Tracking Scott Lively

Recently it came to my attention that a person named "Scott Lively" was somewhat famous for his anti-gay antics. In particular, he was apparently instrumental in fomenting anti-gay sentiment in Uganda which has led them to a horrific bill where gays can, at least under certain circumstances, be executed.

I'd never heard the name "Scott Lively" before, but as a genealogist, I immediately recognized, from the rarity of his name, that, provided he had lived in the United States at least the majority of his life, he might be easily traceable. Noticing that his Wikipedia article says very little about his family connections, I decided to give it a shot and see, up what I could turn.

I threw just his name casually at both Ancestry and Newspaperarchive.org and saw that there were several men of this name, so it wouldn't be a superficial endeavor at least. I would have to somehow tweeze apart which were which, and try to avoid the confusion of merging men of the same name into one article. Hopefully the other Scott Lively's will be grateful for that. And I expect this article will form the basis of other mentions, where they start with my research as their base.

"Gay Activist wins Human Rights Award", "The Gleaner" (Kingston), 13 Nov 2011 : "Scott Lively, a preacher who leads a group called Abiding Truth Ministries now based in Springfield, Massachusetts, introduced ideas from the 'ex-gay' movement to Ugandans and the idea that gays are 'recruited', Mugisha said."

"Poor Message: Anti-homosexual propaganda hurts", "Garden City Telegram" (Garden City, Kansas), 6 Jan 2010 : "The [Ugandan] Anti-Homosexual Bill of 2009 proscribes hanging by death [sic] for those convicted of such behaviour [homosexuality].... the author of the draconian legislation has boasted of having friends in the American evangelical movement. The bill surfaced shortly after three such Christians visited Uganda last spring to give a series of talks. Americans Scott Lively, Caleb Lee Brundidge and Don Schmierer led three days of lectures to discuss 'the gay agenda' and the threat homosexuals pose to traditional families in Africa as well as values taught in the Bible.... Discussions included 'how to make gay people straight, how gay men often sodomize teenage boys and how the gay movement is an evil institution' whose goal is 'to defeat the marriage-based society and replace it with a culture of sexual promiscuity.' One month later the legislation... surfaced.... Fomenting hate of those who differ should not be the evangelical message sent from the United States. These so-called Christians should be ashamed of their actions."

"Mauling victim's partner supports new legislation", "Santa Fe New Mexican", 14 Mar 2001 : [in the case of Diane Whipple who was mauled to death by a dog, and her life partner Sharon Smith] "Scott Lively of the Pro-Family Law Center in Citrus Heights, told lawmakers they should weigh their actions carefully because of the 'historical consequences in Germany of having embraced homosexuality' -- a clear suggestion that the sexual freedom of pre-war Germany had led to Nazism. Lively handed several legislators a copy of a book he wrote : The Pink Swastika. Lawmakers appeared shocked."

"Gays weren't Nazi 'victims'", "Madison Capital Times" (Madison, WI), 18 Apr 1996, by Scott Lively. In which he writes a long letter to the editor defending his idea that the majority of the Nazi leaders were homosexual. One interesting point here is the statement in rebuttal by John Nichols, writer, where John states that Scott is "...a man who, as a campaigner against gay and lesbian rights in Oregon, made his living advancing an extreme political viewpoint..." which is an interesting additional biographical point to check.

"Oregon court rules state can ban local anti-gay laws", "Syracuse Herald Journal" (Syracuse, NY), 14 Apr 1995 : "The Oregon legislature can block cities and counties from passing laws that deal with gay rights, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday. The ruling unanimously upheld a 1993 law designed to invalidate local anti-gay ordinances.... A spokesman for the Oregon Citizens Alliance, which sponsored many of the anti-gay rights ordinances, said Wednesday's ruling will be appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court. 'We are in profound disagreement with the Court of Appeals,' said Scott Lively. 'We think this will make a large number of people very angry in this state, to have their votes discounted.' "

"Anti-gay rights vote stirs Oregon fears", "Madison Capital Times" (Madison, WI), 3 Nov 1992 : "The Oregon Citizens Alliance, sponsors of the [anti-gay Measure 9].... Spokesman Scott Lively said campaign leaders have been wearing bulletproof vests

"Stars plan to sponsor reception to fight anti-gay initiative in Oregon", "Logansport Pharos-Tribune" (Logansport, IN), 19 Jul 1992 : "Roseanne Arnold, Faye Dunaway, Lily Tomlin and Portland filmmaker Gus Van Sant plan to sponsor a reception in Hollywood to raise money to fight an anti-gay rights initiative in Oregon.... Scott Lively, spokesman for the group backing the measure, said he's not surprised that Hollywood celebrities would oppose it. 'These are the very people who have contributed to the corruption of a whole generation of young people,' he said."

