Religion's Need to Construct Enemies!!!

[Another informative and insightful guest post from Jerry Manker, and Jerry's words are right on point to everything I would say on how religion has it's picks on a certain group that's socially acceptable to torment. Enjoy this post, it's worth the read,-Justice MH]

There is an interesting article in the "Salt Lake Tribune" regarding Salt Lake City's newly elected mayor Ralph Becker's first official action as mayor to have a citywide registry of domestic partners, which would include same-sex couples.

Beyond the courageous action of Ralph Becker, and the indications that, relatively speaking, Salt Lake City is far more progressive, loving, and civilized regarding Gay people than is most, if not all, the rest of Utah, the following comment was made on the article that I think sums up a great deal of the reasons for the homophobia of many in churches of various religions, and of the many professing Christian people, churches, and denominations within the institutional Church. I'm reprinting the comment as it was written:

"Growing up in the South in the '50s taught allot 'bout Christianity. Seems that Christian tribes have to have devils to keep the members focused and together. Nothin like hav'in an evil outside enemies tryin to destroy tribe to spur unity and loyalty. Back then is was blacks, they didn't call 'em blacks but somethin much nastier, and the Jews and of course Catholics or anyone that wasn't white and protestant. I can't recollect ever hearin of Mormons back then. Yea, you could see the church members on Sunday and know they wore triple "K" on certain nights. Today is no different, religious tribes still need devils and evil to stir the troops, today its Mexicans, still blacks but not so much, and gays. Looks like things haven't changed much in the last 50 years. Nice to see there are still those brave folks still trying."

I disagree with this commentator on only one issue: Black people are still discriminated against in many subtle and not so subtle ways

The famous 19th Century Sociologist, Emile Durkheim, asserted that when there is a threatening out-group, the in-group untites to protect itself against it. Therefore, in order to cement in-group solidarity or cohesion, meeting the needs of people to have a sense of belonging, the in-group constructs "enemies" against which to identify, so that the out-group is not only fodder for the in-group's hate; serves as the target of that hate; enables the in-group leaders and their followers to materially and/or psychologically and/or socially and/or politically gain from demonizing their constructed enemies designated as the out-group.

They construct out-groups as "enemies" because to do so also serves to help make members of that in-group feel self-righteous, and appear to be more "moral," more "religious," more "superior" to the out-group they have constructed that is frequently depicted as being "diseased," "disordered," "evil," "destructive of the family, tradition, and all other institutions and values that all 'religious' and other 'good people' hold dear."

So, even when there is no enemy at the moment, the in-group must construct an enemy, an out-group, so as to meet these needs that they have in order to make and justify their claim to having moral hegemony, and depicting themselves as being on the "moral" high ground, even when, as in the RC Church, that group is rocked with sexual scandals involving children and subsequent coverups that amount to criminal facilitation that cry out to God for vengeance.

Therefore, regarding professing Christians creating "needed enemies," Gay people have served the same function in most of the institutional Church as have the Jews, the Afro-Americans (many of whom have now helped take the lead in the oppression of Gay people), the Catholics (who have now been among those in the forefront in the oppression of Gay people), women, and all other designated out-groups, so as to not only keep the money rolling in, but to keep people coming back to listen to fiery sermons that jack up their emotions to fever pitch, and affirming their "righteousness" and the "rightness of their cause," and giving the hate-filled clergy forums to express their hate in the context of usually overwhelming congregational approval.

Since appealing to the dark side of people's emotions is a sure winner, as it pays off in so many ways, and for so many people, professing Christians or not, there is no end to the "rewards" gained by homophobic clergy, Black or White, in continuing their rhetorical and discriminatory targeting of Gay people, viewed by them as being "safe" targets to persecute, in order to meet their own conscious and/or unconscious needs and agendas.

This need for out-groups by self-identified members of the in-group will never end, as it seems to be one of the many tragic parts of the human condition. However, targeting a given group will definitely end when there is no longer seen to be a payoff in so doing by the in-group, and that state of affairs will only occur when there is sufficient and continuous grassroots and organizational activism that presents the in-group with the realization that the costs of their creation of the "enemy" far exceeds what rewards they have been receiving from their creation.

That is one of the reasons I have been suggesting such activism as coordinated picketing of homophobic churches; boycotting homophobic churches; refusing to support any politician who is not unequivocally in favor of full and equal civil rights; taking to civil and, if appropriate, criminal court clergy (and others) who spew hateful rhetoric that slanders Gay people and/or may reasonably be expected to cause others to assault and murder Gay people. [For my most recent salvo in this area, please see my December 29th post.]

As I wrote in response to a comment made byDon Charles regarding my January 11th post:

"Homophobic pastors who spew hateful rhetoric must be held accountable for the ravages they cause, and the lies they tell about Gay people, and taking them to court is one of the best ways of holding them accountable.

"Rather than indulge in political expediency, and being anemic regarding meaningful activism, the Human Rights Campaign should be the one to file such suits (and they should be pressured to do so), as they undoubtedly have the funds and staff necessary to see these suits to completion."

It is important to recognize that religious homophobia has absolutely nothing to do with the things of God or of the Spirit! It has to do with the functions and perceived rewards to the in-group that hate produces! And never, never buy into the lie that they "hate the sin but love the sinner."

Beyond the fact that being Gay is not a sin, these wolves in sheep's clothing hate Gay people too, and to ignore that fact diminishes the realization of the tremendous harm that homophobic clergy and their followers have done to Gay people, their families, and to society at large as partly seen in our ever-increasing coarsening of the culture.

And when LGBT people and allies finally marshal enough strength of will to put pressure on such organizations as the Human Rights Campaign to become more aggressive, coordinate meaningful grassroots activism against homophobia whenever and wherever it occurs, Gay people will no longer be considered the "safe" targets the in-group can persecute.

Then, the in-group will hunt around and find another "enemy" to construct, another out-group, to continue to meet their perceived needs that discriminating against LGBT people have hitherto afforded them.

But, at least, when that day occurs, we can expect there to be far fewer Gay lives lived in desperation; far fewer Gay suicides; far fewer assaults against Gay people; far fewer murders of Gay people. And, Gay people will be afforded the same dignity and civil and sacramental rights afforded to all other citizens.

And if these goals are not worth meaningfully and aggressively fighting for, I don't know what is!


Rev. Dr. Jerry S. Maneker is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at California State University, Chico.

He can be reached at his informative website A Christian Voice for Gay, Lesbian,Bisexual, And Transgender Rights .

"CHRISTIAN" RHETORIC, ACTION, AND SILENCE ARE KILLING PEOPLE!

By: Jerry Manker

[I hope everyone enjoy Jerry's commentary on bigotry and hate from self-professed christians, and how silence of speaking truth and living in one's truth is killing others! News and story updates from me later today-Justice MH]


"'Whether their sexual preference is to be a homosexual or being gay, that's their problem,' Da' Priest says. 'I'm the street, I'm the street priest, and I have real good Christian values on what I believe in, and I am against homosexuality.'" from Npr.org

I never heard of Dooney Da Priest, a songwriter! However, his above statement is crucial for every single decent person, and for everyone who considers him/herself to be a Christian, to read and understand.

Christianity has become defined in the minds of most people as being not only a judgmental religion, but the rhetoric, actions and/or silence and inaction on the part of all too many professing Christians and clergy has had the effect of equating being "Gay" with being "immoral" in the minds of others, including many, if not most, LGBT people.

The mantra that being Gay is equivalent to being immoral, and is against the will of God, has been spewed so often in and from most churches, and is believed by most clergy and church-goers within the institutional Church, that one can not only believe that lie, but one can feel free to hawk his/her "Christian" credentials by affirming his/her disdain for homosexuality; so many professing Christians can justify to others their homophobia by appealing to the fact that they are "Bible-believing Christians."

As you well know, I lay the lion's share of the blame for homophobia and its destructive consequences at the feet of the institutional Church! It has been responsible for untold suicides, bashings, and murders; it has been responsible for lives lived in quiet and not so quiet desperation; it has been responsible for fracturing families as well as fracturing human beings within their families.

As I've written:

"Make no mistake, every drop of blood shed by GLBT people either through suicide, bashing, or murder, are on the hands of all those religious leaders, their followers, and their allies who spew forth their ignorance, prejudice, and hate against GLBT people and their relationships! These wolves in sheep’s clothing take the Bible, God’s love letter to His children, and selectively and perversely use it as a club to condemn others, and deny GLBT people full inclusion in the Church and in society.

"The tradition-bound parts of the Church have so indoctrinated people, many of whom have never even set foot in a house of worship, that many people even disown their own children when they 'come out' and divulge their sexual orientation to those whom they thought unconditionally loved and cherished them. There are many children living on the streets because their own parents trusted ignorant clergy and their followers over their God-given duty and privilege to nurture and embrace their own children!

The Church should concentrate on the real sins that deserve our attention and that cry out to God for redress, such as invading another country on false pretenses; the working poor who can't afford medical insurance; the Supreme Court ruling that people can't sue their insurance company in state court for denying needed medical services; many elderly people having to decide whether to buy food or medicine; the gigantic rip off perpetrated by drug companies, hospitals, and the medical establishment on sick and vulnerable people. Why not focus on and address issues such as these, instead of obsessing on who loves who and who sleeps with whom? Such obsession tells us much more about the pathetic and moribund state of much of the Church than it does about the reality of the lives of GLBT people".

To the degree that any professing Christian can keep silent in the face of the grinding oppression and destruction of others, it is to that degree that he/she had better examine his/her claim to being a "Christian!"

Rev. Dr. Jerry S. Maneker is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at California State University, Chico.He is an ordained priest in the Congregational Catholic Church, a division of the Independent Catholic Churches International (ICCI}

Visit his site christianlgbtrights.org/

Local NAACP President Speaks out on gay rights and gets mixed Reviews from the Black Community!!!

The Homophobia being spewed from the Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle and his recent anti-gay statements are nothing new, but I want to touch this issue going on in Florida.Local African-American ministers, such as the Rev. O’Neal Dozier, have spoken out in favor of Naugle. What is wrong with black ministers these days? Anytime in history, there is someone or group that's an easy target for hate and intolerance. However, someone did the unpopular thing and stood up and spoke out for what's right:

President of the Fort Lauderdale branch of the NAACP Ellison’s mission was clear: She would speak out against what she considered hate speech and discrimination, regardless of the fact that the offending words were aimed at the gay community, a community she is not charged with representing.

“Mayor Naugle’s message is about one thing — hate,” she said. “Homophobia is hate, and hate has no place in the beloved community.”

Justice MH: That's what it exactly is. It's really sad to see black ministers stand by people like this Mayor Naugle. Why must former oppress people now oppress someone else? I guess once you're finally sitting at the table, then it's your turn to take the next group and beat up on them with the traditional holy bullies!
Diverse Opinion in the Black Community!

Brad Bennett, executive editor of the Broward Times, a newspaper that covers the local black community, said it was “odd that she would speak out about gay issues.”

“Based on what I’m hearing from readers, I don’t think the Fort Lauderdale NAACP reflects the views of the larger black community,” he said. “Publicly, members of the community fall in line with the pastors.”

Justice MH: Wow! If members of the community fall in line with ignorant and bigoted pastors, then they are some sheep without any God-given brains! And how is it odd for a NAACP president to speak out on gay issues? Every family has a gay relative and everyone knows someone who is gay. It seems the next opinion knows what i'm talking about!

Everybody has somebody who is gay in their family or knows gay people,” said Larry Bowman, a used car salesman and regular at Betty’s. “I have to agree with [Ellison]. It’s hate speech. The mayor is asking for hatred to be cast upon him.”Dorothy Jackson, who works the counter at Betty’s agreed.

Bowman and Jackson said they respect gays and lesbians, but they also pointed out that their neighbors don’t normally discuss gay issues.

