Found a great timeline for the anti-gay crusade from the Southern Poverty Law Center. Please take the time to read... also if you look down the righthand side of the page you will find The Intelligence Report released in 2005 completely dedicated to the war on homosexuality, called "Holy War" each of the links is amazingly informative. http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?pid=866 It even lists the Family Research Institute as a hate group... (Paul Cameron's org)
This is a very helpful link. It has references to a number of organizations, politicians, etc, to distance myself from. I have always done this with Pat Robertson and his cronies. Even from the time I was a kid (about 7), I knew he was nuts. As for the ban on gays in the military (see ref to 1993), I don't know about others, but if I were getting all kinds of nasty things fired at me from powerful weapons, I really wouldn't give a damn what the one beside me does outside that moment. I can only hope that we both get the Hell out of there alive and in one piece. Fear and ignorance go hand-in-hand with each other. I just find it amazing and appalling that so many in the United States, as advanced as it is, still hold on so strongly to blind religion and outright ignorance. (I'm not taking a stab at every religious person in the nation, just those who abuse it).
To quote Bill Hicks (and thus invalidate anything I ever say in the eyes of your average right-wing dickshit): "Anyone dumb enough to want to be in the army should be allowed. That should be the only requirement."
Study: 'Ex-Gay Movement' Focusing On Gay Youth by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff March 2, 2006 - 5:00 pm ET (Miami, Florida) A report released Thursday says that the so-called ex-gay movement is turning from attempting to convert gay adults to heterosexuality and is now focusing on gay teens. Called 'Youth in the Crosshairs' the report was prepared by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. It says that groups such as Exodus International and Focus on the Family now recommend "prevention" and conversion therapy "treatments". Such efforts have been discredited by medical experts including the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association. In targeting teens the report says "ex-gay" groups are targeting parents. "Whether through ex-gay teen programs or traveling ex-gay conferences like Focus on the Family's Love Won Out ex-gay programs are recommending that parents commit their children to treatment of 'prehomosexuality' even if it is against their children's wishes. Heterosexual youth are also being recruited in schools and churches to spread the message that homosexuality is a treatable mental illness," the report says. "One of the most disturbing accounts in this report is a case involving a 5-year-old boy who was subjected to conversion therapy to address 'prehomosexuality.' The case involves a psychologist who claims that his theories and treatments are scientific," said study co-author Jason Cianciotto, the Policy Institute's research director. "To the contrary, conversion therapy is opposed by nearly every medical and mental health professional association, including the American Academy of Pediatrics." A study of 202 former conversion therapy clients published in 2002 reported that 176 participants experienced significant harm, including depression, social isolation, low self-esteem, internalized homophobia and even attempted suicide. The study also found ethical concerns and violations, including the use of false and prejudicial information disguised as science to convince clients that they needed treatment. "It is morally repugnant and downright dangerous the way these extremists demonize young people and prey on the fears of parents through their so-called ex-gay programs," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "This report exposes the extent to which these zealots will go, including reformulating their ex-gay snake oil at the expense of vulnerable children and young adults." The report was released in Miami in conjunction with the Winter Party Festival which the NGLT sponsors. ©365Gay.com 2006
Now there's hundreds of thousands "cured"... hmmm http://www.waynebesen.com/2006/03/time-for-ex-gay-hordes-to-march-on.html
AFA Reinstates Ford Boycott Over Gays by Paul Johnson, 365Gay.com Washington Bureau Chief March 13, 2006 - 4:30 pm ET (Washington) The American Family Association and 18 other conservative groups on Monday reinstated their boycott of Ford Motor Corporation over its support for gay rights. The AFA said the company "reneged on an agreement to stop funding homosexual groups that promote same-sex marriage." Joining the boycott are the Center for Reclaiming America, Liberty Counsel, CatholicVote.org, Faith2Action, and Citizens for Community Values among other. Liberty Counsel, a conservative law practice, has been involved in fighting LGBT civil rights initiatives nationwide. "It's not something that we wanted to do," said AFA founder and chairman Don Wildmon in a statement. "In fact, we've spent the last three months trying to work out something to keep from being pushed this way. But we have not had any success whatsoever [in that direction]." The conservative Christian group launched a nationwide boycott of Ford last May over the automaker's support for LGBT issues. Weeks later it put the boycott on hold after dealers asked for time to see if the AFA complaints "could be addressed by them in cooperation with officials from Ford Motor Company." In early December, following a meeting with the AFA, Ford, through its ad agency, began notifying gay media outlets that it was canceling all ads for Jaguar and Land Rover but would continue, at least for now, to run ads for Volvo. The AFA ended its threatened boycott declaring victory. "They've heard our concerns; they are acting on our concerns," said Wildmon in a media statement. Major LGBT civil rights groups immediately demanding a meeting with company executives. The groups demanded to know if a secret agreement had been made with the American Family Association to end the company's long commitment to the gay community. The groups also sought a commitment from Ford on funding to LGBT civil rights groups and to resume advertising in the media. A day later Ford issued a statement saying that it would feature all of its brands in a 2006 ad campaign in LGBT publications. Previously Ford was advertising only its Land Rover and Jaguar brands in the gay press. As for financially supporting lgbt rights groups the company said in its statement that "while we still support certain events, I know you understand that the business situation will limit the extent of our support in all communities in 2006." In addition to LGBT pressure at least one major shareholder also exerted force on the company- the New York State Local Retirement System, the biggest state pension plan in the country. The AFA has a long history of trying to use boycotts to impose anti-gay policies on companies. ©365Gay.com 2006
