Our New Friends “Truth Wins Out”

CHECK THEM OUT!!!

We would like to introduce you to our newest friends of the informative blog TRUTH WINS OUT

TWO has an amazing wealth of information in debunking the phony “ex-gay” myths as well as exposing the hypocrisy of the right wing hell hounds who attack the gay community.

We give them the LLL thumbs up!!!

Gays Rights Activists to Protest “Academy” Encouraging Youth to Hate Gays

On August 4th a group which calls itself Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) is hosting a banquet / lecture to kick off what they call an “academy” to “train young people (as well as older pro-family advocates) how to answer ‘gay’ activist misinformation and fight the homosexual-bisexual-transsexual agenda.”

Call to protest!!

Who:Gay Liberation Network (GLN),
What: Has initiated a 5:30 PM, August 4 protest against AFTAH’s opening banquet lecture
Where: At AFTAH’s headquarters, 25W560 Geneva Road, Carol Stream, IL.

For Immediate Release – July 23, 2010
For Information – Bob Schwartz, Gay Liberation Network,
Andy Thayer, Gay Liberation Network: LGBTliberation@aol.com

Gays to Protest “Academy” Encouraging Youth to Hate Gays

Carol Stream, IL — On August 4th a group which calls itself Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) is hosting a banquet / lecture to kick off what they call an “academy” to “train young people (as well as older pro-family advocates) how to answer ‘gay’ activist misinformation and fight the homosexual-bisexual-transsexual agenda.”

Advocates for legal equality for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people (LGBTs) counter that the gathering is aimed at promoting continued legal and social discrimination against gays, and worse, aims to promote this bigotry among young people.

“AFTAH has a long history of telling lies about LGBT people and recently was designated a ‘hate group’ by the Southern Poverty Law Center,” said Bob Schwartz of the Gay Liberation Network (GLN), the group which has initiated a 5:30 PM, August 4 protest against AFTAH’s opening banquet lecture at their headquarters, 25W560 Geneva Road, Carol Stream, IL. Joining GLN in the protest will be DuPage NOW, Woodstock/McHenry County PFLAG and La Voz de los de Abajo.

“Using typical far-right scare rhetoric about gays, AFTAH’s literature about their forthcoming ‘academy’ calls the LGBT rights movement ‘destructive to America’ and invites people to donate money to fund scholarships for people as young as 14-years-old to attend their event,” said Schwartz. “What they are really trying to do is inculcate the next generation with a religious, sectarian-based hatred of gays.”

“Particularly in difficult economic times, it is vital that opponents of discrimination remain vigilant and forthrightly oppose any attempts to scapegoat any group for the failings of society,” said GLN co-founder Andy Thayer. “Youth should not be taught to hate their peers and thus fuel the cycle of self-loathing, depression and suicide which too many LGBT youth experience. Bigotry must be vocally and publicly opposed, especially when haters like AFTAH try to recruit young people.”

Recently AFTAH announced that one of the “instructors” at its forthcoming event will be Cliff Kincaid, who has been a vocal proponent of a notorious Ugandan bill which not only would proscribe the death penalty for gays, but also imprisonment non-gays who fail to report the gay people whom they know.

“With the inclusion of a ‘kill the gays’ spokesperson like Kincaid, the AFTAH youth academy is an attempt to legitimize a set of politics so vile that even leading figures on the religious right have felt compelled to condemn them,” said Schwartz. “If AFTAH’s Executive Director Peter LaBarbera were just a lone kook, then I would say just ignore him. But to say that would be to ignore the fact that LaBarbera was the leading proponent of two attempts to get anti-gay referenda on the Illinois state ballot.”

“Harvey Milk and other pro-equality activists defeated Anita Bryant and her anti-gay referenda a generation ago not by ignoring, but by highlighting and making infamous her anti-gay bigotry,” said Thayer. “This is what needs to be done against LaBarbera, and which is why we have called this August 4th protest. Learning from the failed, polite campaigns to defeat California’s anti-gay Proposition 8 and Maine’s Question 1, we must instead loudly highlight the bigotry of our opponents as Milk and others did, and thus politically marginalize them.”