“Gay people is not a top issue,” Bowman said. “There are more important issues like the relationship of police officers and citizens. How are you going to relate to officers if you can’t trust them.”

Justice MH: Well, this sounds like decent people who actually make sense. Of course they admit that gay issues are rarely discuss in the black community, and a discussion like that needs to happen. The black community needs to try to get pass this and move forward. The next opinion didn't sit well with me, and it really piss me off!

Elder Solomon Williams and his sister, who would identify herself only as Mrs. Williams, sat at the counter to order a plate of ribs and steamed cabbage. They had a heavy, dog-eared Bible with them from which they quoted scripture. The Williams reflected much of the black fundamentalist point of view at Betty’s, saying the gay community was asking for special privileges.

Although Elder Williams agreed that a public official singling out one group amounts to discrimination, he said he considers Naugle as speaking “the word of God” against the unrighteous.

“Every man you see who loves another man, they knew God before they got into their condition,” Williams said.
Ellison recognizes that black opinion is largely influenced by the church regarding gay rights, but she notes that Naugle’s backers are not representative.

“You need to take note of the churches that were not present [at the Sept. 5th press conference],” she said.
The communities “super churches,” such as New Mount Olive Baptist and Mount Bethel Baptist

Justice MH: Ok, where shall i begin with these hypocritical views? First, if you love someone, how can you not know God anymore? I can guess where she's getting this from? Let me guess, another misinterpretation of Romans 1. Why is this woman using a medical term "condition"? I do NOT have a condition, or any other gay person have a "condition"! What's so special about having your relationship recognize? Job protection? Protected in hate crime laws on federal level? There is nothing special about that. It's what's guranteed in the U.S Consitution. The bible has no say in this, or any other civil-affairs/matters. I guess when the former oppress has what's rightfully there's, then when someone else comes along, the former oppress acts out on who deserves what. Again, black people are influenced by the hypocritical black church. Yeah, i said it, and I'm black. This woman carries a bible around like it's a body organ implanted by God. I agree with fellow blogger Jerry Maneker of http://christianlgbtrights.org the bible is NOT God. God is perfect and free of errors. The bible is the opposite! Why do black people insist on using that fallible, racist, sexist, and imperfect book on others? I call the bible fallible because the errors in the bible make it fallible, that makes it not infallible or inerrant. The contradictions and inconsistencies of the bible is NOT being ignored by biblical scholars or theologians. The bible isn't alone, the Koran is the same, and other holy books. The issue here is that blacks should be speaking out against people like Mayor Naugle, not standing with him because he hates those who you hate or doesn't measure to your standards, and speaks how you interpretate the bible. Like Coretta Scott King would say: Hate and bigotry should be oppose by right thinking Americans". She would say something like, it's not accurate. However, I don't see right-thinking Americans or even true Christians. It's that us vs. them mentality! Blacks are suppose to keep the dream alive, but instead we're turning it into a nightmare! After the gays, what group is next to be the target of intolerance, discrimination, hate, and bigotry?

Ja Rule: MTV's Promotion of homosexuality is ruining America

Hip-Hop Rapper Ja Rule gives us the latest on what's ruining America: homosexuality[NOT]! Instead of the Iraq war, racism, or sexism ruining America, Ja Rule criticizes the group who most likely to get criticize for illogical reasons. In Ja Rule's mind it's depictions of gay and lesbian couples on MTV's reality tv shows.

Ja Rule recently did a interview with Complex,the formerly popular rapper blasted upcoming congressional hearings that "will probe 'stereotypes and degradation' of black women in hip-hop and the entertainment industry and he says "calling a woman a bitch or a hoe on my rap songs" is not problematic.

Ok, so calling a woman especially a black woman a hoe or bitch is NOT problematic? Damn, I'm thankful i don't have his logic thinking. Ja, if it wasn't for a woman, you wouldn't be talking this bullsh*t right here:

they got my man Doug Morris under fire and shit, they got him going down to go speak to Congress about hip-hop lyrics, are you fucking serious? There's a fucking black kid right now about to get 25 years for having a fight with some white kids over hanging the nooses over the white tree, lets get to that. Let's get into shit like that, because that's what's tearing up America, not me calling a woman a bitch or a hoe on my rap songs. And if it is, then we need to go step to Paramount, and fucking MGM, and all of these other motherfuckers that's making all of these movies and we need to go step to MTV and Viacom, and lets talk about all these fucking shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can't watch this shit. Dating shows that's showing two guys or two girls in mid afternoon. Let's talk about shit like that! If that's not fucking up America, I don't know what is. There's a lot of issues we can address besides hip-hop, but they want to put everything on us like we're the problem. But see, and this is going to be a shameless fucking plug, but I said, "when everyone wants to point the finger, and ask why there's so much corruption, they only need to look in the mirror." It starts with themselves."

Justice MH: You want to know what's ruining America? It's people like this. Ja Rule doesn't respect women who was the cause of him being carried safely for 9 months, and being born healthy. Bashing MTV for expanding it's tv shows for other viewers like gay people who want to be represented on tv too, will not help Ja out the mess he put himself in. Blaming the gays won't get the attention off of Ja Rule's offensive lyrics towards women. Note to Ja Rule: Make sure your own back yard is clean before you start telling others to clean their own back yard up! Ja Rule's sexist lyrics is NOT being tolerated, it's unacceptable, and offensive. Women deserve much better, this lack of respect goes back to the depictions/interpretation of the story of Adam and Eve. Women are our mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, and nieces. They deserve our appreciation and respect!

Homophobes just keep Coming!!!

Louisiana State University student Michael Denton gives his cent-less on Montgomery County’s decision to include gays in sex ed. Same old recipe from older right-wingers:

America needs to grow in self-confidence on this debate. The homosexual argument is illogical; sexuality is obviously meant for reproduction. Any sexual activity that is opposed to life is intrinsically disordered. Yet we continue to refuse to stand up for ourselves, allowing courts, school boards and speech codes to dictate political correctness to us.


