Posted on 06/04/2004 6:38:28 AM PDT by sauerkraut
The spectacular success of the homosexual movement stands as one of the most fascinating phenomena of our time. In less than two decades, homosexuality has moved from "the love that dares not speak its name," to the center of America's public life. The homosexual agenda has advanced even more quickly than its most ardent proponents had expected, and social change of this magnitude demands some explanation.
A partial explanation of the homosexual movement's success can be traced to the 1989 publication of After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90s. Published with little fanfare, this book became the authoritative public relations manual for the homosexual agenda, and its authors presented the book as a distillation of public relations advice for the homosexual community. A look back at its pages is an occasion for understanding just how successful their plan was.
Authors Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen combined psychiatric and public relations expertise in devising their strategy. Kirk, a researcher in neuropsychiatry, and Madsen, a public relations consultant, argued that homosexuals must change their presentation to the heterosexual community if real success was to be made.
Conceiving their book as a "gay manifesto for the 1990s," the authors called for homosexuals to repackage themselves as mainstream citizens demanding equal treatment, rather than as a promiscuous sexual minority seeking greater opportunity and influence.
Writing just as the AIDS crisis hit its greatest momentum, the authors saw the disease as an opportunity to change the public mind. "As cynical as it may seem, AIDS gives us a chance, however brief, to establish ourselves as a victimized minority legitimately deserving of America's special protection and care," they wrote.
Give them credit: they really did understand the operation of the public mind. Kirk and Madsen called for homosexuals to talk incessantly about homosexuality in public. "Open, frank talk makes gayness seem less furtive, alien, and sinful; more above board," they asserted. "Constant talk builds the impression that public opinion is at least divided on the subject, and that a sizeable bloc--the most modern, up-to-date citizens--accept or even practice homosexuality."
Nevertheless, not all talk about homosexuality is helpful. "And when we say talk about homosexuality, we mean just that. In the early stages of the campaign, the public should not be shocked and repelled by premature exposure to homosexual behavior itself. Instead, the imagery of sex per se should be downplayed, and the issue of gay rights reduced, as far as possible, to an abstract social question."
Portraying homosexuals as victims was essential to their strategy. Offering several principles for tactical advance in their cause, the authors called upon homosexuals to "portray gays as victims of circumstance and depression, not as aggressive challengers." This would be necessary, they argued, because "gays must be portrayed as victims in need of protection so that straights will be inclined by reflex to adopt the role of protector."
Such a strategy could, they asserted, lead to something like a "conversion" of the public mind on the question of homosexuality. "The purpose of victim imagery is to make straights feel very uncomfortable; that is, to jam with shame the self-righteous pride that would ordinarily accompany and reward their antigay belligerence, and to lay groundwork for the process of conversion by helping straights identify with gays and sympathize with their underdog status."
Obviously, this would mean marginalizing some members of the homosexual community. Kirk and Madsen were bold to advise a mainstreaming of the homosexual image. "In practical terms, this means that cocky mustachioed leather-men, drag queens, and bull dykes would not appear in gay commercials and other public presentations. Conventional young people, middle-age women, and older folks of all races would be featured, not to mention the parents and straight friends of gays." Furthermore, "It cannot go without saying, incidentally, that groups on the farthest margins of acceptability, such as NAMBLA [North American Man-Boy Love Association], must play no part at all in such a campaign. Suspected child molesters will never look like victims."
What about the origin of sexual orientation? The success of the homosexual movement can be largely traced to the very idea of "orientation" itself. More precisely, homosexuals advanced their cause by arguing that they were born that way. Madsen and Kirk offer this as candid public relations advice. "We argue that, for all practical purposes, gays should be considered to have been born gay--even though sexual orientation, for most humans, seems to be the product of a complex interaction between innate predispositions and environmental factors during childhood and early adolescence." Alas, "To suggest in public that homosexuality might be chosen is to open the can of worms labeled 'moral choices and sin' and give the religious intransigents a stick to beat us with. Straights must be taught that it is as natural for some persons to be homosexual as it is for others to be heterosexual: wickedness and seduction have nothing to do with it."
