Tag Archives: Homophobia
[VIDEO] Straight Christian Man Who Believes Homosexuality is Sin Goes Undercover as Gay Man For a Year
Timothy Kurek, 26, is a brave and righteous man because of what he did, all on his own. This straight Christian man was told by a friend of his that she was a lesbian; Thanks to that moment, he started to realize that he may not be right about his homophobia or his religious stance on being gay.
He took himself on a year-long journey where he ‘came out’ to friends and family, despite the fact that he was not actually gay. Although he told his mom and heard her reaction, he wanted to know how she really felt, and got his answer after reading some of her journal. (which is sneaky, not wrong, according to the 10 commandments)
‘I’d rather have found out from a doctor that I had terminal cancer than have a gay son,’ she’d written.
Ironically, this is what he should have expected, seeing as he grew up in this household, where this was what being gay meant, utter disappointment and disbelief. For him, he was able to overcome his fear and hatred to learn a valuable lesson in life.
The Cross in the Closet, the book that Kurek wrote, is being released today, National Coming Out Day. A percent of all the sales will go to an organization that helps homeless LGBT youth, which shows the transformation that has come from his year undercover.
The young journalist even went so far as to ask a man to be his pretend boyfriend. Shawn was a ’big, black burly teddy bear’ and Kurek was able to confide in him and even care about this man, his new friend.
‘I needed protection to keep me balanced and teach me the nuances of gay culture and how they flirt, and to give me an excuse when guys hit on me,’ he said.
[He was] ’the first gay person that I let into my heart. He was totally there for me through emotional turmoil. I trusted him.
Before Kurek embarked on this journey he said that the idea of even being around gay people repulsed him. After the journey, he said there is no lingering homophobia once so ever.
Sadly, Kurek wasn’t quite ready for the loneliness he felt and the sheer abandonment of those he loved.
‘The thing that struck me most was the isolation,’ he said. ‘Before I came out as gay, I had a very busy social life. After I came out, I didn’t hear from 95 percent of my friends.’
DailyMail: Rev. Connie Waters, a protestant minister and supporter of LGBT rights from Memphis, first met Kurek online while debating his church’s stance on homosexuality.
She called his year undercover a life-changing transformation.
‘It’s what you hope for – the goal of the Christian walk of faith,’ she said. ‘It’s enough for me that he transformed, but if others learn from him, what an extra blessing that is.’
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‘Boy Scouts: Don’t let your anti-gay policy deny my son his Eagle award’
A friend of mine brought this story to my attention and asked that I share it with all of you. Obviously, the mistreatment of homosexuals is something that I am particularly interested in changing, and this mother’s plea is rather touching. Ryan’s mother, Karen Andresen, is looking for people to help her son acquire his Eagle award, which he has earned. Below is Mrs. Andersen’s letter and a link to sign the petition. Please read and I urge you to help this young man by showing him the compassion of his peers is stronger than the hate of those who disagree with who he is.
My son Ryan needs your help.
Ryan joined the Boy Scouts when he was just six years old, and since then, he’s dreamed of earning his Eagle award — the highest rank in the Boy Scouts.
Ryan is now a senior in high school, and just completed the final requirements to earn his Eagle Award. He’s an honor student with great SAT scores, who’s hoping to attend the University of San Francisco. But because he recently came out to his friends and family as gay, leaders from our local Boy Scout troop say they won’t approve his Eagle award.
A Boy Scout gets his Eagle by earning many badges, completing all lower Scout rank requirements, and carrying out an approved final project. So Ryan decided to build a “Tolerance Wall” for his school, to show bully victims — like Ryan — that they are not alone. Ryan worked countless hours with elementary students to amass a wall of 288 unique tiles, all illustrating acts of kindness.
But when leadership in Troop 212 (San Francisco Bay Area) found out that Ryan was gay, the Scoutmaster said he refused to sign the official paperwork designating Ryan as an Eagle Scout, despite the fact that Ryan completed all of the requirements.
Many troops around the country are standing up, choosing to reject the Boy Scouts’ discriminatory policy. I sincerely hope that Ryan’s troop will become one of them. And with your help, they just might.
It hurts me so much to watch Ryan suffer for being who he is, because to me, he’s perfect. Ryan has worked for nearly 12 years to become an Eagle Scout, and nothing would make him more proud than earning that well-deserved distinction. I hope that if enough people come together, we can convince my son’s troop leaders to help him feel proud of who he is and all he’s accomplished.
