With Republicans deeply dissatisfied with their presidential candidates they have turned to chicanery to try to steal the 2008 election. This time, they have recruited surrogates on the Religious Right to place a constitutional amendment banning gay unions on the ballot. Although they deny their intentions are politically motivated, it can hardly be a coincidence that the Republican Party of Florida was the largest contributor of the petition drive, funneling $300,000 of the $557,000 raised.
Such cynical manipulation worked wonders for the Republicans in 2004 - when they used this strategy to turn out right wing voters in droves. In total, there are now 27 states that have constitutional amendments prohibiting marriage equality. The anti-marriage train seemed unstoppable until it was derailed in Arizona, where voters narrowly rejected a ban by a 52-48 vote.
The key to this desert victory was that voters were persuaded that the proposed amendment would affect domestic partner benefits for unmarried heterosexual partners - particularly senior citizens. This message could resonate in Florida with its huge population of seniors. Indeed, informing this demographic of the consequences of passing this amendment appears to be the central strategy in defeating it. (Read More)
Has there ever been a more feckless, less respected religious figure than the “Arch-Baby” of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams? Liberals ignore him, conservatives walk over him and through his stunning lack of leadership he has lost control of the Anglican Church.
The wheels came off the car in 2003 when openly gay V. Gene Robinson was selected as Bishop of New Hampshire. Since then, conservative Episcopal factions in America – egged on by anti-gay peers in developing countries - have threatened to bolt and take every bit of property that isn’t bolted down to the church floor.
In the face of such insubordination, Williams had a clear-cut decision to make. He could side with liberals and crush the cabal of right wing turncoats. Or, he could stand on the wrong side of history and defrock Robinson and those who approved his consecration. Instead, he has taken a series of wishy-washy positions that have pleased no one and revealed weakness – which has encouraged further conservative mutinies. (Read More)
The following video offers a snapshot of the life-saving work performed by TruthWinsOut.org. We are having a $100,000 holiday fundraising drive and greatly need your generous assistance. Please consider becoming a supporter of TruthWinsOut.org today. We can only do our crucial work with your help.
Please join the fight against the ex-gay fraud by sending a tax-deductible gift to:
TruthWinsOut.org called on the leaders of several major Christian ministries to apologize to a family after they took advantage of their son, who suffered from bipolar disorder. The crass manipulation of James Stabile – and false sexual conversion on television outside of a Dallas gay bar – was deceptive, immoral and unchristian, said TruthWinsOut.org.
“This was predatory coercion, rather than a legitimate conversion,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of TruthWinsOut.org. “The overzealous preachers were so intent on proving that gay people could change, that they never considered the damage they were doing to James Stabile and his family. Pat Robertson, Heartland World Ministries and Pure Life Ministries ought to apologize for dividing this family and fraudulently claiming that Stabile had become ‘ex-gay.’”
The absurd drama began when televangelist Pat Robertson aired a segment on the 700 Club on a supposed biblical prophecy that claimed the Old Testament mentioned that Interstate 35 is the “highway to holiness.” To fulfill this bizarre prophecy, Heartland World Ministries Church in Las Colinas staged so-called “purity sieges” on Friday nights at porn palaces, nightclubs and gay bars off of I-35 in Dallas. The group’s favorite hangout is outside JR’s nightclub, a popular watering hole for gay men. (Read More)
This video offers a snapshot of the work performed by TruthWinsOut.org.
Mission: TruthWinsOut.org is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life.
Creed: TruthWinsOut.org is resolute in its belief that ex-gay programs are a politically motivated fraud designed to exploit vulnerable clients for financial gain and pass anti-gay legislation. Attempts to change sexual orientation are patently offensive, discriminatory by definition, theologically shaky, uniformly unsuccessful and medically unsound. TruthWinsOut.org firmly believes that ex-gay programs can damage families, lower self-esteem, generate guilt and shame and sometimes lead to suicide. The organization holds as self-evident that the world would be a better place without ex-gay programs, which are an unnecessary and destructive hindrance to the natural coming out process.
TruthWinsOut.Org aims to end the dangerous practice of ex-gay therapy in all of its injurious forms. The organization will tirelessly advocate against such programs, vigorously disseminate educational material, and doggedly pursue actions that will help undermine the so-called ex-gay myth.
NEW YORK – Truth Wins Out introduced two new Internet Public Service Announcements today (IPSA) that show the absurdity of the ex-gay myth, while rebutting the blatant fear tactics that these organizations use to recruit new members.
