Joel Burns, Anderson Cooper slam Arkansas Bully Clint McCance

Clint McCance and his buttboy friend

Last night, Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns responded to Clint McCance's abominable "I-wish-all-the-fags-would-die" rant:

Hate and violence born of ignorance must not be allowed to harm the youth of Midland, Arkansas or anywhere in America. Two weeks ago I shared at our Fort Worth City Council meeting that the words and attitudes expressed by those like Midland School Trustee Clint McCance result in misery and even death for America’s youth. At that council meeting and in the days since, I have asked people in communities across the nation to take responsibility and stand up to these hateful bullies. I encourage adults to tell our children they are whole, perfect, and complete. And I try to remind those bullied youth that things will get better and that they will make a lifetime of happy memories. I can assure you that changing the course of just one potentially lost life is worth our standing up to the bullies like Clint McCance. Trustee McCance is a failure as a responsible adult, an embarrassment to the good citizens of Midland, and he has betrayed his community’s trust.

Also last night, Anderson Cooper aired a sharply critical report about McCance, including an interview with Anthony Turner, the local resident who first brought McCance's remarks to the notice of the media:



In other developments, the Arkansas Times reports that the Midland School Board - most of whose members are avoiding the press - has disassociated itself from McCance's remarks; and the head of the Arkansas Department of Education has strongly condemned the statements, suggesting that McCance resign from the school board.

Also, a gay and lesbian group in Little Rock plans to protest at the Midland School District this morning.

Ellen Talks with Joel Burns and His Mom

Just for the record, fellas, when these suicides started happening last month, I wrote several emails - with links and videos - to some of my last remaining kinfolks and said pert near everything that Joel said later, and what Gene Robinson said, and so many others. In practically the same words, mind.

Difference being, while Joel and the rest are praised and applauded by all the world, my relations wrote back that they thought I should go see a counselor; being an "activist" - code word, right? - had obviously unhinged me.  In other words, guys, they think I need professional help, pronto.

What can I say? It's kinda scary when your own flesh and blood think you're a crazy man for talking the way you do. Even though I emphasized this wasn't just about me, it was about dead children - which I thought they might consider important enough to care about.  But no.  So I just STFU and they ain't wrote me no more, guess we'll leave it at that down here in Redstatistan.

Really hurt this old shitkicker, but what the hell. Ain't the first time I got my feelings busted, probly won't be the last, neither.

But here's the clip from Ellen, thought you boys would enjoy this:





Update:  My fellow Texan hits the nail on the head when he says, "You know you're a redneck when your mom is more excited about meeting Jeff Foxworthy than Ellen DeGeneres."  Yup - I tell you what.



Honk to Joe.My.God.


'Nother update:  Joel and husband J. D. Angle, a political consultant, appeared on MSNBC's The Last Word on Wednesday; video here.  Burns says he has "a small army of friends and family" working on responding to the more than 20,000 messages he's received from gay teens so far.

Interview: Joel Burns

A follow-up to his moving speech in the Fort Worth City Council meeting last Tuesday:



What a man. Now if only I could find a shirtless pic of this wrangler. Grin.


Update, from Box Turtle Bulletin:

Burns, who gave out his phone number during the powerful, deeply moving speech, has reportedly received over 800 calls from young gay and lesbian young people, many of whom were contemplating suicide.

One such call was from a young woman in Australia who told Burns that she had urged her young gay friend to watch the speech, knowing that he was struggling with his own sexual orientation.

After he had done so, he confided in her that he had been planning to take his own life that weekend, but had decided against doing so after watching what Burns had to say.

The speech, which the brave Burns assumed would only make local news, has now been viewed over 1.2 million times on You Tube. It's worth watching.

Joel Burns: It Gets Better, Even in Texas

Openly gay member of the Fort Worth City Council Joel Burns shared his moving story with tears in his eyes but got a standing ovation from his fellow councilors and the audience last night. Well worth watching the whole speech.

This has got give some of our Texas kids the hope and courage to hold on through the hard times. My hat's off to Joel, big time.


Ya know fellas, it's almost like we're all coming out of the closet all over again, all over the country. Never before have we been able to share our stories - our pain, our grief, our hope, our dreams - with everyone, everywhere. A monumental event in gay/queer history, maybe a turning point that should rank up there with Stonewall and other events.

Now, no one in the straight community can say, "I didn't know, I didn't realize what it was all about." All they have to do is listen - and learn. In the long run, this helps not only the hurting kids, but all of us.


A couple more excellent videos today from the It Gets Better Project:

Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire:


And Broadway says it gets better too: