03/28/2006
Report: Gay Greek man told to complete a six-month psychiatric course if he wants a drivers license.
More news from the progressive state of Tennessee. A State Representative, Debra Maggart, recently emailed a Vanderbilt masters student in regard to a gay adoption bill that legislators in that state are considering. Maggot made the ridiculous claim that gays adopt so they can have a child to sexually abuse: "We also have seen evidence that homosexual couples prey on young males and have, in some instances, adopted them in order to have unfretted access to subject them to a life of molestation and sexual abuse." According to WTVF Nashville, she also said that "most homosexual couples have numerous emotional dysfunctions and psychological issues that may not be healthy for children." She claims her information comes from the ACLU and Focus on the Family.
STUDY: 25% of young gay men in Northern Ireland attempt suicide. "A quarter had attempted suicide; over two thirds thought about taking their own lives while four out of five who had suicidal thoughts indicated they were related to same sex attraction. Among the key factors which contributed to suicidal thoughts and self harm were homonegative experiences in school, bullying, homophobia from other pupils and neighbours."
Posted 11:29 AM EST by Andy Towle in Elsewhere | Permalink
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Okay, that Maggot woman needs a swift kick in the taco. How can she believe suck foolishness? If it weren't so dangerous to say things like that on a national stage, it would be pathetically funny. What a stupid cunt.
Posted by: Brian | Mar 28, 2006 11:47:05 AM
Here is here email address:
rep.debra.young.maggart@legislature.state.tn.us
Posted by: Matt | Mar 28, 2006 11:47:36 AM
Cell: (615) 207-5424
Debra Maggart
112 LaBar Dr.
Hendersonville, TN 37075
debra@debramaggart.com
http://www.debramaggart.com/
Posted by: huh@huh.com | Mar 28, 2006 11:49:32 AM
Um, she spelled 'unfettered' wrong. Not only is she ignorant, she's just plain stupid.
Posted by: MT | Mar 28, 2006 11:51:34 AM
Almost as offensive is that news "article" in the link that tries to be "balanced" as if Maggart weren't engaging in hateful slander. That's what I call journalism.
Posted by: John | Mar 28, 2006 12:08:20 PM
andy, not sure if the pun on Maggart's last name was intentional (in your link text), but i found it amusing nonetheless.
Posted by: j-vass | Mar 28, 2006 12:09:37 PM
What a stupid, skanky bitch. By that logic, straight men should not adopt, because they are constantly raping and strangling women and girls.
Posted by: Anon1 | Mar 28, 2006 12:17:27 PM
So much progress made, so much still to make. Why is the world still so fucked up?
Maybe if America took a moral lead (rather than mistaking cruelty, bigotry and stupidity for morality...)
Can`t you actually vote these arseholes out of power?
Posted by: Peter Rivendell | Mar 28, 2006 12:27:30 PM
Um, Peter? Have you been to Tennessee?
Americans in general and Southerners in particular are so totally inundated and brainwashed by conservative fundamentalist Christian doctrine that they can't seem to use their powers of critical thinking anymore. Yes, we could vote this stupid cunt out of office, but it would require understanding that being a moral person doesn't necessarily mean adhering to the teachings of your fundamentalist faith. I'm afraid that with all our money and technology and military might, our country is still tethered to our original puritanical roots.
(And yes, I know I used the c-word. It's an offensive word, but bitch doesn't quite cut it for this woman.)
Posted by: Brian | Mar 28, 2006 12:51:29 PM
With people like Maggart it's not really enough to ask where they got their (obviously rediculous) "facts" but what specific facts they're basing their claims.
There was a recent incident where a woman went on CNN claiming that children raised by same-sex parents were nine times as likely to be abused. When pressed (not on CNN, of course, but by fallout when The Daily Show picked on this moment) it turned out that this woman took the topline results of different studies and combined the statistics... someone with a rudimentary knowledge of statistics knows that's not right.
Posted by: Lyle | Mar 28, 2006 12:53:29 PM
I first read about this at Pam's blog over at http://www.pamspaulding.com/weblog/2006/03/whos-dysfunctional.html. It promted an irate e-mail from me to my family and friends in Middle Tennessee, hoping that they think about these things when they vote.
I was able to send a happier follow up after a respected adoption policy institute released this report last Friday, supporting adoption by gay and lesbian families: http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/policy/2006_Expanding_Resources_for_Children.php
Posted by: Wilson | Mar 28, 2006 1:17:30 PM
I was having some thoughts while walking on campus today...
Okay, we all know the southerners are a bit behind on things: education, racial equality, the english language, etc.
Don't they realize they are digging their own grave? With the world becoming more and more global with each passing day, and with more people realizing that homosexuality just is, don't these country bumpkins know they are going to be left behind?
