Do you remember Anita Bryant?

[win231]

She(and others) promoted the idea that kids can "catch" being gay, which is actually still a popular notion in Bible Belt areas. Also, the homophobic crowd has attempted to characterize gays as being pedophiles.
Of course, the idiotic notion that you can "pray away the gay" subjected countless children to mental cruelty and abuse.

I recall a psychiatrist a few years ago who claimed he could "cure" homosexuality. He even recruited a man in his ads who claimed he was cured & married a woman. Hearing him talk reminded me that "Laughter is the best medicine." The doctor wasn't smart enough to recruit a man who didn't sound so feminine.
Yeah.....for $1,000.00/hr, the doctor will cure anything.......

 

[win231]

What, exactly, is the point of bringing up some b-list star whose heyday was fifty years ago? Or more. Pot stirring, anyone?

Well, orange juice is high in vitamin C.

 

[Alligatorob]

$1,00.00/hr, the doctor will cure anything......

Me too, in fact for the right price I could provide a vaccine.

 

[Nathan]

What, exactly, is the point of bringing up some b-list star whose heyday was fifty years ago? Or more. Pot stirring, anyone?

Sensitive subject? The "point" is to illustrate the type of people and beliefs that tear down our society, such that we in the present won't forget the harm done, and fight against it's repetition.
Sort of like talking about the Holocaust to remind people of what path NOT to take. There are those in the present that seek to deny that The Holocaust ever happened, they are strictly forces of evil that need to be held at bay.

 

[mrstime]

NOT a good Christian. A horrible Christian. Real Christians do not persecute other people, they love them.

Lunatics take Christian teachings, see red and go after people.

Real Christians take Christ's teachings and work in soup kitchens and help the poor and suffering.


Gay folks are the problem? Really? People should get a text read out of the daily porn spew that is in the heads of straight men.

Really.

Read a few pages of that and first of all, all women would immediately flee from us. Second, the few reasonable people would be like, "oh, those nice gay folks...why can't straight men be nice like them and not so disgusting???"

I found the "good Christians" spend so much time obeying the parts of the old testament that they like, and forget Jesus's teachings.

 

[Della]

What, exactly, is the point of bringing up some b-list star whose heyday was fifty years ago? Or more. Pot stirring, anyone?

Well, you see, that b-list star was a Christian, so that gives all the Christian-haters a chance to join together with others and spew about what disgusting hypocrites we all are.

Because, you know, this old woman no one has heard from in 30 years represents all Christians. Her. Not the thousands of Christians who began and were active in, many of whom died in, the Civil Rights movement, or the Christians who started and served in the Red Cross, or the ones who started the hospice movement, or all the Christian run food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, children's homes and hospitals across the country. Outside this country Christian charities feed more hungry people, across the globe, than all other groups combined.

Just in my small town the Methodist church has "Thanksgiving Thursday" every Thursday of the year feeding a big turkey feast to all comers, other churches take different days of the week so it's possible to get a free dinner six days out of every week. All the money comes from Christian's pockets, all the work is done by them.

Just as one random person, my husband volunteers at a Christian funded non-profit that helps people restart their lives when they come out of jail, Among other things, he does people's taxes for them so they can get their tax refunds and stimulus checks. Just this year he did taxes for for over 600 people, for no pay, just because he's a Christian.

But it's Anita frickin' Bryant who's been selected as our example of a Great Christian.

 

[mrstime]

You have to remember this was 1977 and it was the thinking then. It was not talked about in my family or anyone elses. I never learned about being gay until long after I was married. I look back now and realize that we did not know better and now we do so our minds are changed and we are accepting of people no matter their status.

You must have been very innocent I knew about gays in the late 40's and early 50's.

 

[Nathan]

Well, you see, that b-list star was a Christian, so that gives all the Christian-haters a chance to join together with others and spew about what disgusting hypocrites we all are.

