Comments on: HuffPo’s shameful, reckless take on PSU tragedy

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:41:03 +0000

You misunderstand Ms. Abel. She was stating that the homophobic beliefe that pedophiles are gay is what prevented people from taking the action they should have. She was not stating in any way that Sandusky is gay. I believe she is correct. I have read many articles that assert that homophobic people think that all male pedophiles who prey on boys are gay. They associate pedophilia with being gay. My own sister, who is completely supportive of me (a lesbian), thought that pedophiles were gay. It is simply lack of education. Ms. Abel was simply stating this.

By: Pat

Pat — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:26:00 +0000

It is sad to see how the once-respected Washington Blade has deteriorated into a tabloid under the so-called leadership of Kevin Naff. Rather than being a credible source of news and information for the LGBT community, the publication has become nothing more than a forum for Naff and his cohorts to push their own political agenda. I used to look forward to picking up a paper copy of the Blade every Friday back in the day, but I am increasingly disappointed with the quality of work that the owners try to pass off as journalism.

By: Alisha

Alisha — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:41:40 +0000

Dr Brian Neil Talarico North Bay Has been convicted of child molestation, an
possession of child pornography on his computer. Sexually molesting a young boy.
He had prior convictions for child molestation in 1990 and 2001. After his
parole in 2006. Dr. Talarico Brian. Works for north east mental health centre,
despite his background, and numerous complaints against him of abuse, fraud,
negligence, and imprisonment. Address: North East Mental Health Centre
North Bay Campus Highway 11 North North Bay Ontario P1B 8L1, and now works for Act 2, North Bay.

By: Rick Rosendall

Rick Rosendall — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:43:04 +0000

Kevin appears to have misread Cindy Abel’s piece. Then he was off to the races. That being said, Abel’s update with its clarification would have been helpful to include in the first place, given the sensitivity of the subject and the popular misunderstanding of these issues. Daniel Mendelsohn has a better-written piece on the subject in the NYT.

By: laurelboy2

laurelboy2 — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:03:26 +0000

Kevin, you mistakenly wrote “…Abel neglects to mention that Sandusky, by all accounts, is heterosexual. He was married with children…” I know tons of men on the down low who are married with children for societal reasons, but they’re gay and readily acknowledge it. I suspect Jerry is in this category, and that he’s gay. As tragic as the PSU situation is, don’t attempt to minimize/overlook the possibility that Abel is correct in alleging Jerry’s gay.

And, by the way, why are you reading the HuffPo? Don’t you now it’s a left-wing, liberal, loony rag that’s worthless??

By: Baldur

Baldur — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:39:52 +0000

Fear of being labeled “gay” may have prevented more boys from coming forward.

But otherwise, this article is worse than the one it responds to. I don’t know if Sandusky was abusive or not – at least the most notorious “victim” has claimed that nothing happened, and we know that scandals like this bring out false allegations in hope of a pay-off.

But that said, abuse is different from loving relationships, regardless of age – and the claim that pedophilia is not a sexual orientation is patently false, and the hatred directed toward people because of who they are attracted to is shameful.

If anyone really wants to stop the abuse of children, then stop the police from dragging runaways back to their abusive homes; let young people find legitimate work; allow children to declare their independence at age 16 as in most of Europe, or perhaps even lower; allow children of any age to choose their own guardian if their own parents are abusive; let children make more decisions for themselves; eliminate the laws that relegate children to second-class status; and grant children the same legal protections that adults enjoy.

By: I'm Just Sayin'

I'm Just Sayin' — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:04:56 +0000

Kevin, your point is on target. Abel’s piece did nothing but fuel the misconception that there is a tie between homosexuality and pedophilia. She fed the Fox News hysteria. The fact that she had to explain her motivation, demonstrates that it was poorly conceived and written.

As for her credentials, she tried for a period of time to make a living as a PR Consultant and Strategist in Atlanta. She was the go to person for gay rights groups like Georgia Equality and the Victory Fund but with little success to show for it. Fortunately for her, she had some powerful city and LGBT patrons that propped her up. Cathy Woolard, the former Atlanta City Council President and HRC Staffer, a name you would likely recognize, was an “Abel” promoter. You having no idea who she is, when she was for years the darling of your former sister publication, Southern Voice, and is the current go to person for the newly reincarnated “Georgia Voice,” speaks volumes about her credibility to opine on the topic.

By: Bradley Rymph

Bradley Rymph — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:50:59 +0000

Sorry, WashBlade and Mr. Naff, but your hatchet job on Ms. Abel’s piece is way off target. Contrary to your misleading claims, nowhere does she personally describe homosexuality as “shameful” – she cites that as an common attitude where sanctioned anti-LGBT discrimination and prejudice were long the norm. She does not herself perpetuate any anti-LGBT stereotypes; she merely notes that such stereotypes have long existed at Penn State — and uses that fact to (I think) reasonably opine that homophobia impacted responses at the school. She does not herself call Sandusky gay; she says that is what he would have been perceived as in Penn State’s homophobic, apparently ignorant environment. I generally expect well-reasoned opinion pieces from the Blade’s writers. I hope that this is not a sign of the quality of work that is to come from this writer and teh Blade in general.

By: Phillip M. Miner

Phillip M. Miner — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:20:40 +0000

Mr. Naff,

It appears you have missed the point of Abel’s op-ed piece. The author wrote the following regarding her intent of her piece “Jerry Sandusky Cover-Up: How the ‘Gay Factor’ May Have Played a Role,” in the comment section of her piece, “…But please, read *carefully* – the title intentionally has ‘Gay Factor’ in quotes and refers to the possibility that Paterno & Co may have *perceived* Sandusky to be gay. I totally agree that being gay has nothing to do with pedophilia: the point of the blog is that the false belief that the two are connected is what caused action to be even slower than it may have been had that perception not existed. ”

I also think it is important to note that this is an opinion piece. It was never intended as journalism. Abel stated her claim and supported it. It is your right (obligation?) as a reader to consider her argument and form your own opinions. From what you have written here, it appears you disagree.

Personally, I disagree with one of your statements. The editors at Huffington Post do their best to ensure their op-ed contributors have done their homework. I also contribute to Huffington Post and know, from experience, that any facts/statistics used in opinion pieces need to be supported. I write about LGBT Homicide/Crime and have been asked on several occasions to provide sources for my writing.

I sincerely thank you for your commitment and passion for the LGBT community, but felt your critique of Abel and the Huffington Post were inaccurate.

Sincerely,
Phillip M. Miner

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:20:00 +0000

While I appreciate your anger, I think it’s misdirected and reactionary. I read the piece by Cindy and think you may have missed the point. She’s on your side, and she’s just as frustrated as you are. She’s making the point that because Sandusky’s case involved alleged man-on-boy sexual abuse (which, to the layman, would likely be perceived as gay behavior) senior staff in the macho football dept may have felt an even greater need to cover it up. She is in no way suggesting that being gay is akin to being a pedophile, or vice versa. Read it again.