The Gay Marriage Debate

MI Asst. AG Andrew Shirvell is Obsessed with Homosexuality

I have referenced Andrew Shirvell's disturbing pattern of behavior before. Well, here are some more pieces of the pattern.

Andrew Shirvell Seeks Homosexual Men

Christopher Armstrong is not the first gay individual to be at the other end of Andrew Shirvell's (misguided) wrath.

On August 7, 2008, Andrew Shirvell responded to the news that Sean Kosofsky, former policy director for gay-rights nonprofit Triangle Foundation, is moving from Michigan to North Carolina:

Over the past decade, Kosofsky has been a zealous promoter of bizarre lifestyle choices here in Michigan, most notably by leading the "Triangle Foundation" — a Michigan clearinghouse that argues that homosexuals are entitled to special rights.

Although Kosofsky will no longer earn his living by indoctrinating children with his perversity, he’ll be instead advocating for their deaths on-demand via legalized abortion.

In fact, it's probably no coincidence that Kosofsky will be promoting abortion "rights" in North Carolina, a state with a very high Christian population. I guess if he can't recruit the children of God-fearing Americans to his bizarre lifestyle, he wants them dead.

Radical homosexuals have long populated the ranks of the pro-abortion movement since they despise "breeders," a.k.a. normal people.

There is a sick relationship between the pro-abortion rights' mantra and the radical homosexual agenda: both are intrinsically opposed to pro-creation.

The pro-abortion and radical homosexual movements are merely branches of the same rotten tree known as the Culture of Death. It is impossible to embrace one movement without embracing the other.

Good Riddance: MI Homosexual Activist Kosofsky Accepts Leadership Role with NC Pro-Abort Group. Andrew Shirvell for RightMichigan.com.

Gay conservatives don't have to wonder where they stand: Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell will gladly insult them, too.

This time, Shirvell’s homophobia was directed at Joe Sylvester, editor of Michigan Conservative Dossier, and Tyler Whitney, a gay Republican who is running for local office in the township of Bath.

On Facebook, Joe Sylvester suggested that it was possible to oppose abortion rights without opposing gay rights. Shirvell responded:

You'd probably still 'do' him [Kosofsky], right Joe? You people are all the same. Anyway, you're finished within GOP circles within this state. And you don't even have the family connections that keeps your "buddy" Tyler from sinking into total oblivion (although he will eventually).

Andrew Shirvell to Joe Sylvester on Facebook

I guess this is more of Andrew Shirvell's "adult-level criticism."

Joe Sylvester discussed the incident with The Michigan Messenger.

Sylvester told Michigan Messenger he found the exchange inappropriate.

"I had never heard of Mr Shirvell before I got that nasty message from him," Sylvester said in an e-mail interview with Michigan Messenger. "He seems to go out of his way to contact gay conservatives to insult and condemn them."

Assistant AG insults gay conservatives, too. Todd A. Heywood.

Joe Sylvester expressed concern about Shirvell’s ability to do his job: "I think that if something comes before him where he has to deal with a case that involves a gay or lesbian party, he doesn’t have the capability of being fair because he is very radical on it and downright insulting."

For More Information About These Incidents:

• Michigan AG staffer celebrates gay activist’s departure on right-wing Web site, The Michigan Messenger
• Michigan State Attorney Attacks Openly Gay Student Body President
• Good Riddance: MI Homosexual Activist Kosofsky Accepts Leadership Role with NC Pro-Abort Group, RightMichigan.com
• Assistant AG insults gay conservatives, too, The Michigan Messenger

The Science of Homosexuality and Homophobia

So, on a completely unrelated note…

These scientific articles aren't necessarily new, but for one reason or another I think they deserve mentioning here:

• Scientific Evidence Regarding Homosexuality
• Homophobia and physical aggression toward homosexual and heterosexual individuals, Scientific Study at PubMed.gov
• Do Homophobic Men Harbor Secret Homosexual Desires? by Allan N. Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.
• Single, Angry, Straight Male... Seeks Same? A classic study reveals that young homophobic men have secret gay urges. Scientific American.

MI Asst. AG Andrew Shirvell's Psychopath-Like Behavior

Yesterday I listed many of the characteristics of a psychopath. Today I will discuss Andrew Shirvell's behavior. I can't say that Shirvell is or isn't a psychopath or dangerous individual, but I think Michigan should be very concerned about his actions.

