How Much Did Ender's Game Lose?

Most insiders say anti-gay activist and Ender's Game author Orson Scott Card does not have a financial stake in the performance of the movie, but still it must sting that his calling card title so stunk up the joint. The film has largely left first-run theaters, but even adding in international grosses and future video sales, at this point there's no doubt that its failure means there won't be a sequel. Pity.

The Advocate Names Russian President Vladimir Putin "Phobie Of The Year"

The Advocate today announced its Phobie Awards, with Russian President Vladimir Putin topping their list of the thirteen most homophobic people in the world. The rest of the list features evildoers well known to JMG readers: Orson Scott Card, Scott Lively, Pat Robertson, E.W. Jackson, Marco Rubio, Frigide Barjot, Ken Cuccinelli, Robert Mugabe, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Rep. Louie Gohmert, and two anti-gay California groups working to overturn transgender rights. Hit the link and read the Advocate's justification for each selection.

No Results Found

It looks like Charity Buzz has pulled the auction to have crackpot Orson Scott Card speak to a high school. I don't know why, the bidding had soared to $0.00. Snork!

UPDATE: Credit for the auction being yanked goes to Back2Stonewall blogger Will Kohler, who wrote to the RFK Center For Human Rights and got this response:

Dear Will: The RFK Center works around the world to defend sexual minorities’ rights, and is a longstanding leader in the fight against LGBTI discrimination. In Uganda alone, we have partnered for years with on-the-ground activists to lead a global coalition against the infamous anti-homosexuality bill, galvanized global faith leaders and Nobel Peace laureates on behalf of LGBTI Ugandans, secured the release of trans activists imprisoned for their advocacy efforts, brought life-saving medical resources to health care clinics serving LGBTI patients who have been turned away from city hospitals, and fostered a historic dialogue on sexual minority rights within the nation’s police forces. Auction coordinators occasionally offer items to the RFK Center auction. The RFK Center did not solicit this item and it is no longer part of our auction.

Current Bid: $0.00

Details. (Via JMG reader John)

No More Mr. Nice Gay: Ender's Game

Clip recap: "In this edition of No More Mr. Nice Gay, Guy explains why he isn't going to see the film adaption of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game. Mr. Card, Guy knows you're homophobic, but he's not boycotting to kill profits; he's doing it for good, old self-respect."

Quote Of The Day - Orson Scott Card

"I’ve had no criticism. I’ve had savage, lying, deceptive personal attacks, but no actual criticism because they’ve never addressed any of my actual ideas. Character assassination seems to be the only political method that is in use today, and I don’t play that game, and you can’t defend against it. All you can do is try to offer ideas, and for those who want to listen to ideas, great. For those who simply want to punish you for not falling in line with their dogmas, there’s really not much you can do about it." - Ender's Game author Orson Scott Card, whining to the Deseret News, which is owned by the Mormon Church.

NOTE: Among Card's "actual ideas" is his prediction that President Obama is going to unleash "an army of urban thugs" on America.  And his plan for Christians to violently overthrow the federal government rather than submit to same-sex marriage.

NORTH CAROLINA: Orson Scott Card Appointed To Board Of PBS Affiliate

Anti-gay science fiction author and former NOM board member Orson Scott Card has been appointed to the board of trustees for UNC-TV, the University of North Carolina's PBS affiliate that broadcasts over 12 stations into four states.

"We are pleased to welcome Mr. Card to the UNC-TV Board of Trustees,” said Robb Teer, chairman of the UNC-TV Board of Trustees, in a written statement. “We are grateful for his willingness to serve and look forward to working with him to continue providing the people of our state with enriching, life-changing television in these challenging times.” Not mentioned is recent controversy around Card's political writings, published in Greensboro's Rhinoceros Times. A May 2013 column compared President Barack Obama to Hitler and Stalin. "Obama is, by character and preference, a dictator. He hates the very idea of compromise; he demonizes his critics and despises even his own toadies in the liberal press," Card wrote.

Card was appointed by North Carolina state Senate President Phil Berger, who this week hinted that he will challenge Democratic US Sen. Kay Hagen in 2014. Berger is notoriously anti-gay.  NOM, for its part, has never announced or explained Card's departure from their board. (Tipped by JMG reader Gary)

Orson Scott Card: Obama Will Unleash An Army Of "Urban" Thugs On America

"Obama will claim we need a national police force in order to fight terrorism and crime. The Boston bombing is a useful start, especially when combined with random shootings by crazy people. Where will he get his 'national police'? The NaPo will be recruited from 'young out-of-work urban men' and it will be hailed as a cure for the economic malaise of the inner cities.

"In other words, Obama will put a thin veneer of training and military structure on urban gangs, and send them out to channel their violence against Obama's enemies. Instead of doing drive-by shootings in their own neighborhoods, these young thugs will do beatings and murders of people 'trying to escape' -- people who all seem to be leaders and members of groups that oppose Obama.

