May 04
2007
Punted| Category: 2008 Elections, Debate, Fundies |
As the 2008 election heats up, (in May 2007 no-less) the GOP had their first debate on MSNBC, hosted by Chris Matthews. And in the ONLY gay-related question fired at ONLY ONE candidate, Tommy Thompson, his answer was not-so-great.
Matthews: “If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?”
Thompson: “I think that is left to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be.”
Well, as a person who would be affected by such rationale this writer is deeply offended. How is it right for a person to discriminate against people because they happen to be gay or lesbian, which of course has no bearing on how well they do their job, but not OK to discriminate against a person of color, or who prays at a Synagogue? Following that logic wouldn’t it be just as right for the individual business to discriminate against black people because he doesn’t agree that he should have to pay them or that since the Jewish people are not “saved” then they shouldn’t be hired?
But, lets’ be fair, he did say in the “spin room” that hadn’t heard the question correctly and that discrimination should not be allowed. “There should be no sexual discrimination whatsoever.”
Now I see, he just didn’t hear it right. When he answered “sincerely” that he thinks business people should make their own determination as to whether or not “they” should be. Makes so much more sense now.
UPDATE: John at AmericaBlog has Thompson continuing the fumble. (h/t Bad Fruit/ Bad Trees)
clarification to CNN this morning:
THOMPSON: I made a mistake. I misinterpreted the question. I thought that I answered it yes when I should have answered it no. I didn’t hear, I didn’t hear the question properly and I apologize. It’s not my position. There should be no discrimination in the workplace and I have never believed that. And, in fact, Wisconsin has one of the first laws, which I supported.
ROBERTS: Right.
THOMPSON: So, I just made a mistake and that’s all I can say. I’m sorry and I misinterpreted the question and I answered yes, when it should have been no…. It’s not my position, it never has been. I have always been against discrimination and prejudice. In fact if you would have listened to the debate, they asked me a question about racism and I said that the president of the United States, whoever he is, has to take the point and has to be the person that does not allow discrimination or racism in any degree, whatsoever.
OK, so building on the comment below, by Bloggernista, if this writer remembers what his teachers always said when taking a test. “Follow your gut and go with your first instinct.” In a playing field where hating TEH GAY is par-for-the-course it seems that he was saying what was really in his heart. When cornered on it in the “Spin Room” and again on CNN he changed his answer because he know there would be outrage. This is the reason why taking his “correction” as his answer is so hard to do.
Apr 20
2007
Punted| Category: Ex-Gay Issues, Exodus International, Fundies, Hate Crime Laws, Lies |
This week according to Baptist Press, professional “ex-gay”-for-pay Alan Chambers and about 50 “others” from Exodus International visited and met with members of the House and Senate to express their opposition of adding “sexual orientation and gender identity” to the existing hate crimes legislation as well as giving the FBI the tools to assist local law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting offenders of all bias related crimes.
“[R]eally what we’re saying is this legislation is unfair, because it means that I was more valuable as a homosexual than I am today as a former homosexual,” Chambers told reporters before he began visiting on Capitol Hill April 17. “You know, this law would give special protection to those who are gay and lesbian, yet it doesn’t give any protection to those who are children. That’s saying that a gay man is more valuable than a child, is more valuable than a grandmother, is more valuable than the majority of Americans. That’s just not fair.”
The bill is “primarily being pushed by those in the homosexual activist community, really as a reinforcement that homosexuality is valid, that they need protection, and that’s just not the case,” said Chambers, who left homosexuality 15 years ago and has been married for more than nine years. “[Homosexuals are] protected as much as I am protected under the Fourteenth Amendment.”
The first and most important part, is that Alan Chambers, “formerly” gay himself, asserts that we are invalid! What? I’m not valid? As I live, breath, love, read, work, pay taxes, I can assure you that I and countless other people in America and throughout the planet are very valid and very real. The fact that most “pro-family” organizations put scare quotes around the word gay and homosexual as though we do not exist is very telling, but to outright say it is well that’s just what we want. Yes, we want Exodus International, and all of the other right wing organizations to relegate themselves into obscurity by showing just how truly hateful they are.
