Warren Throckmorton

Did Jesus Bless Homosexuality?
Warren Throckmorton, PhD

Many gay religionists insist that Jesus never mentioned homosexuality and thus could not have opposed it. Often conservatives counter that He taught against any form of sexual expression other than heterosexual marriage, so He did not need to specify every sexual act outside of marriage for condemnation. What is the correct position?

Read the rest of the essay at DrThrockmorton.com.

Tab Hunter's life is enough to make a reparative therapist say, "I told you so..."

Get out the fork, I'd say Harriet Miers is done. My prediction is that it is all over but finding some way to save face. I thought she would be Borked over Roe in the other direction but Miers seems so confused about what she thinks that now both sides are going to have caution.

Schism is very near for the Episcopalians.

This from the New York Times regarding the Kansas court case where the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that gay and straight sexual offenses should be consequenced in the same manner. This is fair and I agree with it. However, the rationale offered by the Judge about the law is horrendous: According to the Times,

Justice Marla J. Luckert wrote for the unanimous court. Justice Luckert rejected the argument that homosexual sex is more likely to transmit diseases."The Romeo-and-Juliet statute is overinclusive because it increases penalties for sexual relations which are unlikely to transmit H.I.V. and other sexually transmitted diseases," Justice Luckert said, referring to the oral sex in the Limon case and sex involving two women. "Simultaneously," she continued, "the provision is underinclusive because it lowers the penalty for heterosexuals engaging in high-risk activities," notably anal sex.

1. Oral sex is only slightly more safe than other forms of sex, especially if a condom is not used, whether the participants be gay or straight.
2. Anal sex is risky whether it be gay or straight (and maybe this is what she is saying and I would agree) and so the penalities should be the same.

Just don't see what the types of sex have to do with anything here.

Maybe there is more context in the case that would make this make some sense but at first read this seems a clueless way to reason.

The Rules: List five songs that you are currently enjoying at this moment! It doesn’t matter the genre. What matters is that you post five songs that you’re really enjoying right now. Post the instructions, the artist and the song in your blog along with your five songs. Then tag five other people to see what they’re listening to. Trackback, pingback, slapback at will. Anyone can play.

Here are mine:

Here are the last five songs I listened to today:
1. Changing Horses - Dan Fogelburg
2. Heavy - Collective Soul
3. Fascist Architecture - Bruce Cockburn
4. Gotta Serve Somebody - Bob Dylan
5. Those Boyz - Unmatching Socks (my daughter Emma)

As Byron and Paul, I suppose I am tagging you back. And Xman - I am tagging you as well.

I watched all but the final segment on the young boy wanting to be a girl.

Overall reaction: The show didn't shed any new light, break any new ground and Dr. Phil only scratched the surface of what could have been done. Too much in too short a space. This is why I do not watch these shows. He set up the piece to make it appear that the disapproving view was outdated but more on that later.

1st segment - 30 year lesbian who wants her family to accept her. The lesbian does not just want her family's (mom and sister) acceptance. She wants them to change their beliefs about morality. She wants to be able to talk about all sorts of sexual activities that her mom and sister find to be immoral. She could have been wiccan and this family would be having the same problems as now. This conflict was not much about sexuality and a whole lot about one family member wanting the other two to applaud her every move. To his credit, Dr. Phil came close to making that point, but he was pretty much overwhelmed by the guests.

2nd segment - David Kyle Foster and a gay Christian advocate and a representative of GLSEN I think (I will correct this if wrong, later) were on to "debate" if someone who is gay can become straight. This was so stereotyped I could not believe it. No reaction came from Dr. Phil. He seemed clueless to know how to deal with the issue or how to advance any dialogue.

See previous posts: There was an effort on the part of the show and GLAAD to pack the audience. A group of ex-gay proponents got in the show by mentioning this link.

More later...

Tue 18/10/05 -
A Gay and Lesbian organisation in Ghent, East Flanders, has a new member. Casa Rosa has adopted a lesbian penguin.

"Now that one penguin has "come out" others may see her as a role model.
The little lady in question will continue to reside in her central Antwerp location along with her partner in the Antwerp Zoo.

Casa Rosa has no intention to split the happy couple up.

It is quite exceptional to come across a lesbian penguin and the Gay and Lesbian organisation, Casa Rosa, were delighted to be able to adopt the openly gay bird.

The penguin, a so-called rock jumper, has been in a steady relationship with another lady penguin for some years now.

The two have even set up nest together.

The couple are thought to be the first known lesbian penguin relationship in the world."

Move on Silo; you are so last season.

Regular visitors will know that I am not all into the agenda stuff but I was sent an article from World Net Daily that quoted references from After the Ball. I have not read that book although I have been referred to it many times. Many visitors here are critical of my work and viewpoints and I suspect of this article as well. And so I hope we won't rehash that a ton. My question for anyone who wants to address it is: is this guy wrong about his reading of After the Ball? I have been told that there is no agenda that started with the gay liberation movement. A related thing that I have mulling over is an issue that is also being discussed at the ex-gay watch blog. Are gays more promiscuous than straights? I don't like questions like that because it implies that gays and straights are groups of people like Koreans or Uzbeks (a people group to quote missionary talk). And if gays are more promiscuous then how come? Is sociosexuality a trait that runs through all people and for some reason more happen to be gay?

Now here's one to get a party started.

This is getting a little surreal. Today President Bush said part of why he picked Harriet Miers is her religious beliefs. I opined just hours ago that her confirmation was pretty certain unless she says out loud she will vote to overturn Roe. Well, if this keeps up, we may be in for a train wreck in the hearings. "Miss Miers how do you religious beliefs figure into your views of abortion?" and so on...

