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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Politics / Homo / Religion 910-308-7619

Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 8:36 AM

Joe "Joe My God" Jervis is having some fun with Peter LaBarbera.

LaBarbera is the sick puppy behind Americans For Truth About Homosexuality. Peter likes to sneak around gay leather events with a digital camera and post videos to YouTube in order to ~~tease and titillate~~ shock and outrage his readers. Because only gay people are kinky and kinky people shouldn't be allowed to get married because traditional marriage—where the wife submits joyfully to the husband—isn't about erotic power exchange. Just, you know, non-erotic power exchange.

Anyway, Americans For Truth's annual fundraising dinner goes down this weekend at the Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights, IL. LaBarbera posted an open invitation to the dinner on his website. Included in LaBarbera's post was the phone number to call—910-308-7619—to make reservations. There's a protest planned but Joe encouraged his readers in Illinois to make reservations, buy tickets, and attend the dinner itself. I don't know if Joe was being sincere, but getting gay people to show up for LaBarbera's event—not just at it to protest—is a pretty genius idea. It's only $25 a head and that kind of money isn't going to make the anti-gay movement or break the gay movement—although anyone who buys a ticket to Peter's party should make a $25 donation to the fight to protect marriage equality in Maine and domestic partnership rights in Washington). Peter and his crew get off on telling lies about us... but I think they'll enjoy themselves less if they have to look us in the eyes as they tell their lies.

Comments (20) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Do it, Dan.

Go to Chicago and visit your brother, then sit in on this event. I'm sure Arlington Heights is only a couple of hours drive away.

Posted by Baconcat on October 21, 2009 at 8:47 AM

I always feel sad for Peter when I read his writings, like he is a wallflower waiting to be invited to the dance. The dude should just embrace his leather fetish and attend an International Mr. Leather pagent, someone's bound to invite him to dance eventually. He doth protest too much.

Posted by kim in portland

on October 21, 2009 at 8:47 AM

Perhaps all the gheys should become members of Antioch Bible Church and start attending service, too?

Posted by Banna

on October 21, 2009 at 8:59 AM

Great idea!

I remember hearing long ago that Howard Stern had some feud with Kathy Lee Griffith and one night bought all the tickets to some broadway show she was doing. The theater was empty except for Stern and his pals. I don't recall what Kathy Lee ended up doing that night. Funny though.

Posted by Urgutha Forka on October 21, 2009 at 9:01 AM

YOUR LINK TO DONATE TO WASHINGTON GOES TO THE BIGOT SITE!!!
That has to be a mistake. Right?

Posted by jasonzenobia

on October 21, 2009 at 9:05 AM

@5: I'm seeing Approvereferendum71.org, so I don't know what you're getting.

Posted by Baconcat on October 21, 2009 at 9:16 AM

@6 dan changed it in between #5 and your comment.

Posted by samiaint on October 21, 2009 at 9:19 AM

I live in Chicago - but I just can't do it. Spent too many weeks of my life fighting off LaBarabera's proposed referendum banning gay marriage. I think LaBarbera's organization operates on a shoestring these days and giving them money will make a big difference to them.

Posted by Allie on October 21, 2009 at 9:20 AM

@6 I am also seeing the proper link now.

Posted by jasonzenobia

on October 21, 2009 at 9:20 AM

Ooh, Donna, Donna, who can I turn to?
For the price of fifty dollars I can always turn to you.
I know you think I'm like the others before
Who saw your name and number on the wall

For a good time, for a good time call....
3-0-8-7-6-1-Ny-ee-eyeen

(Thank you, Tommy.)

Posted by Uriel-238 on October 21, 2009 at 9:53 AM

So, do I have this right -- you're going to fight this guy by giving him shitloads of money?

Posted by Fnarf

on October 21, 2009 at 10:21 AM

No, Fnarf, not just giving him shitloads of money, but by giving him shitloads of money and actually showing up and getting in their faces. big difference.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on October 21, 2009 at 10:36 AM

Give him money, let him speak, let him get his message out there...so people can see just how insane he is. On my more naive days I think most people would be turned off by LaBarbera if they actually heard what he says. On those same days I think making him the face of the anti-gay movement wouldn't be such a bad thing. He's less appealing than Anita Bryant--and she was never that appealing. On my more cynical days, though (and there are more of them) I know that's a dangerous strategy.

I do like Dan's idea of letting them "look us in the eyes as they tell their lies", although I don't think it would stop them.

Posted by Southern Gentleman

on October 21, 2009 at 10:37 AM

Someone should send Christy McVie, Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham. They can play a quick guitar sting from the audience and Christy can just go "Tell me lies!" and the more Petey talks, they can keep singing the chorus.

And then Stevie Nicks stands up from another part of the audience and does her little unmemorable backing vocal.

It'd be the gayest rebuttal EVER.

Posted by Baconcat on October 21, 2009 at 10:54 AM

Now there's a special invite on LaBarbera's site asking people to bring "some teenagers" (http://americansfortruth.com/news/help-a…). How long, do you think, until an attendee ends up featured in Youth Pastor Watch?

Posted by Katwoman on October 21, 2009 at 1:47 PM

@10:

The number you have dialed 308-7619 is not a working number.

The correct number is 867-5309, please hang up and dial again.

Posted by COMTE

on October 21, 2009 at 1:59 PM

(And yes, I did see what you did there!)

Posted by COMTE

on October 21, 2009 at 2:01 PM

Baconcat, you are a genius.

Posted by Ness

on October 21, 2009 at 2:03 PM

It never ceases to amaze that these two clowns, (Petey, and Mattie Barber) who identify themselves as "straight male christians" can spend so much time trashing the gay community! Now really, you two shitheads, "straight" men don't have time to do all the perverted things you two do! You two are the mothers of all closet, self-loathing, gays; get over it!

Posted by inkky jet on October 22, 2009 at 8:36 AM