Iowa’s Rep. Steve King, who fears gay marriage will lead to socialism, is revving up his anti-gay troops in Congress and got 52 of his colleagues to join his letter to Obama calling for the ouster of safe schools czar Kevin Jennings. As if Obama reads his mail.
But King & Co. are taking the wrong approach. They’re focusing in on Jennings’ supposed pro-homo agenda, and not the 16-year-old school boy scandal that could bankrupt his reputation.
In the letter, the representatives write, “As the founder of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Mr. Jennings has played an integral role in promoting homosexuality and pushing a pro-homosexual agenda in America’s schools — an agenda that runs counter to the values that many parents desire to instill in their children. … We respectfully request that you remove Kevin Jennings, the Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, from your administration. It is clear that Mr. Jennings lacks the appropriate qualifications and ethical standards to serve in this capacity.”
Going after Jennings’ record of fostering tolerance? That’s why Obama hired him! And that’s where the White House can once again turn as a reason to defend Jennings and keep him in place. It should be easy for Jennings’ Democratic supporters to flip the notion that Jennings is “promoting homosexuality and pushing a pro-homosexual agenda” into the real situation: Jennings is promoting tolerance and acceptance among America’s school children.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
We say “should” because King & Co. have some high profile supporters, including Sean Hannity, who spends an hour every day lambasting the president and has no motivation to end the assault on Jennings.
But King’s letter, and those who signed on, is an embarrassing stain on public office.
willie
Why not take the high road here, Queerty?
Time to get out of the catty blog mentality and stand up for one of our own who’s unfairly taking it on the chin (and lord knows where else) and who’s in a terrific position to do some wonderful work – all of which he’s completely and highly qualified for.
Further, let’s move on with the issue of him dispensing advise to a 16 year old boy. It was over 20 years ago and Kevin was in his 20’s! Perspective Please?
Stand up and support one of our own.
Jones-Muniz
We as bloggers and readers need to be countering these moves by action of our own. Contacting our Representatives, Senators, and President and giving our support on this and other issues. We need to drown out the Right’s outragious tactics with our own strong support on issues. (bloggers should all have imbedded links to organizations such as change.org or directly to congress)
Chip
Hey Queerty, get us a link so we can find out how our representatives voted!
Brian
No surprises. ALL Christians.
16 – Baptist
10 – Catholic
8 – “Christian”
7 – Methodist
3 – Lutheran
3 – Protestant
2 – Mormon
1 – Christian Scientist
1 – Episcopalian
1 – Presbyterian
1 – Seventh Day Adventist
The anti-gay Representatives that signed the Letter and their stated religion:
Alexander – Baptist
Aderholt – Baptist
Akin – Presbyterian
Austria – Catholic
Bachmann – Lutheran
Bachus – Baptist
Bartlett – SDA
Barton – Methodist
Boozman – Baptist
Broun – Baptist
Brown, H. – Baptist
Carter – Lutheran
Chaffetz – Mormon
Coffman – Methodist
Cole – Methodist
Conaway – Baptist
Davis, Geoff – Baptist
Fallin – “Christian”
Fleming – Baptist
Foxx – Catholic
Franks – Baptist
Garrett – Protestant
Gingrey – Catholic
Gohmert – Baptist
Hunter – Protestant
Issa – “Christian”
Jordan – “Christian”
Lamborn – “Christian”
Latta – Catholic
Luetkemeyer – Catholic
Marchant – “Christian”
McClintock – Baptist
McHenry – Catholic
McKeon – Mormon
McMorris – “Christian”
Mica – Episcopalian
Miller, J. – Methodist
Myrick – Methodist
Neugebauer – Baptist
Olson, P. – Methodist
Pence – “Christian”
Pitts – Protestant
Posey – Methodist
Rogers – Baptist
Rooney – Catholic
Ryan, Paul – Catholic
Shuster – Lutheran
Smith, C – Catholic
Smith, L. – Christian Scientist
Wamp – Baptist
Westmoreland – Baptist
Jones, Walter – Catholic
RM
Kevin Jennings spoke to my highschool, before I was out.
I consider him a hero and one of the best people working in the White House.
Freddie
How many of those Rethuggies on the list are also adulterers? Out them.
Republican
Brian,
Give the bigotry a fucking rest.
Peggy
Only 53? What the hell is wrong with those other Congressman?
Kevin Jennings doesn’t give a rip about kids – he’s all about advancing the agenda.
Republican
Peggy,
I think you’re on the wrong site. Idiot homophobes like you belong on godhatesfags.com.