For more information about the August 4th protest, email the Gay Liberation Network at LGBTliberation@aol.com

The Public Acceptance of the LGBT Community at a Record High

More from Gallup

There is a gradual cultural shift under way in Americans’ views toward gay individuals and gay rights. While public attitudes haven’t moved consistently in gays’ and lesbians’ favor every year, the general trend is clearly in that direction. This year, the shift is apparent in a record-high level of the public seeing gay and lesbian relations as morally acceptable. Meanwhile, support for legalizing gay marriage, and for the legality of gay and lesbian relations more generally, is near record highs.

The religionist battle against the Gay and Lesbian community seems to be losing. Love and acceptance is winning over hate and oppression.

From Andrew Sullivan at The Atlantic Monthly

Christianism FAIL
A large part of the increase comes from men, not women. The religious grouping with the biggest increase in moral acceptance: Catholics, with a 16 point gain in tolerance since the hierarchy decided to demonize gays and banish them from the seminaries. Keep it up, your Holiness. And the issue of homosexuality isolates Republicans from Independents more than any other issue I’ve seen: 61 percent of Independents and Democrats alike see gay relationships as morally acceptable; only 35 percent of Republicans do. And the moderates are changing twice as quickly as Republicans.

And to quote our new friend “Julia”:

love will always win out in the end!

Chicago Protests in Solidarity With African LGBTs

Courage Nigeria's John Adewoye and GLN Protest in Chicago Against the Evil Laws Against Gays In Africa

From Chicago Indymedia

CHICAGO – May 17, 2010, activists chose to highlight the LGBT rights issues in three African countries – Uganda, Kenya and Malawi – as part of the city’s third annual observation of I.D.A.H.O., International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

About 50 marchers held a picket in front of the city’s popular Millennium Park interacting with rush hour commuters, several of whom joined the event.

A featured component of Chicago’s I.D.A.H.O. was an address by John Adewoye of Courage-Nigeria, an LGBT rights group composed of African immigrants. Adewoye detailed the recent history of anti-LGBT repression in several countries on the continent.
Another speaker read out statements by a Malawi gay couple, Steven Monjeza (26) and Tiwonge Chimbalanga (20), whose words were recently smuggled out of prison after they were arrested for engaging to be married to each other.
Chimbalanga said, “I love Steven so much. If people or the world cannot give me the chance and freedom to continue living with him as my lover, then I am better off to die here in prison. Freedom without him is useless and meaningless.”

“We have come a long way,” said Monjeza, “and even if our family relatives are not happy, I will not and never stop loving Tiwonge.”

The statements were transmitted to British human rights activist Peter Tatchell, who has played a key role in drawing world attention to Chimbalanga’s and Monjeza’s struggle as they potentially face long prison terms in one of the world’s poorest countries.
Highlighting the importance of I.D.A.H.O. events around the world, speakers at Chicago’s rally pointed to the value of earlier international solidarity actions, such as the worldwide boycott of apartheid South Africa, in helping people in other countries win their struggles for freedom. Tiwonge’s and Chimbalanga’s own words noted the value of this solidarity:

“All the support is well appreciated,” said Monjeza. “We are grateful to everybody who is doing this for us. May people please continue the commendable job….it makes such a huge difference between life and death, as prison life is very difficult. With the small money sent us we are able to buy some extra food to supplement our intake of the much needed vitamins and proteins.”

“We are thankful for the people who have rallied behind us during this difficult time,” said Chimbalanga. “We are grateful to the people who visit and support us, which really makes us feel to be members of a human family; otherwise we would feel condemned.”

