Speak Compassion

I started this webiste that bears my name to promote my music and photography. As with lots of things, the universe seems to have had bigger plans for what needed to happen with this and it wasn’t my orginal plan. I accept this as part of my life. The Universal Energy of the World does this (regardless if you call this energy God, Jesus, Allah, Buddha or whatever you call it). I have not surrendered my artistic self. I still write music, I still draw, and I still take photos when I can….every chance I get. I generally have a camera with my all the time. It seems the times that the best photo ops appear, I don’t have my camera, and the rest of the time…I do…

Anyway, here is the latest photos…….The are recent and not so recent, but ones I liked…let me know your thoughts…..

While bullying and violence continue to be a problem in this country for all youth, anti-gay forces have done zilch to solve this problem.  365gay.com is reporting today that two states, Florida and Iowa have anti-bullying laws on the table that are moving forward with protections for students perceived to be gay or lesbian.   It doesn’t really matter if the students are or are not gay, it is about how people perceive them.  Just so the anti-gay forces don’t try to claim this is a special rights thing, it covers all students, even if those students claim the ex-gay identity.

A father whose son was badly beaten in school by other students told the school board:

“For 22 minutes of my life I had to sit there and watch that clock tick by, and I had to contemplate I was going to have to go home and tell my wife we didn’t have a son no more”

It is proven by the science, over and over again that kids are bullied based on sexual orientation.   Many of these kids are not even gay, but seen as gay by their peers.   Anti-bullying laws would send a message that this violent behavior towards fellow students is wrong, yet anti-gay groups are against any form of anti-violence, anti-hate crime, or other that would reduce, stop or prevent violence against GLBT students, and even adults.

SO what are the alternatives?  What could we ask of anti-gay, especially religious organizations that respect their beliefs, yet stop the violence.   Would it even matter?

Anti-gay organizations see anything that protects gays as supporting the “lifestyle” as they call it.  They claim that anti-bulling laws are just a way for gays to gain acceptance in society by playing the victim.   Yet the statistics clearly show that no one is playing victim, this problem is real and exists.  No one is playing anything, they are suffering from something and it is violence.  They fall to realize that some level of acceptance is necessary to stop the violence, even if that is just tolerance.   But many anti-gay groups seem to have a zero tolerance for anything gay.   So what are they doing to stop the violence?

While anti-gay groups like Americans for Truth, Mission America and Exodus International propose that GLBT folks are pushing agendas in the schools, real kids are the victims of violence and torture and they are doing nothing to stop it.   They are also preventing anyone else from stopping it.   Does that mean they support it?   If you ask them they scream no, but actions speak louder than words. What are these groups doing to stop the violence…..not a fucking thing.

Previous coverage of this issue:

Conservatives refuse to stop the violence against gay youth

Making Schools UNSAFE for Gays and Lesbians

Exodus Youth makes insincere attempt to curb violence

The Climate of Hate Continues with Help from Anti-gay Conservatives

Hell and anti-gay violence for youth

And the mystery is over…………………….

Can’t really say why I find this whole thing so curious, but I do. Either way, the MySpace page for Donnie Davies was taken down by MySpace. If that is the truth or not may never be known. I do think it is interesting that Donnie’s personal website use to have a link to the mypsace page and it was removed, yet his page has not been updated. As more evidence that this may actually be a hoax or a peice of performace art the band has written this on the page:

1-27-07: Donnie did NOT delete his myspace account. Myspace did! You can see the video NOW at http://www.eveningservice.com

Everybody, we had a band meeting and Donnie reminded us that we are a Ministry first and a band second because we are here to do God’s Work. If we just wanted to rock out then we could just be another rock band instead of a musical Christian Ministry. With that perspective, we have to agree even if it means that we can’t accept some of the fans out there. Donnie is writing some guidelines for who we can and can’t accept… straight people who aren’t atheists and so on. He said we shouldn’t accept anyone from San Francisco because it might be a trick.