DISCLAIMER: I do not claim to know the reasons for Andrew Shirvell's behavior. I am not a medical professional. I cannot and am not making any diagnosis or assessment of any persons' mental or physical health. Reliance on any information provided by Logic Over Politics or other visitors to the site is solely at your own risk. The content is provided on an "as is" basis. Read at your own discretion.

Andrew Shirvell Exhibits a Distressing Pattern of Behavior

Some of Andrew Shirvell's inappropriate behavior includes

• focusing on Christopher Armstrong since April 2010.
  
  • Armstrong is not currently campaigning.
  • Andrew Shirvell is not currently a student at U-M.
• protesting outside Armstrong's house.
• confronting Armstrong's friends and family.
• calling Armstrong's employers to accuse him of racism.
• following Christopher Armstrong throughout Ann Arbor.
• following Armstrong's friends throughout Ann Arbor.
• naming and criticizing Armstrong's friends and family.
  
  • Shirvell systematically attacks Chris Armstrong's family in a blog post titled "Chris Armstrong: The PRIVILEGED Pervert."
  • Shirvell claims one of Armstrong's friends is racist because his Facebook status said: "native american indian cultures may be the most painful class of all time[.]"
• standing outside Armstrong's house taking photographs.
• standing outside Armstrong's house videotaping him.
• stalking Christopher Armstrong and Armstrong's friends online.
  
  • He monitors Armstrong's friends on Facebook.
  • Armstrong made his Facebook page private, but Shirvell still manages to gain access.
• entering restricted areas on the U-M campus to post flyers.
• editing photos of Armstrong to include Nazi swastikas, the rainbow flag, the word "RESIGN," etc.

Andrew Shirvell Distorts the Truth or Believes in a Twisted Fantasy

Shirvell has made extreme and possibly libelous allegations concerning Christopher Armstrong's private and intimate affairs. His accusations don't seem unbiased or objective; they are littered with hate speech and homophobic 'stereotypes' of the LGBT community.

Andrew Shirvell alleges Christopher Armstrong

• is a "fierce advocate" and "recruiter" for "the cult that is homosexuality."
• is "a RADICAL HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVIST, RACIST, ELITIST, & LIAR."
• is "Satan's representative on the student assembly."
• engaged in "flagrant sexual promiscuity" with another male member of the student government.
• sexually seduced and influenced "a previously conservative [male] student" so much so that the student "morphed into a proponent of the radical homosexual agenda."
• held a dorm room orgy. (See the amazing way Shirvell arrived at this analysis!)
• has sex in churches and children's playgrounds.
• hosted a "gay rush" party at the beginning of the academic term and is actively recruiting students to join the "homosexual lifestyle."
• encourages underage drinking.
• went back on a campaign promise to minority students.
• is a proponent of a "racist, anti-Christian agenda."
• is "promoting a satanic lifestyle, and … is a fierce advocate for it."
• promotes "special rights for homosexuals at the cost of heterosexual students."
• broke the law by engaging in underage binge-drinking when he attended a party he listed on his Facebook account.
  
  • Shirvell admitted he didn't actually see Armstrong at the party.
  • Armstrong wasn't in town the night of the party.
• has a "NAZI-LIKE Hatred of the First Amendment."

Andrew Shirvell Sees Nothing Wrong with His Actions

Shirvell has never apologized for his actions or allegations. He defends himself, saying

• "I'm a Christian citizen exercising my First Amendment rights."
• he is a "Concerned Michigan Alumnus."
• he is treating Armstrong like an adult with "adult-level criticism."
• "I have no problem with the fact that Chris is a homosexual. I have a problem with the fact that he's advancing a radical homosexual agenda." (in response to accusations of homophobia)
• "I have done NOTHING immoral OR illegal. Sadly, the same cannot be said for Armstrong and his fellow radical homosexual activists and 'allies.' As Isaiah rightly prophesied: 'Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness…' (5:20)."
• it's "nothing personal."
• "Did he [Armstrong] think he was just going to get some free pass just because he's gay or whatever?"
• "The real bigot here is Chris Armstrong. I don't have any hate in my -- in my body at all."
• "Chris has never come out and denied anything. There's a reason why he isn't giving interviews, and that's because he can't defend what's on the blog."

That last statement suggests Shirvell interprets the given evidence to fit his perception of reality. That's a scary thought given his position as a public official.