“Citizenship in the Community,” a merit badge earned, means standing up for what is right, and I am proud of Ryan for doing just that. Will you stand with him too, and join this campaign?
Petition Letter
Ryan joined the Boy Scouts when he was just six years old, and since then, he’s dreamed of earning his Eagle award — the highest rank in the Boy Scouts.
Ryan is now a senior in high school, and just completed the final requirements to earn his Eagle Award. He’s an honor student with great SAT scores, who’s hoping to attend the University of San Francisco. But because he recently came out to his friends and family as gay, leaders from your troop say they won’t approve his Eagle award.
This is unfair and wrong.
A Scout earns his Eagle by earning many badges, completing all lower Scout rank requirements, and carrying out an approved final project. So Ryan decided to build a “Tolerance Wall” for his school, to show bully victims — like Ryan — that they are not alone. Ryan worked countless hours with elementary students to amass a wall of 288 unique tiles, all illustrating acts of kindness.
Many troops around the country are standing up, choosing to reject the Boy Scouts’ discriminatory policy. I sincerely hope that Ryan’s troop — Troop 212 — will become one of them.
“Citizenship in the Community,” a merit badge earned, means standing up for what is right, and I am proud of Ryan for doing just that. Will you stand with him, too?
Sincerely,
[Your name]
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Atheism and Religion: Logical Insight
As many of you may already know, I am an Atheist. This doesn’t mean I dislike people who are religious, the same as I don’t dislike Conservatives (Republicans), just disagree with some of their opinions. I have many friends and family members who believe in religion and although I think it’s harmful to society, I would never disrespect them for coming to a different conclusion than I have come to on my own. But, seeing as I am a passionate person, I like to share what I believe with others, urge them to think differently and open their minds. I encourage myself to do the same, which just so happens to be the reason I have come to this conclusion.
A friend of mine, Anastasia, wrote something the other day that I found to be pretty great. I asked her if I could share it here and would like to know what some of you think, as well as express my support for everything that was said. I have shared it exactly as it was written below:
“I’ll tell you what else is on my mind. I recently watched the episode of “Louie” where, as a child, he attends a Catholic school and the teacher brings in a doctor to explain, from a medical stand point, the process of Jesus’ crucifixion. It’s brutal and horrific, and the best piece of mind-fuckery out there. How in the world does the idea that one man being physically tortured cancels out the “sins” of the world? (more on “sins” later. okay right now- not raping people is not one of the ten commandments. not using the lord’s name in vain is. uhm. what.?) Really think about that. More importantly, think about how many people have been physically/mentally/
I know that many people are getting tired of the political and religious posts that are on Twitter, FaceBook, etc; But personally, I think it’s great that our generation is becoming so involved and choosing to think for ourselves as opposed to just take what was told to us, as truth. Granted, there are definitely many people who still do this, it’s great to know that thanks to the advancement in social media, our generation is able to meet people who share the same views, values, morals, etc. and are open to discussing how they could be right and/or wrong.
Thank you Anastasia for allowing me to share your message and I hope others can see the humanity in your words as opposed to the “religious attack” you made “against” them.
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Thursday 4Play: Chick-Fil-Anti-Gay
While I’m sure many of you are sick of hearing about Chick-Fil-A, I’m not. So, there are a couple extra photos…
We always regret the injustices of our past.
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The Real Reason We Should Be Boycotting Chick-Fil-A
There have been many differing views when it comes to the Chick-Fil-A controversy, the statements made by Dan Cathy and the financial support he gives to anti-gay organizations. For me, I could care less about what he has said or what he believes. In fact, I respect his opposing viewpoint, I just don’t agree with hatred that has been ignited by religion. The problem that I have with supporting Chick-Fil-A is that it not only means we’re keeping them in business, but giving money to groups that I find disgusting, immoral and based on pure hate.
Their money has been used in an attempt to fight for Ugandan’s government’s right to kill people who are found out to be gay?!?! This is murder; Murder because of who they, we, are. Chick-Fil-A supports and provides finances to organizations that would like to see gay people killed, not just deny them the right to marry who they love. This is sick. For anyone who thinks that supporting them because of Dan Cathy’s right to freedom of speech or because of their religious ties, I would be ashamed if I were you. Wanting to deny someone something is one thing (albeit, pretty fucked up), but wanting them dead is absolutely absurd.
Chick-Fil-A’s corporate “charity” arm WinShape has donated millions of dollars to groups like Family Research Council. FRC doesn’t just oppose marriage equality, they really do HATE gays. Its president Tony Perkins has said of LGBT people:
“They are intolerant. They are hateful. They are vile. They are spiteful…pawns of the enemy.”
