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04/14/2009
Anti-Gay Religious Lies About Same-Sex Marriage Exposed
I've featured some of Rob Tisinai's videos before on Towleroad. This new one does a great job of exposing some of the religious right wing lies about same-sex marriage.
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 12:25 PM EST by Andy Towle in Evangelical Christians, Gay Marriage, Mormon, News | Permalink
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Rob is a very effective advocate for us. Good for him, and us!
Posted by: Chris Gable | Apr 14, 2009 12:56:44 PM
Until someone uploads images captured on their cell phone movie accessory of Jesus coming back, resulting in a viral explosion to mainstream media, THESE ARE well-intentioned BUT MEANINGLESS!!!!
They are just the digital video variation on "preaching to the choir." The number of people who haven't already made up their minds about gay rights who might watch them is subatomic. With respect, why otherwise intelligent people continue to suggest otherwise is beyond me.
If they're good enough to actually change minds then raise money to buy network television time and broadcast them where the people who actually NEED to see them might.
Posted by: Leland Frances | Apr 14, 2009 1:12:58 PM
Well helloooooo Daddy! Rob Tisinai is one hot ho. Me likey. Yum.
Posted by: Ugh | Apr 14, 2009 1:40:49 PM
@Leland - I respectfully disagree with you, these videos do have meaning. Video's like these are great tools for the gay kid who lives in some remote part of America that is dealing with their own sexuality and how to come out. This video & information will give them courage and strength to be themselves.
Posted by: ugotmeinsd_619 | Apr 14, 2009 1:47:39 PM
I know, UGH. Me likey too.
Leland makes a good point, in that those who are move-able on marriage equality seem to already have been moved. Those who aren't are too feeble-minded to question their homohating pastors or are consumed by some nameless fear related to gays getting married. Look at the "storm's a-coming" ad... one of the direct quotes is "my freedoms will be taken away". another is "and i'm afraid". What freedoms? Afraid of what? No one asks them these questions. If anyone were to get a chance to ask them these questions, they wouldn't be able to form a coherent answer. Fear of marriage equality is just that... fear. And it's completely impervious to reasoned argument because there was no real reason to be afraid in the first place.
Posted by: The Milkman | Apr 14, 2009 1:49:32 PM
It's a very good video... and it doesn't hurt that Rob is a very handsome man (I might add). I agree with Leland. It would be good to get someone like Rob on national TV making these points. The people that really need to hear this message aren't going to.
Posted by: David in Houston | Apr 14, 2009 1:50:27 PM
Leland.. oh LOL its you.
You are somewhat right in stating that this video will most likely be preaching to the choir. However, it is now up to us to see that this video really tackles the facts and tell our friends or relatives who might be on the fence or dead set against gay marriage. Maybe there will be something in this video that strikes a nerve or helps them to see the light. At least it might help some to see their arguments debunked and at the very least question their own action and feelings. If this video reaches 1000 people against gay marriage and only changes 30 minds out of that 1000 then we have already won. Prop 8 was not the will of the people. It was the will of 52.5% of the people and how many of those votes were based on the notion that their kids would be in danger if gay marriage happens. That seemed to be the biggest argument I heard amongst the average person. So just imagine 3% of the population changing their vote. That's a California win.
Once someone becomes in favor of gays marrying then they won't go back on that. They will see that the sky isn't falling and life is just as normal as it ever was. They will realize that we are just like they are and aren't trying to run any world domination gay agenda.
Posted by: Aiden Raccoon | Apr 14, 2009 1:50:53 PM
I completely agree with everything in this video.
He has very libertarian (read: commonsense and fair) viewpoints.
Posted by: paul c | Apr 14, 2009 1:54:52 PM
The point in singing to the choir is...to keep them singing.
I'm happy to let Equality California and other big, well-funded organizations run their commercials and ad campaigns. But I think our best hope is to create an army of well-informed gays and lesbians who are ready to correct the religious right's lies in conversations with friends, family, and co-workers.
In states like California, we only have to reach a tiny portion of the electorate to shift the vote to our side. We really are our own best ambassadors, and I can't see it as meaningless to keep armed and informed in the conversations we have day after day.
(And if you're not having those conversations -- why not?
Posted by: Rob Tisinai | Apr 14, 2009 2:12:44 PM
Too bad he uses the terms used by the Radical Religious Extremists; it only undermines the fight for Civil Rights.
Posted by: Sargon Bighorn | Apr 14, 2009 2:18:43 PM
smart + handsome = sexxxy!
