The Agenda:

Testing the Premise: Are Gays a Threat to Our Children?

What the "Dutch Study" Really Says About Gay Couples

Federal Hate Crime Statistics: Why The Numbers Don't Add Up

Refuting Christianity Today

  Favorites:

Still Life At Sunset

Anderson Cooper and Scooter

Wandering, Wondering

The Aperture of Memory

Easter's Birthday

The First Time I Cussed

  Photo Essays:

The Anasazi Ruins of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico

Monsoons of 2004

Miracle Mile

Now Showing / Reflection on Hayden, Arizona

The Debut of Box Turtle Bulletin
Where I have been hiding myself the past few months.
January 9, 2006

There was a time when I would post something on this website about every other day. Lately, I've been lucky if I can get a quick post in once a week. There's a reason for that. I've been working on another site, one that is now ready for it's debut:

The purpose of Box Turtle Bulletin is to serve as a repository for critical examinations of the many claims that antigay activists make about us. Bogus claims like "gay men are seventeen times more likely to molest children," or that "gay couples have eight partners per year on average." I also examine where antigay activists get some of their statistics. The website is rather thin right now, but I hope to add more content in the next several months.

The feature article this month is a very important story I've been following over the past year. Waverly, Ohio is a small town some twenty miles from where I grew up. It is also where Daniel Fetty was brutally murdered in a chilling hate crime. His murderers were brought to justice, but Daniel was not included in the FBI's Hate Crime Statistics for 2004. You can learn more about what happened in "Daniel Fetty Doesn't Count."

So do me a few favors. Look the site over and let me know of any suggestions you may have. And if you're interested in participating in this project, I'm especially interested in hearing from you. And most importantly, spread the word and the links. Your help in this will be most appreciated.

The Set Up
Friday, January 6, 2006

"I was in the area pastoring to police."

That line is destined to become a classic. Pastoring to police. Heh heh. Yeah, I've seen a few men in blue I'd love to "pastor".

In case you missed the news, Tulsa pastor Lonnie Latham, a member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention who has spoken out against homosexuality, was arrested for "offering to engage in an act of lewdness" with a male Oklahoma City undercover officer.

Schadanfreude is everywhere. I love it that I get to use that word. And I can't help but feel a certain satisfaction whenever hypocrisy is exposed in such stark relief. I also feel just a little bit of sadness for Lothan's inability to deal with his sexuality in a more healthy, fulfilling manner with his integrity intact, as many of us have managed to do. But just a little.

But despite the glee with which many have greeted this story, there's something that's a bit alarming that is being overlooked –– something that should send shivers up all our spines.

Oklahoma City police were cracking down on prostitution after several complaints from neighbors, an Lothan got caught up in it. Here's how the Oklahoman described what happened:

About 9:45 p.m., the plainclothes officer was driving an unmarked car and investigating the complaints when a car began following the officer's car. Both cars then pulled into a parking lot... The man driving the second car then told the undercover officer he had a hotel room at a nearby motel and asked the officer to go back to his room with him for oral sex.

But here's the thing: He's not being charged with soliciting, because there was not discussion of money being exchanged. Police Captain Jeffrey Becker was very clear on that point. He's not being charged with attempting to engage in public sex. His suggestion was that they go back to his hotel room and have sex in private. No, Latham is charged with "offering to engage in an act of lewdness."

Is that really a crime?

Don't get me wrong. I have no intention of defending Latham's actions. Public cruising isn't something any of us want in our neighborhoods. And I'm all for police crackdowns on public sex and prostitution. They are a terrible scourge wherever these problems appear. But that's not what we're talking about here.

Latham is charged with asking another adult man to join him in the privacy of a hotel room for consensual noncommercial sex.

Isn't that exactly the same kind of conversation that takes place on college campuses all across America? Isn't that exactly the same kind of conversation that takes place in every bar –– gay or straight –– at closing time?

Latham shouldn't have been doing what he did. I'm glad his hypocrisy has been exposed. But he should not have been arrested for doing what he did. He's right when he says "I was set up," but not for the reasons he is thinking. As long as straight men are not being arrested for hitting on women, as long as police are not interested in pursuing "propositions" that are uttered in the lounge at the Holiday Inn, gay men should not be arrested for asking other men to go with them to the privacy of their room for consensual, noncommercial sex.

Here we have an antigay preacher who has been arrested for the "crime" of asking another man to go to bed with him. I think we should add some delicious irony to this situation: Lamda Legal should offer to defend him in court. It shouldn't be a crime when gay men do what straight men can get away with. Latham's beating this rap will be a victory for us all.

◄ December 2005

Abilene
January 1, 2006

Chris and I went to Abilene, Texas to spend Christmas with his family. What fun facts do you want to know about Abilene?

© LookingForSam / Jim Burroway

Abilene was founded in 1881. Abilene's population is about 44,436 families, or 115,930 patriotic Christians (mostly).

© LookingForSam / Jim Burroway

Abilene is located 32.45 degrees north of the equator and 99.73 degrees west of the prime meridian. Abilene is 1,790 feet above sea level.

Abilene is the home to Dyess Air Force Base. It is also home to Hardin-Simmons University (Baptist), Abilene Christian University (Church of Christ), and McMurray University (United Methodist).

Other than that, Abilene is pretty normal. Not much to say.

© LookingForSam / Jim Burroway

Oh yeah, there's one other thing. Remember when I gave a list of small-town gay bar names? You can add Club Unity to the list.