And in 2010 Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council claimed in federal forms they had spent $25,000 to lobby Congress on “CIVH.Res.1064Ugandan Resolution Pro-homosexual promotion.” This proposed Congressional resolution condemned the Ugandan government‘s legislative efforts to make “homosexuality” an offense punishable by death.
How can anyone oppose condemning that? But Family Research Council apparently did.
And Family Research Council gets money from Chick-Fil-A. Joe Jervis was the first to break this story, more details can be found here.
Before you support and boycott someone, something, please be sure to get all the facts. Again, Dan Cathy can speak about his beliefs all he wants, but my money will NOT be used in an effort to allow people to be murdered based on who they are and who they love. My fiancée is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and I will fight for our rights as long as I possibly can. If I ever thought that she or I could be murdered because of this love we share, I could only hope that someone, everyone would be willing to stop eating the damn chicken and stop supplying these groups the money they need to even put up a fight.
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[VIDEO] Chick-Fil-A Lover Speaks Eloquently About The Controversial Situation And How She No Longer Supports Them
JacksonAPearce (YouTube handle) wrote:
The long and short of it– on 8/1 (the day Mike Huckabee wants Chick-Fil-A supporters to patronize the restaurant) go to Chick-Fil-A. Ask for a large water and nothing else. See if they adhere to Proverbs 25:21 and give it to you. If they do, yay! You took a few cents from their hate fund! If they don’t, well…I guess they’re proving their principals aren’t so “biblical.”
If you’re in, pass the word on, please. #Proverbs2521
Also, while I consider myself well-versed in the Bible, Bradley Hartman saved me EPIC AMOUNTS OF TIME by writing a very awesome open letter to Chick-Fil-A that helped me locate these passages. Many thanks.
With everything being said from both sides, I feel this was very well said. Do the right thing and don’t let Chick-Fil-A encourage hate and homophobia.
This YouTube user also had this to say:
My books:
http://www.amazon.com/Jackson-Pearce/e/B002BM3CDC/ref=sr_tc_ep?qid=1341157647
A REALLY DELICIOUS make at home Chick-Fil-A recipe (called the Chick-Fil-Gay!):
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[VIDEO] Anti-Gay Chick-Fil-A Needs To Cluck Off
FCKH8.com has released a video that is encouraging people to take a stand against the homophobic Chick-Fil-A, yet, are worried it may get removed.
Yesterday FCKH8.com received a legal notice from Facebook saying that the Chick-Fil-A legal team has forced them to pull this protest video from Facebook because it used their logo. Use of a copyrighted logo in criticism, commentary, review or news is legally protected free speech. Chick-Fil-A is trying silence protests of their homophobic positions. They may try to get this video pulled from YouTube and Vimeo as well. Share it on Facebook or copy it (from our Vimeo page) & reupload the video to your YouTube or Vimeo account.
This chain has openly encouraged homophobia and refused to acknowledge that their beliefs are outdated and reminiscent of the 1960′s. Boston, Massachusetts Mayor, Tom Menino, has even banned the restaurant from their city to show how they will not support this message of hate. Another big proponent to come out and publicly shame Chick-Fil-A has been the Jim Henson Company, by no longer partnering The Muppets with the gay hating, religious loving, fast food chain.
American Family Association‘s Bryan Fischer is the man who is standing up in support of Chick-Fil-A and their right to discriminate or belittle the homosexual community.
“The bullies at Big Gay have targeted the ‘Eat Mor Chikin‘ chain because its president, Dan Cathy, has taken an unapologetic public stand on behalf of natural marriage, and rebuked this generation for its “arrogance” in thinking that it knows better than God when it comes to the definition of marriage,” Fischer wrote. “And so the heterophobic bigots at Big Gay have come unhinged and unleashed the dogs of war.”
War? I’m not the one going into OTHER countries and forcing democracy and taking what’s not mine. I am simply asked to be treated as a decent human being who will not be judged based on their sexuality. I don’t want someone with money, influence and power to take advantage and sway others into fucking logic and being ignorant. In the bible there are many ways which show what “natural marriage” is and I can guarantee that we do not live our lives like that today. Jon Stewart read out some bible versus the other night on ‘The Daily Show‘ that I thought were perfect examples:











































