offensive to women. Women are strong proud beautiful creatures and I don't think that it is fair to compare them to LaBarbera.
Also, using such insults hints at internalized homophobia. Just a thought.
LaBarbera tries to defend his bizarre fixation. But I can only think of a few reasons why he would spend so much time in the sleazy end of the gay scene.
1. He wants to tell his readers about the true nature of gay life. However, by this time he should be aware that sex clubs and S&M bars are not anywhere near representative. If he still thinks they are, he's an incredibly obtuse idiot.
2. He wants to fool his readers into thinking that gay people are something they are not and so he selectively picks places to show the worst he can. If that's the case, he's dishonest.
3. He goes to these places because he finds them sexually stimulating. If that's why, he's a hypocrite and a closet case.
4. He goes to these places because in some way he finds gratification and gets his jollies be being exposed to sexuality that he finds distasteful and dirty. If that's the case, he's a pervert.
Basically, he's either an idiot, a liar, a hypocrite, or a pervert. Not really a happy choice.
Maybe he has some good moral and upstanding reasons for his fixation on the seamier side of gay sex situations, but they haven't popped into view. This just isn't normal behavior even for anti-gay activists. I just can't imagine Warren Throckmorton or James Dobson dressing in leather or sneaking into a sex club to report on what goes on.
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posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 9:58 PM
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posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 10:19 PM
Scavenger hunt? That's funny. I do that all day long.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/18/2006 10:51 PM
Idiot: "Point of fact, the anti-gay movement does research the most "exotic" side of the gay movement in order to depict the movement as perverted. Nothing amazing or scandalous there."
Tom: Yeah, it is a big deal and scandalous you fucking shit bag asshole, scum sucking fuck wad. I have no desire to be portryayed as a perv. Maybe you like it - I don't. Don't compare the anti-gay movement with the gay movement. There is no comparison. But you are proably an infiltrating sack of human shit anyway.
I believe it is part of "Miss" LaBarbera's campaign to refer to "gender confusion" as a cause for homosexuality. The term is used in reference to his/her preferences in describing the gay culture he "researches." That should be rather obvious considering his track record.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/19/2006 12:59 AM
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posted by Anonymous, at
7/19/2006 1:17 AM
Anonymous said... Well, well, Wayne you must be a real coward. You removed a blog again that proves you are hiding a dare for you to post the blog you removed in the first place. You must really be afraid of the lies you are spinning. Too bad. Oh- I saved these all offline. At anytime we can go to print. Now or say later. With the page, headers, footers, ping coeds etc.. to demonstrate what has been said and what has been removed. You are not gay - you are a sissy.
It's not a "blog", it's a POST you fucking moron.
It's Waynes BLOG, he can remove any POST he feels like.
posted by Guano, at
7/19/2006 2:02 AM
LOL--at Tom in MI's post. I got called on the carpet yesterday for using words like penis and ass. I guess I'm not so "crude" after all. Thanks for giving me a laugh first thing in the morning Tom and for expressing the rage that we often feel when reading the bullshit posted here by some of the porcs de facist. B. Queer
posted by Anonymous, at
7/19/2006 9:36 AM
Yes Wayne;
Don't let the crazies intimidate you. If these guys are not cowards, then, why then they sign up their posts and let the rest of us respond... because they are affraid! they are the coward people that hide behind the skirts of their churches and bogus associations... Bring it on guys, if you wanna offend sign on, then you ARE gonna hear from many of us!
Good work Wayne. Just know that every time you see a post here that is negative of what your doing its a good thing. It means your having an effect and it means they don't want you speaking the truth. Truth is the light in the darkness they want to create for us all. Keep shining on!
I forgot to add something I think is highly appropriate. The things the far right use to say the LGBT community are vile and disgusting.. (various sex acts) if they researched and were fair.. they'd find out the same damn things are done by heterosexuals. However you won't hear them ever discussing that.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/19/2006 12:14 PM
Who are you, anonimous 1:17 am (7/19/06)?
And what do you wannt? to convert people here? I find that a little hard to belileve...
I know about a gay couple, thow guys that were in one of these "ex-gay" camps pr something.... and they are pretty raunchy. I use to have three somes and sex parties with them, and through them I met other "ex-gay" guys... that is how I became aware of the works of you people.
