Exo Dis!

Local boy done good. Former Chapel Hillian and all-around great blogger Justin Watt has come face to face (or blog to cease-and-desist letter) w/ the creeps from Exodus Int'l, an outfit of the sadly deluded and gay-obsessed who attack the dignity and humanity of gays. I am of such a biased persuasion rightful thinking when it comes to the festering repugnance of the "'cure' gay people" worldview that I cannot help but think that people who obsess in this manner suffer from a mental illness. Because, let's face it, they do.

But enough of that. There's good news! Parody is still protected in our wounded democracy! Justin has made the big time!

Ex-gay group targets blogger with cease and desist; ACLU intervenes.

A man who posted a parody of an ad promoting "ex-gay" program Exodus International has been served with a cease-and-desist, RAW STORY has learned. The ACLU plans to intervene on the man's behalf.

Justin Watt, a blogger from Santa Rosa, CA, says he was "deeply offended" by an Exodus billboard that read, "Gay? Unhappy? www.exodus.to." The ministry believes that it can cure people of homosexuality, thus giving them a happier life. Watt digitally altered an image of the billboard on his website (Justinsomnia.org) to read, "Straight? Unhappy? www.gay.com."

Attorneys representing Exodus sent Watt a cease-and-desist letter earlier this month, claiming he had violated their intellectual property rights. The group threatened legal action if the parodies were not removed. At that point, the American Civil Liberties Union was called to intervene.

Ann Brick, an attorney with the ACLU, says that Watt's parody is protected First Amendment speech. "His point was to make a comment on a very important issue he has strongly held beliefs about: that Exodus's tactics are wrong, that there's nothing wrong with being gay, and that being gay doesn't make you unhappy."

No mainstream medical or psychiatric group believes that homosexuality is a psychological disorder.

Damn skippy. Thanks to Justin for moving from "deeply offended" to action with such positive results. It does a weary heart good.

[via WillR]

Comments

[Diane]

Parody is the only type of copyright use that is protected by law, other than what is protected by Fair Use, which can be quite confusing. Having had my copyrights violated a number of times by people who were outraged when I told them to stop, I am sensitive about this issue.

A very good friend of mine is the illustrator of a famous book which shall have to go unnamed. She and I had an idea for a parody of it, which we felt pretty sure would be popular and get a lot of publicity, since the book itself has gotten so much publicity. I was going to write it and she was going to illustrate. We had it figured out, and we knew we were protected by copyright parody law, but we didn't do it. My friend said the author of the original book would most definitely have a fit and sue us, and even though we would win, we would have to go through all that.

[db]

check out this article (http://www.slate.com/id/2138482/nav/tap1/) on how conservatives are losing their collective minds (continuing to lose that is) on the gay/straight issue.

Diane, I am craving an Abita Turbo Dog!!!

[Dharma]

I love this parody! I just saw the photo and laughed. Reading your post I had other responses as well, sadness, anger, frustration, and happiness.

Thanks, as usual.

[ae]

Diane, I would love to see your and your friend's book! Any chance you'll consider doing it? Though these issues are complicated, there are some "common sense" rules that apply, and it's very clear that this is more hysterical smoke-blowing from the hateful contingent. Grr.

db, thanks for the link! Cuckoo.

Dharma, sending you a hug, sweetie. Take heart. Righteousness and goodness will prevail (as my coach always told me). xo

[Diane]

No, ae, I am sort of willing to be sued, but my friend is not, and I fully understand that. Neither of us needs the hassle. It's just one of those good ideas that will have to stay in our heads.

And in all fairness, I understand how upset someone could become over having her work become the object of a parody.

[Diane]

Oh, and db, since you mention it, here's a reason for you to come back: Abita now has a new one--Restoration Ale, and it's probably my favorite of all of them. It was created to raise money post-Katrina, but instead of making it seasonal, they have added it to their permanent collection.

[ae]

Diane, I fully understand not wanting or needing the hassle. Makes perfect sense. I'm just disappointed, because I know I would've loved it. And it makes sense, too, that one would not want what one takes seriously and worked hard at to be parodied; say, if one's intellectual output was reduced to its most absurd point. In the case of the hateful, though, we need to parody, satirize, outright mock, and debunk at will!

I know now that db will be trolling the beer distributors trying to find Abita Restoration Ale. It sounds like they've had success with it, and I'm happy to hear it. So much of the news out of NOLA is so heartbreaking. Your coverage is fantastic, I should say.

[Diane]

Thanks, a.e. There is much more news than I report, but if I reported it all, that would be all I did.