Tell Senator DeMint to stop lying about hate crimes legislation

SC Black Pride 2009 is over. It was a huge success on so many levels and my soul has been lifted to the highests degree. My feet and head, however are another story. I am physically burnt out. But it was for a good cause so I have a smile on my face.

One more thing - I was blessed to receive the 2009 Audre Lorde/James Baldwin Civil Rights Activist Award from SC Black Pride. If you don't know who Audre Lorde and James Baldwin were, then you don't know your lgbt history. Look it up folks!

On the flipside of this good news emanating from South Carolina Black Pride comes the discovery that my senator, Jim DeMint, is trying to become the point man for the fight against hate crimes legislation. Recently, he sent out a letter to various religious leaders and pastors which repeats all sorts of inaccuracies about hate crimes legislation. Click on picture below to read the letter.

There are so many problems with DeMint's letter:

- NO PASTOR IS IN DANGER OF BEING ARRESTED FOR TEACHING THAT HOMOSEXUALITY IS WRONG. Now if a pastor tells congregates to go out and harm an lgbt and someone takes that advice to heart, then the pastor can be arrested and charged. Hate crimes legislation has nothing to do with violating free speech.

- If Senator DeMint believes that all violent crimes are hateful then why isn't he speaking against hate crimes legislation that already exists in the cases of race and religion.

- But the worst thing about his letter is when he tells pastors to go to the Family Research Council's webpage to learn more about hate crimes legislation. That's like telling someone to go on a white supremacist webpage in order to learn more about African-American history. The Family Research Council, from its very inception, goes out of its way to be inaccurate about laws dealing with lgbt rights and lgbt lives even to the point of using outdated data and repeating the discredited studies of Paul Cameron.

I've never been disappointed in Senator DeMint. I have, however, remained disappointed in the citizens of my state for electing such a charlatan to public office. There is nothing wrong with adhering to a position of personal belief. But DeMint has become a living, breathing embodiment of what's really wrong with the religious right - self-righteous, hypocritical, willing to lie with a smile on your face because of the belief that you are serving a purpose higher than that of man's laws.

This page tells you how to contact Senator DeMint's office via email.

This page tells you how to reach Senator DeMint's office via phone.

Tell Senator DeMint to stop lying about hate crimes legislation.

I've already written my letter.