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
On this map you can actually learn who the bigots were - the nasty neighbors - who donated to ban marriage in the Proposition 8 battle. It is astounding that people would have so much hate in their hearts to give huge sums of money to take away the rights of other people. How empty one's soul must be to ignore the cry of hungry and sick orphans - and instead use scarce resources to attack other families. How depraved the human mind, warped by fanaticism, to make hurting others a top priority?
Think of all the good that could have been done with this wasted money and weep for humanity. "Lovism" - bigotry based upon who one loves - truly is an illness.
16 Comments
I invite readers of this site to visit the Truth Wins Out blog. It has many items that are not on this site - and a wonderful blog director, Mike Airhart. The TWO blog has a lot of original material and research that will not be found anywhere else.
God TV Cuts Deal With Focus on the Family During Creepy 'End Times' Month
Truth Wins Out (TWO) today expressed its dismay over a deal between GOD TV and Focus on the Family to air the group's "ex-gay" Love Won Out conference. Focus on the Family claims they will now reach millions of people with their anti-gay propaganda and distorted science. The agreement comes at a time when GOD TV is airing a solid month of spooky End-Times programming.
"This deal of the delusional seems like a marriage made in heaven because so-called 'ex-gay' programs are a personal apocalypse for so many people," said Truth Wins Out's Executive Director Wayne Besen. "It is tempting to brush this off as fundamentalists preaching to the choir. But, these viewers have children who internalize this damaging message and are psychologically harmed by the lies."
"Love Won Out offers hope for those struggling with same-sex attractions," said Nima Reza, host of Focus on the Family's 'news' program, Turn Signal. "That message will go out to millions on GOD TV."
GOD TV has aggressively promoted its maudlin End-Times line-up this month as a bulwark against Satan, according to its website:
"Over the past year, the Lord has laid on our hearts a tremendous sobriety concerning the End-Times and we believe that it is so important to the Lord that His people were prepared in their spirits for the shaking that lies ahead and that they are not ignorant of Satan's devices. That is why we at GOD TV are sounding the alarm this month, as we bring you an extensive line-up of End-Time programming."
In the Life has produced a powerful segment highlighting the harm of ex-gay programs that is worth watching. A new movie, "Chasing the Devil," will also have a showing in New York City on January 21 (6PM) at the Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Avenue, at 2nd street). TWO's Besen will be on a panel following the show and invites people to attend the movie.
Love Won Out's founder, John Paulk, was photographed by Besen in a gay bar in 2000. The next ex-gay road show will be in Charlotte on Feb. 21. TWO will join local and state activists who are planning a vigorous response.
Disgraceful Show Elevates Fringe Anti-gay Activists To 'Expert' Status
The Dr. Phil Show clearly exploited Toni, the mother of a transgender child, and placed her in a psychologically abusive situation -- which nearly drove her to tears. The episode, "Little Boy Lost," also falsely portrayed notorious anti-gay activists, Glenn Stanton and Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, as "experts" on gender and homosexuality.
Dr. Phil damaged his reputation by choosing sensationalism over professionalism and he ought to be ashamed. Instead of exploring this issue in-depth, Dr. Phil sunk to new depths. He exploited a loving mother by ambushing her with disreputable anti-gay activists well known for theories far outside mainstream psychology.
On the show, Toni explained how she and her husband reluctantly decided to let her son transition into a girl after unsuccessfully forcing strict gender roles on the child. Such efforts backfired and her son tried to jump out of a window. Even after hearing such a real life story, Nicolosi and Stanton argued that Toni should have continued a "treatment" that nearly lead her child to suicide.
Dr. Nicolosi tried to humiliate Toni on national television, blaming her parenting skills for causing her child to be transgender. Nicolosi said that her child was transgender because the father was detached and Toni was overly "enmeshed." But, Toni's response undermined Nicolosi's unproven and dubious hypothesis.
