"This is so exciting to have a nice Travel Assistant and traveling companion! Wow! I'm so glad I met you."

May 4, 2010 12:10 PM

Christian right leader George Rekers takes vacation with "rent boy"
posted by Faint of Butt (368 comments total)

Man, it's not even funny anymore. It's like re-runs.
posted by The Whelk at 12:12 PM on May 4, 2010 [64 favorites]

I really don't know what kind of response you're expecting from this, aside from some mix of "oh. another one?" and "LOLHypocrites."
That being said,

Oh, another one? Color me unsurprised.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 12:12 PM on May 4, 2010

Happens every few months, like cockwork.
posted by adipocere at 12:13 PM on May 4, 2010 [100 favorites]

At first I was thinking "Oh, that's pretty wild accusation, maybe he just happens to like the friendship of performers in the wildly popular mainstream musical RENT" but then, no, its super sleazy.
posted by wcfields at 12:14 PM on May 4, 2010

It's not funny anymore?

"I had surgery," Rekers said, "and I can't lift luggage. That's why I hired him."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
posted by The Straightener at 12:14 PM on May 4, 2010 [37 favorites]

Shocked, I tell you! **



(**NOT)
posted by winks007 at 12:15 PM on May 4, 2010

"I had surgery," Rekers said, "and I can't lift luggage. That's why I hired him."

STOP THE PRESSES BOYS WE GOT OURSELVES A NEW EUPHEMISM
posted by Damn That Television at 12:15 PM on May 4, 2010 [65 favorites]

"I had surgery," Rekers said, "and I can't lift luggage. That's why I hired him."

If only hotels would provide staff to transport a customers bags from the lobby to your room.

And if only taxi drivers weren't welded into their drivers compartment.

Oh to dream of such a world...
posted by PenDevil at 12:18 PM on May 4, 2010 [17 favorites]

It's nice to know that the "rent boy" can live with himself after being paid to service someone who spends that much effort in dehumanizing the rent boy and his lifestyle.

After all, what does it matter if thousands suffer injustice, as long as the guy responsible for those injustices slips you a couple thousand now and then? "Long as I get mine, fuck 'em all", what a lovely way of life.
posted by splice at 12:18 PM on May 4, 2010 [6 favorites]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
posted by The Straightener


heh.
posted by The Whelk at 12:18 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

""I had surgery," Rekers said, "and I can't lift luggage. That's why I hired him."

STOP THE PRESSES BOYS WE GOT OURSELVES A NEW EUPHEMISM"

Funny, after reading that article my luggage feels a bit heavy too.
posted by Blasdelb at 12:19 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

Sorry, conservatives. It's to the point now that if you oppose gay rights, I just assume that you're on some deep closet shit.
posted by klangklangston at 12:19 PM on May 4, 2010 [76 favorites]

Yes Lucien, his homophobia is dwarfed by his desire to help children. Help little gay children deny who they are possibly kill themselves. He really is a good man, Lucien.
posted by munchingzombie at 12:20 PM on May 4, 2010

Rekers is a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), an organization that systematically attempts to turn gay people straight.

Hoo yes. This is my schadenfreude face: :-D
posted by everichon at 12:21 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

Services should be very interesting this Sunday.
posted by caddis at 12:22 PM on May 4, 2010

Rekers is a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), an organization that systematically attempts to turn gay people straight.

He was just doing some one-one therapy!.
posted by The Whelk at 12:23 PM on May 4, 2010

If only hotels would provide staff to transport a customers bags from the lobby to your room.

And if only taxi drivers weren't welded into their drivers compartment.

Oh to dream of such a world...

A good point. But since those kinds of crazy services don't exist in the present, you gotta hire luggage carriers to accompany you on your entire journey and sleep in your room with you.

And the best place to hire a luggage carrier is a gay prostitution site, as Consumer Reports would say. Probably.
posted by ignignokt at 12:23 PM on May 4, 2010 [14 favorites]

Reached by New Times before a trip to Bermuda, Rekers said he learned Lucien was a prostitute only midway through their vacation.

Honestly, I thought we were fucking just because he liked me!
posted by shmegegge at 12:23 PM on May 4, 2010 [15 favorites]

My god do I love the euphemistic excuses. 'I have a wide stance,' 'I need him to lift my luggage'... I am pretty sure Pynchon is writing these.
posted by shakespeherian at 12:23 PM on May 4, 2010 [21 favorites]

str8 christian seeks rentboy 4 luggage handling, general help. NO GAY SEX. plz READ CAREFULLY. NOT LOOKING FOR GAY SEX. just need a handsome young man to pick up my luggage. do u like picking up luggage? i may be the man 4 u! no recip, i cannot pick up luggage. plz be respectful of my inability to pick up ur luggage, just need a NON GAY SEX man to be handsome and pick up luggage. ski, tina ok

As good as any of a place to link these.
posted by Damn That Television at 12:24 PM on May 4, 2010 [11 favorites]

"I had surgery," Rekers said, "and I can't lift luggage. That's why I hired him."

Sex makes me feel better when things aren't going well too.
posted by roll truck roll at 12:24 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

After all, what does it matter if thousands suffer injustice, as long as the guy responsible for those injustices slips you a couple thousand now and then?

Welcome to the first world?
posted by ODiV at 12:25 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

"Now that I'm packed, tomorrow I'll work on completing my income tax return," Rekers wrote two days later.

Man, talk about a straight line... (wait, maybe straight line isn't the right term).

OTOH, fuck this guy and all his theocratic, right-wing, hateful friends and supporters. May they all die in a fire.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 12:25 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Sorry, conservatives. It's to the point now that if you oppose gay rights, I just assume that you're on some deep closet shit.

I feel the same way.
posted by caddis at 12:25 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

Serious question: Is there a psychological term for this sort of denial? Where one person vehemently vilifies/demonizes/attacks other people for something that they are unable to deal with in themselves?
posted by zarq at 12:26 PM on May 4, 2010

"of couse I need someone to carry my luggage. which is my nickname for my scrotum, because, have you seen the size of my balls? Goddamn."
posted by boo_radley at 12:26 PM on May 4, 2010 [7 favorites]

It's nice to know that the "rent boy" can live with himself after being paid to service someone who spends that much effort in dehumanizing the rent boy and his lifestyle.

He's a hooker, what do you expect?
posted by empath at 12:27 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Is there a psychological term for this sort of denial?

Yeah, it's called self-hate.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 12:27 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

> Services should be very interesting this Sunday.

Expect a lot of "No True Scotsman"-type conversations.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:28 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

when a picture of the two was snapped with a hot-pink digital camera

Solid detail work. I want to donate to the journalism school of which that photographer was a product.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 12:29 PM on May 4, 2010 [7 favorites]

Rekers is a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH)...

Give the man a break. It was all just for research. Really. Honestly. It was.
posted by ericb at 12:30 PM on May 4, 2010

Rekers is a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH)

I bet if we put our heads together we could come up with a great definition for "narth" that'd offer a really pleasant surprise for anyone googling this fine, fine organization.

Narth: The sound one makes when gargling Santorum.
posted by bondcliff at 12:30 PM on May 4, 2010 [19 favorites]

Somehow this news makes me happy.
posted by Dragonness at 12:31 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Related: Is Lindsey Graham gay? A S.C. tea-bagger thinks so (Jon Stewart weighs in, as does Stephen Colbert).
posted by HP LaserJet P10006 at 12:32 PM on May 4, 2010

Yeah, it's called self-hate.

Given. I was hoping for something more... scientific. "Self-Sublimation" or something.
posted by zarq at 12:32 PM on May 4, 2010

Looks like a duck. Walks like a duck. Has sex with other boy ducks like a duck.
posted by Mister_A at 12:32 PM on May 4, 2010 [26 favorites]

Sorry, conservatives. It's to the point now that if you oppose gay rights, I just assume that you're on some deep closet shit.

I've always thought that. It's the fear that they might be somehow turned gay if they're exposed to gay behavior. You get the impression that these guys have to pray every day to stop themselves from abandoning their families and cruising rest stops.
posted by empath at 12:32 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

Narth Tater: the black-suited gimp in any softcore and hardcore gay porn.
posted by adipocere at 12:32 PM on May 4, 2010 [5 favorites]

I love the smell of schaudenfreude in the morning.
posted by entropicamericana at 12:33 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

It's nice to know that the "rent boy" can live with himself after being paid to service someone who spends that much effort in dehumanizing the rent boy and his lifestyle.


Not to generalize, but . . . he's a fucking prostitute. Forgive me if I'm not surprised if his conscience is somewhat under-developed.
posted by kaiseki at 12:34 PM on May 4, 2010

Color me unsurprised, and glad. I am all for outing anti-gay leaders. It's just so preposterous. When a 'heterosexual' man spends so much time obsessing about gay sex, well, his mind is constantly on gay sex, and hmm anyone wonder why? Most hetero guys I know don't spend even a second thinking about gay sex (unless it's two hot lesbians). And it is still so hard for me to grasp how someone can cling to his bible preaching against TEH GAY when he has those tendencies himself. What self-hatred, hypocrisy, and outright absence of integrity.

Bring more stories like this on. The more the better. I wonder what Dobson is thinking now. Probably 'Shit, I better not use that website again!'

And yeah, I find it funny and sad that the best excuse he could come up with is that he needed someone to help with his luggage. So he goes to a gay prostitute site. And then didn't realize he was a prostitute until halfway through, but he still kept lil rentboi on the payroll. It's so sad you have to find the humor in it. Just bizarre.
posted by WilliamMD at 12:34 PM on May 4, 2010 [10 favorites]

It's nice to know that the "rent boy" can live with himself after being paid to service someone who spends that much effort in dehumanizing the rent boy and his lifestyle.

I don't think rent boys are in the habit of asking for a résumé and a background check on their johns. This kid likely had no idea who Rekers was.
posted by ericb at 12:35 PM on May 4, 2010 [6 favorites]

have you seen the size of my balls?

You shouldn't mock someone with elephantitis of the nuts.

Rekers is a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), an organization that systematically attempts to turn gay people straight.

"You fool! You reversed the polarity!"
posted by octobersurprise at 12:35 PM on May 4, 2010 [29 favorites]

Why all the schadenfreude, folks? There must be another side to his story; some reason why he became the person he is. Remember that hypocrisy isn't the cardinal sin of moral absolutists like it is of relativists; it's serious, yes, but it's redeemable.

Hypocrites deserve fair treatment too. Love the sinner, and all that. Don't let his bad behaviour be an excuse to behave badly yourselves.
posted by Fraxas at 12:35 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

What always gets me is how off the deep end so many of these vitriolic self-haters are. I'm gay and I've never hooked up with guys in the toilet at an airport had a wide stance, jetted off to islands with my rent boy luggage carrier, or any such thing. I guess that's what being repressed will do to one.
posted by msbutah at 12:35 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

Two 'rough trade' FPPs in a row. Spooky.
posted by carter at 12:36 PM on May 4, 2010 [7 favorites]

Why does this porter keep sucking my cock?
posted by klangklangston at 12:36 PM on May 4, 2010 [17 favorites]

This is a lamer, and more porny-sounding excuse, than the wide stance canard.
posted by Mister_A at 12:37 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Narth: the sound a homophobe makes into a pillow as he is penetrated.
posted by fleetmouse at 12:38 PM on May 4, 2010 [22 favorites]

Whatever lifts your luggage, man.
posted by namespan at 12:39 PM on May 4, 2010 [42 favorites]

And I'm sorry Fraxas, but seriously, screw this guy. Send him to jail for prostitution and let him bear the shame that comes down on his head. He hates other groups of people, a group that apparently he is a member of, without retribution. Someone who chose not to accept or address who they are in a healthy manner doesn't deserve our sympathy. This is a guy who worked daily to tell people they were unhealthy and sick for being gay, in need of a cure. He doesn't get a chance to reform himself. He's spent his life targeting and attacking others. Sorry. None from me.
posted by msbutah at 12:39 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

When I read that Rekers is a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), an organization that systematically attempts to turn gay people straight, I immediately thought that he should henceforth be known as Narth Vader.
posted by grizzled at 12:39 PM on May 4, 2010 [12 favorites]

Related: Is Lindsey Graham gay? A S.C. tea-bagger thinks so (Jon Stewart weighs in, as does Stephen Colbert).

It doesn't make me particularly happy that Stewart and Colbert are sinking to the level of a Tea Bagger witch hunt.

On the other hand...

As a member of the House of Representatives, in 1996 Graham voted for the Defense of Marriage Act. As a Senator, in 2004 he voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment. He received a rating of 0% from the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign in each reporting period from 1995-2008, with the exception of 1999, when he received a rating of 9%.

I suppose his sexual orientation does matter, since he's apparently doing his best to deny rights to non-heterosexuals.
posted by zarq at 12:40 PM on May 4, 2010

Love the sinner, and all that.

Exactly what got Mr. Rekkers in trouble. Especially the "all that."
posted by octobersurprise at 12:42 PM on May 4, 2010

The implication of the last paragraph of that article is horrifying, if it's true.
posted by pharm at 12:42 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

I'm starting to wonder if maybe old Sen. Joe McCarthy had a hammer and sickle flag on the wall of his living room.
posted by tommasz at 12:42 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

"Hypocrites deserve fair treatment too. Love the sinner, and all that. Don't let his bad behaviour be an excuse to behave badly yourselves."

See the thing is, reasonable people don't think a consenting same-sex relationship between adults is the bad thing. It's the spreading of hate and lies that we have more of a problem with, and this public outing of his dirty laundry is just the long arc of history tending toward justice.
posted by mullingitover at 12:43 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

If you believe Gore Vidal McCarthy had a few pinups on the wall of his living room.
posted by The Whelk at 12:45 PM on May 4, 2010

It doesn't make me particularly happy that Stewart and Colbert are sinking to the level of a Tea Bagger witch hunt.

Don't talk about videos you haven't watched.
posted by moxiedoll at 12:45 PM on May 4, 2010 [7 favorites]

Can I mention Outrage again? I'm mentioning it again.
posted by The Whelk at 12:46 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

I don't think anyone's hit the nail on the head in terms of the psychological term yet, but I believe that this is what you are looking for:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_formation
posted by mister-o at 12:46 PM on May 4, 2010

It's nice to know that the "rent boy" can live with himself after being paid to service someone who spends that much effort in dehumanizing the rent boy and his lifestyle.

Yes, because people in that line of work have always had such great chances in life.

Your comment is offensive and belies a lack of thought of other's life situation.
posted by Lleyam at 12:46 PM on May 4, 2010 [10 favorites]

I'm starting to wonder if maybe old Sen. Joe McCarthy had a hammer and sickle flag on the wall of his living room.

Sounds like a great movie plot!
posted by benzenedream at 12:48 PM on May 4, 2010

i love newtimes papers. that is all.
posted by msconduct at 12:48 PM on May 4, 2010

tommasz: "I'm starting to wonder if maybe old Sen. Joe McCarthy had a hammer and sickle flag on the wall of his living room."

Naw, just tacked up on the wall inside his garage.
posted by notsnot at 12:49 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

Christian right leader George Rekers takes vacation with "rent boy" -posted by "Faint of Butt"

sorry, my first thought was...
Eponymsterical
posted by djrock3k at 12:49 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Maybe it was the old "pay a prostitute for her time but don't have sex, just talk and be a kind listening ear and maybe tell her about Jesus" gig, only gay. And somebody caught him in the act and jumped to conclusions.

I mean, probably not. But that stuff happens every now and then too, doesn't it? Rentboy.com probably isn't the starting point of those encounters though.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 12:50 PM on May 4, 2010

I wouldn't be surprised if Rekers is a member of Gammu Mu with their weekend fly-ins and other events frequented by mostly older closeted gay men looking to hook-up with the "34 and younger" "Junior Executives" (aka Trophy Boys in search of Sugar Daddies).

The Advocate | Sep 2, 1997: Inside Gama Mu.
posted by ericb at 12:54 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

*Gamma Mu*
posted by ericb at 12:55 PM on May 4, 2010

Don't talk about videos you haven't watched.

I just watched 'em and was ducking back in to expand upon my comment.

I'll just agree that I should have and keep my mouth shut now.
posted by zarq at 12:55 PM on May 4, 2010

Aside from tossing of a one-line, I guess I do wanna make some kind of other point. I'm actually not all that surprised that some people who see homosexuality as something that can be struggled with and overcome have homosexual tendencies themselves. If you think of orientation as a continuum rather than a binary variable, then while there are going to be some people who just can't conceive of being any other way than they are, there are also going to be some people who might find members of their own sex attractive in some way but not immutable or even a part of their identity. Add this to the absorption of a platonic ideal of heterosexual couples, and I think you pretty adequately explain Rekers and other people who see Teh Gay as just another temptation you can resist or succumb to. Of course they sit on boards and work with organizations about overcoming homosexuality. It's inevitable that some of the people drawn there speak from experience. Some of them are possibly—nay, even likely if you really believe in a continuum of orientation—even much more successful than our examples who end up coining such beautifully ridiculous and euphemistic phrases as they go down in scandal.
posted by namespan at 12:56 PM on May 4, 2010 [5 favorites]

I don't remember where I first read this, but I do like the theory that so many of these guys are really vocal about their opposition to gay rights, etc. because they honestly think of themselves as normal straight guys who are prone to the temptation of homosexual 'sin' just as much as they are to that of lying, cheating, stealing, etc. Like, homosexuality is just another thing that you have to be very careful not to do because of your evil sinful nature. So when they are concerned about kids seeing gay guys kiss on teevee, or when they are terrified that a homosexual might hit on them, it's because they think they know just how easy it is for everyone to give in to being gay. Because they aren't gay: they're just tempted.
posted by shakespeherian at 12:57 PM on May 4, 2010 [132 favorites]

The Winsome Parker Lewis: "Maybe it was the old "pay a prostitute for her time but don't have sex, just talk and be a kind listening ear and maybe tell her about Jesus" gig, only gay. And somebody caught him in the act and jumped to conclusions."

I'd say that's close. I was picturing more of a, "Hey, this could be fun. We'll just see what happens, heh heh" kind of thing. Like the way awkward teenagers try to joke-flirt with each other.
posted by roll truck roll at 12:57 PM on May 4, 2010

Guys, this is perfectly understandable. I hire prostitutes all the time to help me move. They're generally nicer than professional movers.

However, I do admit there is sometimes a strong temptation to ask them to have sex with me. Were it not for it costing extra, I probably would ask for that.

Being a Christian Heterosexual, George Rekers hired a male prostitute so that he wouldn't be tempted. Duh!
posted by mccarty.tim at 12:57 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Aw, leave him alone he just needed help fitting some packages in his trunk.
posted by applemeat at 12:58 PM on May 4, 2010 [12 favorites]

I kinda feel like the conservative agenda re: gay sex is like their agenda with money:

"If you let everyone have it, there won't be any left! Better to let us hold on to it all, so we can take good, good care of it."
posted by yeloson at 1:02 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

The co-founder of Focus on the Family? That's some serious shit.

I wonder if someday we're going to hear something equally scandalous about James Dobson himself.
posted by edheil at 1:02 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Dude I charge way more for heavy lifting than I do for sex.
posted by Mister_A at 1:03 PM on May 4, 2010 [6 favorites]

At this point, I think this has become a monumental question that looms large over our epoch: how can so many people who seem to believe so fervently, so deeply, and who hold to their convictions so passionately, apparently so often fall to the precise temptation they decry? How can so many apparently respectable, thoughtful, intelligent people do things that are utterly against their own principles?

That is to say: who the fuck are all these gay people who seem willing to sleep with the most small-minded Republicans? I'm not one to criticize someone's sexual preferences, but this just seems... unnatural.
posted by koeselitz at 1:04 PM on May 4, 2010 [5 favorites]

Looks like rentboy stuffed his trunk pretty good. I mean, he's a professional.
posted by The Straightener at 1:04 PM on May 4, 2010

It's nice to know that the "rent boy" can live with himself after being paid to service someone who spends that much effort in dehumanizing the rent boy and his lifestyle.

Living well, especially with their money, can be the best revenge.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:04 PM on May 4, 2010 [6 favorites]

George Rekers apparently lives in a hell on earth -- he despises himself and so he promotes mass intolerance of and discrimination toward anyone else who is like him. Of course I condemn his hypocrisy and his history of hating, but there is something very sad and poignant about the fact that this is ultimately about his loathing for himself.
posted by bearwife at 1:04 PM on May 4, 2010 [8 favorites]

Some of Reker's treatment methods include:

However, Carl remained inept at most games and sports played by his male peers at school and in his home neighborhood. We, therefore, provided an additional 15 month program of behavior shaping procedures to overcome his deficits in throwing the ball, socking a playground ball, and in playing kickball. This training was combined with what are called "companionship therapy" in which a relationship was established between Carl and a male psychology student who modeled appropriate masculine behaviors and took Carl on numerous trips to the park, beach, and for tumbling lessons.

And luggage-carrying lessons.
posted by blucevalo at 1:06 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

I don't remember where I first read this

It was a comment here on Metafilter... I believe the logic was, "If we, straight guys, are deeply tempted by teh gay, only harsh social and legal pressure against homosexuality keeps everyone from running off to the bathhouses and ceasing to procreate, thus dooming the human race".

Sadly, this actually DOES seem to be the logic of these folks.
posted by yeloson at 1:06 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

And exactly how, sir, did you discover half way through your trip that Lucien is a prostitute?
posted by No Robots at 1:06 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

The implication of the last paragraph of that article is horrifying, if it's true.

I originally didn't realize that it was a two-page article, which meant I was confused about the horrifying implications of "Neither Google nor any other search engine picks up individual Rentboy.com profiles, any more than they pick up individual profiles on eHarmony or Match.com. You cannot just happen upon one."
posted by EarBucket at 1:08 PM on May 4, 2010 [5 favorites]

Indeed, much of Rekers's activism over the past three decades — beginning with his 1983 book, Shaping Your Child's Sexual Identity —

Oh ew ew ew ew, rarely has just reading a book's title made me feel like I need a hot shower.
posted by The Whelk at 1:11 PM on May 4, 2010 [9 favorites]

"I don't remember where I first read this, but I do like the theory that so many of these guys are really vocal about their opposition to gay rights, etc. because they honestly think of themselves as normal straight guys who are prone to the temptation of homosexual 'sin' just as much as they are to that of lying, cheating, stealing, etc. Like, homosexuality is just another thing that you have to be very careful not to do because of your evil sinful nature. So when they are concerned about kids seeing gay guys kiss on teevee, or when they are terrified that a homosexual might hit on them, it's because they think they know just how easy it is for everyone to give in to being gay. Because they aren't gay: they're just tempted."

Dr. Paul Cameron's schtick is that he thinks gay sex is so much hotter than straight sex that if straight guys get a whiff of it, they'll be hooked instantly. Previously on Metafilter.
posted by klangklangston at 1:12 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

Thanks for pointing that out, EarBucket. I had exactly the same problem.
posted by roll truck roll at 1:12 PM on May 4, 2010

pharm: “The implication of the last paragraph of that article is horrifying, if it's true.”

Er... why? (Yes, I know there's a second page.)
posted by koeselitz at 1:13 PM on May 4, 2010

I wonder if someday we're going to hear something equally scandalous about James Dobson himself.

Dobson's been spewing so much intolerance for so many years that at this point the scandal would have to be equally shocking. Maybe his hobby is tossing adorable kittens in a wood chipper or something.
posted by zarq at 1:15 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Of course I condemn his hypocrisy and his history of hating, but there is something very sad and poignant about the fact that this is ultimately about his loathing for himself.

I have a very hard time finding any sadness or poignancy in this or any similar anecdotes. Beyond the initial smirking cynicism that the episodes inevitably conjure up, what I do find is anger, in particular at the active legislative and legal malevolence that these people have the power to unleash in the course of wrestling with their self-hatreds.

I wish that they would get treatment or whatever they need to deal with their psychological conflicts and leave me and other gay people alone.
posted by blucevalo at 1:17 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

Naw, he just pops them in his mouth, alive and whole, and starts his slow methodical chewing.
posted by The Whelk at 1:17 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

This seems like a situation in which Dr. Tobias Funke might find himself.
posted by electroboy at 1:17 PM on May 4, 2010 [31 favorites]

Yeah, it's kind of running with your imagination to think that the guy abused any of the kids he took in. To imply that a closeted gay would do that with no evidence, to me, borders on the same irrational fear that people have against gay adoption. It's kind of shitty of the journalist to imply that, too.
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:18 PM on May 4, 2010 [11 favorites]

Naw, he just pops them in his mouth, alive and whole, and starts his slow methodical chewing.

Someone should tell him that's really not how you eat pussy.
posted by zarq at 1:21 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

Maybe it was the old "pay a prostitute for her time but don't have sex, just talk and be a kind listening ear and maybe tell her about Jesus" gig, only gay.

Survey says!

"If you talk with my travel assistant that the story called “Lucien,” you will find I spent a great deal of time sharing scientific information on the desirability of abandoning homosexual intercourse, and I shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him in great detail."

posted by octobersurprise at 1:22 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

From octobersurprise's link:

"Like John the Baptist and Jesus, I have a loving Christian ministry to homosexuals and prostitutes in which I share the Good News of Jesus Christ with them..."

And that's not all that you share with them.
posted by ericb at 1:25 PM on May 4, 2010

That's how dedicated George Rekers is to curing homosexuals: he hires them, one by one, from RentBoy.com, and takes them on vacations where he shares scientific information with them (presumably, graphs are involved).

I shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him in great detail.

Worst. Euphemism. Ever.
posted by EarBucket at 1:25 PM on May 4, 2010 [14 favorites]

"If you talk with my travel assistant that the story called “Lucien,” you will find I spent a great deal of time sharing scientific information on the desirability of abandoning homosexual intercourse, and I shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him in great detail."

Pseudo-scientific bullshit, is more like it.
posted by Caduceus at 1:25 PM on May 4, 2010

He's just saying he and Lucien had long, hard talks into the night.
posted by The Whelk at 1:26 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

pharm: “The implication of the last paragraph of that article is horrifying, if it's true.”

koeselitz: Er... why? (Yes, I know there's a second page.)

Because the author of the article is implying that Rekers may have sexually abused his adopted children, particularly the 16-year-old boy.
posted by Scattercat at 1:27 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

"I had surgery," Rekers said, "and I can't lift luggage. That's why I hired him."

So he's saying that he paid a man to handle his sack for him. o_0
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:28 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

Some questions about the article:

How exactly is a mustache "atavistic"?

The reporter says that the front page of rentboy features "images of naked, tumescent men busily sodomizing each other." Busily? As opposed to what, leisurely? Lackadaisically? Distractedly?

Also: Shame on Harvard for once paying someone like Rekers who has such a blatant ideological bent to all of his "research."
posted by Saxon Kane at 1:28 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

Which is kind of a bullshit implication to make, but then again the paragraph right above it seems to be the implication that someone who writes a book called Shaping Your Child's Sexual Identity is a little suspicious regardless.

Cause seriously ew.
posted by The Whelk at 1:28 PM on May 4, 2010

Distractedly?

Who among us hasn't been there amiright?
posted by The Whelk at 1:29 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

(presumably, graphs are involved)

He just needs some help booting up his PowerPoint is all.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:32 PM on May 4, 2010

It's nice to know that the "rent boy" can live with himself after being paid to service someone who spends that much effort in dehumanizing the rent boy and his lifestyle.

I don't think Mr. Rekers has done much to dehumanize prostitutes, though I could be wrong.

-
posted by General Tonic at 1:34 PM on May 4, 2010

how can so many people who seem to believe so fervently, so deeply, and who hold to their convictions so passionately, apparently so often fall to the precise temptation they decry?

I really don't think Reker is the only one who holds ideals he doesn't live up to.
posted by namespan at 1:36 PM on May 4, 2010

Because the author of the article is implying that Rekers may have sexually abused his adopted children, particularly the 16-year-old boy.

First they came for the Catholic clergy, and I did nothing......
posted by dibblda at 1:36 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

How exactly is a mustache "atavistic"?

So primitive even a caveman can grow one?

Honestly, I have no idea, but do rather like the mental image of wild, club wielding mustaches roaming the plains, hunting for dinner crumbs.
posted by zarq at 1:36 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

If James Dobson needs a new number 2 I'd be happy send one along.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 1:37 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

gay sex is so much hotter than straight sex that if straight guys get a whiff of it, they'll be hooked instantly.

Why? what happens? or should i not ask?
posted by ServSci at 1:38 PM on May 4, 2010

we won't tell.
posted by The Whelk at 1:40 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

Not to generalize, but . . . he's a fucking prostitute. Forgive me if I'm not surprised if his conscience is somewhat under-developed

Prostitutes have under-developed consciences? Here I was thinking they were regular folks that may have made some bad decisions or fell on hard times, when all it took to set me straight was some guy on the internet explaining that really they're all psychotic.
posted by Kirk Grim at 1:40 PM on May 4, 2010 [18 favorites]

The local alt-weekly mentioned this, because Rekers testified in favor of Arkansas' anti-gay-adoption law.
posted by box at 1:43 PM on May 4, 2010

Maybe he was trying to convert him to heterosexuality... with really bad gay sex.
posted by BrotherCaine at 1:44 PM on May 4, 2010

Because the author of the article is implying that Rekers may have sexually abused his adopted children, particularly the 16-year-old boy.

Which there is no evidence whatsoever to support, BTW. It's a ridiculous as Reker's expert testimony in support of bans on adoptions by gay parents.
posted by deadmessenger at 1:45 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

BADA BING BADA BANG.
posted by The Straightener at 1:47 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

It's nice to know that the "rent boy" can live with himself after being paid to service someone who spends that much effort in dehumanizing the rent boy and his lifestyle.
--
Not to generalize, but . . . he's a fucking prostitute. Forgive me if I'm not surprised if his conscience is somewhat under-developed.


