This time, the head of the Reform Judaism movement in the US (the most liberal of the three Jewish denominations) has sent a stinging rebuke to dominionist groups in the US:

(from http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/647755.html)

The approach of American "religious right" leaders toward gays is akin to the anti-gay policies promoted by Adolf Hitler, according to the president of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Eric Yoffie.

Yoffie made the comments Saturday, during the movement's national biennial conference in Houston.

"We cannot forget that when Hitler came to power in 1933, one of the first things that he did was ban gay organizations," Yoffie said. "Yes, we can disagree about gay marriage but there is no excuse for hateful rhetoric that fuels the hellfires of anti-gay bigotry."

(Yes, he actually stood up and said before one of the largest Jewish groups in the US what hatecrime.org and other groups have said for some time)

Yoffie proceeded to state that the behaviour of dominionist groups is "blasphemous":

(from http://www.forward.com/articles/6927)

"When people talk about God and yet ignore justice, it just feels downright wrong to us," Yoffie said. "When they cloak themselves in
religion and forget mercy, it strikes us as blasphemy."

This could well be the beginning of the two largest congregations in the Jewish community rising up against dominionism, including dominionist-apologists within Judaism itself, according to some observers:

Several Jewish communal insiders based in Washington told the Forward that the Reform union's decision to oppose Alito could prompt several other major Jewish organizations to take a similar stance, including the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and Hadassah, a women's
Zionist organization that, with 300,000 members, is the largest non-synagogue membership association.

"Does it influence us? Yeah," said Shelley Klein, Hadassah's director of advocacy. But Klein said the organization would withhold judgment until Alito fills out his Senate questionnaire and testifies before the Judiciary Committee.

Like the Reform movement, Hadassah did not oppose John Roberts. The United Synagogue, the congregational arm of Conservative Judaism, endorsed Roberts as "qualified."

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY gairid)

I wonder how many gays and lesbians raised in families that practice the varied dominionist forms of christianity submit to this psycological and emotional torture? I am a lesbian who spent far too much time in the closet and as a result I was severely depressed. My reasons stemmed from guilt associated with my Catholic upbringing, which, compared to these sorts of tactics, seems pretty tame to me at this point.

(AgapePress) - Ex-homosexuals and "reparative therapy" advocates recently gathered in Marina del Rey, California, for the 13th annual conference of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality, or NARTH. Reparative or reorientation therapy is designed to help men and women in conflict with their homosexuality attain the goal of reaching their heterosexual potential.

Here is the rest of the article:

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/11/182005a.asp

Here is the most chilling paragraph:


But Chambers feels it is the councilman and the other protesters who are promoting persecution and prejudice. "It's the ultimate of hypocrisy among the small minority of the gay community and this local politician who is denying people the right to their self-determination -- denying the right for someone to choose their path in life," the Exodus International spokesman says, "and I think that's not only un-American, it's inhumane."

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY jalendavi_lady)

The Georgia Baptist Convention may be about to cut financial ties with Mercer University over a GLBT organization.

( Article from the Christian Index, by the editor himself )

( Info on the GA Baptist Convention meeting currently in session )

( If it wasn't so tragic, the irony would have me laughing--a bit of Georgia Baptist History )

Please excuse me while I find someplace to be quietly sick about this.

EDIT: The student group was disbanded before the Georgia Baptist Convention voted: The Macon Telegraph- "Gay student support group disbands over Baptist controversy"

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY jehovahsfitness)

I finally got fed up about hearing about the "Gay Agenda" so I wrote up a little satire about the real agenda. Nothing Pulitzer-worthy, but hopefully it'll get a few chuckles.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY kalibex)

'When Dr. Voddie Baucham and Bruce N. Shortt first presented their resolution to the SBC's 2005 Annual Meeting urging Southern Baptists to investigate whether their school districts are collaborating with homosexual activists, Baucham and Shortt didn't foresee that the 2005 Annual Meeting would unanimously pass a resolution substantially similar to theirs or that it would inspire Baptist leaders in conventions covering at least 28 states to introduce similar resolutions. They also didn't expect that Dr. Albert Mohler, the SBC's leading theologian, would publicly state in response to the issues raised by the Baucham-Shortt resolution that it is now time for responsible Southern Baptists to develop an exit strategy from the public schools...'

