Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (November 14, 2008)

THOUS SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS — UNLESS YOU'RE TONY PERKINS
I'm basically a little heathen, so correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that darn Bible say something about not bearing false witness and whatnot? Yeah, I thought so. One of the things that drives me absolutely bonkers is when patently false information is repeated on television and goes unchallenged by people that should know better (see previous page!).

Case in point, one of the many discussions held in the aftermath of Proposition 8 was on Anderson Cooper's AC 360 with guests attorney Lisa Bloom and Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council. One of the first things Perkins claimed is that gay people were "rioting" over Prop 8. When challenged on that by Cooper, Perkins said three people had been arrested. Seriously, Tony? Three people arrested (and at least one beaten by the cops) and you're going to claim that was a riot? And that is the big issue here?

Perkins then added more lies, half-truths and obfuscations by pretending the courts have no role to play in this issue and that gay people haven't faced oppression (the whole transcript is here). But Tony wasn't done with the just that. He finished up by saying:

Look, they have the civil union's scheme out there, which provides the same benefits, there's no oppression, they're not losing any benefits, they get the same benefits. ... No one is saying they can't have their relationships. They can't have their legal arrangements. What's being said, is they can't redefine marriage for the rest of America and for the rest of the citizens of California and the people of California has said that.

Perkins is such a liar. His Family Research Council has opposed virtually every gay rights advance. They constantly rail against gay visibility on television and attack companies that are gay supportive. They are against gay adoption, employment protection, and they are most assuredly against civil unions and domestic partnerships. Of course, this is how Perkins operates whenever he's on television.

Tony 'Pinocchio ' Perkins

And this is where Anderson irked me as he let most of Perkins' assertions go unchallenged. Yes, Bloom was there to argue our side, but Cooper is a journalist and he should be calling BS when he hears it. How about Anderson pointing out that while gay couples in California had state benefits, there were no federal benefits? How about Anderson pointing out that courts have constantly issued rulings on issues pertaining to civil rights for different ethnicities as well as women? And how about Anderson and CNN not letting a serial liar appear on their network in some sort of pretense of objectivity.

EDITOR'S NOTE: After I wrote this, Dan Savage from The Stranger appeared on Wednesday night's episode alongside with Perkins, and Dan really got in Perkins' face. Best line of the night came when Dan finished by saying he hoped Perkins didn't pray to Jesus with that mouth because he's been bearing false witness against his gay neighbors. Amen, Dan!

Next page! Michael stops ranting! And Nathan Lane is out — of 'Til Death