Tag: anti-gay

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Day One of new Congress – House GOP votes to reauthorize DOMA defense fund

As Congress begins its 113th session, House Republicans have pledged to continue funding a legal effort to defend the federal law that prevents the government from recognizing same-sex marriages.

The Republican-led Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group has already spent $1.7 million paying outside legal counsel to intervene in 14 federal challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act in courts since the Obama Administration and the Department of Justice decided to stop defending the law in court in 2011.

Response from LGBT advocacy groups was quick:

Freedom To Marry:

“It’s truly disheartening that, on a day of new beginnings on Capitol Hill, the leadership of the House of Representatives is advancing a measure, through its rules, to continue spending taxpayer dollars on expensive lawyers to defend the so-called Defense of Marriage Act in court.

“This law has been struck down as unconstitutional 10 times, with support from judges appointed by Presidents Nixon, Reagan, and both Bushes. It’s past time for the Republican leadership to listen to their constituents, a majority of whom support the freedom to marry, and stop wasting precious resources in an effort to treat fellow Americans as second-class citizens.”

Human Rights Campaign:

“In their very first act of the 113th Congress, House Republican leaders have written their commitment to their multi-million-dollar defense of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act into the Rules of the House.

“It is particularly disappointing that this historic Congress – with the largest-ever class of openly lesbian, gay and bisexual Members and same-sex congressional spouses – has begun with a vote that disrespects those new Members and all LGBT Americans.

“To date, the GOP leadership in the House has spent nearly $2 million on DOMA – despite the fact that a majority of Americans support marriage equality. The new rules package codifies that the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG), charged with the defense of DOMA, speaks for the entirety of the House. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats, however, oppose spending taxpayer dollars on defending DOMA.

(via JMG)

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California: “Ex-gay” therapy ban will now move forward

A law barring so-called conversion therapy for people younger than 18 will still go into effect Jan. 1, 2013, across California after a federal judge denied a request to postpone the law’s official start date.

Judge Kimberly Mueller’s ruling follows Monday’s decision by Judge William B. Schubb, both of whom are from the U.S. district court for the Eastern District of California. Schubb’s decision exempted three therapists from adhering to the law, while Mueller’s decision ensures that the law goes into effect starting January 1, 2013 for all other practitioners.

The attempted injunction was raised by the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality, represented by the antigay legal group, the Liberty Counsel.

More at Advocate

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Dr. Oz Show feeling backlash for “Ex-gay” episode

A controversial “Dr. Oz Show” episode has sparked the ire of the nation’s most high-profile lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy groups for promoting the “dangerous and harmful practices” of reparative therapy.

The episode, which aired Nov. 28, debated the merits of so-called reparative, or “ex-gay,” therapy. Among the featured guests was Julie Hamilton, a representative of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (or NARTH) which has routinely been at odds with American Psychiatric Association and other scientific organizations.

In a blog post on his website, Oz defended Hamilton’s appearance, saying that he “felt that we needed to include all parties who have considered reparative therapy to hear the stories of people who have tried these treatments. Although some viewers may disagree with this tactic, if we want to reach everyone who might benefit from understanding the risks of this therapy, you have to present multiple perspectives.”

He then went on to note in the blogpost:

“After listening to both sides of the issue and after reviewing the available medical data, I agree with the established medical consensus. I have not found enough published data supporting positive results with gay reparative therapy and I have concerns about the potentially dangerous effects when the therapy fails, especially when minors are forced into treatments.”

GLAAD, GLSEN, and PFLAG yesterday a joint statement denouncing the show for its handling of the topic. An excerpt:

Producers of the Dr. Oz Show framed their program on so-called reparative therapy in a way that provided a lengthy platform for junk science.

The first two segments of the show featured two proponents of so-called reparative therapy, neither of whom was challenged, at any point, by Dr. Oz or any guests. These two “ex-gay” activists, however, were invited to stay and rebut statements by opponents throughout the rest of the program.

NARTH representative Julie Hamilton was introduced by Dr. Oz as an “expert” and spoke to countless parents and youth in the audience, as if NARTH’s work and practices represent legitimate and acceptable medical practices.

Producers held conversations with GLAAD, GLSEN and PFLAG National leading up to the episode, but did not disclose that a representative of NARTH would be featured.

Although the show also featured guests who condemned the idea and practice of “reparative therapy,” Dr. Oz himself never weighed in, and the audience was misled to believe that there are actual experts on both sides of this issue. There are not.