Justice: "The sex is for "procreation" argument is so old and tiresome. The majority of human being will admit sex is for pleasure. We are NOT the children of Israel tribe trying to reproduce to out number the enemy, and gain land. Denton wants to have his dogmatic correctness for his older right-wing mentors.Also, right-winger talk about us recruiting, it seems they love to recruit young people to advocate a right-wing agenda. Note: Everyone does NOT have to procreate, quoting Genesis is a same old recipe, and humans have more purpose than procreating! The Religious argument is never logical in it's dogmatic form. AS I said humans have a much more a purpose than procreating, you still can, but a person's purpose in life is so much bigger.

The Trouble with Harry!!!

[This is a couple days old, but this really sums up my thoughts about homo-bigots like Bishop Harry Jackson! Enjoy-Justice MH]

By:Dr. Sylvia Rhue

Barak Obama appeared on LOGO and HRC’s presidential debate Thursday August 9. All of the candidates were asked about marriage equality for LGBT people. Although he is for full civil union rights, Obama feels he cannot open the door of equality all the way with full marriage rights for LGBT people. But even his moderate stance gets a berating from Bishop Jackson.

When speaking to a group of black ministers at a forum in Tennessee, Barak stated:

“I specifically pointed out that if there’s any pastor here who can point out a marriage that has been broken up as a consequence of seeing two men or two women holding hands, then we—you should tell me, because I haven’t seen any evidence of it…And there are some folks who, coming out of the church, have, you know, elevated one line in Romans above the Sermon on the Mount.”


Jackson’s response: “He’s dead wrong concerning what the scriptures say, and more importantly, he’s dead wrong in terms of the Scriptures, and in terms of reading culture. The culture has gone in a different direction, and the devaluation of marriage is a major problem, and I believe that he’s a very dangerous man because he sounds reasonable, he sounds engaging, but he’s misinformed.” Jackson goes on to call Obama a “junior or infant Christian.”

He states that “I think what most African- Americans buy is that there should be justice for all, in terms of the outworking of civil law. What they do not buy is that we should not rename sin as something righteous and holy.”

Bishop Jackson is dead wrong. It is Jackson who has an infantile understanding of human sexuality and a wrong headed theology regarding Christ’s message of inclusion. Jackson does not understand, or refuses to understand the concept of sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is morally neutral.

One of the definitions of the word “sin” is “to miss the mark”. Jackson misses the mark of the Love ethic for his gay and lesbian neighbors, which is central to Christian theology. When Bishop Jackson came to NBJC’s Black Church Summit this past Spring, he had the opportunity to look LGBT people in the eye and hear their stories of love, commitment, devotion, honor and duty. He nodded his head acting as if he understood. He acted as if he had learned something. Unfortunately, from his behavior and statements since that day, it was all just an act.

We should defer to an authentic Biblical scholar, Rev. Peter Gomes the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard University, who writes: “No credible case against homosexuality or homosexuals can be made from the Bible unless one chooses to read scripture in a way that simply sustains the existing prejudice against homosexuality and homosexuals. The combination of ignorance and prejudice under the guise of morality makes the religious community, and its abuse of scripture in this regard, itself morally culpable.”

If Bishop Jackson ever thought he might be a drum major for justice, he has missed he mark.

Dr. Sylvia Rhue is Director of NBJC Religious Affairs. She can be reached directly at shrue@nbjc.org

Former Ex-gay Leaders issue Public Apologies!!!

It was yesterday in Los Angeles,Ca,former Exodus leaders publicly apologized for their involvement in the ex-gay movement. Darlene Bogle, Michael Bussee and Jeremy Marks each shared their own personal statements and then Michael read out the shared statement. They all signed the apology and presented it to ex-gay survivors who were present at the press conference.

Jeremy Marks, former head of Exodus Europe stated,

Perhaps I should take this opportunity first to say how sorry I am, and to ask forgiveness from all my fellow Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Trans-gendered people who might be listening to this—for my part in colluding with the religious right in the Western world. Though at the time we did not see it this way, our collusion involved setting up and maintaining an oppressive anti-gay, and I must also say equally anti-Christian view of homosexuality, that profoundly dishonors Jesus Christ and has betrayed the Gospel.

Michael Busse, one of the original founders of Exodus shared some of the realities he witnessed during his time at Exodus recounting the good and the bad.

I need to say that some had a positive, life-changing experience attending our Bible studies and support groups. They experienced God’s love and the welcoming fellowship of others who knew the struggle. There were some real “changes”—but not one of the hundreds of people we counseled became straight.

Instead, many of our clients began to fall apart – sinking deeper into patterns of guilt, anxiety and self-loathing. Why weren’t they “changing”? The answers from church leaders made the pain even worse: “You might not be a real Christian.” “You don’t have enough faith.” “You aren’t praying and reading the Bible enough.” “Maybe you have a demon.” The message always seemed to be: “You’re not enough. You’re not trying hard enough. You don’t have enough faith.”

Justice MH: I think that is just a shame to tell some people! You're not praying enough? You're not a real Christian? Who says all Christians are straight? You're not reading the bible enough? To be honest, reading a contradictory book will NOT change a person's sexual orientation, and you certainly can't pray the gay away! It's a demon? Good LAWRD! What year is it? 2007, yeah i know, but someone needs to remind these people what year and century it is! When you can't figure out the causes of something, all kinds of insane stuff come out of people's mouth!

Next Apology:

Darlene Bogle gave a moving apology that got a number of people in the audience crying during the press conference. CNN showed some of the footage on the Paula Zahn Show last night.

My heart was in the right place, but my message was not. I apologize to those individuals and families who believed my message that change was necessary to be acceptable to God. In recent years I have seen the resulting damage from rejection, shame, and conditional love. I apologize for my part in presenting a God of conditional love, and ask forgiveness for the message of broken truth I spoke on behalf of Exodus.

