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 Comment by Janice Rael 3 hours ago
To Alex with the 18-year-old niece, it's not easy to challenge a religious believer's faith. Since Easter just passed, ask her if she's ever tried the Dan Barker Easter Challenge. This exercise alone may open her eyes to discrepancies in the Gospels. Then show her the Skeptics Annotated Bible website, telling her that the site has collected and tagged bible verses under various categories such as Injustice, Contradictions, Sex, and Homosexuality. Ask her to examine the site, especially the contradictions. Did she know that the Bible contradicted itself in so many places? Ask her how it makes her feel to place all of her faith in the book, knowing what it teaches in such areas as "Family Values."

In other words, get that girl a notepad, a pen, a bible, and a computer. and ask her to humor you by taking a look at your side of things. Ask her if she can at least see why you do not believe, based on the bible. You don't have to convince her to change her mind, just to understand and accept your position. And if she can understand where you are coming from, perhaps, she'll eventually go to where you are.
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 Comment by Grinning Cat 3 hours ago
(Confetti pack: A Shred of Decency for marriage equality)I was glad to read about a Dublin paper shop's "Shred of Decency" campaign, leading up to next month's referendum on marriage equality in Ireland. They recycle homophobic mailings and leaflets into heart-shaped confetti "made from 100% recycled lies"; proceeds go to Yes Equality.
(They'll even print and make confetti out of homophobic tweets that people flag by replying with #ShredThisTweet.)


.
 Comment by Grinning Cat 4 hours ago
Alex, the Socratic method Peter Boghossian advocates in "A Manual for Creating Atheists" might be useful -- asking questions to focus not on the irrationality of particular beliefs, but on "how we know what we know", or "why we're confident in our beliefs" and whether those reasons are justified. For example, to an absolutely 100% certain God-told-them-so Christian true believer: "Many Muslims believe just as passionately in the truth of their holy book. Do you think this makes them right?"
.
 Comment by Alex dePalm 7 hours ago
My 18 year old bible thumper niece from KY is coming to visit me in Bev Hills for the first time. Any ideas how i can get an 18 y/o to start thinking for herself rather than thumping the bible? What to do? What to say? Only have a week. Ideas? Saying gods don't exist won't help!
.
 Comment by Chrissie Farthing yesterday
  That makes me so very happy that I do not let my Insurance Co. pick anything for me. My Dr. is a Concierge doctor and I, not the Insurance Co pay her.  It is not as expensive as mot people would think and when you need to see her she can even come to your home or office. 
  She helped me in every step of my transition and she always calls ahead to clear the way and make sure that any specialist I see is LBGT friendly.  Then, if I wish she will accompany me on my appointment. Appointments with her always last at least 1 hour and when she sits and talks she asks the right questions to find those little things that you were accepting as just old age but in fact would turn into big things.  Added to all that she is an out and open Atheist.
  The only problem that came up all during my transition has been with Medicare where someone there decided they did not wish to change my gender marker even though Social Security had repeatedly told them to make the change.  Every time a change notice was sent it seemed to just disappear.  Finally a nice lady at SS decided enough and took it to the top and it got changed.
  By having such a Doctor I have been accused of being rich but in fact I live on Social Security and also a small income of about $100 a week.  My Doctor fee is $1500 a year and I have a Medicare Supplement.  I get a kick out of the people who say that they could not afford to pay that while they are snuffing out another cigarette.  For me it is about the best investment ever, especially as a person in their 80s. .
.
 Comment by sk8eycat yesterday
E-mail from a friend:
It was two years ago to the day that I had an appointment with a new doctor for a routine physical. The doctor was randomly assigned by my insurance company in Southern California.
The routine physical was just that, routine. Typical questions were asked and notes were taken by the doctor. I left her office, proceeded to the lab for blood work, and was on my way.
Several days later I received a phone call from the doctor's office informing me that the doctor would like me to come in to review abnormal results from my physical. I was naturally concerned and immediately made an appointment for the next week.
When the doctor came into the room, she informed me that I was B-12 deficient and that she recommended monthly shots and daily supplements. Phew, I could handle that! But it was not until later, after being given a copy of the doctor's diagnoses, that I was shocked. My doctor had diagnosed my sexuality as a chronic condition, or disease. There it was. Right on my medical record. In the same section as Crohn's disease: “Homosexual Behavior Code 302.0.”
I couldn’t believe this was happening. In Southern California. In 2013.
As a gay man, I have no issue with my sexuality being referenced by my doctor in my social history. But seeing it listed on my medical record as a chronic condition or disease is wrong.
Some time passed as I attempted to wrap my head around this hurtful, harmful entry that stated my sexuality was a disease. I then made an appointment with the doctor for the sole purpose of discussing this “diagnosis.” She defended her actions, and even after my pleas to have my medical record corrected, the diagnosis remained there  — this time it was labeled a chronic problem. Because of this, I have sued the doctor and the medical center.
All of this is happening at a time of attempts to write discrimination against gay people into law in my home state of Indiana as well as Arkansas and several other states. Refusing to cater or provide flowers for a wedding is bad enough, but when it goes beyond that, it becomes downright dangerous. Can a doctor lean on a religious freedom law and refuse health care to a gay patient? Can a doctor impose her religious views on a patient and diagnose homosexuality as a disease? For as damaging as this was to me, I continue to think about what this means for a teenager who is only starting to come to terms with the idea he or she might be gay. Or worse, that it would out the youth to his or her parents.
Studies have shown that the suicide attempt rate is higher among LGBT teens than their straight peers. A doctor telling a gay patient of any age that his or her sexuality is a disease? The results could be tragic.
.
 Comment by Daniel W yesterday
More almost-too-true-to-be-satire from from The Onion:  "Gay Conversion Therapists Claim Most Patients Fully Straight By The Time They Commit Suicide"
"We’ve found that a combination of group interventions, narrative therapy, and cognitive-behavioral approaches fully eliminates homosexual urges before the individual takes his or her own life,”
.
 Comment by Bertold Brautigan yesterday
Queers to Catholics: With your history, YOU'RE calling US predators? Seriously??
.
 Comment by Daniel W yesterday
GC, that is a wonderful counter to the fear-mongering catholic meme.  So true, so true.
.
 Comment by Bertold Brautigan yesterday
On second thought, we should probably believe the Catholics - they know a thing or two about predation.
.
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Think Progress LGBT RSS
.
The State Of Gay Television, From The Writer Of ‘Cucumber’ And ‘Banana’
.
What The Religious Right Envisions As An Endgame After Losing The Fight Against LGBT Equality
.
Florida House Overwhelmingly Passes Religious ‘License To Discriminate’ Adoption Bill
.
Students Fight Back After Catholic School Fires Their Teacher
.
President Obama Thinks Ex-Gay Conversion Therapy Should Be Banned
.
More…
..

