Emulating Our Opponents Is No Way To Move Forward, Says TWO
Truth Wins Out today expressed its grave disappointment in those in the LGBT community who have emulated our bigoted opponents by scapegoating minorities. It has been reported that African Americans have been verbally abused and have had racial epithets hurled at them during Anti-Proposition 8 rallies.
“It is reprehensible to look for scapegoats and target innocent people with vile racial epithets,” said TWO Executive Director, Wayne Besen. “We call on all GLBT people behave intelligently and act responsibly, so we can figure out – together – the best way for our movement to proceed and achieve equality.”
Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life.
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“Truth Wins Out today expressed its grave disappointment in those in the LGBT community who have emulated our bigoted opponents by scapegoating minorities.”
That plays right into the anti-gay industry’s hands. Divide and conquer.
Just like with 9/11. We’ve managed to bankrupt our own society in the attempt to prevent another 9/11. The trillion $ “war” in Iraq has only increased our risk of continued terror attacks, and furthermore, was never even meant to prevent another 9/11 (as Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11).
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, our constitution has effectively been gutted due to our collective fear of death, coupled with our global-supremacist ideology (only we should be immune to terror attacks).
We played right into Bin Laden / Al Qaeda’s hands. They are laughing at our economic crisis because they know that they got us to screw ourselves over.
Even if it was an inside job, the motive was the same. Instill fear; a brainless electorate will do virtually anything their told.
That was the Bush Administration’s “test,” and they failed (or succeeded if it was an inside job).
In any case, Jan 20 can’t come soon enough.
Comment by Emproph — November 7, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
Thanks for posting this, LGBT people are color are especially feeling the burn because so many of us have felt unwelcome at times in the mainstream LGBT community. The Black Revolutionary Committee (www.faithish.com) & UCLA’s BlaQue will be hosting an impromptu and brief protest of H8’s negative effects before the Silverlake H8 rally(5pm, Sunset and Santa Monica).
We don’t like name calling at rallies or our kin voting against the marriage rights we also deserve. Some people of color queers support the larger LGBT leadership and work closely with it, some do not but are working in their own communities on issues that disproportionally affect us due to race. Some do both, or none. Just like every community of minorities, I’d think. What gets us all there faster? Working together!
Comment by Faith Cheltenham — November 7, 2008 @ 11:20 pm
[...] would like to sign on to the following statement from Truth Wins Out: Truth Wins Out today expressed its grave disappointment in those in the LGBT [...]
Pingback by ‘No’ on Prop 8 — and ‘No’ on Race-Baiting | Comments from Left Field — November 8, 2008 @ 12:16 am
Thank you for putting this out there! This exact division was fomented by regressives and we are playing right into it- tearing each other down instead of reaching out. I think there must be a collective response like this from the progressive leadership and some kind of guidance toward re-forming coalitions. I wish I were in CA right now to help out. I blogged about it, hoping it might add to the effort to heal up the divide, but I it’s going to take a lot of voices together. Thanks again!
Comment by Kate — November 8, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
Live by the collectivist sword, die by the collectivist sword.
Prop 8 passed in large part because Leftists are simply not credible advocates for individual rights, as hostile as they are to that very concept. Gay marriage is an individual right.
Prop 8, on the other hand, is DEMOCRACY IN ACTION, which the Left (at least the American version) loves to trumpet when it’s stomping any individual right they do not find politically expedient — which is usually all of them.
So what do we get in the aftermath, now that democracy has rendered its verdict? Instead of pulling the knife out of their backs, identifying its source, and repudiating it — gays continue thinking in terms set by the Left, and accordingly start putting knives in black backs instead.
In West Hollywood yesterday, there was nary a rightist to be seen — just Leftist constituencies of one sort or another. But instead of peace and love, nothing but the N- word and the F- word all over the place!
And it came so quickly, so readily! The logic of basic ideas is a real bear, isn’t it.
Welcome to the Left’s end-of-road. Brothers, you asked for it!
Comment by Seerak — November 8, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
Seerak,
In your view, “democracy in action” seems to permit Christians to vote away the freedoms of Jews, whites to vote away the freedoms of blacks (or vice versa), and yes, heterosexuals to vote away any freedoms or privileges for same-sex-attracted Americans and the religious traditions that support them.
In your “democracy,” few people seem to be permitted to enjoy their constitutional and religious freedoms.
Your idea of democracy isn’t rightist or leftist, it’s just un-American.
Comment by Michael Airhart — November 8, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
It’s called “voting” Airhart and you don’t get to run around hurling epithets at others without blowback.
A vote on a contentious issue is as American as it gets. If you don’t like it you have alternatives. That includes running through the streets calling out racial epithets. Please line up with all your other brave supporters and do it again. This time, if you’ve got the courage of your convictions, in say South Central.
But just sitting around griping and sucking your thumb doesn’t make it.
Comment by vanderleun — November 8, 2008 @ 5:14 pm
vanderleun, I haven’t hurled epithets at anyone, and persons like you who encourage such mob activity are prohibited at Truth Wins Out.