I will wait to read more from other sources given that this is reported by Nedra Pickler. According to the report, Bush said: "People are interested to know why I picked Harriet Miers," Bush told reporters at the White House. "Part of Harriet Miers' life is her religion." I would like to see the context.

Well, at least he reveals that he knows some folks who took themselves out of consideration for the Supreme Court. I am not sure that conservatives will be mollified much. It also makes Miers look like she was on the list but not first choice. Oh well, it is all fun to fuss about but it matters little; Bush has made his choice and he will stick with it. I do not see a scenario that has her being Borked. Unless of course she says she made a deal on Roe.

Seventeen magazine has a brief story this month with the title, "Can gays go straight?" No one has ever accused Seventeen of containing serious journalism, although I did expect more from Cara Nissman, the author. Saying she was working on a story that would bring in all perspectives, Cara interviewed me by phone while I was at Disney World hiking around the park in 98 degree weather. We talked twice altogether and I spoke with her editor as well. However, the article turned into a page on Wade Richards coming out story with no other perspectives. So add Seventeen to the list of media outlets that tackled the change issue only to lose the wrestling match. When I spoke to the editor, it was clear to me that she was not comfortable with the idea that some people experience change in aspects of sexuality. Perhaps, given the brevity of the article and singular focus on Richards, she didn't think her readers could handle nuance.

Yesterday (10/5), the Dr. Phil Show taped a show with three segments relating in some way to youth and sexual orientation. I first learned of the planned taping via colleague Floyd Godfrey. Floyd was called by the producer of the show looking for people who were ex-gay and willing to talk about it. I suggested several people as did Floyd. Eventually, David Kyle Foster was chosen to appear on the show.

Prior to the taping I learned from reading ex-gay watch that the Dr Phil Show collaborated with GLAAD to "fill the audience with GLAAD supporters and allies." Not wanting to report a rumor, I called the Dr. Phil show and asked Gaylon (an assistant producer) and Tomiko, the audience wrangler referred to below. Gaylon told me that information was confidential and he passed me off to the head producer's voice mail (who has yet to return the call). Tomiko initially confirmed the arrangement but said there was no article on the Internet saying that it was just a notice. When she understood that I would be doing an article on the matter, she said I would have to talk to the producer.

A GLAAD representative denied any news release about the event or arrangement.

I am aware, however, that people got seats by mentioning the GLAAD solicitation.

Below is the call for assistance from Ex-gay watch:

This Wednesday, 10/5, the Dr. Phil show will be taping an episode tentatively called "Hope to Heal Your Gay Teen?" Obviously the subject matter could be problematic, and GLAAD is currently working with them on how they approach the material.

They have offered to fill the audience with GLAAD supporters and allies. If you are able to attend, that would be great. They are holding "special guest" seats for those who are on the list and say they are calling because of GLAAD (otherwise you'll find yourself waiting in a space available line of people who they scoop up on Hollywood Blvd.).

Also, please forward this to your friends to get as many LGBT supporters in the audience as possible.

To attend the show, call Dr. Phil's audience wrangler, Tomiko, at 323.956.3426. You + 4 guests may attend, but you have to provide all names when you call. TELL TOMIKO YOU ARE CALLING BECAUSE OF GLAAD. DEADLINE TO CALL IS 8pm ON TUESDAY.

You must arrive no later than 8:00 am Wednesday. Expect to stay until noon.

Taping is at Paramount Studios:860 North Gower StreetHollywood, CA 90038

Park in the parking structure across the street.

Go through the audience entrance, which is underneath a giant blue whale painting.
You must wear business attire and dress in dark solid colors.
Thank you and we hope to see you all there!

Heidi Lee
Leadership Council Officer, GLAAD

An eye witness account of the taping that I received indicated that the show was pretty fair to all sides. The audience was not much of a factor according to the account I read. There was a segment involving a lesbian teen who was advised by Dr. Phil to not overemphasize sexuality in her identity. Then a segment with David Kyle Foster and someone from Gaychristian.net was centered around religious differences. Finally, a couple with a gender confused child was taped. The show will air October 19.

So my question is: Why are GLAAD and the Dr Phil Show treating this like a state secret? No one at the show denied the link and there are witnesses to the fact that the show gave preferential treatment to those calling from GLAAD. However, the people I talked with backpedalled mightily when I asked about it. And why would GLAAD want to deny this?

My view is that such arrangements would be ok if all sides were invited to request a given number of seats but to do an undercover deal looks like a setup and an attempt to manipulate the opinion of the home viewer. Now I realize "wrasslin' aint real" but I was surprised to see audience manipulation at the Dr. Phil show.

Addendum: David Kyle Foster relates that the air date will be October 19th.

Time Magazine has an article on gay teens out this week. It is the cover story and lengthy. Exodus representatives, Chad Thompson and Regina Griggs are quoted. I was interviewed for the article but the author chose to extensively quote Ritch Savin-Williams, Jack Drescher and Gary Remafedi. Inqueery received extensive exposure; I bet Chad is pumped. The article focuses more on gay identity formation and the experience of gay identified teens than on sexual identity counseling. I have only skimmed it at this point but will comment more later.

Rod Learned was the original drummer for the 80s band Berlin. He was also the reunion drummer for the band when they were featured in 2004 on VH1' s Bands Reunited show. He is also a very good friend of mine, living here in Western PA. His wife Jeniece is Director of Pregnancy Services of Western PA and they do an amazing amount of good for young teens. His work on I Do Exist is here and for good measure, some other good percussion work is here. Check the last post for the winner...