You can purchase an autographed copy of Anything But Straight by sending a $35 check or money order to:
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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
The group Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays is working overtime to get lies into public libraries. Our friends at Queerty said today that PFOX was embarking on a public library project to get titles like Arthur Goldberg’s, "Light in the Closet: Torah, Homosexuality," and "A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality," by Joseph and Linda Nicolosi.
The only way such titles should be in libraries is in the fiction section. These are essentially fake medical books without scientific backing. Librarians literally have millions of books to choose from - so why take books that have theories rejected by all medical and mental health organizations?
Peter LaBarbera's posting (Americans For Truth) announced that his organization and P-FOX would work together with what LaBarbera termed "other pro-family groups and ministries" in order, LaBarbera wrote, "to attain–at the very minimum -- balance in the selections that libraries carry on the homosexual issue." Added LaBarbera, "There is no logical or common sense reason why taxpayer-funded public libraries should make available every latest gay-affirming book–including those designed to open up young minds to the false and dangerous notion that homosexuality is normal--while NOT carrying faith-based and ex-gay books that oppose a pro-homosexual ideology."
It seems to me that barring political books posing as legitmate science-based material is quite logical. What next, a slew of books promoting that the earth is flat? When frauds like LaBarbera can show us real ex-gays who are not on the payroll of anti-gay organizations, then we might listen. Indeed, three of his poter boys (John Paulk, Wade Richards and Michael Johnston) have fallen off the hetero wagon. If there is one person in America who should know better than to promote ex-gay books, it is Mr. LaBarbera.
25 Comments:
As much as I hate it, I couldn't support censorship per se. You really need to further craft your argument from the perspective that these are not science books and need to be housed in religious sections if purchased by a public library at all.
We keep giving legitimacy to organizations and writings like this when we compare them one for one without reinforcing the faith-based reasoning behind them. When you point out that it's faith and belief rather than science and reasoning, you remove impetus to consider organizations like PFOX as mainstream.
Frankly I believe if anyone wants to try this cockamamie agenda, they're more than free to but it's disingenuous to use public resources as advertising.
But we also give away power when we simply try to point out what's wrong with it instead of how nice our way of life is. Wayne, I have a challenge - tell me, and the rest of your viewers, what's great about being gay. I'm happy, and I would guess you are, but simply beating the opposition on the head is unlikely to change their minds.
posted by Countervail, at
9/08/2008 6:37 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/08/2008 6:38 PM
"I'm happy, and I would guess you are, but simply beating the opposition on the head is unlikely to change their minds."
Countervail, you are obviously clueless about my career. I started out when I was 19 putting up highway billboards on the Interstate with happy gay people under the headline, "Valued Friends and Family." I did this at the same time I spoke to classes in college about how being gay was great.
On my website, we have videos where people are discussing how good it is that they came out.
For you to say I am simply beating the opposition, shows you have not bothered to take the time to review my work before criticizing. I suggest you take a few moments and actually do your homework before saying something so utterly absurd.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/08/2008 7:28 PM
Let them put their books in libraries. As long as the books are not selected or de-selected based merely upon content, there is not a problem here. In fact, people should be encouraged to research the ex-gay books, much as many of us have done.
They will likely come away from the experience with their eyes opened. Maybe they will do exactly what I did: At one time, I read all the ex-gay books and then read Wayne's incredible book, "Anything But Straight". After reading EVERYTHING, it was clear that there was simply no contest as to who was correct. Wayne's book was based upon painstaking research, scholarship and scientific inquiry. Ex-gay books are the opposite. Buy and read Wayne's book "Anything But Straight" and you will clearly see the difference.
No book should have to undergo a "factual test" before being placed on the library shelves. Free speech allows all views to be heard under the belief that once all views are heard, the inquisitor will be able to ascertain who is correct and who is wrong.
I am a happy gay man who is a member of the ACLU, and as much as I look down upon the ex-gay industry, it is important for our democracy that they be given the same access that, for example, books that we would approve of should be given. We are progressives. We do not believe in silencing anyone's point of view, but rather support the open airing of all views, even those which are offensive and false.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/09/2008 11:59 AM
Just a couple points - first, I think the idea of discussing or promoting that one can be gay and happy as a counterargument is just silly. Who cares? With the post-Palin bump in McCain's polls, we can all find plenty to be unhappy about, but the stable and inflexible nature of sexuality most of us experience is unrelated.
Secondly, I really don't think this qualifies as censorship. Libraries operate on limited funds and attempt to make selections that their communities would benefit from. Just like no library has a complete 140+ collection of the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, any relatively obscure work appealing to religious subgroups is going to continue to be difficult to find outside of larger University libraries that specialize in those sorts of collections. This is not a bad thing or censorship. That said, there are already obvious reasons in place that these books are not being selected by librarians, and I'm sure many are savvy to the religiously motivated campaigns to request books like these that the librarian knows the conservative requester never plans to read or check out. Librarians are the people that sued in response to unconstitutional PATRIOT ACT requests while almost every major phone company complied with illegal requests for domestic wiretapping; I think we can have a little more faith in the common sense and intelligence of librarians.
posted by Dr. Matthew, at
9/09/2008 1:27 PM
Recently, while looking at our public library website for something totally not related to SSA, my wife pointed out all the pro-gay information on the local library web site. After some diligent searching, it became apparent there was little to no information on unwanted SSA. Material on how homosexuality originates was absent. Any resources to help people overcome their SAME SEX ATTRACTION were also absent.