Peggy
Well, “Republican,” why in God’s name would any grown man introduce children to a physically risky behavior? Are you unaware that HIV/AIDS is on the decline in every group EXCEPT gay and bisexual men?
Brian
@ Republican
All the Representatives that signed the “be afraid of homosexuals” Letter are Christian.
I didn’t call them “bigots,” but they ALL clearly have bigoted belief systems. Do you have any evidence to the contrary?
Republican
Well, “Peggy”, being gay is as much a behavior as being a genius or an idiot is. As for sex between men, it’s called being selective and wearing a condom. There is nothing about being gay that says you have to go around barebacking, so why not focus your anger on that issue? It always amuses me how the anti-gay folks who claim to love marriage, monogamy, and children so much don’t actually support the gays who enter into long-term relationships and have families. But of course, it’s all just a bunch of BS, because the real reason behind their position is that they find gays ‘icky’ and that’s reason enough to discriminate against them in their minds.
Peggy
“It always amuses me how the anti-gay folks who claim to love marriage, monogamy, and children so much don’t actually support the gays who enter into long-term relationships and have families.” – Republican
Because the monogamous homosexual relationship is largely a myth. Escalating cases of HIV/AIDS in the gay male community supports this as well.
Why is it that nearly EVERY gay website has pictures of half-naked men in come hither poses? Do they really expect to be taken seriously or have the hetero crowd assume that they’re about anything other than the kinky sex?
Republican
Brian,
I didn’t say you were calling them bigots. I was actually commenting on your words. You seem to love to post a lot of comments about religion all over Queerty. That, of course, is your right, and I’m not saying that you’re always (or even mostly) wrong. What frustrates me though is you have a tendency to personalize it and make it a Christian vs. Gay thing, which is hurtful to some on here who are gay christians. Maybe it makes no sense to you, but the reality is that there are quite a few gays who are both happily gay and christian who attend gay-friendly churches and so forth. I understand you think all religion is messed up (again, your right), but I think you’d do a far better job of convincing people if you were a bit more thoughtful with your comments.
PopSnap
@Peggy
REALLY? So you’re a conspiracy theorist, huh? You seem to be thinking that literally all of the ~10 million GLBT people in America are in on some kind of mass conspiracy? Gay men are more promiscuous because MEN are the more promiscous gender. Testosterone will do that to you. Look at how often lesbians have sex vs. gay men. The association has to do with gender not sexual orientation.
Further, I suppose you dare suggest that those couples who have been together for more than 20 some years are just lying and are trying to get people to ‘accept’…what, exactly? If all they do is have sex, what do they want people to ‘accept’, the fact that they have sex a lot? You flatter yourself by suggesting we even give a shit that you’re breathing right now. What we want is to be able to marry, not be fired or beat up because we are gay, or be kicked out of the army because we’re gay. Period. That’s it.
Not everyone accepts me, but there are plenty of people who DO. And, I am 17 years old, never had sex with any of my gay friends…but almost all of my straight friends have had ex upwards of 10+ times. Look up teenage/young adult premarital sex if you don’t believe me.
I’m well liked by adults, have a 3.5 GPA, and got several letters from colleges asking me to attend their universities with a major in journalism- I write for the local newspaper. I find it OFFENSIVE that you seem to think all I want to do is have sex. You’re bearing false witness, miss, and that’s a SIN.
have a nice day =]
RepubIicann
Well, I’ve tried reply to Peggy several times, but Queerty keeps fucking up.
Republican
PopSnap,
Right on.
Brian
@ Republican:
It’s not an indictment of all Christians. The problem is how do we tell them apart? There are conservative Christians and liberal (or progressive) Christians, but they are not clearly identified.
Recent polls suggest Catholics are evenly divided re: homosexuality. I would prefer two types of Catholics – those for us and those against us.
It’s happening with Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians and Methodists are already splitting – I’d like them to pick new names while they’re at it. Maybe “New Lutherans” and “Old Lutherans,” etc.
Daniel
I think the real story is Steve King’s obsession with violating the human rights of gay kids. It is very disturbing.
Peggy
Ahh yes, Daniel. AIDS: a civil right.
Daniel
Ahh, Peggy. You are obviously ignorant. A monogamous gay couple can have sex their entire lives and never contract the virus that causes AIDS, while a straight person who doesn’t protect themselves can contract the virus during their first and only heterosexual encounter. The bottom line is education and ensuring people are empowered enough to get educated and stand up for their sexual health with knowledge and confidence. Violating the human rights of gay kids does nothing but harm them. And your ignorance and bigotry does nothing for anyone. Steve King is just another ambitious politician violating the human rights of millions of other people. He isn’t original; history is filled with them.