So, if we have to unfriend you because you are a sinner… don’t worry. Donnie says that he is going to set up a way that you can “graduate” to an Evening Service fan after you’ve been certified in the CHOPS program.

Thanks, ~Evening Service (and Donnie)

This sounds utterly nuts if you ask me, and I realize no one did, but this seems to me to scream “hoax” now more than before. It is the whole San Francisco thing that makes me think this is a joke of some sort. Time will tell.

The site for the band is looking more like a Fred Phelps things with the “God Hates Fags” slogan going on with it. It also has this video, I doubt it will stay on YouTube too long as it is very offensive.

So who is Donnie?

Queerty reports that it could be comic, Todd Quillen (pictured)

Good As You was reporting that Donnie is really, Colby Starck from an obscure band that happens to be listed as a Gay Band on Donnie’s website.   (I have inlcuded that pic too!)   G-A-Y updated that info here.

As it all may go, it appears none of these people are Donnie…..maybe he is real and formed his ministry with the Tooth Fairy?

The main point of this website is to address hate speech. Many Christian folks come to this site and think that I am against Jesus, against the bible, and accuse me of trying silence “god’s truth”.    The fact of the matter is most Christian groups that I speak out against are not using the bible to oppose gays and lesbians.   They are using junk science.

This website I discovered today is a perfect example of this.   The one page informational sheet on homosexuality, which is marked “new” on the website for Biblical Family Advocates is anything but biblical.   It is junk science.   All of the science of the page has been refuted either here on my site or on one of the many resource links here on the site.   Yet, when we call these guys out on their lies, suddenly I am trying to silence Christians, but I am trying to correct the junk science that builds and feeds stereotypes, violence and discrimination.

This one page document claims that gays (links take you to the truth refuting each false claim):

are anti family;

are anti-procreation;

injure the fabric of society;

don’t make stable parents;

are not monogamous;

have shorter lifespans;

have more domestic violence;

molest children more;

going to lead to people marrying frogs and dogs?

are unhealthy and dangerous;

not born that way;

The writer even claims (when the science clearly shows the opposite):

“It is truly tragic that so many homosexuals are in bondage to that vice because they have accepted that lie that they were born that way. The only way their claim holds true is the same reason it holds true for me. We are all born sinners who need salvation and healing.”

All of these above claims have been proven false, right here on this site or links have been given as to why and how these things are lies.   To make this even worse, and more deceptive in my eyes, the writer, Phil Magnan adds this amazingly distracting paragraph at the end of this misinformation, known lies, and scientific mishaps:

“It is not my intention to be harsh or hateful. My intention is to give what I believe to be sound reasons as to why same sex relationships are highly problematic for society and as well as sinful before our Maker whom we will have to give an account.”

Why groups like this even exist anymore is just beyond me.   Just the fact anti-gay groups call themselves pro-family implies that gays are anti-family, yet not only do we have families, we come from families. So how again are we anti-family?

Just for the record, and I am generally shocked that I have to point this out, it is not their religion that is hate speech.   It is their use of junk science.    It is the call to arms against gays and lesbians.   It is their demonizing of gays as anti-family, anti-procreation, anti-anything nice that is hate speech.   So when then tell you that we are anti-god, pray for them. 

Objecting to homosexuality based on one’s religious beliefs is fine.   I have never said much about that, but if you feel it neccessary to cross the line from religion to junk science, than your religious convictions must not be strong enough or they would be enough.   

UPDATES: Andrew Sullivan is reporting this is in fact a hoax.  A sad piece of performance art.  I still think it is offense to both gays and ex-gays for reasons I have clearly stated.

Well, I haven’t gotten any response from my email to Donnie but here are some observations that were made by Jaime over at Soulforce:

Satire is a difficult and often controversial art form, but that is what this video is. Unlike Landover Baptist and Betty Bowers, this one is not so obvious.