Oh please! What a ridiculous statement. Let's wake up and not try to sabotage the discussion at-hand with some kind of BS diversion.
I think everyone here is adult enough to see that some Christians are in fact disgusting hypocrites, but that the majority do follow the teachings of Jesus, OK?

 

[win231]

Well, you see, that b-list star was a Christian, so that gives all the Christian-haters a chance to join together with others and spew about what disgusting hypocrites we all are.

Because, you know, this old woman no one has heard from in 30 years represents all Christians. Her. Not the thousands of Christians who began and were active in, many of whom died in, the Civil Rights movement, or the Christians who started and served in the Red Cross, or the ones who started the hospice movement, or all the Christian run food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, children's homes and hospitals across the country. Outside this country Christian charities feed more hungry people, across the globe, than all other groups combined.

Just in my small town the Methodist church has "Thanksgiving Thursday" every Thursday of the year feeding a big turkey feast to all comers, other churches take different days of the week so it's possible to get a free dinner six days out of every week. All the money comes from Christian's pockets, all the work is done by them.

Just as one random person, my husband volunteers at a Christian funded non-profit that helps people restart their lives when they come out of jail, Among other things, he does people's taxes for them so they can get their tax refunds and stimulus checks. Just this year he did taxes for for over 600 people, for no pay, just because he's a Christian.

But it's Anita frickin' Bryant who's been selected as our example of a Great Christian.

There are disgusting hypocrites in all religions.
My favorites:
Jim & Tammy Bakker
Jimmy Swaggart
Barry Minkow
Michael Milken
Bernie Madoff

Oops - only 2 Christians & 3 Jews.......

 

[dseag2]

What, exactly, is the point of bringing up some b-list star whose heyday was fifty years ago? Or more. Pot stirring, anyone?

I brought her up because she was a negative part of my life in the 70's and because there is now a similar movement afoot that is accusing gay people of "grooming" children to be gay as well. That was very much the Anita Bryant view.

I can bring up any topic I see fit. You are the one stirring the pot. Everyone else has answered politely and knowledgeably.

Hope my "gay" doesn't rub off on you if you read my response.

 

[Della]

Oh please! What a ridiculous statement. Let's wake up and not try to sabotage the discussion at-hand with some kind of BS diversion.
I think everyone here is adult enough to see that some Christians are in fact disgusting hypocrites, but that the majority do follow the teachings of Jesus, OK?

How ironic. You are accusing me of trying to sabotage the discussion with ridiculous statements, when just before my post you had compared people like Anita Bryant to the holocaust, "forces of evil to be held at bay."

That all important "some" when talking about Christians had not been included in the many posts before mine that said Christians were hypocrites or that's why they left organized religion.

Anita Bryant in 1977 represented a small group of fundamentalist Christians that believe the Bible is inerrant and every word must be taken literally. It doesn't really make her a "force of evil" just a person with a stricter reading of scripture who didn't know much about homosexuality. Many people didn't know a lot about it at that time. I remember Oprah and Phil Donahue having lots of shows about it in the late 70's early 80's and the audience was still fairly ignorant about the subject then but became educated.

Most Christian churches today take a more liberal view. My Episcopalian church is headed by a lesbian Bishop and my congregation has many members of the gay community. But it's well to allow people a little time to catch up when a big societal change takes place. The change will go better if there's less hatred and ridicule.

I can bring up any topic I see fit. You are the one stirring the pot. Everyone else has answered politely and knowledgeably.

Hope my "gay" doesn't rub off on you if you read my response.

Yes you can bring up any topic you want and we can respond any way we want.

You thought it was all polite and knowledgeable so long as people were saying how wonderful gays were and how awful Christians were.

Now there's a little bit of push back from Christians who don't appreciate the remarks from anti-Christian bigots, and you are turning nasty to Carol with your comment.

 

[CarolfromTX]

I brought her up because she was a negative part of my life in the 70's and because there is now a similar movement afoot that is accusing gay people of "grooming" children to be gay as well. That was very much the Anita Bryant view.