Comment Wall
.
Comment

You need to be a member of LGBTQI atheists, nontheists, and friends to add comments!
.

 Comment by Janice Rael 3 hours ago
To Alex with the 18-year-old niece, it's not easy to challenge a religious believer's faith. Since Easter just passed, ask her if she's ever tried the Dan Barker Easter Challenge. This exercise alone may open her eyes to discrepancies in the Gospels. Then show her the Skeptics Annotated Bible website, telling her that the site has collected and tagged bible verses under various categories such as Injustice, Contradictions, Sex, and Homosexuality. Ask her to examine the site, especially the contradictions. Did she know that the Bible contradicted itself in so many places? Ask her how it makes her feel to place all of her faith in the book, knowing what it teaches in such areas as "Family Values."

In other words, get that girl a notepad, a pen, a bible, and a computer. and ask her to humor you by taking a look at your side of things. Ask her if she can at least see why you do not believe, based on the bible. You don't have to convince her to change her mind, just to understand and accept your position. And if she can understand where you are coming from, perhaps, she'll eventually go to where you are.
.
 Comment by Grinning Cat 3 hours ago
(Confetti pack: A Shred of Decency for marriage equality)I was glad to read about a Dublin paper shop's "Shred of Decency" campaign, leading up to next month's referendum on marriage equality in Ireland. They recycle homophobic mailings and leaflets into heart-shaped confetti "made from 100% recycled lies"; proceeds go to Yes Equality.
(They'll even print and make confetti out of homophobic tweets that people flag by replying with #ShredThisTweet.)


