SHAMELESS: "Ex-gay" is "stunned" and bemoans prospect of an HIV vaccine

[Bluebear]

To add to the hit parade of so many other conservative Christian pet projects such as opposing the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV), now comes this lunatic to add his pathetic voice. "VIRGINITY OR DEATH!!!!!!" isthe battlecry of the rightwing Christian Republicans. Shame on him, shame on all of them.

=====

To: National Desk

Contact: Irene Bennett, host, Straight Talk Radio, 203-926-6960; For the Media: www.StraightTalkRadio.org/stephen.html

HUNTINGTON, Conn., March 28 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Stephen Bennett, conservative and opinionated national talk show host of Straight Talk Radio, is stunned by the latest headlines regarding a potential HIV "prevention pill" for high-risk men and women.

"As a heterosexual man who once engaged in homosexual behavior for 11 years, I've lost numerous dear friends to AIDS. While recent news in the search for a cure for AIDS is promising, I believe this possible HIV prevention pill is only going to push a culture down an already dangerous and risky path. This pill is the equivalent to a drug rehab assisting heroine addicts in their addiction by giving them needles. What is wrong with this picture? Why can't these intelligent scientists and doctors understand we need to educate people on abandoning their risky, unsafe sexual practices and behavior--not give them a pill to enable and encourage them?" said Bennett.

Stephen Bennett, now married for 13 years to his wife Irene and father of the couple's two children, is a national speaker on the issue of HIV/AIDS and other dangerous sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among gay men.

Bennett says the numerous other STDs that the pill does not prevent should be an adequate deterrent for gay men even thinking about engaging in high risk sexual behavior.

"Listen, as a former gay man, the news of a possible 'prevention pill' is one of the most dangerous signals you can send to individuals bent on engaging in unsafe sex and potentially deadly behavior. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over 53% of all HIV/AIDS cases in America to date are due to men having sex with men (MSM). This twisted ideology only gives the appearance of a green light for gay men to engage 'safer' in unsafe, dangerous sexual behavior. This message is tragic and irresponsible at best," said Bennett.

Stephen ended, "The medical community wants a 'prevention pill?' It's already available - it's called abstinence."

http://www.earnedmedia.org/sbm0328.htm

[TimeChaser]

1. I was going to write something here...

... but this is beyond words.

Un-fucking-believable.

Someone should take this pos to Africa and have him explain this logic to children with AIDS.

[SammyWinstonJack]

35. Self righteous, WITH NO REASON too BE SO, ASSHOLE are my words

for this human filth. :grr:

[Devlzown]

2. Sour Grapes

All those guys are gonna be having hot HIV-free man sex and now he's stuck with a wife and kiddies.

[LiberalPartisan]

6. Dollars to donuts

He's out there on the QT every so often scratching that itch.

I'm confident we'll read about him soon begging forgiveness for a temporary lapse.

[tenshi816]

9. Either that or he was never gay to begin with

and this is just his "shtick" to set him apart from all the other right-wing loonies in an effort to get listeners. As long as he claims to be an "ex-gay", the wingers aren't going to look too closely at what he got up to when he was supposedly gay.

If he ever was truly gay, then he's still gay. People can't turn it on and off like a faucet. If he is, then I believe you're absolutely spot on and that he'll get caught sooner or later.

[teenagebambam]

32. Google him

There's a LOT of speculation that he is, indeed, a fake, and was never gay to begin with.

[tenshi816]

44. Good idea.

The guy just doesn't pass the smell test to me. Everything he says (that I've read - I've never actually heard him) just seems off, as if he's behaving the way he thinks he should to play a role, rather than someone who's actually living it.

The biggest red flag to me is that despite the fact Bennett claims to have been involved in "homosexual behavior" for 11 years, he seems unable to remember any friends or acquaintances from that time. And what gay person refers to it as "homosexual behavior" anyway (just sounds too clinical to me)? I'm not buying it. I think he's a complete fraud.

[Horse with no Name]

38. This is my guess

The lunatic fringe is ALWAYS finding ex-gay people to carry their water.
I know a lot of people.
However, I don't know anyone that is "ex-gay".

[TrogL]

60. By their lights, I'm ex-gay

Before you start yelling at me, go to my website (http://members.shaw.ca/trogl/orient.html)

I was in a gay relationship for 10 years. Now I've got a girlfriend. They'd call me "ex-gay" or "turned straight".

