Monday, February 26, 2007
(Weekly Column)I have finally developed a grudging respect for Focus on the Family. The ease in which they lie is so remarkably breathtaking, all one can do is applaud in wondrous awe. Not even Condi Rice or Dick Cheney can compete with this motley crew when it comes to fibbing with a straight face.
What amazes me is that Focus on the Family raises approximately $200 million a year but produces virtually nothing. It's the empire built on bunk and a monstrous Machiavellian monstrosity that manipulates and vituperates but doesn't generate. Indeed, the organization's "scientific" apparatus consists of a few fundamentalist flunkies who couldn't tell a research trial from the Anna Nicole Smith trial.
For example,
Gay.com reported on an obscure new study that found 16% of same sex relationships in China suffer from domestic abuse, while only 9% of opposite sex couples do. The study, reportedly conducted by GLBT civil rights groups, found that the most common form of abuse followed threats of outing a partner to employers or family members. In other words, the blackmail situations the closet creates, leads to an increase in domestic violence. Without the closet factor, such violence would likely decrease.
This would be common sense to any reasonably intelligent person analyzing such a study. It is even more obvious to anyone remotely familiar with conservative Asian culture and the consequences one faces if outed. Of course, the "geniuses" at Focus on the Family had their
own "brilliant" take on the situation.
"Rather than use the research to point out a basic flaw with homosexuality, activists are attacking social service agencies in China with not being equipped to deal with gay violence issues," wrote Josh Montez in Family News in Focus.
His article went on to quote a few wing nuts that drew some interesting assumptions.
"It reinforces the fact that same-sex relationships do not work and that you cannot substitute the love and interaction that you need from same-sex parents and peers by getting involved in a same-sex relationship," said Regina Griggs, executive director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays.
"I think these are folks with issues that are unresolved and part of that is going to come out in anger and it's going to be directed at the people closest to you," said Linda Harvey with Mission America. (Because, of course, there are no angry heterosexuals - like Osama or Mike Tyson)
"Often times, especially in the male community, drugs and alcohol play a factor because there are high rates of depression among homosexual men and women," said Matt Barber with Concerned Women for America.
It is incomprehensible that these luminaries extrapolated such conclusions from a shaky study reportedly conducted by activists. This was hardly the kind of research where one can draw such sweeping, broad deductions about an entire class of people.
Even if the statistics are completely accurate, it still means that 84% of gay couples, vs. 91% of heterosexual couples do not engage in domestic violence - an overwhelming majority in both communities. (Did these 84% of gay people have their needs met and issues resolved? Maybe Griggs' gay son can answer that question?)
More surreal is that Matt Barber gratuitously throws drugs into the mix while commenting on the Chinese study. Perhaps he is aware of ecstasy-fueled gay raves in Beijing that the rest of us in the GLBT community are not privy to. Or, maybe he has just added the "Year of the Ass" to the Chinese animal zodiac chart. It is abundantly clear that his comments were a cheap smear. Kind of like the gay community saying the NASA chick in the diapers represents heterosexuality.
This diabolical discourse is not surprising. What is a bit shocking, however, is that the "Focus on the Fallacies" article came out on a day when the gay rights organizations Truth Wins Out and SoulForce held a
joint-media conference to highlight right wing distortions of legitimate research.
Yet, even as we set the record straight on old studies, Focus on the Family twisted and mangled new ones. Batting down lies against this group is like swatting flies in a manure field. To fight back, Truth Wins Out unveiled its new website
www.RespectMyResearch.org.
The site offers scientists a place to report right wing misrepresentations of their work. Hopefully, we can embarrass the truth challenged and make a powerful case to the so-called liberal media to stop liberally quoting serial shredders of the truth.
Still, it remains to be seen if the media is willing to kick its habit of providing a Volkswagen for the very entertaining right wing clowns who boost their cable television ratings. Or, is it possible to shame a group as astonishingly shameless as Focus on the Family?
25 Comments:
Wayne,
The fundies have their hands full at this time with the news of the lost tomb of Jesus Christ, see article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17328478/site/newsweek/
At the moment they are busy disproving the archelogical find and giving us a recess. But not for long. Focus on the Family will probably spend some time and money focusing on the 10 bone reliquary boxes from Jerusalem and then come back to us. The Catholic Church will spend more time and money defending the ressurection and Mary's ascension to heaven before continuing its war against us gays. They have to defend their investments. My only comment to the fundies is: try reading and then living by what is printed in red in the New Testament (Jesus's words) and kiss the rest goodbye? See how it goes, you might like it!
richard
posted by , at
2/27/2007 8:25 AM
Actually, the gay community is amazingly peaceful considering how we've been treated over the centuries. I've read that police officers like doing security for gay pride events the most, because they have the least amount of problems to deal with (except for the occasional lustful stare).