(source)

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Anti-gay bill first on Uganda Parliament’s schedule today

Click pic to enlarge

JoeMyGod points out that first up on Ugandan Parliament’s Notice of Business today is the infamous “Anti-homosexuality Bill” which would make being gay an offense worthy of being imprisoned for life.

The Washington Blade reports that American diplomats have again expressed concern to the Uganda government over its pending Anti-Homosexuality Act.

Victoria Nuland, a State Department spokesperson, said during a daily briefing Monday that Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson met with high-profile leaders in Uganda “over the weekend” and raised concerns about the bill, which among other things would punish homosexual acts with life in prison.

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Boeing Corp will deny pension survivor benefits to same-sex married couples

The Boeing Corporation has told union negotiators that it will deny pension survivor benefits to same-sex married couples despite passage of a marriage equality law there, The Stranger reports:

Ray Goforth [executive director of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001] explains that his union has long sought equal pension benefits for same-sex domestic partners, to no avail. But since voters approved same sex marriage—establishing parity with married straight couples—Goforth re-framed the proposal to apply to his union’s gay Boeing employees who wed. “Their answer was that they had no intention of granting pension survivor benefits to legally married same-sex couples because they didn’t have to,” Goforth explains. Boeing representatives told him that pensions are governed by federal law, which doesn’t recognize same-sex marriage, thereby trumping the state law on the matter.

“We were profoundly disappointed to see that they would use a loophole to engage in institutionalized discrimination,” Goforth says.

Boeing issued a statement to its employees late yesterday saying the company “is taking a closer look at how R-74 might impact company policies once it takes effect in December” but Goforth insists that the company was “unequivocal” in its statement to union negotiators that it intends to withhold the benefits.

I am NOT amused.

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Uganda: Anti-gay “Kill The Gays” bill moves ahead in Parliamentary committee

Ugandan lawmakers are putting the so-called “kill the gays” bill on the fast track.
 
MetroWeekly reports that the bill passed a Parliamentary commitee today, sending it to the next level of votes.

Reports say the call for gay people to be executed has been removed from the hateful measure, there bill still includes a life imprisonment component: 

According to Uganda’s NTV network – as tweeted by Frank Mugisha (@frankmugisha), director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) – an unnamed member of the committee confirmed that a penalty of life imprisonment has remained in the bill in place of execution.

While sexual relations between members of the same sex are already illegal in Uganda, if the bill becomes law it will be among the world’s harshest against gay people. NTV reports that the bill should receive floor debate next week.

Religious leaders in Uganda have been pressuring politicians to pass the anti-gay law there and have asked Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to get the bill made into law as a “Christmas gift”

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Dan Savage takes on Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality

Dan Savage explains the origins of Peter LaBarbera’s nickname, Porno Pete.

LaBarbera is the head of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, which has often targeted pro-LGBT policies and advocated against LGBT people.

LaBarbera’s organization has been designated as an antigay hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

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FRC begs for “post-election plans” money

JoeMyGod points out the Family Research Council’s latest money beg, which lays out their post-election priorities.

Remember, these are the folks who SWEAR they are totally not anti-gay:

We ask you to stand with us in three important ways. PRAY – With the re-election of Barack Obama, we now face another four years and simply put – one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime. PERSEVERE – Stand with us. Truth will win out! PARTNER – With your financial support, FRC will redouble our efforts to …

• Prevent radical homosexual activists from further harming the U.S. military
• Compel the Department of Justice to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act
• Challenge the provisions of ObamaCare which undermine families
• Stop the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

FRC needs your support now more than ever. Your gift before will help us continue to identify harmful policy, identify and embolden allies on the Hill and maintain God-given religious freedoms.

Thank you for your generosity at this challenging time for our country.

>>>Note that three out of four items are anti-gay.

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Dan Savage takes down Tony Perkins over hate speech

Dan Savage addresses Tony Perkins of the anti-gay Family Research Council and dares him to take Dan to court.

“Tony Perkins sits on a pile of dead gay kids every day when he goes to work. [snip] I welcome a lawsuit. A witness stand is a lonely place to lie. And that’s what you do for a living… I look forward to that day in court. I look forward to seeing you on a witness stand, something you have dodged and ducked for decades.”

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Watch Minnesota’s big moment as they defeat anti-gay amendment

At 1:45 a.m., Campaign Manager Richard Carlbom of Minnesotans United for All Families announced to campaign staff and board members that the vote on the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota was too close to call.

As he was about to end his remarks and tell everyone to get some sleep, the news came that the Associated Press had confirmed the defeat of the amendment.

The big moment is at the 3:00 mark. This is joy.