Ok, so why am I still drooling over the UPS guy?

[Solly Mack]

3. I see - so in that man's limited capacity for thought

all he can imagine is a world where men screw men 24/7 - where he can't walk down the street without seeing two men engaged in sexual congress everywhere he looks - and that anything that prevents them from dying is bad. Because death is their just reward for being who they are - and anything that prevents that death is bad.

So, all day, every day, he thinks of sex with men.

and to him, if he can't convince people to pretend they're not gay, then those people must die. (since he denies himself)

Because in his small minded little world where thought is limited to life as a punitive experience,death is preferable to being who you are...

and I bet he gets offended when people say he is self-loathing

Yet, he is self-loathing

[baby_mouse]

4. .... oh, dear.

That's really, really stupid.

[radfringe]

5. I just said something similar

I am waiting for fundies to flood FDA claiming vaccine would encourage teen sex

just my opinion - but when two teens want to "get it on" - the last thing on their minds is worrying about contracting a STD or even the passing thought of pregnacy

[NMMNG]

7. What a nitwit

Why isn't he out there clamoring for the end of all vaccines? There's a way to prevent your children contracting mumps, measles, rubella, chickenpox and other diseases. Keep them, and yourself, quarantined in your home for the rest of your life! :crazy:

Moron. :grr:

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. "who once engaged in homosexual behavior for 11 years"

Damn, but he must have been tired after that. :eyes:

the news of a prevention pill is a dangerous signal? Goodness.

[peacebird]

10. "Damn, but he must have been tired"

:rofl:

[formercia]

41. Perhaps he just never became adept.

go from one failure to the next.

[swimboy]

51. That phrase leapt out at me too.

"There was just this one time where I was that way for eleven years."

That's a lot of concentrated dishonesty.

[Nobody]

11. So he'll begrudge the rest of us a vaccine because

it's too late for his own friends.

The selfishness and vindictiveness of some people.

[Skinner]

12. This guy is a cretin. But I don't think he's talking about a vaccine.

I was struck by the fact that he never used the word "vaccine" and instead says "prevention pill." I had never heard this term, and I wondered if this was some sort of fundy code for vaccines they disapprove of, so I did a little Googling.

It turns out that there is actually a drug which is being referred to as a possible "prevention pill" and as far as I can tell it is not a vaccine. It is called tenofovir, a once-a-day pill which is already in use as a treatment for people who are infected with HIV (Source). Apparently they are now testing tenofovir as a possible "prevention pill" to be taken before high-risk behavior to hopefully decrease the chances of HIV infection.

To be clear, I don't think this asshole has any right to lecture anyone on morality. And I believe that any drugs with the possibility of decreasing the chance of HIV infection should be pursued. But I do think that there is a legitimate concern with a drug like this, which might lead some individuals to believe that it is safe for them to engage in unprotected sex. If it completely eliminates the chances of HIV transmission, then it is clearly a very positive step. But if ii decreases the chances of transmission but still leaves open the possibility of infection sometimes, then I think there is a concern that the benefits might be offset to some degree by an increase in risky unprotected behavior.

But as I said, this guy is a cretin.

[Bluebear]

63. You're absolutely correct

The so-called "prevention-pill" is in discussion here; the HPV is the vaccine that they don't want to give to women because they will become wanton sluts by preventing disease. :sarcasm:

What is wrong with these people?

[Ioo]

13. I swear I have seen him at the bars here in DC...

I am not so sure he is ex.... He looks very familiar.

[greekspeak]

21. Maybe it is because he looks like a member of a flock of boy-toys

The very kind that inhabit about any gay bar of any size in anytown, USA. With the sprampy hair, the cute little smile, the cute shirt. To his wife: your husband is gay. He is not "fixed." He is still gay and he was never "broken." (well at least because he is gay) He is lying to you and your children and to himself if he thinks he is "fixed." I am sure that he still finds plenty of man lovin' whenever he wants it.

[Ian David]

14. Christians are incapable of moral behavior without a fear of punishment

At least, that's the message that they seem to be sending.

When a christian gospel group stayed at our hotel, they had the staff make sure that boys and girls stayed on separate floors. Why? They're christian-- they can't be trusted to behave morally without a "strict father" supervising them.

They try to get the law to enforce a "moral" code, because otherwise they seem to think nothing will stop them from behaving immorally.

They're like people who put alarms in their own refrigerators to help them stick to their diet.