Comment by Michael Airhart — November 8, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
African Americans ARE more homophobic. Sorry to burst your politically-correct bubble. Actually, one can partly blame gay leaders and bloggers for this. It was well known already how many African Americans would come to vote because of Obama, and that they’d also vote “yes” on Prop 8. There were articles about it. But gay leaders, always politically-correct, just refused to make that known. That knowledge could have led to greater registration and voting of gay men which would have defeated 8.
Comment by Johnson Tech — November 8, 2008 @ 7:10 pm
Johnson,
Since I agree with you, I’m not sure why you think you’re bursting someone’s bubble or why you think TWO is politically correct.
However, at the risk of nitpicking, I must emphasize that it’s a logical fallacy to assert that all individual African-Americans are more homophobic on the basis of group-based statistics, just as it’s a fallacy to claim that all individual gay people are sexually libertine or subject to health risks on the basis of trends in group-based data.
Comment by Michael Airhart — November 8, 2008 @ 7:23 pm
Mr. Airhart, I was directing that at the author of the article.
Comment by Johnson Tech — November 8, 2008 @ 7:46 pm
How about not trying to find any scapegoats?
Comment by Pyotr — November 8, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
Ultimately, pro-equality groups lacked adequate outreach to several constituencies that supported the antimarriage amendments:
Approximately 60 percent or more of voters in the Catholic, evangelical, elderly, and African-American demographics favored the amendments — often because few people from these demographics were recruited to tell voters why it was in their specific interest to oppose the initiatives. The common denominator in these demographics is religion, not race; the amendment opponents did not make a religious case against the amendments.
Meanwhile, gay voter turnout was inexcusably low in some major metropolitan areas — turnout ought to have exceeded 90 percent, but often fell below 70 percent.
Comment by Michael Airhart — November 8, 2008 @ 9:09 pm
Pyotr, I agree that no one should be singled out as a scapegoat.
I believe a more constructive approach will identify:
– tactics by which well-funded, often-divorced, antigay-amendment supporters succeeded in convincing voters that undermining and regulating marriage would somehow protect the institution
– shortcomings in organized opposition to the amendments
Comment by Michael Airhart — November 8, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
Democracy is not mob rule. In America, there is supposed to be protection for minorities. Some people need a civics lesson.
Comment by Wayne Besen — November 9, 2008 @ 3:15 am
Blacks voted Yes on 8 in shockingly high numbers.
This is a fact.
Period.
There’s a big difference between promoting intolerance and holding a homophobic community responsible for
it’s actions.
Straight blacks have been promoting
intolerance against LGBTs with impunity for decades.
In San Francisco & New York, straight blacks are at the forefront of inflicting anti-gay hate speech on LGBTs.
Anyone who doesn’t want to be called a “faggot” by blacks is “racist.”
Enough is enough.
It’s time to tell blacks that tolerance & respect go both ways.
Comment by David Alex Nahmod — November 9, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Mr. Airhart: Whether you like it or not, Seerak has a point. The right the LGBT community sought was an implied, individual right. That same community (taken as a whole) has been quite supportive of attacking other individual rights.
The problem is, sir, that when “you” (collectively) find an individual right distasteful, “you” attack it. When your own, distasteful-to-others individual right is under attack, it suddenly becomes hateful.
Fine. Let’s see the LGBT community collectively put those principles that they claim to hold so dear in action. Support a civil right for others that you find distasteful. How about repealing gun control laws? Opposing Obama’s stated plan to reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban? Going after the revival of the “fairness doctrine”?
I think you might find that, doing so, putting another proposition on the ballot to repeal prop 8 that recognizes the issues your opponents have, you’ll find that the populace of the state of California will be a lot more willing to support you.
Comment by Chuckles48 — November 9, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
Chuckles,
I understand your point.
However, many gay folks do support repeal of gun control, favor free trade, oppose “big government,” defend free speech for conservative Christians, and so forth.
I think the popularity of the GayPatriot, North Dallas Thirty, and Independent Gay Forum web sites attest to that.
Approximately 27 percent of gay voters voted for McCain.
Where you see a single community, I see several distinct gay communities with little in common among them besides their sexual orientation.
Comment by Michael Airhart — November 9, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
Mr. Airhart: I understand that there are minority groups within the LGBT community who, for example, support repeal of gun control. What about the rest?
That minority group is, honestly a fig leaf. I know people disagree on issues, and that’s their right. But there’s a moral issue here, too – if the LGBT community as a whole wants support for this issue, then, as a whole, they need to be supportive of other civil rights efforts.
And, to be quite honest, I know of a number of gun owners who (a) voted against prop 8, on moral grounds, or (b) voted for prop 8 _not_ because of an anti-gay bias, but because they were quite frankly offended by the tactics and approach taken by the LGBT community as a whole (and who would be willing to vote _for_ an LGBT-sponsored proposition to repeal prop 8, provided appropriate protections for things like religious opinion, and restrictions to SINGLE couple marriages, were incorporated). See? That “distinct communities” thing cuts both ways.