Been doing some followup on this story as well...Zach, unfortunately, got largely taken in, but his story may be earning a victory for OTHER kids at threat for committment there and in similar facilities.

http://www.isaccorp.org/loveinaction/love-in-action.09.19.05.html reports how the State of Tennessee has now ordered Love In Action to shut down the Refuge "de-gaying" center as it was handing out medication to mentally ill clients without a license. (Tennessee requires licensure for supportive care.)

Reportedly Peterson Toscano (a walkaway from Love In Action) has also verified the unlicensed handing out of drugs.

http://www.isaccorp.org/loveinaction/love-in-action.09.14.05.html is another article that gives the initial info on how the facility may be closed down (and also talks about the increased scrutiny Love In Action is facing--in part because of Zach's situation).

Needless to say, the dominionists running the joint are displeased and are contersuing the State of Tennessee:

http://www.isaccorp.org/loveinaction/love-in-action.10.01.05.html

(What's especially funny is that Love In Action flat out lies about its purpose. A quote:

"We are not changing homosexuals to heterosexuals," says LIA Director John Smid.

(Uhhh...that's what I thought the entire point of that whole "de-gaying"/"reparative" therapy WAS. So, are you or are you not running a "de-gaying" clinic?)

Needless to say, though, it looks like Refuge may well be shutting down. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Let's hope it's the first of MANY.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY breezyg)

So, I happened across this little gem on the NY Times.  (full text behind the cut)



( Read more... )



This just really pisses me off. 



When are people going to realize that homosexuality is not pedophila... and that this kind of crap hurts Catholicism more than it helps?

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY seshen)

Gov. Rick Perry spoke at two private events this week where a Texas minister wondered if God sent Hurricane Katrina to purify the nation of sins, including homosexuality.

Gov. "Blow-Dry" Perry's got some 'splainin' to do. Consent through silence, IMHO.

Not only are dominionists pushing for "moral objection" clauses in healthcare (they claim for people with objections to abortion, but increasingly used to prevent distribution of birth control; some states' statutes are so broadly worded as to quite literally allow doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to refuse *any* medical treatment to someone for reasons like being *gay*) but now they are going for the judiciary as well (to block off the one avenue that a lot of kids in dominionist households have to get abortions or women's healthcare or to even potentially escape from their abusive households):

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/national/04recuse.html

Tennessee (particularly Shelby County--notably also home of Love In Action/Refuge), Alabama (notably home of several dominionist groups, and which had a flat out Christian Reconstructionist as chief justice of the state Supreme Court before he was disbarred), and Pennsylvania (home of raving dominionist Michael Marcaivage and http://www.repentamerica.org (which has claimed, among other things, that Hurricane Katrina was divine retribution against New Orleans for having drag shows on Bourbon Street)) are states with reported problems of judges recusing themselves on parental notification cases.

At least one judge in Shelby County has reported she has received an increased workload due to the judges in that county recusing themselves, and reportedly in Alabama and Pennsylvania teens have had to go to other counties to find a judge even *willing* to hear their case.

If judicial recusals end up being accepted in Supreme Courts (reportedly a complaint is being filed against the judges in Shelby County) this could lead to dominionist judges recusing themselves from all *manner* of court decisions potentially unfriendly to dominionists :P

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY hummingwolf)

"Southern Decadence" was set for New Orleans soon. It was to be a yearly hoopla celebrating practicing homosexuality as a legitimate, giddy lifestyle.

Thousands upon thousands were going to crawl all over New Orleans "to celebrate their sexuality," according to Methodist lay preacher Gary Hopkins of Ekklesia.co.uk (gary.hopkins@ekklesia.co.uk).