"More 'Mother Of...' Than You'll Ever Need", "Logansport Pharos-Tribune" (Logansport, IN), 17 Mar 1991 : "...Scott Lively, spokesman for the Oregon Citizens Alliance...."

The Pro-Family Law Center, cited above, has a website at this link, but in their "latest news", we can see that the latest (as of when I viewed it Aug 2013) was dated in 2007. That page also has their address listed as "41690 Enterprise Circle N Ste 216, Temecula" this is evidently a place called the 'Packard Professional Building" which I suppose rents out suites to various outfits.

His current website appears to be at defendthefamily.com at this link which also has a prominent link to Scott Lively ministries at www.scottlively.net. He has a copyright notice "Abiding Truth Ministries 2002-2013" indicating perhaps the former year is when this organization was formed. http://www.defendthefamily.com/help/contactus.php this also states the address as "PO Box 2373, Springfield MA"

On page 28 of the fourth edition of "The Pink Swastika", published Feb 2003, among a list of thanks is named "[wife]... Anne Lively....children... Noah and Samuel Lively."

At any rate, we now know the name of Scott's wife and at least two of his children (he may have had others), so we can throw this data up against the Public Records Index and see if anything matches.

I find his middle name at this site http://www.defendthefamily.com/_docs/resources/1139692.pdf where he is called "One of the most knowledgeable and articulate opponents of the homosexual agenda in America" and then it states "Scott Douglas Lively", at the far bottom it in addition states, "Based in Sacramento, California. Married 21 years to Anne. Two sons, Noah and Samuel" That page is not dated, however the index page it came from appears to imply it could have been made in 2003.

The U.S. Phone and Address Directories 1993-2002 show a hit on a Scott and Anne Lively who were living in 2001 and 2002 at Roseville, California. The US Public Records Index Vol 2 shows a "Scott D Lively, born 14 Dec 1957" had lived at "6032 SE Holgate Blvd, Portland, OR. And with the same birth date, had lived at "6302 Birdcage St Apt 40, Citrus Heights, CA". And again with the same birth date at "2635 SE Sherman St, Portland, OR". The US Public Records Index Vol 1 again shows with the same birth date, he had lived at "225 S Rio Vista St Apt 2, Anaheim, CA" and "8445 SW Broadmead Rd, Amity, OR". These US Public Records Index entries are all undated. Finally doing a reverse search on the address, I find "Anne G Lively" with a birth date of "4 Aug 1945" also lived at "225 S Rio Vista St, Apt 2, Anaheim, CA", and '2635 SE Sherman St, Portland, OR" as well as two new addresses "13849 SE 122nd Ave, Clackamas, OR" and "339 Thompson Creek Rd, Jacksonville, OR"

Checking the Oregon Marriage Index, 1946-2008, I find a "Scott Lively 26 to Anne Gardner on 18 Jun 1982 Multnomah County, OR"

Radaris has a listing for Anne Gardner Lively at "7947 Kingswood Dr #241, Citrus Heights" and also at "30660 Milky Way Dr, Temecula, CA". US Search finds an "Anne Gardner Lively" living in Springfield, MA

Noah Lively has a Facebook and Twitter account and is the CTO of www.koremedia.net, and... oh how curious. He is or at least was an Interior Designer ? (See this page) He is on Github, YouTube, Meetup, Drupal, Quora, he is all over the place. He has a blog at www.noahlively.com

I've tried several different ways to try to link Scott Lively and Anne Gardner to parents or siblings and came up short. Still trying.

Bingo. Through an unsourced entry, I googled for his birthplace and found it off his own press release at this link on his own website. "Pastor Scott Lively of Springfield.... A fifth generation Bay Stater, born and raised in the village of Shelburne Falls..." I see there also an interesting additional statement that he "graduated magna cum laude from Trinity Law School in Santa Ana, California" It continues in a curious tone "Pastor Lively, the oldest of six children in a Roman Catholic family, achieved all of these accomplishments despite tremendous hardship and tumult in his early life: becoming homeless and on his own at the age of sixteen after his father's steadily deteriorating mental health left the family destitute; falling into alcoholism and drug addiction from the age of twelve; and finally drifting around the United States as a transient in his late teens and early twenties, sleeping under bridges and begging spare change to survive."

