Interesting report on CNN in light of the study that found that gay couples in the South are more likely to be raising children than their counterparts elsewhere:

[h/t Joe]

Even after passage of repeal by the U.S. Senate, gullibility, melodrama, and false balance seem to be the rule rather than the exception in media coverage of the U.S. armed services’ ban against LGBT servicemembers.

On John King, USA last night, CNN ignored overwhelming expert analysis and public opinion. Instead, producers promised on their blog that they would present the constitutional rights of LGBT servicemembers as a potential threat to immigrant rights (which the producers confused with “Hispanic” rights). When it came time for televised “debate,” gay vet Alex Nicholson of Servicemembers United was brought in — and thrown to the wolves instead of real experts. Nicholson’s rival in the debate was Peter Sprigg, an operative for the Family Research Council hate group who believes that all homosexuals should be imprisoned.

Host John King helped Sprigg conceal his notorious position on imprisonment, which was relevant not only to the DADT debate, but also to Sprigg’s credibility as a debate participant. King also made no effort to fact-check FRC’s long list of DADT-related defamations despite the ready availability of refutations to FRC’s lies.

In what alternate universe does CNN exist, where it is deemed appropriate for a defender of constitutional rights and military readiness to be thrown into debate with a notoriously dishonest and defamatory opponent who wants said defenders thrown in prison? CNN’s “debate” was a deliberate and reckless mismatch between a well-funded and uncivil hate group, and just one of several expert authorities that have proven the harm done by Don’t Ask Don’t Tell to the U.S. armed services.

Also last night, The ED Show on MSNBC did a somewhat better job: The producers presented a solid line of GOP leaders who oppose repeal, before handing to GOProud, a tiny but well-funded group that advocates a transparently false equivalence between Democratic and Republican levels of support for repeal of DADT.

All this melodrama and manufactured hype for GOProud is counterproductive; what TV viewers need are facts:

On December 15, the House of Representatives approved repeal bill H.R. 2965 in a vote of 250 to 175. Of the No votes, 160 were Republican and just 15 were Democrat. Of the Yes votes, 235 were Democrat and just 15 were Republican.

On December 18, the Senate voted 65-31 for repeal; all of the No votes were Republican; just eight Republicans voted for repeal.

Despite the clear numbers and despite FRC’s relentless history of disproven lies, both news channels are wasting viewers’ time with he-said-he-said dogfights instead of hard facts.

Let CNN and MSNBC know what you think.

This is simply awesome.

In an interview/piece about the new hate crime statistics and the fact that gays are the most likely to be targeted in hate crimes of ANY minority, Dan Savage said the following, to a CNN anchor:

“There are no ‘two sides’ to the issue of LGBT rights. Right now one side is really using dehumanizing rhetoric. The Southern Poverty Law Center labels these groups as hate groups and yet the leaders of these groups, people like Tony Perkins, are welcomed onto networks like CNN to espouse hate directed at gays and lesbians. And similarly hateful people who are targeting Jews or people of color or anyone else would not be welcome to spew their bile on CNN.”

THANK YOU. Dear everyone supportive of LGBT people who ever appears in the mainstream media: Keep Saying It.  The Family Research Council and other groups who appear on CNN and other networks are hate groups.  And Dan’s exactly right:  there are NO “two sides” here.

Dan Savage was on CNN this morning talking about the President’s contribution to his It Gets Better project, and he did a great job framing the nuance of the situation. Yes, the LGBT community is correct to point out that there has been far too little action on important issues like DADT and DOMA. However, it’s also important to note that this is the first time an American President has ever spoken so candidly on such an issue, telling gay kids that they are just right the way they are, that there’s nothing wrong with them, and that it will get better.

[h/t David Badash]

From CNN:

Two Georgia men have filed suit claiming that prominent Atlanta pastor Eddie Long coerced them into sex.

The suits, filed Tuesday in DeKalb County, Georgia, allege that Long used his position as a spiritual authority and bishop to coerce young male members and employees of his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church into sex.