Justice MH: This is long overdue, but it's good hear these founder and former leader apologize for the damage that were cause by the Exdous and other ex-gay ministries.
The Ex-gay Survivor Conference is tomorrow, and i will more that in the upcoming posts!

CNN Poll: Majority Believes Sexual Orientation cannot change!!!

This is no surprise, it's 2007! In a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, a majority of respondents (68%) have indicated a belief that gays cannot change their sexual orientation. Americans are now starting to see gays and lesbians cannot change their sexual orientation, no more than they can! Being gay is NOT something you click off, or on.It's also not like shoes or underwear that you can change. Every Major Mainstream Health,medical, and scientific organization has said being gay is NOT chosen, and has strong biological influences! The ex-gay ministries are failing to prove what they stand for. So duh! Sexual orientation cannot change, everyone should have known that! I will have post ex-gay ministries in the upcoming posts, more news, and etc!

BET's Meet the Faith: Black Homosexuality and Homophobia Debate!!!

BET's Meet the Faith is hosted by the hot Ian Smith. I was really happy to see Keith Boykin, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and former NBA player John Amaech. Keith was very vocal in challenging Bishop E. Bernard Jordon on how homosexuality is somehow NOT a "sin". Bishop Jordon say it's a sin if it's outside of marriage. All this with a belief that sex is exclusive to marriage is just silly, but like fellow blogger Larry Lyons, I'm kindy sex-positive myself. But you gotta love religion, if it can control some things, how about sexual issues/morality as well! Anyway, let's use that logic, so when gays get married, then people like the Bishop won't label it a so-called "sin". My girl Sheryl was passionate about this subject, and was telling it. The debate was a good start, and it has made quite a stir on BET's message Boards, community, blogs, and possibly many people now.


I will discuss more on this in another post! Time for the BET AWARDS 2007 Tonight!

[Updates resume morning AM-Justice MH]

Closer Look: The Low down on Charlene Cothran!!!

It's time to take closer look at this interview that Charlene Cothran, an self-proclaimed ex-lesbian, publisher of the African-American GLBT Venus Magazine.
Since Charlene made the announcement of her sudden change, the "pro-family" movement has been using her story as yet another example of how gays can change. As I take a closer in this interview, we'll see if she provides any proof of change in sexual orientation.

First Part:

Cothran says she longed for peace, but even in the midst of a long-term relationship, she felt intense loneliness. She'd grown up in a Christian home, and had come into the lesbian lifestyle at 19, after several bad relationships with boys.

"I didn't want anything to do with men anymore," she said. "I was away at college and that was a whole new world, and in that world there were many, many women who were attracted to me, and, of course, I was attracted to them. And these women were nurturing, wanted to get to know me intellectually -- they were organizers whom I found a lot of comfort in. It felt good, it felt right."


Okay, what's a lesbian lifestyle? Lifestyle simply means a way a person lives. When hetersexual women are being interview, we don't say hetersexual woman lifestyle. The ignorance is getting annoying. When referring to their first gay experiences, those who have "left" homosexuality [whatever that means] ALWAYS paint the picture of a world wherein they were somehow preyed upon or pressured. In some of these reclosted gays remebrances, they make it seem like they were never aggressors, or willing participants, but rather victims of some sort of confusing or predatory situation.
While Charlene doesn't fully play the victim card, she does present the idea that if it were not for certain women who happened to have been in her midst and not for bad relationships with men, she never would have had the idea to have lesbian sex.

For those of us who know what it means to be gay, it is NOT ideas that are waiting to be trigger. If Charlene explored her sexual orientation in college, which is quote common, as it is the first chance that many are given to truly know and express themselves. No matter how lovely, nurturing, or intellectual the women, it wouldn't have "felt good" or "felt right" unless she actually had these feelings!

Second Part: "When the Lord saved me, I knew everything would change," she said. "All of the ads, the editorials, the mission of the magazine had changed. We're going to be calling people out of homosexuality."

Most of the response from the gay and lesbian community has been fierce and negative. But she says she knows that many of them are just as conflicted as she was.

Cothran said, "In order to fill up this empty space, they pretend to put on this wonderful face, 'how gay and happy I am,' when in fact -- there's a lot of loneliness in the gay community that's not talked about, and it's real."

Well, what did you expect hugs, and kisses. I don't think so! Putting gays on the defensive about their mental state and happiness: Another page right out of the "ex-gay"/"pro-family" playbook. They love doing that! You can't put a group of people together and tell them about their mental state. Who isn't depress? Who isn't lonely? Who isn't feeling down? It doesn't matter if it's gay or straight, there is no difference in mental state.The fact is that there is loneliness and depression in the world. The World isn't heaven, but a hell. This world affects everyone's mental state. For us gays, it's no suprise that some of our mental states are down. After all, parental abandonment, societal shunning, having to fight for basic protections, and bias-motivated violence are concepts that can weigh heavily on the human psyche. Couple that with the sort of persecution that calls gays sinners and demands that they "change," and it's actually a little shocking that any of us can smile anymore. Our weakness has become our strength.


Third Part: CBN News asked Cothran, "I know people probably ask you, do you still have feelings for women, and are you dating a man?"

Cothran replied, "I'm living a celibate life. I'm so focused on the spirit right now, that I have no urges for anyone -- man or woman."

I said this before, what does celibacy has to do with change in sexual orientation? Nothing! You are simply celibate! In another interview with blogger Clay Cane, she said she was attracted to the spirit. Do we have a new sexual minority? She's attracted to spirits and mind as well say ghosts too. This is the most amusing STORY! I love fiction! However, it's duplicitous to bring the idea of "change" or "redemption" into the picture until you have some actual physiological reason to believe that you have changed your actual physiological truth.

Fourth Part:

"Our mission now," she said, "is to educate and to turn people away from the homosexual lifestyle simply by presenting the truth. We simply want people to question what they've learned through the pages of Venus magazine over the past 13 years."

Prior to Cothran's conversion, Venus circulated about 35,000 copies per issue which ran four times a year. But after the issue featuring her testimony, the gay political machine pressured advertisers to drop the magazine. And gay pride events and college campuses no longer subscribe.

