Report: Anti-gay movement gains momentum

[H2O Man]

I like to share information that I get from the Southern Poverty Law Center. This comes from the most recent SPLC Report (June 2005).

"Gays and lesbians in America are victimized in hate crimes twice as often as blacks, and numerous studies show these attacks are much more brutalthan most assaults. Violence against gays isn't limited to adults. An 11-year-old Montana boy suspected of being gay was kicked repeatedly by a gang of students.

"In a recent report on the anti-gay movement, the Center's Intelligence Project exposed the role of Christian Right groups in formenting hatred against homosexuals. Three of the dozen singled out are designated hate groups.

"Fundamentalist leaders' attacks on gays have grown increasingly vicious since the 2003 Supreme Court Lawrence v. Texas decision that struck down state sodomy statutes. The attacks were further propelled by the 2004 election, when 11 states voted on anti-gay marriage amendments as Christian Right groups spent millions on ad campaigns and get-out-the-vote efforts featuring anti-gay crusaders demonizing their opponents.

"Never has the anti-gay movement had the momentum it has now, and never has it been so close to achieving its larger, ultimate goal, which in the words of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, is to win a 'second civil war' for control of the U.S. government."
--SPLC Report; 6-2005; page 4.

In order for the extreme right wing to continue this "second civil war," which is based upon the grandeurs of the white supremacy ideology, propped up by a cruel version of christianity, and backed by the threat of violence lurking just beneath the background .... the right wing needs ministers of hatred such as Dobson to target a group to take the weight for them. Someone has to be held responsible for their followers' lack of moral consciousness and their low level of being. Indeed -- could America continue on its violent path in Iraq if it does not have a corresponding violence on the homefront? Of course not! And the tyrant neocon movement is aware of a tactic that most people do not even suspect -- that hatred is the greatest pacifier on earth, and that all they need to do is to get the public to blame a "common enemy" and soon they will not recognize who their true enemy is, and who poses the actual danger to their well-being, and they will support vicious attacks on that identified "common enemy."

It is a sick and evil creed that promotes a gang attack on an 11-year-old boy. Support the SPLC's efforts to combat that diseased mentality.

www.splcenter.org

www.tolerance.org

[wildeyed]

1. The SPLC link does not work.

This information is actually very useful for me. My local Y is distributing copies of Focus on the Family. I have been protesting. Any information I can get is much appreciated.

[H2O Man]

2. Corrected.

Thanks for pointing it out .... I had added an extra "c." It works now. The SPLC has a tremendous amount of information on the hate-tactics used by Focus on the Family.

[wildeyed]

4. Here is a link to the actual article.

http://www.splcenter.org/center/splcreport/article.jsp?aid=152

So has Focus on the Family been declared a hate group by SPLC? It was mentioned several times in the article. But I didn't see a specific list of designated hate groups.

[H2O Man]

6. I will look through

the SPLC newsletters and magazines I have to find more information on FoF/Dobson. I do not use their websites as much as I do their direct mailings.

The Interfaith Alliance also provides information to counter Dobson's hate campaign. I will try to get these links correct the first time:

www.interfaithalliance.org

[e-mail]

[wildeyed]

19. Any information would be most appreciated.

Soulforce is another organization that is working against the radical right hate campaign.

http://www.soulforce.org/index.shtml

[libhill]

3. With the public

turning against Bushco's oil wars, the ass hats have to find a new "enemy" in order to keep control. I'm not a believer, but I wish that Jesus really would come back, and damn all these rethug bastards to the lowest confines of hell. And I may be there with 'em, but at least I'll have the consolation of seeing Satan shove a pitchfork up all of their smug, self righteous Republican Fundie asses.

[FreedomAngel82]

24. Exactly

First it was black people, democrats, liberals, the media. Anybody who doesn't believe their ideals is an enemy. It really disgusts me.

[Solly Mack]

5. What's the saying? You can sway a thousand men by appealing to

their prejudices quicker than you can convince one man by reason

Tyrants and oppressors understand this well...

[libhill]

7. They had better understand it well

because their base consists of a thousand fucktard, inbred, gun toting, Jaysus worshippin', Nascar a - watchin' ignorant ass hillbillies, who are too fucking stupid to realize that ther're being had. The Repukes don't give a rats ass if they starve in the streets, they just use them for political purposes. "I ain't got no health coverge fer my wife and ten kids, ain't got no job, and cain't afford the gas to get one no how. But them commies ain't gonna git my guns, and ain't no funny boys gonna get married. Them Republican fellers I vote fer 'll se to that".

[ray of light]

8. Can I say just one thing?

Please do not lump all Christians into a post like this. You're not likely to inspire the non-fundies to join you. And the left has Evangelicals, as the media likes to call them, who would be everybit as appalled at hearing this.

We have to inspire people with the other side of hate...love and compassion. We all want to be a part of a group--and fundies have that group. They do seem to thrive on hate. BUT the other side, wants to thrive on being loved and accepted and we can give that to people by helping them see they are special and they can "love gays but not accept their lifestyle" the way the bible instructs. The bible says, "love thy neighbor" and we can be the people who others can say, "I prefer to love than hate..."

