03/14/2007
News: Gay Babies, Arkansas, Thomas Roberts, Rosie
Los Angeles fertility clinic opens, catering specifically to gay males who want to become parents. Director: "There are a lot of centers that dibble and dabble in this. But we are the only program for gay men that has psychological, legal, medical, surrogates, donors and patients all taken care of in one place. The demand is incredible. The United States has always been busy but we are seeing more and more demand from abroad."
Radar asks: Is your baby gay?
Anderson Cooper's report on Thomas Roberts' sexual abuse at the hands of a gay priest had one glaring omission: "While it was unquestionably courageous for the man to speak so candidly about his sexual abuse at the hand of the family priest as a teenager, there seemed to be a glaring absence in the discussion: namely, about how Roberts, as an out gay man, has been affected by the abuse as a grown, sexualized adult...the fact that Roberts is an openly gay man and was the victim of an ongoing sexual assault by another man (and the fact that the other victim, Goles, is also gay) can very easily lead to a cause-effect conclusion in the minds of viewers (i.e., if you are molested by a priest, you will be gay; if you are a gay adult, it is likely because your sexual development was interrupted by same-sex abuse). This interview would have been a fantastic opportunity to address these misconceptions (which are already rampant) and put them to rest."
Equality Florida leader Nadine Smith talks about her brutal arrest at the hearings for Largo city manager Steve Stanton: "The hatred expressed by the mob, the fury that surrounded his dismissal that night by those who justified themselves by invoking God is a frightening and public example of what happens to LGBT people all the time but rarely with such visibility. Largo is a wake up call to those who believe quietly in equality. In your silence, the mob speaks for you and takes your absence as license to systemically ignore the civil and human rights of LGBT people."
Gay children's books under fire in Great Britain: "It is being argued that the books, one of which is a fairytale featuring a prince who turns down three princesses before falling in love and marrying a man, are necessary to make homosexuality seem normal to children. Fourteen schools and one local authority, backed by teaching unions and a government-funded organisation, are running the controversial scheme, which has been attacked by Christian groups."
Rosie and Reichen bowl for gay families.
Clinton, Obama, Edwards vie for gay votes: "Mrs. Clinton has stiff competition in her pursuit of influential gay Democrats. Unlike the election of 2004, when Howard Dean had the distinction of having fought for a civil-unions bill when he was governor of Vermont, the three leading Democratic candidates have virtually identical stances on the most visible gay issues. (Barack Obama, John Edwards and Mrs. Clinton are uniformly in favor of lifting a ban on gays openly serving in the military, but are all opposed to gay marriage.)"
Arkansas Senate says "no" to gay foster parents. Senator Jim Argue, (D-Little Rock): "It really bothers me when I feel like we've made choices that are based on prejudice and fear. There is absolutely no evidence that this bill is in the best interest of children."
France's high court rejects first gay marriage: "Stephane Charpin and Bertrand Charpentier were married in a civil ceremony on June 5, 2004, in Begles, a town in the southwest Bordeaux region. The government immediately said the union was outside the law, and a series of court decisions unfavorable to the couple followed."
Posted 12:38 PM EST by Andy Towle in Anderson Cooper, Arkansas, Barack Obama, Books, Election 2008, Florida, France, Gay Marriage, Gay Parents, Genetics, Great Britain, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Los Angeles, News, Rosie O'Donnell, Thomas Roberts | Permalink
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In response to the Thomas Roberts' inquiry, I (being male) was molested by a female when I was young, and still turned out gay. Apples and Oranges in that comparison
Posted by: Jeff | Mar 14, 2007 4:21:37 PM
el polacko
Please don't blame the victim. You are playing on the myth that gays will have sex with any good looking men. Thomas and Goles who were both questioning their sexuality and went to the priest for help and he took advantage of them for years. And there were other cases at Calvert Hall College High School where boy between the ages 14-18 were also abuse for years by priest and one of them committed suicide after he graduation. You could read these cases at bishop-accountability.org.
And according to your logic all the cases that involving nuns seuxal abusing boy between 14-18 should be all dismiss because they should be so luckly they score and they of could of stop it if they wanted to. In one case, one boy was sexual abuse by a nun when he was 16 in 1980s and continue for years. He describe how hard it was for him to forward and because of the abuse, he could not hold down a relationship with women and turn to drug to cope. That nun admitted to the abuse and plead guity. If you still want to the read more about these cases go to SNAP, The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
As one abuse victim put it
"Unless you have been sexual abuse yourself, you can't understand what we went through. You will never understand the power the abuser have over us. So please stop judging us and telling us it partly our fault."
Posted by: John | Mar 14, 2007 5:44:50 PM
I just got something to say about gay marriage...
And I would bet that this has already been debated but well...
What is the big deal with gay people getting married?
who are we hurting? let all those who are personally damaged by two gay people get married step forward.
Why is it that people can't let other live and let live?
Posted by: Nick | Mar 14, 2007 6:32:34 PM
John -- Thanks for the info from the B-Sun. It's not surprising. I, too, suspect there are more victims out there.
Posted by: Jeff in Deserto | Mar 14, 2007 7:15:08 PM
I just wanted to say that I am from Arkansas. Mike Huckabee is no longer the governor (thank god!) It is Mike Beebe who is a Democrat, and most definately not a Southern Baptist Preacher. I doesn't mean that is legislation is any less hateful, I just wanted to make sure that the facts were represented. As the linked article pointed out, this was really already the policy, they were just making it official.
Gay Arkansans like myself, just have to perservere and try to change from the inside. It's a slow process.
Posted by: Jeff from Arkansas | Mar 14, 2007 8:32:58 PM
I was shocked by the sad story of Thomas Roberts. That "father" Jeff needs to be locked up and the key thrown away. I am sure the Cardinal made a deal with the DA to get him that SHORT sentence. I remain a Catholic despite the SOB's who lead the Catholic Church heron earth. I wonder if Thomas Roberts left the Church? It took courage for him to come out with his story; let's give him the credit he is due.
Posted by: Genko | Mar 25, 2007 2:17:55 AM