“Defendant Long has a pattern and practice of singling out a select group of young male church members and using his authority as Bishop over them to ultimately bring them to a point of engaging in a sexual relationship,” the suits allege.

CNN.com has a “Quick Vote” running at the bottom of their page today, which asks the following question:  ”Is the surge in gay TV characters ‘bad for society’?”

Uh.

I dunno, CNN.  Was the surge in black teevee characters during the run of The Cosby Show bad for society?  And do you really want people’s responses on that?

Good god.

The poll is going in the right direction right now, but not enough, so for god’s sake, go Freep it.

It’s like Name that Tune, but for bigots! Here’s what Tony Perkins had to say about CNN’s Gary and Tony Have a Baby:

CNN gave homosexual activists the gift of a free hour-long infomercial last night–in the form of a primetime special about homosexual parents called “Gary and Tony Have a Baby.” Actually, it should have been called “Gary and Tony Buy a Baby.” As viewers learned, the two homosexual men first purchase human eggs from an egg donor; use the sperm of one of them for in vitro fertilization; and finally rent the womb of a surrogate to bear the baby. The total cost runs a cool $160,000. The closest that host Soledad O’Brien came to raising an ethical question was to ask why the couple didn’t adopt instead. Not once did they explain why the process involved 14 eggs and two embryos–but only one baby.

Because that’s how in vitro works…I guess CNN thought their viewers were marginally intelligent?

It was obvious throughout the that these men are political activists for the homosexual cause (even using the newborn as a prop at a same-sex “marriage” rally).

The way Palin carts Trig around like a sack of potatoes to give “pro-life” people a thrill up their legs?

Meanwhile, the only reference to people who oppose same-sex “marriage” (which, incidentally, is at least 70 percent of the American population)

Liar. Only 53% oppose equality, a number which drops every day. Meanwhile, many who oppose equal marriage do support civil unions and domestic partnerships. The reality is that around over 70% of Americans support some form of legal recognition for gay couples. Sorry, Tony. Your readers are stupid, but mine aren’t.

was to express fear that one of them would physically harm the baby. Equally tragic, one of the men said that no one has ever given him a reason why their lifestyle choice is harmful. Here’s one–they are deliberately and permanently depriving this child of a mother. CNN seems content to tug at the heartstrings rather than report the news. They imply that the “love” or affection that these men feel for each other and for the baby that they’ve manufactured is enough. Love is important, but it isn’t sufficient. Social science proves that children suffer from not having a married mom and dad, so why is CNN promoting two people who would deliberately put their baby in that situation?

Liar. What social science has actually shown is that children do best in a home with two loving parents, in general, and some of the research shows that children of gay couples do better. The studies you and yours cite tend to involve pitting children of married heterosexual parents against those of single parents, a distinction your readers may not be savvy enough to notice. Again, though, my readers are smart.

I understand that the truth sucks for Tony Perkins, but that doesn’t mean he gets to make up his own.

(h/t Joe)

Weekly Column

The war over gay rights in America and other modern nations has been largely won. Too many people have come out of the closet and will never go back in for the clock to be turned back. Most of these out individuals have loyal friends and family members who offer unequivocal love and unqualified support. We have reached a tipping point where LGBT people are even coming out in traditionally conservative bastions where the issue has long been seen as taboo.

For example, in England, 6’3″, 225-pound rugby star Gareth Thomas recently came out. He was featured in a major Sports Illustrated spread detailing his life as the first openly gay male athlete in team sports. While no comparable male star has come out in America, Thomas’ brave journey sets the stage for this breakthrough to occur.

Gospel singers Ray Boltz and Tonex have acknowledged their sexual orientation, blazing a trail in a very homophobic environment. Country music crooner Chely Wright (pictured), who will be working with the LGBT organization Faith in America to combat religion-based bigotry, courageously came out this month.

While Ricky Martin’ announcement that he is gay did not seem to shock many people, it still had a significant impact in the Hispanic community and reverberated across Latin America. And, the recent support of marriage equality by Cindy McCain and Laura Bush gave fair-minded Republican women across this nation a green light to openly embrace their gay friends.