I, have been told that many guys in these "ex-gay" places develop a taste for S&M and other fetishes, like smelling socks of exchanching underware... others report that after leaving the "facilities" found easier to explore gay life.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/19/2006 12:50 PM
I have a feeling that Wayne knows the anonymous that is trying to challenge him. Must be someone he personally humiliated. A grudge is a heavy bag to carry. I can only pity this person. And worse, the postings seem to be having no effect. I guess that's because most thinking people can see through. Very sad indeed.
posted by jekelhyde, at
7/19/2006 4:24 PM
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posted by Anonymous, at
7/19/2006 4:47 PM
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posted by Anonymous, at
7/19/2006 7:22 PM
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posted by Anonymous, at
7/19/2006 8:48 PM
ENOUGH
No more "anonymous" right wing jerks for the rest of the month. They have abused my free spech zone by over-posting and the party has ended. Start your own damn blog, instead of stalking mine like a parasite.
If a right wing creep wants to leave a message from now until August, he or she must no longer be anonymous. No more hiding. period.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
7/19/2006 9:26 PM
Right on, Wayne. I still think it's someone who knows you. Someone who has a grudge. It's fairly obvious you've gotten under someone's skin. But as I stated earlier, it has had no effect. Sounds like you are doing an excellent job if someone is so set against you. Keep up the good work.
posted by jekelhyde, at
7/19/2006 9:39 PM
Please, please, please post anonymous' log-in information!!! I'd LOVE to go looking for him!
It must be a bitch sitting by and watching the gays have so much fun and realizing your life is consumed with -- ah -- leaving silly, obscene, pointless messages on a blog -- that no one actually eventually gets to read anyway!!!
I'm off to more fabulousness! Life is great when you're gay! See ya', anonymous -- wouldn't want to be ya'!
posted by Jim, at
7/20/2006 1:04 PM
Why don't these Southern Baptist-minded idiots like La Barbera just stay at home, in their closets where they belong, and 'focus on their families'? I wish Southern Baptist-minded freaks like LaBarbera could get a life! Sadly, I don't think they are capable of it. Being anti-gay consumes them and becomes their life.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/23/2006 1:01 PM
Apparently, you are consumed by them, petshopboy.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/24/2006 2:03 AM
It becomes their life because they want to feel a man inside.
Is the law of compensation: They desire in their hearts to have it, but in their minds, it is "wrong", so they don't distance themselves from the experience they want, and rather, try to have it, even if it means to constantly attack it.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/24/2006 11:31 AM
Gay men think all men are interested in them. Just plain narcissistic attitudes from gay men. They could never possibly believe that someone is against them - that's it.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/24/2006 2:48 PM
It would be Narsicistic, if there were a need for acceptance, but the right wingers forced themselves into the lives of Gays, no one invited them to prozelitize. There is not reason why anyone should be against GLBT people. The so called christians have choosen this war against us, not us.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/24/2006 5:21 PM
So, you just tell everyone then that these men are really interested in you guys sexually??? Puleeeeeze! Of course, they started this war on you but then that's your response? How infrantile - just like a gay man to do.
posted by Anonymous, at
7/24/2006 6:40 PM
OH yeah, sure. I think every man wants me. Give me a break. The fact of the matter is, this LaBarbera guy gets around more than I ever did. He's been to places that I've only dreamed about.
I generally try to be nice and courteous in my responses, but this is simply one of the stupidest claims that I have ever seen. And to say that all gay men are narcisists is equally ignorant. If you truly believe this is fact, you obviously don't know many gay men.
Get a life and get to know people a bit more before you post such stupidity on a forum.
posted by jekelhyde, at
7/24/2006 9:24 PM
I'm only making a point that you so graciously do for me - that you cannot make generalized comments about people you do not know. You've been goated into doing exactly what I needed you to do JekelHyde. Only coming from a gay man - now maybe you guys will hear it. Good job!!
posted by Anonymous, at
7/24/2006 9:41 PM
I seriously doubt every gay man would agree with me. But hey, glad I helped lighten your world.
posted by jekelhyde, at
7/24/2006 10:00 PM
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