Here are my reasons:

• Lack of “Donnie Davies” anywhere on Google associated with ex-gays before this website. It seems the name, like Betty Bowers, was chosen by the artists for this reason.
• Lack of a donations page. What ministry or non-profit can do that?
• The three websites (http://www.donniedavies.com/ http://www.eveningservice.com/ http://www.lovegodsway.org/) all link to each other and only each other. A real ex-gay ministry would link to other fundamentalist organizations.
• Over the top for even the ex-gays. Clay Aiken is listed in the Bad Bands promoting homosexuality. And the lyrics (besides the shocking chorus). I mean, who wears a pink shirt in disco lights and rhymes “Jesus is the only man for me” with “There lies no virtue, in Sod-o-my.”

Jaime continued here:

Yeah, I’m not saying that people’s negative feelings toward the video are not genuine or powerful. I’m just suggesting it is very suspicious to me and I hope none of our LGBT organizations issue a press release over it (unless as an opportunity to say again that God loves and delights in LGBT people.)

I think, like the movie Borat, this video is meant to mock what it depicts rather than endorse.

I still have mixed feelings after seeing Borat, by the way. I understand it made a lot of people angry during its production due to it not being obvious (i.e. Borat was not actually a homophobic, sexist, anti-Semitic documentarian from the nation of Kazakhstan.)

Donnie has also posted a response on his myspace video page. It seems to add to the mystery when he talks about how mean it is that people have slammed on his weight. Go figure. I think this is turning into an interesting message, but I am still curious what the message means… It is either very anti-ex-gay or very anti-gay. Either way it is offensive. If this is against ex-gays, they should be offended at being portrayed this way. If it is against gays, they should be offend in every way.

Either way, I still say….stay curious……..

I can’t say I think this is real, but I am going to email this guy and find out.

Pam at the Blend and Box Turtle Bulletin are reporting on this “maybe” real or maybe satire group. I am not sure what my thoughts are other than curious. Remember the phrase from my friend Janice…..GET CURIOUS, NOT FURIOUS!

This guys website is just too campy to be real, but I am working on the truth….will update you all later……watch the video, it is disturbing if is for real and insensitive to ex-gays if it is not.

It appears the first couple in South Africa to wed have been the victims of people who do not wish them happiness or love, but hate.   How sad.  I wish them a long, beautiful relationship despite the hate of others.  I wish even my worst adversary happiness, hate should never be wished on anyone, let alone death threats.

So, what happening’s in the blog world you ask? Lets do a summary. I have been pretty busy with other projects the past few days, so here is what I got for the recap.

Ex-gay Watch has done a revamp of their look and feel. I just have to say I want to steal the look they have chosen since it is so simple and sharp, but that wouldn’t be right or nonviolent, so I will instead just give them kudos for a great new look! The grass is always greener……

Ex-gay watch is also reporting on a breaking story that should shock you at the base of your soul. It has been proven by science, that evangelical, right wing Christians tend to misuse science. How this is not on the frontlines of every newscast is no surprise to me. We have known this for years. It isn’t even news. It is common knowledge. Sites like mine, Box Turtle Bulletin, Wayne Besen, Ex-Gay Watch, Pam Spaulding, Alvin McEwen and hundreds of others have been pointing this fact out for years. Suddenly, it is news? The world was correct when they said the news is depressing.

Box Turtle Bulletin, one of my favorite sites, is also reporting on the issue and more in depth than me.

Americans for Truth is on their normal deceptive tract by posting as many negative things as they can. This time they have dug back to a story from 2003 in Rolling Stone magazine on gay men and Barebacking or “Bug Chasers”. (It should be noted that Bug chasers and barebackers are separate issues.) While I find both of these practices puzzling, and crazy, I also am aware only a small sub culture exists of people in the gay community who engage in these behaviors. Of course AFT isn’t going to tell you the whole story because that wouldn’t fit with their mission of fear. The goal over at Americans for Truth is to report only on negatives on homosexuality so everyone believes that is the whole of gay people. We all have the brains to figure out that is rubbish, but Americans for Truth has not figured that out and continues on their mission of fear. For the record, the numbers show that a very small number of men engage in this strange behavior, just as a small number of heterosexual men engage in other strange behaviors towards women. It is no real reflection of gay people as a whole, just as a deceptive attempt to demonize gays that AFT is on a mission to accomplish.