Other patterns I personally see include reaching unreasonable conclusions with almost no connection to the facts presented, perceiving his own feelings of hatred and anger in others, and—when asked to explain his behavior—his responses focus on the actions of or his perception of others rather than truly answering the question.

The "radical homosexual agenda" Andrew Shirvell refers to is this: Armstrong has supported gender-neutral housing at the university for transgender students who haven't had sexual reassignment surgery.

Students were advocating for this before Armstrong was voted in as president of the MSA. Christopher Armstrong did not create this issue; he just supports it.

Besides extending gender-neutral housing, Armstrong has also campaigned to stop tuition hikes and mitigate underage drinking by keeping dining halls open later.

Assistant AG Andrew Shirvell's behavior needs to be dealt with, especially considering he may be breaking the law by harassing or stalking Christopher Armstrong.

What do you think of Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell's behavior?

More Information:

• You've Got To See This To Believe It
• Gay student: Assistant AG harassed him for months, Chicago Tribune
• Andrew Shirvell vs. Chris Armstrong, part of a back story to the conflict

MI Asst. AG Andrew Shirvell: Psychopath?

After seeing Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell defend his actions on CNN, I was left feeling very uneasy. I tried to figure out what it was about him that was so disquieting. I am not using hyperbole here. Andrew Shirvell came off as a very disturbed individual, if not a psychopath.

DISCLAIMER: I do not claim to know the reasons for Andrew Shirvell's behavior. I am not a medical professional. I cannot and am not making any diagnosis or assessment of any persons' mental or physical health. Reliance on any information provided by Logic Over Politics or other visitors to the site is solely at your own risk. The content is provided on an "as is" basis. Read at your own discretion.

Anderson Cooper Interviews Andrew Shirvell

If you haven't seen it already, watch CNN's Official Interview of Andrew Shirvell.

When I watch the interview, these are some of the things that stand out to me:

• Shirvell's expression never changes. He's never emotive.
• He tells Anderson Cooper "I sense a lot of anger in your voice." It suggests that Shirvell is unable to understand a wide range of emotions or he is actually referencing his own internal anger.
• Shirvell stays in the same position through the interview. He barely moves.
• His eyes look all around. He seems bored, totally unengaged in the conversation. His responses are robotic and repetitive.
• A person must be very passionate or insanely obsessed to take actions like those Shirvell is taking in protesting Chris Armstrong. Shirvell displays no passion in this interview…

The Disturbing Behavior of a Psychopath

Psychopaths

• gain satisfaction through antisocial behavior.
  
  • Antisocial behavior can be generally characterized as an overall lack of adherence to the social mores and standards that allow members of a society to coexist peaceably.
  • People exhibiting antisocial behavior are extremely selfish and self-centered.
• do not feel shame, remorse, or guilt for any harm they may have caused others, instead rationalizing the behavior, blaming someone else, or denying it outright.
  • They appear to lack a conscience.
  • They are completely self-serving.
• display a willingness to say anything without concern for accuracy or truth.
• use charisma, manipulation, intimidation, and violence to control others and to satisfy their own needs.
• have a limited range or depth of feelings ("shallow affect").
  
  • Genuine emotion has a tendency to be short lived.
  • Emotional displays are egocentric with an overall cold demeanor.
• have a markedly distorted sense of the potential consequences of their actions, not only for others, but also for themselves.
  
  • They routinely disregard rules, social mores and laws, unmindful of putting themselves or others at risk.
  • They do not deeply recognize the risk of being caught, disbelieved, or injured as a result of their behavior.
• lack empathy towards others in general, resulting in tactlessness, insensitivity, and contemptuousness.
• have a complete disregard for the feelings and rights of others.*

What Is Antisocial Behavior?

The term "antisocial behavior" is often used incorrectly.

Antisocial behavior may include

• persistent lying or stealing.
• apparent lack of remorse or empathy for others.
• a tendency to violate the boundaries and rights of others.
• disregard for right and wrong.
• irresponsible work behavior.
• disregard for safety.*

* In these lists, I have left out any references to cruelty to animals, relationships, and promiscuity because I have no information about the details of Andrew Shirvell's private life. Unlike him, I have boundaries.

Tomorrow I will address Andrew Shirvell's behavior.

More Information:

• CNN's Official Interview of Andrew Shirvell
• What is Antisocial Behavior?, wiseGEEK
• Test for Psychopathy

The image used in this post was originally found at Switched.com.

Andrew Shirvell Breaks the Rules and Uses Power as a Bullying Tactic

Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell and his boss, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, have both defended Shirvell's actions on the grounds that his actions outside of the office do not affect his work.