If you have a gay magazine that suddenly becomes as "ex-gay" magazine, you can't really blame "the gay political machine" [whatever the hell that is]for pressuring anyone into dropping support. Several gay media outlets are suffering and having problems. Could this be the reason why charlene is using all this tv time? Who knows, but nothing surprise me! From a purely business standpoint, why in the world would anyone think that advertisers who had placements in a pro-gay magazine would, by and large,then she brings the "ex-gay" idea in the picture, which is rejected by the vast majority of black LGBT individuals.

Part Five:

She said, "There is a joy and a peace that you can't find in a club, I don't care how good the music is. You can't find it in the middle of a gay pride parade, I don't care if you have the biggest, prettiest float. I have a joy and a peace that I wouldn't trade for anything."

What does Charlene's social behavior have to do with change in sexual orientation? It seems her social behavior needed a change, but that has NO affect on sexual orientation. Because honestly, talking about true sexual feelings in terms of pride floats and bars, is just a ridiculous line of thought. I'm laughing just typing about it! lol. Of course you can't find peace with who you are inside a bar or club. Of course you can't find peace with who you are on a pride float. You can only find peace with who you are by shutting off outside noise and listening to WHO YOU TRULY ARE!!!! Charlene hasn't shown nowhere where are sexual orientation was change, or whatever. She talks about "save me" to GOD, she may be save with her personal beliefs, but what does that have to with sexual orientation? Religious conversion deos NOT change sexual orientation. This 700 club interview shows me of what i've been saying, "you can't pray away the gay! If you are truly seeking human validation via a club or pride float (and not merely looking for fun, good times), then you are always going to come up short. Frokm all the five parts, this last one is in many ways the most telling.

Things like that does NOT bring the idea of what sexual orientation is truly all about, by introducing superficial community elements into the mix. It overlooks what we're truly talking about, which is the nature of desire and biological attraction. Gay bars and pride floats are nothing more than modern inventions, ones in which some LGBT folks choose to participate while others abstain.If Charlene wants to prove that she's changed her orientation , then she's going to have to do more than simply denounce her past community involvement! Charlene hasn't proven a thing, but those who think religious conversion can change sexual orientation really tells you alot about them. They many Christians that are gay. I'm NOT done with charlene's story yet, and when I say story, that what i mean STORY! The rest of the weekend is a break from this so-called wonderful STORY! I'm not done with STORY at all.


[updates no later than 4pm-Justice MH] h/t goodasyou.

Ex-gay Civil War:Ex-gay Alan Chambers VS. Ex-gay Stephen Bennett!!!

The reclosted gay movement is getting very interesting.

Exodus International's Alan Chambers recently made what many see as a public shift on the ex-gay ministry stance that homosexuality can be cured

With years of therapy, Chambers says, he has mostly conquered his own attraction to men; he's a husband and a father, and he identifies as straight. But lately, he's come to resent the term "ex-gay": It's too neat, implying a clean break with the past, when he still struggles at times with homosexual temptation. "By no means would we ever say change can be sudden or complete," Chambers said., he told the Orange County Register, "Today, I am a far different person. Not that I don't struggle, but my life has changed. I certainly don't have the desire to be involved in homosexuality. It has no power over me."

What exactly does that mean? If Chambers is struggling, then he obviously has the desire to be with a man. What else is he struggling over, whether to drink caffeinated or decaf coffee in the morning? And the larger question is, why not just come out and end a worthless struggle that modern biology increasingly proves is fruitless.

There has been an eruption of anger and outrage from recloseted homosexual "cured" professional heterosexual Stephen Bennett, who takes issue with Chambers' reassessment of the situation:



Stephen Bennett, President of Stephen Bennett Ministries, a pro-family organization advocating for the traditional family, the protection of children and proclaiming the truth about homosexuality, condemned the irresponsible and disturbing remarks attributed to and made by Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International, an organization claiming to be "The largest information and referral ministry in the world on homosexual issues."
Bennett, along with many others pro-family leaders, were shaken Monday by Chamber's remarks and are eagerly awaiting Exodus International's official response to their President's misguided statements.On CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer", the interviewer positioned Chambers as concurring there may be a "biological" basis for homosexuality.
There is ZERO biological, scientific "evidence" for homosexuality to this date. The biblical evidence for homosexuality is very clear: it's sin.[I beg to differ, that evidence is poor.]
...Stephen Bennett, an ex-gay himself now for 15 years, happily married for 14 years to his wife Irene and the father of their two children, stated, "Frankly, I am shocked that the President of the largest information and referral ministry in the world on homosexual issues, would ever make such irresponsible and false public statements. If Mr. Chambers, a married man and father who once engaged in homosexuality himself, says he's never met 'a former ex-gay' or one who has 'changed completely', he's personally invited to our home in Connecticut to meet one. I'd also be happy to introduce him to numerous other individuals - all former homosexual men and women."
Bennett once engaged in the homosexual lifestyle for 11 years with over 100 men - losing partners and friends to HIV/AIDS, until everything changed in 1990 - when he was confronted with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He dealt with his root issues and in 1992 completely changed. Stephen no longer struggles whatsoever with homosexual temptation.
"Homosexuality is an outward expression of an inward conflict. When I completely dealt with my inward conflict, my alcoholism, cocaine addiction, bulimia AND homosexual struggle were completely gone," said Bennett.

Joe Brummer says this about Bennett:
I sometimes, actually most of the time, feel bad for Bennett. I feel Stephen needs to believe, as well as many other ex-gays, the things he does. He needs to believe that gays and lesbians can just change and that all they need to do is find god. The fact remains that dozens of men and women, including Alan Chambers, are still homosexual regardless what they call themselves. The dictionary and science define homosexual as someone attracted to the same sex and Alan has stated more than once that even though he calls himself a heterosexual, he is still "tempted" by his same sex attractions. In other words, he is still a homosexual. I too, hope that Alan will clarify his statements as I see this as a very important step towards finding the truth.

