We reported earlier that Peter LaBarbera was to be in town to “counter the upcoming Gay Games events in Chicago with a ‘Truth and Love Offensive.'” Described as an “outreach”, his stated goal was to “tell homosexuals there is freedom in Christ.”
Part of that offensive was a press conference featuring three ex-gays and several anti-gay speakers. However, fearing that gay activists might protest their love offensive, LaBarbera announced that “only credentialed reporters will be allowed to attend this event.” He did not explain how restricting gay people from attending this event fit into his overall plan of outreach. Perhaps the “outreach” portion of his offensive is restricted to his plans at a bathhouse later in the week.
I did not see any media coverage of this press conference in either the religious or secular press and was uncertain whether it had, indeed, occurred. However, I had overlooked Jason Page who, as a host for Sirius Satellite Radio’s Sports 123 Channel, had press credentials. Jason, a gay man, is covering the Gay Games for PlanetOut and attended LaBarbera’s event.
I attended an event run by Peter LaBarbera and his ultra-conservative Illinois Family Institute. Charming people, I must say. They brought a bunch of “former homosexuals” to educate me and the rest of the gay world on how to become straight. “Find Jesus,” they say. I plan on taking their advice, well, maybe just screaming His name after I get it on with one of the cute athletes from Thailand.
But I digress. I notice when they cameras are shut off and the microphones disappear, a lot of the right-wing nuts become a little softer spoken, and they seem to let their guard down a bit. It was the first time I have attended one of their press conferences. How much of what we see from them is a big act? Just pawns moving around in the political game.
I would have liked to have presented a more serious and professional response to LaBarbera’s press conference but this was the sole reference I could find. So while it seems that LaBarbera’s message did reach at least one gay man, it seems not to have accomplished their stated goals. It also seems that his efforts to get media coverage also was for naught.
Perhaps the trip will not be completely a waste of time, however, if he is able to get more photographs to document his outrage at perversion.
UPDATE: upon reviewing the itinerary for the “Love and Truth” Offensive*, I noted that the peaceful informational outreach portion of the offensive is limited to “media availability in front of Steamworks bathhouse” at 5:30 pm on Saturday. It isn’t clear to me why LaBarbera thinks that peak visiting hours would be at 5:30 but perhaps it’s based on his history.
Also available to the media at the bathhouse will be Dr. John Riggs to discuss “The severe health risks of homosexual behavior” and two ex-gays: James Hartline and Greg Quinlan. Presumably, the informational outreach will occur primarily outside the bathhouse.
* Although I think the quotation marks around “Love and Truth” are appropriate, they are theirs not mine.
Personally, professionalism and seriousness doesn’t do much good when you are dealing with the illogical. I think snark, sarcasm, parody and humor are far more effective at countering anger. But that’s me. I understand that XGW likes to be all “professional.” To each his/her own, I guess.
Mainstream media outlets in Chicago, Trib, Sun-Times, etc. seem to have ignored the press conference. GLBT media was not allowed (funny way of reaching one’s “intended” audience), and I haven’t seen any religious right media make mention of it. I suspect it likely could have been held in an alcove at the Congress Hotel.
I also found the statement, “Only credentialed reporters will be allowed to attend this event. Pro-“Gay Games” activists have announced plans to protest the IFI’s event, after seeking to pressure the Congress Plaza Hotel to drop Illinois Family Institute’s reservation at the hotel,” interesting. Who in their right mind, would do this? Was IFI going to blame the Gay Agenda for a screwed up hotel reservation? Interesting idea though. Find out where an ex-gay leader is staying and call to cancel their hotel reservation. That’ll teach ’em.
Really now, with all this LaBarbera-bathhouse humor why did we pull the spoof membership card?
did you mean Dr. John diggs, who is refuted in depth on my site fo his bogus and untruthful claims…..
I’d like to know how they can limit access to their little Steamworks event, since it is going to be held outside the facility in the middle of a heavily gay neighborhood. Sounds like an ideal protest location for gays, featuring the song “Get Your Jesus Off My Penis” over loudspeakers.
It doesn’t say anywhere that 5:30 is the peak visiting hour. Maybe they just picked that time so the press conference could go on as scheduled, with some time left in the day to go inside and get some, ahem, research done.
From today’s Chicago Tribune.
“Some people traveled hundreds of miles to protest the Games, but they seemed to have little impact on participants. The Illinois Family Institute staged a week of lectures in a downtown hotel to state their case that homosexuality is immoral, but few people attended, Executive Director Peter LaBarbera said.”
Chicago Tribune, Sunday, July 23, 2006.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0607230040jul23,1,6836166.story?page=2&coll=chi-news-hed