Um... yeah, so I was looking around for something TOTALLY NOT RELATED TO TEH GAAAYYYYY, and I noticed... no wait, MY WIFE NOTICED all the gay stuff. My wife. Not me. I don't looks at that gay stuff.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/09/2008 7:10 PM
I've read Joseph and Linda Nicolosi's A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality. I don't agree with everything in it, but it is quite a good book (it is better, by the way, than either of Nicolosi's two previous books).
I wish my parents had read a book like this; that way, I might not have become homosexual.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/09/2008 7:25 PM
If you think that your sexual orientation could have been different if your parents merely read a particular book, you are sadly mistaken. Recent research shows that a child doesn't "become homosexual" but is likely born that way. We all have a limited time her on this planet. Wake up, friend! Embrace yourself totally, not in spite of who you are, but because of who you are: a unique, loving gay human being. Live life boldly and without fear. Throw off these bonds of self-hate and fly gloriously like an eagle. You can do it!
posted by Anonymous, at
9/10/2008 1:56 PM
One local bookstore manager caught ex-gay activists planting books on his store shelf! He figured this out after a cashier couldn't find an ex-gay book in the store's database. BTW, he is big on stocking all kinds of books, but he thinks bookstore owners will lose customers by stocking untruthful or harmful books, such as ex-gay ones.
posted by Thomas Kraemer, at
9/10/2008 6:55 PM
Chris L. - I don't think that my sexual orientation could have been different merely because my parents had read a particular book. It might have been different had they behaved differently because of what they read.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/10/2008 7:37 PM
Anonymous, you aren't gay because of how your parents behaved. Sadly, there are millions of parents who do a poor job with their children, and 90% of those children turn out heterosexual nonetheless. If the parents do a bad job, the kids might turn out to be messed up, but "being gay" is not one of those consequences. Throw off your chains of self-hatred and celebrate yourself as the wonderful, unique gay being that you have been blessed to be!
posted by Anonymous, at
9/11/2008 11:26 AM
My views:
The so-called "ex-gay" books should not be censored or banned.
As I made abundantly clear, they belong in the fiction section of the library. Or, in the fundamentalist religion section.
They do not belong in the gay section, nor do they belong in the mental health or medical section.
The hard truth is, there is not one iota of information in ex-gay books that has anything to do with science or what experts say on gay life. Indeed, these groups are nothing more than political propaganda supported by immensely wealthy anti-gay organizations that have issues with a secular society and the U.S. Constitution.
So, anyone who claims I want to censor or ban ex-gay books is a liar. Period.
However, let's not pretend that these books have any value - other than pushing a fundamentalist political agenda.
Thank you for the clarification Mr. Besen. I'm sure you can understand why some people, including some of your own supporters, thought you were in favor of censoring or banning books from libraries based on this post, where you wrote the following:
"It seems to me that barring political books posing as legitimate science-based material is quite logical."
"Bar," or "barring," is synonymous with "ban," or "banning." However, you have clarified your position and it is now much clearer, and no one should state that you want to ban or censor books from libraries.
I do wonder, Mr. Besen, if you will do the same for Governor Palin. As with you, people have accused Governor Palin of wanting to censor or ban books based on past statements. Like you, Governor Palin later clarified her position and said that she is not in favor of banning or censoring books from libraries.
Now, you have stated that, in light of your clarification, anyone who claims you "want to censor or ban ex-gay books is a liar. Period." Isn't then anyone who now claims that Governor Palin wants to censor or ban books a liar?
posted by Anonymous, at
9/11/2008 5:04 PM
No, NOW that she is a Vice Presidential candidate, I'm sure she'll completely back off any mention of book banning. As for Wayne, he did say that the ex-gay books should be put in the religious section, and that is appropriate.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/12/2008 12:23 PM
Even if that were true Chris, it's irrelevant. Both Governor Palin and Mr. Besen have made clear they do not want books banned from libraries. If it's wrong to continue to accuse Wayne of censorship, then it's also wrong to continue to accuse Palin of it.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/13/2008 12:34 PM
Don't libraries hire people to decide what to put on shelves? There is a field of study called library sciences or something to that effect.
You can go into any library in Seattle and order any book you want. They will, through the inter library borrowing system go to the ends of the earth at great expense to get what you want. I have had books borrowed from Europe through the system. The question is what books should be on the very limited space of smaller regional libraries. Downtown Seattle has a great library designed by Rem Koolhouse that has millions of books, which represents only a fraction of the books in the entire library system, including the library of congress which is the worlds biggest library.
Should a small neigborhood library, in say the Castro be required to carry anti gay books? This is a tough call. If they had a big demand they would likely put them on the shelf just so they would not have to constanly borrow from their central library. In reality there could be a demand in the Castro just for research purposes; know thy enemy research, for example. But this is not something that should be taken out of control of libraries and put into the hands of big government.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/16/2008 2:49 PM
Palin is a bigger flip flopper then McCain. Whether it be global warming, book burning or many other issues. It is only fair to get her entangled in the pastorgate controversy. Her pastor makes Obama's old pastor look like a small town main stream parson in comparison. What I would not give to get a video of her and her fellow church members in a fit of "speaking in tongue".
posted by Anonymous, at
9/16/2008 2:56 PM