Or then there's the other phrase, "you get more bees with honey than vinagar."

[libhill]

9. Welll -

maybe I'm still a bit irate over the burning down of a gay couples house in Florida, and the writing of hateful epithets on the ruins -this country is going to hell in a handbasket, and it pisses me off. If I offended your religious sensibilities, I'll apologize. But I do see a lot of this hatred and bigotry being driven forward and encouraged by Fundamentalist "Christianity".

[ray of light]

11. I understand your feelings!

I survived some hate crimes too. And I'm petrified too that the spread of hate is so widespread. That article petrifies me, but I hope we can counter it by "love". Unfortunately, politicians have known for years how to get what they want through hate. Look at the Irish and Brittish, Israel v Palestines, Brittish v Isreal (pre-isreal), etc...

[FreedomAngel82]

25. It really is ignorance

On this one board that I frequent (a Christian one) guns were brought up. I defended a person's right to have a gun (just be responsible and take responsibility) and this person was surprised. I'm always for the Constiution/Bill of Rights and that includes guns. John Kerry is even a hunter himself and a religious person. One of my friends last year asked me who I was voting for and I told her "John Kerry" proudly and she said he was a flipflopper and I of course defended him and she didn't say anything else. Sometimes all the ignorance just baffles me and is so frustrating.

[greekspeak]

10. How Christlike. How very Christlike

Wouldn't Jesus love to know that people beat the shit out of others, in his name? What would Jesus do you disgusting right wing trash? What would Jesus do? Ultimately every one of these hate crimes is the result of the hate preaching of men like Dobson. I think that every time someone hate crimes a gay person, each minister who speaks publically with this inciteful speech should be tried as an accessory.

[BoneDaddy]

13. wow

greek I don't think you are being very fair to ray of light. I don't think that RoL was excusing or supporting the acts of Dobson and people of his ilk. The main point I got was that we, liberals, should not make the same mistake as the "fundies" and make all or none statements about a group of people. Just because many of the hate mongers happen to Christian it does not mean that all Christians are evil.

We certainly don't believe that all muslims are bad, even though the terrorists are from radical islam. Let's not be the same as the religous wrong.

Another more practical and salient point Greek is that we, as liberals, cannot afford to be alienating people who happen to be religious. What you fail to realize is that a large percentage of Dems and Libs have a religious affiliation and when you start making absolutist statements, you are turning off people we need to defeat this nightmare called the Busy Crime Family.

I certainly understand that you may have had some bad experiences with religion, or specifically Christianity, but that is your experience and it may vary greatly from the experience of someone who has had a very positive relationship with their faith. YOu may have been hurt by the church in some fashion, and are coming from a truly legitimate place, but please see this reasonably. When you make all or none statements, you sound as un reasonable as the fundies do.

[Misunderestimator]

14. Greekspeek was responding to the OP and the article...

not to ray of light... just fyi.

And there was nothing at all wrong with his post.

[Occulus]

18. Christians apparently do not understand us when we say

many, if not most, of the people beating and killing us here in the US are Christians.

I don't want to drive religious people away from me- I want to drive "christians" away from me. I don't want anything to do with them. Period. Like Amway, like Republicans, like excrement floating in my pool, I simply want them gone from my presence, because I can't- nobody can- live guarding their physical and mental safety 24/7. Staying alert like that, all the time, is simply not possible, yet "christians" are everywhere. The only truly "safe" place for me, in a way heterosexuals do not and cannot understand, is my own home.

I can't even hold my partner's hand and feel safe about doing so when we're walking down the street together- not that we do- without having to be on the lookout. And since there are so many "christians" around, well, it's not a very good idea to do it in the first place. Thanks to "christians", I have a lot of things to be aware of out in public that "christians" do not.

I don't dare tell a "christian" I'm gay, because I don't know he or she won't pull a knife or swing a bat and try to kill me, or come back later and burn my house down, or kill me if I confess a crush (and yes, it was stupid for the guy to do it on Jenny Jones, but he didn't deserve to die for it) and that's even if it's someone I already know. Thanks. Yeah, I'll be sure to reach out to "christians" from now on.

The religion itself perpetuates it all, through words found in the bible, and you know what? I'm not angry, I'm scared, and IT'S "CHRISTIANS" I'M SCARED OF. Where are the nationally known Christian leaders? Why aren't they writing and releasing weekly statements to their churches? Why aren't they spending the copious media time and money it will most certainly take to change the climate among "christians" regarding homosexuals?

Could it be, they don't exist in the first place? Could it be, the majority of "christians" really do not like gays at all, and it truly is a small, quiet minority of Christians that actually support us?

I'm thinking yes.

It's not Christ I have a problem with, by the way. It is the religion of men which followed Him and which He had no founding connection to that I object to, and there aren't a great many from that group condemning what their religion has to say (not really such a shock, that) about me and people like me.

