Still a Lie - Only Nicer

Okay, this disturbs me. It seems that leaders of the so-called "ex-gay ministries" are calling on preachers to be less vitriolic in their condemnation of gays and lesbians - so they won't be scared away from entering such "ministries."

While the audience included some of the local Christian right’s most hardened culture warriors, (ex-gay leader Andrew) Comiskey’s message was that the church should embrace gay and lesbian people (in order to “cure” them, of course) rather than attack them. He told the crowd he believes that homosexuality is caused by some sort of developmental inner conflict, and by tackling that conflict head on people can transform from gay or lesbian to heterosexual. He said he believes churches need to welcome people struggling with homosexuality and establish ministries aimed at helping them cure their same-sex desires.

“For individuals who didn’t [develop into heterosexuals], they’ve got some unfinished business, and I want to help them finish that up,” said Comiskey. “And I can think of no better place to do that than in the body of Christ.”

Yikes! So the snake will talk sweetly to you before it bites you in the ass. How Christian!

I applaud their graceful approach, but I can't help but see it as completely cynical (but perhaps I'm just cynical about them, no?). Certainly you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar, but the result is the same - dead flies - only here we have either literally dead gays and lesbians or at least spiritually dead ones.

Memo to the ex-gay movement: You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. You can say your lies in wonderful dulcet tones, but they are still lies.

The best weapon against the ex-gay fraud is education. Visit Wayne Besen's excellent site, Truth Wins Out, to learn how this movement was founded on fraud and continues to perpetuate the fraud. All these people do is harm gays and lesbians, whether they shout at us or coo sweetly in our ears. They are deadly to our community. Don't buy the lie.

A Taste of Their Own Medicine

Gay rights activists in Washington state have come up with a brilliant idea - a law that tells straight folks to either procreate or their marriage is over:

Proponents of same-sex marriage have introduced an initiative that would put a whole new twist on traditional unions between men and women: It would require heterosexual couples to have children within three years or else have their marriages annulled.

Initiative 957 was filed by the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance, which was formed last summer after the state Supreme Court upheld Washington's ban on same-sex marriage.

In that 5-4 ruling, the court found that state lawmakers were justified in passing the 1998 Defense of Marriage Act, which restricts marriage to unions between a man and a woman. In defending the act, the ruling specifically mentioned a state interest in furthering procreation.

Under I-957, marriage would be limited to men and women who are able to have children. Couples would be required to prove they can have children to get a marriage license. If they did not have children within three years, their marriages would be subject to annulment.

All other marriages would be defined as "unrecognized" and people in them would be ineligible to receive marriage benefits.

Finally, the straight folks will get a taste of what it's like when the law goes poking its nose into your personal business. All those fundies who touted procreation as the number one reason to keep marriage as a heterosexual only club will now have to put their money where their mouth is and pony up the kiddies or face dissolution of their sacred union. Oh, the hew and cry that this proposal will cause. I can hear it now, "What right do you have to dictate what my personal relationships look like?"

One of the anti-same-gender marriage proponents called the proposal "absurd."

Our point exactly.

Losing Molly

I am so sad this morning to hear of the passing of one of my heroes - Molly Ivins.

I met Molly years ago when I was working at WAGA TV in Atlanta. She appeared on Good Day Atlanta, the morning show where I was an associate producer. I seemed to be the only one who was excited about her appearance on our show to promote her latest book.

When the doorbell rang at the back door that morning I told the intern I'd get it. I was so excited to open the door and find Molly standing there. I smiled and invited her in. As we walked toward the green room I told her, "You're one of my heroes!"

She laughed and said, "Hon, you'll be my hero if you get me a cup of coffee."

That morning, I became Molly Ivins' hero.

Her liberal voice, her wit, and her heart will be missed. She was truly a legend.

Rest in peace, Molly.