Secondly, Alan, who obviously “left” the homosexual “lifestyle” because he was tired of being a second class citizen, has now said that he thinks it’s unfair for him because it will somehow make him less valuable now than if he had “stayed” a homosexual. Newsflash for Alan, the legislation will make our lives equally valuable to his currently superior RELIGIOUS protection. Children and the elderly already enjoy a higher degree of protection than the rest of us! How do I know? Watch the news. How many stories a day are about children and how they’re treated? How many stories are there about the elderly and how they’re treated? Society will always hold special protection for children and the elderly because THEY ARE THE DEFENSELESS or as Christ would call them “the meak.”
A few questions for Alan. Is your life somehow less valuable to a black person because you are not a racial minority? Oh wait, ALL racial qualities are protected from race related hate crimes. Is your life somehow less valuable because you were born American and not in a foreign country? Nope, because national origin also includes the United States from origin related crimes based in bias. Are you somehow less valuable as a Christian than as a Jew, or a Muslim? Nope, because Religion is also a protected class. So what you’re really saying is that you would oppose all hate crimes legislation if and only if “sexual orientation and gender identity” were added as a protected class. Until this bill passes and is signed into law, the lives of gays and lesbians will continue to be worth less than that of heterosexuals.
Alan Chambers, don’t be afraid to say what you really mean. We already know it, but say it for all of those that don’t.
h/t to Reality Cubed
Apr 12
2007
Punted| Category: Debate, Fundies, Good-As-You, Hate Crime Laws, Hate Speech, Lies, Threats, Video, Violence |
A big hand to Jeremy at Good As You for the hat tip on this one.
Old Lou-ser Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition created a really interesting video in which he makes the standard set of lies about the pending hate crimes legislation in Congress. Specifically, H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. But then he throws an easily fact checkable lie out there to further bait his audience into frantically calling their Reps and Senators to squash this bill Immediately.
Surf on over to Jeremy’s Pad to view the video for yourselves. Careful, it’s a doozy!
After the fold read the letter I sent to Lou. I’ll be sure to post a response should I get one! (more…)
Mar 23
2007
Punted| Category: Americans for "Truth", Fundies, Hate Crime Laws, Hate Speech, Lies, Peter LaBarbera, Uncategorized |
It came to my attention today on the AFT home page that Peter Labarbera has started yet another misleading website/organization aimed at fighting the forces of good and equality in Illinois. His new organization that he’s “director” of is called “Real Civil Rights Illinois.”
From the “About” section:
Real Civil Rights Illinois is a statewide pro-marriage, pro-life organization founded for the purpose of defending real civil and human rights as opposed to the modern, counterfeit variety based on homosexuality, abortion and pornography usage. We reject the notion of expanding “civil rights” to include homosexual behavior (”sexual orientation”) - which tramples on the rights of people of faith to oppose homosexuality - and abortion, which destroys the God-given right of children in the womb to live. We oppose the idea that citizens have a “right” to view pornography in taxpayer-funded public libraries. Real Civil Rights Illinois is part of Americans For Truth Action, a national C-4 organization. Gifts to RCR-IL and Americans For Truth Action are not tax-deductible, allowing us greater freedom to lobby in defense of pro-family and pro-life values.
Peter LaBarbera, Director
630-717-7631
Send E-mail
Where to begin? Has Peter LaBarbera gone daffy? Discrimination and fomenting violence are not rights. Ensuring that a group of law-abiding, tax-paying, citizens remain second-class is not a right. Forcing people in a free society to live by the rules of someone’s God is not a right. Peter apparntly doesn’t know what a civil right is.
| civil right |
| noun |
| right or rights belonging to a person by reason of citizenship including especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th amendments and subsequent acts of Congress including the right to legal and social and economic equality |
Poor, poor, Peter. He pulls out the religious persecution card again, saying equal civil rights would trample of the rights of people of faith to oppose homosexuality. How is this so? In the United States he and everyone else that is opposed to LGBT equality are and will be forever able to spout their anti-gay rhetoric. What is not acceptable and that we fight for unapologeticaly is the same fundamental rights that heterosexuals have. We want to know that if we’re attacked solely because of our real or percieved sexuality that law enforcement officials will not be able to turn a blind eye because of their personal bias agianst us. No one is going to take away Peter’s right to be a ‘Peter’ and disagree with us.
Besides, Peter, aren’t two anti-gay organizations enough? Now you need to inject a third dosage of poison into Naperville?
