Last night Lou Sheldon of the TVC issued possibly the most nonsensical response to Time’s recent article on gay teens I have seen yet. (Yes, even farther out there than Stephen Benett’s tantrum.
[Time’s author] also carefully smears ex-gay ministries like Exodus International and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) by pointing out that some individuals struggling with same-sex attractions lose the battle to overcome these life-controlling behaviors.[*]
Really Lou? When has it ever been shown any sort of ex-gay ministry has a 100% success rate? The TVC’s statement on the gay teens article is one of the most painfully irrational documents I have ever seen them publish. Hopefully one of my fellow authors here at XGW will tackle it.
I greatly admire the work of ex-ex-gay Peterson Toscano who recently asked, just who exactly is censoring ex-gays like Exodus?
Exodus, in collusion with the hetero church became silenced except when proclaiming [sic] the party line that change is possible through Jesus Christ. No longer could they honestly explore the issues surrounding same-sex attractions, its origins and place in the world.
No one could be completely honest about their struggles and the fact that for the vast majority in Exodus, same-sex desires did not go away. Change was not possible, just behavior modification or bisexuality (an unmentionable).
…Who has marginalized the “Ex-gay” movement? Who silences “ex-gays”? The pro-gay liberal press and the armies of gay activists with our sinister agenda?
Or is it the Religious Right, a political machine that profits off the lives of gays and lesbians who can only be welcome at the table as long as they behave? [*]
“October 13, 2005 – John Cloud, a homosexual activist who writes for Time magazine has recently written the cover story for Time (Oct. 10, 2005) on “The Battle Over Gay Teens.” The article does not reveal that Cloud is a promiscuous homosexual who admits enjoying anonymous sex. ”
Wow. And here I thought the Bible had said something about gossip. I’m so dumbfounded right now. I honestly can’t believe someone can be this mean-spirited. And here people will have me believe that Fred Phelps is the exception, not the rule. Lou Sheldon doesn’t seem to be more than one step away from Phelps with this piece.
You can always count on Lou Sheldon to say the most outrageous things. He makes Dobson look like Ghandi.
I’ve thought for many years that Lou Sheldon was probably insane. He’s certainly not functioning rationally.
I met Lou about 15 years ago at a political event. It was pretty clear that he wasn’t completely aware at that time. While a friend and I stood there trying to think of something to say in response to a bizarre comment, his son Steve, whom I used to know, grabbed him and dragged him off said “Dad, there’s some people down this way who want to meet you”.
If I recall correctly, Crazy Lou came from a Jewish family (I’m not sure how he was raised) and converted to Christianity. Like converts often are, he was inflexible with his religion.
I get the sense, though I may be wrong, that his kids (particularly his daughter Andrea Lafferty) who appear to run the show now are more into the political power side than in the religious side.
However, whoever writes their stuff targets the most extreme hateful side of the religious right. There is no claim, statement, or position too extreme for the Traditional Values Coalition.
I had the displeasure of looking at the TVC website a few months back. Most of their efforts seem to be focused on demonizing the gay community. I didn’t see much activity in such areas as: poverty, spousal abuse, corporate greed, and environmental damage, all issues that should be of grave concern to a group being billed as promoting traditional values. What I saw was pure hate and unsubstantiated bull crap. This one was classic: “no one is born gay, they are suffering from a mental disorder, SSAD (same sex attraction disorder) and choose to be gay and live that deviant lifestyle”. Apparently, nobody bothered to proof read the text because that statement contradicts itself. They are implying that we choose to be mentally ill. I didn’t really expect anything rational coming from them because accuracy and honesty have never been two of their strong points.
Timothy, I have so wanted to meet one of these people but have never had the misfortune. I would love to meet Peter LaBarbara or Mr. Concerned Woman himself, Bob Knight I think the dude’s name is. Those two would be so easy to verbally pummel .
I doubt that Sheldon is insane. He has a marketing niche. Pounding on the anti-gay theme to his audience brings in the cash. It’s a time proven fact. It might be a slowly dying tactic, but it apparently still works.
BTW, according to a news article I read in the last year or two (sorry, no link) Sheldon’s TVC is little more than a family operation. IIRC, it is largely run by his daughter now.
Now you see.
I cautioned DL Foster that his site was being listed as a caution by the ADL and Museum of Tolerance as a blog that promotes stereotype against a group.
And rather than be concerned about it, or dialogue on it…he insulted me.
And he didn’t know what the ADL was.
Lou Sheldon and James Dobson and CWA made the cut as well of course. And now have the attention of the Southern Poverty Law Center as well, as groups or individuals spreading hate speech and hateful values against specific groups.
DL Foster will be attending a conference in Los Angeles on the 29th on anti homosexuality, put together by a group called In the Image of God.
Now it’s mostly aimed at black clergy, but Lou Sheldom came to town earlier this year for a similar meeting to address black clergy about the ‘homosexual problem’.
My friends Jasmyne Cannick and Dr.Sylvia Rhue were in attendance of that one. And shown the door. Not because they were disruptive, but because they were lesbians.
I am going to call this production group personally, that’s putting together this latest conference.
Considering that the Compton area of LA just had three homicides in a single evening-bringing killings in that area to an all time yearly high of over 70, and the continued unwed parenthood and poverty issues in that black neighborhood…gay people and what they do is NOT a problem that should be a priority.
For someone like Foster, certainly not to travel all the way to Los Angeles for.
I know they have these problems in Atlanta where he lives.
The victims, BTW…were not gang members. Two were in college and one a 23 year old woman with a full time job.
‘Recruiting’ homosexuals into heterosexuality, is about the stupidest, most wasteful pursuit I’ve ever seen. While all around us, young people are recruited into drugs, gangs and premature and unmarried parenthood.