The biggest problem with the Rolling Stone Article on “bug chasers” is that the doctors quoted in the magazine have come out to say “I didn’t say that”. Americans for Truth is again posting bad facts. Facts it had the chance to double check before posting. I would ask why Peter La Barbera and his organization would post facts that are lies, but I already know he posts them to protect himself and to invoke fear of gays, plus he gets paid based on the lies. It is hateful rubbish! Here is a quote from one of the researchers misquoted in the Rolling Stone Article (bold print mine):

Dr. Marshall Forstein, director of mental health and addiction services at a Boston clinic, is also cited in the piece as saying that bug chasing is a growing phenomenon, one that doctors at his clinic deal with on a regular basis. “That is entirely a fabrication,” Forstein tells Newsweek.

Both men say that bug chasing is actually fairly rare, and claim that they said as much to Gregory Freeman, author of the Rolling Stone article. Their fear is that Freeman’s story will sensationalize one real but relatively minor aspect of a much larger public health crisis, with HIV infection rates once again on the rise.

Another study on the issues found:

Kalichman, the Connecticut professor, cites a questionnaire that asked about bug chasing, which he compiled for a study of more than 600 gay men at the Atlanta gay pride fest in 2002. No evidence of the practice was found.

Graydon found similar results in his research. While gay men would talk about bug chasing online, Graydon thinks few actually act it out in real life.

And another article found:

“It gets worse. Dr. Marshall Forstein of Boston, quoted by Freeman as saying that “bug chasers are seen regularly in the Fenway health system, and the phenomenon is growing,” declares the quote “is entirely a fabrication.” Forstein reports he actually told Freeman, “We have seen a few cases, but we have no idea how common this is.” Who do we believe? Conveniently, Freeman did not tape his conversations with the doctors, suggesting maybe his memory and his notes aren’t as specific as he’d like the general public to believe.”

David Sayler writes in his review of the bad science Rolling Stone published that AFT is republishing years later:

“Why would Rolling Stone print such a shamefully distorted article full of fabricated quotes and fake science?”

Interesting how Peter La Barbera in our email conversations doesn’t understand how his tactics against gay are comparable to the tactics of the Nazi’s, but this is a prime example.   The Nazi’s constantly portrayed the Jews as a threat, as diseased just like Peter is doing with gays.    Enough about Peter La Barbera, I could spend weeks writing about the misinformation and outright lies of AFT, let us move on to something else………

On a local level for those of us in Rhode Island, the Providence Journal is reporting that violent crime is down. They are giving some of the credit for this to the nonviolence street workers from the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence. This is just another piece of evidence that nonviolence works. That is all I can and will report, nonviolence works and it can be proven. I can report that the Institute will be going into the schools and the community in the next few months to do some more trainings in nonviolence. I hope this reduces the crime even more….and I believe with all my heart it will.

Alvin McEwen is reporting on the court decision that the Philly 11 deserved to be arrested for disrupting the Pride Events.   Unlike the lies that AFT and Exodus International are telling you, this group of protesters was not peacefully protesting gays, they were looking for a fight!    Violence begets violence!

Well that is all I have time to write about tonight! Please email me any breaking stuff, otherwise I am on a small break!

Peter LaBarbera’s American’s For Truth (About Homosexuality) repeats a press release from Biblical Family Advocates who repeats the same press release from Christian News Wire. The title and content are the same in all three articles:

“Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese Uses the Christian Fish Symbol for Homosexual Solidarity”

That’s the title, and essentially the uproar is over the fact that The Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics made a rainbow colored pin of the Christian fish symbol.

Phil Magnan, the director of Biblical Family Advocates had this to say:

“What if I was to start a group to accept adulterers, would I have them put some kind of symbol to show our acceptance of adultery? All sexual relationships outside of a heterosexual marriage are acting outside of God’s natural order for the family. There are so many reasons why same sex relationships hurt both the participant as well as society. And even worse, it is a grave sin before God.”

