The Gaytheist Agenda

Apparently my prediction about Leah Daughtry’s letter to the DNC was right. The DNC seems to have ignored her request. The Secular Coalition for America is now asking for individuals to e-mail the DNC to ask that they include non-theists in their opening ceremony.

Nontheists cover the entire political spectrum and are active in many different political parties. However, if you are viewing this action alert and are a supporter of the Democratic Party, we strongly encourage YOU to take action immediately.

For the first time in the history of the Democratic Party, the Democratic Convention will begin with an Interfaith Gathering. This is also the first official event of the 2008 Democratic National Convention and signals an opportunity for all those in the faith community to unite around the faith and values they share as Democrats.

But what about Democrats who do not have a faith? What will they do at a gathering that DNC Convention CEO Leah Daughtry declared “is a time of celebration of various religious traditions” in the Democratic Party?

The Secular Coalition asks that you and your friends and family in the secular community TAKE ACTION NOW.

Join us in emailing Leah Daughtry and tell her that you are part of a constituency worthy of being included in any unity event that the Democratic Party holds.

In a recent interview, Daughtry said that because she has received a letter from a secular group she is considering including an address from an atheist at the interfaith gathering. Tell her that this would be a step in the right direction, but that this whole situation could be avoided if no interfaith gathering existed in the first place.

Daughtry has been vocal about her desire to make the Democratic Party more faith-oriented. In an interview with The New York Times, she said her mission is to

“make religious believers—particularly ardent Christian believers—view the party and its candidates as receptive to, and often impelled by, the dictates of faith. She sparked this crusade, both to transfigure the party’s image as predominantly secular and to take enough votes from the Republicans to win this year’s presidential election…”

No political party should feel it necessary to change their image because secular people are seen as active participants. Attempts to “transfigure” a party to avoid the appearance of having many secular Americans creates the impression that secularism is a negative when it is not.

In addition, this is not supposed to be a one-time-only event. Daughtry has publicly stated that she hopes starting the Convention with a religious service become a “hallmark” of the convention for years to come.

Click here and scroll down to send e-mail!

 

Hermant the Friendly Atheist says so eloquently what I’ve long had rattling around in the back of my head. You must go over there and read it. You won’t be sorry.

Of course given that it’s Florida I’m not the least bit surprised. That’s the state that gave us a proposed “marriage protection” law that would not only harm same sex couples but unmarried opposite sex domestic partners, particularly retirees and Jim Naugle, the mayor who wanted to install special public toilets that had time-locks that opened after a predetermined amount of time so gay men would stop having sex in them. The fact that his own police told him that there was no problem with gay men having sex in public restrooms didn’t stop Naugle’s campaign for the toilet stalls, which cost $250,000 apiece.

And from the Newswire:

Florida: OEO Finds Palm Beach County School District Discriminates Against DP’d Employees

WPB’s Scott E. Graham apparently murdered; Palm Beach Post dehumanizes him as “homosexual activist”

Ft. Lauderdale Cops Hesitate to Call Blatant Gay-Bash A Hate Crime

Now we come to Ponce de Leon high school, which I wrote about previously. This is the school the ACLU had to sue because the school was claiming LGBT students were part of a “secret illegal organization” and harassing students who had any form of gay pride clothing or symbols displayed on their property. The Judge has spoken and ruled that principal David Davis led a “relentless crusade” against homosexuality at the school.

…..
During the two-day trial in May, Davis testified that he believed clothing, buttons or stickers featuring rainbows would make students automatically picture gay people having sex.
…..

Davis has serious issues and has obviously been hanging out too long with the likes of Peter LaBarbera. I don’t think of straight people having sex every time I see a teenage girl with ” I love Joey” written on her notebook or a woman with an engagement ring on. But then I’m not perpetually obsessed with what other people are doing in their bedrooms like certain factions are so…

He went on to admit that while censoring rainbows and gay pride messages, he allowed students to wear other symbols many find controversial, such as the Confederate flag.

Of course he did. Because something that says “I’m happy with who I am” is evil while a symbol of racism and oppression of black people is perfectly acceptable. If you’re someone who is unacquainted with rational thought.

The written ruling was released two months after student Heather Gillman and the American Civil Liberties Union won a free-speech lawsuit that cost the school district $325,000.

Davis has since been replaced as principal.

At least something good has come of that fiasco. Now if they could do something about the rest of the bigoted homophobes in the state things might begin to improve for LGBT citizens of Florida.

 

Once upon a time I watched Davey and Goliath. This was before I became a believer, and though it’s a purely Christian show that does nothing but preach I just assumed “god” was another character they never saw but only talked about. What did I know? I was a little kid. I’d not yet been indoctrinated into religion and we didn’t talk about it in my house so as far as I knew god was just another television character. It wasn’t until I was eight that we started going to church, but that’s another story. On to the video, which combines D&G with one of my favorite Stephen King stories:

Now that I think back, Davey never was that bright.

 

I have to wonder what the response to this will be.

