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
"You'll be encouraged by the power of God's love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality," according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed since she was a child.
Palin's conservative Christian views have energized that part of the GOP electorate, which was lukewarm to John McCain's candidacy before he named her as his vice presidential choice. She is staunchly anti-abortion, opposing exceptions for rape and incest, and opposes gay marriage and spousal rights for gay couples.
Focus on the Family, a national Christian fundamentalist organization, has scheduled the "Love Won Out" Conference for Sept. 13 in Anchorage, about 30 miles from Wasilla. Palin, campaigning with McCain in the Midwest on Friday, has not publicly expressed a view on the so-called "pray away the gay" movement. Larry Kroon, senior pastor at Palin's church, was not available to discuss the matter Friday, said a church worker who declined to give her name.Gay activists in Alaska said Palin has not worked actively against their interests, but early in her administration she supported a bill to overrule a court decision to block state benefits for gay partners of public employees. At the time, less than one-half of 1 percent of state employees had applied for the benefits, which were ordered by a 2005 ruling by the Alaska Supreme CourtPalin reversed her position and vetoed the bill after the state attorney general said it was unconstitutional. But her reluctant support didn't win fans among Alaska's gay population, said Scott Turner, a gay activist in Anchorage.
"Less than 1 percent of state employees would even apply for benefits, so why make a big deal out of such a small number?" he said.
"I think gay Republicans are going to run away" if Palin supports efforts like the prayers to convert gays, said Wayne Besen, founder of the New York-based Truth Wins Out, a gay rights advocacy group. Besen called on Palin to publicly express her views now that she's a vice presidential nominee.
"People are looking at Sarah Palin as someone who might feasibly be in the White House," he said.
25 Comments:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2008 8:01 AM
Wayne, looks like he or she is back posting.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2008 8:05 AM
A co-worker and I were just kvetching this morning about why, with all the talented, brilliant, qualified people in this country, is it so damn hard to get leaders who are at least marginally rational, educated, sane and scientifically literate. The level of ignorance in this country that even makes it *possible* for these people to be taken seriously, let alone elected, truely boggles the mind. If McCain and this crazed white trash 'pitbull' get into the White House, once again we will be the laughing stock of the world. It's no wonder Europeans look down on us for our total lack of sophistication. If Palin went to Germany to speak, instead of the adoring crowds that Obama got, the only ones who would turn out for her would be the neo-nazi skinheads.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2008 10:29 AM
Anonymous (the good one), we're already the laughing stock of the world. Electing McCain will only reinforce that. He claimed he is for change! Well, after the past 8 years of corruption, suspension of habeus corpus for Gitmo combatants, wire tapping, outing of Valerie Plame, lying to congress about the reasons for going to war (all treasonable offenses), I didn't hear McCain oppose any of it. He voted with Bush more than 90% of the time. So much for the change he's advocating. Actually, the GOP is a party that NEVER likes change. They're always claiming that they want less government in our lives....well, what do they think banning marriage equality, banning abortion, refusing to grant universal health care is all about? If that's not government interfering in our lives, I don't know what is. Under their regime, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer with the middle class faring no better either. That's what their version of change implies.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2008 11:57 AM
OMG What a shocker!
This woman is the most extreme rightwing theocrat we've seen yet. She makes Huckabee look informed and reasonable.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2008 12:36 PM
Anon 1:15, yes we DO know what her views and beliefs are. And although there are spiritual/religious people who are educated (I'm one of them), this bunch is NOT! Anyone who still believes in creationism or that gays can be 'cured' with some pentacostal mumbo-jumbo is NOT educated. As for her views, besides the evangelical nonsense, how about these: she tried to have library books banned, threatens the job of anyone who doesnt obey her, has her staff swear a loyalty oath to HER personally, not the Constitution (hitler did the same thing), she CUT funding for homeless teenagers, hates big government, but has been sucking on the government teat for millions of dollars, and her family is right off of Jerry Springer's stage! How much more do you need to know? And you said you were outraged by the pray away the gay program---isnt that enough?!?!?! That speaks volumes about her right there. And one last point; you dont have to wonder about the 'reporting' going on here because it's not a news service, it's a blog with a specific purpose and point of view. Wayne has given MORE than enough space for the GLBT haters to spout their poisonous bullshit here; a hell of a lot more than the other side would ever give us!
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2008 2:11 PM
Check out this website for more info on her
http://www.jewsonfirst.org/08a/palin.html
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2008 2:28 PM
As we all knew and expected, another lunatic religious NUT! No wonder the Religious Right is behind her.. OH and if you don't like your blue eyes, maybe we should pray them away for some other color. Hummmm I wonder why we just can't pray away Autism all cancer, there must be something more important than ones Sexual Identity. Don't you think? Hey I got it, let's just pray away Sarah Palin!! :O) Dominick
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2008 5:03 PM
Those running for Pres., those running for Vice-Pres. : all four of them are jerks. We just gotta choose who'll be best at running the country overall for the next couple of years, for a whole slew of reasons.
posted by Joey, at
9/06/2008 7:27 PM
Not only do people like Palin make this country look like a lot of fools; they are dangerous as well. People have told me I was ridiculous to think that something like "The Handmaid's Tale" could ever happen here. It looks like we may be another big step closer to a theocracy. If McCain and Palin are voted into office (and especially if McCain dies and Palin becomes President, we could well become an American version of Afghanistan under the Taliban.
I said years ago that the fundies in the U.S. should be brought to heel and not allowed to run amok. b#Believe whatever nonsense you wish, but you do NOT have the right to attempt to force it on others.
posted by Bertie, at
9/06/2008 11:21 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/08/2008 7:50 AM
"Scott, nice try at attacking those who don't "hoe da row" with you as a self-described hysterically assertive personality... but you've once again proved the point that in our community, the gay liberals are as intolerant of their own as some of the farRight whackjobs communing inside fringe churches."
Your racism is showing, Matt #2.
That "hoe da roe" line doesn't offend me like you'd want it to; because I'm white, and I don't support Obama. Nice try though.
As for you "Gay Patriot" types - I DON'T consider you part of the community - never have, never will. You're nothing more than little minions for the "family men" out there getting fucked at the rest stops, the Moral Majority, and the white supremacists.
And yeah, I'm mean-spirited and vindictive LOL - only to people like yourself. But it's hilarious that you say this, as if your idol Matt #1 isn't 10 times as worse. The former hooker has said some of the most offensive things about gay people, and yet you still follow him around as if you're trying to get laid.
posted by S., at
9/08/2008 10:28 AM
Oh my. Wayne. Dirty Sanchez has poked his ugly face into the blog. Stand back. The smell will dissipate.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/09/2008 2:37 AM