Peggy
“A monogamous gay couple can have sex their entire lives and never contract the virus that causes AIDS, while a straight person who doesn’t protect themselves can contract the virus dring their first and only heterosexual encounter.” – Daniel
No duh, Daniel, but how many gay men are exclusively monogamous? You haven’t seen me defend heterosexual promiscuity here so I’m not sure why you brought it up.
Take the two most pristine gay men in the universe and cut them loose for an exclusive, monogamous relationship and there is STILL damage done to their anatomy, assuming they engage in the gay male sexual norm, anal sex.
Anatomy, my friend.
BrianZ
I got a good laugh out of Peggy. Wrapping it all up in some quasi-intellectualism that still manages to try too hard by half.
I do love that she brought up damage to the anatomy resulting from sexual intercourse: That’s not one I see much! Of course she fails to mention that her vag will soon be dripping out of her crotch from intercourse and childbirth. Never fear, vag reconstruction is a common procedure to correct that loose, “hotdog down the hallway” effect.
TikiHead
Peggy, be honest. Are you fingering yourself whilst interacting with us Sodomites?
Republican
“No duh, Daniel, but how many gay men are exclusively monogamous? You haven’t seen me defend heterosexual promiscuity here so I’m not sure why you brought it up.”
But see, Peggy, that’s where your argument falls apart and doesn’t really respond to what we’re saying. We get that you say it’s about monogamy, sex rates, etc. But why then are you opposed to letting those gays who do want to be monogamous get married and why aren’t you focusing on encouraging monogamy in the gay community instead of opposing love? The fact that you’re painting all gays with a broad brush shows that this isn’t really about a desire to see married people be monogamous, but is instead about the fact that you don’t like gay people.
On that note, I’d really love to hear your argument for denying lesbians marriage. A lot of what you say only applies to gay men.
As for your anatomy argument, please, come on. By your vague definition, there is damage done when a man and a woman have sex.
I wish so much that you could see that sex between two, loving men can be just as special for them as it is for any married, heterosexual couple. I’m afraid that you will still be fighting this years from now when gay marriage is pretty much legal everywhere and that’s sad. Support love, Peggy.
Peggy
Repub,
The wall of the vagina is actually much tougher than the wall of the rectum and much less susceptible to communicable viruses. One was created for sexual intercourse and the other was not.
TikiHead
But Peggy, strength differences aside, you can finger either or both.
Are you?
Peggy
Tikihead,
You’re lending a lot of credence to the radical homosexual movement. Keep typing, chump!
TikiHead
So no answer. Do you use a plastic cover on your keyboard?
TikiHead
And I do think your definition of ‘chump’ needs revisiting, Peggy dear. I would define a bitter, obsessively masturbating Fundamentalist Christian® spinster trolling a gay website, and spewing forth long-refuted ‘facts’ in the comments sections, as behaving ‘chumpishly.’
Way to be an ambassador for Christ.
Peggy
“Long refuted ‘facts'”? To what are you referring? I get my information from the CDC.
PopSnap
hahahahahahahaha so the CDC says that gay people should not have buttsex? Thats so funny. Where does it say that?
And what about straight people having anal sex? Does it not apply to them? Or what?
Daniel
Peggy, you need to learn more about sex. You obviously aren’t doing it right if you think there is damage. Once again, your ignorance is astounding.
TikiHead
@Peggy: Thou art full of shit. Even your pussy is.
Peggy
“Long refuted ‘facts'”? To what are you referring?
Tikihead,
Try to dispense with the childish name-calling and answer my question.
TikiHead
I am referring to virtually every single you have posted here, Ms. Stinky Fingers.
Now, please, fuck off, Troll. Your routine is old and tired, and has been done better by others.
BUH-bayeeee!
TikiHead
Question answered.
Peggy
Anal Sex: Sign of Gayness
“Many men view anal sex as the final step on their path to gayness. (Once you’ve done it you must be gay.) For some it’s a sign of their first true love….”
– Stephen Goldstone (“The Ins and Outs of Gay Sex: A Medical Handbook for Men”; Dell: New York, 1999), p. 2.; emphasis author’s.