Today a Malawi court found Chimbalanga and Monjeza guilty of “gross indecency” and “unnatural acts,” for which they face up to 14 years in prison. Their attorneys say they will attempt to appeal the conviction to the country’s highest court.
Organizers with the Gay Liberation Network, who along with activists in a few other cities first brought I.D.A.H.O. to the United States three years ago, emphasized that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender movement in the U.S. is too narrowly focused on LGBT issues only within the U.S. GLN’s Andy Thayer noted the irony of such narrowness when contrasted with the fact that U.S. troops occupy bases in over 130 countries around the world and that U.S. activists could learn a great deal from LGBT movements in other countries who have won the full LGBT legal equality that is still so sorely lacking in the United States.

“In the U.S., most LGBT activists are ‘gay rights only’ activists, yet they complain when they fail to get the support they want from other movements when they are facing things like California’s anti-gay Proposition 8. By contrast, in South Africa, most LGBT activists were also heavily involved in the struggle against racist apartheid, with the result that when that country won majority rule, full LGBT legal equality was ensconced in the country’s new constitution. This is an important reason why LGBT activists in this country also need to be energetically supporting ‘other’ movements for human freedom such as for immigrant rights, against U.S. wars, and so forth.”

Other speakers noted that the national narrowness of many U.S. LGBT activists is not reflected in our opposition. United States-based right wing evangelicals have played a central role in promoting anti-gay campaigns in other countries. Proposition 8 supporter Rev. Rick Warren, who gave the invocation at President Obama’s inaugural, is widely seen as a mentor for Uganda’s David Bahuti, the legislator who introduced legislation calling for the death penalty against gays in some circumstances. While under heavy pressure Warren has since distanced himself from Bahuti’s bill, the fact that he and other wealthy U.S. evangelicals promote the notion that LGBT people are “sinners” serves to dehumanize us, and thus pave the way for discriminatory legislation in the countries where they run missionary operations.

Finally, Thayer noted recent news out of Uganda that shows that the worldwide campaign against Bahuti’s bill is having an effect. Last week the New York Times reported that a special Presidential committee has condemned Bahuti’s proposed legislation as “unconstitutional” and “redundant.” As a result, the Times reported that Ugandan President Mwesige “said he expected the full Parliament to vote down the bill within weeks.” While we cannot afford to be complacent while the bill is still pending, this is indeed good news and shows the value of international solidarity protests.
Yesterday’s event was part of the Harvey Milk Week of Action, a series of activities designed to honor the birthday of the late 1970s activist gunned down by an anti-gay assassin.

Other activities this week include a 12 noon, Thursday flash mob at Federal Plaza, a Friday night open mike, and a march and rally beginning at 1 pm, Saturday beginning at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Congress Parkway.

For more information about Harvey Milk Week of Action events, go to http://chicagomilkweek.wordpress.com/

http://www.GayLiberation.net
http://chicagomilkweek.wordpress.com/

CPAC Imploding From the Homophobic Fringe

From our brother site Tea Bagger Watch:

Right Wingnut Shocker! Gay-Bashing California YAFer Booed Off CPAC Stage
Backlash at Condenmation of GOPride Inclusion in Rightist Confab

Sometimes, once in a great while, the right wingnuts get something right — in the same way that even a busted clock is still right twice a day. Witness the crowd reaction to the slimy, hateful comments of one Ryan Sorba, an up-and-coming young prick from the California chapter of Young Americans for Fascism… uhh, Freedom, as he condemns CPAC for including a gay Republican contingent at the conference.

Rest of the article HERE

Gay Liberation Network: Freedom-to-Marry Valentine’s Day Report, Pics & Video

Gay Liberation Network: Freedom-to-Marry Valentine’s Day Report, Pics & Video

Photo from Gay Liberation Network

From Chicago IndyMedia

February 14, 2010 — About 100 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights activists chose Valentine’s Day to picket Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral to draw attention to the Catholic hierarchy’s continued opposition to equal rights both within the church and in society at large.

For video of the protest, sponsored by the Gay Liberation Network (GLN), is available on Facebook

A particular focus of the protest was Chicago’s Cardinal George, who has worked tirelessly ― albeit from behind the scenes ― to block our path to full legal equality:

ü Blocking same sex-marriage and/or civil unions in Illinois.