However, if Andrew Shirvell uses his position as Assistant Attorney General while protesting, that would be a different story, wouldn't it?

On CNN's AC360, Michigan Representative Alma Wheeler Smith said of Shirvell, "He uses his presence in the Attorney General's Office as a bullying tactic."

According to Wheeler, a student at U-M was in a counter-picket to one of the demonstrations that Andrew Shirvell was attending. They had a clash of opinions and Shirvell used his position as Assistant Attorney General with U-M to get the student dismissed from a course.

Wheeler goes on to say, "He should be dismissed from the Attorney General's Office. He's using the power of that office, he's using the representation of the office in his encounters in order to intimidate and win favor and points for his cause."

That sounds like an abuse of power.

Watch the October 2, 2010 episode of Anderson Cooper 360 for Cooper's interview with Alma Wheeler Smith.

If Shirvell used his power as Assistant AG while protesting, that means he acted as a representative of the Attorney General's Office at the time.

If Wheeler's account isn't mistaken, Asst. AG Andrew Shirvell may have a lot to answer for… Considering Shirvell may be using intimidation, harassment, and defamation and libel to promote his cause, I wonder if he just exposed the Attorney General's Office to a possible lawsuit…

More Information

• Anderson Cooper 360 - Talks with Alma Wheeler Smith, Frank Kelly, & Jeffrey Toobin
• CNN.com - Transcript of AC360 with Alma Wheeler Smith, Frank Kelly, & Jeffrey Toobin

Prosecutor Andrew Shirvell Supports Bullying Gay People

The Assistant Attorney General represents the state. Furthermore, prosecutors are supposed to fight for justice, protect the innocent, and make sure that everyone gets fair treatment under the law. This requires a certain amount of objectivity.

Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell doesn't seem to possess objectivity, common decency, or even common sense. Shirvell is a University of Michigan alum and has taken it upon himself to "protest" (his words) Christopher Armstrong, the first openly gay president of the MSA (Michigan Student Assembly).

Let it be known that Christopher Armstrong is not running for president of the MSA; he was already (overwhelmingly) voted in by U-M students. The students knew when they voted for him that he is gay. So, one really good question is… Who the hell is Shirvell trying to appeal to?

Anyway, I don't want to just provide the same information available on every blog and newscast. This is more about Shirvell's impeccable timing and how his "off-hours" activities really do affect his work.

Children are Committing Suicide Because of Bullying

Across the nation, kids are suffering. Some are committing suicide.

• Tyler Clementi, 18, was secretly filmed having sex with another man. His roommate and another classmate broadcast these sexual encounters over the internet. The day after, Tyler Clementi jumped to his death off the George Washington Bridge. [Full Story at Washington Post]
• Seth Walsh, 13, committed suicide last week after being bullied for years for being gay. [Full Story at San Francisco Chronicle]
• Asher Brown, 13, shot himself after being harassed at his middle school. His peers bullied him for being gay for at least 18 months. [Full Story at Houston Chronicle]
• Billy Lucas, 15, hung himself after being bullied. Billy's friend said classmates called Billy "gay and tell [sic] him to go kill himself." [Full Story at WISHTV]
• Raymond Chase, 19, an openly gay young man, hung himself in his dormitory on September 29. [Full Story at Now Public]

That's five deaths in the last three weeks alone. And those are just the ones we know about.

Right now, the nation needs to take action and make sure that bullying is not allowed to continue. LGBT youth, and any youth suffering at the hands of bullies, need our help.

So, while bullying is pushing gay youth to commit suicide, Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell is using his "free time" to bully a young, gay man…

Mike Cox Both Fights ands Employs Cyber-Bullies at the Same Time

The ironic part of this story is that Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox is busy teaching students across the state about the dangers of internet predators and cyber-bullies.

"We want you to be safe on the Internet, and in particular, we want to protect you from Internet predators," Mike Cox says in his educational video.

When asked, Assistant AG Andrew Shirvell insisted that he does not meet the definition of a cyber-bully.

Meanwhile, cyber-bullying expert and Michigan State University instructor Glenn Stutzky said Shirvell's blog meets the definition of cyber-bullying. He goes on to say that Shirvell’s blog is the type of harassment he and others are trying to outlaw.

