HRC: Comments Comparing Prop 8 Protestors with Mumbai Terrorists Shows True Colors of Anti-Gay Movement

FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN:

Pat Boone’s Bizarre Rant Claims “Awful Similarity” Between “Jihadists” in Mumbai and Prop 8 Protestors; Attacks CA Gov Schwarzenegger for Encouraging Protests

12/9/2008

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization, responded today to the exclusive commentary posted on the extremist, right-wing website World Net Daily by anti-gay activist and former singer Pat Boone. Boone published a bizarre and disturbing commentary comparing the horrific tragedy in Mumbai, which took the lives of over 170 people, to the protests against Proposition 8 here in the U.S. In essence, equating the Mumbai tragedy with those protesting the passage of the discriminatory amendment in California that took marriage rights away from gay and lesbian couples to terrorists.

In the commentary titled “Hate is hate, in India or America,” which can be viewed at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=82830, Boone writes, “let me ask you: Have you not seen the awful similarity between what happened in Mumbai and what’s happening right now in our cities?” Boone went on to state, “What troubles me so deeply, and should trouble all thinking Americans, is that there is a real, unbroken line between the jihadist savagery in Mumbai and the hedonistic, irresponsible, blindly selfish goals and tactics of our homegrown sexual jihadists.”

“Pat Boone wouldn’t normally warrant a second thought, even if his only claim to fame these days is his unabashed homophobia, but his disturbing commentary on this right-wing site can’t go unanswered,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “His commentary marks a new low in anti-gay rhetoric. And yet it also demonstrates the depths of hatred from these demagogues toward the LGBT community. Most Americans would be shocked to see this level of vitriol coming from someone who presented himself as America’s sweetheart.”

Boone even lodged an attack on Governor Schwarzenegger for encouraging gay Americans to “never give up” in the quest for equality. Boone wrote, “You haven’t seen, on the evening news, prominent entertainers and even California Gov. Schwarzenegger, urging the demonstrators on, telling them they should “never give up” until they get their way?” Boone added, “Hate is hate, no matter where it erupts. And hate, unbridled, will eventually and inevitably boil into violence.”

“Bigots like Boone will never see how absurd their arguments are, but just like that other anti-gay icon from the 70s, Anita Bryant, Pat Boone’s screed actually helps our efforts for equality,” continued Solmonese. “In most places in America today it isn’t acceptable to be an outright bigot. Obviously, Pat Boone hasn’t got that memo.”

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The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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Dallas Voice: Tragedy of the closet; cop’s secret gay love affair and tragic death

FROM THE DALLAS VOICE:

As murder retrial gets under way, story of a clandestine gay love affair and a young man’s tragic death should serve as a cautionary tale

By Hardy Haberman

For some people, being “in the closet” is a personal hell. But it often affects others, too.

Take the case of Steven Rios, a married police officer from Columbia, Mo.

According to prosecutors, Officer Rios, when faced with the possibility of having his gay relationship revealed to his wife and family, decided to reach into his closet and pull out a knife — a knife he used to slash the throat of Jesse Valencia, a 23-year-old student attending college at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Officer Rios began the relationship with Valencia in 2004 when he arrested the student for interfering with a police call about a loud party. Rios told the court that their sexual relationship began that very night.

Rios was convicted of the murder three years ago, but an appeals court ordered a retrial, saying the trial court allowed inadmissible hearsay testimony the first time around.

The new trial began Monday, Dec. 1, and Rios faces a mandatory sentence of life without parole if he is convicted. Court officials said they expect the trial to end by Friday, Dec. 5.

The story is a graphic example of how the closet can kill. It should be a wake-up call for every LGBT person that is trying to hide their sexual orientation.

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Wisc. State Journal: Two moms are better than none

FROM THE WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL:

A Wisconsin State Journal editorial

Wisconsin and the nation should reject the backward path Arkansas tripped down last month when it banned same-sex parenting.

At stake are the futures of thousands of children like Maria, 5, who is thriving in Madison with two moms rather than struggling to grow up on her own.

Denise Matyka, the executive director of a Madison nonprofit, adopted Maria from Russia in 2003. Matyka’s partner, Margaret McMurray, is now a legal co-parent.

Today their daughter is happy and loved. Maria was recently honored as a “super thinker” in kindergarten.

Wisconsin should thank same-sex parents for providing attention, encouragement, financial resources and permanent homes for needy children. The fact these parents are gay or lesbian shouldn’t matter. What should matter is what’s best for the children.

Arkansas voters on Nov. 4 banned anyone who is “cohabitating outside of a valid marriage” from being a foster parent or adopting children. The ban is aimed at same-sex parents who can’t legally marry even if they want to. And the ban will even prevent one half of a gay couple from adopting a child if the couple lives together.

The Arkansas ban will kick in Jan. 1 — even though 960 children in that state are waiting and wishing for someone to adopt them. Preventing responsible gay couples from adopting more of these children is a tragic mistake.

The Arkansas vote will only expand the state’s waiting list for adoptions and foster care, depriving more children of stable and loving homes. It also will forbid private adoptions by gay parents.

A Florida judge recently found, after listening to reams of expert testimony, that no legal or scientific reason exists for prohibiting anyone from adopting a child based on sexual orientation alone. The judge struck down as unconstitutional a strict Florida law that tried to prohibit gay people from adopting children.

Wisconsin has quietly allowed gay couples to foster and adopt children for years, although in many cases only one half of the couple can be named as the legal adoptive parent. The state also respects the laws of other states and countries if the adoption occurred there.

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GLAAD UPDATE: Episcopal Conservatives Announce Split from U.S. Church

Via Press Room at GLAAD:

December 04, 2008

Conservative Episcopalians in the United States announced on Wednesday they will split from the Episcopal Church. The group will form its own rival denomination, threatening further the unity of the worldwide Anglican Communion – which traces its roots to the Church of England. The conservatives will seek approval from the global Anglican Communion to form their own Anglican entity in North America.

The new denomination would include dioceses that recently defected from the Episcopal Church because of disagreement over a number of issues, including the ordination of openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Dioceses in Pittsburgh; Fort Worth; Quincy, Ill; and San Joaquin have all departed the Episcopal Church, although not all parishes or members of these dioceses agreed to leave the church.

The group stated the new province would absorb a handful of other dissident groups who left the Episcopal denomination for various reasons, like the ordination of women and theological differences. The Episcopal Church is suing many breakaway parishes and dioceses in order to keep church property – which would likely continue if conservatives attempt to take church property with them as part of a new Anglican province.

Related Media Coverage:

New York Times – December 3, 2008
“Episcopal Split as Conservatives form New Group”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/us/04episcopal.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

Los Angeles Times – October 4, 2008
“Split in Episcopal Church hits new level”
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-episcopal4-2008dec04,0,526783.story

Media Contact:
Adam Bass, Media Field Strategist – West
Phone: (323) 634-2018
Email: bass@glaad.org

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