Glenn Shadix (on left) is an actor made famous by roles in movies such as Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas and the 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes. His television work includes the HBO drama Carniv?†le, and the NBC television comedy Seinfeld, in which he played Jerry’s landlord.
What many people do not know, however, is that Shadix had undergone shock therapy as a teenager in Alabama, in an attempt to turn from gay-to-straight. The “cure” did not work and today Shadix lives as a proud openly gay man. Having lived in New York City and Hollywood, he recently returned to Alabama. Truth Wins Out applauds Shadix for his willingness to share his experience and help other people avoid the pain and suffering of the ex-gay industry.
Religious “morality” is once again on open display with the news that more than 500 people have filed claims accusing Jesuits of sexually abusing children across the Northwest.
The Jesuits claim to have so far spent about $25 million and have settled 200 sex-abuse claims. In bankruptcy documents the Jesuits claim to have $4.8 million in assets and liabilities of $61.8 million.
The amount of money they are spending to clean up this moral mess is staggering. And, all the cases aren’t even settled!
In other news, the New York Times reports on the disgusting cover-up of sexual abuse in Connecticut and the lengths the Catholic Church went to in their unholy efforts to conceal documents related to the cases. This went to the top of the chain and even included Bishop Edward Egan.
Interestingly, while settlements on child seduction, abuse and rape are occurring, The Catholic League’s Bill Donohue is in a tizzy over a PETA ad that features model Joanna Krupa holding a crucifix over some dogs with the caption, “Be an angel for the animals. Always Adopt. Never Buy.”
“The fact is that cats and dogs are a lot safer in pet stores than they are in the hands of PETA employees,” Catholic League President Bill Donohue said in a statement. “Moreover, pet stores don’t rip off Christian iconography and engage in cheap irreligious claims. PETA is a fraud.”
How typical of Donohue and his useless organization, which is no more than a PR firm for hypocrisy. The Catholic League always finds fluffy pet issues, no pun intended, instead of fixing the moral depravity within the church’s walls. Deflection is the specialty of The Catholic League, which is used to stifle genuine reflection and having to face up to the unspeakable facts.
Millions of dollars are being shelled out because of priest scandals and the main thing Donohue is concerned about is finding a sensational issue so he can get his mug on TV.
Outrageous, isn’t it?
It shows you what The Catholic League truly values – and it’s not families. I’m not saying one has to agree with the PETA ads. But, I am pointing out that Donohue and the Catholic hierarchy in general under Pope Benedict has their priorities skewed.
I never again want to hear a Catholic priest lecture GLBT people on sexual morality. There simply is no moral authority for these priests – or Donohue – to discuss sexuality of any kind. It is time they clean up their own act before pointing fingers.
Short of murder, there is nothing worse than child sexual abuse – the primary sin of this Church. Given their sordid history, it is astounding that they would even consider entering the debate on allowing healthy gay couples the freedom to marry.
Have these “holy men” no shame? Have they no sense of decency and honor? I think the answer is self-evident.
Earlier this week, extremists within the Republican Party proposed a 10-point checklist of principles that GOP candidates would have to sign if they expect to receive Party support. Like a deranged “Social Issues Santa”, the enforcers of doctrine are descending in their sleighs to slay Republicans who are naughty and not considered nice.
According to their puritanical plan, Republicans would be required to sign 7 of 10 radical resolutions, such as, “opposing Obama’ socialist agenda.” By far the most reckless part of this pledge is the demand that Republicans agree to, “Support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troops surges.” I wonder what such pandering politicians might say to families if these wars took a turn for the worse: “I’m sorry your son died on the battlefield, but I had six campaign pledges and needed a seventh to get a windfall of dough from the Republican Party.”
Ironically, the Republican governors gathered last week and ran away from such extremism. According to The New York Times, “There was little talk of the divisive social and political issues that Mr. Bush and Mr. Rove embraced as a way to attract independent and moderate Democratic voters and build a lasting Republican majority.”
The right wing chest thumping seen in the GOP checklist was echoed in a manifesto signed by 145 religious activists and clerics called the Manhattan Declaration. This document basically said that religious people were above the law and did not have to obey it if they deemed it unholy. Tony Perkins, the President of the Family Research Council, hailed the radical manifesto by calling it a “line in the sand” and vowing that the malcontents “will not be moved.”
