Advertising Homophobia and Losing
March 25th, 2006
I saw this post on Boing Boing involving a blogger and free speech. Justin had posted the above image in response to this image:
source: imightbeinatree.com
which is/was a campaign by Exodus International, a group that disagrees with homosexuality and tries to “cure” it through the “love of Jesus Christ” amongst other methods.
Justin got a cease and desist letter from Exodus, got legal representation and contacted the ACLU. Here’s the ACLU response.
This story got picked up by USA Today. Result thus far: Exodus has backed off.
blurbomat 2¢: blurbomat believes that most gay people are born gay. Some might not be and make a choice to be gay, but we believe those individuals to be in the minority in the gay community. We also believe that any Christian group trying to un-gay somebody is hypocritical. We don’t believe that being homosexual is a sin. We think the cross to bear is not for those who are gay, but those who believe in crosses in the first place. o
March 25th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
I have to just smack my forehead at billboards like the Exodus one, and their response to Justin.
I’d say this to Exodus: Even if that IS what you believe, do you honestly think you are going to command any respect by putting up such a ridiculous message and THEN taking on someone who takes exception to it? He’s just as free to express what he believes as you are. If someone tried to attack your right to express yourselves, you’d cry persecution. So what is it that you’re doing to Justin? He didn’t deface your property, he simply shared his own take.
Regardless of the ignorance of the root belief, they seem really ignorant of PR, as well.
Very, very sad.
March 25th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
The lawyers for Exodus sure are stupid. Hooray for Jason!
March 25th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
ooops! I meant Hooray for Justin! :)~
March 25th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
The main reason I moved to Utah and lived in Provo was the Exodus-like program called Evergreen which used an LDS approach. I had the “benefit” of Reparative Therapy. I ended up in Happy Valley’s psych ward on suicide watch. I desperately feverently wanted to be straight. More than anything else in the world. I couldn’t understand why fasting and praying and living a pure life didn’t get rid of this horror in my life. The thing that everyone hated and has caused me and my family so much pain. The thing God hates the most. The abomination of homosexuality. I tried everything. I sacrificed everything. It was never enough. I was never happy. I wanted to die. Every single day of my life I contemplated ending it. Just giving up. Something was wrong with me that I couldn’t be straight. I was an abomination. This was my life during Reparative Therapy.
I finally realized that I am what I am. I can’t change it. I didn’t choose it. It just is. I realized that I am a gay man and that it’s o.k. I’m a moral, ethical, loving, compassionate human being. That’s all that matters. If God sends me to hell for that then no one has a chance.
March 25th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
Jon, thanks for sharing this, and for being a great ally to the gay community.
MAN, being straight would be so much easier than being gay. I could get married. I could start a family without having to plunk down thousands of dollars just to get pregnant. I wouldn’t feel stupid having to justify my relationship to ignorant people. I could live wherever I wanted and not fear that ignorance.
Oh well. I really love my life, and I’m used to the battles. I’m willing to fight them, because they deserve to be fought.
To Sam: I’m glad you found yourself.
Thanks again, Jon.
March 25th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Yes I do realize the word is “fervently.” Typos are my fortÈ.
Thanks Katie!
March 25th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
I worked for Gay.com in San Francisco. I loved those damn people. I’m so freaking happy they’re going to be getting some more traffic for this. Gay.com (and PlanetOut) saved so many lives. I can’t imagine a world without them and other sites and outlets like them.
And good for Justin.
For the life of me, I can’t understand why anyone out there cares that much about another person’s sexuality. I just don’t get it. I must be missing a chromosone.
March 25th, 2006 at 5:57 pm
I am a Christian myself, and I do not hate gays or bisexuals at all. I don’t judge anyone, like I hope no one judges me. My belief is what I think is the correct way, and I’ll pray for the sinners (everyone) that doesn’t believe in the Christian way to someday soon find the light.
Anyway, enough with being preachy. I will admit, I only have a few friends that are bisexual (male and female). It just happens to be I don’t know many people around here that are [homosexual], or atleast that are open about their sexuality.
I think people, even The Church, needs to get a sense of humor sometimes. Lifes to hard to not just sit back and laugh sometimes and see that not everything is trying to hurt you. The sign has a purpose, to tell people about their services. Now in Sam’s posistion, I don’t know everything but let me say that he was forced or harassed to change. That is totally wrong, one of the rules of God, is that He will not force you todo anything. It is your own free will to follow his word.
March 25th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
Justin should ask for donations to make that billboard a reality now that its been decided it isn’t unlawful.
March 25th, 2006 at 6:36 pm
Amen, Jon. Amen.
Prurient interest and meddling in personal lives is unacceptable. Period. That said interest and meddling tends to be attached to myopic, judgmental self-righteousness is deeply offensive.
March 25th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Thanks Jon.
The more people that speak out against homophobes, the better.
March 25th, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Right on, Jon. The last paragraph of your blurb is dead-on.