“We urge all bloggers to consider posting these ads, to educate Americans about the harm done by ex-gay therapies,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “These ads use cutting edge humor to address a serious issue that is tearing apart families and ruining lives.”
The first ad, “Bald,” addresses a lie told by Exodus International’s executive director Alan Chambers earlier this year on a national television show.
“What I found was that homosexuality was for the young,” said Chambers. “There was a time when I wasn’t going to have hair anymore. There was a time when I wasn’t going to work out every day, and lay out in the sun, and be as much a commodity as I was when I was eighteen.”
In “Bald” (:50), ex-gay survivor Nick Cavnar – a bald man from Washington, DC in his 50’s – takes Chambers to task for exploiting the fears of young gay men. “I have wonderful friends,” says Cavnar, “and many of them are bald too. And all of us middle age gay bald men, just want to tell you, it’s great out here.”
The second groundbreaking ad, “Rubber Band” (:30)features Dallas ex-gay survivor Brian Nesbitt, who was urged by his therapist to wear a rubber band on his wrist and snap it whenever he saw an attractive guy.
The world’s largest ex-gay organization, Exodus International tells clients to wear a rubber band on their wrist and snap it when they see someone attractive of the same sex. In this Truth Wins Out PSA, a survivor of rubber band “therapy,” Brian Nesbitt, discusses his experience.
Here is what Exodus instructs its clients to do:
“Every time you catch yourself watching someone erotically or engaging in fantasy, snap the band. This will cause a moderate stinging pain, which serves as a shocking reminder of what you are doing. This should help you interrupt the spell.”
Rudolph W. Giuliani was asked Sunday on the NBC program “Meet the Press” if he agreed with the statement made in 1992 by a rival for the Republican presidential nomination, Mike Huckabee, about homosexuality being “an aberrant, unnatural, and sinful lifestyle.”
“No,” Mr. Giuliani replied. “I don’t believe it’s sinful.” But he then said something that puzzled and concerned some gay rights groups.
“My moral views on this come from the, you know, from the Catholic Church, and I believe that homosexuality, heterosexuality, as a way that somebody leads their life is not, isn’t sinful,” said Mr. Giuliani, who as New York mayor temporarily moved in with two gay roommates after he separated from his wife. “It’s the acts - it’s the various acts that people perform that are sinful, not the orientation that they have.”
Mr. Giuliani added: “I’ve had my own sins that I’ve had to confess.”
Wayne Besen, the executive director of Truth Wins Out, a gay rights group, said that he hoped the campaign would clarify the statement, which he said “seemed to parrot the religious right’s cruel and empty ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’ rhetoric.”
The Giuliani campaign declined yesterday to elaborate on the statement.
Patrick Sammon, the president of the Log Cabin Republicans, a group of gay Republicans that has taken out advertisements criticizing another Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, said of Mr. Giuliani, “His record and his comments speak for themselves.”
To keep exposing the “ex-gay” myth, Truth Wins Out needs your help. Please consider a generous tax-deductible holiday gift that will allow us to continue our important work. We are the ONLY full-time non-profit organization in America that:
1) Shows the harm caused by ex-gay programs to individuals, families and children
2) Highlights how these groups are ineffective
3) Points out the bizarre and dangerous therapies they offer their clients
Truth Wins Out can win this fight and continue to save lives - but we need your support to make this happen. Please consider a contribution - or sign up to give each month. Together, we can work to make the ex-gay - go away.
CLICK HERE to give a holiday gift to Truth Wins Out.
NEW YORK – Truth Wins Out called on Rudolph W. Giuliani today to clarify a statement he made about gay relationships to moderator Tim Russert on NBC’s Meet the Press. While Giuliani said he did not think a person’s sexual orientation was sinful, he seemed to mirror the far right’s assertion that homosexual “acts” are sinful.
“Have Giuliani’s long held convictions on gay relationships changed in a New York minute to win the GOP nomination? If they have, then he lacks the character to be president,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “Giuliani’s answer on Meet the Press seemed to parrot the religious right’s cruel and empty ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’ rhetoric. We call on Giuliani to clarify what ‘acts’ he thinks are sinful and we hope he continues to respect all relationships.” (Read More)
With a gift of $35 to Truth Wins Out, you can receive an autographed copy of "Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth."
By Wayne Besen