This isn't an all-or-nothing declaration; I'm simply trying to tell you in the strongest terms I can use that the very presence of "christians" around me means I feel my safety is potentially in danger. I try to simply avoid them whenever possible. I feel my actions are completely legitimate, given many actions taken by "christians", including my own parents, who, even though we never went to church while I was growing up, nonetheless tried to use the bible to convince me my "choice" was wrong.

The problem is the religion itself, on this and many other issues. Faith in Christ and God, on the other hand, has nothing to do with it. I really, really wish "christians" would get that.

(PS- there's a difference between "christians" and Christians, but I'm betting you understood at least that much.)

[davsand]

20. I'll add an "amen" to that.

I couldn't agree more with all that you just said. What a lot of people don't realize is that those same fundies that bash gays in the "name o' God" also think it is up to them to bash non-Christians as well. They are not content to just go be followers of one specific prophet, they feel compelled to convert the rest of the planet to the exact same mindset. THAT should scare hell out of anybody that values free thought.

Bashing GLBT people is not the only sport they engage in. As a Pagan I am closeted with no real hope of living openly in this lifetime. They bash GLBT people for who they love, they also bash pagans and other religions for what we believe.

(Sarcasm on) That really is a group I want to join up with--how about you?



Laura

[kestrel91316]

30. I call them Christofascists, as opposed to true

Followers of Christ.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[im10ashus]

12. The SPLC is a wonderful site.

You turned me on to them a few months ago. This is indeed a very disturbing trend. It upsets me when I read stuff like this:

Many of its leaders have engaged in the crudest type of name-calling, describing homosexuals as "perverts" with "filthy habits" who seek to snatch the children of straight parents and "convert" them to gay sex.

I don't know where these people come from, or where they get their information, but it's just insane. I know I have no desire to "convert" anyone, let alone a child, to my "lifestyle." Why would I wish that on anyone?

It amazes me that they think they are protecting the sanctity of marriage too. My partner and I have been together 8 years in a committed, monogamous relationship. I have 5 siblings. All of them are straight. All of them have been married at least once. All of them are divorced. None of their marriages lasted more than 7 years. I have been told in no uncertain terms, by members of my own religious right-wing family, that I am going to hell for being gay. Not to slam Christianity, but my experience has led me to believe it is the most judgmental and hypocritical of all religions.

[Me.]

15. "small men" & "small governments" Need Scapegoats

To take the focus off their evil deeds. Right now it's the gays, but someday it could be anyone who posts on DU.

"First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me."
Pastor Martin Niemöller

16. hate

Looking at the tolerance.org site was interesting to see state by state what groups are active in promoting hate. What if the map covered the whole world, including middle east, china? That would be something, though probably too gigantic a job. I remember a young guy at a sports club I was part of, saying how he lived in Saudi Arabia for a while and how there was some scary stuff going on and he was going to have plans to be able to survive in case of a nuclear attack. I thought he was paranoid. But then we did get attacked by the middle east. Also I think as far as gays and acceptance, that nothing short of total equality and total acceptance will have to become the standard. No human being wants to be treated as lesser than, for whatever reason. And I also think people are irrational on the subject of sex, some people just can't take the concept in any form at all and are basically asexual. Also one more stream of consciousness remark, the Britons recently banned a certain jamaican band from playing concert in britain because of their outspoken hate about gays in their songs. :blush:

[stepnw1f]

17. Thanks for That Link

It's good to keep track of hate groups, especially in your area.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[FreedomAngel82]

23. It really is disgusting

Especially the one about the boy. How horrible. Who would Jesus beat?

[_TJ_]

26. Christians beating up gays - WTF??

What part of 'Love God, and love your fellow man' don't these
ASSHOLES understand?

Those words only came out of the mouth of JESUS CHRIST after all.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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[_TJ_]

28. Did I miss a meeting?- How can a Christian ignore the teachings of Jesus?

What is the point of someone calling themself a Christian at all if
they are going to think and act this way? Am I missing something
here?

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

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[kestrel91316]

32. Maybe the Christofascists are actually followers of ................

Satan?? Maybe all their vocal protesting of other peoples' behavior as being satanic is merely a smokescreen. Maybe it's like how the philanderers and closeted homosexual pedophiles and creeps among them scream loudest about philandering and gays as pedophiles.........

Methinks they doth protest too much.

Maybe these people are, taken as a group, the Antichrist?? Who said it had to be a single person??


I'm going to have a beer now and forget about religion. Sigh.

[kestrel91316]

29. First they came for the Communists ...................

and I said nothing because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the gays, and I said nothing because I was not gay.

Then they came for the feminists, and I said nothing because "I'm not a feminist, but".

And then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak up for me.

(My revision of the piece by the clergyman in WWII)

[Pushed To The Left]

33. SPLC is a great organization!

Anybody who takes the fight to the religious right and other hate groups deserves our support!

[4_TN_TITANS]

34. Add to the personal attacks

that gender identity issues are the leading cause of teenage suicide, and don't ya just love Merikan Freedoms!!! :eyes: