The radio program I told you about a few days ago is now available for podcast. You can download this week’s This Way Out which ran on a number of public radio stations this week. The feature story is regarding how Zach’s story has spread throughout the internet and created a movement of it’s own. Click here for links to an HTTP and FTP download of the radio show. Huge thanks to Jerry Trowbridge for covering the story & to the producers at This Way Out for selecting it as their lead story.
Sphere: Related ContentJune 30, 2005
Zach’s Story Featured on This Week’s “This Way Out” Podcast
Nerd Thing Of The Nanosecond: Google Releases Google Maps API
Following the release of Google Earth on Tuesday, Google swept in and released the Google Maps API. I’ve always been fasinated by the concept of mapping (yes I’m a robotic nerdmobile moving in slow motion through the time-space continuum) and so now I can create custom maps for custom things. If you want to see something mildly woo-hoo like, you can click here to be ahh’ed and ooh’ed at a map of the most important part of Memphis to know.
I mean, really…what else do you need? (via Boing Boing)
Sphere: Related ContentNo Updates Today, I Took A Day Off.
OK, more like a couple of days off, whatevs. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to my bandwidth dilemma, my overages are paid down & I can get back to the business of writing. I haven’t had much to report, so I essentially took the day to relax. I’ve been experiencing some type of latent funk-like feeling the last couple of days, probably due to having my focus switched away from my normal routine for so long.
Suffice to say, I owe enormous thanks to Bruce Garrett, Terrance Heath (did I spell that right this time?) Abby and her dad, Wappy and Pamela Ol’ Cranky without whose support you’d be looking at a different page right now.
Your continued support and assistance is always appreciated, so I’ll leave the donation link in this post for the time being.
In the next 24 hours or so, I should be updating Scenestars with new music from Wolf Parade and Supergrass. Be sure and check that out. I’ll not be far away from here, though, and I’ll be checking in.
Sphere: Related ContentJune 27, 2005
Tennessee Department of Health: No Child Abuse At Love In Action
I just left the QAC Rally and I want to commend everyone there for the incredible turnout. Among the many supporters and friends was Peterson Toscano, still in town after graciously performing his one-man show at MeDiA Co-op over the weekend. Also among the many supporters was Dr. Arnold Drake, the President of the Memphis chapter of PFLAG (or Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Dr. Drake, whose son is openly gay and in a committed relationship for the past 15 years, faced down the “media consultant” for Love In Action in a clearly heated debate in front of ABC-24/UPN-30’s cameras. What will come of the footage is unknown, but watch the 10pm news on those channels for sure.
It was at the rally where I was informed that the State of Tennessee Department of Health has completed its investigation into allegations of child abuse at Love In Action/Refuge. According to my best information, the State of Tennessee determined after its incredibly in-depth and lengthy week-long investigation that there was no child abuse occurring at LIA/R. A phone call to the TN Dept. of Health has not been returned as of this writing. News of this story will likely spread quickly through the blogosphere, but it should be done with the caveat that I did not hear this from anyone at the TN Dept. of Health directly.
This should not be seen as a defeat because it is, after all, only one investigation. This particular investigation, as many of you reading will know, is very difficult to prove — we are talking about proving psychological abuse after all. There are a series of ongoing investigations by watchdogs, concerned citizens, and others regarding LIA/R’s practices in regards to children.
More news as events warrant. For now, go visit Peterson’s blog where he recounts what will forever be known as “the vegan bbq nacho experience”.
Sphere: Related ContentPolitical Cartoon of the Moment
June 25, 2005
QAC RALLY ON MONDAY AFTERNOON AT LOVE IN ACTION — SPREAD THE WORD
What: Queer Action Coalition Rally at Love in Action Head Quarters
When: 4:30-5:30pm Monday June 27th,2005
What you can do: Attend the rally and/or publicize this event to your friends and family and get in touch with your local politician here.
Queer Action Coalition invites all interested members of the public to show their support for the youth going through the Love In Action program Refuge. Refuge is a program that aims to change the sexual orientation of youth and adults through “Bible based reparative therapy”. Come and show your support on Monday for open and honest dialog and for all people affected by this issue.