With the hetero divorce rate up around 50%, Fokkkus on the Addams Family should put their own filthy glass house in order before they throw bullshit at ours!
B. Queer
posted by , at
2/27/2007 9:38 AM
I'm sure you've seen this, and it's not directly related to the study from China, but I thought it might be worth noting that the abuse of science by evangelicals bothers some christians, too:
www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2007/001/5.11.html
That article presents a fairly sensible view but perhaps more interesting is this rather frank comment I recently ran across in an old AFA article:
"This exposes the glaring weakness in a Christian community that relies so heavily on "science," or the opinion of various scientific "professionals," to legitimize its arguments. It may be one thing to bolster an argument with scientific evidence, but for the Christian, God is the final authority."
I was just stunned to see the author of the article put quotation marks around the word "science." Not because I was surprised at the sentiment (that "science" may be useful if it bolsters one's arguments but can be ignored when it conflicts with one's beliefs) but because it seemed unusual to find such an unambiguous statement of the position. Maybe I just don't read enough of this stuff, is it common to see xtians dismiss science in this way?
The article can be found here: www.afa.net/journal/march/homosexuala.asp
posted by , at
2/28/2007 9:13 AM
What is truly sad is that we have to hear about the misrepresenation of research by FOF on the Internet. The Fundies repeatedly scream "Liberal Media" however, they are more often than not, unchallenged when doing TV interviews (well unless its on Fox, then they are congratulated).
Our entertainment media is liberal, our news media is not and never has been.
posted by QJ201, at
2/28/2007 1:41 PM
Regan, I agree with you entirely, everybody should be afraid of straight people. Not only do they hold the monopoly on crime of every kind, but also they are the ones who perpetrate wars, genocide and torture. The Catholic church also promotes death by refusing to allow condom distribution in third world countries where they have missionaries and where AIDS is pandemic, overwhelmingly heterosexually contracted. So maybe Focus on the Family and all the other right-wing zealots should be going after their own hetero adherents instead of using as as their scapegoats for all of societies' ills. It is so transparent what they are doing.
Robert, NYC.
posted by , at
3/01/2007 9:59 AM
There's another reason I think you would expect higher rates of domestic abuse - or at least physical fighting - in the gay and lesbian community: the lack of taboos on same-sex violence. Nearly every boy is raised not to hit girls (not that it stops domestic abuse, mind you), but boy-boy and girl-girl fights are far more acceptable and accepted. Also, there is an open question as to whether the power imbalance that is typical in straight domestic violence situations exists in same-sex. In the typical wife-beating situation, the man does not simply physically dominate the woman, but also psychologically - controlling money, access to friends and family, etc. I don't know if research has been done on the topic, but I would be surprised if that same dynamic exists in same-sex relationships.
posted by , at
3/01/2007 11:26 AM
I read this statement By Regina Griggs, saying that same sex relationships do now work because,
It could be true in some cases that some gay men hook up with the wrong type of person for whatever reason,But that happens with straight people as well, I know many gay couples who have been togather for so many years and YES! they are happy,true a few may have some small issues But thats only human but hardly ever have I heard of any Domestic Violence.
posted by , at
3/01/2007 11:25 PM
Regan:
The anonymous troll was just trying to get a rise out of ya. He picked the wrong lady to eff with!
Great answer, and thanks for setting the record straight, and making the troll STFU!
-SharonB
posted by , at
3/02/2007 1:32 PM
Or, is it possible to shame a group as astonishingly shameless as Focus on the Family? Bingo!
posted by Robert, at
3/03/2007 8:18 AM
Speaking of manure, did anyone see that clip of that fascist piece of shit Ann Cunter calling John Edwards a faggot at some Nurenberg party rally she was attending with Cheney and the rest of the ebola viruses from the bush administration?!
posted by , at
3/03/2007 3:41 PM
Regan, just syaing your use of private information is questionable and your name calling is equal to the name calling that others do. It's not easy to demand the same standards for ourselves that we demand from others - now is it.
posted by , at
3/04/2007 9:33 PM
posted by , at
3/05/2007 12:43 PM
Can't really respond or hold a relevant and unbiased dialogue if my posts are continually deleted.
posted by , at
3/05/2007 6:11 PM
I'm dying to know who this anon poster is. I'll bet the IP has been here before.
Anything to take the focus off his [right-wing] family.
-SharonB
posted by , at
3/06/2007 5:32 PM
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