Posted by: nic | Apr 14, 2009 2:36:44 PM
Yo...Leland...........Don't waste time telling other people what they are doing wrong; do what you think is right instead.
Posted by: Chris | Apr 14, 2009 2:46:31 PM
Thanks for agreeing with yourself, Rob!
An "army of well-informed gays and lesbians" isn't "our best hope," it's your best fantasy, apparently suffering from terminal self-delusion as you do. They haven't done it in adequate enough numbers for 40 years, even tho the "talking points" existed even then, and they're not about to do it now.
They're too busy recycling methods that wore out long ago: circle jerk rallies and candlelight vigils that CHANGE NOTHING save their grasps of Reality.
But back to your own masturbation fantasy: I'm going to type this slowly for you and others still drunk on the Big Myth of 2008: YOUTUBE DID NOT ELECT BARACK OBAMA!
It helped A LITTLE, in terms of exciting people already attracted to him, but the great role the Internet played in his election was as old as the the Howard Dean campaign: good old-fashioned fundraising gone cyber.
And from that came what FUNCTIONALLY won the election: funding the unprecedented, 50-state application of TRADITIONAL, three-dimensional, real time, feet on the ground, voices on the phone, posters in the yards and windows, AND commercial ACTUALLY SEEN BY UNDECIDED VOTERS ON ACTUAL TELEVISION!
Still, UGO's point is perfectly taken and one I apologize for not including. Such things DO serve to help emerging gays to accept themselves which is at least as important as changing most laws. And for that I thank you and other similar creators.
Posted by: Leland Frances | Apr 14, 2009 2:51:29 PM
Yeah, I was wondering how comments until someone remarked on his appearance. Three. That's gay men for ya.
Posted by: latebrosus | Apr 14, 2009 2:53:35 PM
You go, Leland! :)
Posted by: Rob Tisinai | Apr 14, 2009 3:02:18 PM
Regardless of how one feels about the effectiveness of Mr Tisinai's video, it must be noted that he's done research, found the facts, taken the time, spent the energy and money, and produced this video. It's commendable and an example of what more Gay Americans should do with the issue of Civil Marriage and Equal Rights.
As Auntie Mame said when Patrick served the morning Martini to Mr Babcock of the Nickerbocker Bank, "Knowledge is Power Mr. Babcock".
Mr Tisinai drives that point home, knowledge is power and Gay Americans need all the power they can get.
Posted by: Sargon Bighorn | Apr 14, 2009 4:06:17 PM
The value of this video is less about changing minds and more about showing us, the choir, the need to calmly and rationally take apart the opposition's arguments. Seems obvious, yet all too often I see the so-called leaders in this fight not adequately taking on the specifics of these bogus claims. Is this video going to alter the landscape alone? Of course not. But it's a reminder of how we should be emphasizing the difference between civil and religious marriage at every turn, and how we should never hand over marriage to the churches (as people repeatedly suggest, even on Towleroad). It is this kind of calm, clear argument, along with various other factors, that helped secure victory in VT. I agree with Sargon Bighorn's points, including stopping using the term "gay marriage." We don't want "gay marriage," we want "marriage" i.e. marriage equality. The term matters.
Posted by: Ernie | Apr 14, 2009 5:19:25 PM
This video is amunition we can use against the heterosexual supremacists
Posted by: Dhani Darko | Apr 14, 2009 5:31:05 PM
Excellent points made by an articulate man willing to confront liars and hypocrites with their lies and hypocrisy. Love it.
Posted by: Kyle Sullivan | Apr 14, 2009 9:03:03 PM
looks like Rob overlooked one major fact about the lies and rhetoric of the religious institutions: NO RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION IS FORCED TO PERFORM ANY MARRIAGE-Be it straight or gay.
Catholics are not forced to marry divorcees, and a Jewish Rabi is not forced to marry a Mormon couple (or polygamous family for that matter). Simple as that.
These fear mongers are simply too PC to say that they don't think gays should have ANY civil rights.
This "marriage battle" is just a cover up for their true intentions.
Posted by: manny | Apr 15, 2009 3:16:00 AM
Would Rob like to be the spokesperson for GLBT equality? The guy they get on the talking-head shows to give our side of the story? He gets my vote.
Posted by: Jeffrey | Apr 15, 2009 3:18:32 AM
LELAND: You take some ACTION and start a fund to get Rob's video on the TV where the old folks still watch. STOP whinging about other people's actions.
As someone who regularly engages people in this discussion, I'm ALWAYS happy to hear new language and approaches to the top.
Thanks Rob!
Posted by: David R. | Apr 15, 2009 12:27:19 PM