Families of Lesbians-Gays Appalled; Congressional Subcomm. Stacks Deck to Promote Homophobic Agenda

releases.usnewswire.com ^

[chance33_98]

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Appalled as Congressional Subcommittee Stacks Deck to Promote Homophobic Agenda

3/2/04 3:06:00 PM

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To: National Desk, Legislative Reporter

Contact: Alice Leeds, 212-874-0675 or 917-523-5029, aleeds@pflag.org; or Taylor Thompson, 202-467-8180 ext. 213, tthompson@pflag.org; both of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

WASHINGTON, March 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), the nation's largest grassroots family organization, denounces the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights for holding a hearing designed to showcase Sen. John Cornyn's (R-Texas) homophobic views. The hearing, entitled "Judicial Activism vs. Democracy: What are the National Implications of the Massachusetts Goodridge Decision and the Judicial Invalidation of Traditional Marriage Laws?" is scheduled for Wednesday, March 3, at 10 a.m. in Room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building.

"The title for the hearing is a cynical rhetorical set-up that calls into question the legitimate role of our judiciary. And to make matters worse, the committee's effort is also to plant the idea that basic civil rights should be reduced to a popularity contest and call that democracy. This is shameful," said David Tseng, executive director of PFLAG. "To discuss 'judicial activism' in this way is offensive. It is a way to attack judges who demonstrate courage and principle in matters of civil rights. The same was said of Chief Justice Earl Warren when he wrote the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. the Board of Education. What we take for granted to day as clearly the right decision was derided in its time as 'judicial activism.' "

Republican representatives have stacked the witness list with speakers like Maggie Gallagher, President of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy (IMPP). IMPP regularly launches attacks against gay and lesbian families, such as their incomprehensible statement this week, "Same-sex marriage may downgrade the importance of fathers and delink marriage and parenthood, threatening the black community's attempt to deal with the problems of unmarried parenting and father absence." No witnesses scheduled to testify in support of marriage equality were announced on the subcommittee's Web site.

[ECM]

...the nation's largest grassroots family organization...

Are there some words missing from this particular statement?

[Little Pig]

reduced to a popularity contest and call that democracy



So, it's terrible news when it involves denying a miniscule and highly immoral segment of society their destructive pleasure, yet it is all hunky-dory when electing a man to the most powerful political office in the world?

[Redcloak]

"Never mind that; have you seen how the subcommittee's hearing room is decorated? It's simpley GHASTLY! That upholstery? How '60s... 1860s! And what's with Cornyn's hair? What products is he using? Boys, we have a political crisis on our hands!"

-excerpt from the next episode of "Queer Eye for the Republican Guy"

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP

Main Entry: ho·mo·pho·bia
Pronunciation: "hO-m&-'fO-bE-&
Function: noun
: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals
- ho·mo·pho·bic /-'fO-bik/ adjective

Notice even the definition is skewed...a phobia is an irrational fear, not discrimination, and not aversion.

It is too bad that a small segment of our society can redefine terms to meet their agenda.

I don't fear Sodomites, I don't discriminate against them. But I hold a moral position which says that their lifestyle is contrary to the natural order - and that they are morally wrong!

[Naspino]

I was just thinking, after seeing Leno last night and his flamboyantly gay Oscar reporter, who will take his place when gays enter the norm? Will we see flamboyant pedophiles interviewing child celebraties? Will the audience still laugh hysterically?

[freekitty]

This article is bs.

[EEDUDE]

The use of the word "homophobe" implies that we FEAR queers.

I am not "afraid" of queers.

In addition, I believe that they have every right to do just as they please in their bedrooms.

But I AM sick of these mincing, prancing deviants parading down main street in their costumes demanding SPECIAL rights.

Pathological deviancy masquerading as a "lifestyle".

Someone please explain to these folks that we don't "fear" them.

We just don't like them in our faces.

[billhilly]

Loath is much closer to the truth than phobe.

[Esther Ruth]

You realize they can go anywhere with this rights stuff and phobic talk. (I beg you, anyone, tell me I'm wrong). How long till we here the phrases pedophile-phobic, incest phobic, barnyard sex phobic, naked women phobic, and on it will go - I can imagine them trying to prove they have the right to "be" with someone even if it is not consensual eventually. What about the man in the news right now and the 2 month old?? Maybe it is part of his religious beliefs. Why should a stogy old Christian government make him to submit to their guidelines. Today's latest advise seems to be that we will have to let this "run it's course" till there is a point of "that's the straw that breaks the camel's back", because that is what a free country does, they allow this free will of the people. Get me out of here!!!!

[hgro]

Families of Lesbians-Gays Appalled.

Well, they won't have any decendents to be appalled will they.

[EdReform]

'Activist Judges' Phrase Offends Homosexual Advocacy Group

[ahayes]

Well, my sister thinks she's lesbian and has attended PFLAG meetings, and I can say I'm not appalled by what PFLAG thinks I should be appalled by. I'm appalled they're assuming to speak for me!

[EdReform]

Ping

What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda

Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1)

[ahayes]

Cry me a river! ;-)

[RonF]

It would have been fine if they'd stopped with "irrational fear." I wonder what would happen if you wrote the publisher with an example from a few other phobias they define, comparing this to them and asking why this one has "aversion to or discrimination against" added to it.

[FormerLib]

That was just the farthest they could get into one paragraph before telling a lie.

[EdReform]

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), the nation's largest grassroots family organization...

Family organization?!!

The World According to PFLAG: Why PFLAG and Children Don't Mix

Recommended Reading for Teenagers? A Closer Look at P-FLAG

How You Can Help Stop PFLAG & GLSEN

[EdReform]

Agenda? Yes, there is an agenda:

CitizenLink Q&A: The Homosexual Agenda
( www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0027070.cfm )

11 Ways You Can Fight the Homosexual Agenda
( www.cwfa.org/articles/4434/CFI/resources/ )

The Homosexual Agenda
( www.jeremiahproject.com/trashingamerica/homosexrights.html )

The Overhauling of Straight America

The Homosexual Propaganda and Media Manipulation Game

[Redcloak]

Of course... accusing an opponent of being driven by fear implies that they're not being reasonable. Some of those who oppose gay marriage probably are driven by an unreasonable fear of gays. Most, as you point out, object on moral grounds.