Family Research Council send me a big ole lie

I got this via email from the Family Research Council. They are wanting me and others to sign a petition to keep the U.S. Senate from passing the sexual orientation inclusive hate crimes legislation:

The enactment of so-called "hate crimes" legislation is a long-stated objective of the homosexual agenda. It is one step closer to being law.

The House of Representatives passed the Hate Crimes Bill 249-175. When the Republicans tried to stop protections from possibly going to pedophiles and other suspect categories the supporters of the bill voted to protect those perversions. When Representatives tried to insert protections for religion, protecting the Bible from being described as hate speech, the Democrats voted those protections down!

The "hate crimes legislation protects pedophiles" meme is one folks on the right have been trying to push. James Dobson went on video pushing this lie and even Fox News got into the act.

The factoid is more than a lie; it's a huge distortion. Accordng to mediamatters.org:

Discussing the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which defines as a crime acts of violence or attempted violence "motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim," Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Bill Hemmer, and The Fox Nation, have all recently advanced the false claim that House Democrats voted to "protect" or "defend" pedophiles by voting against an amendment to the bill by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) stating that "the term 'sexual orientation' shall not include pedophilia."

In fact, as Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) noted during an April 23 House Judiciary Committee hearing, the term "sexual orientation" is already defined by federal statute as applying only to "consensual homosexuality or heterosexuality," thereby excluding pedophiles, who engage in nonconsensual sexual relationships with children. In providing her reasons for opposing King's amendment, Baldwin said that it "is unnecessary and, I would add, inflammatory in terms of insinuations."

So pedophiles are already excluded from being covered under hate crimes legislation. Also if the hate crimes bill is against acts of violence, then adding an addendum keeping the Bible from being called "hate speech" is also unnecessary.

FRC loves to trumpet the idea that homosexuality is a sin but apparently has no problem with another sin (i.e. bearing false witness) in pursuit of its goals.

Did Liberty University Remove Official Video of Miss California?

Yeah I know this issue is getting on your nerves but this is an interesting development.

Apparently Liberty University has allegedly removed the official video of Carrie Prejean's chapel appearance from Youtube.

The news comes from this religious site which tears Prejean and the religious right to shreds. You can't blame gays for this one:

It is a tragedy for Carrie. If she truly knows Christ, she is poorly taught and in real need of discipleship and mentoring by older Christian women in the faith. Instead, she was given the spotlight and a role she was not ready for. Also, just as fast as she was embraced and used by many of these groups, she risks now being dropped due to the appearance of these shameful photos, both those from the past and those she defends in her “Christian” modeling. Welcome to the evangelical celebrity circuit where souls and hearts don’t matter as much as an effective PR blitz for the “cause.” People are expendable.

Friends, as believers, our cause is the honor and glory of our Savior, King Jesus. The haste with which the present Religious Right leadership jumped on the bandwagon is resulting in unnecessary additional ridicule and mockery of Christianity. We didn’t need this. The cause of Jesus Christ did not need this.

Ouch!

Wednesday afternoon news briefs

Ugh is all I can say about today.

Those who keep up with this blog know that it is a part time gig which I do not get paid for. I post three times a day - when I get up in the morning, on my lunch break, and when I get home.

So imagine my surprise when I discovered that the library, the place where I do my noon postings, was closed.

Subsequently, my search for another library downtime led me to go on one of those legendary mythical journeys that's doomed for failure from the start (i.e. Orpheus and Gilgamesh).

But whereas Orpheus and Gilgamesh went to the underworld, I had to slog through the hot downtown area and lawns of dog crap (people really need to clean up after their pets) where my journey had an unsurprising unsuccessful end.

So here I am a post behind and I just know something good would happen today that I probably missed out on (like pictures of Peter LaBarbera in drag).

But bear with me while I try to catch up and thank you for your support thus far. Please continue to support this blog ;p.

Maine governor signs bill allowing same-sex 'marriage' - We get marriage in Maine and the One News Now commentators are pissed. Suddenly this day is looking up.

House passes same-sex marriage, 178-167; bill now moves to governor's desk - Hot damn! We almost get marriage in New Hampshire too. The governor needs to sign this bill.

If It Smells Like Coffee & Tea Here, It's Time To Cool Baser Instincts & Practice Counting To Ten - A good conversation on Pam's House Blend regarding us as community. When we attack others and ourselves with nasty language, we become exactly what the religious right says we are.

M*A*S*H star comes out - Welcome to the family, David Ogden Stiers. However that gay ray I hit you with was set for Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

James Dobson's Hate Crimes Freak-Out - What's the deal with James Dobson? It's one thing to lie but it's another thing entirely to lie even when folks know you are lying.

Homosexual demon my foot!!