This rally will be fun!! We also encourage all those that couldn’t make it to the previous rallies to come to this one. The more people the stronger the message.
4780 Yale Road, Memphis, Tennessee, 1.5 miles north of I-40 on Austin Peay Hwy
See you there! (via Queer Action Coalition blog)
Sphere: Related ContentThe Associated Press Is Carrying The Love In Action Story.
It started out as one little story on two or three little blogs…etc. Ok, enough of that crap, I knew this yesterday, but totally forgot to mention it to you. The Associated Press has now picked up on the story and, as you can see, the mainstream media is soon to follow. According to Mike Ditto, “John Smid from Love in Action is directly attributing the investigation to the internet campaign that you have waged.” Wow. Now if he and others like him would just stop doing this we could all move on.
Next week, a piece will run on the radio program This Way Out detailing how the news of the story spread through the internet. Myself, Peterson Toscano, Terence Heath from The Republic of T, Michael Cranky of The Disenchanted Forest). The show is carried on a number of NPR stations, here’s hoping it reaches many people. I’ve heard the story and the accuracy is remarkable.
To everyone who has been a contributing force in spreading news of LIA/R’s activities around the globe, give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it.
Good work everyone. No wait, eff that — Great work.
Sphere: Related ContentThings I Learned Over BBQ Tofu Nachos Last Night.
Like, whoa.
First off, I am here to report that Peterson Toscano’s one-man show which I told you about here is a must-see show for anyone interested in finding out more about the ex-gay movement. It is alternately gut-clutchingly hilarious and gut-wrenchingly disturbing, but it is performed rather seamlessly. I have to hand it to Peterson Toscano, he’s a very brave soul to bare his life before an audience. People will take away different important pieces of information about the ex-gay movement, about LIA/R, and get a first-hand account of what life on the inside of the program is like.
Peterson spoke with great candor regarding his experiences to the audience and answered questions after the show last night. One of the more interesting things he shared was regarding a BBC film crew that was allowed inside Love In Action’s headquarters. In January of this year, apparently, LIA/R opened its doors to their camera crew who was following a man struggling to “recover” from his homosexuality. Peterson will, hopefully, read this and correct me where I am wrong, but I believe he stated that the man who was inside the program could not bring himself to stay more than four days.
The man’s first-hand account of what went on inside the facility included relating the presence of a 16-year-old lesbian female in the program. It was not clear from what Peterson said as to whether or not the girl was there against her will or, more importantly, if she was part of the residential program (something which Love In Action claims they do not allow). It was also related that teenagers who are inside the program are required to participate in group “therapy” sessions with adults — some of whom are dealing with issues of sexual addiction such as bestiality and pedophilia. What this ostensibly means: LIA/R is asking teenagers to equate their homosexuality with issues like bestiality and pedophilia
Peterson, at the time, was unaware that they allowed minors into the program and sought verification of this startling development. He contacted Exodus International (the world leader in ex-gayness) who, in turn, referred him back to (guess who?) John Smid. Via a chance encounter, Peterson ran into Smid in the Atlanta airport a few weeks back (literally days before the story broke here). Smid confirmed to Peterson that they had been accepting minors into the program against their will but did not elaborate on the presence of the 16-year-old female. Further, in regards to group sessions, Smid related that while teenagers are in some of those sessions I mentioned, adults do not actually talk about the issues directly — only their feelings.
Peterson said, and I have to agree, “Folks at the BBC? Now would be a good time to let someone see that footage, please.”
After the show, a whole crew (including the QAC, me, and one Abby Lady Cutie Troublemaker) headed to R.P. Tracks and loaded up on the equivalent of 11pm vegan heaven, sweet potato fries and BBQ tofu nachos. If I understood correctly, it was learned that many of LIA/R’s statistics on homosexuality come from a group called (surprise!) International Organization of Heterosexual Rights. A quick Googling turned up this website which, after reading it, begs the question: I thought heterosexuals already HAVE all the rights?
If you are in Midtown this afternoon or tonight, I cannot recommend highly enough Peterson’s show and showing your support to the MeDiA Co-op. It’s FREE — I mean, that’s the lowest price in town, right?
Sphere: Related ContentJune 24, 2005