365 Gay News » ethics

Is the National Organization for Marriage violating state law?

Jennifer Vanasco/editor — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:43:54 +0000

The National Organization for Marriage, which formed two years ago to take the lead to oppose equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, is coming under increased scrutiny.

Two civil rights(...)

Corvino: Dems are ‘values voters,’ too

Jennifer Vanasco/editor — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:23:59 +0000

On the eve of the election, I am pleased that my fellow Democrats have finally learned not to concede “moral values” language to the other side. In past elections, we heard a lot about “values voters”—a code-term for right-wingers on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. Senator Obama, among his many talents, has made the [...]

The Gay (Im)moralist?

Jennifer Vanasco/editor — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:41:37 +0000

When strangers stare at me across a bar, I like to imagine it’s because they find me attractive. More often than not, however, it’s because they recognize me from the local gay paper. “You’re John Corvino, aren’t you? The Gay Moralist?” It happened just last weekend as I was vacationing in Saugatuck, a gay-friendly resort [...]

Behind ‘Enemy’ Lines

Jennifer Vanasco/editor — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:46:50 +0000

The sign read, “Focus on the Family welcomes the Bible Babes and Dr. John Corvino.” I did a double-take. “Bible Babes” sounds like the title of a really bad porn video, but there they were, listed with me on a placard at the front desk in Focus on the Family’s administration building. I snapped a [...]

Let’s Keep Talking

Jennifer Vanasco/editor — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:49:36 +0000

Back in the old days, there were those who supported gay rights and those who opposed them—vocally. There was also a third group whose opposition was so deep that they objected even to discussing the issue. For them, to debate gay rights would be to dignify depravity, and depravity merits chilly silence, not invitations to [...]

Sally Kern’s Free Speech

Jennifer Vanasco/editor — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:58:54 +0000

When Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern gave her now-infamous homophobic rant before a group of fellow Republicans, she remarked that “The very fact that I’m talking to you like this here today puts me in jeopardy.” It may have been the truest thing she said that day. Normally, I would dismiss this particular remark as [...]

The Sins of Sodom

Jennifer Vanasco/editor — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:52:23 +0000

Though it may sound perverse, I get excited whenever religious fundamentalists speak up during the Q&A portion of my public events. While fundamentalists are hardly a dying breed, they seldom participate in such functions. And though I find their silence generally pleasing, it does rob me of what we college professors like to call “teaching [...]

Must We Respect Ex-Gays?

Jennifer Vanasco/editor — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:01:26 +0000

People often ask me what I think about ex-gay ministries. I have no objection to them in principle, but serious problems with them in practice. I have no objection to them in principle because I believe we should give others the same respect that we ourselves demand. That includes giving people wide latitude about living [...]

Is Anyone Still Anti-Gay?

Jennifer Vanasco/editor — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:03:20 +0000

The late food critic Craig Claiborne used to tell a story of a woman who received a ham but didn’t own a saw. Although she had never cooked a whole ham, she knew that her mother always prepared hams for cooking by sawing off the end, and she assumed it had to be done this [...]

The Strange Logic of Fred Phelps

Jennifer Vanasco/editor — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:05:16 +0000

No one was surprised when the Phelpses announced plans to protest Heath Ledger’s memorial services. Known for their “God Hates Fags” message and their obnoxious funeral pickets—they now demonstrate against fallen American soldiers for defending our “doomed, fag-loving nation”—the Phelpses are nothing if not attention whores. What’s surprising is how much the Phelpses can tell [...]