"Already the thugs who serve the far left agenda of Obama's team do systematic character assassination as a means of intimidating their opponents into silence. But physical beatings and 'legal' disappearances will be even more effective -- as Hitler and Putin and many other dictators have demonstrated over and over." - Former NOM board member Orson Scott Card, in a May column highlighted yesterday by Slate.

Harvey Fierstein On Orson Scott Card

"Look at that asshole [Orson Scott Card] that wrote this new Harrison Ford movie [Ender's Game]. I think that you can have any opinion you want, but at least be willing to take the consequences of your opinion. It’s like, 'Well, I hope that people will be more understanding,' or what did he say? 'More tolerant of my views.' The quotes that got me about him weren’t against gay marriage -- he wanted homosexuality criminalized in the United States. That's what he called for. You want me to be tolerant of you wanting to criminalize homosexuality? Fuck you on your grave, you piece of shit." - Harvey Fierstein, telling it like it is to the Hollywood Reporter. 

TRAILERS: Ender's Game

Man, this thing looks terrible.

Editorial Of The Day

The New York Times is accusing Geeks Out of blacklisting Orson Card Scott.

This isn’t about stopping the dissemination of antigay sentiments; it’s about isolating Mr. Card and shaming his business partners, thus cutting into their profits. If Mr. Card belongs in quarantine, who’s next? His views were fairly mainstream when the Sunstone article appeared and, unfortunately, are not unusual today.

Just 10 years ago, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in his inflammatory Lawrence v. Texas dissent that Americans have every right to enforce “the moral opprobrium that has traditionally attached to homosexual conduct” in order to protect themselves “from a lifestyle that they believe to be immoral and destructive.”

On a practical level, the Geeks Out project seems misguided. These things have a way of backfiring, as when former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas promoted Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day to counter the Chick-fil-A boycott. Attending a goofy popcorn movie could become a way to express disapproval of gays and lesbians — hardly a happy ending.

Read the full editorial.

Harrison Ford On Orson Scott Card

"No part of the story concerns Mr Card’s theories about society in terms of gay issues or homosexual issues. I think he has a right to his opinions and has also made it clear that it was a battle that he fought and lost and would like to get on with the rest of life." - Harrison Ford, promoting Ender's Game at San Diego's Comic-Con.

Dustin Lance Black: I Won't Boycott Movie

Openly gay Oscar winner and activist Dustin Lance Black says he won't take part in the boycott of Ender's Game.  Via the New York Times:

Not every advocate of gay equality and same-sex marriage is convinced that turning away from “Ender’s Game,” which cost about $110 million to make, is the best way to counter Mr. Card. “No way am I boycotting,” said Dustin Lance Black, who in 2009 won an Oscar for writing “Milk,” about the gay activist Harvey Milk, and who campaigned against California’s Proposition 8, which sought to ban gay marriage. Speaking from London on Wednesday, Mr. Black — who, like Mr. Card, comes from a Mormon family — said he would rather engage with, than shut out, political and cultural adversaries. “We haven’t been getting the numbers we’ve seen by disengaging,” Mr. Black said, referring to a rise in public acceptance of same-sex marriage and other measures of gay equality.

NOTE: Buried in the middle of the above-linked article is mention that Orson Scott Card left NOM's board of directors sometime this year.  I'm guessing that's why he felt free to describe the same-sex marriage battle as now "moot."  NOM, for their part, has not yet officially commented on Card's surrender.

Lionsgate Denounces NOM & Orson Scott Card, Will Host Ender's Game LGBT Benefit

“As proud longtime supporters of the LGBT community, champions of films ranging from GODS AND MONSTERS to THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER and a Company that is proud to have recognized same-sex unions and domestic partnerships within its employee benefits policies for many years, we obviously do not agree with the personal views of Orson Scott Card and those of the National Organization for Marriage. However, they are completely irrelevant to a discussion of ENDER’S GAME. The simple fact is that neither the underlying book nor the film itself reflect these views in any way, shape or form. On the contrary, the film not only transports viewers to an entertaining and action-filled world, but it does so with positive and inspiring characters who ultimately deliver an ennobling and life-affirming message. Lionsgate will continue its longstanding commitment to the LGBT community by exploring new ways we can support LGBT causes and, as part of this ongoing process, will host a benefit premiere for ENDER’S GAME.” - Lionsgate Entertainment, via email.

Tweet Of The Day II

(Tipped by JMG reader Dave)

Geeks Out Reacts To "Tolerance" Plea

Geeks Out has posted a response to Orson Scott Card's plea for "tolerance."

This plea for tolerance is perhaps a bridge too far, especially from someone who characterized gay marriage as “the bludgeon [The Left] use to make sure that it becomes illegal to teach traditional values in the schools,” (2012). There’s nothing more democratic and tolerant than a consumer boycott, rooted in the ideas of free market accountability. Skip Ender’s Game is about doing what all of us do every day—use facts to determine who and what to support with our money.