This is an absolutely stunning discovery as you shall see shortly. I'm finally able to connect an earlier Scott Lively I had read about, to this one, as the same person.

"Inmates Speak Up for Rights", "Greenfield Recorder", 22 Apr 1977: "An Inmates Advisory Council was formed. We the council, working with lawyers from the Western Massachusetts Legal Service offices.... We inmates at the Franklin County House of Correction are involved in a battle for our rights. But we think that when the people have seen what is really going on, if it is not first rehidden, there will be a long awaited change. After all, isn't it only fair? - Scott Lively, Charles S Ostafin Jr, Hansel Cancel"

"Man sentence in case", "Greenfield Recorder", 23 Mar 1977 : "Scott D Lively, 19, of South Ashfield, was committed to 30 days in the House of Correction for entering a building in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony. An additional six-month sentence was suspended with probation ordered for a year for larceny in a building. A third charge, breaking and entering in the nighttime, was not prosecuted. Lively changed earlier pleas to admit the charges."

"Solidarity group for Indian rights", "Greenfield Recorder", 9 Oct 1976, by Scott Lively, Recorder Intern

"King Philip : Alive and Well", "Greenfield Recorder", 29 Sep 1976 by Scott Lively, Recorder Intern "Editor's Note : Scott Lively in a student at King Philip Project and interning in The Recorder newsroom several hours each week. Here he recounts the opening of the alternative school and traces its history."

"District Court", "Greenfield Recorder", 30 Aug 1976 : "Old cases dismissed: ... Scott D Lively, Shelburne, minor carrying liquor on person..."

"Dan Patch, at 70, Relives his Vaudeville Years", "Greenfield Recorder", 2 Jul 1976 : Interview with Dan Patch was conducted and written by Ken Bragdon, Joy Cadran, Charlene Linden, Scott Lively, and Peggy Brown, students at King Philip School, alternative school at 108 Federal Street

"District Court", "Greenfield Recorder", 8 Jun 1976 : "Scott D Lively, Greenfield, sentenced to 30 days in the House of Corrections, 20 days suspended; probation one year; previously denied using motor vehicle without authority

"Culver has simple life as old-time Ashfielder", "Greenfield Recorder", 8 May 1976 : "Interview with Charles Culver, South Ashfield, by Peggy Brown, Scott Lively, Cherri Desrosier, Charlene Linden, Joy Cadran, and Ken Bragdon, students at The King Philip School."

"District Court', "Greenfield Recorder", 27 Apr 1976 : "Scott Lively, 18, Greenfield, continued for trial; denied using a motor vehicle without authority."

"District Court", "Greenfield Recorder", 3 Apr 1976 : "Scott D Lively, 18, Shelburne Falls, three six-month sentences to House of Correction suspended; probation for two years; denied breaking and entering in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony, larceny from a building, and larceny of less than $100."

"Two arraigned for break in Bernardston", "Greenfield Recorder", 19 Mar 1976 : "Two men will have their cases heard April 4, in Greenfield District Court in connection with a break at the Bernardston Auto Exchange. Scott Lively of Shelburne Falls and Henry Seager of Bernardston, both 18, were charged on Saturday with breaking and entering in the nighttime to commit a felony and larceny in a building. Lively also denied a charge of larceny of less than $100. The men were arrested at 2:10 am Saturday when they reportedly were seen leaving the Auto Exchange by Police Chief James Lake and Officer David Brasser who were patrolling the area. Money and cigarettes were in their possession, police said. The store allegedly was entered through an overhead garage door, Lake said. A total of $22 and several packs of cigarettes were taken from safes in the garage in an upstairs office."

"Poets Corner : Regarding Blue Gnomes", "Greenfield Recorder", 7 Oct 1975 : by Scott Lively, Shelburne Falls. I'm not a great judge of poets, but his poem here is clever in a manner like Doctor Suess, but more-than-a-bit demented, about being dragged down a sewer pipe to live in a crawlspace with another "social degradation" whom everyone else thinks is a male gnome.

"District Court", "Greenfield Recorder", 26 Aug 1975 : "Scott D Lively, 17, Shelburne Falls, continued without finding for one year, assessed $50 court costs; submitted to finding on minor in possession of alcohol (continued, $50 court cost), and denied receiving stolen property (dismissed request complainant).

"District Court", "Greenfield Recorder", 6 Aug 1975 : "Scott Lively, 17, Shelburne Falls, continued for trial; denied being a minor possessing alcohol and possession of stolen property."

