billfish@aol.com writes:
> Does anyone know how I can acquire copies of the videotapes 
> THE GAY AGENDA and HATE LIES AND VIDEOTAPE?

During a recent Fight the Right Conference held in Denver, I got the 
chance to vies:  "The Gay Agenda";  "Hate, Lies, and Videotapes";
and "The Religious Right:  Then & Now."  In case, anyone was interested, 
I thought I'd post my reactions to each (as well as where to get copies).

In my opinion,"The Gay Agenda" is incredibly effective (and disgusting)
propaganda against the queer community, and I honestly could not stomach 
more than 5 minutes of it.  The most disturbing aspect of this videotape 
is the fact that it repeatedly portrays naked, semi-naked, sexually 
gesturing, gyrating, and sexually intersecting queers during a gay pride 
parade. Geez.  The anti-gay rhetoric wasn't even necessary, IMHO.  If this
is anyone's first or only exposure to the gay community, I can't see how 
they wouldn't quickly, and perhaps irreversibly, become frightened of gays.
(A free copy can be obtained from the religious right.  Robertson's group.)

"Hate, Lies and Videotapes" is a reply to "The Gay Agenda" which was
created by a group called Testing the Limits.  My reaction to HL&V 
was mixed.  On the one hand, they did an excellent job of documenting 
very similar maneuvers (ie., distributing hateful videotapes) by the KKK
and anti-semitic groups.  They even showed some excerpts from anti-semitic
propaganda that I thought were very effective.  On the other hand, they 
used a lot of the footage from "The Gay Agenda" but never countered its 
claims (e.g., in the Gay Agenda, it states that the typical gay man has 
something like 1,000 sexual partners in his lifetime; this segment is 
replayed in HL&V, but the claim is never countered).  I would have
much rather seen the misinformation corrected, or at least have the
documentary stress that the depiction of the gay community based on a 
gay pride parade is no more accurate than the depiction of hetersexual 
community based on a mardi gras parade, etc.  In defense of this 
videotape, apparently it was a rush job, and Testing the Limits is in 
the process of revising it so that it will be more effective.  
(The revision is supposed to be available for mass distribution by the 
end of March.)  If you are interested in further info about this videotape, 
contact:   Testing the Limits
           39 West 14th St. #402          [voice phone]  212-229-2863
           New York, NY 10011               [fax phone]  212-929-2732

"The Religious Right:  Then & Now" is produced by a group called
People for the American Way.  It is a 7-minute documentary that 
includes various voices of intolerance (e.g., Pat Robertson, 
Ronald Reagan, etc.) from the 1980's and 1990's.  Basically, it
is a compilation of (spoken) statements made by the religious right 
of its agenda and its desire to base the US government on Christian
ideals.  I thought that this documentary is very good for a 
7-minute film.  Essentially, I would highly recommend it for
anyone who wants to fuel other like-minded people to join the
fight against the religious right.  In my opinion, it would be
a great little clip to show at an organizational meeting of an
LGB group or, even better, at a meeting of a coalition of groups.
This videotape can be purchased for $15 from:
People For the American Way
2000 M St., N.W. Suite 400
Washington, D.C.  20036