Cross-posted from InterstateQ.com…
Concord’s Michael Brown, leader of the anti-gay Coalition of Conscience and FIRE Church and School of Ministry, released this week his new book, “A Queer Thing Happened to America: And What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been.”
I haven’t yet had the chance to read the book, though I know Brown cites/references/mentions me and/or some of my writings (unless something’s changed since the last time he and I chatted).
The book’s title and imagery are eye-catching. It’s also a bit deceptive. And, unsurprisingly, devoid of all understanding. I don’t know many trans folks or gay men who wear black socks and pink pumps. All joking aside: I expect Brown’s book, if anything like its cover, to paint a wholly inaccurate and woefully biased and prejudiced picture of LGBT people in this country.
From Brown’s blog, Voice of Revolution, a summary of the book:
Forty years ago, most Americans said they didn’t know anyone who was homosexual and claimed to know little or nothing about homosexuality. Today, there’s hardly a sitcom without a prominent gay character, movies like Milk and Brokeback Mountain have won Oscars, and even People Magazine celebrated the marriage of Ellen Degeneres and Portia DeRossi. Forty years ago, the word “queer” was considered to be an extremely insulting, ugly slur. Today, we have books like Queering Elementary Education and The Queer Bible Commentary, while Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was a cable TV sensation and even school children are learning the meaning of “Gender Queer.” Forty years ago, people were fired from their jobs for being gay. Today, college professors have been fired for taking issue with same-sex practice, counselors have been dismissed for refusing to affirm gay and lesbian relationships, and even pastors have been arrested for saying that homosexual behavior was sinful.
A Queer Thing Happened to America chronicles the amazing transformation of America over the last forty years, literally, from Stonewall Inn to the White House, and addresses the question head-on: Is there really a gay agenda, or is it a fiction of the religious right? Written in a lively and compelling style, but backed with massive research and extensive interaction with the GLBT community, this forthright and yet compassionate book looks at the extraordinary impact gay activism has had on American society – from nursery school to college, from the pulpit to Hollywood, and from science to semantics – also analyzing the foundational arguments of the gay civil rights movement and exposing the extreme intolerance of those calling for tolerance. This could easily be the most controversial book of the decade. Read it and find out why the publishing world was afraid to touch it.
And, Voice of Revolution Editor Marcus French touts the book’s number slot in Amazon.com’s Gay & Lesbian Nonfiction list. French writes:
The screenshot below, taken at 12:15 PM ET on March 17th, shows the Amazon Bestsellers Rank for ‘A Queer Thing Happened to America.’ As you can see, it is now #1 on Amazon’s ‘Gay & Lesbian Nonfiction’ chart! (A chart, by the way, I would not recommend navigating to, as it contains all sorts of sexually explicit material.) If you would like to help it stay at that position in the ‘Gay & Lesbian Nonfiction’ chart as a redemptive witness, and climb higher on the overall chart, you can help by purchasing the book on Amazon here.
I am interested somewhat in what Brown has to say although we both pretty much know what it is; however, I don’t want to line his coffers by purchasing the book. Maybe when there are used copies selling for 1 or 2 cents. I would however love to know just who these pastors were that have been arrested for saying that homosexuality is sinful. This is just another scare tactic that fundamentalists are using to reach people who take them at their word and never do any fact checking of their own.
If the Supreme Court just ruled that what the Phelp’s do is protected how do they still claim this stuff is beyond me.
We are in trouble and it is scary to see what we have allowed to take place in our country. I don’t want my grandchildren affected by what I see as destroying our family values and the family unit. If religion can’t be taught in our schools why are we allowing same sex relationships to be flunted in our faces? We as Christians have set back far too long and we as a faith will suffer if we don’t speak out. I lost the battle of praying in school and now this issue. Why are we so afraid to renounce sin? The bible clearly states this as being totally against the order of God! But we’re so excepting of everything and it is sicking. America we are in trouble.
Ree…Christianity isn’t the only religion in this country. Why should someone be forced to learn about your religion? Isn’t that what private schools are for?
I don’t believe in your bible because of people like you and Michael Brown. I think Gandhi had it right, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
And what are you doing on a gay newspaper site anyway? Curious???