Mar 20
2007
Punted| Category: Action Alert!, American Family Association, Don Wildmon, Fundies, Hate Crime Laws, Hate Speech, Lies, Pride, Video |
Ole Don Wildmon cranks it out again with another “Action Alert!” He posts a vide which he calls “very offensive” because most of it doesn’t fit into his narrow, twisted-bible-view of the world. All this to drum up fear of the Hate Crimes bill being worked on in the Congress.
A new “hate crimes” bill further protecting homosexual activity has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act would increase protection for the kind of activity shown on this video.
The bill is the first step toward silencing any opposition to the homosexual lifestyle. This video will show you the kind of activity this bill protects. The video was shot during an actual homosexual pride parade in Dallas.
If this “hate crimes” bill is passed, and you publicly protest, complain or oppose the type of activity in this video, your action could eventually be construed to be subject to prosecution for a criminal act.
Well there’s probably only one overtly sexual scene in the entire video and that’s the two “cowboys,” one giving another a bath, which sort-of looks like siimulated masturbation which the parade probably could have done without. But the main thing is the people that go to be in the parade and those who watch the parade know exactly what to expect.
You be the judge.
*Update: Video set to private by poster (good for him), so you’ll have to go by my description below.
(more…)
Mar 02
2007
Punted| Category: Debate, Fundies, Lies, Mitt Romney, Rudy Guiliani |
Between presidential hopefulls Mitt Romney, and Rudy Guilanni it’s hard to tell who’s playing for which team or if they’re even on the team at all. Either way, we footballs in the PresidentBowl, are getting the boot.
Mitt Romney was invited to Pat “Juiced” Robertson’s 700 Club where he went on the offensive against the Guiliani camp which airs March 6th on ABC.
Graphic provided by PHB
“He is pro-choice, he is pro-gay marriage, and anti-gun,” said former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., in an interview taped in Boston on Feb. 28. “That’s a tough combination in a Republican primary.”
Giuliani is often described as being “pro-gay rights” because he signed a 1997 bill creating domestic-partnership benefits in New York City. He has never, however, been “pro-gay marriage.”
…When contacted by ABC News, the Romney campaign was not able to provide substantiation for the governor’s claim that Giuliani is “pro-gay marriage“.
So Mitt kicks us to smear Guiliani with his almost “pro-gay” stance. Guiliani’s tolerance of gays and lesbians is actually used against him in a political smear tactic. Mitt’s own past has him in a pro-gay rights position when he ran against Ted Kennedy (D-MA), an action for which he cannot reconcile with his now anti-gay rhetoric and the fundamentalist conservatives who want to support him.
But wait, Guiliani doesn’t want the ball and kicks us back…
Responding to the criticism, Giuliani spokeswoman Katie Levinson said: “Mayor Giuliani has the utmost respect for Governor Romney. The mayor’s position on gay marriage has been both clear and consistent - he does not support gay marriage and believes marriage should be between a man a woman.”
This football says it’s time to call a time-out and put these two in the penalty box for a long time.
Feb 02
2007
Punted| Category: Fundies, Good-As-You, Hate Crime Laws, Threats, Violence |
Our fellow football, Jeremy Hooper, of Good As You (and this writer’s inspiration to blog), was typographically accosted in his comment section by a not-so-anonymous or bright reader.
In recognition of the great work that Jeremy does in the gay community to point out and respond to gay-centric news and anti-gay rhetoric with humor and fact he has been featured on “In The Life” which is airing on PBS throughout the month of February.
But this attack on Jeremy (typed on his blog) is 1) grammatically incorrect and 2) threatening the very safety and life of the blogger if Jeremy does something “gay” in front of him or his children.
You CAN’T just expect everyone to be okay with you, and your life. Your (sic) a fag, and that fine (sic), but keep it to yourself. Trust me, if I ever walk by you on the street with my kids and I see you kissing or holding hands with some dude, I’ll brake (sic) every bone in your gay little body. Keep your shit behind closed doors, so children can’t see you.
Jeremy, in his ever-so-witty way and not one to respond with dripping bile had this to say in response.
My bones are accelerating an exorbitantly high rate of speed? I mean, sure, holding hands with my partner really revs my engines, but I didn’t realize that put my bones in a place where they need “braking.”
But as I was mulling over how, exactly, one goes about putting the brakes on my femur and clavicle, I remembered something: This respondent had left his email address along with his comments. Then I remembered: Hey, I know how to Google! So wanting to learn more about this brake expert in case my car ever needs a tune up, I inserted his email, beefman500@hotmail.com, into the search engine to see what I could find.
Yes, the commenter trying to be anonymous with “StraightGuy” left his real email address. Jeremy being the smart sleuth he is found out that beefman500 is really Nick Peronace of Enterprise Steaks.
Please contact the beefman, but take the high road and don’t resort to his level of attack. Show him what true compassion really is. And let others know not to buy steaks from him. After all, bad PR is bad PR. Maybe a pinch in the wallet will make him re-think his violent and intolerent ways.
Further coverage on Joe.My.God, Pam Spaulding, Queerty.
**Update: Beefman500 has quite an Internet paper trail and could he be bi-sexual? (see last entry) Other’s dislike him as well. (Google-Cached)
Jan 14
2007
JoeBrummer| Category: Americans for "Truth", Fundies, Hate Crime Laws, Janet Folger, Peter LaBarbera, Uncategorized |
(Split post to preserve front page space. Please follow the link at the bottom or click the title to view the entire post. -Punted)
Faith 2 Action, a group led by Janet Folger recently had Peter La Barbera on her radio show entitled, Faith2action. This group is making a blantent call to Christians to go against their faith’s message of nonviolence and calls them to fight in the cultural war rather than do the right thing.
To start with the host of the show Janet Folger is planning to launch a new website against hate crime laws called http://www.stophatecrimesnow.com/. The site will be dedicated to stopping hate crime laws from protecting gays and lesbians. No words on whether the site will stop hate crime protections for christians. I will be watching to see the day the site goes up and keep you posted.
In the second half of the show, Janet had long time activist, Peter La Barbera from Americans for Truth on the show. Here is my sum up of the show:
(more…)
Jan 11
2007
Kevin| Category: Americans for "Truth", Fundies, Lies, Peter LaBarbera, Uncategorized |
(Split post to preserve front page space. Please follow the link at the bottom or click the title to view the entire post. -Punted)
**Update Below**
***I have to admit that I made a mistake by republishing some material from the GuideStar website. Below was an email I sent to Guidestar. Anyone can see the information for free at www.guidstar.org. They just cannot republish it as I did. I have taken the information off this blog, although as I said, anyone can see this information for free.***
I see on a couple of websites that Americans for Truth About Homosexuality is attacking a 16 year old for writing about the truth that sits behind the Americans for “Truth.” Well, I’ve just done a bit of background checking about this group and found out some interesting things.
I didn’t realize that the actual name for Americans for Truth is Americans for Truth about Homosexuality. I suppose that is what AFTAH stands for, but why don’t they put their full title in their website? I think when this group is mentioned the full legal title should be used.
What also really made me angry is that when I looked this organization up in GuideStar (a source of information about non-profit organizations), their ‘National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities,’ code is R26–Lesbian/Gay Rights. These NTEE codes are used to help people search for non-profit organizations. And get this–this code of R26 is used for “Civil Rights, Advocacy for Specific Groups”! So Americans for Truth about Homosexuality is listed under civil rights groups for lesbians and gays! (more…)
Jan 11
2007
Punted| Category: Americans for "Truth", Fundies, Lies, Peter LaBarbera, Sonja Dalton |
Americans For Truth (AH?) have a fairly prominent theme or modus operandi for how they get their “truth” out to readers. It’s a fairly simple one. “Don’t refute the message. Attack the messenger !”
Instead of simply refuting the arguments against them, they attack the very people who express their point of view. While holding the bible in their hands to boost the credibility of AFT, they use personal attacks to insult the sincerity of those making the opposing view points.
If one were to go to their page today or any day really but starting with the post at the bottom ”An Open Letter … ” dated January 5th, 2007 and work our way up to the top to “NEA’s Anti-Bullying Statement …” dated January 10th, one can see this trend of “blame the messenger” very clearly. I’m going to analyze the stories on the page today and then let you, the reader follow along in the preceding days to see how they handle this.
The first post we’ll analyze is “An Open Letter to Peter LaBarbera.” This was written by a person who comments on and reads Pams House Blend. It was an open letter addressed to Peter LaBarbera in which he states as a gay man who has come to Christ he can’t understand why AFT instead of helping people come to Christ as is commanded in the Bible and helping those that are truly needy, they only pick on a small minority of the population and work as hard as is possible to condemn in every way possible. (more…)
