Courtesy of Alaska Dispatch:
Prominent supporters of Yes on 5 -- One Anchorage joined forces at a press conference and said they want the TV cartoon ads and their "offensive" characters -- the most outrageous depicts a burly man in high heels who brings a complaint against a daycare provider for not hiring him -- stricken from the airwaves. Click here and here to see some of the other depictions.
"The ads opposing Proposition 5 depict unacceptably offensive and intentionally stigmatizing and distorted cartoons of gay and transgender individuals," said former Gov. Tony Knowles. "Such dehumanizing stereotypes do not represent the values we share as a community."
Not going to happen, said Jim Minnery, head of opposition group Protect Your Rights -- Vote No on 5. He called the ads effective and said calls for their removal are helping him raise money because people are offended at the effort to squelch free speech.
Jim Minnery is a particularly pungent piece of human excrement, and these tactics are very much like those used nationally by National Organization for Marriage, or NOM.
What Minnery and his homophobic friends are doing is attempting to connect the LGBT community to acts of pedophilia, which is the most disgusting and and hateful thing that anybody could imagine doing.
This has long been the tool used by these religious groups to claim that gay, lesbian, or transgendered folk are "deviants" and are therefore constantly attempting to recruit innocents into their lifestyle. Which, in their mind, means that they would especially want to target Christian children. You know because Christians are always so persecuted for their beliefs and all.
Let me just say that I have worked with children, in one way or another, for most of my life. During that time I have obviously met, and worked alongside, a number of different types of caregivers.
More than a few of them were gay, both male and female. I cannot identify ANY difference in how they interacted with the children in their care. In fact I would be willing to bet that almost NONE of the children they worked with even knew they were gay, nor did their parents. And if they did, they certainly did not raise it as a concern.
Vilifying people solely due to their sexuality, or lifestyle, is ridiculous in this day and age. If a person is good at their job it should make NO difference who they love, how they live, or what they do (As long as it is legal) in their off time.
And essentially that is all that Proposition 5 is trying to protect.
Don't the people of Anchorage know how the game is played? Don't they know Bristol? Sarah? Here comes Sadie?
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope that enough smart, educated Alaskan voters go to the pole in Anchorage and defeat Minnery and his hateful minions! This ad is despicable and I hope it helps cause the defeat of their plan.
ReplyDeleteMay ALL Alaskans enjoy individual human rights and not be relegated to second-class status by these right wing religious nuts! Unfortunately, there is a highly vocal, and organized, group in Anchorage that seem to have the power to get out their vote.
So, unless more Alaskans vote on the rights of ALL Alaskans, nothing much will change. I hope that those who are eligible to vote, do so.
Which raises the question, if the children didn't know those people you worked with were gay then how did you know? Was it in some way they acted or did they confide in you especially and tell you they were gay? Or did they let all your fellow teachers in on their secret? Were they openly gay or were they still closeted gay?
ReplyDeleteWell a few times it simply came up in conversations about our home lives. There were also times I did not know, but found out later in idle chitchat with fellow employees after they had moved on to other jobs.
DeleteAnd once I found out when they brought their significant other to a staff party and it was their girlfriend.
This was all over a thirty year period mind you.
Considering that the only pedophiles I personally have dealt with have been catholic priests, I think the religionists are projecting a tad to claim homosexuality promotes pedophilia. I think the opposite is true. The more you rail against something, the more likely YOU are to be doing it especially if it is in the realms of sex.
ReplyDeleteKudos on this post. Wanted to send along good vibes before the crazy lady gets here. Hope I beat her to the punch. Too bad Alaska isn't doing something to address the sexual predators Todd Palin & Greg West instead of inciting ignorance about healthy adults who love other adults of their own gender. See what Shailey Tripp has to say on the bigger issue of sexual predators and sex trafficking in Alaska and across state lines. http://shaileytripp.yolasite.com/blog/greg-west-todd-palin
ReplyDeleteThey have the right to post the ads in that they don't violate any rules of decency. The real problem is that you are preceiving that the people who see them aren't educated enough to see through them. That's the problem to deal with.
ReplyDeleteBut besides that, I would be reluctant to send my child to a gay daycare provider if the provider was male. I think that's an educated decision based on the practice of priests in the catholic church. It's just not worth the risk, even granting that the risk is minimal. This is the wellbeing of children we are talking about now. Sorry.
Being gay and being a pedophile are two entirely different things.
DeleteMost of the pedophiles that we hear about in the news are considered straight men, and are usually married.
