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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
In Extending The Welcome Mat, Mayor Oden is In Danger of Becoming A Doormat For Focus on the Family's Slick Public Relations Campaign, Says TWO
Miami Beach - Truth Wins Out questioned the wisdom today of Palm Springs mayor Ron Oden's enthusiastic greeting of hate group Focus on the Family to his city. While the openly-gay mayor is well-intentioned, he may be giving an undeserved platform to an extremist group that claims he and others like him are mentally ill and morally inferior. TWO is concerned that in cheerily extending the welcome mat, Oden may end up as a doormat in Focus' media savvy enterprise.
Upon finding out that Focus was bringing its ex-gay road show Love Won Out to town on Sept 23., Oden wrote the group an amiable letter saying he was "so proud" to have the conference in town even though it preaches "the truth that homosexuality is preventable and treatable."
"The mayor made a mistake in helping legitimize one of the most virulently anti-gay and offensive organizations in the country," said TWO's Executive Director Wayne Besen. "The Atlanta Braves baseball team barred Focus on the Family from 'Faith Day' last month because of its divisive message and we had hoped that Oden would also have stood firm in condemning this intolerant group."
The headliner at Love Won Out is Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, the president of the fringe group, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). Nicolosi has written that, "I do not believe that any man can ever truly be at peace in living out a homosexual orientation." Last week, he told the Australian Broadcasting Company that, "There is no such thing as a homosexual."
Another speaker at the conference is Alan Chambers, the leader of Exodus International. On many occasions, he has advocated discrimination against homosexuals. Chambers told one Orlando publication, "As a property owner of Orlando, I wouldn't rent to someone who is gay any more than I would rent to a person who is a practicing witch." Recently, he told Family News in Focus, "I think their long-term goal is to portray themselves as equals, as people who are the same as heterosexuals, that their lifestyle is just as legitimate as heterosexuality."
Additionally, Oden said he would accept an invitation from Focus on the Family to attend the conference. "I definitely want to attend and have the opportunity to share my perspective," he said, according to the local newspaper, The Desert Sun.
"Oden should not have welcomed Focus on the Family any more than he would have welcomed a hate group targeting other minorities," added Besen. "Now that he has unfortunately accepted their invitation, TWO urges Oden to use his scheduled 'face time' with Focus on the Family as an opportunity to challenge the group's leaders on their scientifically and theologically inaccurate attacks on gay people."
Love Won Out was founded by "ex-gay" leader John Paulk, who was photographed in a gay bar in Sept. 2000 by TWO's Besen.
Truth Wins OUT is a non-profit think tank and educational organization that counters right wing disinformation campaigns, debunks the ex-gay myth, and provides accurate information about the lives of GLBT people.
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26 Comments:
You can't stop every city from allowing a private organization from using it's facilities to organize - unless they do the same to you.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/03/2006 8:15 AM
I don't think Wayne's argument is that city should prevent the group from using city facilities. The mayor's welcoming letter is the focus.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/03/2006 8:36 AM
I was thinking about changing it to "Oden Sells Out", but I understand what position the Palm Springs mayor was in. I don't think the mayor would like to be sued by Dobson and his fellow svengalis.
I hope that many people do not show up. Unfortunately, conservatives from the IE and Barstow (along with James Hartline and Allyson Smith coming up from San Diego) would drive to Palm Springs for this.
I think that we should let these people go in anywhere they want to and if they are recieved then great. If they are not then they can move on. I think they are going to PS because it is central.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/03/2006 9:28 PM
Sure they can go where they want and say what they want, but it doesn't mean that we should sit on our hands while they spread lies and hurt people. I hope you are right, Regan. I hope the mayor tells it like it is.
posted by jekelhyde, at
9/03/2006 10:06 PM
Either way - it's free advertsing for them.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/03/2006 10:15 PM
"Either way - it's free advertsing for them."
Exactly how fucking dumb are you? Focus has an annual budget in excess of $100 million. They buy their own advertising and also have a PR budget large enough to get all the press they need.
To suggest that they would not get media attention unless people protested so fucking ignorant it is beyond words. What you really want is no counterweight to Focus so they can lie to the public without opposition.
Focus does not have a right to swoop into our town and leave psychological shit bombs that make life difficult for me and my husband and lead to our children getting made fun of in school.
That you suggest we should do nothing in the face of this means you agree with their message and don't want opposition. It also means you are a dirtbag and a low life asshole.
They are going to get alot of media attention because of protests. I'm not saying not to protest - but sure as shit - they know how to spend their money. Don't be confused about that. Not agreeing with someone does not mean agreeing with their antithesis. Duh???
posted by Anonymous, at
9/04/2006 4:35 PM
What a crock. They get tons of press with or without protests. How stupid are you? Do you have google, asshole?
The fact is, you don't want gay people to defend themselves. You are human garbage and scum-shit.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/04/2006 7:46 PM
Hahahaha. Are you serious? You have no idea who you are talking to do you? I fight for gay rights. I'm just saying they will get tons of free press out of this. You need help.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/04/2006 11:06 PM
FYI, Narth has pulled their support of the "teasing" for gender variant children. Please see their blog. Also, thank you for sending notice to the Mayor about hate crimes. Palm Springs is a WONDERFUL town, my nieghbors are gay and great. They have helped me tremendously - and their yard looks nice.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/05/2006 2:41 PM
Correction to the post, above:
NARTH has not really "pulled their support" of teasing and ridiculing kids. Dr. Nicolosi doesn't agree with the article and apoligized that "offended many readers:.