In other words, Sodom and Gomorrah were to be reenacted in broad daylight — and into the night haunts as well. It would be one high ol’ time of it in the southern scape.
...
Then came along Katrina.

Way to blame the victim there, guys. And as someone asked on Christdot, "What is the Biblical precident for punishing someone - in advance?"

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY hummingwolf)

"We'll hunt down your king," he said ominously to Expressen. "It doesn't make any difference where he tries to hide."

Phelps' hatred of the royal family and all things Swedish is linked directly to his equally virulent hatred of homosexuals. He praises homophobic crimes, including murder. When controversial Swedish minister, Åke Green, was convicted of inciting hatred of homosexuals following an anti-gay sermon, Phelps saw red and turned his attention to Sweden.

"You're doomed to spend eternity in hell," he continued. "All you Swedes and your Swedish king and his family."

Well, Robertson was getting so much press for his views on assassination that Fred must have been feeling left out.

Apparently both CNN and Good Morning America (on ABC) have done segments on the "De-gaying camp" controversy and with Love In Action in particular (Reviews of both shows at http://www.exgaywatch.com/blog/archives/2005/07/the_good_mornin.html)

http://www.washblade.com/2005/7-29/news/national/ex-gay.cfm has an interesting expose that shows--as frightening as it may seem--that "Love In Action" is actually *moderate* as far as de-gaying camps go (some use techniques that are akin to torture:

For example, Exodus will not work with aversion therapists who use penis rings that deliver shocks when subjects respond to inappropriate imagery. Exodus also seeks to distance itself from “holding therapists” who try to heal people of homosexuality by touching them.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200508120008 notes, among other things, the continued use of Fox News as a dominionist mouthpiece (this time for "intelligent design", aka young-earth creationism cleverly disguised and not to be confused with "guided evolution" (as formerly accepted in the Catholic Church pre-Pope Palpatine, erm, Benedict XVI) or other forms of creationism that are at least compatible with evolution). (It should be of note that Rupert Murdoch, CEO of Fox, *is* known to have been a member of the dominionist think-tank Coalition for National Policy.)

Interestingly, one of the ex-founders of "Love In Action" (and one of a number of "ex-ex-gays", aka those who discovered "de-gaying therapy" doesn't *work*) speaks out himself on the longterm harm: http://www.waynebesen.com/columns/2005/07/love-in-action-co-founder-my-ministry.html (This should give you some info on what poor Zach is going through)

Here's the letter in question: http://www.waynebesen.com/columns/2005/08/john-evans-im-sickened-by-attempts-to.html

As it turns out, Santorum *was* being a pander-bear (surprise, surprise): http://www.waynebesen.com/2005/08/sen-rick-santorum-is-anti-liberty.html has a link to an unfiltered radio interview with Santorum (whole show is available at http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/08042005 or Santorum's excerpts from the same page). One has to wonder what his aide (whom is gay) thinks of all this...

Interestingly (and unsurprisingly) it seems all the "ex-gay" promoters are on active payrolls of dominionist groups: http://www.waynebesen.com/2005/08/still-no-unpaid-ex-gays-in-america.html and http://www.baywindows.com/media/paper328/news/2005/08/11/News/ExGay.Movement.Plans.Boston.Confab-966568.shtml
have more info.

http://www.waynebesen.com/2005/08/ex-gay-leaders-in-sexual-no-mans-land.html mentions the specifics of the coercive mindset engendered in "de-gaying" centers; this from an expose the BBC did (http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article304446.ece) which is rather similar to the one that Salon Magazine did a month or so ago. Reportedly, BBC2 also did a report on this on 9 August (if anyone in the UK caught it, info, please?)

http://www.exgaywatch.com/blog/archives/2005/06/afa_praises_par.html has info on how the AFA is now targeting gay/les/bi/trans acceptance clubs in school, with examples (http://www.exgaywatch.com/blog/archives/2005/06/afa_praises_par.html) of how they're trying to form "de-gaying" clubs in schools.