WASHINGTON - July 23 - The Secular Coalition wrote to Democratic National Convention (DNC) CEO Leah Daughtry on July 2nd to convey questions and concerns about a worship event she’s organizing for the DNC. …..

Our letter:

July 2, 2008

Leah Daughtry
Chief Executive Officer
Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc.
1560 Broadway, Suite 400
Denver, CO 80202

Dear Rev. Daughtry:

I am very concerned about the Interfaith Gathering at the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

This event is described as a “unity” event to stress the “big tent” nature of the Democratic Party; however, I have received complaints by people who identify as atheist and humanist who feel that this event excludes them as full participants in the convention.

Is this event open to Democrats who do not hold a god-belief? I assume your answer is yes, but I would be very interested to know how you plan to make the nontheist community feel welcomed. Without an inclusive plan you will make nontheistic Americans feel like second-class citizens at the convention.

If you have not considered this issue, I would be very interested in talking with you or the coordinator of this event to offer suggestions on how our community could be included. I can be reached at 202-299-1091 or by e-mail.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Ron Millar
Associate Director

I wouldn’t be holding my breath if I were Mr. Millar. At least not for a positive response.

Hat tip to Box Turtle Bulletin for the information. The proposition formerly read simply “Provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” Now several critical sentences have been added to it (PDF document).

Changes California Constitution to eliminate right of same-sex couples to marry. Provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

Fiscal Impact: Over the next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments. In the long run, likely little fiscal impact to state and local governments.

Food for thought, people, when you head to the voting booth or send in your absentee ballots. First and foremost you may potentially be amending the state constitution to take away an existing right from hundreds of thousands of people. Second, you will be robbing the state of severely needed tax revenue. Do you wish to take your intolerance of same-sex couples that far?

 

Because if it were, I’d be thinking like a fundie and making convoluted statements like the ones in this story about the ongoing McDonald’s boycott from WorldNutDaily.

The corporate headquarters for McDonald’s is hearing from store managers in California that customers are upset over the company’s pro-homosexual advocacy and they aren’t going to take it any longer.

Yeah, because it would be unheard of for you to tolerate any organization that didn’t practice bigotry toward LGBT people, wouldn’t it?

It was because of a decision by the restaurant chain known for Happy Meals and its Golden Arches to deliberately advocate for homosexuality. The company has given $20,000 to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and placed one of its executives on that group’s board. The NGLCC, among other things, lobbies for same-sex “marriage” provisions.

So by giving to the NGLCC McDonald’s is advocating for homosexuality? I guess then by giving to the Salvation Army McDonald’s is advocating for Christianity, and by giving to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength McDonald’s is advocating breast cancer. No, I didn’t misstate that last one, because if supporting rights and benefits for LGBT people means advocating homosexuality, then donating to an agency that seeks a cure for breast cancer surely means advocating breast cancer. Just twist your brain into a pretzel and it will all become clear to you.

“If McDonald’s restaurants and franchises … follow the small business advice of the company’s new homosexual partner – the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), which received a $20,000 grant from McDonald’s – there would be chaos,” said Peter LaBarbera, chief of Americans for Truth.

The only chaos that’s occurring is because of bigoted hate-mongers who can’t stand the idea of LGBT people having equal rights and protections under the law, and feel the need to bully any organization that tries to offer them.

“From customers, we’ve actually gotten a pretty good response. They see the signs and come up to us. When they ask, we just explain about the $20,000 donated to the NGLCC.”

I notice they left out the part where most of the customers walked away shaking their heads and rolling their eyes.

McDonalds’ personal attack against those who support the traditional definition of marriage, while siding with a narrow group that promotes a radical redefinition, shows that company executives are out to lunch. McDonalds might as well change their signs to read ‘billions and billions insulted,’” said Mathew Staver, chief of Liberty Counsel.
…..
“This boycott isn’t about hiring homosexuals, or homosexuals eating at McDonald’s or how homosexual employees are treated. It is about McDonald’s, as a corporation, refusing to remain neutral in the culture war. The company has chosen not to remain neutral but to give the full weight of their corporation to promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage,” the AFA said.

Yes, it’s a personal attack against you because McDonald’s won’t engage in bigotry against LGBT citizens. And you don’t want them to remain “neutral in the culture war”, you want them to support your side. But nice attempt to claim otherwise.

The pro-family groups are encouraging families to do two things: sign, print and distribute a Boycott McDonald’s petition at www.boycottmcdonalds.com; and call the local McDonald’s to politely tell the manager they are boycotting the chain until it stops promoting the “gay” agenda.

Yes, but they should promote the homophobic bigot agenda instead? Right.

I’ve got a suggestion for anybody who can’t handle the fact that McDonald’s doesn’t pander to homophobes. Head on down to In n’ Out Burger. They have Bible verses on their food wrappers so they’re right up your alley.

 

Nothing new here. The RRRW is notoriously allergic to the truth, and they certainly don’t have it on their side so they constantly resort to distortions, propaganda and outright lies. This time they’re being accused of misrepresenting the research of Gary Remafedi, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. Here is the press release from Truth Wins Out.