ü Attempting to kill LGBT inclusion as a protected class in the Illinois Human Rights Act. In other words, he opposed gays’ equal access to jobs, housing and access to public accommodations.

ü He and other Catholic bishops circulated petitions in a failed effort to force an anti-gay advisory referendum on marriage.

ü As head of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, George has directed that tens of thousands be spent promoting the anti-gay Proposition 8 in California.

ü And just last week, the Huffington Post reported that “Cardinal Francis George of the Archdiocese of Chicago denounced a D.C.-area ministry that describes itself as ‘gay-positive’ and seeks to build bridges between gays and the Church.”

ü Congressman Gutierrez’s office recently told a GLN representative that opposition from the Catholic Church, presumably directed by Cardinal George, was the reason that all LGBT protections were stripped from the current immigration reform bill he’s sponsoring.

The anti-civil rights posture of the current Pope was also highlighted:

ü His blasting of equal rights legislation for women and gays in Britain ahead of his visit there this fall

ü His rehabilitation of the Holocaust-denying bishop, Richard Williamson

ü As a former member of the Hitler Youth, his move to bestow sainthood on the WWII Pope Pius XII, who did nothing to oppose the Holocaust of 9 million Jews, gays, Gypsies and others.

ü His labeling Lesbians and Gays as “intrinsically disordered,” thus dehumanizing us. Dehumanization is the first step towards making it publicly acceptable to hate a group, opening the door to discrimination and violence.

Most present-day gay leaders – with the honorable exception of Britain’s Peter Tatchell – have taken a pass on highlighting and demonstrating against religious leaders’ opposition to our equality.

In doing so, they ignore the lessons of how we have won LGBT victories in the past, and why we suffered critical defeats like California’s Proposition 8 and Maine’s Question 1.

Key to the historic victories over gay-haters Anita Bryant and Dr. Laura Schlessinger was our community making them the issue – relentlessly pounding them for their anti-gay bigotry, quoting their hateful statements, labeling them as vile bigots, and thus “peeling off” their soft supporters. Once they lost that support, they no longer had power over us, or the ability to influence referenda, legislation and court decisions.

In contrast, when anti-gay campaigners including Catholic leaders successfully promoted Proposition 8 and Question 1, they took the battle to us, relentlessly labeling us as child molesters in a manner very reminiscent of Anita Bryant. And we remained punching bags. Our “leaders” didn’t strike back, labeling the anti-gay leaders as bigots and haters. And we lost.

After the pivotal Proposition 8 defeat, many LGBT commentators vowed that we must learn the lessons of that defeat and not repeat them in Maine and elsewhere. Unfortunately, by taking a pass on highlighting anti-gay haters and making them the issue, they are failing to learn the lessons of the campaign against Anita Bryant, a campaign that was undertaken and won under far more difficult conditions.

Sponsored by The Gay Liberation Network

Gays Calls for Freedom to Marry Day Picket of Holy Name Cathedral

From our friends at the Gay Liberation Network

Gays Calls for Freedom to Marry Day Picket of Holy Name Cathedral

At 10:30 AM on Freedom-to-Marry Day 2010 – Sunday, February 14, Valentine’s Day – the Gay Liberation Network (GLN) will host an informational picket of Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State Street, to highlight the role the Church’s leadership has played in promoting inequality.

“In opposition to the desires of millions of lay Catholics for simple justice for all, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church has long aligned itself with, and often led, the forces of hate and bigotry opposing equal rights for gays and women,” said GLN co-founder Andy Thayer.

“For many years the Catholic leadership has attempted to fly under the radar screen with its opposition to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. A key secret to their success has been their stealthiness, ironically often assisted by gay rights ‘leaders.’ These ‘leaders,’ not trusting rank-and-file Catholics to be fair and too worried about hurting their fundraising base with well-connected and wealthy Catholics, are too cowardly to call out Catholic leaders for promoting hate and discrimination.”