Nicolosi pulled the article after a sneaky re-write attempt. Dr. Berger has not apologized in any way for its contents and he remains on the NARTH advisory board.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/05/2006 7:51 PM
"The headliner at Love Won Out is Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, the president of the fringe group, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). Nicolosi has written that, 'I do not believe that any man can ever truly be at peace in living out a homosexual orientation.'"
I think what Nicolosi really means is that HE can never truly be at peace while someone is living out a homosexual orientation. Can we say "projection"?
posted by Anonymous, at
9/07/2006 2:44 PM
Total projection! Some people are happy one way some people are happy another way. What is it the Tao Te Ching? The Way that can be named is not The Way.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/08/2006 3:49 PM
But wouldn't that also be projection from the gay community to say to others that you cannot change. That they are a farce and lying. Isn't that also projection??? Just asking.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/08/2006 7:02 PM
Research that change, true change, is possible just doesn't play out. Those who preach change are generally in bed with the Religious Right in one way or another, and therefore, are a farce and are lying. Worse, they are victimizing the very people who need their help desperately. Again I say, kharma is a bitch. That's why all these jerk-offs who preach change and end up in compromising situations get caught in the act. The world would be a much better place if we were all able to comfortably be what we are. Gay, straight, bi or trans; live with it, cope with it, eventually love it.
posted by jekelhyde, at
9/08/2006 9:11 PM
Not all those who preach change end up being caught is some discrediting act. Some do. Most don't. JH - have you gotten enough sleep lately? This does not sound like you? You say that the world would be a much better place if we were all aloowed to be who we are. I agree. But you see - that statment goes both ways not just for gay activists. I do not think my life would be valuable if I were not allowed to change.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/11/2006 3:57 PM
But again, I say, it's not a matter of being allowed to attempt change. IT's a matter of being told that we should attempt change. Which is the crux of the FOTF issue.
And yes, I have been getting enough sleep, but the kids have started back to school and things are a bit hectic. Thanks for asking.
But I do disagree. Most people who preach that gay people need to lead straight lives and who claim to have once been gay are generally caught in compromising positions, whether it be a sexual situation or simply a flagrant lie, ie, Alan Chambers thousands of changed people scenario. People who aren't practicing deception and hate mongering are, of course, not being caught doing deceptive things. But if you would name some who preach change and are not deceptive or otherwise caught in compromising positions, I would enjoy reading about them.
I am so sorry Darren, but I cannot expose people's private lives. And yes, getting back into the school routine is a bit hectic the first couple of weeks. My niece is all aflutter with new friends, stories, excitement, and needs homework discipline. Ugh.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/12/2006 4:24 AM
I don't know that Chambers has lied - I don't know where he gets his statistics. And I don't know what are his criteria.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/12/2006 11:20 AM
oops - talking on phone - anyhow - he should document how he comes to his numbers. But honestly, this is such a volatile issue that finding people to count skews the research to begin with. I remember a research that was being done on LGBT's in our community. The research pamphlet went out over the course of several weeks in the community and people took the questionnaire but it was not monitored, subjects were not documented or interviewed for accuracy, people could have taken the questionairre twice ( i'm not sure) and it was just not a good measure of anything. And I think it happens all the time when looking for test subjects where there is a limited number. Gays and those who say they have changed is such a small number that tests are not as accurate as in some populations.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/12/2006 11:25 AM
Fine, but Chambers claims one day that hundreds of people have changed, then thousands of people then hundreds of thousands. If this were the case there would be a sparce number of gay people in the country. Check out ex-gaywatch for the exact numbers he spills. I guess he's just trying to inflate the cause, but please. AT least be realistic. It's like saying the average gay man has over a thousand partners in a year. I consider myself an average gay man and even in my single life, I couldn't have come up with a thousand different partners in a year. I don't even know that many people.
posted by jekelhyde, at
9/12/2006 8:43 PM
In fact, even if I had sex with a different guy every night and maybe 3 on saturdays, that's just over 500 men per year. Let's be realistic, shall we.
posted by jekelhyde, at
9/12/2006 9:02 PM
JH- never been to an orgy??? Anyhow, I do wish researchers were more thorough and realistic in there numbers. Ah - well. Just a wish I suppose.
I know some people who have been through Exodus and stuff - they are no longer associated with them anymore because of the inaccurate reporting, the way they use people for the poster child, and making it a political issue instead of just a religious one - as EXODUS says.
Mmmmm, I guess for Chambers you can take the gay out of him but you can never take the flamboyant out.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/13/2006 12:21 AM
Sure, but to reach the 1000 different partners scenario, I would need to attend one orgy a week on top of the different man a day and three on saturdays. Only people with a sex problem or someone in the sex industry could achieve those kinds of numbers. Obviously not typical.
posted by jekelhyde, at
9/14/2006 8:37 PM
