A Survivor of the Damage of Conversion "Therapy"

When An Anti-Gay Activist Has a Gay Child

From Queerty: 

For many years she believed this lie as an unquestionable truth, until the day she found out her 13-year-old son, Jordan, was gay. Montgomery said she learned about Jordan’s sexuality after reading his journal.

“He was in eighth grade and he started becoming really depressed,” she explained. “He didn’t want to talk to us about it. And he had recently started keeping a journal. So I really felt strongly to go read his journal.”

“He only had a couple entries in it,” Montgomery continued. “And in one of the entries he had made a comment that said that he had noticed a boy in his class and he noticed what beautiful eyes this boy had.”

After realizing her son was gay, Montgomery felt a rush of conflicting emotions, which she said she had to work through.

“One of the first thoughts I had when I learned that Jordan was gay was everything that I thought a gay person was, he was none of those things,” she explained. “So I had to immediately let go of all of these — what I thought a gay person was — and unlearn all of these old stereotypes and relearn what it meant to be gay.”

~

Despite everything, Montgomery says she still has “hope” that things will get better between her family and their church. A new website, mormonsandgays.org, aims to start an open and accepting dialog about the LGBT community within the Mormon church.

Romney Explains (read: rants) About Mormonism

The Wrap-Up: June 14, 2012

There is a slow-burning revolt against homophobia from within the Mormon Church.

Another victim of voter ID laws: a 95 year old Wisconsinite.

After a noted silence, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has announced his support for his state's voter purge. Gov. Scott must be thrilled.

The International Olympic Committee is seeing increasing pressure to ban nations that outlaw homosexuality.

A humanist group has filed a complaint in North Carolina about the state violating the first amendmentin using churches as polling stations. It isn't surprising that this happens in North Carolina, but that it happens all over the nation.

Troy, Michigan's mayor has struck again. Seriously lady, we get it, you don't like gay people. Next topic please...

A co-founder (Jimmy LaSalvia) of conservative gay group GOProud was interviewed Wednesday morning by MSNBC's Thomas Roberts.

I had no idea that marijuana was as "legal" as it is (at least where states are concerned), but it may become even more so.

Members of the Ohio House of Representatives have sign on to a call for the state to protect citizens from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identification..

And lastly, President Obama is urging Maryland voters to vote against the state's proposed marriage equality ban. With Mitt Romney supporting a federal marriage ban, I wonder who I should vote for...?

The Religious Wrong: Unlawful Mormons

The Wrap-Up: June 5, 2012

Today, Wisconsinites will decide if Gov Scott Walker is worthy of remaining the state's governor.

Texas is giving Florida a run for its money when it comes to purging eligible voters from the rolls.

The Republican Party of North Carolina has enshrined homophobia into its official platform. This state is regressing back into the 50's.

Mitt Romney's senior campaign adviser says that women's issues are merely political distractions, which makes sense because a mere 50% of the populace is female.

Rick Santorum has some really big news coming up late this week. I can only hope it's that he's unblocking me on Twitter.

It's really sad that courts have to rule on whether or not "gay" constitutes slander, but they do.

A judge in St. Petersburg, Russia ruled that bans on gay events are unlawful.

Hundreds of Mormons from "Mormons Building Bridges" marched in Utah's Gay Pride Parade.

And lastly, it looks like the GOP is looking for a major image update. Personally, I suggest they start by getting rid of Boehner and Cantor.

The Wrap-Up; April 25, 2012

Yesterday was primary day in several states, but no one really cares at this point, so let's move on.

Missouri teachers are speaking out against the state's proposed "Don't Say Gay" bill.

Pat Robertson has done the unthinkable: he has condemned anti-gay bullying. The end of the world is indeed nigh.

With less than two weeks until North Carolinians vote on Amendment one (although early voting has already begun), opponents of this over-reaching legislation can defeat it if they can educate the public.

Has anyone else noticed that Rick Santorum hasn't endorsed Mitt Romney?

The latest Gallup poll has some good news for President Obama.

What is the big secret about Social Security? It is NOT going broke (even though the media is painting a different picture).

 Senate Democrats may be shutting down the chance of the Keystone Pipeline from coming to fruition any time soon.

 Setting himself apart from many Christian leaders, Joel Osteen has his own particular stance on Mitt Romney's religion.

The California legislature is taking some strong steps against ex-gay "therapy."

And lastly, some notes on a single-payer health care system.

The Wrap-Up: April 24, 2012

An Iowa newspaper devoted its front page to Kenneth Weishuhn Jr., a recent victim of anti-gay bullying who took his own life.

Rachel Maddow is being sued for defamation. Her crime: using someone's words in their proper (hate-filled) context. Yet again, someone demands free speech only to try to stifle someone else's. That conservative logic for you.

Some students, alums, and others from Liberty University (a Christian school) are angry that the school chose Mitt Romney (a Mormon) to speak at the school's commencement.

With two weeks until the vote on North Carolina's homophobic, disastrous, and over-reaching Amendment One, its opponents are in need of donations to capitalize on momentum.

A religious right group may be planning cyber assaults on the LGBT community. Obviously, that is what Christ would do.

