SPLC Updates List of Anti-Gay Hate Groups

SPLC Designates Family Research Council and American Family Association as Hate Groups

From Evan Hurst, Truth Wins Out:

The Southern Poverty Law Center has updated its list of designated hate groups, and this year is significant in that some of the larger anti-gay outfits have made the cut. After a litany of ever more extreme statements from people such as Peter Sprigg and Tony Perkins of the FRC, Bryan Fischer of the AFA and Laurie Higgins of the IFI, the SPLC has determined that these groups all deserve to be designated as having gone beyond mere advocacy, and into full-blown hatred against the LGBT community. Especially after the recent spate of gay teen suicides elicited no remorse from any of these institutions, they have indeed earned their place in the halls of hate.

It is notable that Focus on the Family is not on the list. Though we at Truth Wins Out still stand in solid opposition to Focus’s mission, they have indeed made baby steps in the past year to moderate their message, which is in stark contrast with the growing extremism at FRC and AFA. Higgins and the IFI have always been awful, of course. These groups especially deserve recognition for their abject ignorance of facts and reality, choosing as they do to spread anti-gay propaganda at all costs, which indeed suggests that their “work” is inspired by little more than juvenile animus.

The list of anti-gay hate groups now includes the following:

1. Abiding Truth Ministries [Scott Lively]
2. American Family Association
3. Americans for Truth About Homosexuality [Peter LaBarbera]
4. American Vision
5. Chalcedon Foundation
6. Dove World Outreach Center [Terry Jones]
7. Faithful Word Baptist Church [Steven Anderson]
8. Family Research Council
9. Family Research Institute [Paul Cameron]
10. Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment
11. Illinois Family Institute
12. MassResistance
13. Traditional Values Coalition

18 Anti-Gay Groups and Their Propaganda | Southern Poverty Law Center

OK to Discriminate Against Gays in VA

The message from Virginia's governor and Attorney General this past week is that it is Ok to discriminate against gays and lesbians in Virginia.

VA Attorney General Orders Colleges to Stop Protecting Gays

In a letter sent to the state's public colleges and universities and obtained by the Washington Post, Cuccinelli declared that the schools don't have the authority to uphold bans on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation when the state itself has no such ban.

"It is my advice that the law and public policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia prohibit a college or university from including 'sexual orientation,' 'gender identity,' 'gender expression,' or like classification, as a protected class within its non-discrimination policy, absent specific authorization from the General Assembly," the letter stated.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell last month reversed an eight-year-old executive order that banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in Virginia. The governor argued that only the state's General Assembly had the power to institute such a policy in the first place.

A bill to ban discrimination against gays was introduced in Virginia's legislature this year, but a Republican-led state House committee killed the bill this week.

VA Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) Strips Gay Rights Protections

VA Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) Strips Gay Job Protections for Gays & Lesbians

Gay and lesbian state workers in Virginia are no longer specifically protected against discrimination, thanks to a little-noticed change made by new Gov. Bob McDonnell.

McDonnell (R) on Feb. 5 signed an executive order that prohibits discrimination "on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, political affiliation, or against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities," as well as veterans.

It rescinds the order that Gov. Tim Kaine signed Jan. 14, 2006 as one of his first actions. After promising a "fair and inclusive" administration in his inaugural address, Kaine (D) added veterans to the non-discrimination policy - and sexual orientation.

This was a fulfillment of a promise McDonnell made in his campaign. This is what we can expect as the "tea-party" movement gets more of their wing-nuts elected across the country!

TPM Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell Rolls Back Non-Discrimination Protections for Gay Workers

FRC: Obama Has Plan to "Impose Homosexuality"

From the Wing-Nuts at the Family Research Council:

Obama Has a Plan to "Impose Homosexuality" !

Right-Wing Attacks Gay Obama Administration Official

Fox News/Right-Wing Media Target Kevin Jennings, "Gay Czar"
Looks like the next target of Fox News and the right-wing "czar" witch-hunt is Kevin Jennings, an official appointed by Obama in the Dept. of Education to over see "safer schools." Sean Hannity has falsely claimed that Jennings has ties to NAMBLA (he doesn't) and that he counseled a 15 year old who had a relationship with an older man (he was 16, which is above the age of consent in MA).

Media Matters is keeping track of these right-wing smears and lies.

Anti-Gay Bigots LIE!

Anti-gay religious bigots get all worked up over a "sin" that is not even in the Top Ten Commandments, but they sure piss all over one of the biggies: THOU SHALT NOT LIE!

The Christo-Fascist "World Net Daily News" has been stirring right-wing opposition to the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (Hate Crimes Bill) by confusing "sexual orientation" with paedophilia, and calling the bill the "Pedophile Protection Act."

Faith2Action's anti-gay crusader Janet Porter has been leading the right-wing campaign to kill the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, falsely claiming that the hate crimes bill would infringe on the religious freedom and freedom of speech of Christians and would protect pedophiles and other "sexual deviants."