I have known of several who molested their own daughters.
Just so you know.
Thank you, Jesse. To insinuate that the priests who molested young kids were GAY is insane. Pedophilia has nothing to do with being gay. It has to do with sexual frustration and power.
DeleteIf the idiotic Catholic Church would allow priests to marry, but then the Catholic Church rarely does anything that makes sense except to the power mongers in Rome.
Exactly, Gryphen and Sally.
DeleteHello? Anon 3:28 - Jerry Sandusky - there is a Mrs. Sandusky, you know.
Ha ha! What a maroon! In one breath:
DeleteThe real problem is that you are preceiving that the people who see them aren't educated enough to see through them. That's the problem to deal with.
~~~~~~~~~~
And in the next breath:
I would be reluctant to send my child to a gay daycare provider if the provider was male.
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...which is the conclusion these hate groups want you to reach!
Irony much?
Seriously? A GAAAAAAY man is automatically a pedophile?
You are just sad.
No, a gay man is not automatically a pedophile but the incidence of gay men performing acts of pedophilia on children is higher than with normal heterosexual men. Statistically much higher, which you will find is true if you care enough to find out the facts. The sad part is that some parents still trust their children with scout leaders, male teachers, coaches, and other men where the incidence of homosexuality and pedophilia is high, without investigating them beforehand.
DeleteI already voted absentee on this issue and was proud to do so. I'm so sick and tired of the religious right ramming their sick and lying ways down our throats! Americans are moving further and further away from 'church' and this is one of the reasons why!
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe what a mess things are in...from President Obama's healthcare issues, to the horrible candidates in the Republican primary, to a Supreme Court that the majority move toward the right, to the corporate influence, to trying to override abortion and access to contraception and on and on.
People on the left need to standup, protest and VOTE. Republicans are blocking voting rights throughout the nation as well.
Plus, Shell Oil is dealing with a gas pipeline problem in England - the pipe is on the ocean floor and is broken and spewing gas...it is going to take a few months to find and correct. And, they are going to drill in the Arctic? I saw the news about Shell's problem last night on TV, but haven't seen any more information on it today. Now isn't that interesting?
Push everyone to get out and vote everyone. It is so important to all of us!!! (Especially those that are on the left - independent - non partisan.) Talk to your family members and friends.
You're slightly confused. To move away from the church is to move away from the high probability of your children being exposed to a pedophile or a gay priest/minister/ witch doctor/ whatever they call themselves.
Deleteprejudice advocated politically by churches. REALLY need to tax churches....equality for one and all.
ReplyDeleteWe had this kind of nonsense in Traverse City MI but the community voted by a large majority for equality. Now the nasties are attacking the school district's anti-bullying policy. Some organization called the Truth Academy -- should be called the Untruth Club, nothing factual or genuinely educational about it -- keeps doing television shows on the local access network.
ReplyDeleteWhy do some people work so hard at hating? It simply makes no sense to me. Getting through life is hard enough, why waste one's time and energy making life miserable for others? Obviously these people have never learned the New Testament teaching:"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Beaglemom
It seems to me like most child abuse and molestation that goes on is committed by straight people. The upstanding, church going, wouldn't hurt a fly, loving husband and father of 6 are the ones caught with their hands in the cookie jar. It's just like the GOP tar and feather the LGBT community and then getting caught with their pants down. I would trust someone who is openly truthful about their sexuality than I would a closeted, confused bigot who goes around bashing the very same people he is opposed. Life is simple but we continue to make it hard for each other.
ReplyDeletePrimogen1
These people are so rabid in their disrespect of the gay people, I do not understand WHY. No gay person has EVER tried to convert me, that is not what they do. Leave well enough alone, live and let live. Too bad all this vitriol was not directed at the Catholic church, for protecting child molesters. THEN I would understand why people were so upset. Are these protesters so miserable that they can not stand to have anyone happy?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gryph, for all you - and others like you - do to help my kind (us homos) find greater acceptance and understanding in our society. I'm not a religious man but nonetheless don't hesitate to say bless you! Sarah and her gang, on the other hand, can suck my co....pies of books others have written about her to expose her extreme hypocrisy!
ReplyDeleteSo, Anchorage is "tolerant enough,' it seems. What is this, Nazi Germany?!?
ReplyDeleteIf they want to play that game ....bring it on. The counter cartoon/ad should read about the real danger to children, the straight RCC priest - in robes or collar looking for little boys to buggar in a cartoon. How about one of Sanduskey? Mark Foley?