More Information:

• Action News investigation makes national news on Anderson Cooper, WXYZ-TV
• Asst. Attorney General Cyber-Bullies Gay College Student - see some of the "reasoning" behind Shirvell's accusations!
• CNN.com Transcript - Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees with Andrew Shirvell
• University of Michigan's first openly gay student body president ready to get to work

Collected Links:

• Tyler Clementi dies: College student was secretly filmed having sex, Washington Post [iCyte]
• Bullied Tehachapi gay teen Seth Walsh dies after suicide attempt, San Francisco Chronicle
• Parents say bullies drove their son to take his life, Houston Chronicle
• Teen suicide victim hangs himself from barn rafters, WISHTV
• Raymond Chase, Gay Student, Commits Suicide Like Tyler Clementi, Now Public

The image used in this post was originally found at Advocate.com.

Prosition 8 - Discrimination vs Public Opinion

I've already expressed my opinion on same-sex marriage: there's nothing wrong with it. But my opinion isn't the issue.

The people of California are complaining that the majority spoke and Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker didn't listen, that the judge overturned a law that the majority of California wants and that's not fair.

Except, it is fair. That's what the judge (and the government in general) is there for.

The government's job is to uphold the rights of its citizens, including minorities. The majority of people used to be against treating blacks equally and allowing interracial marriage. But when the majority wants to take away the rights of a minority of citizens, that's when the government steps in and says, "No." That's one of the responsibilities of the American government: to ensure equality.

Usually, the majority wins. That's how democracy works. That's how officials are elected. That's how laws are chosen. But when the majority wants to impose its religious beliefs on others, when the majority wants to take away others' rights, that's when our elected officials step in.

That's why we have a government of people instead of a machine that just does whatever the majority demands. History has shown that the majority isn't always right.

Proposition 8 - The Government Screws Up Some More

Where did this idea that allowing same-sex couples to marry would destroy the institution of marriage come from? It's ridiculous. Allowing two people of the same gender to marry doesn't invalidate the marriage of a heterosexual couple.

If two people of the same gender love each other, they should be allowed to marry, and that marriage should be respected just like any other. All the time we see loveless marriages between men and women; I think those devalue marriage more than anything.

According to What is Prop 8?, there are other consequences to losing Proposition 8. I think the government is sticking its foot in this too far and needs to back off.

Schools should not be teaching children about marriage. Marriage, outside of the government stuff like taxes and health-care coverage, is something for parents to teach their children. And parents should always be allowed to excuse their children from sex education.

Religions shouldn't be forced to accept gay marriage if they don't want to. I don't agree with the Pope's bigoted anti-gay speeches, but that's Roman Catholicism. People can choose what religion they belong to, so anyone who disagrees with a religion's beliefs can go elsewhere for their spiritual needs.

The US is all about separating Church and State. That's a big deal here. So stepping in and telling religions they have to accept gay marriage is all kinds of wrong. If a Church doesn't want to host a wedding ceremony for a gay couple, then the couple can find somewhere else to get married.

In time, hopefully, religions will come to see that gay people aren't the end of the world. But forcing that to happen sooner rather than later is not the government's job.

Allowing couples, regardless of gender, to get married is the government's job. Allowing gays and heterosexuals access to tax credits, health care, and other Benefits of Marriage is important. Making sure banks and hospitals and insurance companies and employers don't discriminate against same-sex couples is the government's job. But the morality of marriage is the territory of religion, and it's something for parents, not schools, to teach their children.

As for a same-sex couple adopting children... I have one qualm about this issue. If, for example, two men adopt a girl, I think for the most part they could do a fine job of raising her. But when she starts having girl problems, when she hits puberty and has issues with her menstrual cycle, neither of the two people raising her have actual life experience to share with her. When two women adopt a boy, and he has problems with spontaneous erections or nocturnal emissions, those two women don't have life experience to share with him.

But I'm not in a homosexual relationship, I've never raised children, and so I don't know how a same-sex couple would or should handle such situations. That's just the one problem I see with having a child.

So, I think the government should legalize same-sex marriage, but I don't think it should step in where religion is concerned. I don't think schools should be including the morality of marriage, same-sex or otherwise, in their curriculums.

Wasn't the whole point of the United States of America to protect its people without taking away their freedom? Isn't freedom of religion one of America's valued rights? And isn't the issue of the morality of sex and marriage religious domain?

The government seems determined to either go too far or do nothing at all.

Collected Links:

• What is Prop 8?
• HowStuffWorks: Benefits of Marriage