Dr. Gary Remafedi Says ‘Ex-Gay’ Group Manipulated His Study And Should Immediately Take The Distortions Off Its Website

NEW YORK – TruthWinsOut.org published exclusive comments today by Gary Remafedi, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota, who claimed the “ex-gay” organization PFOX distorted his research findings.

On its website, PFOX expressed its displeasure with The Washington Post for publishing what it called “a sympathetic article about a 15-year-old boy named Saro who described his homosexual feelings and how Gay Straight Alliance student clubs help such gay teens to deal with discrimination and bullying in high school and middle school.”

“What the article failed to describe,” said PFOX Executive Director Regina Griggs, “is the danger of young sexually confused teens self-identifying as gays at an early age. Research has shown that the risk of suicide decreases by 20% each year that a person delays homosexual or bisexual self-labeling.* Early self-identification is dangerous to kids.”

Dr. Remafedi’s study was the one cited by PFOX to back their unfounded conclusions. Today, Dr. Reamafedi released the following comments to Truth Wins Out:

“My work has been cited by PFOX in response to a Washington Post article on gay-straight alliances (GSA),” wrote Dr. Remafedi. “PFOX misuses one of my studies on suicide attempts in gay youth to argue that people should not identify their sexual orientation at young ages. Our findings do not support the contention that young people choose their identity or the timing of events in identity formation. Nor is there any evidence that the availability of GSAs influences those developmental processes.”

Remafedi’s report was published in Pediatrics in 1992. The study explored patterns of sexual orientation in a representative sample of more than 34,000 Minnesota students in grades 7 to 12. PFOX, as well as Focus on the Family, distorted his findings to make the case that young people should not learn about homosexuality because they were sexually confused, and could thus be influenced by educational material.

Last year, several researchers held Dobson accountable for misrepresenting their work. Letters and videos from these scientists can be viewed at RespectMyResearch.org

“We thank Dr. Remafedi for stepping forward and not allowing his research to be manipulated for political gain,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “The right wing thrives on twisting legitimate research in its efforts to confuse people. We are doing everything in our power to stop this insidious practice.”

TruthWinsOut.org is currently working to find examples where right wing organizations have twisted scientific work. If you have a case that is worthy of investigation, please contact TWO’s Director of Research, Peter Cabrera, at petercabrera74@yahoo.com .

Bigots in South Carolina’s tourism agency yanked funding for an ad campaign designed to lure LGBT tourists from overseas. Of course the ads had already gone through, but they still refused to pay the nearly $5,000 fee for them. Now a S.C. LGBT rights group is going to pay the debt for them.

Thursday, South Carolina Pride Movement stepped in, placing its own version of the ad on its website and inviting people to contribute to pay the state debt.

The rejigged ad now says South Carolina Will Be So Gay.

“We feel it is our duty to keep the word that the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recs, and Tourism gave through their contract with ARMO Worldwide and we intend to raise the necessary funds since they have refused to pay their bill,” said Ryan Wilson, President of SC Pride.

“Someone needs to rise above and do the right thing, and the GLBT community of South Carolina should be the ones to do it, and the SC Pride Movement is going to take the lead,” Wilson said.

“South Carolina may not be “so gay” currently but we are going to show the world that we can be and we WILL BE so gay, and gay friendly some day!”

Wilson said that if it raises more than the $5,000 necessary to pay ARMO it will benefit the SC Pride Festival and Parade.

Atlanta, Boston and New Orleans also were part of the ad campaign. None of those cities backed out.

Good on them!

 

That’s what happened to guitarist Jason Barnes of the Christian rock band Haste The Day. He lost his faith along the way, and got fired for it as a result.

…..
Here is a statement from the band on what they decided to do: This is going to come as a shock to many of you. After much prayer and thought given to the matter, we asked Jason Barnes to step down from his involvement with Haste the Day. For a while Jason has been searching and searching for real meaning in his existence. After several months of reading literature and talking with friends, Jason had determined that he felt there was no God and certainly no Jesus. We as a band do not have problem with those that do not believe in Jesus, nor do we cast judgement on those that do not believe in Jesus. We just want to love on people like Jesus would and hopefully share a little bit about what he’s done and doing in our lives.

We would call ourselves a Christian band and for that reason, we felt we couldn’t have someone in the band who didn’t agree with the band’s foundational drive. Jason’s new found disbelief in what the rest of us have committed our lives to began to cause disunity within the band and as a result, we prayed and talked about it and felt like God was saying it wasn’t time for Haste the Day to come to an end. Thusly, We asked Jason to leave.
…..

Well it sounds very much like they are casting judgment, for firing someone who technically did nothing wrong is pretty harsh if they aren’t. And that “discord” they were talking about didn’t seem to be coming from Jason. It all seemed to be coming from their own personal bigotry against atheists. It would have been far more honest if they’d just left out the nonsense about discord and said they only wanted believers in the band. Considering it’s a Christian band I suppose that would even be legal since you can get away with hiring and firing people for any reason so long as you can chalk it up to your “deeply held religious beliefs”.