05/17/2013
And now in news for the naive: As long as gay scouts are banned, boys won't discuss sex
I've already done a lengthy breakdown of the claims that John Stemberger and his crew are using to derail basic equality for gay Boy Scouts, so I won't rehash them. But I do want to highlight this one, particularly ridiculous claim that Stemberger makes in his latest document on the subject. Stemberger writes:
The proposed Resolution robs parents of the sole authority to raise issues of sex and sexuality with their kids. Parents should have the exclusive right to raise issues about sex and sexuality with their children in their own time and in their own way, in the privacy of their homes; not brought up by other older boys around a campfire. Allowing open homosexuality would inject a sensitive and highly-charged political issue into the heart of the BSA, against the wishes of the vast majority of parents.
FULL DOC: OnMyHonor.Net Response to Pro-Resolution BSA Officials’ “Points of Clarification” [On My Honor]
Ludicrous. Does anyone seriously think that when we ban gay Boy Scouts, it keeps prepubescent boys from discussing sex around the campfire? If you really do believe that, your parental naiveté is likely to affect far more than just your plans to keep your home LGBT-free.
Let's get real. As long as there are boys, there will be talk about sex. The cocky ones will act like they know more than they do, in reality getting things hilariously wrong. The shy ones will ask their questions "for a friend." The jokesters will sometimes turn the conversation toward the crude. In short: They will act like kids. Kids talk. They try to figure things out for themselves. And they do this not because they are straight kids or good kids or gay kids or bad kids—but because they are kids.
The real possibility (and the one that Mr. Stemberger fears most) is that inclusive scouting, like all inclusive institutions, will lead to more robust discussion about gay people. With more inclusion comes less stigma; with less stigma comes greater understanding. Mr. Stemberger doesn't want the world to accept LGBT people and our rights (e.g. he even opposes basic nondiscrimination ordinances) so he doesn't want campfires where gay kids might someday speak for themselves.
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05/16/2013
Supposedly marriage-focused NOM promotes Boy Scouts discrimination
They can say there are only focused on "protecting marriage" all they want. When NOM promotes events that have no purpose other than to keep the Boy Scouts' discriminatory anti-gay policies, they show their broader animus:
SOURCE: NOM's weekly email blast
As you surely know, the proposed Boy Scout policy change would simply allow openly gay minors (not even adults—just children) to remain in the program. That is what NOM is fighting here: Little vulnerable boys who, as of now, are kicked out if anyone finds out they are gay.
It's not just about marriage, folks. It never has been.
Married gay celeb challenges misconceptions, elementary-level spelling errors
Somehow I hadn't even seen these truly hilarious photos of young "traditional marriage" supporters standing around the National Org. For Marriage's "March For Marriage" holding signs rife with misspellings of basic words. But I'm glad Mr. Takei did see them and did respond:
MORE: George Takei Responds To "Traditional" Marriage Fans [Buzzfeed]
Because sometimes anti-gay attack lines make you sic. But sometimes? Just [sic].
Anita, meet Uma
I love this news:
Uma Thurman to Play Anti-Gay Activist Anita Bryant in New Biopic [Towle]
The film is being shopped around now, so no word on when or where we'll see it.
My original title when I first heard about this film was Fruit Juice, playing on both the anti-gay figure's familiarity with OJ, her goal of squashing us, and the success of the pro-gay Milk. But I'm thinking with Uma on board, a better title might be:
Or maybe Gulp—It's Not Fiction.
05/15/2013
WaPo poll: Majority of Virginians are for *all* lovers
Lately, I haven't been posting every poll that comes along. But this new Washington Post poll, which shows a truly dramatic shift in Virginia, is certainly worth noting:
Virginian’s [sic] changing views on gay marriage [WaPo]
(H/t: Towle)
Just a hint: When a purple state's polling on an issue moves TEN POINTS in TWO YEARS, it says something about the national trend lines. Oh, and you want to be on the side with the uptick.
GLAAD: Equal Scouting opponent says BSA only bans activists; is fibbing
Equal Scouting opponent says BSA only bans activists; is fibbing [GLAAD]
Drug-resistant gonorrhea is a 'wage of sin'? NOM senior staffer 'likes' that
The New Yorker ran a report on the gonococcus microbe and the possibility that the drugs used to treat this particular part of Pandora's Box are becoming less effective. It's a concerning medial science report for most of us. But for some finger-pointers of faith, the report is just another opportunity to "tsk, tsk" the "sinners" for being human beings with all of the related vulnerabilities and frailties that come from being mortal.
One such person of judgement posted the article to a National Org. For Marriage senior staffer's Facebook wall. Said senior staffer, who is already in possession of a highly concerning body of rhetoric, proceeded to give the "wages of sin" idea her personal thumbs up:
[Facebook]
Ms. Roback Morse of course has the right to "like" the idea that STDs are the "wages of sin." But since she collects wages from NOM, it's worth noting.
What the Boy Scouts' anti-equality coalition is engendering
For the second time in as many days, Liberty Counsel personality and Liberty University law teacher Matt Barber has tweeted the following image, with the obvious suggestion being that Boy Scout inclusivity leads to sex abuse:
It is vile. It is hostility. It is meant to demonize all LGBT people. It is disgraceful animus. And it is sadly prominent among the crowd that's trying to stop a fair-minded policy change.
It is also what will likely lead to our side winning the conversation