On his website, Phil Magnan uses the discredited Paul Cameron, NARTH, Lifesite, Focus on the Family, Exodus, Love Won Out, and Stephen Bennett Ministries – among others, to make his case for the “15 Reasons Same Sex Relationships are Wrong and Hurt Society.” I’m assuming this is what he means by “There are so many reasons why same sex relationships hurt both the participant as well as society.”

If you’re not familiar with the parties above, do a Google search and include the word “lies” and you’ll learn why they are not credible sources (there are articles on this site as well). The question is, if what they say about homosexuality is true, then why lie about it?

~~

But my issue here is with the fundamentally hypocritical use of adultery in the effort to “Biblically” condemn homosexuals, because the Bible also has this to say about adultery:

Matthew 5:32
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

Luke 16:18
Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

For Phil Magnan, of Biblical Family Advocates to quip: “What if I was to start a group to accept adulterers…” is as absurd as saying ‘What if I was to start a group to accept remarried people?’

Ironically it’s the Bible itself that confirms the depth of hypocrisy that’s required to use adultery to condemn homosexuality. The Biblical sin of adultery carries the same penalty as homosexuality – eternal damnation.

Biblically speaking, everyone who is divorced – for any reason other than having been cheated on – is still married. If they’ve “re”married after that, then they are an adulterer, and thus are living the ‘unrepentant adulterous lifestyle.’ Where is their “love” and “compassion” when it comes to these ‘lost souls?’ A far greater number of which exist than the mere “1-3%” of us whom they claim are homosexual.

I’ve seen some mighty fine twisting of scripture when it comes to getting around this one. The annulment process of the Catholic Church is a fine example, they just decree that you were never “truly” married to begin with. Usually though it works out to something along the lines of, “God didn’t really mean what Jesus said.” That’s how “Biblically based” their beliefs often are. When in doubt, speak for God – the very definition of idolatry.

To be clear, I’m not against religion, nor am I saying that divorce and remarriage is a sin. My issue here is with their intentional use of lies and hypocrisy to promulgate hatred for political gain. 

There are people and religious groups that condemn remarriage as the sin of adultery in addition to their condemnation of homosexuality, and recently this has even been politicized in Virginia:

(Richmond, Virginia) The organization that mounted the successful bid to amend Virginia’s constitution to block same-sex marriage, civil unions and domestic partner benefits says it will now concentrate on making it more difficult for straight couples to break up.

I may not agree, but to the extent that they are more consistent in the application of their Biblical beliefs, so too is my respect for them.

Are we on the verge of something big?  With the recent news of James Dobson being denounced by the same researchers he used to make his untruths, Exodus being exposed as not protecting youth and Americans for Truth advertising themselves as a “pro-gay” group when we know they are just spreading fear,  I am starting to feel like something is about to give.  That we are on the verge of justice like we have not seen in many years.

Perhaps it is the new democratic congress that is no longer answering to ultra conservatives and those members who do stay with the ultra conservative vote look a lot more like a member of the Westboro Baptist Church than god fearing voters.   Perhaps it is the Universe leaning to the side of Justice or the sunlight of justice shinning its light on the lies of the religious right against GLBT folks.   Maybe I will never know, but I can feel it.

I have to admit I was pretty discouraged to learn that ex-gay, now preacher Stephen Bennett of the fear based show Straight Talk Radio and Sb Ministries fame, was going to meet with the President, so he can lie in person about the threat to free speech that doesn’t exist with adding GLBT folks to the Federal Hate Crime Law.   I was more than miffed that ex-gays, who claim to not be political groups but spiritual guiders were also going to meet with the President to influence politics, even though they are not political, they are “reaching out” to those who struggle with the non-existent disorder of same-sex attraction in a non-political way.  I hadn’t realize that reaching out to unwanted homosexual feelings also meant stepping on and squashing those who are happy with their sexuality.

