(Clownish AFA Says Ronald is Too Gay)

Well, thank God we can finally eat McNuggets in peace without the yahoos at the American Family Association annoying us at the next table. The AFA will announce a boycott today because they claim the company supports the so-called “gay agenda” and has taken sides in the “culture wars.”

“It is about McDonald’s, as a corporation, refusing to remain neutral in the culture wars,” whined the oft-offended AFA. “McDonald’s has chosen not to remain neutral but to give the full weight of their corporation to promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage.”

The AFA – the Tupelo, Mississippi-based group that once claimed Mighty Mouse snorted cocaine – has once again gone mad. What next, they will claim that Grimace is secretly gay because he is the same lavender shade as the Teletubby Tinky Winky?

McDonalds is not promoting a “gay agenda.” They are simply supporting equality for all people in the workplace. This boycott will fail, just as AFA’s Disney Boycott fell flat. The group is all hat and no cattle and has emerged as one of the most dishonest groups on the far right fringe. They even sell a video, “It’s Not Gay” featuring failed ex-gay Michael Johnston – without a disclaimer telling AFA members that Johnston has participated in gay orgies, while claiming to have “changed.” Now, how moral is that?

I’m going to do my part this morning. I will put my yogurt back in the refrigerator, march down to McDonald’s, and buy a delicious Egg McMuffin. Yum!

Please call McDonald’s today and thank them for being a fair-minded company and let them know you would rather eat without the angry, puritanical AFA crowd.

1-800-244-6227

I want to thank everyone who came by our booth at St. Louis Pride this past weekend. TWO’s good friend John Sweet and his life-partner John Forti were great company and we thank them for their support of the organization.

The people of St. Louis were very receptive and supportive of our message and we appreciate their hospitality. I also want to thank John Higelman for taking this picture.

David Benkof likes to portray himself as a courageous man who tells difficult truths about gay life. Originally, he agreed to defend his many outrageous anti-gay positions on an August 22, National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association (NLGJA) panel. I was also scheduled to appear and was prepared to challenge his irrational and inflammatory arguments.

Unfortunately, Mr. Benkof announced today that he is withdrawing from the event unless I “switch to a different panel.” In an e-mail exchange, he told me that I should also pay for his plane ticket, even though I am paying my own way. (This was odd, as he boasted he was making a lot of money publishing in mainstream news publications)

To pull out at this late date and demand “travel welfare” highlights a deep character deficit and shows Benkof’s fear of a direct challenge to his lightweight arguments.

In my view, Benkof is only capable of fooling the uninformed and gullible with sophistic arguments that show his utter lack of knowledge and cluelessness to historical precedent. Benkof understands in his heart that he is deficient in intellectual heft and academic discipline and thus must avoid face-to-face exchanges of ideas. His cowardice is understandable, considering the flimsy arguments that he would be forced to defend – but still disappointing. It seems Benkof would rather hide behind the Internet and lob rhetorical bombs, than sit in the hot seat and answer questions about how he misrepresents himself, misquotes people and distorts the truth.

If I had to lie and mislead people as much as Benkof, I’d be shy about debating in public too.

Attack on Barack Obama Hypocritical, Says TWO

NEW YORK – TruthWinsOut.org (TWO) responded today to Focus on the Family leader James Dobson’s attack on Barack Obama. On Dobson’s daily radio show, the right wing leader accused the democratic nominee of ‘distorting’ the Bible. This charge was odd, considering Dobson has been blamed by at least seven top researchers for “ distorting” their scientific findings.

“James Dobson is a serial distorter and has consistently twisted the work of respected scientists to support his political agenda,” said TWO Executive Director Wayne Besen. “It his the height of hypocrisy for him to point fingers and accuse others of distortions. It is clear that Dobson has little credibility and has tremendous difficulty with the truth.”
In the past two years, at least seven researchers have accused Dobson of manipulating or cherry picking their results to back his anti-gay teachings. Letters and videos documenting the concerns of these respected professors can be viewed at TruthWinsOut.org.

The first researcher to step forward was New York University educational psychologist Carol Gilligan, PhD. On Sept. 14, 2006 Gilligan wrote a letter to Dobson that stated: “I was mortified to learn that you had distorted my work this week in a guest column you wrote in Time Magazine…What you wrote was not truthful and I ask that you refrain from ever quoting me again and that you apologize for twisting my work.”

The most recent scientist to claim Dobson distorted his work was University of Minnesota’s Gary Remafedi, M.D., M.P.H. In a letter to Dobson dated April 28, 2008 he wrote, “I want to draw your attention to a gross misrepresentation of our research at the website of ‘Focus on the Family.’”

Other leading researchers who have taken issue with Dobson’s use of their work include: Dr. Kyle Pruett, Professor of child psychiatry, the Yale University School of Medicine; Dr. Robert Spitzer, Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University; Angela Phillips, Professor, Goldsmiths College in London; Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc, Associate professor, school of nursing, University of British Columbia; and Dr. Judith Stacy, Professor of sociology, New York University

“We urge the media to report the facts and allow America to see the real James Dobson,” said Besen. “He portrays himself as a beacon of morality, but he is really just a tower of half truths.”

Truth Wins OUT is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life. For more information, visit www.TruthWinsOut.org.
- 30 -

Concerned Women for America’s policy director for cultural issues, Matt Barber, is leaving the organization to work for Liberty University School of Law and Liberty Counsel. Barber has embraced ex-gay organizations, such as Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX). This is an organization that has used the courts to try to force schools to teach scientifically bankrupt ex-gay theories.

“We hope that Barber’s move to Liberty Counsel does not signal an increase in frivolous lawsuits and wasting of taxpayer’s money,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of TruthWinsOut.org. “Barber’s infatuation with ex-gay ministries combined with Liberty Counsel’s use of legal intimidation is a toxic mix.”

According to CWA founder and chairman Beverly LaHaye, “We wish him well as he goes to Liberty for this important next step in his career. We are pleased that he will continue to partner with us on the issues that are so important to him and to us.”

(Ensley, left, Doesn’t Read Exodus’ Website)

Poor Mike Ensley. Next time he debates in a mainstream venue he needs to read the Exodus website. He was totally unprepared for the Alan Colmes Show and spent much of the debate denying undeniable facts, squirming or disavowing quotes made by his loose cannon boss, Alan Chambers. He claimed that the host, Alan Colmes, and I were taking words out of context or making things up – but the problem is, the proof is on the Exodus website or part of the historical record.

Sorry Mike, but if you are going to speak to people who have not been brainwashed, at least do your homework. I know it must be difficult to defend the scientifically bankrupt “What to Do When Your Child is Gay” or argue that Exodus does not believe gays are evil or demon possessed, when your organization promotes spiritual warfare.

The cold facts can be stubborn and unforgiving.

Here is my message to Mike: If you are too preoccupied to know your topic and what the organization you work for actually represents – just tell the truth. It is amazing how easy interviews are when you believe in what you are saying and can speak with a clear conscience. When you ultimately leave Exodus, Mike, you will finally understand this simple truth.

Finally, Mike, the GLBT community will be here for you if and when you are ready to come out. We will show you the unconditional love and support that you will never find at Exodus. And, the best part is – when you do interviews with the media, you won’t have to remember the lies you told before the commercial break.

An “Ex-Gay” Therapist’s Credibility and Career in Tatters

A few years back, Warren Throckmorton, an erstwhile psychologist and full-time blogger from a tiny Christian school, filmed a noxious “ex-gay” video, “I Do Exist.” The documentary begins at New York’s porn palaces on 8th Avenue – with the seedy atmosphere shot deliberately to signify gay life.

Not long into the video, we were introduced to a nutty exorcist who is known to extract demons from the anuses of gay men. In his typical slippery way, the public relations conscious Throckmorton fails to identify the woman as an exorcist (as she was identified in two other movies, “One Nation Under God” and “Chasing the Devil,” with apparently less truth challenged producers)

Later in the movie, we meet Noe Gutierrez, who had supposedly gone from gay activist to “ex-gay ” spokesperson. For several minutes, he prattles about his tale of transformation – essentially becoming “living proof” that ex-gays exist. Well, last week he renounced his testimony, meaning that as an ex-gay he doesn’t exist. History, once again, has repeated itself, with the latest so-called “ex-gay” leader coming out of the closet. This has happened so many times that this story line, quite frankly, has become somewhat stale. I mean how many times can we see this rerun before people get it?

Unfortunately, this professional humiliation hasn’t stopped Throckmorton from hawking his fictional movie – or just giving it away on his website. Lacking basic integrity and personal responsibility, this slick charlatan persists in retailing ruin to desperate and vulnerable people. (Read More)

(A ‘Blinded’ Chambers Now On The Gay Marriage Market?)

Last year, Alan Chambers, the head of so-called “ex-gay” group Exodus International appeared in full-page newspaper ads opposing same-sex marriage. His bizarre reasoning in the ad text stated:

“By finding my way out of a gay identity, I found the love of my life in the process. Gay marriage would have only blinded me to such incredible joy.”

Well, now that marriage is legal in California, might the temptation be too much for poor, struggling Chambers? Might the sight of thousands of happy same sex couples, “blind” him and his celibate understudy, Randy Thomas? If his silly ad is an indication, Chamber’s might run off to California and marry a man any day.

(To SEE ADD scroll to bottom)

A agree with Mike Airhart that The Advocate piece was a nightmare that glosses over the issues. I also think they mischaracterized the state of the “ex-gay” movement and were factually wrong on many fronts. Not to mention the reporter needs to get a hold of his emotions and not suck up to ex-gays who think he is “perverse” and “sexually broken.” The failure of this article was a shame because the Advocate magazine has traditionally done a terrific job covering this issue. I have confidence they will get it right in the future. Here is a summary of my beefs:

The article: “Exodus encompasses more than 120 ministries in the United States and Canada.”

The Facts: Exodus claims a 59 percent increase in its member agencies, growing from 117 in 2003 to more than 200 in 2008. (although Exodus is prone to exaggeration)

The article: “A growing chorus of such stories, it’s shaken up the usual talk-show paradigm.”

The Facts: Could anything be further from the truth? Telling the story of survivors is not a new phenomenon. Anyone who thinks it is, simply has not been out of the closet very long, spinning the issue or is ill informed.

In the 1990s, there was a key ex-gay survivor group that I worked with in Washington, Dos Equis, that provided me survivors. These courageous individuals were telling their stories in national media while some of today’s leading survivors were sill in ex-gay groups, essentially paying the salaries of Exodus’ leaders. Before this, the documentary “One Nation Under God” told the story of survivors, including John Evans and Mike Bussee. And, Sylvia Pennington articulated their struggles in the book, “Ex-Gays? There Are None?”

While at the Human Rights Campaign, I held several press conferences, beginning in 1998, with ex-gay survivors. These included high profile events at Washington’s famed National Press Club. During this time period, I booked survivors on major talk shows and had their stories told in national media. In 2000, under my direction, HRC produced a groundbreaking publication, “Finally Free” that introduced America to 14 ex-gay survivors.

While I appreciate and greatly admire the current work of our newer survivors, to take sole credit for a survivors movement is unfounded and historical revisionism. Indeed, today, TWO (and BoxTurtleBulletin) are also leaders in this arena – and this is reflected by the cutting-edge videos that fill our website.

The article: The article referred to me as an ex-ex-gay.

The facts: I was never an ex-gay and I appreciate the Advocate correcting this error.
(Read More)