Vaccine against cervical cancer? Oh, no! Then, without fear of cancer, girls will behave immorally and have promiscuous sex!

If they so firmly believe in a god that punishes sin in the next world, then why are they so desperate to use our secular and temporal resources to enforce their moral code in this world?

Do they have so little faith in Divine Judgment that they need to hedge their bets by putting worldly judges in place as well?

They take no personal responsibility for their actions. They take no personal responsibility for raising their children. Anything that goes wrong is because they couldn't enlist the laws and the doctors to fight their battles for them.

[HughBeaumont]

15. Is it even possible to be an "ex-gay"?

Every post by this guy (with teeth that could blind Superman, BTW) just gets weirder and weirder with each subsequent one. Not to mention his "wife" kind of looks drag-queenish.

[LostinVA]

16. No, it's not, although some DUers like to say we can "change"

If we want. They are now on my Ignore list.

[HughBeaumont]

26. You're kidding. No, seriously, are you?

That's just weird that anyone on a progressive site can believe that. You are who you are. Like you can be "cured" through hypnotism or something (as one of my weird co-workers believes)?

I showed Steven's site to the two lesbians-in-law and they just about laughed their asses off. Anne said he should have a light switch for his teeth and that his whole straight act is for money. Her point: ever come across an "ex-gay" who wasn't so public about it?

[LostinVA]

31. She's right -- they are all like, "Look at me! I'm really straight! OOOH!

Don't you just love my new Structure shirt? I eman... errr... look at my new pickup."

And yeah, there are a few thinly-veiled phobes on here... they try to wrap it all up nice and pretty, but I've had it directed at em too many times in my life to be fooled...

[Maat]

43. Hi, LostinVa!

Shame on those who say that. It's bad enough when the hardright says ludricrous things. I'm glad you put them on 'ignore.'

[foreverdem]

58. ??????

I wondered the same thing. How can you be ex-gay? Ex-drinkers or ex smokers, ok, but I've never heard of ex gays, you either are or you aren't.

[sendero]

17. Why does my gaydar..

.... read full scale when I see this guy's pic? :)

[LostinVA]

19. Mine too -- PING PING PING

[Heidi]

22. The gay community got about 5,000 percent smarter

when Mr. "Ex-Gay" switched teams, since he obviously is operating in the negative-numbers IQ range. (I have no gaydar, but I'm pretty good at spotting liars, doofuses and religious extremists.)

Hi, LostinVa! :hug:

[LostinVA]

28. I know -- and his hair is just so 1995...

Hi, Heidi!

[Heidi]

29. "His hair is just so 1995" . . .

:rofl: :spray:

I guess I'm feelin' feisty because some doofus on the board Call Me Wesley and I admin in Oklahoma started a tirade against "lesbos" this morning before I'd even had a full cup of coffee. :grr:

[LostinVA]

30. He's just jealous because my girlfriends have been hotter than his

And, I also respect Call Me Wesley since he knew I was lying that day after wanting women's breasts to stay covered.... he is my non-sexual soulmate....

[Heidi]

33. CMW is pretty sharp,

and if he's gonna a non-sexual soulmate, you'd be among my top choices (right up there Oeditpus Rex. :rofl:)

[LostinVA]

34. Thanks, sweetie... I didn't know you cared that much

:blush:

giggle

[libnnc]

45. just had mine re-calibrated...

there's no way it's a false reading.

this guy flames...

[Craig3410]

50. Mine three;

and I'm straight! :crazy:

[Deja Q]

25. Because it must be his hair AND his really, REALLY white teeth!

:rofl:

[mzmolly]

61. I didn't even know I had "gaydar" until I saw his pic.

;)

[Heidi]

18. I wonder whether he has forced his kids to abstain from measles,

mumps and rubella, instead of having them vaccinated? Should I have foregone my smallpox shot and just practiced smallpox abstinence? I could be wrong, but I haven't heard of any peer-reviewed clinical studies demonstrating that the sort of magical thinking this guy endorses has ever kept _anyone_ from contracting a disease.

Edited to add: Of course, it's his right to not vaccinate his kids against disease; just pointing out that his logic probably doesn't follow a clear path.