"Dad wasn't there after the transition...my son, I wasn't close to at all," Toni replied. "I wasn't enmeshed with him, so I think your theory sucks."
Having their bizarre and outdated ideas effectively rebutted, Stanton chimed in to save face, glibly stating, "No human being is cookie cutter."
The truth is, the entire program of Nicolosi and Stanton is predicated on baseless cookie cutter ideas that support their extreme beliefs. It is disingenuous to say otherwise when the very heart of their work is confusing stereotypes with science. I question why Dr. Phil offered a platform to men so at odds with every respected medical and mental health association in the country? And why didn't Dr. Phil inform viewers that these men were considered fringe religious figures with peculiar views on sexuality?
Stanton, who is hardly qualified to discuss gender issues, has served as a spokesperson for Focus on the Family -- an anti-gay organization that believes people can "pray away the gay." Scientists throughout the world have condemned Focus on the Family for distorting research on human sexuality. Yet, this was not mentioned by Dr. Phil. Recently, Dr. Lisa Diamond of University of Utah accused Nicolosi of distorting her work -- but this information was conveniently omitted from the show.
Nicolosi is the founder of the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). In 2006, NARTH had two major controversies. In the first, psychiatrist Joseph Berger, MD, a member of their "Scientific Advisory Committee," wrote a paper encouraging students to "ridicule" gender variant children.
In the second controversy, Gerald Schoenwolf, PhD, also a member of NARTH's "Scientific Advisory Committee," wrote a polemic on the group's website that seemed to justify slavery.
Nicolosi is also known for his strange theories, such as encouraging his male clients to drink Gatorade and call friends "dude" to become more masculine. He also believes that "Non-homosexual men who experience defeat and failure may also experience homosexual fantasies or dreams."
I am still exasperated over Dr. Phil's quack attack. This will go down as one of the worst programs in the history of television. (Below is a video of a Nicolosi tizzy. It shows why he has no business on a national show dispensing advice.)
This month IN THE LIFE looks at the power of religion to shape our lives, our worldview and our political convictions. The Bible, the Koran, and the Torah are tools for spiritual guidance, comfort, and direction, but those same texts are often used to promote intolerance and hatred of LGBT people. In this episode, we look at the intersection of religion and sexuality, to see how gays and lesbians reconcile their faith within their religious communities: In God We Trusted explores the tragic consequences of the ex-gay ministries of fundamentalist Christianity; In A Conversation With....Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum and Bishop Gene Robinson discuss their spiritual journeys; and a Real to Reel encounter with Muslim director, Parvez Sharma's ground-breaking film, A Jihad For Love, and the struggle of gay and lesbian Muslims to stay true to their Faith and themselves.
IN GOD WE TRUSTED Believing that homosexuals have no place in the Christian church, evangelical ex-gay ministries, such as EXODUS, have been established around the country to re-program LGBT people to make them heterosexuals…often with tragic consequences.
A Conversation With... Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum and Bishop Gene Robinson Sharon Kleinbaum, rabbi of New York's largest LGBT synagogue, leads Judaism's national dialogue on the issues of gay rights and social justice. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Bishop in the Episcopal Church, has been at the center of the Church's heated debate on homosexuality. The rabbi and the bishop discuss their spiritual journeys, faith, religion, and politics.
Real to Reel: "A JIHAD FOR LOVE" In the world of Islam, "Jihad" translates as a "struggle in the way of God." For gay Muslims, reconciling one's homosexuality is a struggle against oppression, against tradition, and fear. In our final story, Director Parvez Sharma's ground-breaking film, A JIHAD FOR LOVE, looks at gay and lesbian Muslims who strive to be true to their Faith and themselves.
8 Comments
The gay Log Cabin Republicans are broke and their party is seriously broken. The group's $100,000 debt comes at a time when the GOP is indebted more than ever to extremists. Instead of learning from Election Day, the party is pandering to those who believe in the "End of Days," which will only expedite the party's political apocalypse.
Changing demographics have transformed America into a high definition flat screen, while Republicans resemble a bulky, black and mostly white television set. With twisted antennas they can't get clear reception, and they rotate the dilapidated dial in search of a meaningful message. Only two channels seem to break through: UHF reruns of "Leave It To Beaver" and the Christian Broadcasting Network's 700 Club. This may appeal to those stuck in the past or the party "faithful," but it's no way to tune into tomorrow.
A microcosm of GOP madness is the race to choose a Republican National Committee chairman. One candidate, Chip Saltsman, the Tennessee party leader, handed out a Christmas CD at a holiday party that featured the song, "Barack the Magic Negro." Saltsman told the New York Times that he believes those voting for chairman have "gotten past it." No doubt they have -- and this is the problem.
Another candidate, Katon Dawson, head of the South Carolina GOP, had to quit his membership in an all-white country club, to run for chairman of a nearly all-white country club -- the RNC.
Two African Americans (Michael Steele and Kenneth Blackwell) are also contending for the prize, hoping to change the party's image. But, even if the GOP somehow manages to overcome its poor reputation on race, it is still hostage to the whims of social conservatives. For example, Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, may not get the job because he, while anti-choice, favors an exemption in cases of incest or when a woman's life is in jeopardy.
In obsessing over such parochial issues, the Republican Party has chosen the Revival Tent over the Big Tent, at the very moment they need to appeal to moderate swing voters. Those on the party's delusional wing are flirting with former Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a conservative African American, to chair the RNC. Blackwell once compared gay people to "arsonists and kleptomaniacs," described their lives as a "transgression against God's law," and believes that they can "change." In 2004, Blackwell led the campaign to amend Ohio's constitution to prohibit recognition of same-sex marriage or civil unions.
Those who support Blackwell foolishly believe that public relations can repair race relations and give the party a modern facade. This cynical strategy will not work any better now than it did when the Republicans elevated Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. It also seems self-destructive for a party to consider a man as its leader who lost his 2006 Ohio gubernatorial race by a 24-point margin. That is not exactly "a winner."
Furthermore, as the first African American RNC chairman, Blackwell would be compared to the far more eloquent and historic Barack Obama. While Obama focused on issues such as healthcare and the economy, Blackwell -- if the past is indicative -- would fixate on homosexuality and abortion. For most Americans, Obama would provide inspiration, while Blackwell would be a cause of division and irritation. If the GOP were trying to commit suicide, electing Blackwell would be the perfect poison pill to swallow.
In a sign of how lost Republicans truly are, the New York Times reported that several operatives said that the party should "seek to recover its standing among Hispanic voters." I'm not sure how this will occur. The GOP base is virulently anti-immigration and mentions "The Wall" more often than Pink Floyd.
As if to confirm that the Republican Party is plunging to new depths, there are rumors (in jest for now) that "Joe the Plumber" may run for the U.S. Senate seat in Ohio. And, speaking of raw sewage, Ann Coulter has a detestable new book, Guilty, which reminds the nation of why conservatives have fallen out of favor.
The gay and lesbian community is poised to make an enormous amount of progress. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) told The New Yorker that he expects Congress to pass laws outlawing employment discrimination, addressing hate crimes and ending the military's disastrous Don't Ask/Don't Tell policy.
I wish I could say that this will be a bipartisan effort -- but it won't be. It will be a majority of Democrats, with a few exceptions, overriding the objections of a Republican minority in lockstep with the Religious Right. Even if we do achieve legal equality, we will still have to endure the continued verbal abuse, humiliation, and lies spewed by some Republican members of congress.
While gay Republicans were building a Log Cabin, social conservatives built a skyscraper that blots out the sun. Until this monstrosity implodes, Log Cabin will remain in the shadows. Whether Log Cabin has money in the bank is irrelevant, as the Christian Coalition drove them out of business a long time ago.
6 Comments