http://www.onlinejournal.com/Theocracy_Alert/070605Seesholtz/070605seesholtz.html has a *very* interesting article on dominionism and how the mental health system is often warped by dominionists (usually under the "Christian Counseling" canard, but often with dominionist-friendly mental health professionals and even quasi-professional associations like NARTH). (I would like to note, as an aside, this has gone on for a good twenty or more years, even more so as the recognition of "Bible-based" coercive religious groups has increased; the old USSR and other totalitarian regimes (and, from what little gets out, especially in North Korea) also have tended to abuse the mental health profession in this manner.)

For that matter, http://www.onlinejournal.com/Theocracy_Alert/theocracy_alert.html is a pretty darned good resource (and one we could stand to partner with). Many many good articles.

Speaking of coercive religious groups in "therapeutic" drag, here's some articles noting how Zach's mannerisms in his last blog entry show signs of coercion: http://www.sovo.com/2005/8-5/news/national/nationalnews_zachupdate.cfm and especially http://a_musing.blogspot.com/2005/08/breaking-zach-code.html

Ex-Gay Watch is presently compiling a list of media contacts--specifically, people who have had experience in coercive "de-gaying" facilities like Love In Action (http://www.exgaywatch.com/blog/archives/2005/08/xgw_seeks_to_co.html).

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY firepie)

***I think that this is something that we will add to our agenda for the SCHA-LA bar-b-que on the 27th. If anyone has or can get more information - could you bring it to the bar-b-que and maybe do a wee presentation on the situation? That would be great.

***Our bar-b-que is the 27th, though, and this event is the 16th - 21st. Maybe we can do an impromptu dinner/coffee meeting before to strategize, and then the folks who engage in an action can let us know what happened at the bar-b-que? What do folks say?

If you are interested, the bar-b-que is on the topic of dominionism and it's effect on LGBT and strategizing a response. You can e-mail scha_losangeles at yahoo dot com if you would like to come to the bar-b-que. You can check out what SCHA-LA is by going to our here

This is a forwarded message [with personal notes removed]:

>>> Jasmyne 8/10/2005 3:25 PM

Good afternoon,

Below is word for word text from a flyer faxed to me by a friend that works at a local newspaper where the church has taken out ad space to promote their upcoming event.

Bishop Portee has a large congregation which includes a television and radio show. His television show airs on KCAL 9 on Sundays here in Los Angeles. His radio show airs daily Monday through Friday on KTYM at 12:30 p.m.

I called and spoke with Bishop Portee this afternoon as a journalist. The following are quotes from my interview with Bishop Portee.

"America has become homosexual friendly by design."

"There is a difference between a practicing and unpracticing homosexual, it's the practicing homosexual we are concerned with."

"Homosexuals like adulters have rights. But not the right to make their legislation law."

The 6 day event is open to the public.

Again, is this something we should mobilize around?

If anyone wants a faxed copy of the flyer please let me know.

In light of the recent meeting of Black Baptist Ministers that I attended on Monday, we are under direct attack and we need to figure out what we are going to about this. They are mobilizing and organizing against us for 2006.

This fight in our community needs to be led by us and I don't think letter writing campaigns is going to do it.

Thanks!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bishop W.R. Portee: Miracle Healing Crusade Concerning omosexuality: Taking the Lid Off Of Sodom

Tuesday, August 16 - Sunday, August 21, 2005 7 p.m. Nightly

Southside Christian Palace 11243 South Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, CA

Topics to be covered include:
a.. Sodomy
b.. What is homosexuality?
c.. When is sex homosexual?
d.. Natural and unnatural homosexuality
e.. What is homosexual love? Is it real love?
f.. The stupidity of love
g.. How do you know if you are a homosexual or not?
h.. Does God really condone or condemn homosexuality or is it the church that condemns it?
i.. How did God respond to homosexuality in the Old Testament, in the New Testament?
j.. Does God love homosexuals? If so, how could He condemn them?
k.. What are the rights of homosexuals?
l.. Can the law make homosexuality morally right?
m.. Is homosexuality good for our children?
n.. Would you want your child to marry a homosexual?
o.. Why are so many churches quiet about this profound issue?

jasmynecannick at hotmail dot com

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/144/story_14447.html

Very interesting story regarding Randall Terry's son, who is gay and estranged from his father (for obvious reasons).