Many so-called Christians have forgotten that their gospel says “do not judge,” but they instead judge the homosexual community as broken and feel the need to fix them. Like you and Sam said, most gay people are truly born that way. Christians running in to “fix” them is ludicrous.
Bravo to Justin - and I like veg4me’s idea to get a billboard like his, right next to Exodus’, if possible!
Also good to know I’m not the only nerd who reads boingboing religiously.
March 25th, 2006 at 7:45 pm
Anyone who says “I do not hate gays or bisexuals at all” is homophobic. People who aren’t homophobic don’t need to point out that they don’t hate the sinner, because they just don’t care.
Why do so many people care who others have sex with?
March 25th, 2006 at 8:01 pm
fernypants,
I don’t see how wanting the same rights for everybody, regardless of their sexual orientation, is homophobic. I’m letting your comment stand, but only because I don’t think you read Sam’s comment before you. It’s people with the courage like Sam to tell their stories of social castigation and pain that underscore the need for this discussion.
March 25th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
You didn’t understand my comment. I am saying that people who have to point out that they don’t hate something/someone before they defend their opposition to it is being a hypocrite, or, more likely, dishonest with themselves. I don’t have to preface what I say about gay people, or any minority, with “I don’t hate them, BUT…” because it goes without saying. Saying I don’t hate gay people, I just hate what they do (I am referencing Chris’ post, not Sam’s) is a fundamental dis.
For example, I love my religion, it is a BIG part of me. If someone says I don’t hate you, Ferny Pants, I hate your church, I am insulted, because I AM my church. When people say something negative about something that is as defining as our sexuality (to all of us, not just homosexuals), it bruises, even if it is prefaced with “I don’t hate you, but…”
What I am saying is that people who make comments that have to forwarn that they don’t hate what they are about to hate on need to look inward.
March 25th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
Just for the record:
I think that the whole born gay or life-style choice thing is a red herring. The constitution, civil rights, human rights and basic human courtesy and decency apply to all.
March 25th, 2006 at 8:53 pm
Actually, I can kind of see where fernypants is coming from, I think. In an ideal world, People wouldn’t even use terms such as gay, bisexual, black or hispanic, people wouldn’t even care or see those identifiers.
I have known people to say things like, “There’s a difference between a black person and a (n word). I know a lot of black people.”
I think, although, I’m not sure, that’s where fernypants is coming from.
I have no idea. Either way, in an ideal world, it really shouldn’t matter. Your being Christian, my being atheist, her being gay, he being a tranny — it shouldn’t matter. We should all just be.
But that’s living in a perfect world and one without a need to fit in or comply to some sort of label.
March 25th, 2006 at 8:58 pm
P.S. Before tonight, I hadn’t signed up to leave a comment at blurbomat. I guess a nerve was hit. Or it’s the wine talking. I’d like to think it’s my inability to understand why anyone would care who anyone else loves especially if you’re doing so in the name of a God you love. I just don’t get it. Love is love. Let it be.
Whatever made me sign in and up, please forgive me for my mistakes in grammar. heh
March 25th, 2006 at 9:00 pm
Maybe I am confused. Sorry, blurb. We had an overlap. I was upset by my grammar.
I’m often confused.
March 25th, 2006 at 9:00 pm
Fernypants, were you talking to me or to Chris Adams?
March 25th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
I was talking to you, but I was refering to Chris. I was just trying to clarify my original post.
March 25th, 2006 at 10:35 pm
I really like your last line.
That said, I’m going to say I’m getting tired of this. People are so brazen about their intolerances, I can’t believe it.
Let’s all just move away. Somewhere else and not tell anyone where we are going. I think that this would be the easiest way to solve this problem, and so many others.
March 25th, 2006 at 10:55 pm
Great post, Jon. Thanks for this. I sure would like people to get off the homophobia issue and let people be whoever they were meant to be.
March 25th, 2006 at 11:51 pm
fernypants was quoting Chris Adams, and basically saying that when you hear from a religious person, “I don’t hate homosexuals” (with the unsaid *but…*), you know they’re not hanging out at PFLAG meetings.
March 25th, 2006 at 11:52 pm
kudos to justin for not backing down, and for not rolling over at the idle threat of a clearly under-prepared firm.
and kudos to the ACLU for taking this on. THIS is exactly the type of thing that needs to be nipped in the bud before it heads to court.
i, for one, happen to agree with blurb on the nature versus nurture issue. it has been my experience that this holds true, as all of my dear friends say that they had always known. and i believe very strongly that since god is not a vengeful or hateful diety, that the claim that this sexuality is a sin to be utter bullshit. to be a gay-basher/hater, whatever you call them, is quite possibly the MOST un-Christian thing possible - or un-religous for that matter. i thought religion taught tolerance and love for all of god’s creatures. i guessed i missed the part where hate was a Christian teaching… i got all wrapped up in the one where i was told “you are god’s perfect child”.
blurb - thank you for posting this. and for allowing open discussion.