Chuck Stewart, Ph.D.
Hello, my name is Chuck Stewart. Besides working as the Executive Director of a couple of non-profit LGBT organizations in Los Angeles, I’m a published author with approximately fifteen academic books and 100 articles — mostly on LGBT topics. In June of this year, I completed writing and editing a collection of essays on same-sex marriage for ABCCLIO. In late 2009, I completed a 3-volume encyclopedia on LGBT issues worldwide for Greenwood Publishing. The encyclopedia is the first of its kind and engaged over 140 academic writers around the world. I also teach writing at the university level.
When I conduct research, I often review materials from antigay organizations and publications. It is very disheartening. Organizations such as Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, NARTH, Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, and many others produce “academic” looking papers. The papers conform to APA writing standards with authoritative looking footnotes. Yet, we know their antigay “facts” are based on pseudoscience, lies, and political agenda. And these “facts” are used against us as we have seen recently in the Prop 8 campaign and in court arguments. Luckily, a number of courts recognize their “facts” as propaganda not worthy the court’s consideration.
The problems with the antigay papers include: (a) Many citations simply don’t exist. There is no such research or paper or author. (b) The author is not an authority. (c) Opinions are being presented as “facts.” (d) The university or organization the author is associated with does not exist or is a front for a biased source. (e) The research methodology is not discussed or does not meet academic criteria. (f) The reference is not peer-reviewed. (g) The author has been removed from the academic setting or ejected from professional organizations for misconduct. (h) The cited author is a recognized authority but has been misquoted.
I’m tired of the attacks. I want to see them stopped. I want to help the courts strongly reject antigay propaganda such that it can never be used against us again. I would like to see these organizations be forced to stop publishing antigay lies. I want to see every “reparative” therapy program shut down and the leaders subject to criminal sanctions.
In discussing this problem with the many academics and attorneys that I know, the idea of the “Credibility Project” came up. The idea is to conduct an academic review of the research on human sexuality (psychology, anthropology, biology, and more) and develop a matrix indicating the level of credibility for each research. Such a matrix would be invaluable for litigation protecting LGBT rights. Attorneys could use the findings of the Credibility Project to defend against antigay stereotypes often used in child adoption cases, antidiscrimination statutes, same-sex marriage arguments, and more.
It was further suggested that the findings of the Credibility Project could be used proac-tively to sue those who create and disseminateantigay materials, those who mount antigay “educational” programs, and those who fund and engage in sexual orientation “change” programs and ministries for purposefully defrauding the public and with the intent of causing harm toward a class of people. The goal is to force these organizations to stop producing and distributing lies about LGBT people and to close all reparative change programs.
We are not advocating infringing on Free Speech Rights. We support the right of people to express opinion. But the problem is when fraudulent “facts” are used to encourage hate and violence toward a class of people. The difference is when someone says, “I believe homosexuality is a mental disorder,” versus “Homosexuality is a mental disorder.” The first statement is a statement of opinion. We support the right of someone to hold and express opinions different than ours. But the second statement is a statement of fact. We contend that facts need to be true otherwise the speaker should be responsible for the damage the lies create. Further, those telling lies need to be denied access to disseminating the lies.
This letter is the first step to see if there is sufficient interest by respected universities, LGBT organizations, academics, and attorneys in this concept. A consortium will be founded to clarify the goals and scope, budget, develop the assessment criteria, and begin to identify researchers. Efforts will be made to secure funding. Conceivably, this project could engage hundreds of universities, organizations, and academic researchers.
The landmark ruling by U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker overturning Proposition 8 will most assuredly be appealed to the 9th Circuit Court and probably to the U.S. Supreme Court. It would be beneficial if the Credibility Project completed in time for use in these proceedings. As such, it is hoped that organizing and funding for the project can be completed in 2010 with research commencing in 2011 and publication of findings by late 2011.
Thank you for your time. Please contact me via Email if you have any questions, comments, or want to participate.
Chuck Stewart, Ph.D. 310-838-6247
- Stewart, Chuck, editor
(2010). Issues: Understanding
Controversy and
Society, Release 2. Boulder,
CO: ABC-CLIO Publishers.
ISSN 978-1-
59884-047-6.
- Stewart, Chuck, editor.
(2009). The Greenwood
Encyclopedia of LGBT Issues
Worldwide. Silver
Spring, MD: Greenwood
Publishing. ISBN-13: 978-
0-313-34231-8
- Stewart, Chuck. (2006). Issues: Understanding Controversy
and Society, Release1. Boulder, CO:
ABC-CLIO Publishers.
ISSN 978-1-59884-047-6.
- Stewart, Chuck (2003).
Gay and lesbian issues:
A contemporary resource.
Boulder, CO: ABC-CLIO
Publishers. ISBN 1-
85109-372-9
- Stewart, Chuck (2001).
Homosexuality and the
law. Boulder, CO: ABCCLIO
Publishers. ISBN 1-
57607-267-3
- Stewart, Chuck (1999).
Sexually stigmatized
communities— Reducing
heterosexism and homophobia:
An awareness
training manual. Newbury
Park: SAGE Publishing.
ISBN 0-7619-1410-2
- Stewart, Chuck (1997).
“Sexual orientation training
in law enforcement
agencies: A preliminary
review of what works.” In
J. T. Sears & W. L. Williams
(Eds.), Overcoming
heterosexism and homophobia:
Strategies that
work. New York: Columbia
University Press. ISBN
0-231-10423-5
- Stewart, Chuck (1995).
Gay and lesbian cultural
awareness: Training for
law enforcement. Los Angeles:
Gay & Lesbian Police
Advisory Task Force
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