I don't think that being a prostitute is a moral failing and I suspect that the vast majority of people in that line of work are doing it because they're frankly desperate. But, regardless of that, it's the prostitute's job to have sex with whoever pays him or her and asking for references isn't usually (I suspect) part of the deal.
posted by LastOfHisKind at 1:47 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

Rekers also explains the presence of his penis in Lucien's mouth by saying that he was giving him a medical exam and ran out of tongue depressors.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:49 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

"It's a ridiculous as Reker's expert testimony in support of bans on adoptions by gay parents."

Well unless his testimony was: "Your honour, as a gay man allow me to assure you that fags like me make horrible parents".
posted by PenDevil at 1:50 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

"I shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him in great detail.

Worst. Euphemism. Ever."

And they come into Bethany. And a certain woman whose brother had died was there. And, coming, she prostrated herself before Jesus and says to him, 'Son of David, have mercy on me.' But the disciples rebuked her. And Jesus, being angered, went off with her into the garden where the tomb was, and straightway a great cry was heard from the tomb. And going near Jesus rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb. And straightway, going in where the youth was, he stretched forth his hand and raised him, seizing his hand. But the youth, looking upon him, loved him and began to beseech him that he might be with him. And going out of the tomb they came into the house of the youth, for he was rich. And after six days Jesus told him what to do and in the evening the youth comes to him, wearing a linen cloth over his naked body. And he remained with him that night, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the kingdom of God.
And thence, arising, he returned to the other side of the Jordan</blockquote

posted by ts;dr at 1:50 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

Why? what happens? or should i not ask?

You should ask.
posted by shakespeherian at 1:54 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

grizzled: "When I read that Rekers is a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), an organization that systematically attempts to turn gay people straight, I immediately thought that he should henceforth be known as Narth Vader."

More like Narth Gayder, amirite?
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 1:55 PM on May 4, 2010 [7 favorites]

"I had surgery," Rekers said, "and I can't lift luggage. That's why I hired him."

You also need help with your baggage, but God himself can't handle that baggage.
posted by jamjam at 1:57 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

atavistic?
posted by The Whelk at 1:58 PM on May 4, 2010

Avoid heavy lifting or any other strenuous activity for a month following penis enlargement surgery.
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:00 PM on May 4, 2010

Atavistic!
posted by No Robots at 2:00 PM on May 4, 2010

Actually I'm waiting for the "Lindsey Graham! Tell us if you're Gay" guy (William Gheen) to have his turn in the sun. You just Know it's coming...
posted by djrock3k at 2:00 PM on May 4, 2010

Man if Lindsey Graham ends up on the cover of People tomorrow I will eat an Easter Bonnet.
posted by The Whelk at 2:02 PM on May 4, 2010

someone wrote him on facebook. this was his response :

Thank you for taking the time to write to me about the recent “news... See More” story that is a mixture of truth and falsehood. The article truthfully stated that due to surgery I require assistance in lifting luggage when traveling, that I am a professor and I am also a Baptist minister, and it is true as the article states, “Rekers isn't gay himself.”

I have spent much time as a mental health professional and as a Christian minister helping and lovingly caring for people identifying themselves as “gay.” My hero is Jesus Christ who loves even the culturally despised people, including sexual sinners and prostitutes. Like Jesus Christ, I deliberately spend time with sinners with the loving goal to try to help them. Mark 2:16-17 reads, “16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." In fact, in a dialogue with hypocritical religious leaders, Jesus even stated to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. " (Matthew 21:31).

Like John the Baptist and Jesus, I have a loving Christian ministry to homosexuals and prostitutes in which I share the Good News of Jesus Christ with them (see I Corinthians 6:8-11). Contrary to false gossip, innuendo, and slander about me, I do not in any way “hate” homosexuals, but I seek to lovingly share two types of messages to them, as I did with the young man called “Lucien” in the news story: [1] It is possible to cease homosexual practices to avoid the unacceptable health risks associated with that behavior, and [2] the most important decision one can make is to establish a relationship with God for all eternity by trusting in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins, including homosexual sins. If you talk with my travel assistant that the story called “Lucien,” you will find I spent a great deal of time sharing scientific information on the desirability of abandoning homosexual intercourse, and I shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him in great detail.

I would like to share with you a summary of what I shared with my travel assistant “Lucien” during our recent trip about receiving forgiveness of sins (including homosexual sins) and the free gift of eternal life from God (you can see more complete detail of the text of the booklet I read with him at http://www.iaii.org/Personal_Relationship_with_God.html):

Fact 1: God wants to have a direct personal relationship with us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” –John 3:16. “…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 6:23b

Fact 2: Our wrongdoing separates us from God.“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God….” –Romans 3:23. “For the wages of sin is death….” –Romans 6:23a. If we are still separated from God on the day we die, we will stay separated from Him forever in eternal suffering. The Bible calls this “hell.”

Fact 3: Jesus Christ provides the only way we can have a personal relationship with God.The Bible says, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” –1 Peter 3:18a. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” –John 14:6. Referring to Jesus, the Bible says, “Yet to all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God….” –John 1:12

Fact 4: To receive Jesus Christ we must turn to Him, place our faith in Him, and let Him take charge of our life. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out….” –Acts 3:19a. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” –Ephesians 2:8-9. “… if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” –Romans 10:9-10

If you are willing to accept God’s gift of eternal life, the next step is to tell Him that you repent of your sins, that you are putting your trust in Jesus’ sacrifice for your sin, and that you want Jesus to take charge of your life. If this is the decision you want to make, here is a prayer that you can use to talk to God:

Dear God,
I admit that I have gone my own way and have sinned against You. I realize this sin separates me from You. But I am willing now to stop going my own way and turn to follow You. Please forgive me. I am placing all my trust in what Jesus Christ did for me when He died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin. Thank you for raising Jesus back to life again. I invite Jesus to be in charge of my life from now on. Amen.
My sincere and loving hope for you is that you will repent of your sins and turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life in heaven!
Thank you, again for writing to me.
posted by nadawi at 2:03 PM on May 4, 2010

someone wrote him on facebook. this was his response...

That is the content of the link to JoeMyGod which octobersurprise made above.
posted by ericb at 2:06 PM on May 4, 2010

So yeah, fuck this guy. But I do feel a little bad for him, he really must be living in hell. I'm particularly taken by the idea that maybe he really did think he was hiring Lucien to "help him", in the way he's "helped" so many other young men. Maybe he doesn't even acknowledge to himself the relationship is intentionally sexual, blames it on being drunk / demons / a lapse in prayer. Sex is a hell of a drug and self-delusional people do all sorts of crazy Jekyll/Hyde stuff. Mostly it's just pathetic, although this guy is such a harmful activist it's also contemptible.

I'm fascinated with how coy "Lucien" was in the interview. He's loyal to his client.
posted by Nelson at 2:08 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

I really look forward to the day when the more loudly someone shouts about the evils of teh gay, the more people will just automatically assume that the speaker is in the closet.

Speaker: And it's because of evils of the gays that we are getting this much snow!

Newscaster 1: So, that was Mr. Smith earlier today speaking about the evils of the gays and their ability to control the weather..

Newscaster 2: He's gay.

Newscaster 1: Sooo gay. I wonder how he'll get caught?

Newscaster 2: Probably in a way that completely undermines his career.

Newscaster 1: Hypocrisy will do that. Now for a look at sports...
posted by quin at 2:10 PM on May 4, 2010 [13 favorites]

He's loyal to his client.

I should think so; his livelihood depends on being discreet about the people who hire him.
posted by EarBucket at 2:11 PM on May 4, 2010

How exactly is a mustache "atavistic"?

Yeah. I know I am supposed to be think about hypocritical right wingers and gay rights and all, but I had a hard time moving beyond that sentence. What the fuck?
posted by grumblebee at 2:16 PM on May 4, 2010

Well, this was fun guys, but I've got to run. I'm heading down to Tenth street to get my luggage lifted.
posted by Naberius at 2:17 PM on May 4, 2010 [5 favorites]

Shame on you haters. I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Why, just this week I called Busty Tina's Happy Hand Shandies Home Service and when the half naked woman appeared at my door and I had no money with which to pay her to do the plumbing in her knickerless French maid outfit...

Well, what can I say? It was an honest mistake I tells ya.
posted by MuffinMan at 2:20 PM on May 4, 2010

I don't know man. Jesus just travelled around with a bunch of other guys washing each others feet...I ain't sayin', I'm just sayin'....
posted by digitalprimate at 2:21 PM on May 4, 2010

As is your username, I'm sure.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:21 PM on May 4, 2010

NAAMUATLOSH is my non-profit organization dedicated to the eradication of marijuana use and the Legion of Super-Heroes.

And any "news" reports of my being found with three identical brunettes and a brick of Moroccan hash? THE DEVIL'S LIES.
posted by jtron at 2:25 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

I am not shocked by homosexuality.

I am not shocked by homophobia.

I am not shocked by the fact that some gay people are in the closet.

I am not shocked by the fact that some homophobic people area actually closeted homosexuals.

But I am shocked that ANYONE would hire a guy from rentboy.com and then expect people to believe that he was just looking for a travel assistant or tying to convert a sinner. I mean, even that was the truth, I wouldn't say it, because I would just assume that no one would believe me. What he's done is like going into a bank, pointing a gun at the teller, saying, "Give me all your money," and then, later, saying, "I wasn't trying to rob the bank. It was just a joke and I thought the teller would get it."

Were I in Rekers shoes, I would say something like "As is true of all sinners, I struggle and I sometimes give into temptation. If that makes me a hypocrite, so be it. That doesn't change the fact that my message is true."
posted by grumblebee at 2:26 PM on May 4, 2010 [12 favorites]

No. Just... no!

I'm sorry, if I need luggage carried and I have a bottlenecked and stereotypical view of homosexuals, I'm not looking for "a gay" to carry my shit; what, with their limp wrists, and sissy physiques.

I'm going to a weightlifting message board with muscular and toned men.

Um, wait...


I'm surprised he didn't consider getting the luggage with wheels on it. My grandmother can't lift for shit and she's never needed to hire someone off of a website that makes her agree not to be offended by "...graphic sexual material."
posted by Bathtub Bobsled at 2:28 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

And exactly how, sir, did you discover half way through your trip that Lucien is a prostitute?

Maybe he asked for a going-down payment.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:41 PM on May 4, 2010

A former research fellow at Harvard University and a distinguished professor of neuropsychiatry at the University of South Carolina

This was the part in the article I found most shocking and disturbing.
posted by availablelight at 2:42 PM on May 4, 2010 [5 favorites]

Not to generalize, but . . . he's a fucking prostitute. Forgive me if I'm not surprised if his conscience is somewhat under-developed.


You and Rekers sound like you'd get along fine actually.
posted by dontjumplarry at 2:53 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

I wonder...

What if it's not homophobia caused by homosexuality (although after today, it really is hard not to think that everyone who rants on about teh ghey is secretly and deeply desirous of a good mouthful or bit of velcro action), but homosexuality being caused by homophobia?

Bear (hah) with me.

The "homosexuality can be healed" brigade are clearly of the opinion that it is good and right to live in a heterosexual marriage, with children. It is entirely possible for an 'uncured' homosexual to behave that way too, as there is copious evidence of people living straight lifestyles to that point and then coming out. In any group with strong pressure against open homosexuality and strong expectation of 'normal' behaviour, there'll be a lot of that sort of thing. I believe the cognoscenti call it 'bearding'.

So homophobia is promoting breeding among homosexuals. Might it not thus be necessary for homosexuality's continued existence? Were homosexual lifestyles to be universally accepted, then any genetic components behind that behaviour would be selected against.

(I know. Specious, unscientific and deeply flawed on many levels - 'the gay gene' is a horrible bit of bad science, for starters. But wouldn't it be fun if homophobes came to believe that homosexuality depended on homophobia in order to even exist?)
posted by Devonian at 2:53 PM on May 4, 2010

My grandmother can't lift for shit and she's never needed to hire someone off of a website that makes her agree not to be offended by "...graphic sexual material."

Oh, come on. Whenever my grandma needs me to cut her lawn she can only get in touch with me through my profile on IWouldLikeToShaveAGrandma.com.
posted by Dumsnill at 2:56 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

Homophobic societies do foster homosexuality in that they deny any kind of balanced approach to gender identity, and force all non-normative impulses into the direction of sexual self-expression.
posted by No Robots at 3:07 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

I wonder if his surgery resulted from injuries due to excessive wide-stancing...

At this point I'm actually surprised when family-values republican politicians and anti-gay preachers, ministers and activists aren't gay. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

Unfortunately I suspect that there could be a million such cases and it wouldn't sway the anti-gay crowd a bit. Very sad.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 3:08 PM on May 4, 2010

"you will find I spent a great deal of time sharing scientific information on the desirability of abandoning homosexual intercourse, and I shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him in great detail. "

I don't remember in the Bible where Jesus took a vacation to get away from everyone, but brought a prostitute along so he could keep working.

Do Christian Fundamentalists really do this? Take a vacation away from proselytizing, but then a sinner along to room with them? I can buy the excuse that he likes to hang out with gay men and try to save them the gay, because that's what Jesus would do. But they idea that he's go out of his way to bring someone to save along on a vacation seems ludicrous.

I'm just wondering if he thinks this excuse is going to fly with the people he's preaching to. Do Baptist ministers typically bring a sinner with them on vacation?
posted by y6y6y6 at 3:18 PM on May 4, 2010

That tiny picture of Rekers in octobersurprise's link set my gaydar off so hard that the image had magenta and lavender cloud tops.

Also, that moustache isn't atavistic, I think the writer was thinking of "anachronistic."
posted by longsleeves at 3:19 PM on May 4, 2010

LIFT MY BAGGAGE SON
posted by mrgrimm at 3:19 PM on May 4, 2010

So homophobia is promoting breeding among homosexuals. Might it not thus be necessary for homosexuality's continued existence?

Survival of Genetic Homosexual Traits Explained.

...'the gay gene' is a horrible bit of bad science, for starters.

Bad science? Really?

Homosexuality and Biology.

The Gay Gene and Evolution: A Problem?

Respected scientists such as Simon Levay and Dean Hamer (among others) would take issue that they are engaged in "bad science."

Check out this previous AskMe: 'Research supporting that homosexuals are born homosexuals' for more discussion regarding the science behing the study of homosexuality.
posted by ericb at 3:21 PM on May 4, 2010

I wonder if the shame of public exposure doesn't play into whatever twisted cycle of desire, repression, guilty act, and expiation exists in Reker's mind.

I bounce back and forth between sympathy for someone living a hellish life of internal contradictions, and a self-righteous "I hope the hateful bastard dies in a fire for all the damage he's done and pain he's caused." But it's like the paradox of how you punish a masochist.
posted by fatbird at 3:24 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

there could be a million such cases and it wouldn't sway the anti-gay crowd a bit

Of course. The Christian anti-gay crowd conceptualises homosexuality as a sin that you practice because of temptation. If a leader falls for temptation and sin, that doesn't disturb their world-view one bit. It wouldn't surprise me if it even confirms it. See how Satan can bring even the holiest man low?
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 3:25 PM on May 4, 2010

The Lord replied, “WHEN YOU SAW ONLY ONE SET OF FOOTPRINTS, MY CHILD, IT WAS THEN THAT I WAS CARRYING YOUR LUGGAGE.”
posted by benzenedream at 3:30 PM on May 4, 2010 [53 favorites]

I have always been very troubled by all the work to prove that homosexual behavior is genetically based. It angers me, in fact.

Who people choose to share sex with should be between them and the person or people they are having sex with. Period. "It's OK because we're born that way, we can't help it" pisses me off. If I decided that sex with men suited me, all of a sudden, so what?

Being a PFLAG parent, I understand that, today, it cannot be any other way, but I still hate it.
posted by Danf at 3:34 PM on May 4, 2010 [5 favorites]

I hired a young lady from hotcocksuckingslutwhoreswhofornicateformoney.com to do a little yardwork for me. I haz the allergies!
posted by loosemouth at 3:35 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Were homosexual lifestyles to be universally accepted, then any genetic components behind that behaviour would be selected against.

Ah ... and here we have what is called the 'Darwinian Paradox of Male Homosexuality' [PDF]. Previous MeFi FPP on the topic.
posted by ericb at 3:37 PM on May 4, 2010

National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH)

National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NAMBLA)

FTFY.
posted by uosuaq at 3:40 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

I have always been very troubled by all the work to prove that homosexual behavior is genetically based. It angers me, in fact.

Who people choose to share sex with should be between them and the person or people they are having sex with. Period. "It's OK because we're born that way, we can't help it" pisses me off. If I decided that sex with men suited me, all of a sudden, so what?

I absolutely agree with this. I understand that it seems like a great counter to the sin/choice based position of the anti-gay Christians, but buying into that framing has some big problems.

For example, what if anti-gay people are persuaded by the genetic argument and starting testing for genetic gayness? What if their anger and fear actually intensifies as the possibility of redemption (as they see it) is removed and they start believing that gay people are congenital monsters? Or, what if the scientific basis for the genetic argument is never established, leaving people who based their call for tolerance on it in the lurch?

I would rather argue this as a pure freedom of conscience human rights issue.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 3:53 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

""If you talk with my travel assistant that the story called “Lucien,” you will find I spent a great deal of time sharing scientific information on the desirability of abandoning homosexual intercourse, and I shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him in great detail.""

That was when he took the cock out of his mouth and coyly said, "We should really stop," right?
posted by klangklangston at 4:07 PM on May 4, 2010

More exploding luggage in the news....

America must take a wide stance on TERROR!
posted by chavenet at 4:15 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

"You are a PFLAG parent, but it pisses you off when people say that their homosexuality is inborn and shouldn't be regarded as something "broken" which needs to be "fixed"? Just like having the "cilantro tastes like soap" gene isn't something which people should tell you to just shut up and eat the damn stuff and eventually you'll come to like it? Why does that make you angry?"

I can understand it, because it's a fight that I've taken up before (way back when, I got flamed by Amberglow and Dirtynumbangelboy over it): Whether or not homosexuality is innate, it shouldn't be discriminated against.

It shouldn't matter if it's innate—and I think that there are enough historical figures with sexualities that would be currently non-normative to support the idea that it's not purely genetic—as someone who "chooses" to be gay should have the same protections as someone who is born gay.

And I can understand someone getting upset over efforts to place the locus of homosexuality purely in genetics, because that's irrelevant to the protections that homosexuals—that all humans—should have regarding their sexuality and personal freedom.

It's also symptomatic of fallacious thinking, with pro-gay activists mirroring the fallacies of anti-gays, in that it's almost always presented as an argument from nature, but nature isn't the arbiter of whether things are good or right.

The whole sandwich of GLBT folks should be able to love, fuck and marry restrained only by the consent of their partners, because they're human and these are rights that we all do and should share.
posted by klangklangston at 4:16 PM on May 4, 2010 [14 favorites]

He forgot to take the cock out of his mouth so it was all "muh oo ellly up"
posted by The Whelk at 4:17 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

I have always been very troubled by all the work to prove that homosexual behavior is genetically based. It angers me, in fact.

Well, it doesn't trouble me. For several reasons. 1) It is true per all the science I have read. I like work that proves the truth. 2) Such work shows what utter bunk it is to save, convert, or otherwise try to change people from what they are. 3) The conclusion of such work means that anti-gay efforts are exactly like any other movement which is aimed at hating people for what they are, e.g. because of their skin color or gender.
posted by bearwife at 4:25 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

I'm gay and I'm not wild about the "I was born that way I can't help it!" argument either. Partly for the reasons Danf and klangklangston mention; I should be treated fairly whether my sexual identity is an accident of birth, a result of my upbringing, or a choice I made last week. Partly because born-gay doesn't feel true to me, myself. I'm gay and happy for it, but I don't think that's an immutable fact of my personality. Mostly I just think categories like "gay" or "straight" are too reductive and too psychologically complex to expect to boil down to some simplistic genetic destiny.

I don't really want to have this conversation in this thread, but I hated to see Danf twisting alone in the wind. And maybe this is a good thread for it, certainly Rekers demonstrates just how complex and immutable sexual orientation can be.
posted by Nelson at 4:32 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

I realize this is VERY touchy ground cause it can get into "well if it's a CHOICE then you can CURE it" and "Well if it's genetic then we can SCREEN for it" which is just...yah a minefield buuuuutttt....

... there is also the argument that there is no such thing as a heterosexual or a homosexual, just heterosexual or homosexual acts, and people who engage in homosexual acts, be it by however, be afforded the same protections and rights and someone who engages in heterosexual acts, because everyone is a human fucking being and entitled to the same basic rights.

Okay my derail is done.
posted by The Whelk at 4:32 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

it pisses you off when people say that their homosexuality is inborn and shouldn't be regarded as something "broken" which needs to be "fixed"? ... Why does that make you angry?

Because it sounds like, "Okay, since it's not your fault, we won't discriminate against you" -- as if homosexuality is a bad or unfortunate thing, but we shouldn't blame the poor suckers who were born with it.

Here's where we should be: "it's wonderful when two people show love, affection and desire for each other. That is a good thing, and we need more of it in the world."

If people felt that homosexuality was a good (or at least not a bad) thing, it wouldn't matter to them whether or not it was a genetic predisposition. What if it turned out to bee 100% a choice and people could stop it whenever they want? Shouldn't we still be okay with it? Shouldn't we encourage it?

If people don't think that way, THAT'S the problem. And even if everyone in the world decided that it was bad to persecute gays BECAUSE they can't help being the way they are ... well, we'd be living in a better world than we live in now, but it would still be a shitty world.

Homophobia hurts EVERYBODY. It obviously hurts gay people. And, sure, it's hurts straight people who are friends with gay people because they are concerned about their friends. But it hurts everybody, because a society that doesn't actively work to thwart homophobia is a society that says "What you do in the privacy of your own home may be forbidden, even if it doesn't hurt anyone." It sends a message of "YOU ARE A SINNER, and there's wicked, wicket stuff that you do (or think about) that you can never, ever, ever tell anyone!" This is harmful partly because it curtails individual rights -- but mostly because it leads to repression that erupts in all sorts of pathological ways. As we're seeing in this thread.
posted by grumblebee at 4:33 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

this is one areas where the girls get privilege cause I have some female friends who have had sex with other women go "Yah I don't think of myself as gay cause I don't form romantic attachments with women and the majority of my crushes are guys.". I'd like guys to also have that freedom too, but in this political climate it's not gonna happen and better to focus on getting people to treat other people AS PEOPLE, regardless of whomever is in their bed.
posted by The Whelk at 4:36 PM on May 4, 2010

And engaging in that freedom while denying it other people is low low low.
posted by The Whelk at 4:37 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

'way upthread (all of four hours ago...):

Serious question: Is there a psychological term for this sort of denial? Where one person vehemently vilifies/demonizes/attacks other people for something that they are unable to deal with in themselves?
posted by zarq at 3:26 PM on May 4

"Is there a psychological term for this sort of denial? Where one person vehemently vilifies/demonizes/attacks other people for something that they are unable to deal with in themselves?"

Why, yes. Yes, there is such a term: it's called "conservatism".
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 4:38 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

... there is also the argument that there is no such thing as a heterosexual or a homosexual, just heterosexual or homosexual acts

This is just wrong. I am straight. I was straight when I was a virgin. "Straight" is just a word, and I guess we can choose to define it however we want, so if you don't want to use it for the virginal me, that's fine. But here's something that's simply true: I have never felt even a twinge of sexual attraction to a man. I can't even imagine what that would feel like.

Perhaps it would be useful to have a word for people like me. I propose "straight" or "heterosexual."

Perhaps it would be useful to have a word for people who are attracted to people of their own gender (whether they act on it or not). How about "gay?"

And perhaps it would be useful to have a word for people who are attracted to members of either gender. I can't think of a good word right now. Maybe one will come to me later.

Attraction isn't a vague, amorphous thing. It's a very real state that the brain goes into when stimulated by specific sensory inputs and thoughts. You could put me into a MRI and show me images of attractive men, and you could do the same thing to my friend John, and there would be very real areas of his brain that would light up for him while those same areas would stay dark in my brain.

I know people want to say things like, "I self-identify as [whatever]," but in my view, that's part of the problem. I think there's real social utility to saying, "I completely (or mostly) am attracted to people of my own gender, therefor I'm gay" or "I'm attracted to both genders, therefor I'm bisexual." When we get to the stage where we give those words simple, reasonable definitions -- and are bored by them -- the battle will be won. As long as we have people who are uncomfortable to just state (or think) about who they are attracted to, we're still in a world of shit.
posted by grumblebee at 4:43 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

social unity is an important thing for progress, but sometimes it can get me grumpy is all. The dividing out into camps can leave people in the middle behind, which sucks, but as others have argued, it's not what we're fighting for nor does it help people get the human rights they're entitled to.

Like i said, messy derail.
posted by The Whelk at 4:46 PM on May 4, 2010

I love how Reker's statement says, "it is true as the article states, 'Rekers isn't gay himself.'" He's completely twisting the obvious sarcasm of "Well, it's a good thing Rekers isn't gay himself," which is there to point out that Rekers adopted a 16-year-old boy a few years back while working to deny gay people the right to adopt.

God the level of delusion is hilarious. We're supposed to believe he goes trolling for rent boys on gay sex sites to convert them. I love it.
posted by mediareport at 4:46 PM on May 4, 2010

I typed in "Lindsey Graham is" into Google. Wisdom of crowds...
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:46 PM on May 4, 2010

mediareport, yes I think that's what the article was trying to say, not that he was going to prey on his foster children, but that a man who hires male escorts for fun vacations told a whole bunch of other people who are in stable relationships with other dudes they can;t have kids.

It's just all kinds of crazy and disgusting.
posted by The Whelk at 4:48 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

See how Satan can bring even the holiest man low?

Lucien... Lucifer... hmmmm... I think we're onto something here!
posted by Hairy Lobster at 4:48 PM on May 4, 2010

Lucifer, bringer of light.

Magneto: Are you a God-fearing man, Senator? That is such a strange phrase. I've always thought of God as a teacher; a bringer of light, wisdom, and understanding.
posted by The Whelk at 4:50 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Not to generalize, but . . . he's a fucking prostitute. Forgive me if I'm not surprised if his conscience is somewhat under-developed.

What the fuck does being a prostitute have to do with not having a conscience?
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:50 PM on May 4, 2010 [3 favorites]

I wonder if someday we're going to hear something equally scandalous about James Dobson himself.

Dobson beats wiener dogs.
posted by dilettante at 4:53 PM on May 4, 2010

Also children.
posted by box at 4:59 PM on May 4, 2010

grumblebee: Were I in Rekers shoes, I would say something like "As is true of all sinners, I struggle and I sometimes give into temptation. If that makes me a hypocrite, so be it. That doesn't change the fact that my message is true."

Now that would be something remarkable to hear.

I think if more ministers treated homosexuality as sinful-but-understandable, as premarital sex is commonly seen, the culture in this country would be loads less crazy.
posted by edguardo at 5:02 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Throwing in: For one thing, I try to see the best in everybody in every situation, because that's what doing criminal defense work will do for you. But as I said to a friend when first reading this article; "I just love hypocrisy. It spins itself. And I don't need to justify my outrage or amusement."

Because for all the hell Reker may or may not be in (although no matter what the story I'm sure he's living through quite a bit of hell right now) he's devoted his life to making sure that other gays and lesbians - children in fact - live through the same or worse. DING DONG The Witch is Dead. A founder of the Family Fucking Resource Council stepping off of a plane from Europe after a week-long vacation with no scheduled work with a "Rentboy"? Holy shit! I'm not surprised by anything other than the continual pushing of the envelope of comedic flagrancy.

And dick jokes. Throw those into a scandal and you can count me in every time.

I'm also befuddled by the fact that they couldn't come up with any better excuse for stepping off of the plane together. Presumably they weren't making out at the time, so why couldn't they have denied any connection? Or just said, "Yes, we met on the plane and he's really a great kid, I was just talking to him about Jesus the entire time back to these glorious United States?" Probably because Rekar was paranoid about what else they had on him at the time.

So yeah, I'm sorry if everything about this tickles me. Needing someone to carry your luggage? "Yeah, well, you see, you really need someone with an 8" Penis for that. I had three suitcases, after all. Uncut didn't matter to me either way, I assure you."

Dude is trying to play off going on vacation with a gay prostitute as ministering. And it will severely hamper the awful anti-gay work he's still trying to protect his ability to do. This is awesome and hilarious on just about any level.
posted by Navelgazer at 5:06 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

Maybe he was hoping he could make the prostitute see God?
posted by mccarty.tim at 5:14 PM on May 4, 2010

Maybe he was hoping he could make the prostitute see God?

Man poppers come strong these days.
posted by The Whelk at 5:16 PM on May 4, 2010 [5 favorites]

Meet Geo, The Male Prostitute Hired By NARTH Member & Family Research Council Co-Founder Dr. George Rekers aka 'Boynextdoor' NSFW (from JoeMyGod who had a Facebook e-mail exchange with Rekers -- as above).
posted by ericb at 5:23 PM on May 4, 2010

I don't know about you, but when I'm incapacitated the first place I look for the help of a strapping young fellow is Rentboy.com
posted by Short Attention Sp at 5:24 PM on May 4, 2010

I've said it before: whether sexuality is inborn or not is interesting from a scientific perspective for sure, but irrelevant to legal waters. What grown, consenting people want to do is nobody's business but theirs.