I can bring up any topic I so see fit. You are the one stirring the pot. Everyone else has answered politely and knowledgeably.

Hope my "gay" doesn't rub off on you

Let me be clear. I don’t care about your sexual preference. But if you’re worried about an anti-gay movement, why not post about that? You chose instead to go on a vitriol filled rant about a minor celebrity who hasn’t been heard of for forty years and who has exactly zero influence on anyone today, except you. Bruh! There’s counselors for that. Peace out.

 

[Sunny]

Anita Bryant represented mainstream American thinking in 1977. I was surprised to find out that she's still alive and "only" 82. What's interesting to me is that no one publicly espouses her views anymore. What was mainstream is now hate speech.

In a weird way, she helped promote tolerance by being so intolerant. She made the gay community's position look reasonable, which of course it was.

No one publicly espouses her views anymore? Really? Ah, if only that were true!

 

[Alligatorob]

In a weird way, she helped promote tolerance by being so intolerant. She made the gay community's position look reasonable

Hadn't thought about that, but there is probably some truth to it.

One of the good things about having full freedom of speech is that it can expose and make clear how awful some ideas are. Sometimes I believe censorship tends to make evil appear exotic.

 

[Pepper]

Let me be clear. I don’t care about your sexual preference. But if you’re worried about an anti-gay movement, why not post about that? You chose instead to go on a vitriol filled rant about a minor celebrity who hasn’t been heard of for forty years and who has exactly zero influence on anyone today, except you. Bruh! There’s counselors for that. Peace out.

I'm interested in remembering Anita Bryant. So are others. No harm done. Peace & Love.

 

[Nathan]

How ironic. You are accusing me of trying to sabotage the discussion with ridiculous statements, when just before my post you had compared people like Anita Bryant to the holocaust, forces of evil to be held at bay.

Sorry for my taking life so seriously, but as I lifelong Christian that embraces the word of Jesus,I consider people that who are in a position of influence or power that use their position to divide society, or advocate persecution of segments of society, to be in fact an evil force.

That all important "some" when talking about Christians had not been included in the many posts before mine that said Christians were hypocrites or that's why they left organized religion.

I agree, that is an important distinction, so as to avoid painting a group with a 'broad brush'.

Anita Bryant in 1977 represented a small group of fundamentalist Christians that believe the Bible is inerrant and every word must be taken literally. It doesn't really make her a "force of evil" just a person with a stricter reading of scripture who didn't know much about homosexuality. Many people didn't know a lot about it at that time. I remember Oprah and Phil Donahue having lots of shows about it in the late 70's early 80's and the audience was still fairly ignorant about the subject then but became educated.

O.K., given that there was wide spread ignorance about the LGBTQ community(even though they have been part of human society since the beginning) at present there is a stronger-than-ever movement to shove those people back in the "closet",states are passing legislation to deny them their Constitutional rights on many levels.

The change will go better if there's less hatred and ridicule.

As long as divisive forces of hatred and ridicule are tolorated the only "change" we'll see is the further deterioration of society.

 

[dseag2]

How ironic. You are accusing me of trying to sabotage the discussion with ridiculous statements, when just before my post you had compared people like Anita Bryant to the holocaust, "forces of evil to be held at bay."

That all important "some" when talking about Christians had not been included in the many posts before mine that said Christians were hypocrites or that's why they left organized religion.

Anita Bryant in 1977 represented a small group of fundamentalist Christians that believe the Bible is inerrant and every word must be taken literally. It doesn't really make her a "force of evil" just a person with a stricter reading of scripture who didn't know much about homosexuality. Many people didn't know a lot about it at that time. I remember Oprah and Phil Donahue having lots of shows about it in the late 70's early 80's and the audience was still fairly ignorant about the subject then but became educated.

