*Source: Janet Mefferd, 5/20/13

***For much more on Stemberger, see his GLAAD CAP profile.

Ex-Gay Group NARTH Encourages Boy Scouts To Continue Anti-Gay Discrimination [ThinkProgress LGBT]

Better idea: Keep snake oil out of Boy Scouts' canteens; let gays in.

"Earlier this month, [Alan] Chambers even went so far as to insert secretly the email address of Jeremy Hooper, an abrasive homosexual activist, into the middle of a private group email thread containing a number of pro-family leaders (including moi). This led to a number of misrepresentations online by homosexual activist sites and even Salon.com. This deceitful alignment with a person who maligns those who believe in a male-female foundation for marriage is not exactly a model for Christian conduct, certainly not for someone leading what is supposed to be a Christian ministry."

—Rob Gagnon, virulently anti-gay theologian and annual star speaker at the "It Takes A Family" conference (a project of the National Org. For Marriage's Ruth Institute), speaking to Charisma News

(h/t David C. Hart)

Eh, he compared my marriage to an incestuous relationship, and I told him to "have a great Sunday." So I have nothing more to add, really. I'm more than happy with letting previously delivered abrasions speak for themselves.

This week in Texas, BSA delegates will vote on whether or not to change the policy, at least as it applies to boys. In the run up to that vote, this aforementioned gay employee (who wishes to renin anonymous) shares his experiences and his hope. GLAAD has the details:

Just days before 1,400 members of the Boy Scouts of America National Council converge in Dallas to vote on a resolution critical to equality in Scouting, Time Magazine published an op-ed written by a gay employee of the Boy Scouts, calling for a repeal of the ban on gay Scouts and leaders. The author wished to remain anonymous, but shared a wealth of information on how much the anti-gay ban has damaged the viability and reputation of the Scouts, hurt efforts to recruit more Scouts, and taken its toll on his own well-being.
KEEP READING: Gay Boy Scout employee to Time magazine: I can't live a lie any longer [GLAAD]

But according to one of the most rabidly anti-gay voices in American politics, the whole thing was just an attempt to "politicize"

[Matt Barber]

This is truly vile behavior. A man is dead in an act that everyone admits was a hate crime. Gay New Yorkers are truly scared that they could be next in what feels like a targeted crime spree. People showed up, came together, and stood up for peace because it is a commonality that should unite us through our political differences.

And this Virginia resident who makes a career off of rhetorically bashing LGBT people has the nerve to accuse us, the actual victims of a form of hate violence that we know stems from overheated rhetoric, of "politicizing" a bona fide tragedy? This is truly a new low, Matt Barber.

**Addendum: I can't even fathom saying the same thing in reverse. If Christians were targeted because of anti-gay beliefs, I would not be demeaning their rallies for peace and/or protests against violence—I would be joining them.

…and a zoo trip where add teaches him that all all animal families "consist of a male, a female, and their offspring," a young boy named Michael decides to pray for his friend with two dads:

That is the gist of Amber Dee Parker's new anti-gay children's book:

Because the drive to reject people who are so clearly a natural part of our world isn't going to be indoctrinate itself. They've got to be carefully taught.

Oh, and did you notice the cover? It says "Endorsed by the president of the American Family Association." That would of course be Tim Wildmon, a man who says gay couples make him want to throw up and that homosexuality is something to "be ashamed of." Lest you thought this book was anything other than aggressive indoctrination. It's not.

Although personally, I'm going to wait for the inevitable sequel: Michael Learns to Make A Protest Sign Smearing the Activist Judges Who Overturned Prop 8 & DOMA.

**MORE: Listen to the author talk to Concerned Women For America, where she attempts (@ around 3:30) to connect NAMBLA to gay activism in order to support Boy Scout discrimination.

Advocates: votes are there for marriage bill [Windy City Times]

As someone who happens to love both equal rights under the constitution and Chicago-style pizza, I couldn't be more hopeful. Invite me to your wedding, and I promise to not let my ritualistic eating of the latter make me late to the ceremony granting you the former.

*Source: WallBuilders Live, 5/20/13

"SHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! The adults are conducting research!" cries out the world community of credible and responsible virologists.