There can be no doubt that Christianity represents the greatest obstacle to the normalization of homosexual behavior. It cannot be otherwise, because of the clear biblical teachings concerning the inherent sinfulness of homosexuality in all forms, and the normativity of heterosexual marriage. In order to counter this obstacle, Kirk and Madsen advised gays to "use talk to muddy the moral waters, that is, to undercut the rationalizations that 'justify' religious bigotry and to jam some of its psychic rewards." How can this be done? "This entails publicizing support by moderate churches and raising serious theological objections to conservative biblical teachings. It also means exposing the inconsistency and hatred underlying antigay doctrines."
Conservative churches, defined by the authors as "homohating" are portrayed as "antiquated backwaters, badly out of step with the times and with the latest findings of psychology."
A quick review of the last 15 years demonstrates the incredible effectiveness of this public relations advice. The agenda set out by Kirk and Madsen led to nothing less than social transformation. By portraying themselves as mainstream Americans seeking nothing but liberty and self-fulfillment, homosexuals redefined the moral equation. Issues of right and wrong were isolated as outdated, repressive, and culturally embarrassing. Instead, the assertion of "rights" became the hallmark of the public relations strategy.
Other principles offered by the authors included making gays look good by identifying strategic historical figures as being hidden homosexuals, and, on the other hand, making "victimizers" look bad in the public eye. Kirk and Madsen suggested isolating conservative Christians by presenting them as "hysterical backwoods preachers, drooling with hate to a degree that looks both comical and deranged." They offered a concrete example of how this strategy could be used on television and in print. "For example, for several seconds an unctuous beady-eyed Southern preacher is shown pounding the pulpit in rage against 'those perverted, abominable creatures.'" While his tirade continues over the soundtrack, the picture switches to heart-rending photos of badly beaten persons, or of gays who look decent, harmless, and likeable; and then we cut back to the poisonous face of the preacher. The contrast speaks for itself. The effect is devastating."
Public relations is now a major part of the American economy, with hundreds of millions of dollars poured into advertising strategies and image enhancement programs. Observers of the public relations world must look back with slack-jawed amazement at the phenomenal success of the approach undertaken by homosexuals over the last two decades. The advice offered by Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen is nothing less than a manifesto for moral revolution. A look back at this strategy indicates just how self-consciously the homosexual movement advanced its cause by following this plan.
Those who oppose the normalization of homosexuality have indeed been presented as backwoods, antiquated, and dangerous people, while those advancing the cause are presented as forces for light, progress, and acceptance. Conservative Christians have indeed been presented as proponents of hatred rather than as individuals driven by biblical conviction. The unprecedented success of this public relations strategy helps to explain why America has accepted everything from homosexual characters and plotlines in prime-time entertainment to the lack of outrage in response to same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
At least we know what we are up against. Biblical Christians must continue to talk about right and wrong even when the larger world dismisses morality as an outdated concept. We must maintain marriage as a non-negotiable norm--a union of a man and a woman--even when the courts redefine marriage by fiat. At the same time, we must take into account the transformation of the American mind that is now so devastatingly evident to all who have eyes to see.
The real tragedy of After the Ball is that the great result of this is not a party, but the complete rejection of the very moral foundations which made this society possible. In order to address the most fundamental problems, we must understand the shape of the American mind. Looking back at After the Ball after fifteen years, it all comes into frightening focus.
great
appreciated
exactly
I have been speaking up more all the time now.
Even in the Docs waiting room and I see a magazine with homo’s in it I talk to my wife and make it known to others that the homo agenda is trying to ruin this country.
I will not sit idly by while they try to silence us, I will not just allow people to say well I know them they are married.
No they are not, they think they are but they are not.
The mroe of us who speaks up the more we stop them pushing their agenda.
They wanted civil unions, then it was marriage, then it was adoption , then it is teaching it in schools
We only have to look at MA and how the homo radicals have forced the people of that state to accept their perversion.