Justice MH: Indeed. Truth always sets free. Bennett plays a almost convincing hetersexual, but he's still gay, but reclosted. I wonder how long it will take for these two QUEENS to come to blows. My money is on Alan Chamber. I want a clean fight, no hair pulling, and no low blows [even though that's still y'all thing]. lol. Keep it clean!

h/t pam and wayne besen. Thanks.

[more updates to come-Justice MH]

Black Ex-Gay to be Featured on 700 Club!!!

Charlene Cothran, then Black lesbian publisher, who is now a self-proclaimed ex-lesbian publisher of Venus Magazine. Charlene has now turned her gay magazine for Black gays into a ex-gay magazine of baseless theories, and ideology. Charlene has turned the magazine with pray-away the gay themes, which i don't recommend! Okay, from the top…Charlene Cothran, an African American ex-lesbian who is publisher of Venus Magazine, a magazine for Black ex-gays who have seen the light (with eyes rolling), has sent out a press release announcing her fifteen minutes of fame on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s “700 Club” Thursday, June 21st.

And I quote:

“If you have friends or family members who are struggling with homosexuality, encourage them to watch the 700 Club on Thursday – there IS hope!”

Yeah, i hope she stop this ex-gay nonsense, and myths. Just for the record and fact, being celibate does NOT make someone heterosexual. Just ask Donnie about being celibate. Black gay bloggers such as myself had no problem with charlene and her journey in life. But she just had to bash, and try to convert us. WHY?

Who say their struggling with something? I forget sometimes, i don't speak self-loathing, and self-denial language.

I haven't really address charlene on my blog, but i have read other black gay bloggers who have express some things on her, bloggers like Jasymne Cannick, and Darian. From her interviews she sounds lonely, and full of contradictions from her latest interview.

Anyway she will be feature on 700 club. I never watch that show at all, with a person, and so-called "christian like Pat Robertson. I think Jerry Falwell forgot his partner in crime. I doubt I’ll watch Charlene 's apperance on 700 club because for some reason my television seems to go blank when that program is on. I never understood why, lol. I'm thinking about banning that show and channel from my service. If a video get up on youtube, i'll have it up on here!

[More updates no later than 3pm-Justice MH]

Conservative Black Preachers bear false Witness!!!

Well look at this foolishness, and full of sh*t here!A group of conservative black "pimping" preachers have banded together to take on comprehensive hate crime laws. Is it a surprise? Hell No! It seems they have no sense of reality, or what the bill's purpose. The NAACP, gay groups, civil rights groups, etc support the bill.

As the the U.S Senate goes up to debate The Matthew Shepard law, "uncle Tom" Reverend Ken Hutcherson and his peers have placed the above ad, which reads:

"Christian clergymen and people of faith are making a stand today for religious liberty. WE OPPOSE S.1105, “The Matthew Shepard Act.” We believe prosecutors and anti-Christian groups will use loop holes in this proposed legislation to muzzle the church. Unnecessary lawsuits will bring a chilling effect to the free speech and religious liberty of our churches and of our members".

Now where does the bill say it restricts free speech such as religious speech? It's one thing to oppose the bill, but lieing is whole different thing.

It continues:

"We understand more clearly than most that racially motivated violence can be a form of internal terrorism. The Black Community needs a free puplits. Indeed, ALL Americans need free pulpit. We urge Senate to to avoid misguided compassion take away America’s most basic freedoms - our freedom of speech, our freedom of conscience and our freedom to exercise religion.

Once again the bill clearly says: "Nothing in this act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the free speech or free exercise clauses the First Amendment to the Constitution" the hate crime bill says.
It seems to me and others they have taken a page out of the Family Research Council. These black Conservative have lost their damn minds. This ad’s logic, however, can certainly be described as “surprising,” and ridiculous especially because, as BoxTurtlebullintin.com points out, African-American people are included in hate crimes laws, yet still find themselves on the receiving end of hate speech:



"Despite enjoying hate crime protections for a number of years, the African-American community continues to be the target of constitutionally protected hate speech whenever the Klan wins approval to hold rallies on courthouse squares and statehouse lawns. Nothing in the existing hate crime laws has succeeded in muzzling their First Amendment rights to free speech.
… There are at least thirty seven racist Christian Identity groups active across America. Some even operate radio broadcasts and “prison ministries.”

Indeed. Hate crime laws do not and will not hinder free speech, particularly with regard to religion. Those who say the laws will are either idiots, over-zealous, blinded by discrimination, hateful,bigots,closted gay person, hypocrite, or all of the above. Free Speech will remain untouch!


[More Updates to come-Justice MH]

Are Women the blame for fatherless homes???

Well that's what Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is saying, and of course it's from a minister and straight man's perspective. He says that it's time to look at how women are driving men out of the home (and with it, separating them from their children).He gives a lame a** excuse that men bear some of the responsibility, but that it's due to their inherent weakness for sex.



Most women themselves don't understand why they provoke and agitate their spouse to lash out or run away. They don't understand the subtle control they have over weak men.
-- Jesse Lee Peterson, founder and president of BOND, the Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny

In other words, these all-powerful women must be controlled, and tamed!
He goes by showing his love, he declares that a man has to realize how he has to deal with women and assert his dominance, also with patience of course. This he says, is all about love and order:

He says:There's an order to life: God in Christ, Christ in man, man over woman, and woman over children. When this order is broken or violated you have "hell" on earth.
In a relationship the man often has an unnatural need for his wife or girlfriend. He's addicted to her approval and to her sex. The woman senses this wrong need the man has and she begins to test him. Often times, men find themselves giving in more and more in order to a receive her favor. Sometimes the demands of the woman become unbearable to the point that the man may lash out -- I'm not saying this is right, but this is the reality. There's been a deliberate plan to wipe out masculinity in society. When you wipe out the man you wipe out God, because the man represents God on earth. Then there?s no truth -- no light -- and no hope for the family.