But my underlying point is that there’s a moral discontinuity evinced here by the LGBT meta-community, that demands (and is quite vocal about their moral right to) an individual right, whilst opposing individual rights in other cases. Cases that, frankly, have more historical and legal backing, being explicit rather than implicit rights.
Comment by Chuckles48 — November 9, 2008 @ 5:23 pm
By the way, call me Mr. Airhart if you wish, but Mike is fine too.
Comment by Michael Airhart — November 9, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
[...] Truth Wins Out condemns this scapegoating. [...]
Pingback by Truth Wins Out - Angry over Antigay Ballot Initiatives? Do Something Positive — November 9, 2008 @ 8:20 pm
It’s not about getting an individual right. It’s about being treated equally to heterosexuals. Opposite sex consenting adults already have the right to engage in legal unions that have federal status. Why can’t same-sex consenting adults do the same thing? is it about the acts of sex? What if those unions promised not to have sex but to union purely for practical and economic reasons? This proposal is ridiculous, of course, but I’m trying to make a point and bring a different perspective to it. What if no sex were involved at all? I think a lot of people would see it very differently.
Comment by Emily K — November 9, 2008 @ 11:32 pm
Mr. Airhart (Mike),
Not all democrats are for gun control. I am a democrat but I believe as long as someone is able, physically, mentally, AND has no criminal record that would bar them from possessing a gun, they SHOULD be allowed to have one if they so wish.
Also, fair criticism here, but what is the source for 27 percent of gay voters were for McCain? As far as I am concerned, the only LGBT people who were for McCain are “Log Cabin” Republicans. They make up about 2 percent of the LGBT people involved or interested in politics. That’s what I heard, but I could be wrong, please give me the source.
Also, yes you are right, there are many communities within the gay community just like there are many communities among straight people. But when mentioning “the gay community” we mean gays as a whole.
I do agree with you on one thing however, there should be no blame against other minorities for the passage of proposition 8. Simply because, it is no one’s fault, the only entity that should take the blame if misinformation and misunderstanding. The homophobic/anti-gay/homosexual-opposing people are victims of it and they have a lot of healing to do.
Comment by James — November 10, 2008 @ 12:11 am
[...] Truth Wins Out’s Wayne Besen condemns racial intolerance within the LGBT community and says it is "reprehensible to look for [...]
Pingback by Gays Vs. Blacks — November 10, 2008 @ 1:38 am
[...] know, Truth Wins Out and PFAW put out statements condemning the blaming-of-black-people, and HRC, well, they linked it [...]
Pingback by Marriage, Obama, and the Election, or Why I’m not upset over prop 8 « Taking Up Too Much Space — November 11, 2008 @ 7:16 am
[...] LGBT white folks need to educate themselves about. While some prominent white queer people have denounced overt racism, they could also stand to learn a little about inclusion. According to Daily Voice blogger Rod [...]
Pingback by racismreview.com » Blog Archive » Racism (and other issues) among Gay Marriage Supporters — November 12, 2008 @ 9:56 pm
All of you who insist on calling out African Americans for homophobia and blaming them for the success of Prop 8 are simply feeding your racism. Your arguments go against common sense and simple reasoning.
Black people are only 6% of the population of California. Not all 6% are even eligible to vote, nor registered, or did actually vote. Even if ALL 6% did show up and vote YES, how are they responsible for the overwhelming 94% of the rest of California’s Yes vote? Last time I checked the math, 6% is way less than 94%.
Yet and still, 30% of those voters voted NO. So that even reduces your faulty numbers to 4% of the ACTUAL votes. There is a difference between ACTUAL number of votes that counted and looking at PERCENTAGES of eligible voters within a specific population – who is less than 6% of the total population.
We know homophobia exists in the Black community and it is inextricably intertwined with religion. Yes, homophobia in the Black community should be challenged. Nevertheless, homophobia in the Black community did not tip the YES vote in any major way as you would like to believe, no more than the Black vote could’ve pushed Obama into office (less than 13% of the US population).
The truth is White people are still the majority, albeit shrinking, but still the majority. Their vote determines most of the outcomes. However, there is a much larger culprit behind Prop 8 and that is religious institutions who push hatred to everyone – and you racist who revel in this are simply racist. You will fade away just like the rest of the bigots.
America will CHANGE.
Comment by Q — November 12, 2008 @ 11:03 pm
[...] associations, on ne s’est pas encore beaucoup exprimé sur le sujet. On notera tout juste le communiqué de Truth Wins Out, engagée habituellement contre le mouvement "ex-gay". L’association exprime [...]
Pingback by Proposition 8: révélatrice d’un racisme chez les gays? « Yagg - Le nouveau média gay et lesbien — May 11, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
[...] LGBT white folks need to educate themselves about. While some prominent white queer people have denounced overt racism, they could also stand to learn a little about inclusion. According to Daily Voice blogger Rod [...]
Pingback by Racism, Religion, Homophobia and Gay marriage « LIP SERVICE — May 31, 2009 @ 12:40 am