I try hard to be compassionate to those who say they are opposed to gays for religious reasons, but I find that so hard to do when they are bearing false witness making hate crime legislation out to be a threat and to say something it doesn’t.   They have even claimed falsely that hate crimes will stop them from speaking out against homosexuality when it clearly does no such thing.   We have hate crime laws in most of the cities and states that “God hate fags” preacher Fred Phelps has visited to protest soldiers funerals and they still couldn’t stop him from speaking out.  SO exactly how is making the law federal going to do it?  I am not sure how any supporter of the First Amendment could say it will.   

Americans are supposed to support and believe in the Constitution of the USA.  We pledge to it every time we say the pledge.  We said it as kids and still do (just likes children): “I pwedge awgiance to da fwag of the United States of America and to the rebublic for which it stands…..” that would be the first amendment too, wouldn’ t it?   How on earth could they abandon the belief in the first Amendment to say that any other law could trump it when the know it isn’t true.  Why would they lie?  Why does anyone lie…fear.   Fear makes us do crazy things like lie and call others to fight not existent enemies.   I guess I could or will find compassion that the Dobsons, Bennets, and La Barbera’s are afraid of the homo’s, but sometimes it is hard. 

I still think we are on the verge of something big with these anti-gay groups.   I have read and re-read the words of Gandhi a dozen times when he said:

 “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall - think of it, always.”

They always fall, think of it, always…..including Dobson, La Barbera, Stephen Bennett and the rest of the anti-gay forces.   Look back in history at the big time pro-segregationists.   They all fell to the ground.  They were eventually seen in history as the bad guys for what they had said and done.   I predict that will be the case for today’s dividers.   That is really what it is about.   True leaders, true good guys always united people.   Gandhi united 300 million Indians in nonviolence to engage in civil disobedience to free a nation from oppression.   King united millions of desegregationists in nonviolence both young and old, black and white, Southern and Yankee together to fight injustice against blacks and minorities.   Even President Ford was buried as one who brought us together as a nation with a simple act of forgiveness by pardoning President Nixon.  

Those who have been put into the history books as great were always thought of as radical uniters, not dividers of the people.    Those who left us divided  were written into history as dividers, as tyrants and as Gandhi pointed out, they always fall….always.

I want to know why the group known as Americans for Truth About Homosexuality only calls itself Americans for Truth? Look at their front page. The president of the group, Peter LaBarbera, in his welcome message, calls it Americans for Truth. Their banner, which shows the Statue of Liberty, proclaims “Americans For Truth.” For donations, he will take Visa or Mastercard, for Americans for Truth. A search for the word ‘Homosexuality’ only comes up with the word in the various articles and in their subject listing–but not the legal name of their non-profit. You can also see on their front page “Want to See Every New AFTAH Article?” but them immediately below, it states “If you don’t want to miss anything posted on the Americans For Truth website,” and “This service DOES NOT replace the regular or digest AFTAH emails.” Notice that Americans for Truth About Homosexuality cannot even give their full name. Anywhere. Even under their section for ‘Donate to AFTAH.’

What about in other areas of its website? In LaBarbera’s Welcome, it does have ‘Read about AFTAH’ so I clicked there, and once again, it is only called AFT. LaBarbera himself only calls it AFT. Their full name isn’t listed. In an article written by one of their volunteers, Sonja Dalton, it is called “Americans For Truth (AFTAH),” without explanation what AH actually means. Why the refusal to use the entire title of their non-profit organization? And when you click on their ‘Donate to AFTAH’, it states “Americans For Truth accepts credit card donations of any amount via PayPal™. AFT is a 501(c)3 organization, so your donation is tax-exempt.” So even here they cannot get themselves to provide the full name of their organization. And when you click on Make a Donation, you can guess–it is made out to Americans For Truth. The problem is, when you go to list that you have made a tax-exempt donation on your tax forms, the organization of Americans for Truth does not exist in the IRS database under their 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. It is only listed under Americans for Truth about Homosexuality–their full and legal name. And get this: if you do a search of their website for “Americans For Truth About Homosexuality”, you will not find it! Here is the results of the search (the bolding is mine):