Orson Scott Card, we can tolerate your anti-gay activism, your right-wing extremism, your campaign of fear-mongering and insults, but we’re not going to pay you for it. You’ve got the right to express your opinions and beliefs any way you choose—but you don’t have a right to our money. How many homophobic billboards and absurd “Gathering Storm” ads would a new fortune built off of Ender’s Game lunchboxes buy for NOM?

Read their full response.

NOM: Orson Scott Card Has Been Blacklisted By Hollywood! (But We Won't Mention Him Saying Our Entire Campaign Of Hatred Is Now "Moot")

NOM still hasn't responded to Orson Scott Card saying that marriage equality in all 50 states is inevitable and that the issue is now "moot." But just now they did tweet a link to a story whining that Card has been blacklisted by Hollywood.

You’re a best-selling author. Your beloved sci-fi novel that’s been a fan favorite for decades is about to come to the silver screen. You can expect more fame, adulation, money, right? Wait just a second! You dared to speak out against gay marriage? Welcome to the new blacklist. It would be a sight to see if liberals practiced the tolerance they’re preaching when it comes to Christians, but maybe they forgot what happened the last time they proposed a blacklisting something because of pro-traditional-marriage views. Chances are, boycott or no boycott, sci-fi fans will still queue up at the theater to enjoy “Ender’s Game” this November.

Oh, look! That link goes to a crackpot site that uses Disqus. You know what to do.

Brian Brown: Please Send Us More Money For Our Doomed And "Moot" Campaign

"Let's face it: Anthony Kennedy and his activist cronies on the Supreme Court are itching to redefine marriage and impose same-sex 'marriage' on an unwilling nation. Justice Scalia has warned us clearly in his dissent that the only thing that will stop Kennedy and crew is their own sense of what they can get away with. The most direct and effective way of ensuring that gay 'marriage' is not inserted into the US Constitution by an activist majority on the Supreme Court is to amend the Constitution itself to preserve marriage. That's just what we're determined to do!

"We're under no illusions about how difficult it will be to pass a constitutional amendment, but we've faced tough battles before - and prevailed. We passed Proposition 8 in California, when everyone said it would be impossible! It was only through judicial and political corruption that politicians like Jerry Brown and Kamala Harris were able to abandon the voters, and a single homosexual judge was allowed to invalidate it. It's imperative that no other state have to go through what Californians have suffered. We're demanding that the Huelskamp marriage protection amendment come before the full House of Representatives for a vote.

"We're going to need millions of dollars to effectively push for a constitutional amendment. That's what it will cost to hire trained lobbyists, mount new grassroots efforts, organize rallies and events and deploy effective communications efforts. It's only if thousands of marriage supporters like you stand up and give generously that we can be successful." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, still silent about his own board member, Orson Scott Card, calling NOM's battle "moot." (Via email)

Gay Sci-Fi Author David Gerrold Slams Orson Scott Card Over "Tolerance" Plea

"After twenty years of despicably virulent homophobia, no. This is just another detestable characterization of LGBT people -- that we are intolerant. Intolerant? Of people who want to lock us up, put us in concentration camps, deny us our civil rights? Intolerant? Are you fucking kidding me? You want me to be tolerant, Scott? First be one of those people who understands. Or to put it bluntly -- get your fucking foot off my neck, then we'll talk tolerance. [snip]

"Our nation was founded on the idea that 'we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (people) are created equal, endowed with certain inalienable rights -- and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' Your public statements, Orson Scott Card, put you on the wrong side of that declaration. Until you recognize that your public utterances have been at the service of bigotry and prejudice, there can be no redemption for you in the eyes of the LGBT community. Or anyone else, for that matter." - Famed science fiction writer David Gerrold, writing on his Facebook page.  Hit the link and read his full rant, it's worth your time. (Tipped by JMG reader Homer)

RELATED: If you are unfamiliar with Gerrold's work, check out his Wikipedia entry. He wrote The Trouble With Tribbles!

Orson Scott Card Pleads For "Tolerance"

"Ender’s Game is set more than a century in the future and has nothing to do with political issues that did not exist when the book was written in 1984. With the recent Supreme Court ruling, the gay marriage issue becomes moot. The Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution will, sooner or later, give legal force in every state to any marriage contract recognized by any other state. Now it will be interesting to see whether the victorious proponents of gay marriage will show tolerance toward those who disagreed with them when the issue was still in dispute." - Orson Card Scott, speaking to Entertainment Weekly today after news of the planned boycott of his coming movie went viral. Yes, folks, the man who swore to "destroy the government and bring it down" over gay marriage and who declared himself to be your "mortal enemy" now wants YOU to be all noble and forgiving and shit. FUCK THAT.

NOTE: Oh, how very interesting the talk must be at NOM headquarters today upon learning that a member of their board of directors has just told a national magazine that their entire campaign of hatred is now "moot." Get ready for a spittle-flecked denouncement from Brian Brown.