I mean look at what happened when slavery ended: the economy collapsed. There are more teenage pregnancies in the south than in other parts of the nation, and if they don't shape up their views and practices when the rest of the world truly moves into the 21st century and the earth becomes on, these morons are going to be left behind.
The intelligent design fiasco is a perfect example. If you were to discuss that "theory" in India, China, or any other country currently gaining ground in the field, you'd be laughed out of the university. Teaching that bullshit helps no one. If anything you put the children at a distinct disadvantage.
Other aspects like foreign language are very important, and to my surprise not all high schools in America require at least two years. Chinese, Farsi, Arbanic and Spanish are just a few that are sorely needed.
I find it sad that they are slowly but surely ensuring their own path to poverty and ignorance, though I suppose seeing how that's currently where they are today perhaps they don't see much difference.
Unfortunately, it's the children who pay the price.
Posted by: Jason | Mar 28, 2006 1:20:53 PM
Brian, no need to apologize for use of the "C" word. You called it like it is. That word is reserved for those special occassions when someone deserves it, and in this case she does.
Posted by: wayne | Mar 28, 2006 1:47:12 PM
C'mon Brian, no need to apologize. Neither conservative nor Christian are really that offensive...
Posted by: basis4insanity | Mar 28, 2006 1:51:23 PM
The woman is a CUNT, period. It's clear that every time she's blown her nose, her brains have been coming out with the snot.
Posted by: Robert In WeHo | Mar 28, 2006 1:59:51 PM
well look at her credits she's a single mom.
jilted by a man obviously so she's very bitter and this is where she takes out her anger.
it's ok i let out a little anger in an email to her.
poor bitch ! her child must suffer so....
Posted by: mike | Mar 28, 2006 2:15:36 PM
wait...I think I did read somewhere that Jesus said not to let gay men adopt kids.
Posted by: Myackie | Mar 28, 2006 3:08:43 PM
>Okay, we all know the southerners
>are a bit behind on things:
>education, racial equality, the
>english language, etc.
WTF? Please stop generalizing and stereotyping. That's the problem with Maggart and you're doing it do.
Posted by: huh@huh.com | Mar 28, 2006 3:38:27 PM
I don't think southerners are behind on the english language, but the fact is that southern states often do have challenges regarding education and social justice issues. As a southern boy, I don't think that's strictly a southern thing though. I think it's more a socioeconomic thing. Many southern states are relatively poor states, and have the problems that accompany that. You'll see the same thing in northern areas that have experienced economic hardship for an extended period of time, it's just expressed differently. So I don't necessarily think Jason's stereotyping when he says that... it's just that he might be taking the "southerners are stupid" thing a little too far. Our New York brothers often make similar assumptions. Southerners do the same thing. It's human nature. The only time it's particularly harmful is when it's taken past the point of "sibling rivalry" and starts to hurt people... like Maggart's comments.
Posted by: Brian | Mar 28, 2006 4:20:57 PM
To: debra@debramaggart.com
Cc:
Subject: Campaign contribution
Hello.
Please send me contact information for anyone that may be opposing you for election. I would like to send them a large contribution in light of your uneducated and immoral allegations regarding gay adoption.
Many thanks,
Rod Townsend
Posted by: mo | Mar 28, 2006 5:05:59 PM
Oh let her rant. With any luck someone will strategically place a bullet between her ears in the near future.
Posted by: Rich | Mar 28, 2006 7:01:58 PM
Lay off the South and focus on the stupid cunt. As a southerner living in the northeast, I can tell you it isn't a north/south thing, but more of a urban/rural issue. Have you been to parts of upstate New York??
Posted by: jon luddite | Mar 28, 2006 7:13:51 PM
If there's any school on the south that her comments would be welcomed by all but a few it would be Vanderbilt.
Also, I'm from the south and I know what's good and bad about it. It has deserved its reputation as a bastion of backward and recessive old world behaviours and until I see clear, consistant evidence that things have changed I will regard it that way and not voice objection when I hear others do the same.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | Mar 28, 2006 7:52:49 PM
Hate, ignorance and prejudice are every where. Even on Towleroad.
Posted by: jon luddite | Mar 28, 2006 9:46:10 PM
It's an urban/rural issue. I'm from Nashville, born and raised, and traveled enough to know this.
Unfortunately this representative is from Tennessee and does not represent all Tennesseans. Nashville has a progressive gay community and our leaders immediately began aggressively addressing the gay adoption legislation a couple of years ago. In fact, it was voted down in a legislative committee last year and this representative doesn't like that. Please stop the Southern bashing, it's not necessary.
Posted by: kevin | Mar 29, 2006 1:05:56 AM