Daily advances suggest that the LGBT community is about fifteen years away from full equality. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday indicates that 78 percent of the public supports allowing openly gay people to serve in the military, with only one in five opposed.

“Support is widespread, even among Republicans. Nearly six in ten Republicans favor allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. “There is a gender gap, with 85 percent of women and 71 percent of men favoring the change, but support remains high among both groups.”

A new Gallup poll released Monday showed that while the number of Americans opposed to marriage equality continues to outnumber those in support of it, the number opposed has dropped to tie Gallup’ all-time low for the number. According to the poll, 53% of Americans oppose marriage equality compared to 44% who support it. The 53% number is tied with 2007′ 53% for the lowest opposition to gay marriage among Americans that Gallup has recorded.

In the next decade or so, a more supportive demographic will fully come of age and replace voters who hail from more conservative generations. During this period, we will witness an increasingly bitter and divisive culture war, as opponents sense defeat and grow desperate. There is no alternative to fighting these battles if we expect to win.

Often, I am asked the question: Why do you spend so much time focusing on religious extremists?

I spotlight these zealots because the only way we can now lose is if America is overthrown by a theo-fascist regime that obliterates the separation of church and state. Let me state clearly that it is highly unlikely that such a takeover will occur.

However, such a nightmare can only take place if we do not pay attention to our opponents. There is no shortage of Americans who desire an intolerant “Christian Nation” that excludes non-fundamentalists from first-class citizenship. I have traveled to rabidly right wing conferences, witnessed their radical vision for America and have seen the determination in their eyes. We should never underestimate their will or doubt their commitment to turn this country into the Christian version of Iran.

The one genuine concern I have is the enthusiastic embrace of fringe anti-gay activists by respectable members of the Republican Party. Strong ideological divisions combined with a weak economy and high unemployment could place in power Republicans beholden to fanatical elements. This could potentially create a dire situation where our opponents have the raw power to reverse the LGBT community’ notable gains.

If you don’t think they can do it, consider that the extreme right took over the Texas School Board and rewrote the history books. These same people would have no qualms about writing LGBT people out of America’ future.

Minnesota is a troubling example of GOP leaders in bed with extremists. According to the Minnesota Monitor, a radical anti-gay ministry, You Can Run But You Cannot Hide (YCR), has solidified ties to the Republican Party of this state. The group is linked to Rep. Michele Bachmann and gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.

YCR recently said on its radio show that Muslim countries that use the death penalty for gays and lesbians are “more moral than even the American Christians”. While this has caused Emmer to tiptoe away from YCR, the question remains, why is the GOP cavorting with crazies?

As we approach the finish line for equality, we must always keep one eye on the prize and the other on the awful surprise our theocratic foes desperately want to inflict on America. If they win, we lose. That is a lesson we don’t have the luxury of forgetting.

(Example in video of the crazy people we must face) 

New poll from CNN. Even a majority of Republicans support DADT repeal.

So this is a difficult political issue…why, exactly?

(h/t Joe Sudbay)

This is an interesting interview. Try not to cringe in the second section when, for some unknown reason (CNN, y’all really are batting a thousand, you know), King’s producers thought it would be a good idea to bring on a bigoted pastor to sit and talk about how sorry he feels for Jennifer. Props to Jennifer, though, for holding her tongue all the way through his entire ignorant, concern trolling tirade. Of course, there’s a hilarious moment at around 5:35 when Larry asks the pastor whether he made a “choice” to be a heterosexual, and he responds “I did!”

For the record: Pastor Bob Botsford of Horizon Christian Fellowship of San Diego could just as easily have been super gay, had that been what he wanted, and it wasn’t, so shut up.

In fairness, Larry mops the floor with the idiot pastor. So does Jen. So maybe they only brought him on for laughs.

In this segment, for some reason I cannot possibly put my finger on, they invite Ted Haggard on to give his perspective.