First, there is nothing in the Hate Crimes Bill to infringe on any one's freedom of speech! The bill clearly targets CRIMINAL ACTS that target people based on race, gender, religion, handicap, sexual orientation or gender identity. People can say or think whatever they want about gays, or Jews, but they cannot commit CRIMINAL ACTS! If someone commits CRIMINAL ACT, like physically attacking or killing someone because they are Jewish or gay, the bill will provide FEDERAL resources to prosecute the crime and enhanced penalties. (Our criminal justice system takes motivation into account in sentencing crimes.)

Second, religious fundamentalists are free to preach their anti-gay bigotry, as long as they don't preach VIOLENCE against people who are gay, Jewish, etc. Why are bigots like Janet Porter defending violence against gay people as "freedom of speech" or "freedom of religion"???

These Christo-fascist anti-gay campaigns are not just targeting the U.S. Congress, they are sowing their anti-gay bigotry across the states. Here in Tennessee they are using the very same radical right-wing propaganda against a state hate crimes bill and against a non-discrimination ordinance here in Memphis!

A group of anti-gay preachers have formed an ad hoc group, Memphis City Churches, to fight the Shelby County non-discrimination ordinance, using the same lies they used against the hate crimes bill. Memphis City Churches is a front group for the Christo-fascist Traditional Values Coalition

If you live in Memphis or Tennessee, visit the Tennessee Equality Project to take action against this anti-gay bigotry and support LGBT civil rights in Tennessee

Take Action on the Shelby County Non-Discrimination Ordinance

Take Action on the Tennessee Hate Crimes Bill

See Also:

American Family Assocaition: Senate Poised to Give Special Protection to Pedophiles

RIGHT WING WATCH: A HATE CRIMES THOUGHT EXPERIMENT

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

Grand Divisions: News and Comment on TN Politics: A refresher course on the Ten Commandments needed for some Shelby Co Churches

Tennessee "Don't Say Gay" Bill is Back

Tennessee Legislature Considers "Don't Say Gay Bill"

Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) has introduced HB-821 which would ban any discussion of any "sexual orientation other than heterosexuality" in grades K-8.

Tennessee Equality Project Is On It

CA Attorney General Urges Repeal of Prop. 8

CA Attorney General Jerry Brown urges court to overturn Prop. 8,
while Opponents File Suit to Annul Gay Marriages in California

The fight goes on..

Race, Religion & Prop. 8: Debating LGBT Political Strategy

OK, after all the protests in CA and across the country against the Mormon and Roman Catholic Churches, and the anti-gay homophobia in the Black churches, some are accusing us of attacking religion and blaming the African-American community for Prop. 8.

First, I agree that we cannot blame the passage of Prop. 8 on African-Americans. While they overwhelming voted for it (70%), they were only a small percentage of the population. It was overwhelmingly WHITE people who are responsible for Prop. 8. Yes, WHITE homophobia and bigotry is as much, probably more, of a problem for LGBT people. However, let's not overlook the political reality that many liberal Democrats publicly oppose "gay marriage" mainly to win black votes in many cities and districts.

However, it was RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISTS, Mormons and Catholics who voted for prop. 8. I think it is fair to target the religious groups who FUNDED the Yes on 8 campaign, and to demand the freedom FROM their religions!

The underlying problem is these people do not understand or support the separation of church and state! The ONLY arguments they have against marriage equality is their religious beliefs about marriage! It is NOT attacking religion to demand the freedom FROM other people's religious beliefs and stand up for the Constitutional separation of Church and State!

Election Results Challenge Perceptions on Race, LGBT Rights

Blaming Black Voters for Prop. 8 Loss is Wrong and Destructive

Myths About Prop. 8

LGBT Proposition 8 Fallout

Activists Rethink Gay Marriage Tactics

Prop. 8 Strains Gay Race Relations

Freedom To Marry

National Black Justice Coalition

Gays in a Cage

Gays in A Cage

Do California voters care more about the treatment of Chickens than gay people?

Protests continue throughout CA and UTAH(!) targeting the Mormon Church for its funding and support of the anti-gay agenda.

Mormon Contributions Spark Calls for Utah Boycott

Andrew Sullivan: Mormons Vs. Gays

Gays are now questioning the support of "liberal" Democrats, including Barack Obama:
Gays Find Victory Falls Short

Are African-Americans to Blame for supporting Prop. 8 7 to 1?
Marital Discord: Why Prop. 8 Won

Pam Spaulding: Ballot Initiative Provide Wake Up Call to LGBT Community About RACE

Andrew Sullivan: Gays, Blacks, Marriage

Catholics, Mormons Allied to Pass Prop. 8

PFAW: Don't Blame Black Voters for Prop. 8

Anti-Gay AFA Boycotts McDonalds

The anti-gay American Family Association has launched a Boycott McDonalds campaign to protest McDonald's support of the "homosexual agenda."