[LostinVA]

20. Please don't get the anti-vaccine people on DU started

I haven't had enough tea yet this morning.... *sob*

[Heidi]

23. They're not attempting to dictate public health policy for the rest of us,

and this guy _is_, just like Tom Cruise wants to erradicate psychiatry and Jerry Falwell wants to eliminate our right to abortion. I fully support folks' right to make their own health care choices and those of their kids, but when they start telling me what to do with _my_ health, look out. :hi:

[LostinVA]

27. I know... I just meant that between the anti-immigration threads

The Terri Schiavo threads, and I can't remember what else, anti-vaccine threads will make me sob like a little baby... well, not really, but it sounds dramatic...

[Deja Q]

24. How about fixing the underlying causes?

Most people who engage in unsafe acts don't give a frig about living.

And while I've kept away from the dirty, what is there to live for?

Besides, the guy is going after one slant on the issue. There are far more reasons to distribute this pill than just to allow fornication (other diseases exist too, you fool...)

[rodeodance]

36. I am sorry his friends died but this hate will only lead to others dying!

[elehhhhna]

37. So AIDS scared him "straight" and now he regrets his marriage?

[BiggJawn]

40. Sounds like it to me.

The guy claims to be a straight who just happened to fuck guys for 11 years?
Bullshit. I feel sorry for his "wife" (beard). really sorry.

[Strathos]

39. He needs to STFU!!!

Why can't these "ex-gays" just live in their pretend world and not interfere with the gays that are living a true life?

No one can be "ex-gay" anyway, so what does he stand to gain from this crazy stunt?

[Chovexani]

42. I love it when fundies cut to the chase

And reveal their true motivations. Sex is dirty and disgusting, a necessary evil for procreation in het marriage. Sex for any other reason is immoral and sinners deserve to be punished.

Look at the anti-choice rhetoric (in which, ironically for such "pious" folk, babies aren't a gift from God, they're punishment for having sex). This exact same argument is also used against the HPV vaccine. Their sex pathologies are the root of all their hysteria, really.

[im10ashus]

46. THAT loser again.

When will he learn that he has no moral high-ground? I just spit every time I see his mug.

[Bassic]

47. Fucktard....

It's amazing the sheer stupidity that people can produce when they try hard enough.

[bumblebee1]

48. A former gay man?

That's like a mother calling herself a former pregnant woman.

[Craig3410]

49. I don't know about everyone else...

but if that HIV vaccine comes out, I plan to go gay and have anal sex every night and share hypodermic needles with just EVERYBODY!

(do I really need a :sarcasm: here?)

[Occulus]

52. This is also what they'll be saying when a true cure is found.

I've little doubt that will happen eventually at this point. Research gains are being made all over the world related to HIV and really curing HIV infection. Remarkably, some of those gains may apply to other viruses as well.

What we may truly be on the cusp of is a general viral cure, if the various articles I've been reading on such research in the past year or so are any indication of reality. That would be something very like a cure for cancer.

Regardless of what form an HIV cure will eventually take, you can put money on Certain Parties being against its approval. They may actually try to block it. We need to be ready to make some very hard choices regarding our reaction to that.

[bettyellen]

53. never mind

what an asshole thoguh, huh?

[WI_DEM]

54. "ex-gay" my foot!

[nonconformist]

55. "oh no, I'm NOT gay.... I just had sex with men for 11 years!" nt

[stevietheman]

56. I say let people have all the sex they want...

it's like drugs... as long as you're mindful of the risks, it's a matter of individual sovereignty to decide whether to engage in it or not.

What Bennett and people like him are essentially saying is "We hate freedom."

[sakabatou]

57. AUGH!

:mad:

[cookiebird]

59. My 15 year old daughter

read this article and observed: "and I'm an ex-girl" from the perspective of the young ones....

[pitohui]

62. wives don't have the option of abstinence

is he insane? leaving aside the rest of his crazy rant, married women don't have the option of abstinence nor do husbands wear rubbers, why does he think hiv/aids is out of control in east africa? it isn't because of the thriving gay bars of nairobi, i'll tell you that much

abstinence is the form of birth control least likely to work if you've got any red blood flowing in your veins, i don't doubt the same is true for hiv/aids prevention

this dude needs to get a life, making a living preaching how he lost interest in his sex life as he got older, lol, big deal, happens to a lot of guys, a quick hit of viagra would change his tune pretty fast methinks -- and then he'd no doubt find his orientation remains the same

it's all v. well to have your sex when you're young and then come back when you're jaded and burned out and try to shit on other people getting theirs, but it all does is make you look like what you are -- a dried-up prude

[Minnesota_Lib]

64. Let them all die of a disease that may be preventable, huh, asshat?