In light of the recent and tragic spate of gay youth suicides, the Washington Post‘s On Faith blog chose to honor National Coming Out day with a guest post (10/11/10) by raging homophobe Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.
The post, titled “Christian Compassion Requires the Truth About Harms of Homosexuality,” accused “homosexual activist groups” like the Gay Lesbian and Straight Educators Network (GLSEN) of being the real bullies, pushing kids to come out and believe they can’t change, which he argues is “likely exacerbating the very problem they claim they want to solve.”
As evidence, Perkins cites two studies, claiming that they show that depression amongst gays is not connected to discrimination. Trouble is, as Box Turtle Bulletin‘s Jim Burroway explains, the two studies show exactly the opposite. Which wouldn’t be unusual for Perkins, whose group (as John Aravosis points out) often relies on the pseudo-scientific “studies” of the Family Research Institute, which, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, “churns out hate literature masquerading as legitimate science.” (Its head, Paul Cameron, once argued that “extermination of homosexuals” might be needed in the next three to four years.)
Yet Perkins is a regular in the corporate media Rolodex. In response to the push for repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (Extra!, 5/10), Perkins put out a press statement saying a repeal would “jeopardize our nationâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s security to advance the agenda of radical homosexual lobby.” CNN felt that merited not one but two chances for Perkins to talk about the issue (Larry King, 2/2/10; Newsroom, 2/2/10). With Perkins so busy at CNN, MSNBC had to settle for his colleague Peter Sprigg (2/2/10), who warned that repealing DADT was “guaranteed” to lead to sexual assault–by, not against, gays.
The heartening thing about the Post column is that the comments on the post are overwhelmingly, and fiercely, critical of “On Faith” blog editor Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn’s decision to give space to Perkins on this subject and not factchecking his propaganda. The question is, when will corporate media outlets finally start listening to them and stop lending legitimacy to bigots spouting lies?
UPDATE: If you’d like to contact the editors about their decision, here’s the email: onfaith@washingtonpost.com
Scum like Tony Perkins already have lots of venues to express themselves and it’s time we let the victims of homophobia have a voice to.
It’s rather obvious that perkins is a raging closet case.
I am opposed to both legal and illegal immigration. This country is overpopulated, and 21 million Americans are out of work.
at this point i’m left wondering what the wapo od-ed section won’t print…
Yeah, Woodward burnstein, how low can the Post sink? Doesn’t this sort of thing embarass at least a few people there (at least the cleaning crew and the folks who deliver the coffee)? Perkins is, to paraphrase James Woods’ character in “John Carpenter’s Vampires”, truly a pile of dogshit. A low and contemptible man, and I believe MikeJ is right. Check out Susan Faludi’s most excellent book “Backlash” for an earlier and accurate and disturbing take on this miserable jerk. The WaPo continues to dive further into the muck by publishing the ravings of lying assholes like Perkins (didn’t the publish some of Sarah Palin’s musings on their editorial page?). Very, very bad.
Anyone who criticizes the arguments made by homosexuals and their sympathizers is branded as a homophobe. Anyone who criticizes Israel is branded as an anti-semite. Anyone who is against unrestricted immigration is branded a racist, and anyone who supports regulating big business is branded a socialist, such is the level of discourse we have arrived at in this land of freedom of speech.
Perkins is the immovable man. Stubborn is a good word. Patronizing. Often wrong would be correct. Guided or misguided, by his religious,and social views he is an Albatross to anyone who supports his narrow views.Even in areas where he is correct(legislatively speaking)you get the mean spirited feeling that he has skin in the game. And Even in areas where conservative,and libs(and lets face it-your own president, let alone Palin- agree with many of his general views)….cross his path it is a decidedly unhealthy road. Not conducive with the simple tenant “Live and let live” ,or the golden rule.
Gee, I’m all for regulating “Big Business,” and you know what? I’m a socialist (really). Unfortunately, Mr. Perkins is a liar, and his arguments are homophbic. They’re also hateful and stupid. Very, very, few people are for unrestricted immigration; many of those against immigration (or what they might call unrestricted immigration) are in fact racists. Some who criticize Israel might be anti-Semitic, but most are not. Try not to over-generalize; it is possible to make informed decisions and assessments (like my informed decision that Mr Perkins is a lying asshole and a homophobe).
Re-read the article, Bob C., and try getting the gist of what FAIR is pointing out here: Hateful, lying frauds and religious mountebanks like Perkins are treated with respect and given forums in major media to vent their dumb “views” and “ideas.” Why would that be? That’s what’s going on here.
TimN
FINALLY………………I see the words I have longed to see.The words that bring such clarity to the views you espouse, that you and I have wrestled with. “I’m a socialist(really)”. Now the question is what kind of socialist.What world leader or country do you look to that helps you best dance the socialist twist?Certainly there is no one in our government that you would embrace with socialist views………………Or is there?Tim tim…..who did you vote for?
Ain’t I a stinker :)
WAPO sucks! Not even fit for wrapping dead fish!
Funny how the anti-gay anti-feminist bigots get (more than) equal-time press, as required by law, when women’s groups or gay groups held rallies or parades. But when the haters sprew their hate, no time at all is given to those whom they hate???? How come?
On another note, Time Magazine has article after article on religion but you hear from atheists about once in 100 articles. How come?
The Washington Post is dead to me.