As a local example, Chicago’s Catholic leader Cardinal Francis George has worked tirelessly — albeit from behind the scenes — to block our path to full legal equality. George attempted to kill LGBT inclusion as a protected class in the Illinois Human Rights Act, which now protects us from housing and employment discrimination. He and other Catholic bishops circulated petitions in a failed effort to force an advisory referendum on “gay marriage,” and George is the head of the national Conference of Catholic Bishops which spent big bucks backing Prop 8 hate in California. Back in Illinois, George is working hard today to block same sex-marriage and/or civil unions.

But Cardinal George is no lone voice in the wilderness. He is joined by almost the entire hierarchy of the Catholic Church whose record of activism against gay equality is long and sordid:

** Speaking of the current pope, the Associated Press reported that “Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, spearheaded a Vatican campaign against same-sex unions in 2003, issuing guidelines for Catholic politicians to oppose laws granting legal rights to gay couples when he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.” Associated Press, 6/6/05

** The Portland, Maine Archdiocese gathered more than a quarter of the funds recently used to defeat marriage equality in Maine. In addition, Marc Mutty, the chair of the principal statewide organization in Maine that fueled anti-gay discrimination there, was the Portland Archdiocese’s head spokesperson until taking a leave of absence from his job to spearhead the successful effort to rob gays and lesbians of their equal marriage rights.

** The Catholic fraternal organization Knights of Columbus bankrolled California’s anti-gay Proposition 8 to the tune of over $1 million.

** As California’s East Bay Express noted about newly-minted Oakland Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, “What almost no one knows is that without Bishop Sal, gay men and lesbians would almost surely still be able to get married today. As an auxiliary bishop in San Diego, Cordileone played an indispensable role in conceiving, funding, organizing, and ultimately winning the campaign to pass Proposition 8. It was Bishop Sal and a small group of Catholic leaders who decided that they had to amend the state constitution. It was Bishop Sal who found the first major donor and flushed the fledgling campaign with cash. It was Bishop Sal who personally brought in the organization that took the lead on the petition drive. And it was Bishop Sal who coordinated the Catholic effort with evangelical churches around the state. Bishop Sal even helped craft the campaign’s rhetorical strategy, sitting in on focus groups to hone the message of Proposition 8. “

While Catholic leaders decry any attempts to label them as haters and bigots, their own scapegoating statements tell a very different story about their true feelings:

** Former pope Karol Wotija, aka John Paul II, condemned gay foster parents for doing “violence” to children. He called us “disordered,” and “against the natural law.” He railed against civil marriage equality for all same-sex couples whether Catholic or not, condemning our civil marriage contract as an act “against God,” and proclaimed defeating marriage equality his “primary task” for 2005.

** In a 2005 pastoral letter read in every church in the diocese of Calgary, Alberta, Bishop Frederick Henry called on his flock to stamp out same-sex marriage. “Since homosexuality, adultery, prostitution and pornography undermine the foundations of the family, the basis of society, then the State must use its coercive power to proscribe or curtail them in the interests of the common good.” (365Gay.com)

** In an end-of year address in 2008, the current pope, George Ratzinger (aka Benedict XVI), said that the existence of gay people threatens humanity as much as the destruction of rainforests and that “blurring” genders through acceptance of transgender people would kill off the human race.

** Beginning in 1986, Ratzinger wrote a series of church documents that branded sexually active gays as “evil,” told church officials to kick Dignity chapters off church property and even warned Catholic lawmakers that voting in favor of gay-rights legislation is “gravely immoral” because “the approval or legalization of evil is something far different from the toleration of evil.” (Deb Price, Detroit News)

** Ratzinger has disparaged lesbian and gay couples as engaging in “pseudo-matrimonies by people of the same sex.”

** Bishop Cordileone has called same-sex marriage a Satanic plot: “The ultimate attack of the Evil One is the attack on marriage.”

** In 2007 Chicago’s Cardinal George wrote that same-sex behavior “brings people’s salvation into jeopardy” in a column for the Archdiocese of Chicago newspaper.