Or murdered openly on the street.
Divorce and adultery are so brutal to families and children. To say nothing of domestic violence.
Meeting at fifty dollars a pop to deal with ‘the homosexual problem’.
Mr. ‘As a former homosexual’ DL Foster, Lou Sheldon and their ilk…are beyond something that begs logic or common sense.
What DO you call these men with such naked and illogical obssessions?
Neo Neros?
I love reading this stuff. It’s so damn funny.
I wonder how many gay people would be allowed to tell their side of the story…unless it was a willingness to talk about how bad being gay is?
Or was?
When gay and straight people come together to try and dialogue honestly about each other, and work towards understanding each other, someone like a Chad Thompson wants to insinuate ‘equal time’.
But an anti gay group doesn’t want to allow the same.
What I’ve tried to point out to DL Foster and Chad Thompson is….
Their side has had centuries already of telling what they want…
They’ve had their chance for decades, and a real and honest opportunity for gay people to speak has compromised the anti gay’s ability to foster stereotype.
It’s what gay people have to say that’s new, MORE important and deserves the floor now.
It’s not that the ex gay movement is being silenced, the fact is- They are saying nothing new, or that makes any sense. Their time for speaking for gay people is coming to a close.
They want to maintain a control over gay people they were never entitled to.
It’s the formerly silent group that’s now speaking for themselves.
The change they are most resistent to, is the public being educated and experienced so that those stereotypical rants don’t work anymore.
From Media Matters via GoodAsYou via Page Q, here’s a partial transcript of Wildman (American Family Association) interviewing Sheldon (TVC):
“WILDMON: And let me just say one other thing, and we’ll go on to our next caller. And I’m not a psychologist, or a psychiatrist, or a social scientist, or anything like that. But I have heard from people who know and understand these things that two of the most difficult sins or bondage to break out of are alcoholism and homosexuality.
SHELDON: Oh definitely, because the groove is built, and I’ve talked to many psychotherapists who are Christian, and they say once you enter into that lifestyle — Now, you may have gender identity conflict — that’s the medical-scientific name for homosexuality — where you’re attracted to the same-sex person, but once you enter into the culture, into the music, into the gay bars, into the gay literature, into the gay theater, and all of that kind of — and gay travel — once you immerse yourself into that, you have really put yourself into a groove that only a sort of an exorcism can release you from.
WILDMON: Wow.”
Now for those who think Crazy Lou is sane… if your business is fighting The Gay you’d think that you’d at least get the anti-gay terms right.
Gender Identity Conflict? Huh?
What, I wonder is “gay travel”? If I use Orbitz, does that count? But what if I a gay travel agency to go to Mississippi, does it cancel each other out?
And (just to remind Rev. Sheldon) Presbyterians aren’t so big on exorcism.
I wonder, why would any GLBT activist call Andrea Sheldon by her “married” name of Lafferty – as far as I am concerned, if she will not recognize any potential relationship I am to have, why would I recognize her “marriage.” Until she changes her views, she should be considered an immoral concubine.
Yes, I took my bitter pill this morning.
wonder, why would any GLBT activist call Andrea Sheldon by her “married” name of Lafferty
She is Lou Sheldon’s daughter. It’s clear that you know that.
That is one reason why I assert that TVC is a Sheldon family operation.
As I recall, the Purdoms of some activist group had found that something like 40,000 Christian churches carry the TVC literature. Which is a substantial proportion of the Christian faith. So, why do we consider the TVC, and Shelton’s ravings, as marginal? They look to be mainstream, an integral part of Christianity.
Dalea at October 16, 2005 01:57 AM
It’s been a long time since I set foot in a church, but, if memory serves, there was oftentimes a table in the back on which various groups could deposit leaflets and such. Maybe that’s what you are referring to by the “40 000 churches” From my observations, most of it was ignored.
The TVC site claims 43,000 member churches. The TVC has various brochures, bulletin inserts, and voting guides that these churches use (the bulletin is what they hand out before the service – it’s usually read thoroughly during the more boring parts of the sermon). I saw these as a child in various churches we attended. They were not ignored in these (fundamentalist/conservative) congregations.
While I don’t want to diminish the danger that Crazy Lou presents, I’m not sure just how many of his “member churches” actually distribute his crap or use his bulletin inserts.
Many evangelical/fundamentalist churches are not liturgical in structure and are very independent minded. Some may use it for filler but most probably don’t think that Crazy Lou’s rantings are preferable to a report on the bake sale or the children’s choir’s upcoming Christmas concert.
I suspect that most of these churches are “members” in the same sense that HRC has members. They signed up to let their name be used, probably gave a small donation, and haven’t thought about Crazy Lou since then. I imagine some of these member churches would be embarrassed, if not horrified, to find out some of what Crazy Lou espouses.
Timothy,
You may be right, but then how would one explain his ability to scare GOP lawmakers into voting against the net-gaming ban?
It appears from his dealings with Abramoff and Reed that Sheldon does sway churches and lawmakers deep in the Bible Belt to support causes in direct violation of their own principles — and voters’ actual wishes.
Mike,
I’m not certain that his influence is over churches.
He and Andrea are successful lobbyists. And if he came out against a legislator in a primary, it would effect votes in some constituencies.
I’m just not sure how effective he is in having churches carry his stuff or promote his lobby. Of the 43,000 churches, I doubt that very many are substantively involved.
Just as you or I, involved though we are, probably are not aware of what pieces of legislation HRC is supporting or opposing. If a major issue comes up, we may listen to hear their opinion but otherwise they just do their thing.
That isn’t to suggest that he doesn’t get a lot of airplay or that his voice isn’t heard. He is dangerous.