Keeping Them Honest: Texas Republican lawmaker defends reparative therapy
Reparative therapy is also known as gay conversion therapy. There is no scientific evidence this practice works and groups like the American Psychiatric Association have condemned it. New Jersey and California banned reparative therapy for minors, but the Texas Republican Party endorsed the practice and voted to add this language to their platform:
"We recognize the legitimacy and efficacy of counseling, which offers reparative therapy and treatment for those patients seeking healing and wholeness from their homosexual lifestyle. No laws or executive orders shall be imposed to limit or restrict access to this type of therapy."
Texas State Representative Bryan Hughes spoke to Anderson and defended his vote in favor of the measure.
Keeping them Honest: Gay journalist punks Russian owned TV network
It was supposed to be a discussion about Bradley Manning, on the RT news network. But when it was time for openly gay American journalist James Kirchick to speak, he pulled out his rainbow suspenders and went on an epic tirade against Russia's new anti-gay law. RT is a Russian state sponsored news network, or as Kirchick called it, "a Kremlin funded propaganda network." One of the most astonishing parts of this incident? The show allowed it to go on for more than two minutes. Check out Anderson's conversation with James Kirchick.
John King takes a closer look at Kirchick appearance on RT:
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Post by: Filed under: Gay & Lesbian Issues • Keeping Them Honest |
A dangerous time to be gay in Russia
The number of anti-gay attacks in Russia is on the rise. Those speaking out for gay rights are being routinely beaten as police look on - sometimes by the police themselves. Now Russia's leaders claim a new law is not targeting gays. But people around the world find it so discriminatory, there is talk of boycotting the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi. CNN's Phil Black has the latest from Moscow.
Greg Louganis on talk of Olympic boycott
Greg Louganis suffered through two Olympic boycotts during his career as an Olympic diver. There is talk of a new boycott over a law targeting gays in Russia. But Louganis explains to Anderson why he does not want to see that happen during the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi and what he does want to see instead.
Is a boycott of the Sochi games enough?
While some debate whether an Olympic boycott is an appropriate response to the wave of anti-gay violence in Russia, some say that does not go far enough. Former White House senior adviser Richard Socarides compared what is going on ahead of the Sochi games to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Anderson spoke with with Socarides about what should happen next.
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Post by: Filed under: Gay & Lesbian Issues • Gay Rights • Russia |
Church cancels Butler after Collins tweet
Four simple words tweeted in support of Jason Collins, an NBA player who came out, and a church changed their mind about inviting former NFL player LeRoy Butler to speak to the children in the congregation about bullying.
Congrats to Jason Collins
Congrats to Jason Collins
— leroy butler (@leap36) April 29, 2013
Butler said he was "a little shocked" when the church first brought up the tweet and expressed concern that he was going to talk about gay people with the kids, which he never intended to do. "I speak all the time ... I tell my story. Single parent home; African American; from the projects; going to Florida State and playing for the Green Bay Packers for 12 years."
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Post by: Filed under: 360° Interview • Gay & Lesbian Issues • Religion |
Jason Collins: Living in the public eye
Anderson Cooper, Eva Longoria, Christiane Amanpour, Jeffrey Toobin and Amy Holmes talk about private lives exposed and the price of fame. And Anderson shares his personal message for NBA player Jason Collins who came out earlier this week.
Tune in tonight at 10 p.m. ET for another special edition of AC360°.
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Post by: Filed under: Gay & Lesbian Issues |
Watkins: Being gay is not a choice
Anderson Cooper talks with LZ Granderson and Professor Boyce Watkins about NBA player Jason Collins coming out and why some people are offended by comparing the Civil Rights Movement to the gay rights movement.
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Post by: Filed under: Gay & Lesbian Issues |
Spike Lee: I support Jason Collins
Filmmaker Spike Lee talks with Anderson Cooper about the reaction to NBA player Jason Collins coming out. Lee believes the push for gay rights started with the Civil Rights Movement. He thinks Collins will get respect from the league and set an example for others, but he may not be accepted by everyone in the African American community.
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Post by: Filed under: 360° Interview • Gay & Lesbian Issues |
Former pro soccer player explains why he hid being gay
On Monday NBA player Jason Collins became the first openly gay athlete playing for an American pro sports team. The center who played for the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards last year made the announcement in an essay he wrote for Sports Illustrated. “By its nature, my double life has kept me from getting close to any of my teammates,” wrote Collins.
About two months ago, former professional soccer star Robbie Rogers also revealed a personal secret in a letter he posted online. It began, "For the past 25 year I have been afraid, afraid to show whom I really was because of fear. Fear that judgment and rejection would hold me back from my dreams and aspirations."
In an interview with Anderson Cooper, Rogers talks about the pain of living his life without family, friends and teammates knowing he is gay. He tried to embody the stereotypical macho athlete to avoid raising suspicions. "I went through the motions of having relationships and trying to convince people that I was straight." Even when he considered coming out, he was scared by the anti-gay jokes and slurs he heard in the locker room.
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Post by: Filed under: 360° Interview • Gay & Lesbian Issues • Sports |