I got my family out of there and know of two other families who did the same when they passed that sham marriage on the people.
I will not let Florida go the same way.
If anyone is reading this and knows any voters who do not know about question 2 in Florida then please tell them to vote yes on two
We need to get 60% of the vote so it is harder here than CA to keep our marriage, adoption etc as natural and normal
Thanks - good idea. I’m starting from scratch and it sure is a hassle.
(Plus, I want more than 24 hours in a day!!)
Do you still run the ping list for the homosexual agenda? I fell off of it awhile ago and need to get back on...
Wagglebee has been running it by himself for quite a while as I went off of FR for a while. Now I’m back and I’m helping him. I will add your name today - do you want on the Moral Absolutes list too, or just the HA? You can freepmail me if you like.
Glad to see you back in the midst of it.
A must read for the politcally active social conservative.
I should just bump this once a week or so.
I agree.
Sure, trisham - you want on both lists?
You betcha. :)
I just added both of you to the Homosexual Agenda list, let me know if you want on the Moral Absolutes list as well.
I’ll add you then, and btw wag’s list and mine are the same! Periodically we or Scripter has asked people to respond if they still want on the list since we didn’t want people on the list who didn’t want to be there. Maybe that’s why either one of you sort of got off the list/s.
You betcha! ;-)
Heh. :)
Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it, and tread my life down to the earth; yea, let him lay my glory in the dust. Selah.* * *
Return, O LORD, deliver my soul; save me for Thy mercy's sake.
For in death there is no remembrance of Thee; in the nether-world who will give Thee thanks?
I am weary with my groaning; every night make I my bed to swim; I melt away my couch with my tears.
Mine eye is dimmed because of vexation; it waxeth old because of all mine adversaries.Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD receiveth my prayer.
All mine enemies shall be ashamed and sore affrighted; they shall turn back, they shall be ashamed suddenly.
Yes, I remember you folks asking who wants to remain on the lists... I neglected to respond in the affirmative.
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa
:-)
Well, you’re on now! ;-)
Little J,
I’m already on the “Moral Absolutes” list, I believe, but would you add me to the Homo Agenda list as well? Thank you!
I have a few “gays” in my family, and they are using some of these “tactics” to throw others in the family into a state of moral confusion and emotional agony, and I’m amazed at how easily intimidated even the devout Christians are.
I’ll add your name right now. Yes, becoming really educated about the truth of the “gay” agenda, their tactics, their plans, their standard arguments based on lies and emotions - are really necessary to read. When I was doing the ping lists more than 1 1/2 years ago, I had tons of info I posted links to but it’s all gone with three dead computers. In a while I’ll see what I can dig up, it’s all on FR somewhere.
What people like you describe need to know is that there is ZERO evidence that anyone is “born gay”, that there are psychological reasons why people become attracted to the same sex, and that there are tens of thousands of former homosexuals, and organizations that can help them. And that real compassion is telling them the truth, and trying to help them if they want it. Real compassion is not saying “there, there” and accepting that being homosexual is an unchangeable identity.
Thanks, you’re right. I understand that, I look at some incidents and things in one person’s life in my family, and have my own theory of why she is “gay.” I’m trying to help some in my family understand, now that the issues are being forced on us.
It’s been going on for 20 years in my family, and my Mom recently said, “When (name) told us she was gay, I wanted to be accepting, so as not to hurt her feelings. I thought it was a private problem, I never expected these people would go out and start adopting kids and having babies with artificial insemination and pretending to be married and creating spectacles in the street.”
So, as you say, it all began with, “Well, this is just how I am and IF YOU LOVE ME, and IF YOU ARE A GOOD CHRISTIAN, you will accept me.”
The other problem people need to realize is the gay agenda and the huge drive to make teenagers promiscuous (with sex ed, free condoms, abortions without parental consent, etc) are linked together.
You reminded me of another article I think you would like, about a man who “converted” from homo. Let me see if I can find....
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