SC legislative attack on colleges because of gay issues ends in strange irony

A legislative attack on two SC colleges for assigning gay-themed books has ended with the strangest irony you will ever take notice of.

From The State:

  . . . state senators voted Tuesday to require Upstate and the College of Charleston to spend nearly $70,000 to teach the Constitution and other U.S. founding documents. That is the same cost as the colleges paid for gay-themed books that they assigned to freshmen last fall.

The two books, Fun Home and Outloud: The Best of Rainbow Radio, were called either pornographic or not in line with "South Carolina values," according to some legislators. They originally cut over $70,000 collectively from the budget of the colleges.  One legislator in particular, Sen. Larry Grooms, told The State that Tuesday's vote should be considered a censure against the colleges for spreading pornography:

“We spoke to the fact, ‘You did something wrong,’ ” Grooms said. “This is a way of making amends.”

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2014/05/13/3445261/usc-upstate-cuts-center-tied-to.html?sp=/99/205/&ihp=1#storylink=cpy

Sen. Brad Hutto, who has been a vocal opponent of legislative actions against the colleges, accused his fellow senators of getting ridiculously riled up over the fact that the books were talking about lgbt issues.

Bryan Fischer throwing hissyfit over Idaho marriage equality decision

In case you haven't heard, another anti-marriage equality law was struck down:

U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale has ruled Idaho's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. In her 57-page decision, Dale stated, "Idaho’s Marriage Laws withhold from them a profound and personal choice, one that most can take for granted. By doing so, Idaho’s Marriage Laws deny same-sex couples the economic, practical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of marriage, relegating each couple to a stigmatized, second-class status. Plaintiffs suffer these injuries not because they are unqualified to marry, start a family, or grow old together, but because of who they are and whom they love."

This is the 12th time the courts have ruled for marriage equality since DOMA was overturned. But what makes this victory sweeter is the reaction of the American Family Association Bryan Fischer:

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/05/13/3183291/judge-rules-idaho-gay-marriage.html?sp=/99/1687/&ihp=1#storylink=cpyU.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale has ruled Idaho's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.In her 57-page decision, Dale stated, "Idaho’s Marriage Laws withhold from them a profound and personal choice, one that most can take for granted. By doing so, Idaho’s Marriage Laws deny same-sex couples the economic, practical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of marriage, relegating each couple to a stigmatized, second-class status. Plaintiffs suffer these injuries not because they are unqualified to marry, start a family, or grow old together, but because of who they are and whom they love."

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/05/13/3183291/judge-rules-idaho-gay-marriage.html?sp=/99/1687/&ihp=1#storylink=cpy

I'm co-author of Idaho marriage amendment just overturned by judicial tyrant. Gov. should ignore unconstitutional ruling.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanJFischer) May 14, 2014

At issue in Idaho: are we a nation of laws or a nation of tyrannical judges wielding gavels like sledgehammers?
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanJFischer) May 14, 2014

Benham Brothers ramble something about gays, Satan, and demons

From the department of "Can't these guys shut up. They are only making it worse for themselves" is the Benham Brothers who seem to think that they are being persecuted because of their "Christian faith" instead of saying off-the-wall homophobic stuff like above. Losing a chance for a show on the HGTV network doesn't exactly rank up there with the Marian Persecutions or the Massacre of the Huguenots. Furthermore, if you keep saying crazy junk, like the following rambling mess somehow connecting gays to Satan and demons (it's supposed to make sense I guess), men in white coats will be coming to get you.

From Right Wing Watch:

The bulk of the defense offered for the last week by David and Jason Benham of their past activism has been that they do not hate gay people but only hate "homosexuality and its agenda that is attacking the nation,"which is pretty much the defense offered by most of the anti-gay bigots we monitor on this blog.

 David Benham previously alleged that the "homosexual agenda," along with abortion rights and Islam, is controlled by "demonic forces and agendas." Last night, they took that talking point onto Glenn Beck's television program where they repeatedly asserted that they are not at war with gay people, but are rather engaged in a spiritual war against Satan and demonic forces that are out to silence Christianity.

 "It's a spiritual fight," Jason Benham said. "From the beginning of time, it was God and there was the Devil and both of them use people for their own purposes." Jason then recalled how Jesus had rebuked Peter by declaring "get behind me, Satan!" in Mark 8 to demonstrate this, as David added that it is all part of Satan's efforts to suppress the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Later in the discussion, Jason added that they are not attacking "the homosexual community" because the real issue is "God versus the Devil."

If these guys keep talking, the lgbt community won't have to continue to play defense in this situation for very long. To tell the truth, I think we can safely act like a team who is 35 points ahead in the Superbowl with only two minutes on the clock.

Related post:

Dear Benham brothers, your 'religious beliefs' doesn't absolve you from the consequences of being extreme jackasses

'See what Mike Huckabee wants lgbts to 'tolerate'' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Huckabee

Mike Huckabee's Dangerous Campaign To Smear Houston's Non-Discrimination Ordinance - This crap that he is pulling in Houston is what Mike Huckabee gets angry at lgbts for "not tolerating." 

Barber: NHCLC Setting Up A 'Firewall' To Fight Back America's 'Cancerous Invasion Of Immorality' - When I read Matt Barber bragging how anti-gay groups are attempting to infect Latin America with their lies, I'm reminded of those nature documentaries in which hyenas, when faced with a strong animal, moves on to attack a weaker animal. 

 NOM's Brian Brown no longer pretending he's talking about *civil* marriage - While a Virginia court decides marriage equality in the state, the National Organization for Marriage is rallying supporters at the vicinity. Just think, if the organization has a plausible argument in the courts, that rallying wouldn't be necessary.  

Torment to Tyranny: Persecution in Uganda Now That the Anti-Homosexuality Act Is Law - Spoiler: anti-gay persecution is up thanks to that awful law.  

Anti-Gay Leader Describes Michael Sam Kiss As ‘Graphic Political Statement’ - It was just a kiss. Get over it. Damn!

'Liar-for-Jesus' Todd Starnes' new book a mishmash of homophobia, paranoia

Fox News personality and liar-for-Jesus Todd Starnes has a new book out and with a name like God Less America, you can just guess that it's more of the same false stories about anti-Christian persecution from Starnes.

Check out this choice morsel, courtesy of Media Matters:

Todd Starnes

I grew up in a much simpler time - when blackberry was a pie and dirty dancing meant somebody forgot to clean out the barn for the square dance. It was a time when father still knew best - when the girls were girls and the men were men. I grew up in a time when a rainbow was a sign of God's promise, not gay rights.

Good taste precludes me from making the easy joke here.