Former GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman compared the Republican Party to the Communist Party in China, which I think is true, hilarious, and possibly career ending for him.

An Iowa congressional candidate thinks that being for the Buffett Rule makes President Obama un-American. I don't think this guy really knows how many people/who else is also for this rule.

A group of "street preachers" that showed up at a pride parade to protest were effectively shut down...by a flash-mob.

And lastly, sex robots.

The Wrap-Up: April 3, 2012

Republicans who are complaining about corporate tax rates really should do their homework...or just stop lying.

Even three primaries will be occurring today (and Romney is leading in all three), all eyes are on Wisconsin.

Could Rick Santorum already be eyeing the 2016 race?

Finally, the Arizona legislature gets something right...at least for now.

An anti-gay author had the temerity to say that gay people would benefit from the passage of North Carolina's Amendment 1.

Most North Carolinians do not actually know what Amendment 1 even does. This is why an educated populace is important.

"Bully" may be recut to change its rating (which would be a shameful necessity in this particular case).

Some people think that the next economic bubble to burst will be student loan debt, which is reaching record levels.

Paul Ryan really thinks he knows more about military spending than Pentagon officials.

In the race for the White House, the GOP war on women is backfiring.

An effort to curb voting rights in Missouri has been (thankfully) thwarted.

And lastly, Mitt Romney gets cagey about Mormon teachings.

The Wrap-Up: March 9, 2012

ADDENDUM: The February jobs report came in and 227,000 jobs were created in that month. Get ready to hear the GOP explain how it's all thanks to them and the Obama administration deserves zero credit. (The report came out just after this was originally posted)

The settlement reached in the Anoka-Hennpin school district has some far-reaching affects regrading anit-LGBT bullying.

There's some potentially good news out of Maryland. Remember, at the end of the day, these things usually come down to who turns out at the polls.

As a true sign of the impending apocalypse, Republicans are speaking against Grover Norquist's anti-tax pledge.

Yesterday marked the 500th day of Barack Obama's "evolution" on marriage equality.

I think when the military was doing the training after DADT was repealed, they missed a spot (or this Master Sergeant was out sick that day).

I'm wondering why a Nebraska football coach was testifying on (in this case, against) a town ordinance prohibiting LGBT discrimination. Although he certainly comes off as an expert...on doing the discriminating that is.

GOProud and Sam "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelberger are working together, meaning neither has any credibility (not that they did before of course).

Mitt Romney still has a Mormon problem.

And lastly, it looks like OMM's boycott of JCPenney didn't go so well. What a pity...

The Wrap-Up: February 2, 2012

Does anyone really even pay attention to Groundhog Day? Anyway, moving on...

Virginia joins a growing course of states attempting to disenfranchise the poor, elderly, and racial minorities pass a voter ID bill.

The Church of Latter-Day Saints does NOT have a good track record when it comes to race relations.How might this affect Mitt Romney?

Attendees of the Super Bow this weekend are in for a bit of a surprise (unless they read this article I guess).

Hudson Taylor

Newt Gingrich is set to get an endorsement today he really should not want.

Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) offers a non-apology for his remarks on civil rights. There's a "half-assed/fat" joke in there begging to be made, but I'm feeling a bit magnanimous.

"Mayors for the Freedom to Marry" is gaining more support.

Athlete Ally, which fights homophobia in sports, has found a partner: the NCAA. Also, this gives me a reason to post a picture of Athlete Ally's founder, Hudson Taylor. You're welcome.

And lastly, at least one North Carolina pastor is standing against the marriage equality ban and theocracy.

The Religious Wrong: Faith Battles

I can think of many reasons not to vot for Mitt Romney. He's two-faced. He's a panderer. He's a corporate lackey. He's against equality. The list goes on and on (and on). Honestly, however, I couldn't give two craps about him being Mormon. That in and of itself means nothing to me, nor should it mean anything to anyone with a grain of common sense or common decency. There shouldn't be a "what is his/her religion" question when people go to the polls. People should vote on the records and words of political candidates.

I also have to take issue with the statement that there are aspects of Mormon doctrine that are "unelectable." It's not that I disagree with the statement because anyone who is hardline Mormon may thus be unfit to serve (though I don't believe this includes Romney). It's that the guy who said this is implying that the same is not true about Christian candidates when it comes to Christian doctrine. Look at how bad the reaction was to Rick Perry's "Strong" ad. He is a very devout Christian (probably a more devout Christian than Romney is a devout Mormon I would guess), but that is in part why many deem HIM unfit to serve: because people don't like how he clings to certain doctrines (read: interpretations) of Christianity as well as his religious fervor. The same goes with Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann. Too much religion, not enough substance (especially in Bachmann's case).

There is also the fact that EVERYONE knows this man is a Mormon. Despite this, he has been a constant #1 or #2 in the GOP polls over the course of several months nationally while others have risen and fallen, including some of those devout Christians. The speaker in this video patently ignores this fact. If his religion is such a huge negative, why has he kept polling so high? I'm not saying there aren't people who won't support him because of his religion specifically, I'm simply saying that those people are a minority, even among Republicans.

As Jonathan Capehart mentioned in the Washington Post this week, we're electing a President, not a pope.