And I think it's obvious that professional homophobes, those who devote every waking hour to fighting the Phantom Homo Menace, generally have issues. I kind of feel a little pity for them. I wannna say "Go get a knobshine, relax, then go do something really Christian, like run a soup kitchen or organize a scholarship fund or something.
posted by jonmc at 5:26 PM on May 4, 2010

So yeah, I'm sorry if everything about this tickles me.

That's what Rep. Eric Massa said!
posted by ericb at 5:29 PM on May 4, 2010

legal matters. I have no idea what Legal Waters is. Maybe the blues singers attorney nephew or something.
posted by jonmc at 5:29 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

Wowza, Lucien's hot. Rekers' got good taste in boys. (And a lot of spare cash. What's a week cost with someone that classically desireable? $5000?)
posted by Nelson at 5:33 PM on May 4, 2010

Yah travel with a actual rent boy is EXPENSIVE, overnight is in the thousand already, this is possibly w-a-a-a-ymore then 5k, which could be why Lucien is keeping coy.
posted by The Whelk at 5:35 PM on May 4, 2010

It's nice to know that the "rent boy" can live with himself after being paid to service someone who spends that much effort in dehumanizing the rent boy and his lifestyle.

Professional ethics?
posted by sebastienbailard at 5:35 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

Oh didn;t see the extra zero, yeah this is a huge chunk of change he put down.
posted by The Whelk at 5:35 PM on May 4, 2010

No, The Whelk, it's clearly a huge chunk of change he didn't know about needing to pay until midway through the vacation wand then agreed to in order to spend the rest of the innocent vacation teaching the young rentboy the Gospel of Christ.
posted by Navelgazer at 5:41 PM on May 4, 2010

wand = and, obviously

though I've got even money about a "vacation wand" coming into this story sooner or later in one way or another.
posted by Navelgazer at 5:42 PM on May 4, 2010

I came in late and I jumped ahead to do this. I hope I'm first.

str8 christian seeks rentboy 4 luggage handling, general help. NO GAY SEX. plz READ CAREFULLY. NOT LOOKING FOR GAY SEX. just need a handsome young man to pick up my luggage. do u like picking up luggage? i may be the man 4 u! no recip, i cannot pick up luggage. plz be respectful of my inability to pick up ur luggage, just need a NON GAY SEX man to be handsome and pick up luggage. ski, tina ok

Pref uncut.
posted by Trochanter at 5:44 PM on May 4, 2010

Rentboy looks like a young Jay Mohr.
posted by klangklangston at 5:50 PM on May 4, 2010

Looks more like Salami from The White Shadow.
posted by jonmc at 5:57 PM on May 4, 2010

Yeah, this has stopped being surprising. I wonder when it will dawn on the idiots in journalism that there is a pattern here that undermines the broader message of the theocratic right, not just a titillating 3 day tale with a reprise on Oprah once he's been to the sex addiction rehab center and recommitted himself to Jeezus as his only boyfriend.

Because you'd think it would be common sense by now and discredit the fucking lot of them. Except now it's only going to be a problem if they get caught having gay sex with a *Mexican* rent boy here illegally. The mighty finger of hate, having lingered long enough to leave a mark, moves on.

If all the gays, women, people of color, "coastal elites," nerds, immigrants, and government workers actually got off their asses en masse and voted in November for rational, policy-minded leaders, we could wipe these rightwing idiots out with just a few more years in the wilderness by Getting Things Actually Done on behalf of the majority of the people. Stripped of the vestments of actual power, they are increasingly absurd figures these Preachers and Personalities and Professional Bigots. Look how they cling to their bible (and guns, if not their luggage -- I'm thinking Tea Baggers, who are similarly exposed -- "outed" if you will -- as racists with such ease these days) when they are exposed.

The homoeroticism of fascism is a specific response to repression. These guys must have had miserable childhoods, authoritarian bastards for parents, bigoted communities of friends growing up. When you are told over and over again that to express your humanity will cost you your eternal soul, it is human nature, almost never fully repressible, to crave unconsciously that which you most insistently deny consciously. Hate is as much a consequence of sexual attraction as what we call Love, but sexual attraction is also a sure barometer of our infantile personhood. The binary -- expressed and repressed, conscious and unconscious -- is common to all of us. There is not one human who is not in some deep sense a hypocrite; culture depends on hypocrisy to some extent -- the hidden hand of reciprocity and exchange replacing the war of all against all if you will. But as Freud had it, this produces discontents, those who cannot mediate their own hypocrisy with rational or emotional maturity, an acceptance of the costs of living in society, of reputation, of honor, of obligation and bond. These are the people who become right wingers in our time -- or sociopaths, and to me it's the same thing.

I guarantee you this guy managed a perfect separation of his identity as a pseudo-scientific hatemonger (which he did very successfully, and profitably) and his secret life as a gay man. He is in disbelief within himself. The two worlds weren't supposed to meet. The fantasy that there is a pure realm of ethics that apply to all and a personal realm of appetite that ratifies your personal exceptionalism is the core of the conservative psyche -- this is how they manage to maintain such contradictions as their simultaneous support for the death penalty and opposition to abortion rights, or hold "American exceptionalist" views of history, or advocate isolationism and aggressive war profiteering at the same time, or demand the government get its hands off their medicare.

I am confident there are parallel hypocrises to the liberal psyche. But at least our principles are somewhat more accountable to the fact that no matter how cultured we get as a species, we are still going to be animals, and not gods, in our time on earth.

I used to think I'd never see marijuana legalization in my lifetime. Now it seems a foregone conclusion I expect within a decade nationally. I still try to tell myself it's possible we just can't see a coming time when people will not freak the fuck out about what other people of sound mind and appropriate age want to do with their bodies in their spare time.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:04 PM on May 4, 2010 [9 favorites]

Yeah, this has stopped being surprising.

Written elsewhere about this:

At this rate, the Log Cabin Republicans are going to be the least gay members of the GOP before long.

posted by fatbird at 6:06 PM on May 4, 2010 [4 favorites]

Part of me is like, take that, hypocritical jerkwad!

The rest of me is remembering how this guy didn't start doing this stuff until this paper outed this dude such that this happened, and I realize that stuff like this will probably just make Them hate Us all the more.

Then again, the guy is a hypocritical jerkwad.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:06 PM on May 4, 2010

I'm just wondering if he thinks this excuse is going to fly with the people he's preaching to. Do Baptist ministers typically bring a sinner with them on vacation?

Ah but the beauty of it is, his congregation will swallow anything because they have FAITH and have been taught to believe the unbelievable.

So I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere: is he married? If not what is a (gay) bachelor doing with Focus on the Family? Doesn't the conservative term "family" usually stand for one momma, one daddy, and kids?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:16 PM on May 4, 2010

his congregation will swallow anything



Hmm.




Nope. I've got nothin'.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:24 PM on May 4, 2010 [8 favorites]

He was just carrying his bag he kept his balls in, and lugging the sack his nuts are stored in. Some may call these ball bags, and nut sacks. But he was only carrying them.
posted by Merlin The Happy Pig at 6:28 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Secret Life of Gravy: He's married and he takes in foster kids, if I read the article correctly. Meanwhile, he's fighting against outed gay men adopting.
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:33 PM on May 4, 2010

Ceiling cat iz watchin u lift ur luggage.
posted by cybrcamper at 6:37 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Honest when I saw his advert saying sword swallower, I thought he did circus tricks.. I didn't know he was using a code phrase similar to "lifting luggage".. Honest
posted by Merlin The Happy Pig at 6:48 PM on May 4, 2010

surely i wasn't the only one to notice this on a google search for 'george rekers'? spicy, indeed.
posted by Mach5 at 6:57 PM on May 4, 2010

Oh I saw the part about taking in foster children, but I didn't see anything about a wife. If he is married, isn't it a little strange that the founder of Focus on Family takes vacations without his wife?

So I looked him up on Wikipedia and, again, zip on his married status. Although, I did read this:

Rekers was an expert witness in a 2004 case involving gay adoption in Arkansas, which had banned LGBT people from adopting in 1999. In December 2004, Pulaski County Circuit Court judge Timothy Fox ruled against the state of Arkansas. Furthermore, he called Rekers' testimony "extremely suspect."[...]In 2008, Rekers was also an expert witness in In re: Gill, a case defending Florida's gay adoption ban. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cindy Lederman ruled against the state. In her decision, she said "Dr. Rekers’ testimony was far from a neutral and unbiased recitation of the relevant scientific evidence. Dr. Rekers’ beliefs are motivated by his strong ideological and theological convictions that are not consistent with the science. Based on his testimony and demeanor at trial, the court can not consider his testimony to be credible nor worthy of forming the basis of public policy."

So at least 2 judges have found his testimony worthless. I'd love to know what his demeanor at the trial was; maybe he gives off a strong gay vibe while railing against gays.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:00 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Y'know, after reading Geo's profile I believe Mr. Rekers. Geo does list "Travel Companion" among his talents, right after Vanilla, Leather, Anal, Oral, Shaving, Spanking, Role Playing, Kissing, Toys, and Feet. And if you're having trouble lifting your luggage, someone with an athletic/muscular build would come in handy. Plus, "versatile" means he could carry different types of bags in different ways. See, it's all above board.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:05 PM on May 4, 2010 [2 favorites]

I don't know. He kinda looks more like a young Rod Stewart to me than a young Jay Mohr.
posted by blucevalo at 7:12 PM on May 4, 2010

"Looks more like Salami from The White Shadow."

Now that's a specific fetish.
posted by klangklangston at 7:25 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Because the author of the article is implying that Rekers may have sexually abused his adopted children, particularly the 16-year-old boy.

Which there is no evidence whatsoever to support, BTW. It's a ridiculous as Reker's expert testimony in support of bans on adoptions by gay parents."

Let's start with this. Given what you know - that this man publicly is viciously against homosexuality, but privately pays young homosexuals to have sex with him - would you be happy if he were spending dozens of hours, alone, with your 16-year-old son?

But why not? There's no "proof"! Just because this guy loves to fuck young guys, is clearly deeply mentally ill and willing to commit what he thinks of as mortal sins for his own pleasure, at great financial cost - what could *possibly* suggest to a rational person that they might perhaps behave unethically when sleeping under the same roof as a male youth at the peak of their sexual attraction?

End of sarcasm. No, it's completely rational to be deeply suspicious of this deeply twisted man, in the same way that if you discovered your friend was a kleptomaniac, you'd count your silver spoons.

Don't apologize for these sick, evil people. It just makes you bad and doesn't help them one bit.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:34 PM on May 4, 2010

Meet Geo, The Male Prostitute Hired By NARTH Member & Family Research Council Co-Founder Dr. George Rekers

He has a super-youthful look. 5'9, 132 lbs ... looks like a kid, especially compared to Rekers and his atavistic (I'll take that to mean dyed) mustache.
posted by palliser at 8:48 PM on May 4, 2010

lupus_yonderboy: “Don't apologize for these sick, evil people. It just makes you bad and doesn't help them one bit.”

Nobody's apologizing for anybody. Saying, or even just implying, that pedophilia is something homosexuals are more predisposed to than heterosexuals isn't just insulting; it's damaging to society. Yeah, I know you're in a rush to pillory the latest outed RepubliDouche. The damage to him will be done no matter what we say about it at this point. Meanwhile, can we please try to hold on to the general advances we've made?
posted by koeselitz at 8:56 PM on May 4, 2010

"Let's start with this. Given what you know - that this man publicly is viciously against homosexuality, but privately pays young homosexuals to have sex with him - would you be happy if he were spending dozens of hours, alone, with your 16-year-old son?"

Beats mowing lawns.

Or carrying luggage.
posted by klangklangston at 8:57 PM on May 4, 2010

After googling it, I take "atavistic" (charitably) in it's archaic sense, to mean "your great-grandfather's mustache."

Which honestly, could be a compliment, provided you can pull off the 'stache, which Rejar clearly cannot.

commence jokes about what, exactly, Georgie-boy is able to pull off effectively.
posted by Navelgazer at 8:57 PM on May 4, 2010

But seriously folks: Reker just needed some help getting the junk in his trunk.

Pardon my zinger.
posted by palindromic at 9:18 PM on May 4, 2010

I spent a great deal of time sharing scientific information on the desirability of abandoning homosexual intercourse, and I shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him in great detail.

"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? And by 'log' I mean 'giant cock.'" -- Matthew 7:3
posted by kirkaracha at 9:30 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Saying, or even just implying, that pedophilia is something homosexuals are more predisposed to than heterosexuals isn't just insulting;

Please, spare me your sanctimony, OK? You have zero idea of who I am, gay or straight; and I made no such claim.

My underlying claim is that EVIL, CRAZY people are much more likely to be pederasts - particularly evil crazy people who are obsessed with sex. This man is evil, crazy and incidentally gay - but I wouldn't let him alone with an underaged person of ANY sex.

You of course didn't answer my original question - would you leave your your son alone in this man's company? - because you couldn't without demolishing your position. No matter what rhetoric you brandish, you know in your heart that this guy is an evil motherfucker(*) who should not be left around young people at all.

Feel free to contradict me. Here, I'll give you words: "I'd be perfectly happy if this man were sleeping in a tent with my 14-year-old son alone in the woods. I wouldn't worry for one second."

As someone who has spewed hatred at homosexuals while secretly paying for young gay prostitutes, this man is not a fit candidate to be a foster father and particularly not for a young adolescent boy. Claiming that he is is not helping the cause. Gays and gay-friendly people should be more hostile to this evil son-of-a-bitch, not less.

(* - note: not a factual claim)
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 9:42 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Saying, or even just implying, that pedophilia is something homosexuals are more predisposed to than heterosexuals isn't just insulting;

I don't think accusing Reker of pedophilia or ephebophilia is the same as accusing homosexuals of it--Reker is clearly a very distorted and atypical example of a homosexual. I wouldn't let my 14 year old camp with him--not because he's gay, but because his sexuality is pathological, at best.
posted by fatbird at 9:50 PM on May 4, 2010

reker, and discussions of his sexuality, don't exist in a vacuum. because of the unfair accusation often levied against gay men with regards to pedophilia, it's best to just leave that one alone unless there's proof otherwise.
posted by nadawi at 9:59 PM on May 4, 2010

fatbird: “I don't think accusing Reker of pedophilia or ephebophilia is the same as accusing homosexuals of it--Reker is clearly a very distorted and atypical example of a homosexual. I wouldn't let my 14 year old camp with him--not because he's gay, but because his sexuality is pathological, at best.”

Oh, me neither – but I would've felt that way even before I knew that he'd slept with men on the sly. I don't think his sexuality, "pathological" or not, has much to do with the awful things he's done. Although of course he'd probably agree with you that it does.
posted by koeselitz at 10:00 PM on May 4, 2010

this man is not a fit candidate to be a foster father and particularly not for a young adolescent boy.

what of non-self hating homosexuals - how old do their partners need to be before they can foster children? is it that he hires prostitutes? is it that the prostitute is young? the issue is that a lot of groups and people are fighting pretty hard, saying that homosexuals can't adopt or foster kids, especially kids of the same sex. because that is a current issue, one that this fucker has come down on the side against homosexual rights on, it's irresponsible to casually throw around pedophile/under age sex accusations.

it's also an issue that members of this community feel personally persecuted on, so even if you feel like you're really, really in the right - you're hurting actual, real people's feelings just so you can say shitty things about this public figure who will never read this page. what good does it do to grind that axe in here?
posted by nadawi at 10:05 PM on May 4, 2010

NARTH: The smelly flatulence escaping from the flaccid anus of a middle-aged, self-hating closeted homosexual during anal intercourse with a hired young stallion.

"He totally narthed me last night, man. The whole room stank, but the money was good."
posted by Skeptic at 11:56 PM on May 4, 2010

Interesting article on the science behind [political] hypocrisy:

"Through five compelling experiments, Lammers has shown that powerful people are more likely to behave immorally but paradoxically less likely to tolerate immorality in other people. Even thinking about the feeling of power can trigger these double standards."
posted by MuffinMan at 12:32 AM on May 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

nadawi: "what of non-self hating homosexuals - how old do their partners need to be before they can foster children? is it that he hires prostitutes? is it that the prostitute is young?...it's also an issue that members of this community feel personally persecuted on, so even if you feel like you're really, really in the right - you're hurting actual, real people's feelings just so you can say shitty things about this public figure who will never read this page. what good does it do to grind that axe in here?"

(Assuming Rekers is a repressed homosexual.)

It's because he appears to be in complete denial about his sexuality; I think there's a real risk that he has or will abuse a child who has been put completely under his control.

I personally have no problems with gay adoption whatsoever, assuming that such couples (or individuals) who wish to adopt go through the same kind of process that heterosexual couples do to weed out people like Rekers.

And yes, a pattern of using prostitutes who look like they can pass for underage would be something that I would consider to be unacceptable in anyone that was asking to foster teenage children, regardless of their sexuality.
posted by pharm at 12:54 AM on May 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm not grinding any axe here.

The article pointed out that he recently adopted a young boy. Several people here, including me, were squiffed out by this, bigtime, and the reason is not because he's gay, but because he's clearly evil, and crazy, and crazy in a sexual way. We do get to do that; you can't tell us we're anti-gay for judging people by their actions and finding them seriously wanting.

Let me also add that my father was gay, and really about the best damned parent you can imagine; that I live in New York City with many weirdos as friends; and the idea that someone might be an unfit parent because they were gay literally never entered my mind during this discussion until someone else pointed it out.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 5:12 AM on May 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

what of non-self hating homosexuals - how old do their partners need to be before they can foster children? is it that he hires prostitutes? is it that the prostitute is young?

Yeah, I feel no need to preserve the wonderful world of child-fostering for people who are caught hiring prostitutes. Jeez, in many cases it's taking advantage of someone who had the kind of childhood that resulted in the lack of options the children in foster care are experiencing, too.
posted by palliser at 5:45 AM on May 5, 2010

Seriously not cool implying he abuses his foster kids. If a guy got caught sleeping with an (opposite-sex) prostitute, would you accuse him of sleeping with his daughter?
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:51 AM on May 5, 2010

I am also concerned about Rekers adopting a 16 year old, but it has nothing to do with being gay. The reason I know this is if the 62 year old Rekers were straight, preached abstinence , and found to have hired a very young (or at least young looking) female prostitute to carry his luggage for a week in Europe, I would be concerned about the welfare of the 16 year old girl he recently adopted.
posted by batou_ at 7:07 AM on May 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

I was initially squicked out by the last paragraph, but I think they added that because he opposes adoption by gay parents.
posted by stavrogin at 7:18 AM on May 5, 2010

I'd love to know what his demeanor at the trial was; maybe he gives off a strong gay vibe while railing against gays.

The fact that he appeared in court in assless chaps was the first clue.
posted by inigo2 at 7:24 AM on May 5, 2010

I don't care if he's a celibate asexual: the fact that this guy thinks effective parenting includes haranguing impressionable kids with his fanatical twisted religio-horseshit and vigilantly, paranoically fixating on and "shaping" their emerging sexuality so that they don't catch teh ghey makes him unfit to be a parent or authority figure.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:29 AM on May 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

Florida AG Bill McCollum Paid George 'Rentboy' Rekers $87,000 to Be Star Witness for State's Gay Adoption Ban.
posted by ericb at 7:31 AM on May 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

There's no question Rekers has abused and harmed children. He's made a career out of "counselling" teenagers about sexuality. His evil, twisted, hateful view of sexuality. That career was just as harmful and loathsome last week before his "luggage" escapade. It boggles my mine that anyone would foster a child to someone publishing articles titled "Treatment of Same-Sex Sexual Behavior Occurring in Children and Adolescents".

The specific question about whether he's sexually abusing foster children is very troubling. It requires investigation by child protective services. Respectfully, nobody here has any evidence either way, and speculation is unseemly.
posted by Nelson at 7:33 AM on May 5, 2010 [2 favorites]

Who adopts a 16-year-old? Aren't they just a couple of years from being on their own anyway?
posted by grubi at 7:34 AM on May 5, 2010

Who adopts a 16-year-old? Aren't they just a couple of years from being on their own anyway?

Yes, which is probably why he was in foster care.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:51 AM on May 5, 2010

Why does that make you angry?

It makes me angry because it should not GET to this. Whether my daughter is queer through genetics (my sister is lesbian) or through a political or aesthetic choice, she it still the smart, radiant and beautiful person she has always been.

And it angers me because it feels like trying to JUSTIFY queerness to people who are going to hate this form of diversity anyway. I just want to say FUCK YOU and move on.

The science is mostly in concerning this. . .there seems to be a genetic basis, but even if the science came down the other way, would that make the lives of the queer people in here any less valid?
posted by Danf at 8:01 AM on May 5, 2010 [2 favorites]

mccarty.tim: "Seriously not cool implying he abuses his foster kids. If a guy got caught sleeping with an (opposite-sex) prostitute, would you accuse him of sleeping with his daughter?"

No of course not. But if someone of any sexuality was found to be sleeping with borderline underage prostitutes, especially if they could pass for younger, then I wouldn't regard them as suitable candidates for being foster carers because of the real risk that they might abuse those placed in their care.

I don't think that's an unreasonable position to take. Foster care caries different risks of abuse than parenthood does & therefore it's completely unstandable that different standards apply.
posted by pharm at 8:08 AM on May 5, 2010

Yes, which is probably why he was in foster care.

Oh, okay.
posted by grubi at 8:12 AM on May 5, 2010

I don't think that any of the folks who are objecting to Rekers as a foster parent are asserting that people are unfit to be parents because they are gay, nor do I think that they're being anti-gay.

And Rekers is, in my opinion, morally repugnant, at the very least.

But some of the arguments that they make against Rekers (he's intrinsically evil, he's suspicious, he's pathological, he does weird things around vulnerable youth and seems unusually drawn to younger people, he makes them feel squeamish, he's not a fit candidate for foster parenting, and he shouldn't be allowed around minors at all) are exactly the same arguments that are made by people (mostly people of similar ideology as Rekers, including powerful spokespeople for the Catholic Church, whose official doctrinal position is that homosexuality is "intrinsically disordered") to support the claim that gay men should be legally forbidden to adopt kids.

Or, to take it further, that they should be forbidden from being non-adoptive parents; being teachers; being members of the clergy; being counselors; or being around young people, period.

And for these people, if along the way the line gets blurred between homosexuality and pedophilia, so much the better.
posted by blucevalo at 8:19 AM on May 5, 2010 [5 favorites]

Both men deny having sex on the trip
posted by mrgrimm at 8:30 AM on May 5, 2010

Did you cut and paste that because you thought it was missed or because it's hilarious?
posted by ODiV at 9:04 AM on May 5, 2010

Seriously not cool implying he abuses his foster kids. If a guy got caught sleeping with an (opposite-sex) prostitute, would you accuse him of sleeping with his daughter?

No. But if a heterosexual 62 year old man was patronizing the services of a barely legal female prostitute, and he was taking in teenage girls as foster kids, I would be identically squicked out as I am in this case. Especially if that man's use of prostitutes seemed part and parcel of a lifestyle in which he's a leading crusader against something that he then himself does in private, at great personal expense.
posted by fatbird at 10:32 AM on May 5, 2010

lupus_yonderboy: “... he's clearly evil, and crazy, and crazy in a sexual way.”

This is what I'm worried about. I'm not saying you're anti-gay – I know you're not, and your sentiments concerning this case demonstrate that in spades. But, even aside from the general difficulties involved in labeling a person "evil and crazy," I see no evidence whatsoever that Rekers is "crazy in a sexual way." I'm absolutely in agreement that his positions are morally repugnant, but they're morally repugnant precisely because he bases his moral views on whether or not things squick him out or not. So we have to be careful not to fall into the exact same trap he's fallen into.

I agree completely that he'd almost certainly make a bad parent. I'm just very, very wary of labeling people as "sexually deviant." As easy as it may be to say so, I don't even think a person who thinks homosexuality is deeply wrong, and yet indulges in it anyway, is "sexually deviant." I only think they're morally confused, and that confusion can easily lead to their unhappiness and the unhappiness of the people around them.
posted by koeselitz at 12:12 PM on May 5, 2010

Photo: Anti-Gay Activist George Rekers and His Rent Boy at Miami International Airport.
posted by ericb at 12:21 PM on May 5, 2010

Huh. In the picture, Rekers is lifting his own luggage. He should get someone to do that for him, especially so soon after surgery.
posted by EarBucket at 12:30 PM on May 5, 2010

I see no evidence whatsoever that Rekers is "crazy in a sexual way."

Really? Because it seems pretty obvious to me that his leadership in a rabidly anti-gay community is directly related to both his repression of his homosexuality, and his subsequent double life of vacations with rent boys. The particular shape of Reker's life seems pretty obviously explicable as the perverse expression of natural urges cramped and denied his entire life.
posted by fatbird at 12:59 PM on May 5, 2010

He's posted this on his website, ProfessorGeorge.com:


***MISLEADING INTERNET REPORTS ABOUT PROFESSOR GEORGE REKERS***
A recent article in an alternative newspaper cleverly gave false impressions of inappropriate behavior because of its misleading innuendo, incorrectly implying that Professor George Rekers used the Rentboy website to hire a prostitute to accompany him on a recent trip. Contrary to Internet stories based on this slanderous article, following medical advice Professor George Rekers requires an assistant to lift his luggage in his travels because of an ongoing condition following surgery. His family, local friends, and even another university professor colleague have offered to accompany him on trips to lift luggage. Professor Rekers was not involved in any illegal or sexual behavior with his travel assistant.



I always go to rentboy.com when I need to rent a boy to help with the luggage. I just ignore the pictures of naked dudes.




Also, this is a pretty great snarky comment from the head of Truth Wins Out:

“It is clear that Rekers has baggage and certainly needs help,” said Besen.
posted by CunningLinguist at 1:22 PM on May 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

Seriously not cool implying he abuses his foster kids. If a guy got caught sleeping with an (opposite-sex) prostitute, would you accuse him of sleeping with his daughter?

Sorry to be seriously not cool, man, but you changed a whole lot more than the genders here. How about a preacher of abstinence caught hiring a 20-year-old prostitute who had as girlish a look as this young man has a boyish look? Then, yes, I'd say he shouldn't be eligible to foster teenaged girls. (Foster children are especially at risk for abuse of all kinds, so that's another detail you can't change while still presenting the same question.)
posted by palliser at 1:27 PM on May 5, 2010

I see no evidence whatsoever that Rekers is "crazy in a sexual way."

He's crazy for cock. Not sure if that's in the DSM though.
posted by electroboy at 1:40 PM on May 5, 2010 [3 favorites]

Dan Savage makes the Urban Dictionary: "Whatever lifts your luggage".
posted by pharm at 2:09 PM on May 5, 2010

Huh. In the picture, Rekers is lifting his own luggage. He should get someone to do that for him, especially so soon after surgery.

Yeah, he's not really getting his money's worth.
posted by krinklyfig at 3:18 PM on May 5, 2010

The Family Research Council has released a statement:

"In the past 24 hours FRC has received calls regarding Dr. George Rekers and his connection with the Family Research Council. After reviewing the historical records we did verify that Dr. Rekers was a member of the original Family Research Council board prior to its merger with Focus on the Family in 1987.

Reports have been circulating regarding Dr. Rekers relationship with a male prostitute. FRC has had no contact with Dr. Rekers or knowledge of his activities in over a decade so FRC can provide no further insight into these allegations.

While we are extremely disappointed when any Christian leader engages in the very activities that they 'preach' against, it is not surprising. The Scriptures clearly teach the fallen nature of all people. We each have a choice to act upon that nature or accept the forgiveness offered by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and do our best to ensure our actions, both public and private match our professed positions."

Since the scandal broke information regarding Rekers has been scrubbed from FRC's website.
posted by ericb at 4:24 PM on May 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

NARTH has also released a statement:

"You have as much information as we do. Before this released we didn't have this much information. All we had was a simple accusation that he was with a 'rent boy' so that was all we were able to talk about with him. His answers (as well as his demeanor) showed that the story wasn't exactly as it seamed [sic]. There are certain accusations that would and wouldn't surprise certain people about others. This comes as a complete surprise as Dr. Rekers is not only very old and in very poor health, but also very nice and soft spoken, so until we have further information or proof of this incident it remains rumor and speculation."

posted by ericb at 4:26 PM on May 5, 2010

Jay Leno on the scandal.
posted by ericb at 4:29 PM on May 5, 2010

Since when is 61 "very old?"
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:30 PM on May 5, 2010

61 isn't old at all if you've got $5000 and a second set of round trip tickets to Europe for your young disciple.
posted by Nelson at 5:25 PM on May 5, 2010

Since when is 61 "very old?"

When the person you're fucking is less than 1/3rd your age.
posted by fatbird at 6:15 PM on May 5, 2010

I agree completely that he'd almost certainly make a bad parent. I'm just very, very wary of labeling people as "sexually deviant." As easy as it may be to say so, I don't even think a person who thinks homosexuality is deeply wrong, and yet indulges in it anyway, is "sexually deviant."

This is a guy who has been saying that a certain type of person should not be allowed to parent children. I haven't looked at what he's said in detail, but I'm guessing some of it is because he's worried that these types of people will abuse children.

If you have a guy who says "Letting this type of person parent a child is dangerous" and you find out he's been describing himself this whole time, then you keep him the hell away from children.

It sounds like he's erroneously taking his experiences and feelings and erroneously conflating them with that of all homosexuals. He's the one doing the labeling, so I don't really have a problem with taking him at his word.
posted by ODiV at 6:45 PM on May 5, 2010 [2 favorites]

Did I mention that he's doing it erroneously?

erroneously
posted by ODiV at 6:46 PM on May 5, 2010

very nice and soft spoken

because nice, soft spoken men aren't gay? i like when even in press releases bad people show themselves as assholes.
posted by nadawi at 7:04 PM on May 5, 2010

Rekers is not only very old and in very poor health, but also very nice and soft spoken

Has anyone ever described someone in this manner before?

Does the "but" make sense there?

You know what this is? This is the like the "Narth" version of "climate-gate"If the climate scientists were lying hypocrites.. which, y'know, they aren't... now, before you say "naw, thas silly", let us go through the story...
Their "TOP" researcher... was found to be fiddling with stats, and other things, playing with the narrative, using "hockey sticks" where a they just didn't fit, just to fit them into their "model". Lot's of junk, and opinions just angrily "stuffed" into a bunch of emails, a bunch of ancient baggage getting thrown around, disappearing data, data getting stuffed into the luggage... the "what happens in the Bermuda triangle stays in the Bermuda triangle" thing. It was also likely a lot colder than they said it was... it wasn't heating up... it was actually so not heating up it was snowing in Bermudahurfdurf. All leading up to an "explosion", or a "climax" if you will, of public interest. -Just wait 'till the emails of the "bottom" researcher come out.

If Right wing control freaks ever actually did/thought about/investigated science... they would soooo be doing whatever it was they thought believed fantasized that "climate" scientists were doing.


NARTH
Novice Auspicious Regimen Towards Homosexuality?
Natural Airbreather Rehabilitation towards hypocrisy?
Neo-pathic Air-eater Really Tries Hard?
Neo-pathic A-bigot recession taxes hatred?
Actaully, no, Narth, this is a syncopated simile to the expostulation "NARRRF"- as used by Pinkius-nothebrainus (or the common lab mouse sidekick).
Do they know how similar their two organizations seem right now?

posted by infinite intimation at 8:16 PM on May 5, 2010

Dr. Rekers is not only very old and in very poor health, but also very nice and soft spoken

Oh gosh. This is the story that keeps on giving. Very nice men with soft voices never hire bum boys! What if he is Nice 'N Soft and thinks a lot about butt sex? He isn't gay. True. The first thing that happens when you turn gay is your voice gets raspy and hoarse. Probably from all the cock-sucking.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:36 AM on May 6, 2010

I'm rather charmed by NARTH's implication of what gay men are like: aggressively arrogant vicious loudmouths, all cursing and shouting and plugging things with their six-shooters.

SHUT THE FUCK UP I AM NOT LOUD *BANG!*
posted by The Whelk at 5:35 AM on May 6, 2010 [1 favorite]

Colbert Rips Anti-Gay Activist, Throws 'Rentboy' Dance Party (video).
posted by ericb at 7:52 AM on May 6, 2010

Zangief, too? Is anyone in Street Fighter straight?
posted by box at 9:06 AM on May 6, 2010

Blanka?
posted by The Whelk at 9:08 AM on May 6, 2010

And the other shoe drops!

The male escort hired by anti-gay activist George Alan Rekers has told Miami New Times that the Baptist minister is a homosexual who paid him to provide body rubs, once a day, in the nude, during their ten-day vacation in Europe.

Rekers allegedly named his favorite maneuver the "long stroke" -- a complicated caress "across his penis, thigh... and his anus over the butt cheeks," as the escort puts it. "Rekers liked to be rubbed down there," he says.
posted by Tsuga at 9:55 AM on May 6, 2010

From the new article:

"Lucien decided to speak out after a heart-to-heart with a friend, Michael, who alerted him to the grim realities of his client's anti-gay activities. Lucien, who had originally declined to speak about the trip, now says he can do little good by protecting his erstwhile, fundamentalist client....Lucien now offers Rekers a counterproposal: 'In all honesty, he should disassociate himself from these [anti-gay] groups.'"

Good for him.
posted by ericb at 10:17 AM on May 6, 2010 [1 favorite]

The Advocate has more info on 'Lucien' (Jo-vanni Roman) with a new picture.
posted by ericb at 10:24 AM on May 6, 2010

George Rekers Has Company: The Top Ten Outed Right-Wing Homophobes.
posted by ericb at 10:47 AM on May 6, 2010

It must have been difficult to narrow that list to just ten.
posted by entropicamericana at 11:07 AM on May 6, 2010

Rekers should've hired Machete instead of that rent boy. Assuming that "lifting your luggage" falls somewhere between "roofing" and "septic," the luggage-handling would've only cost $100-125 per day.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:35 PM on May 6, 2010

is it that he hires prostitutes? is it that the prostitute is young?

Writing a book titled 'Shaping Your Child's Sexual Identity' would make me a bit nervous about handing a foster child over to him.
posted by Tenuki at 6:41 PM on May 6, 2010 [1 favorite]

so child psychologists who write about childhood sexuality and gender identity can't foster kids?

this all keeps coming back to "he's squicky!" and i totally agree - but saying that his sexuality and the way he expresses it should keep him from fostering children is exactly the message he's been spreading that we all find so repugnant. maybe we could allow DHS/CPS to determain who should foster kids and leave the gross generalizations out of it?
posted by nadawi at 7:06 PM on May 6, 2010

saying that his sexuality and the way he expresses it should keep him from fostering children is exactly the message he's been spreading that we all find so repugnant

It's not the same message.

He's saying that homosexuality should keep people from fostering children. That is wrong! But it doesn't mean that any argument based on someone's "sexuality and the way he expresses it" is wrong. There are surely circumstances where someone's sexuality and the way he expresses it should keep him from fostering children. Like if someone is downloading child pornography as their way of expressing their sexuality -- we wouldn't need actual proof of their having molested one of their foster children before butting into DHS/CPS's business, would we? Or at least, if you believe we do need that, you must see that it's an unusual position to take, and most people would think that expression of sexuality is enough of a reason not to let them foster children.

Several people have fleshed out their reasons for questioning whether this guy should be eligible to foster children, which have included: (1) that he engages in sexual activity that he says leads to child molestation, leading to the question of whether his error results from projection; (2) that he represses his sexual urges and then acts on them in a way that he believes is self-destructive and harmful to his partner; (3) that his chosen partner is a very young-looking prostitute who happens to be the exact same age as a boy he took into his home 4 years ago, at the age of 16. (That's off the top of my head, I might not be remembering all of them.)

These don't equate to an offhand "he's squicky," so I think you're not really engaging with what people are saying.
posted by palliser at 8:01 PM on May 6, 2010

so child psychologists who write about childhood sexuality and gender identity can't foster kids?

Fake child psychologists who spread hateful misinformation should in no way be allowed to foster kids. Or be near them, or expose vulnerable kids to their evil ideas.
posted by Nelson at 8:39 PM on May 6, 2010

"but saying that his sexuality and the way he expresses it should keep him from fostering children is exactly the message he's been spreading that we all find so repugnant"

I don't see anyone saying his sexuality should keep him from fostering children. What I see is people saying that his intense self hatred, warped view of his own reality, and obvious misunderstanding of his core values should keep him from fostering children.

He is one fucked up person. So are many of us. And many of us shouldn't be fostering children. But this asshole....... This asshole is in a whole 'nother league in terms of "shouldn't be fostering children".
posted by y6y6y6 at 9:52 PM on May 6, 2010

Tom the Dancing Bug on new gay stereotypes.
posted by idiopath at 1:25 AM on May 7, 2010 [2 favorites]

Religious-right leader ensnared in gay travel-assistant scandal threatens suit.
posted by ericb at 7:20 AM on May 7, 2010

JoeMyGod Interview with Jo-Vanni Roman (aka 'Lucien').
posted by ericb at 7:24 AM on May 7, 2010

Things Rekers Said To Lucien When He Didn't Think We Were Listening

"Anti-gay activist George Alan Rekers contends in an earlier post on Riptide that he did not hire a young gay escort named Lucien as a prostitute. But what the minister -- who hasn't returned calls seeking comment -- likely didn't realize is that Miami New Times reporters were sitting beside Lucien during a candid conversation over speakerphone."

posted by ericb at 7:35 AM on May 7, 2010

I'm homebrewing a porter. Suddenly, making a beer named after people who lift luggage seems so filthy. Thanks, moral majority, for fucking up something sweet and innocent like dark beer.
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:38 AM on May 7, 2010

As noted in the JoeMyGod interview, Jo-Vanni is sitting down today for an interview with CNN to be run during Anderson Cooper's 360 show. That should be an interesting interview.
posted by ericb at 8:45 AM on May 7, 2010 [1 favorite]

Joy Behar on the situation [video].
posted by ericb at 8:48 AM on May 7, 2010

Florida AG Bill McCollum Releases Statement on Rekers Scandal

"The office of Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, for whom George Alan Rekers testified in the state's case seeking to uphold the ban on gay adoption, has released a statement:

'As hired counsel for the Florida Department of Children and Families, our office is committed to providing our client with the best possible legal representation in this matter. Dr. Rekers, a professor emeritus from University of South Carolina and a neuropsychologist with a degree from UCLA, came to our attention by recommendation from another academic after an exhaustive search for potential expert witnesses who were willing to testify. Dr. Rekers had exceptional credentials and he had provided testimony in similar cases on two separate occasions, one of which was a Florida case in Federal Court. The contract was executed at the direction of the Department of Children and Families, and the ACLU did not object to his position as an expert at the hearing. He has completed his testimony and is no longer involved in this case.'

As Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel notes, the statement does not address the question of how Rekers could possibly be a credible witness.

Maxwell also points us to some new revelations from Equality Florida, that Rekers was not paid $87,000 in taxpayer money as originally reported, but a much higher amount of $120,000."

posted by ericb at 12:41 PM on May 7, 2010

Another 'rent boy' claims he was hired by and had sex with Rekers.

"In a city, in the USA, when I was in my 20’s, I committed the illegal act of prostitution with a man named George Rekers. To divulge more information regarding the time and place, at this time, would not benefit me, legally. I was sitting in my apartment, watching TV when my pager went off. It was a caller, responding to an ad I had placed in the escort/masseur section of a local gay magazine. The caller was George Rekers, and he told me his real name, a requirement I had for all of my clients who wanted “outcall” service, meaning that I would travel to their hotel for a “session”. If anything happened to me, the clients name and info would be sitting on my dresser for my roommate to find. Rekers was very specific about the kind of service he expected for the $150 he agreed to pay me. He insisted on only safe activity, and repeatedly asked me if I was “clean”, meaning disease free. I assured him that I was.

Rekers wanted a full body massage, and he wanted light, sexual contact. He referred to himself as being “very vanilla”, which I later learned means, no oral or anal. As an escort, I remembered clients like this the most because they are easy money. I fulfilled his request, and by the time I was finished, there wasn’t a single part of his body that my hands had not touched. He wanted a light tickling of his skin, just barely touching his skin, as I glided my fingers up and down his spine, all the way into his crack. He shivered with pleasure with every stroke. I wasn’t in the habit of asking my clients any personal questions. I did, however, answer several questions George had for me. He was very curious to know more about my porno career, which, he had not previously been aware of. When I explained it to him, he seemed repulsed when I got into the details of the oral and anal sex scenes. I sensed that George was struggling with his sexuality, but I had no idea that he was a monster, until now."

Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!
posted by ericb at 3:45 PM on May 7, 2010 [1 favorite]

Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!

That costs extra, I think.
posted by darkstar at 3:59 PM on May 7, 2010 [1 favorite]

He wanted a light tickling of his skin, just barely touching his skin, as I glided my fingers up and down his spine, all the way into his crack. He shivered with pleasure with every stroke.

See, totally not gay!
posted by kirkaracha at 6:44 PM on May 7, 2010

“I used to feel sorry for these closeted religious fanatics, but not anymore. Every single one of them should be exposed, ridiculed and run out of town. I don't care how miserable and confused they are; they have used their power to destroy the lives of others, they push nonsensical and dangerous ‘therapies,’ and they tell lie after lie about gay people in order to pursue right-wing power. In some cases they're not exactly race-sensitive. Rekers also advised that the adoption ban should be expanded to include Native Americans because they are also at higher risk of mental illness and substance abuse. ‘They would tend to hang around each other,'‘ Rekers testified, ‘So the children would be around a lot of other Native Americans who are ... doing the same sorts of things.’”*

posted by ericb at 6:48 PM on May 7, 2010

“George Rekers, a leader of the ex-gay movement who was caught recently employing a male escort, paid the escort $75 a day for his services during a 10-day trip to Europe, which included carrying luggage and daily one-hour massages, according to a contract obtained by CNN.

The escort, ‘Lucien,’ gave AC360 a copy of the contract, which also stipulated that Rekers would pay for his airfare. Lucien, which is not his real name, will appear on the show tonight.

…The contract also suggests Rekers had employed the escort before their trip.

He was to give the massages ‘using the same procedures (‘Lucien’) provided to George Rekers in Florida.’”*

posted by ericb at 6:53 PM on May 7, 2010

$75 / day? No way. Written contract? No way.
posted by Nelson at 6:57 PM on May 7, 2010

$75 / day? No way. Written contract? No way.

I just watched the AC360 segment and they showed the writen agreement. I expect there will be video of the segment soon (and, possibly the contract itself?) posted online.
posted by ericb at 7:21 PM on May 7, 2010

Craig Ferguson on Dr. George Rekers.
posted by ericb at 7:22 PM on May 7, 2010

*written*
posted by ericb at 7:23 PM on May 7, 2010

CNN AC360 segment interview (video).
posted by ericb at 7:20 AM on May 8, 2010

Rachel Maddow on Rekers.
posted by ericb at 7:25 AM on May 8, 2010

Well I'll be damned, that's a written contract alright. What's interesting is the boilerplate is for the year 2005, suggesting Rekers has been doing this for at least five years. It looks like a contract for a travel assistant except it includes a clause for one hour of massage a day. It boggles my mind he'd put something like that in writing. I assume a cash payment in addition was agreed to; boys like Lucien don't go for $75/day.

Reading all the new stuff I'm beginning to get a picture of poor Rekers. I think he really doesn't think of himself as gay. He stops before having actual gay sex; just a massage and stroking, maybe not even direct masturbation to orgasm. The contract also legitimizes it in his eyes, makes it non-gay. All this railing about saving young people from homosexuals is just him externalizing his own horribly guilty feelings about wanting to have evil gay sex with young people. How pathetic.

PS: disappointed Anderson Cooper didn't interview the hot young man, that would have been the gayest CNN ever.
posted by Nelson at 7:44 AM on May 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Another 'rent boy' claims he was hired by and had sex with Rekers.

Interview with Carl Shepherd who claims he was hired by Rekers during the summer of 1992.
posted by ericb at 9:51 AM on May 8, 2010

'Rent Boy' Lucien: George Rekers Said He Hired Other Escorts.
posted by ericb at 2:47 PM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

National And State LGBT Organizations Step Up To Protect Rekers' Rentboy.
posted by ericb at 2:49 PM on May 10, 2010

'Rent Boy' Lucien: George Rekers Said He Hired Other Escorts.

From that link, the Rentboy.com response to the situation is pretty good.

"Excess baggage can indeed be heavy and there is nothing like a hot man to help you unload it."
posted by mrgrimm at 7:46 AM on May 11, 2010 [3 favorites]

McCollum Personally Pushed To Hire Rekers For Anti-Gay Testimony.
posted by ericb at 8:11 AM on May 11, 2010

NARTH Had Hand in Rekers Damage Control, Escort Says.
posted by ericb at 8:33 AM on May 11, 2010

Rekers resigns from NARTH
posted by CunningLinguist at 10:53 AM on May 11, 2010

CunningLinguist: "Rekers resigns from NARTH"

Fucking a I hoped he would take that organization down with him. Their reputation is still sullied but it would be so much worse if they kept him around.
posted by idiopath at 11:14 AM on May 11, 2010

It's like some Rube Goldberg device made of homophobic dominos.

I, uh, fell onto the next domino, and then he fell over onto the next domino. Also we had no pants on since it was hot out.
posted by benzenedream at 12:16 PM on May 11, 2010 [10 favorites]

Where is the Great American Right Wing Apologist Editorial that says that Rekers is completely heterosexual, loves his wife very much, and this story is a total liberal hit job?

Come on Malkin! Erickson! Where's your sense of partisanship? Stand up for your fallen comrade! If you guys don't, who will stand up for you when you get outed?
posted by mccarty.tim at 12:52 PM on May 11, 2010 [2 favorites]

I'm waiting for Malkin to come out as a bunch of chipmunks wearing a rubber suit.
posted by The Whelk at 1:04 PM on May 11, 2010 [7 favorites]

Will Rekers escort scandal sink McCollum's gubernatorial bid?
posted by ericb at 1:39 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

MSNBC's Chris Matthews talks about Rekers with Charles Moran of the Log Cabin Republicans.
posted by ericb at 1:46 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Get a brain! Moran
posted by EarBucket at 2:01 PM on May 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Just got back from Short Mountain eh hippybear?
posted by The Whelk at 4:16 PM on May 11, 2010

How George Alan Rekers and his rent boy got busted by New Times.
posted by ericb at 11:05 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Closeted anti-gays are the enemy within.
posted by ericb at 11:14 AM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Where's George? The NARTH Document Purge Begins.
posted by ericb at 1:10 PM on May 12, 2010 [2 favorites]

'Rentboy,' the song.
posted by ericb at 1:12 PM on May 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Classic!

"In a follow-up e-mail to Christianity Today, Rekers said that his wife will be retiring soon and will accompany him on trips when their sons are unavailable.

'I confessed to the Lord and to my family that I was unwise and wrong to hire this travel assistant after knowing him only one month before the trip and not knowing whether he was more than a person raised in a Christian home,' Rekers said. 'I also confessed to the Lord and to my family the sin of thereby putting myself into a vulnerable situation where I tragically became subject to false allegations.'

Rekers said that he regrets 'unanticipated harm' for his 'unwise decision,' and briefly mentioned part of the trip. 'One thing for which I am grateful is that my travel assistant openly shared his spiritual doubts with me during the trip and he did let me share the gospel of Jesus Christ with him with many Scriptures in three extended conversations.'

Rekers said he is being advised by a team of three Christian counselors. 'And I have committed myself to ongoing meetings with an experienced pastor and counselor from my church, so I can more fully understand my weaknesses and prevent this kind of unwise decision-making in the future.'

Rekers declined a phone interview with CT. 'Because this has become a legal matter concerning defamation, Professor Rekers has been advised not to grant interviews,' an unnamed respondent said in an e-mail from his website."

Shut up, you hypocrite. No one's buying the crap spewing out of your mouth anymore.
posted by ericb at 7:44 AM on May 13, 2010 [2 favorites]

The Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus Calls On Attorney General McCollum To Reimburse the State of Florida For $120,000 In Legal Fees Paid to Dr. George Rekers.
posted by ericb at 7:45 AM on May 13, 2010

Liberty Counsel Offers to Back George Rekers in Defamation Suit.
posted by ericb at 8:49 AM on May 13, 2010

the sin of thereby putting myself into a vulnerable situation

Quite euphemistic he is.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:51 PM on May 13, 2010 [1 favorite]

"The Liberty Counsel's Mr. Staver said he believes Mr. Rekers' recent court appearances, in which the professor testified in favor of state bans on gay adoption, became "a major focus of people trying to discredit him as an individual."

Well... DUH! Going to stand up and say that there is an entire class of people who are unfit to parent as an official paid state's witness? Then you'd better believe that the class of people you are attacking will be working to undo you. And if you're stupid enough to be living a double life while you do it, chances are you're going to be found out."

Except that I don't really think that folks who are criticizing him are working to "discredit him as an individual," rather than working to discredit him as an expert. (Though maybe if he's arguing that gays shouldn't raise children and he's both gay and has raised children, discrediting him as one discredits him as the other).

I'd also say that I don't think being gay discredits anyone, save perhaps as an expert on the joys of straight sex. So that's another way that I think the Liberty Council is choosing a manipulative framing.

Finally, you'd think if they were going to name themselves Liberty, they'd be interested in expanding freedom, you know, like the freedom to raise children for gays.

(Sorry, just spent another day canvassing to assholes, including some guy who was arguing that gays getting married will mean the end of the Jewish race, and asking me why I was anti-Semitic for wanting gay marriage.)
posted by klangklangston at 9:07 PM on May 13, 2010 [1 favorite]

Quite euphemistic he is.

Massage? Nonsense, I was being anointed with oil.
posted by electroboy at 6:20 AM on May 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

Quite euphemistic he is.

I was thinking the same thing when I read this "...and he did let me share the gospel of Jesus Christ with him with many Scriptures in three extended conversations."

Because the 'Gospel of Jesus Christ' is a terrible name for your penis.
posted by quin at 7:22 AM on May 14, 2010

(Sorry, just spent another day canvassing to assholes, including some guy who was arguing that gays getting married will mean the end of the Jewish race, and asking me why I was anti-Semitic for wanting gay marriage.)

man, what
posted by Pope Guilty at 8:07 AM on May 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

If gays can marry, then the Jews (of which he claimed he was one) won't have Jewish babies. I pointed out that both conservative and reform traditions allow gay marriage, and he's like, "I'm more of a secular Jew, except I'm very religious about homosexuality."

He was the only person all day that I lost my cool with because he was so full of shit and so insistent on it (including arguing that no society had ever legalized gay marriage, because legalizing it was "taking something that was untrue and making it true"). Generally, I can just laugh the assholes off, but by the end I just kinda wanted him to fuck off and die.
posted by klangklangston at 8:15 AM on May 14, 2010

Pope Guilty, I had a history teacher who claimed that the Jews big gambit that allowed them to survive so long (as compared to the Greeks and Romans) was that they banned gay sex, causing the people to stick to procreation instead of fun but frivolous intercourse. This assumes that most people naturally want gay sex, of course. Which seems to be something Rekers and co. claim far too often.

Maybe this deranged guy had a similar line of logic.
posted by mccarty.tim at 8:17 AM on May 14, 2010

If gays can marry, then the Jews (of which he claimed he was one) won't have Jewish babies.

I realize that homophobia isn't logical is batshitinsane, but I feel I should point out that Jewish couples (gay or straight) can either adopt babies or have them through a surrogate, then convert them in an Orthodox ceremony. I know many, many people who have done this. At least two or three of my cousins were adopted. His argument is idiotic.
posted by zarq at 8:30 AM on May 14, 2010

"I'm more of a secular Jew, except I'm very religious about homosexuality. really a total fucking homophobe who uses Judaism as a cover to make my hatreds sound acceptable"

FTFH.
posted by zarq at 8:31 AM on May 14, 2010

mccarty.tim: ", I had a history teacher who claimed that the Jews big gambit that allowed them to survive so long (as compared to the Greeks and Romans) was that they banned gay sex"

Which explains why Italy and Greece were completely colonized by Jews and we speak a language derived from Hebrew and our cultural background is 100% semitic with no Roman or Greek philosophy or worldview influencing us today. I was wondering why things turned out that way. Should have figured it was because of all the buttsex.
posted by idiopath at 8:44 AM on May 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

I thought it was just as insane, idiopath.
posted by mccarty.tim at 9:01 AM on May 14, 2010

Yeah, I figured.
posted by idiopath at 9:17 AM on May 14, 2010

Buttsex makes people fuckin' cuh-razy.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:35 AM on May 14, 2010

... causing the people to stick to procreation instead of fun but frivolous intercourse.

Buttsex makes people fuckin' cuh-razy.

Family Research Council founder Paul Cameron:

"Untrammeled homosexuality can take over and destroy a social system. If you isolate sexuality as something solely for one's own personal amusement, and all you want is the most satisfying orgasm you can get - and that is what homosexuality seems to be - then homosexuality seems too powerful to resist. The evidence is that men do a better job on men and women on women, if all you are looking for is orgasm .... It's pure sexuality. It's almost like pure heroin. It's such a rush. . . . Marital sex tends toward the boring end. Generally, it doesn't deliver the kind of sheer sexual pleasure that homosexual sex does."

posted by ericb at 9:50 AM on May 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

Take it from the Family Research Council - gay sex is the best sex.

They know, because they did family research to find out.
posted by idiopath at 9:55 AM on May 14, 2010 [3 favorites]

"Martial sex is the foundation of a working civilization! Why without it, every man would loose his senses, stripping naked in the streets, a mass orgy of global proportions as each and every man falls into the stately curves of a young footballers' meaty round ass cheeks unable to control themselves, off into the abandoned of smooth round pectorals, the harry lips of ravenous daddy bears and smooth bouncy twinks-next-door, the supple and intoxicating curves of a thai delivery boy or ball-swinging heft of the truck driver - my lord if just a drop of this world-altered essence of pumping, sucking, licking, sweating bursting forth of purple veined release is every released it will consume the world and be burn us out, the last echos of mankind a groan of absolute pleasure. "

Nope. Still not crazier then the original quote
posted by The Whelk at 9:57 AM on May 14, 2010

What's with all these white-knuckled heteros?
posted by electroboy at 10:01 AM on May 14, 2010

Martial sex is better than make-up sex, but someone ends up getting hurt.
posted by ericb at 10:10 AM on May 14, 2010

Martial sex is better than make-up sex, but someone ends up getting hurt.

Only if you do it right.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:23 AM on May 14, 2010

Martial sex is the primary reason for earthquacks.

The evidence is that men do a better job on men and women on women, if all you are looking for is orgasm ....

Can I see the evidence? Perhaps a "best-of" video compilation?
posted by mrgrimm at 11:31 AM on May 14, 2010

Audio: The Miami New Times interview with Rekers.
posted by ericb at 11:54 AM on May 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

That interview is painful, for a variety of reasons.
posted by roll truck roll at 12:26 PM on May 14, 2010

Wow, it's tough listening. It's amazing how gay Rekers sounds on the phone. It's also amazing how quickly and fluidly the luggage companion story flows. Rekers just doesn't stop talking, he's very comfortable with the story.
posted by Nelson at 1:08 PM on May 14, 2010

He does sounds medicated and/or disoriented. And yes, stereotypically gay.

The interviewer sounds a little like Eugene Mirman, which would have been funnier.
posted by mrgrimm at 1:55 PM on May 14, 2010

"George Rekers Is Completely Heterosexual."
posted by ericb at 3:50 PM on May 14, 2010

Man, the FRC makes me really feel like I'm missing out. As a person who doesn't believe that being gay sends you to hell, can I possibly go to an atheist counselor to be "cured" to bisexuality?
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:14 PM on May 14, 2010

Some hashish, a copy of Hedwig And The Angry Inch and warm, supportive atmosphere?
posted by The Whelk at 4:25 PM on May 14, 2010

Harry Potter fanfiction and corned beef casserole? Ugh, forget it.
posted by mccarty.tim at 4:27 PM on May 14, 2010

He may be beyond our help.
posted by The Whelk at 4:37 PM on May 14, 2010

GIVE HIM 10CCs RIGHT INTO THE VEIN
posted by The Whelk at 4:37 PM on May 14, 2010 [3 favorites]

...the most satisfying orgasm you can get - and that is what homosexuality seems to be...It's almost like pure heroin. It's such a rush. . . . Marital sex tends toward the boring end. Generally, it doesn't deliver the kind of sheer sexual pleasure that homosexual sex does."

--Family Research Council founder Paul Cameron


Oh, my. Dude is jonesin' for a cock, bad.
posted by darkstar at 6:09 PM on May 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

...the most satisfying orgasm you can get - and that is what homosexuality seems to be...It's almost like pure heroin. It's such a rush. . . . Marital sex tends toward the boring end. Generally, it doesn't deliver the kind of sheer sexual pleasure that homosexual sex does."

--Family Research Council founder Paul Cameron


Oh, my. Dude is jonesin' for a cock, bad.

It's understandable that they'd cast homosexuality in terms of drug addiction so that they can explain why it's supposedly unnatural and disgusting and yet they can't get rid of it.
posted by BrotherCaine at 1:34 AM on May 15, 2010 [2 favorites]

I wrote a conceptual love song, of sorts, for Rekers, and have posted it on MeFi music. It is kind of noisy and not really the kind of music that people like but hey its there and it is a response to these events.
posted by idiopath at 11:05 PM on May 15, 2010

Frank Rich: A Heaven-Sent Rent Boy.
posted by ericb at 9:16 AM on May 17, 2010

Before He Hired an Escort, Rekers Tried to Spank the Gay Away‎.
posted by ericb at 9:16 AM on May 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

Here is the Brain, Child article on "Gender Identity Disorder" that the Miami New Times blog post references.

It's awfully hard to feel any sympathy for this fellow.
posted by mrgrimm at 11:16 AM on May 17, 2010

Jesus, that "spank therapy" post is infuriating and depressing. I can't imagine subjecting your child to that kind of violent identity indoctrination for two years during the formative age of 4-6.

Rekers' mindfuck goes way back, it seems.
posted by darkstar at 12:27 PM on May 17, 2010

Legal Experts: Florida AG McCollum 'Has an Affirmative Duty' to Alert Court of 'False' Rekers Testimony.
posted by ericb at 11:34 AM on May 19, 2010 [1 favorite]

Rekers' writings were relied upon in the Prop 8 testimony, too: NYT, via DKos.

I wonder if that will mean anything has to be withdrawn from that case, as well.
posted by darkstar at 3:59 PM on May 19, 2010

That's California's Prop 8, of course.
posted by darkstar at 4:01 PM on May 19, 2010

Rekers' writings were relied upon in the Prop 8 testimony, too: NYT, via DKos. I wonder if that will mean anything has to be withdrawn from that case, as well.

How The Rekers ‘Rent Boy’ Scandal Could Undermine Prop. 8 Supporters’ Court Battle.
posted by ericb at 6:36 PM on May 20, 2010

In realted news: Australian 'Family Values' MP David Campbell Resigns After Being Filmed Leaving Gay Sex Club.
posted by ericb at 6:42 PM on May 20, 2010 [1 favorite]