"Mohawk Issues Final Honor Students List", "Greenfield Recorder", 1 Jul 1972 : "Eighth grade - ... Scott Lively...."

Several earlier mentions of honor roll (1971), a costume award, something to do with the Lions club, and also earlier than that of Boy Scouts (1969), and at least one school play (1968), Cub Scouts (1968), sports (1967, 1966, 1965 probably Little League), library book reading award (1967, 1966)

Finally! Way back in 1965 we finally get a glimpse of some relative being mentioned.

"Cynthia Ann Gray Wed To Hormidas A Lively", "Greenfield Recorder Gazette", 12 Jun 1965 : "... The bridegroom's brothers, Maurice Lively of Shelburne Falls and Michael Lively of Heath were ushers, Scott Lively of Shelburne Falls, the bridegroom's nephew, was ring-bearer .... Mr and Mrs Bernard Lively of Williamstown, brother and sister-in-law of the bridegroom, acted for the bridegroom's parents, the late Mr and Mrs Roland Lively of Heath...."

So from that last article it seems likely that his father was Maurice, but it's not yet as clear as I'd like. There is an online obituary for Bernard Roland Lively (1927-2012) which names his surviving and deceased brothers indicating a family of eight sons altogether.

Leaving aside for the moment, which of these sons was the father of Scott, I find this grandfather Roland A Lively in the 1940 census living at Heath, Franklin County, Massachusetts, age 34, born MA, a farmer with a 7th grade education, and owned his home. With him his wife Marie R, age 32, born in French Canada (can you shout Hallelujah ? French Canucks are the easiest to trace, and in fact their marriage is in Drouin). Their sons Bernard R 12, Maurice J 6, Paul L 4, Felix E 1.

I've found many more details about this family, but still hadn't hit on the piece that would provide clear evidence for which brother was Scott's father. However, checking for articles about each brother in turn, I chanced on the following curious article, which reminds us that Scott stated that his father had "steadily deteriorating mental health", and that he himself was the "oldest of six children".

"Disturbed Man Removed from S.F. Residence", "Greenfield Recorder", 25 Jan 1974 : "A 39-year-old Shelburne man was committed to Northampton State Hospital for 10 days observation following a three hour confrontation. State Police from the Shelburne Falls Barracks said that they received a call at 5:04 pm from the wife of Maurice Lively, 9 South Maple Street, telling them that she and her six children had been evicted. Upon arriving at the scene, state police found Lively had locked himself in the house and had several guns, including a shotgun. They reported he said he would kill any person that came near him. 'There were all kinds of attempts to communicate with the person inside,' a state police officer said. 'We talked to him on the telephone, through the windows, and through the P.A. system on the cruiser. We heard several shots go off inside the house. 'Staff Sgt. Lawrence Schumaker and Trooper Kenneth Stone were next to the house, trying to communicate with him through a window. They knocked on the door, and shortly after heard the discharge of a shotgun. 'We then fired six rounds of tear gas into the room where he was located. Sgt Schumaker then let him know he was surrounded, and he should give himself up. At 8:23 he came out (continued to page 10) and was brought to the barracks,' he said. Police said no criminal charges were filed against Lively, but he was charged with being a disturbed person. According to state police, South Maple St, was sealed off to all traffic during the disturbance. 'After the subject was removed we found four guns in the home, two of them loaded,' the police spokesman said. 'Pellets from the shots fired were found lodged in the walls of the room he was in.' State police said that criminal charges might be filed after a later date, but as of now none are filed."

In the Massachusetts Vital Records, I find a marriage of Maurice J Lively to Judith Mae Phillips 1 Dec 1956 at Heath; he 22, she 18.

"Suzanne Phillips Wed In Shelbourne Falls", "Greenfield Recorder", 23 Mar 1971 : "... daughter of Mr and Mrs Walter L Phillips of 9 South Maple St .... Maurice Lively, brother-in-law of the bride, Peter Lively, nephew of the bride, was ring bearer." So here we get the name of Scott's maternal grandfather, and one brother's name. There is a picture of Peter in a 1970 newspaper article, driving a miniature tractor, he appears to be somewhere between three and six years old. In 1969 a newspaper article mentions Maurice as a Cubmaster (Cub Scout leader). In 1968 he was a technician on a play, at the Buckland-Shelburne Regional School. Mrs Maurice Lively was involved in organizing a bicentennial Youth Day parade in 1968. He is mentioned several years in connection with the local Catholic Charities Appeal.