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised, just saddened that these stereotypes still exist. I live in a LGBT accepting city, Philadelphia has an "Equality Forum" every year that lasts two weeks to educate people, and there's still hate crimes against LGBT individuals and families.
ReplyDeleteTolerance isn't enough, because it connotes something is "wrong" and needs to be "tolerated". The word we use is Acceptance and Inclusion.
We have gay male neighbors who are raising sons and daughters anyone would be proud to call their own.
These ads are disgusting on so many levels. The sad irony is, the same people who are against this probably have worked with or known heterosexual pedophiles and have no clue. Some have gay children who are too scared to live their true lives openly because their own family would reject them, yet profess unconditional love one day a week.
Minnery protests too much. You know what they say about that?
ReplyDeleteIt is so painful to read about such mean spirited ignorance. Have these people forgotten it is the 21st century?!
ReplyDeleteI did not grow up knowing anything about the gay community--and no one openly gay--until I was middle aged. Yet, when my ten year old son had to walk home from school by himself, I told him to always walk by "Mark" & "Phillip's" house because they would do everhthing to necessary to ensure his safety. I told them this, too, and I could see in their faces a healing take place. What generous and good friends they became.
We must all take positive steps of trust to change the toxic meme that attacks the gay community. Voting is critical. Building kind relationships is the most important way to break through the lies.
I have no problem with gays or the gay community, just so long as they are not interacting with my children. I don't find it worth the risk of taking the chance. Likewise I wouldn't trust a catholic priest with my child.
DeleteAnd more to the point, I wouldn't want any of my children anywhere near churches and religion because it is a form of child abuse to indoctrinate a child into sky fairy believing. But that's another topic.
The real truth is that catholic priests molesting little boys are gay pedophiles and Jesse knows that. That's not saying that all gays are pedophiles or all pedophiles are gay. It is saying that the frequency rate with catholic priests is high. First of all, they choose to be priests because of their abnormal sexual preferences in many cases. And secondly, they resort to little boys as a substitute for normal sexual relations with women, or even with other men. Jesse would like to ignore the statistical relationships between pedophile, catholic priests, and their homosexual preferences.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is why most parents would just rather not take a chance on a gay man as their child's teacher. Some shy away from enrolling their children in the boy scouts too because of the high incidences of abuse at the hands of gay pedophiles. Gays of course and only pedophiles until their victims reach adulthood. Then the scout leaders either find new young victims or become just gays.
I pity you and like minded people.
DeleteBTW "most parents" would beg to differ, take your homophobia, ignorance and convoluted "reasoning" and shove it up your ass, you revolting brute.
Anyone voting "no" on 5 please put a big red X on your back so I can discriminate against YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteNot matter how you slice it...its discrimination. The ad against prop 5 with the image of a "trangendered" person is a vulgar and insensitive depiction.
ReplyDeleteThe vulgar images of African-Americans in the 1920, 30s and 40s (i.e. Sambo) is considered racist and discriminative and would never be allowed to be aired. I am appalled to see this religious supported and blatant form of discrimination aired.
Shame on those churches...judge not lest ye be judged.
Here's an interesting little fact for you: did you know the the phrase "judge not lest ye be judged" is the most quoted phrase from the Bible? However, it is a logical fallacy to assume that it means human beings should not make any form of judgment call on someone Else's behavior. After all if that were the correct interpretation can you really claim any moral high ground against these "discriminatory" Christians? If "Judge not lest ye be judged" means that no one can make any form of moral distinction on any behavior than we have no right to protest discrimination. A better interpretation of this passage would be judge not other people to be more or less loved by GOD than you are, instead love everyone even when you think they are wrong, even when you know that according to GOD's law they are sinning. This means that the ideal Christian response to homosexuality is to acknowledge that according to GOD's law homosexuality is wrong but at the same time to respect the individuals who practice it and acknowledge their freedom of choice. It is not an appropriate response for a Christian to accept homosexuality as morally right or to vote in such a way that it would put their religious liberties at risk. I readily admit that many Christians do not live up to the biblical standards of compassion in regards to homosexuals but on the other hand it seems that homosexuals are not content unless any voice that disagrees with the practice of homosexuality is silenced. I know that this is very much a generalization and I will probably get comments like "not all homosexuals are like that" and "those are just the radicals that get all the attention". would like to point out however that the same statements can be applied to the Christian church in regard to homosexuality. We need to as a society be able to acknowledge our moral differences, regardless of what they may be with respect.
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