“When haters garb themselves in clerical robes, their statements and activities must be exposed,” said Thayer. “The Gay Liberation Network encourages all people of good will, regardless of faith background, to join us on Sunday, February 14 in front of Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral.”

For more information, email LGBTliberation@aol.com or visit www.GayLiberation.net

VICTORY over “Kill Gays, Kill Blacks” Bad Metal Band!

The Gay Liberation Network is an amazing group, and their latest and greatest is getting a stupid racist and homophobic “Black Metal” band called “Evil Incarnate” engagement cancelled.

We took a look at EI and they look like the type of band that appeals to angry 13 yr olds to piss off their mom and dad with silly superstitious mythical satanic imagery, which is idiotic, but not the issue.

The issue is their lyrics call for the mass genocide of gay and black peoples, which is no, not okay!

The report from GLN:

White Star Night Club CANCELS
Performance by Neo-Nazi Band “Evil Incarnate”!

CHICAGO — Yesterday the promoter of a multi-band show scheduled for this Saturday at the west side White Star Night Club confirmed with the Gay Liberation Network (GLN) that he has canceled the performance by neo-Nazi band “Evil Incarnate.”

In response, GLN thanked White Star management for “agreeing not to provide a venue for a group that calls for the murder of African Americans and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans people.” In the lyrics of its song, “Killer of Faggots,” Evil Incarnate boasted:

N—-r lovers and faggots
Bullets in your head
N—-r lovers and faggots
Now your [sic] dead

Luftwaffa nazi arial assault
Pounding from air never to halt
Flak 88’s and panzer divisions
Bombing the faggots into oblivion

(repeat)
Bombing the n—-rs into oblivion

The song was recently released on a compilation CD entitled “Smashing Rainbows” on the “Fetch the Rope Albums” label.

“Our thanks go not only to White Star management, but to the many in the community who called them to inform them of the situation, and to our partners in this protest, Anti-Racist Action,” said GLN co-found Andy Thayer. “Activism – getting involved in your community – has once again won an important pro-gay victory.”

“I myself am Mexican,” said concert promoter Renato Brierio. “I don’t appreciate that kind of racist or anti-homosexual b.s.”

“I have removed EVIL INCARNATE from the Festival, they have officially announced that they are NOT playing this fest. Their ideology … DOES NOT represent the views and opinions of ANYONE at White Star or any of the other bands.”

Brierio told GLN that Evil Incarnate members had tried to divert the concerns he relayed to them about their “kill gays, kill blacks” lyrics by saying that the song was 20 years old. When he learned that the song was part of a months-old compilation CD called “Smashing Rainbows” on the “Fetch the Rope Records” label, he concluded that they were lying to him.

“They say one thing and then they do another.”

But if they’re willing to call for the deaths of whole groups of people, what’s a little lying on top of that?

GOOD WORK GLN!

Time To Fire Homophobic Cop Richard Fiorito

ALERT!! THIS THURSDAY NIGHT 11/19/09

The Next Step to Stopping Anti-LGBT Cop Officer Fiorito

Chicago Cop Richard Fiorito Misuses His Power As A Cop To Attack Gay Community

This Thursday night, November 19th, is an excellent opportunity for CHICAGO residents to send a message in person to the top Chicago Police Department brass about their allowing anti-gay cop Officer Richard Fiorito to remain employed by the City of Chicago.

7 PM, Thursday, Nov. 19 In front of Chicago Police Headquarters
3510 S. Michigan Avenue
Just a few blocks east of the “35th Street“ Red Line el station (ample street parking is available too)

At 7:30 PM residents will go inside to attend the Police Board meeting. It begins with a half hour or so of formal business, followed by the public comment section. In order to speak in this section, you must call the Board at 312.742.4194 before 4 PM at least a day in advance.

