NOM (anti gay group) Organizer comes out in support of marriage equality

[BR_Parkway]

http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2011/04/g-a-y-exclusive-exposure-to-nom-could-lead-to-unintended-side-effects-national-organization-for-marriage-tour-organizerfac.html

"In December I came out in support of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I also removed the admins I had delegated my moderating duties to for my Facebook page.

Having done that, I had to pick up where they left off. I was largely taken aback by the fact that the page I created had become such a hateful place. My comments are rhetoric paled in comparison to what that place had turned into. I began to understand why the gay community was out there claiming opposition to same-sex civil marriage was all about hate. "

So much more at the link.....

guess all that hateful talk is starting to make people see just what the anti-gay industry is all about - hate and $$$

[BR_Parkway]

1. This is the guy who ran the Facebook page and organized the bus

tour that constantly failed to attract that many supporters, but thousands at most rallies in support of equal rights - and the more exposure, the more he started to question his decision to participate with NOM. He still feels that "holy" matrimony is something only the churches have any say about (and I agree, they should keep whatever parts of their religion they want) - but that the government's recognition of a person's civil rights shouldn't have anything to do with unequal treatment based on their sexual orientation. A huge move from one of the more visible spokespersons.

[JackBeck]

2. Was just coming here to post this. K&R.

We counter-demonstrated them in New Jersey during their bus tour with our own press conference that included same-sex families, not the in-your-face yelling they encountered in other states, where they then could play the victim afterward.

It totally threw Brian Brown for a loop. I watched him chase down Steven Goldstein to thank him for letting them (all...20 of them?) demonstrate in peace.

We all agreed ahead of time not to engage them, but Brown couldn't let the moment go by without some interaction with our side. Steven shook his hand, said he was on his way to another press conference, turned and walked away. It was brilliant.

Maggie has been on my radar for over 15 years now, and I've seen video of her giving lectures at reversion therapy conferences (with Michael Medved) when I was an intern at In The Life. Years ago, when her columns appeared regularly in the New York Post, I'd write to her, only to have my letters taken out of context and applied to other news events, which seems to be typical for how The Post conducts itself.

To see this major defection today from one of their supporters has totally made my day!

[MNBrewer]

3. WOW!!!

This is why things like NOM and the Phelps Klan are GOOD for gay rights!

[gratuitous]

4. Basic Rights Oregon is running TV ads

They are outstanding. Ordinary-looking people making simple, declarative statements. This link takes you to their donation page (sorry if that makes you feel obligated), but shows one of the 30-second ads:

https://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35028/t/513/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=361

This fight is moving into its end stages. There's still some heartache and ugliness to come, I feel sure, but the tide has turned. When you hear from a former opponent the words, "Oh, this was never a very important issue anyway," then you'll know it's pretty much over. When DADT was ended, it took less than 24 hours to see a quote from the opposition that keeping gays out of the military was never that bit an issue. (Yeah, if that's the case, then why did you fight it so hard, you loser?)

[Bluerthanblue]

5. this is excellent-

It could not have been easy for him to do this and do it so publicly.

He speaks of the shame he feels for what he's done-

this quote speaks loudly:

“The lesbian and gay people whom I made a profession out of opposing became real people for me almost instantly. For the first time I had empathy for them and remember asking myself what I was doing.”

This is the KEY to most everything we do as people imo. We need to stop being blinded by stereotypes, prejudice, and labels - which serve only to divide and destroy us all.

glad to rec this OP.

[JackBeck]

7. I also like how he finally recognized the difference between civil marriage and holy marriage. n/t

[TriMera]

6. K&R. n/t