Category: Articles

David Blankenhorn’s Lazy Logic

First published in Between the Lines, April 5, 2007 Opposition to homosexuality has long been marked by bad science. In the past, that usually meant bad psychology or even bad physiology. Today, the more common problem is bad social science, usually involving cherry-picked data about alarming social trends followed by breathtaking leaps of logic connecting… Continue reading David Blankenhorn’s Lazy Logic

Amazing Grace

First published in Between the Lines on March 22, 2007 The gentleman stood up during a lull in the Q&A session, and I was grateful for anyone to break the silence. In recent years I’d become used to this routine: I’d go to a small liberal-arts college to speak on homosexuality. The students, who were… Continue reading Amazing Grace

A Tragic Lie in Michigan

First published in Between the Lines on February 8, 2007 It was a classic bait-and-switch. When gay-rights opponents sought to amend Michigan’s constitution to prohibit, not only same-sex marriage, but also “similar union[s] for any purpose,” they told us that the amendment was not about taking away employment benefits. They told us that in their… Continue reading A Tragic Lie in Michigan

Gay Parenting and Double Standards

First published in Between the Lines, January 25, 2007 I don’t have children, don’t plan to have children, and don’t particularly want children. If I were to adopt children, my main criterion would be that they be old enough to operate the vacuum and do some light dusting. So same-sex parenting is not an issue… Continue reading Gay Parenting and Double Standards

Mary Cheney—Unfit Parent?

First published in Between the Lines on December 14, 2006 Mary Cheney is pregnant. Wish her well. That’s what good folks do when presented with an expectant mother. Behind the scenes they may say or think whatever they like, but publicly they wish the mother-to-be well. Which puts right-wingers in a bit of a bind.… Continue reading Mary Cheney—Unfit Parent?

The Pedophilia Smear

First published in Between the Lines on October 19, 2006 The recent scandal involving Rep. Mark Foley sending sexually explicit text messages to sixteen- and seventeen-year-old former congressional pages has resurrected the ugly stereotype of gays as pedophiles. I am no longer surprised when I hear this sort of garbage from the Family Research Council… Continue reading The Pedophilia Smear

Foley’s Folly: A Lesson

First published in Between the Lines, October 5, 2006 It is early yet to talk about “the moral of the story” with respect to Mark Foley. Foley, a Republican congressman from Florida, resigned last week after it was revealed that he had been sending sexually explicit e-mails and instant messages to underage congressional pages. Here’s… Continue reading Foley’s Folly: A Lesson