The full story:

BEWARE:Homophobic Chicago Police Officer Richard Fiorito
We reported last month about the growing number of FALSE DUI’s charges being brought foward against the gay community by this “bad cop”. Members of the Gay Liberation Network and attorneys for over 35 people falsely arrested by a Town Hall District police officer, released police videotape showing that the officer trumped up the bogus charges.

The officer – Richard Fiorito. Known to harrass the gay community in and around Boystown. Will arrest you, even if you are NOT drunk and can pass the road tests!

This past week, 15 MORE plantiffs have filed suits against this allegedly anti-gay cop.

Fiorito has been placed on desk duty since the charges were first issued in early October. 16 more plaintiffs recently joined the case with the original 21, leading the total to 37 lawsuits against the officer. All testimony from Fiorito in any of these pending DUI cases will be on hold until internal investigations from the Cook County State Attorney’s Office and Independent Police Review Authority are complete.

Cook County State Attorney Anita Alvarez has now dismissed all pending Fiorito DUI casses, against the victims. Attorney JOn Erickson says, “My clients are elated Alvarez is finally doing the right thing and dismissing these cases, but will not rest until she indicts him for his crimes.”

Like that will happen!

Protest Call! Against “Illinois’s #1 Hater of Gays”

Gay Liberation Network (GLN) has called for a protest against what it calls “Illinois’s #1 Hater of Gays”!
At 6:30 PM this Saturday night, October 24th!
Peter LaBarbera, the man behind Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, is having his annual benefit and protesters will gather outside the Christian Liberty Academy, 502 W. Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL to express their First Amendment-based opposition.

Peter LaBarbera

GLN notes that Peter LaBarbera not only opposes equal rights for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender people (LGBT), but has spent literally decades fighting against equal rights:

– as a former reporter for the right-wing “Mooney” paper The Washington Times of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon cult

– as an operative with Concerned Women for America, a group dedicated to opposing equal rights for women

– as Executive Director of the Illinois Family Institute, an outfit which was at one time labeled a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center

– as one of the few, core supporters of multiple campaigns by far-right politician Jim Oberweis, whose campaigns were widely viewed as scapegoating Latino immigrants

– as one of the few, core supporters of the U.S. Senate campaign of Alan Keyes, a campaign that was so unhinged in its far-right rhetoric that future President Barack Obama rode to a record 70%+ victory to win the seat

– and now with his Americans for Truth About Homosexuality.

“With his breathless ‘undercover’ reports about Chicago’s International Mr. Leather and other events, LaBarbera’s obsession about gay sex has become legendary in political circles,” said GLN’s Andy Thayer. “His ‘activism’ would be laughable if it wasn’t also dangerous — LaBarbera was the principal proponent of the two failed attempts to get anti-gay initiatives on the Illinois ballot.”

GLN notes that LaBarbera has not only served as front-man for a series of far-right causes, his own statements have matched:

*** Appearing last year on the far-right Matt Barber program with luny-right legislator Rep. Sally “homosexuals are worse than terrorism” Kern of Oklahoma, he said that the gay lobby “threatens America and threatens children.”

*** Addressing the increasing pogromist atmosphere against LGBT people in Uganda, he said “At AFTAH, we preach Christian mercy and have denounced Talibanesque capital punishment for homosexuals in countries like Iran. But we also believe that if states and localities here in America (and governments abroad) wish to ban sodomy, they have every right to do so…” So Talibanesque laws are apparently okay, it’s just the punishment that is considered a bit extreme.

*** Talking about John Berry, the head of the federal government’s Office of Personnel Management, he said “So, what we have is sort of a subversive — if you could call it that — homosexual activist, and now he’s going to have an even much more visible and powerful role at OPM, which is a very powerful job in Washington.”

The Gay Liberation Network (www.GayLiberation.net) is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to winning equal rights and liberation for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgendered people through street protests and other direct involvement in social and political issues.

For Information: Bob Schwartz, Gay Liberation Network Rufnel@aol.com

Andy Thayer, Gay Liberation Network, LGBTliberation@aol.com, www.GayLiberation.net