IGF CultureWatch

The constitutional amendment to nationalize marriage law by forbidding states from recognizing same-sex matrimony (whether by judicial decree or legislative vote) won't win the necessary supermajority in the Senate this year. But the Republican leadership will likely bring it back before every election. That may be politically advantageous for now, at least in terms of keeping the GOP "base" of social conservatives well stoked. But as more Americans become more comfortable with spousal rights for gays, being on the side of reaction won't bode well for the party.

The conservative Washington Times reports that amendment supporters are courting "liberals," by which they mean African-American and Hispanic religious organizations typically on the left regarding wealth redistribution and big-government pork-barrel spending. That's called being "progressive" on the left. But it's in fact reactionary support for the dysfunctional status quo. Add in homophobia and you've got a very bad political mixture all round.

More. In the D.C. neighborhood of Shaw, African-American parishioners oppose allowing a gay bar to open near their Scripture Cathedral. "Don't they understand that there is a day-care center in the church?" asks one woman.
-- Stephen H. Miller

The Supreme Court, which we were told would become an anti-gay epicenter if Robertson and Alito were confirmed, has turned down a request from Jerry Falwell to close up Fallwell.com, a site that aims to explain "why Rev. Falwell is completely wrong about people who are gay or lesbian." The televangelist had claimed the domain name's spelling was too close to that of his official Web presence and asked the Court to shut it down. But apparently free speech is still seen as a constitutional right, in at least some instances.
-- Stephen H. Miller

As the Washington Blade reports, a new study by an associate of controversial researcher Michael Bailey claims, in Bailey-like fashion, that same-sex sexual orientation is an outgrowth of gender confusion at an early age. Other researchers dispute this as a causal factor, while still others find there may be an association in some instances but not enough to form a general rule. Confusion reigns; though many believe homosexuality is hard wired in the brain (pick your cause-genetics or hormones in the womb).

Interestingly, many simply ignore effeminate but clearly heterosexual men, and masculine but clearly heterosexual women. Such factors tend to mess up perfectly clear theorizing.
-- Stephen H. Miller

Gay families exercised their right to partake of the White House Easter Egg Roll, wearing rainbow leis to identify themselves. Given that this is a government-sponsored event, and the government in question hasn't shown much concern about the needs of gay families, I think the egg rollers scored some points in a positive way.
--Stephen H. Miller

James Pinkerton asks:

What words does one use to describe the story of a Christian, lesbian, Air Force pilot-turned-journalist-turned-Katrina-relief-activist-a story with a distinctly faith-based, voluntaristic "thousand points of light" orientation?

The answer: Cholene Espinoza, of whom I first took note here when she caught the eye of Fox News.

But will the lesbigay political and media powers take note of a woman who emphasizes the importance of personal action and faith over fealty to big government in social problem-solving?

Our new site. Yes, we've launched (major kudos to IGF's volunteers!). Yes, there are some issues with older postings. We'll fix them. But I think it looks pretty cool. And you can now comment on the main articles as well-hey, you don't just have Steve Miller to kick around anymore!
-- Stephen H. Miller

Diversity Politcs 1-A Smaller Tent. Gay state workers and job candidates have lost anti-discrimination protection as a result of an order that Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher issued last week as part of the state's "Diversity Day." Fletcher replaced the 2003 employment policy of former Gov. Paul Patton with one that still bans employment discrimination because of "race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, veteran status and disability," but that deletes the earlier order's inclusion of sexual orientation (as well as gender identity). Several critics accused Fletcher, a Republican, of trying to exploit the issue to appeal to conservative voters. No kidding.

Fletcher's order came as he proclaimed in a speech to schoolchildren, "It is our diversity that gives us strength."

Diversity Politics 2-Who Is Pandering? The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force issued a report decrying efforts by "Republican leaders" to win black votes by appealing to "moral values," including opposition to gay marriage. That's a fair comment on the tactics of some (not all) socially conservative Republicans in the party's hierarchy.

But NGLTF then approvingly quotes the National Black Justice Coalition saying, "Poll taxes, literacy tests and lynching didn't stop us and I am confident we will prevail against this new tactic." Actually, it was southern Democrats/Dixiecrats that held high the banner of black exclusion, Jim Crow and segregation, but what matter facts when there is a bloody flag to be waved

Worse, NGLTF then claims that Republicans have voted against black interest by supporting Social Security reform (although private accounts would have been a better deal for blacks), and opposing affirmative action (race-based preferential treatment), raising the minimum wage (which makes it less likely underclass blacks will find entry-level jobs), federalizing education, and the budget-busting and all-round ill-conceived Medicaid expansion.

Wouldn't arguments showing that same-sex marriage is, in fact, "moral" have been more to the point?

Diversity Politics 3-Your Gay Dollars at Work. The irascible Jeff Gannon notes that the Human Rights Campaign both endorses and gives money to cop-bashing Ga. Rep Cynthia McKinney, now facing a tough primary fight against challenges who are both pro-gay and don't believe George Bush ordered that the planes be flown into the twin towers.

Blogger Queer Beacon takes issue with the use of "gay" as a putdown, now ubiquitous among the high school set and even defended by Details magazine. But doesn't abandoning "gay" for "queer" play into all this?

More. A Google search shows that bloggers Jane Genova and Johnny have also taken issue with Details (but the actual style piece by "Dominick Wimple" isn't online).

David Boaz makes the case for separation of marriage and state. "Let people get a civil union licence from the state, and then get married, if they want to, in a religious or other ceremony."

Light blogging for a few days, as we continue to transfer documents from the old to new site.

Over at Positive Liberty, Jonathan Rowe is perturbed by a new California bill requiring "schools to buy textbooks 'accurately' portraying 'the sexual diversity of our society." He thinks it smells of PC ghettoizing and fears adding gays to the list of minorities who get their own special little corners of discussion as the solution of least resistance.

As Rowe argues, yes, we should talk about who is gay in history. But no, clearly gays don't need any "special attention" given the disproportionate accomplishments that gays and bisexuals have made. Just teach history and honestly mention who is gay.

Several new pieces are now posted, covering important global themes, the ongoing polygamy debate, and Dale Carpenter's look at why Catholic charities should be allowed to discriminate. Carpenter remarks, provocatively (but insightfully):

While gay advocates may strongly disagree with church doctrine, there's no basis for saying that the Catholic Church's objections to gay adoptions have "nothing whatsoever to do with faith." Exempting Catholic Charities would serve the higher purpose: of respecting the deep religious convictions of a major faith tradition, without hurting children or appreciably affecting the adoption prospects of gay parents.

But hey, there's no fundraising fire in that accommodation.

By the way, our new site redesign is now in the final stages of being tweaked (with a good deal of volunteer labor). We hope to launch in just another month or so. Thanks again to all those who are, through their generous support, helping us to bring this about.