Of course, growing up on the lovely beaches of Florida and Hawaii, I’ve learned that there is nothing more temporary than a line in the sand. These arrogant preachers are badly overreaching and will be surprised to find that their sinister sandcastle will succumb to history’ high tide.
The Catholic Church, in particular, is entering politically perilous territory it will soon regret. For most of American history, many voters were concerned that Catholic politicians were beholden to Rome. John F. Kennedy, the first Roman Catholic President, won by assuring people that he was independent of the Vatican.
This week, however, Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin scolded another member of the famous clan, Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), and told him he was unworthy of taking part in communion because of his pro-choice views.
Amazingly, Tobin told NBC News, “To receive a sacrament you have to be in union with the church.” To voters, this can be interpreted as: “Bow to Rome or go home.”
If the Church continues to push these boundaries, it will become toxic. It will force office holders into making a decision between voting with the Vatican, or risking nasty public spats, like the Tobin-Kennedy spectacle. In an era where people are quite fickle with faith, aspiring Catholic politicians may find it easier to avoid this dilemma and switch religions. In the future, the only remaining Catholic politicians may be hardliners, such as former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.).
In fact, this backlash is already underway. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine criticized the Archdiocese of Washington this week for threatening to end contracts to feed Washington, DC’ homeless if the city allows gay couples the freedom to marry.
“I’m Catholic and I think it’s wrong,” Kaine said. “If you look at the church through history, the church will stand in tough situations and continue to do good. I think the strategy of threatening to hold back, it just doesn’t seem like the church I’ve come up in.”
Kaine was seconded by Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who also is Catholic.
“I don’t understand how they can possibly do this,” O’Malley said. “I have a hard time believing that the nuns and priests who taught me about the Corporal Works of Mercy would agree that this is an appropriate response for the church.”
Inside their adoring mega-churches and towering Cathedrals, these conservative clerics are powerful demigods. Such adoration blinds them to the sobering reality that millions of people view them as power hungry demagogues. The Religious Right is still one of the strongest special interest groups in America, but they keep forgetting that they represent an immoral minority, not the Moral Majority they once fancied themselves to be.
Raging with dictatorial ultimatums and mutinous manifestos, these extremists are too far-gone to realize they have gone too far. As the “Social Issues Santas” shimmy down the chimney to deliver their dogma, it is unclear if they are simply blowing smoke or gift-wrapping future elections for the Democratic Party.
On October 10, 2009, President Barack Obama spoke to the Human Rights Campaign about GLBT issues. On Oct. 11, 2009, Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director, Wayne Besen, commented on the speech and the National Equality March that took place later that day.
Truth Wins Out praised the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) today for voting to allow gay and lesbian clergy in committed same-sex relationships to serve as ministers. The vote, 559-541, was historic and follows similar action by the Episcopal Church.
“The old prejudices and prohibitions are falling and religion can no longer be used to rationalize discrimination,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “We applaud The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America for their courage and wisdom and urge other faiths to follow their example.”
In its vote, the church elected to “allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support and hold publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.” The church also voted to approve a social statement on human sexuality to acknowledge without judgment the wide variety of views within the ELCA regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender inclusion.
“This is a wonderful, joyous occasion that captures the heart of Christ – which is about love,” said Rev. Jerry Stephenson, who advises Truth Wins Out on religious issues. “This vote was moral, just and in the spirit of justice.”
Only ten years ago, it looked like gay people would not be able to marry until the cows came home. With an Iowa Supreme Court victory and the state legislature approving marriage in Vermont, gay couples will soon be coming home to their cows — with marriage licenses in hand. The farm teams have brought us major league victories and reinvigorated the GLBT marriage movement.
“Today we have overridden the governor’s veto,” Vermont Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin said in a written statement released by the Human Rights Campaign. “I have never felt more proud of Vermont as we become the first state in the country to enact marriage equality, not as the result of a court order, but because it is the right thing to do.”
It feels odd to be partying like it’s 1999 in 2009. Just several long months ago, the GLBT movement suffered a stinging marriage defeat in California. But, our short period of tribulation was swiftly followed by surprising jubilation. It was downright shocking to see hog-wild homosexuals dancing in the streets of Des Moines. For anti-gay organizations, the once easy game of whack-a-marriage is feeling more like whack-a-mole. They can’t be sure where marriage equality will pop up next. (Read More)
NEW YORK — Truth Wins Out thanked Replacements, Ltd. today for awarding $5,000 to the organization. The funds will help TWO refute anti-gay misinformation campaigns and challenge programs that claim to “pray away the gay.”