.
 Comment by Grinning Cat 4 hours ago
Alex, the Socratic method Peter Boghossian advocates in "A Manual for Creating Atheists" might be useful -- asking questions to focus not on the irrationality of particular beliefs, but on "how we know what we know", or "why we're confident in our beliefs" and whether those reasons are justified. For example, to an absolutely 100% certain God-told-them-so Christian true believer: "Many Muslims believe just as passionately in the truth of their holy book. Do you think this makes them right?"
.
 Comment by Alex dePalm 7 hours ago
My 18 year old bible thumper niece from KY is coming to visit me in Bev Hills for the first time. Any ideas how i can get an 18 y/o to start thinking for herself rather than thumping the bible? What to do? What to say? Only have a week. Ideas? Saying gods don't exist won't help!
.
 Comment by Chrissie Farthing yesterday
  That makes me so very happy that I do not let my Insurance Co. pick anything for me. My Dr. is a Concierge doctor and I, not the Insurance Co pay her.  It is not as expensive as mot people would think and when you need to see her she can even come to your home or office. 
  She helped me in every step of my transition and she always calls ahead to clear the way and make sure that any specialist I see is LBGT friendly.  Then, if I wish she will accompany me on my appointment. Appointments with her always last at least 1 hour and when she sits and talks she asks the right questions to find those little things that you were accepting as just old age but in fact would turn into big things.  Added to all that she is an out and open Atheist.
  The only problem that came up all during my transition has been with Medicare where someone there decided they did not wish to change my gender marker even though Social Security had repeatedly told them to make the change.  Every time a change notice was sent it seemed to just disappear.  Finally a nice lady at SS decided enough and took it to the top and it got changed.
  By having such a Doctor I have been accused of being rich but in fact I live on Social Security and also a small income of about $100 a week.  My Doctor fee is $1500 a year and I have a Medicare Supplement.  I get a kick out of the people who say that they could not afford to pay that while they are snuffing out another cigarette.  For me it is about the best investment ever, especially as a person in their 80s. .
.
 Comment by sk8eycat yesterday
E-mail from a friend:
It was two years ago to the day that I had an appointment with a new doctor for a routine physical. The doctor was randomly assigned by my insurance company in Southern California.
The routine physical was just that, routine. Typical questions were asked and notes were taken by the doctor. I left her office, proceeded to the lab for blood work, and was on my way.
Several days later I received a phone call from the doctor's office informing me that the doctor would like me to come in to review abnormal results from my physical. I was naturally concerned and immediately made an appointment for the next week.
When the doctor came into the room, she informed me that I was B-12 deficient and that she recommended monthly shots and daily supplements. Phew, I could handle that! But it was not until later, after being given a copy of the doctor's diagnoses, that I was shocked. My doctor had diagnosed my sexuality as a chronic condition, or disease. There it was. Right on my medical record. In the same section as Crohn's disease: “Homosexual Behavior Code 302.0.”
I couldn’t believe this was happening. In Southern California. In 2013.
As a gay man, I have no issue with my sexuality being referenced by my doctor in my social history. But seeing it listed on my medical record as a chronic condition or disease is wrong.
Some time passed as I attempted to wrap my head around this hurtful, harmful entry that stated my sexuality was a disease. I then made an appointment with the doctor for the sole purpose of discussing this “diagnosis.” She defended her actions, and even after my pleas to have my medical record corrected, the diagnosis remained there  — this time it was labeled a chronic problem. Because of this, I have sued the doctor and the medical center.
All of this is happening at a time of attempts to write discrimination against gay people into law in my home state of Indiana as well as Arkansas and several other states. Refusing to cater or provide flowers for a wedding is bad enough, but when it goes beyond that, it becomes downright dangerous. Can a doctor lean on a religious freedom law and refuse health care to a gay patient? Can a doctor impose her religious views on a patient and diagnose homosexuality as a disease? For as damaging as this was to me, I continue to think about what this means for a teenager who is only starting to come to terms with the idea he or she might be gay. Or worse, that it would out the youth to his or her parents.
Studies have shown that the suicide attempt rate is higher among LGBT teens than their straight peers. A doctor telling a gay patient of any age that his or her sexuality is a disease? The results could be tragic.
.
 Comment by Daniel W yesterday
More almost-too-true-to-be-satire from from The Onion:  "Gay Conversion Therapists Claim Most Patients Fully Straight By The Time They Commit Suicide"
"We’ve found that a combination of group interventions, narrative therapy, and cognitive-behavioral approaches fully eliminates homosexual urges before the individual takes his or her own life,”
.
 Comment by Bertold Brautigan yesterday
Queers to Catholics: With your history, YOU'RE calling US predators? Seriously??
.
 Comment by Daniel W yesterday
GC, that is a wonderful counter to the fear-mongering catholic meme.  So true, so true.
.
 Comment by Bertold Brautigan yesterday
On second thought, we should probably believe the Catholics - they know a thing or two about predation.
.
‹ Previous


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