Most Christian churches today take a more liberal view. My Episcopalian church is headed by a lesbian Bishop and my congregation has many members of the gay community. But it's well to allow people a little time to catch up when a big societal change takes place. The change will go better if there's less hatred and ridicule.


Yes you can bring up any topic you want and we can respond any way we want.

You thought it was all polite and knowledgeable so long as people were saying how wonderful gays were and how awful Christians were.

Now there's a little bit of push back from Christians who don't appreciate the remarks from anti-Christian bigots, and you are turning nasty to Carol with your comment.

For the record, I am not at all against Christianity. My mother was a devout Baptist and her faith got her through some very difficult times, including her death in November of last year. I think Christianity serves a purpose. Just because it is not my belief, I think there are plenty of good Christians. I brought up Anita Bryant because of her abhorrent behavior on behalf of the Christian faith and the fact that this is all happening again. Perhaps I should have titled my thread differently.

And as far as me feeling all warm and fuzzy about people saying how wonderful gays are, while I appreciate it I don't need to feel love and support from pro-gay members to feel validated. Nor do I care if there are anti-gay members here. I state my point of view like everyone else does. I live a great life and nothing that is said in this forum will change that.

 

[Gary O']

Sorry for my taking life so seriously, but as I lifelong Christian that embraces the word of Jesus,I consider people that who are in a position of influence or power that use their position to divide society, or advocate persecution of segments of society, to be in fact an evil force.

Well stated

Once one's eyes are taken off The Lord and diverted to those of influence.....it's never a good thing

 

[grahamg]

Well stated

Once one's eyes are taken off The Lord and diverted to those of influence.....it's never a good thing

As an aside from the forum discussion here, (which btw I pretty much agree with the both of you), can I say I think we need to hear more from you "Gary O", cos some of us folks are feeling like we've gotten a deficit in our lives recently, when you don't post so much generally!

 

[Gary O']

As an aside from the forum discussion here, (which btw I agree with the both of you), can I say I think we need to hear more from you "Gary O", cos some of us folks are feeling like we've gotten a deficit in our lives recently, when you don't post so much generally!

Sorry, @grahamg

I've been involved in some pretty serious stuff lately.

 

[Alligatorob]

I think there are plenty of good Christians

Of course there are, and unfortunately a few bad ones. Christians do not claim to be perfect or without sin. Anita is just an example of that.

Lots of good folks of all faiths or lack of faith. And a few bad in all those places too.

 

[SeaBreeze]

A good Christian in her mind only. Many "Good Christians" shun, persecute, vilify and avoid the very people Jesus sought out. They talk a good game, but when in the company of those (they believe) are like-minded, the ugliness spews forth.

The stunning levels of blatant hypocrisy turned a lot of us against organized religion.

Completely agree.

 

[grahamg]

I know this discussion is already drawing out enough issues already, and this will only add to them, but reportedly, in the UK, about 30% of very young children when asked nowadays about this can't say, or can't decide what they are in relation to sexuality, (something that's probably never happened before in the long history of this country).

I do know, from something I was told way back when, that in France it was said every teenage young man went through a phase of questioning their orientation, (that's "everyone", what is to be made of that idea, if I've remembered what was said forty or fifty years ago correctly?)?

 

[Alligatorob]

in the UK, about 30% of very young children when asked nowadays about this can't say, or can't decide what they are in relation to sexuality

As a very young kid I doubt I had any concept of sexuality or what I was. Only that I was a boy.

 

[SeaBreeze]

Let me be clear. I don’t care about your sexual preference. But if you’re worried about an anti-gay movement, why not post about that? You chose instead to go on a vitriol filled rant about a minor celebrity who hasn’t been heard of for forty years and who has exactly zero influence on anyone today, except you. Bruh! There’s counselors for that. Peace out.

Yeah, let's keep that old "Christian" gay hater swept under the carpet where she belongs, no sense in bringing any truths to light....it's 2022 after all.