Interestingly, this isn't the only case of the walkaway children of dominionists speaking out: some of the best info we have on the workings of the Westboro Baptist familial cult are from the three members of the household who have walked away (one of which, sadly, still has issues in society--likely because of having to resocialise one's self; I myself have dealt with this and might well have been in the same situation were it not for a supportive network of friends).

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY ellid)

Here's an article from the July 31, 2005, edition of the Boston Globe. It neatly and completely exposes the so-called "science" behind the evangelical insistence that gay parenting is bad for children:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/07/31/beliefs_drive_research_agenda_of_new_think_tanks?mode=PF

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

If you are interested in how the various denominations view gay rights, check out this scorecard that lists the various positions of the various denominations.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY seshen)

As the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, Jack Spong ordained the first openly gay Episcopal priest in 1989. He has claimed that over 50 percent of Roman Catholic priests are gay and that even the Apostle Paul was homosexual. For these and other opinions, his opponents have called Spong a heretic. His latest book, 'Sins of the Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love,' brings a new round of criticism.

Q. Why did you write The Sins of Scripture?

A. Texts in the Bible are being used to hurt, oppress, and denigrate. The Bible was quoted to support slavery and segregation, to hurt Jews, and to not educate women. Today, I see the Bible being used politically for all sorts of evil things. We have a president who wants to quote the Bible to condemn homosexual people. Somebody from within the heart of the religious community needs to speak out against it.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

Today's Salon magazine has part two of the series about Christian therapy for gay people.

And there's an article in the NYT about Zach and Love in Action.

...seeing as I think we all can use it with the whole Supreme Court justice retirement thing :P

http://www.washblade.com/print.cfm?content_id=5967

Apparently the state of Tennessee is investigating whether Love In Action/Refuge can be shut down as an unlicensed healthcare facility.

The one possible bit of bad news is if they can successfully claim they're "faith based" they may be exempt; however, as they've claimed they have licensed counselors (admittedly licensed by having degrees from dominionist groups that in part act as certification mills as well as indoctrination centers, such as Liberty University) they fall under purview of a new Tennessee law.

According to the article, there is also apparently legal precedent in Tennessee for emancipation of teens who are at threat of being sent to dominionist-run clinics like Love In Action/Refuge. Also, the state of Tennessee has permanently revoked the license of at least one Memphis-area counselor who was practicing as an "ex-gay therapist" and promoting the commitment of kids to Love In Action et al.

(Forwarded to ISAC, Southern Poverty Law Center, Emancipation Project, nospank.net)

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY britzkrieg)

A couple of times a week, solarbird posts a "Cultural Warfare Update" in her blog. It includes links and transcripts concerning dominionist activism, many from dominionist sources, with an emphasis on GBLT issues.

Here's today's update.

Subjects include:

* Southern Baptist Convention passes resolution urging churches to investigate local schools and try to shut down any GBLT-affirming or tolerant activities there
* Older (2002) article by Rick Santorum: liberals and media made Catholic priests abuse children
* FotF article on the political battle over PBS - includes action item
* Today's Family News in Focus
* Weird CWA article on today's Ten Commandments ruling
* Lobbying groups waiting for next Supreme Court nominee with bated breath
* Article on possible GOP rift over nominees; pro-business wing wants fundamentalist wing to shut up when nominees come up; fundamentalists say they will demand clear position statements on abortion, marriage rights (against both)

I hope you all find this interesting and informative.