Truth Wins Out rarely comments on the policies of other LGBT organizations. We have enough to do fighting anti-gay religious extremism and the “ex-gay” myth, without sticking our noses in the business of others.

However, we will comment on the controversial firing of legendary activist Rick Garcia at Equality Illinois. He was unceremoniously let go right before the organization’s big fundraiser and prior to the holidays. He deserved better treatment.

I don’t know the inside scoop on what happened in Chicago, so I will not address it. Organizational politics can be complicated, emotional, and messy.

But, I will say that every time Truth Wins Out had important work to do in Chicago, Rick Garcia was there to help. He invited me to speak at a press conference at the State House to counter a hate event organized by Porno Pete LaBarbera. Years later, Garcia helped us (as well as the wonderful Gay Liberation Network) with our Dump Dobson protest after Focus on the Family’s founder was honored in the Radio Hall of Fame.

Again, I hesitate to speak out on Equality Illinois personnel matters. But, I will say that from our perspective, Rick Garcia will be greatly missed. He was continuously and consistently an ally we could rely on. We wish EI would reconsider its decision and try to mend fences, if at all possible. LGBT activism in Chicago without Garcia is like Christmas without Santa — it is simply unthinkable.

Thanks to amazing The Cross Eyed Iguanas for this witty little ditty about Porno Pete LaBarbera. I think they did a pretty darn good job capturing the essence of this bizarre, sexually stunted man. For the unacquainted, Porno Pete is an anti-gay activist who goes “undercover” to gay sex clubs and leather conferences to expose alleged naughtiness.

What people find odd is that he goes to the same exact events year-after-year, as if he will find something new. But, as far as I can tell, leather looks the same in 2009 as it did in 1999. So, why does this man keep returning to the same venues? I suppose it is possible that he may find it titillating, on some level. Revealingly, he never goes to heterosexual events that have a similar level of debauchery. Indeed, one rarely finds him pictured with the opposite sex and, for some unexplained reason, it appears he is exclusively fixated on the homosexual arena.