“Truth Wins Out is extremely grateful for the generous support it has received from Replacements and its founder Bob Page,” said TWO Executive Director Wayne Besen. “This allows us to increase our capacity to educate Americans and set the record straight when anti-gay organizations distort research. It also assists us in helping people understand the danger of so-called ex-gay therapy programs that endanger the mental health of GLBT youth.”
Founded by Bob Page in 1981, Replacements, Ltd. (located in Greensboro, NC) has the world’s largest selection of old and new dinnerware, including china, stoneware, crystal, glassware, silver, stainless, and collectibles. Its 415,000 square foot facilities (the size of seven football fields!) house an inventory of 13 million pieces in more than 300,000 patterns, some over 100 years old.
“We proudly support Truth Wins Out; I hope others will contribute to this important organization,” said Bob Page, founder of Replacements, Ltd. “So many GLBT people‚Äîand their families‚Äîhave been damaged by groups distorting the truth about sexual orientation or gender identity. Our communities and our workplaces are impacted too, and that has a very real cost. I want us to be a part of the solution to the problem.”‚Ä® ‚Ä®Page is known as a generous philanthropist who has helped organizations that promote GLBT equality — particularly in North Carolina.
Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that defends gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people against anti-gay misinformation campaigns. TWO also counters the “ex-gay” industry and educates America about the lives of GLBT people.
Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) is teaming up with various anti-gay legal groups to intimidate GLBT campus organizations in high schools, colleges and universities. They are threatening to sue if these organizations don’t distribute the bizarre theories of Richard Cohen.
It is hard to believe, but Cohen is the former President of PFOX. They still promote his books and training sessions. And, if you ask for a speaker – they will likely send you Mr. Cohen – who was expelled for life from the American Counseling Association. If PFOX tries to get into your school, simply show administrators this clip of Cohen from the documentary, “Chasing the Devil.” It is clear, based on this clip – and his record – that disseminating PFOX’s material may put students at risk. Any responsible school that protects its students will not allow PFOX near its campus.
I have long been outspoken on the abuses of GLBT people in Jamaica and the need for action. I can’t imagine why any American, European or Canadian who cares about human rights would spend a dime visiting this island bubbling over with hate. Last week, Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, firmly stated how he approved of the persecution of gay people. He stated that gay rights groups are “perhaps the most organized lobby in the world” and he vowed to fight to keep the nation’s sodomy law on the books.
“We are not going to yield to the pressure, whether that pressure comes from individual organizations, individuals, whether that pressure comes from foreign governments or groups of countries, to liberalize the laws as it relates to buggery,” said Golding.
Timothy Kincaid at Box Turtle Bulletin wrote an excellent piece describing the abuses in Jamaica.
Personally, I’ve had enough of the prejudice and persecution. Golding’s comments are one step too far. It boils my blood when our straight friends (and uninformed GLBT people) continue to travel and spend money in Jamaica. There are thousands of people, if they knew the truth, who would not visit a place more accurately described as “Ja-Murder.”
Today, Truth Wins Out purchased www.BoycottJamaica.org. We are not yet sure if we want to launch a full-fledged boycott. But, it is nice to know we have this site in our back pocket and can take action against this nation that seems to have a unique and disturbing – if not psychotic – antipathy towards GLBT people. (Read More)
Countless words have been written on why the GLBT community lost the Proposition 8 battle. Here are two articles that I think offer perspectives that are worth reading – particularly in light of the California Supreme Court hearing this issue.
The first one is by the consultants who ran the “Yes On 8″ campaign. It is in Politics Magazine. There are important lessons in their critique of why they defeated us.
The second commentary is by Matt Foreman (Pictured), formerly the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and now with the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund. He argues that passing Prop. 8 was always an uphill battle.
We hope you will weigh in with your own comments, suggestions and ideas on moving forward.
EXCLUSIVE NEW TRUTH WINS OUT VIDEO 
Countless words have been written on why the GLBT community lost the Proposition 8 battle. Here are two articles that I think offer perspectives that are worth reading – particularly in light of the California Supreme Court hearing this issue.