In other AFA stupidity news, the AFA's Christian news site One News Now had to reverse the AFA's policy of using "homosexual" instead of "gay", even in AP news stories, had to change the policy in the case of Olympic track and field star Tyson Gay.


American Family Association reverses course on 'Gays'

by PageOneQ

Is the American Family Association anti-gay... and anti-'Gay'?

OneNewsNow, the "Christian news service" covertly owned by the AFA, receives syndicated content from providers like the Associated Press and edits instances of the word "gay" to read "homosexual." Although the site is registered to the conservative, anti-gay organization, the fact is not disclosed anywhere on the site.

An article posted Sunday night about Olympic track and field star Tyson Gay was no exception.

"Tyson Homosexual easily won his semifinal for the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials," the article read, "and seemed to save something for the final later Sunday." The headline read "Homosexual eases into 100 final at Olympic events."

"On Saturday," it went on, "Homosexual misjudged the finish in his opening heat and had to scramble to finish fourth, then in his quarterfinal a couple of hours later, ran 9.77 to break the American record that had stood since 1999."

"Asked how he felt, Homosexual said: 'A little fatigued.'"

This morning, OneNewsNow changed its stance on 'Gays' (but not 'gays') and changed the article back to the way the AP had first written it. As late as 9:45am ET today, the online version below referenced the runner as "Tyson Homosexual"; by 10:06am ET the headline and story text had been edited to reunite Gay with his original name.

AP spokesman Jack Spokes said he could not comment without first reviewing the information first brought to him by PageOneQ. Cindy Roberts of the American Family Association said she would "take a look" at the news post. A follow-up message seeking comment on why the ownership of OneNewsNow is not disclosed on the site has not been returned.

To view the original posting, corrected version or the domain registration, click here.

Homophobia and the new "Gay Plague"

Most people have heard about that new "gay plague"--the new strain of staph infection linked to gay men. Turns out it IS NOT TRUE!
After Linking New Strain of Staph to Gay Men, University Scrambles to Clarify

Turns out, according to the CDC, the disease is NOT sexually transmitted or limited to a certain type of person. It is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and is widespread among hospitals workers!

Of course, this did not stop the anti-gay bigots from using the recent reports to flame anti-gay hysteria:

Peter LaBarbera, Americans for Truth About Homosexuality:

"Is this not an eerie reminder of the initial stories 25 years ago about AIDS — then called GRID (Gay-Related Immunodeficiency Disease)? It is unfathomable that after that plague, disease specialists and the media are now surprised at the correlation of new infections with homosexual behavior.
Wake up, medical and political establishment: homosexual behavior is unhealthy — no matter how many secular sermons you preach against “homophobia.” Due to liberal political correctness, which treats aberrant — even deadly — behaviors as a “civil right,” we as a society don’t seem to have learned much from the AIDS pandemic."

Concerned Women for America:

"The human body is quite callous in how it handles mistreatment and the perversion of its natural functions. When two men mimic the act of heterosexual intercourse with one another, they create an environment, a biological counterfeit, wherein disease can thrive. Unnatural behaviors beget natural consequences."

Joseph Farrah of World Net (NUT) Daily News:

You’ve heard of AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Is America’s immune system under attack?
The latest news out of San Francisco is not good.
A drug-resistant strain of potentially deadly bacteria has moved beyond the borders of U.S. hospitals and is being transmitted among homosexual men during sex.
Does this sound familiar? Shades of the 1980s?"

Yes it does sound like the homophobic hysteria the Christian Right spread in the 1980s! They even use the same script from their AIDS press releases! The anti-gay Christian Right will use every opportunity, or invent their own, to dehumanize gay people as diseased and unhealthy. The Nazis taught them well.

Italian Catholics Rally Against Gays in Rome

Italians Rally Against Rights for Gay Couples" The Rally Saturday, organized by Catholic and other religious groups opposed to rights for unmarried couples, inlcuding gays, drew an estimated 250,000. Amazing that a quarter of a million people can be mobilized to oppose civil rights for a group of people who do not share their religious beliefs. The Catholic Church is opposing gay rights throughout the world, and is the world's largest anti-gay organization.

Mich. Court: No Same-Sex Benefits

Court: Ban prohibits state's DP benefits
Michigan's governments and public universities can't offer domestic partner benefits, due to the state's marriage ban, according to a decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals. "The marriage amendment's plain language prohibits public employers from recognizing same-sex unions for any purpose," a three-judge panel found.  Washington Blade/Associated Press

Now the theocon Anti-Gay Agenda becomes clearer. All along, while telling voters that they only want to ban same-sex marriages, their real goal is to prohibit any recognition or rights for gay and lesbian couples. In almost every state that has passed anti-gay marriage amendments, you can bet that civil union and domestic partnershp benefits have also been killed.