In other words, these men who leave just can't help themselves; their testorone can't handle it, and they have fragile egos. It also seems that can't stand up to the power of the pu**y! Please, maybe this man needs a vagina to understand a woman!
Who's trying to wipe out masculinity? I wish there was a balance between masculinity, and feminism. He says when you wipe out man, you wipe out God? HUh? If man represents God, then who do women represent? I believe both do, but this reverand feels that an perfect God shares his sexism, but God simply doesn't. His radical views about women is disturbing, ignorant, and arrogant! Typical straight man.

He screams anti-gay ignorance:"

"Homosexuality is not about love, it's not about family, and it's not about civil rights. It's about sex ? and selfishness. It's about pleasure at the price of morality and dignity, with reckless disregard for the raising of the young and for the traditional family unit. In many cases, it's about imposing a perverse lifestyle on a society based on close adherence to traditional Judeo-Christian values.
...The claim that homosexual conduct is legitimate since it is the consequence of an attribute (orientation) beyond one's control is also extremely dangerous. Underlying this claim is the notion that anything someone may have an orientation or a predilection towards, no matter how wicked (rape, torturing children) is by definition legitimate, simply by virtue of his having a predilection toward it.

He is so ignorant about gays it's sad, and pathetic! It seems he thinks gays are souless, and non-feeling creatures. When you don't understand a issue, all kinds of sh*t run out peoples' mouth. Please reverand go to the bathroom, empty your mouth, and come back with intelligence, logic, and reason!
Aside from his stupidity about homosexuality[gays]. His take on women is typical straight men wanting the good ol' times with domniating and controlling women. But can you blame the reverand? No it's what he was taught, and the bible was written by men, and is very anti-female. God isn't anti-female, but the book is, and fallible. In the bible,if she is not a virgin on wedding night, take her to her fathers door and stone her to death. Something extreme like this is NOT from an all-loving God, but a fallible man/writer. All are responsible in a relationship, but no one should have control over anyone!


[More Updates before or no later than 12 Noon-JusticeMH!]

Sending a Message:New Boston Campaign Targets Homophobia in Black Communities!!!

After a major victory for marriage equality in Massachusetts, more good news come out: A new awareness campaign targeting homophobia in Boston's historic black community has been well-received, and will start a visibility.

We Are Part of You" is a series of three related ads, each using the phrase "I Am Gay", that was originally developed for black communities in New York City.The goal of the campaign, which will run on billboards and in MBTA stations in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan, is to drive home the point in Boston’s black communities that "gay men have always been and will always be a part of those communities," says Douglas Brooks, the executive director of JRI Health.Brooks took the # 22 bus up Columbus Avenue to gauge the reaction to the above billboard in Egleston Square:

"I was on a bus full of black people, and wondering what the reactions would be…. I saw people looking at it. I saw people reading it. You can’t help it, it draws your attention because it’s so bold. And I think more than anything the fact that there were no comments made me feel good. I thought, ‘Okay, maybe people are just sort of taking it in,’ or at least they’re not making loud homophobic remarks on the bus. But I was very proud of it, too. I hope it makes a difference.”



Another ad is three black gay men showing they play basketball on the same courts as others. Yes, there are gay athletes, who are black! The ad breaks some stereotypes about gay men that people are know to have. This ad is refreshing, and show black gay men who are masculine.








The Last billboard, showing a black gay man with a pastor, was placed in Dorchester on Blue Hill Avenue.“I placed that one there in particular because it’s an area where there are several large black churches, and I thought the power of having that image of a gay black man and his minister standing there, reminding people that they’re part of their congregations as well, was an important [message],” said State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston). The location Just happens to be near the church of the Rev. Eugene Rivers, one of Boston's loudest ant-gay black pastors. So the billboards can't be miss, and will send a clear message of what is already known!

Tim Hardaway with another excuse,"was just a coment"!!

Tim Hardaway has come up with another excuse for his homophobia. It has alomost been four months since his "i hate gay people" rant.. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States." Oh but Tim loves to takes his time and be naked with other men. How you doin? Well Tim is about let us know he's doing with his latest excuse. Sportswriter Benjamin Hochman with the Times-Picayune cathes up with Mr.Hardaway.

An "unapologetic Hardaway dismisses his homophobic rant as mere "comment":
"It was just a comment, that's what it was to me. It's over with. I don't think about it...Let bygones be bygones. A lot of people are putting their foot in their mouths...

"When you say something positive, they don't write anything positive in the paper. Whatever people say now is taken out of context. Everybody is blowing stuff up. What can you do? People in the media need to start writing positive stuff."

Justice MH's Fianl thoughts: Please! Tim really needs to just keep his comments to himself. The more he opens his mouth, the more trouble he gets in, and the media will let it be known. Tim is still trying to get people to forget his comments, and it doesn't look like it's forgotten. His comments make me think of a only saying "me thinks the lady protest too much". Good luck Tim!

AAPA Votes to Oppose Attempts to ‘Cure’ Homosexuality!

The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) issued a press release today announcing the results of Monday’s vote on a variety of issues. Among these is the matter of conversion therapies, where they voted the following:

"The American Academy of Physician Assistants opposes any psychiatric treatment directed specifically at changing sexual orientation, such as “conversion” or “reparative” therapy which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a priori assumption that the patient should change his/her sexual orientation."

With this decision, the AAPA joins a large number of prestigious professional organizations in the view that homosexuality is not a disorder to be cured, and therapy claiming to do so not something to be endorsed.

Justice MH's Final Thoughts: Another great decision by another medical organization that knows without a doubt that homosexuality is NOT a disorder to be cured, and there is NO need for therapy. There are group out there that do so-called exocrisms to rid so-called homosexual demons. It's like i said here, there is NO such thing as a homosexual demon or spirit. Demons and evil spirits also! People will come u with crazy ideas when they can't explain something. It's a shame to fall back on ancient superstitions, and fear. AAPA made the right decision, and it's something that is a logical decision. AAPA good job! The fact remains, sexual orientation can NOT be change!