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UPDATE: Uganda, Maddow, and Praying Away the Gay
MSNBC has done a great public service by letting the people at the Rachel Maddow Show practice actual journalism.
This video is important because it shows just how dangerous pseudoscience (or in layman’s terms, outright quackery) really is. Richard Cohen has written a book that has had the effect of igniting an attempted genocide of gays, at least in one nation.
In the interest of disclosure, I have to say that I am gay, so I am not without bias on this subject. However, it defies all common sense to allow this unsubstantiated and mostly false book to go unchallenged in the public sphere.
Now, to be sure, Rick Warren and his cadre are also embroiled in this homophobic mess, but people like Cohen who use bad science and lies are feeding the root causes of modern homophobia.
I hope that when history is written, it will not look kindly on this snake oil salesman and those like him who shrink-wrap homophobia with ignorance and paranoia to sell an agenda of intolerance and hate.
UPDATE: Rick Warren Condemns Uganda Anti-Gay Bill!!
Disclaimer: The views expressed by an individual contributor to this blog are not necessarily shared by all members of FreeThought Fort Wayne. That is what makes this organization so interesting. Commenters on the FreeThought Fort Wayne blog are expected to abide by our comment policy. About the author: dystressed is a freethinker and a freelance writer. Read more from this author
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Tags: credentials, gay rights, licensing, pseudoscience, rachel maddow, richard cohen, Science, scrutiny, Uganda Discussion
5 comments for “UPDATE: Uganda, Maddow, and Praying Away the Gay”
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I only hope that during my lifetime we will look back at this sort of thing and consider it as weird as attempts to “pray away” one’s racial identity. Most other forms of bigotry have become declasse, except for prejudice against gays and atheists. Sorry, dystressed, I guess you’re getting abuse from both directions.
At least it was fun to watch Rachel call this smiling boob out. See, he really just *loves* the gays. No, really.
I just watched it, and I’m curious if anyone here knows anything more about this guy. Dystressed, you (and Maddow in the past) has referred to this guy and his book as “praying away the gay”. And I know he denies any praying being part of the “healing process” for The Gay. But does he mention praying, god, or Christianity anywhere in there?
I don’t intend to read his book, or even really look him up on Wikipedia. Just wonderin’ if anyone else knows.
But yeah. Great interview, and Rachel did her homework. I imagine he ran away with his tail tucked between his legs!
@awelfle I mentioned that phrase because Maddow mentioned it. And I think Cohen is being deliberately obtuse about the whole religious angle. He’s not only a superfreak, he’s also a super cultist. According to Wikipedia:
Possibly the worst thing is how in the video he admits to practicing therapy without a license. He admits to doing all the damage he can do WITHOUT breaking the law. He makes me sick to my stomach.
So maybe this world has some sense left after all!
Now if only Rick Warren would say something good about those poor “witch” children.