In the video clip below, this so-called reverend, overseer, prophetess (I don't know which name the silly woman prefers) is taking it upon herself to "exorcise" an alleged "demon of homosexuality." (Editor's note - The video has been removed but I posted another video that tells of the account).



Scenes like this that make me sad. On one hand, it's funny the depths of ignorance that some so-called Christians are stooping to.

And on the other hand, it's a reason why it's so hard for lgbts of color to be accepted for who we are in the black community.

All I can say is that if someone tries to play that "cast out" game with me, that someone is getting cut.

One more thing - feel free to share this hot mess of nonsense with others.

Monday afternoon news briefs

Today has been wild with so much stuff going on. So I am going to make a special new briefs edition of events happening today:

BREAKING: Confirmed, Mormon Web site shows Obama's mother as baptized after death - The controversy I linked to today regarding the Mormon Church and President Obama's mother has been confirmed. Batten down the hatches!

Photos Taken of Me as a Teenager - So was Carrie underaged when she took the pictures or not? I also hear that she may be in trouble for contract violation. Oh well, she can always blame THE GAYS.

Gov. Lynch at center of gay marriage debate in NH - Look at this! The New Hampshire House Committee just endorsed the marriage equality bill. Will the Governor sign it?

Washington, D.C., Council Approves Recognition of Out-of-State Gay Marriage - And the vote wasn't even close.

Same-Sex Marriage Advances in Maine - One more step to go! All we need is the Governor's signature.

The Irish Association of Social Workers Reject ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy - There is NO such thing as too much good news.

Tuesday midday news briefs

Will Maine house accommodate its gay residents? - Keep your fingers crossed.

Uganda Gays Arrested, Blackmail Attempts Reported - Things are getting worse in Uganda.

Did the Mormons baptize Obama's mother, after her death, without his knowledge or consent? - This ain't good.

'You spin it right wing Maggie, right wing (like a record, Maggie) right wing, right wing' - Oh look! Maggie Gallagher tries to sidestep Carrie Prejean's newest controversy.

Petition filing in new fight for rights - And the fight against our rights never stop.

Larry Stickney's Referendum off to a Bumbling Start - But apparently the effort isn't going so well for those who are against us.

NC congresswoman claims Shepard murder 'not a hate crime' - One News Now's take on the Virginia Foxx controversy. One guess what position the article takes. Here is a hint - Peter LaBarbera is the only person interviewed. The article has a comments section so feel free to comment away. But be nice.

Sorry Carrie Prejean but you brought this on yourself

Unless you have been in a cave on Mars with your fingers in your ears (sorry Simpsons), you have no doubt heard about the newest controversy involving Miss California and National Organization for Marriage "spokesperson" Carrie Prejean.

The web is abuzz over a series of racy photos that she took, including the one featured here.

Now before anyone thinks that this photo is fake, please be aware that Prejean sent out a statement acknowledging the fact that it is her in the picture. And it's not the only thing she said:

I am a Christian, and I am a model. Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos. Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid Web site that openly mocks me for my Christian faith. I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be. But these attacks on me and others who speak in defense of traditional marriage are intolerant and offensive. While we may not agree on every issue, we should show respect for others’ opinions and not try to silence them through vicious and mean-spirited attacks.

Save it, Carrie. No one forced you to take those pictures and I sincerely doubt that this entire thing is a plot to destroy you because of your Christian beliefs. What probably happened is that someone is cashing in on your notoriety. No one is out to get you, because you are too profitable.

This is known as "game," Carrie. And you should know it well. You have been playing the "game" ever since this entire thing began.

When this controversy started, I was in your corner. I never did like Perez Hilton and I felt that his comments were uncalled for. And after all, you were merely stating your opinion.

But now you have been shown to be a hypocrite and though there will be some who will engage in all sorts of logical gymnastics and finger pointing to push blame off of you, the fact remains that this embarrassment is your fault.

Not for stating your opinion but for the position you took afterwards. You allowed yourself to be manipulated by Maggie Gallagher and the National Organization for Marriage into being their spokesperson.

You soaked in all of the adulation and praise from your church, various religious right groups while fully aware that you may not have been worthy of such canonization.

Remember how they called you brave for supposedly standing up for Christ and traditional values. Remember how they called you a "modern day Queen Esther?"

Remember all of those friendly interviews you conducted with Fox News, the Today Show and other various news sources in which you channeled Joan of Arc seconds before she was burned at the stake?

You allowed yourself to become a symbol, a paragon for virtue. You allowed yourself to be placed on the pedestal that you may not have deserved.

That's why I don't feel sorry for what's happening to you now.

You are now what folks call a cash cow. I suggest you learn how to moo.

I also suggest that you buck up and stop portraying Fay Wray on King Kong. The damsel in distress routine is so old.

And it's no longer working.