Exodus International officially condemns Ugandan anti-gay bill. What took them so #$!@ long!!!

It's a piss poor late statement, but it's a statement From Exodus International President Alan Chambers and the board of the ex-gay group:

“Exodus International believes that every human life, regardless of an individual’s sexual behavior, is of inestimable worth to God and that defending this principle is foundational in offering a Christian response to any issue. As such, Exodus International has not and will not support any legislation that deprives others of life and dignity including, but not limited to, Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. We stand with all who are defending this basic, biblical tenet and remain committed to sharing the compassion, hope and life-giving truth and grace of Jesus Christ.

“In November of 2009, several of us sent a letter to Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady Musenevi expressing our concerns regarding The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. The legislation would render some homosexual practices crimes punishable by life imprisonment and possible death. We believe that sexual crimes against children, whether committed by someone of the same or opposite sex, are the most serious of offenses and should be punished; we consider same-sex behavior in consensual adult relationships another matter.

Since the Bible clearly states that homosexual behavior was not part of God’s creative intent for human sexual expression, the Christian church must remain a safe, compassionate and confidential place. If homosexual behavior and knowledge of such behavior is criminalized and prosecuted, as proposed in this bill, church and ministry leaders will be unable to assist hurting men, women and youth who might otherwise seek help in addressing this personal issue. The Christian church must be permitted to extend the love and compassion of Christ to all, regardless of an individual’s adherence to scripture. We believe that such legislation would make this mission a difficult, if not impossible, task to carry out.

Many of us, and those we know and work with, have personally struggled with same-sex attractions and some have lived as gay-identified individuals, but we have since found a new identity in Jesus Christ. We now live our lives to reflect the transformation that is available to those who submit their mind, will and emotions to the Lordship of Christ. We sincerely believe that such transformation cannot be achieved in an environment of government coercion where the vital support, care and compassion of the Christian community is discouraged and prosecuted. In addition, it wasn’t through coercion that Christ set us free, but through the gracious invitation He extended to us for relationship and the freedom He gave us to choose our own path.

Thanks for the sour persimmons, guys. Now carry it farther and stop causing hell for lgbts in the United States.

'Porno Pete' gets long overdue 'honor' and other Monday midday news briefs

AFTAH on dubious list: A long overdue American truth - The Southern Poverty Law Center commits an act of charity and declares Peter LaBarbera's group, Americans for Truth, an official anti-gay hate web site. No doubt LaBarbera will wear the declaration like bell of honor like that dog with the bell in the Aesop fable. Later today or sometime later this week, I will be posting a list of LaBarbera's "greatest hits" which led him to receive this long overdue acknowledgement.

House Passes Health Care Reform; Religious Right Melts Down - Gravy added to last night's victory on health care reform.

Rep. Tammy Baldwin Says She Has Counted The Votes On ENDA, And There Are Enough  - Time to get cracking on this next "victory."

Teabaggers Storm Washington, Hurl Anti-Gay and Racist Epithets  - Just in case you haven't heard about this. Of course the people associated with Andrew Breitbart says its a lie, but then again those are the same folks who tried to smear Kevin Jennings as a pedophile.

Announcing the latest 'victim' of the 'gay plot to silence Christians'

Last night was the beginning of an excellent victory. Progressives are happy, conservatives, tea baggers, and Fox News are angry.

I'm almost tempted to stay home and see what Glenn Beck does in front of the camera. I already know that behind the camera, he is rubbing his hands with glee while visions of dollar signs dance in his head.

But the work of this blog goes on. And there are important lgbt issues happening now, such as this one in California:

An instructor at Fresno City College who made anti-gay remarks is in trouble with the administration after students complained that he was using the Bible to teach his Health Sciences class.

Administrators at the publicly funded school promised to take appropriate action against Dr. Bradley Lopez, who told his students that homosexuality is a mental disorder and should be treated with psychotherapy.

Students also complained that Lopez told students to use the Bible to explain climate change, the genetic makeup of Jesus, among other study assignments.

Christopher Villa, vice president of student services, issued a report last week on the complaints.

“Dr. Lopez engaged in conduct that could result in the creation of a hostile learning environment by unreasonably interfering with students’ learning by making insulting comments directed at homosexuals,” the report said, noting that Lopez made statements “unrelated to any legitimate course objective.”

In the report, Villa said that Lopez had violated campus regulations prohibiting religious indoctrination “by assigning readings from the Bible, reading the Bible in class, and otherwise relying on the Bible as an authority in the assigned subject matter.”

“Instructors are not required to hide their own religious belief or non-belief, but they may not engage in religious indoctrination as Dr. Lopez did here,” the report said.

That's the story BEFORE Mat Staver and the Allied Defense Fund possibly get their psuedo holy hooks in it.

If and when they do, Lopez will be cast as the so-called latest "Christian whose faith made him a victim of the homosexual agenda."

Like Crystal Dixon, Patricia Mauceri, and Peter Vadala 

According to religious right groups, all of these individuals lost their jobs because "gays want to silence Christians."

But as the links tell, these folks went well beyond their free speech rights by either forgetting what they can or cannot say on the job or about their job or mistaking their power on the employment food chain.

Phony claims of being the victims of a "gay agenda" were immaterial in those cases, just like it is in this one.

 Lopez should have remembered that he is paid to teach, not preach.