Anal Fissures
“An anal fissure is a tear or cut in the anal lining and usually begins as an extremely painful event… Anal fissures most often result from a hard bowel movement tearing the sensitive lining of the anal canal … In gay men, other common causes of fissures are trauma from anal intercourse or fingers and [sex] toys as well as ulcers related to HIV … If a fissure occurs during anal sex, stop immediately. Avoid any attempt at further intercourse or manipulation of the anus until healing occurs. If pain is severe or if fever develops, it could mean that a penis (or toy) tore through your sphincter into the delicate tissue surrounding your anus. Seek medical attention immediately, because infection will usually result and antibiotics and/or surgery will be required….”
– Dr. Stephen Goldstone, ibid., pp. 35, 37; emphasis added.
STD Danger Zone
“[An] anus is the highest risk place for STDs [sexually transmitted diseases].”
– Dr. Stephen Goldstone, ibid., p 16, urging condom use.
Battering Ram
“Just as your internal sphincter muscle involuntarily relaxes when feces enter your rectum, it involuntarily contracts when a penis or other object attempts to enter from the outside … An anal tear can occur during the initial phase of anal sex precisely because your partner pushes his penis through a closed sphincter. Think of his penis as a battering ram, one for which your internal sphincter is no match.”
– Dr. Stephen Goldstone, ibid., p 4, (emphasis author’s).
Incontinence from ‘Injurious’ Anal Sex
“In one medical study of men who practiced anoreceptive intercourse [being the receiving “bottom” in anal sex], 25 percent reported at least isolated episodes of fecal incontinence. An age-similar group of heterosexual men had only a 3 percent incontinence rate. … What does this mean to men who enjoy anal sex? Although the threat of incontinence is small, it is present nonetheless. Incontinence in men who practice anal sex is thought to result from repeated injury to their internal sphincter muscle. … Again, although a penis is often the size of a large bowel movement, your sphincter involuntarily relaxes to allow the bowel movement to pass and your muscle is not injured. Insertion of a penis, however, causes your muscle to contract involuntarily. Repeated insertion through a contracted internal sphincter muscle may cause cumulative damage so that the muscle loses its ability to seal the anorectal canal tightly.
– Dr. Stephen Goldstone, ibid., p 21-22; emphasis added.
‘Direct Injury’ and Sphincterotomies
“Gay men who practice anoreceptive intercourse may develop an acute fissure from direct injury …Most often men who have had anal intercourse have already stretched their sphincter (I’m sure you can figure out how) and spasm is rarely present. The fissure usually will heal if the surgeon removes the scar tissue and closes the tear with a few stitches. Keep this in mind if a surgeon tells you a sphincterotomy is necessary. In this instance, you might be placing yourself at a higher risk for incontinence because your sphincter is already loose. You can always go back for a sphincterotomy if your fissure doesn’t heal after a simple closure.”
– Dr. Stephen Goldstone, ibid., p 40; emphasis added.
Peggy
Goldstone is a “sex positive” homosexuality advocate who dedicates his book to his “gay” lover, Bruce.
Peggy
Tikihead,
As much as you may hate to hear it, I believe you are absolutely worth hearing the truth.
Peace.
Sly from Michigan
Fore more, see following web sites:
1. http://www.massresistance.org/docs/gen/09d/harvard_actup/index.html
Jennings a former member of the radical homosexual group “Act Up”, he contributed to this offensive museum exhibit now at Harvard University. His name is on brochure.
2. http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/library/record/2226.html
He is the founder of the national homosexual group GLSEN, which sets up “gay straight alliance” clubs in middle & high schools. He stepped down August 2008 to work on Obama’s campaign.
3. http://www.chapters.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/boston/resources/article-303.html
In-school trainings are central part of GLSEN’s mission to create safe schools for students of all grade levels. Note ages of the children pictured.
4. http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fistgate
Fistgate – note Wikipedia’s written concerns about having this on their site. This happened in 2000 under Jennings.
5. http://www.article8.org/docs/news_events/glsen_043005/black_book/black_book_inside.htm
Little Black Book-Queer in the 21st Century.Be careful, VERY GRAPHIC! This booklet was distributed to hundreds of kids (middle school age and up) at Brookline High School, Brookline, MA, in April 2005.
Bill
The basic problem, as illustrated by SLY and his example of the “Little Black Book” is the pathological fear of sex itself. Rather than rasing children who understand the basics of sex, including the dangers involved and the precautions that need to be taken, they would rather sex be learned in the back seat of a car or behind the school. That’s the reason for teen pregnancies and the spread of SDT’s. The “Little Black Book” is providing anyone who is physically old enough to have sex the necessary information their parents don’t have the brains or courage to teach. Like the abstinance program which has lead to an explosion of oral sex in middle schools because blow jobs are not “sex.”