Posted by MassResistance October 30, 2009:

MassResistance reports: A Massachusetts man was fired from a national retail corporation because of his traditional beliefs on same-sex marriage.  Peter Vadala was formally dismissed from his job as second deputy manager of the Brookstone store at Boston’s Logan Airport on August 12, 2009, after a supervisor reported him to Human Resources regarding an incident two days earlier. Story continues under video, which was shot by our friends at MassResistance:

As Peter described the incident (see video above), he came to work on August 10 and began his day normally. A female manager from another store was in the store and began talking to Peter about her upcoming marriage.  When Peter asked “where is he taking you for the honeymoon,” she corrected him and said she was not getting married to “he” but to another woman.

Peter did not immediately react, but when the manager sensed Peter’s discomfort with the subject of same-sex “marriage”, the woman apparently continued bringing it up to Peter throughout the day, reiterating that she was getting married to another woman. Finally, after the fourth or fifth time she brought it up, Peter remarked that his Christian beliefs did not accept same-sex “marriage.” At that point the woman became very angry and bluntly told Peter that he needed to “get over it” and said that she would be immediately contacting the Human Resources department.

A few hours later Peter was notified by a Human Resources representative that he was suspended from work without pay, effective immediately. Two days later, on August 12, after some further interaction with the Human Resources department, he was formally notified that he was terminated from the company.

Brookstone’s termination letter to Peter states that “in the State of Massachusetts, same-sex marriage is legal.” It goes on to describe Peter’s actions as constituting “harassment” and that his comments were “inappropriate and unprofessional.” It further accuses him of “imposing” his beliefs upon others. … [continue at MassResistance site]

READ THE REST OF THE STORY on MassResistance’s website

WARNING: Offensive Language (required to expose hateful “gay” extremism)

Lying Leatherman: homosexual atheist blogger Joe Jervis (left) didn’t appreciate that Americans For Truth called attention to the vicious comments posted by his online followers against Patricia Mauceri (below right) — the Christian soap actress who was dumped by ABC’s “One Life to Live” after objecting to a pro-homosexuality story line. And it looks like Mauceri is not the first soap actor to object to the faith-undermining requirements of pro-”gay” political correctness in the business. Blogs like Jervis’ “Joe. My. God.” give evidence that no activists are as mean and hateful as homosexual activists — who project their beef with the Creator (unacknowledged, in Joe’s case) on to His followers.

TAKE ACTION: contact ABC and tell them enough is enough with their promotion of the homosexual agenda and sexual immorality in general. Tell them you are outraged at the politically correct firing of Patricia Mauceri (right). And ask them to cast happy, contented “ex-gays” in major TV roles and sympathetic Christian/religious characters who remain faithful to their faith convictions — for the sake of diversity. 

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Ah, I see that Joe Jervis (above), the non-average “Joe” behind the homosexual activist “Joe. My. God.” blog, has focused his intellectual energies (or should I say bigoted, emotional impulses) into crafting a response to AFTAH’s post about his blog yesterday. We were simply highlighting some of his buddies’ crude and very mean attacks on Patricia Mauceri, the Christian soap actress who says she was fired for objecting to a pro-homosexual story line.

Here is the essence of Jervis’ response:

1. I have a comb-over hair style (ouch — problem here is I have so little hair to comb over — if this were true it would really be an exercise in futility: see tragic evidence at right);
2. I’m really a gay-porn-obsessed homosexual (hence the nickname: “Porno Pete”: this smear term was actually invented by Wayne Besen, the truth-challenged professional homosexual zealot behind the “ex-gay”-bashing group “Truth Wins Out”; some “gay” activists have stopped using Porno Pete in favor of the much more mature “The Peter” — peter being a boyish slang term for the male sex organ);
3. I have a small penis (note the continuing theme: Jervis is a gay “leatherman,” so we’ll cut him some slack on this one since by definition he has an unhealthy interest in male genitalia);
4. I am one of the biggest homosexual “closet cases” on the Internet (here Joe is applying that strange and creepily self-hating homosexualist putdown: the more you criticize the homosexual agenda, the more you are likely to be a secret homosexual yourself. Applying this curious standard to other causes, right-wing Republicans covertly support Obama and can’t wait to have their taxes raised — and lurking inside every pro-life activist is a person yearning to kill unborn babies).

Let’s see. Am I forgetting anything? Well, Jervis has filed his response under these categories:

• assholism (I didn’t know that was a word);
• closet cases (lest you forget that I, Peter LaBarbera — father of five and happily married for 20 years — am a covert homosexual-wannabe; Joe wrote a previous piece on me entitled — this is not a joke – “Peter LaBarbera Wants To Have Sweaty Mansex With Every Single One Of You”; strangely, I couldn’t find the “mansex” post among the AFTAH-bashing pieces on Jervis’ site – don’t tell me you’re embarrassed about that one, Joe?);
• needledicks (see #3 above);
• Peter LaBarbera

Wow, you must be doing something right when your name is an actual category on several “queer” websites. (One nasty homosexualist website uses my last name as an “award” to put down other conservatives fighting the “gay” agenda.) Jervis ends with a swipe at me for not allowing reader comments on the AFTAH website, but frankly, it would require a full-time staffer just to monitor the infantile, crude and hate-filled posts that would end up as “comments” on Americans For Truth’s site. And that doesn’t even factor in the “gay” activists who would pose as “Christian fundamentalists” to post irrational, homosexual-bashing (even violent) comments to make conservatives look bad. (This is not to say that there are no wacky fundamentalists like Fred “God Hates Fags” Phelps out there, but AFTAH has denounced such extremism — as opposed to atheist Jervis, who stokes it on his website.)

Christians, pray for this New York City blogger Joe Jervis, a lost soul if there ever was one. The same “Jeebus” (Jesus) he and other Christian-bashers mock one day will judge them (2 Timothy 4:1 and 4:8). Homosexual activists like Jervis seem to project their own hatred — of God’s moral law — against the pro-family advocates who are only trying to defend it. (Jervis has a special animus against AFTAH because our actions put a damper on the disgusting leather orgies that he supports.) Thankfully, it’s never too late to cease the rebellion and come back to God; they didn’t call them “gays” but there were “homosexuals” and former homosexuals in Bible times (note emphasis):

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

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TAKE ACTION: contact ABC and tell them enough is enough with their promotion of the homosexual agenda and sexual immorality in general. Ask them to cast happy, contented “ex-gays” in major TV roles and sympathetic Christian/religious character who remain faithful to their faith convictions — for the sake of diversity. 

*      *     *

“For those who support the hotel in this, imagine that the tables were turned. Suppose it was a homosexual group that had been turned down by the hotel because of ‘negative publicity.’ Would you still support the hotel’s right to discriminate in this fashion? Sauce for the goose…”

– Comment by “Springer” posted at Daily Herald article (reprinted below), “Anti-gay group sues Naperville hotel, alleges discrimination”

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Anti-Christian Discrimination OK? Imagine the hue and cry that would have erupted had the Holiday Inn Select hotel (left) in Naperville, Ill., canceled a “gay” organization’s scheduled banquet after its leader told the hotel that some Christians might protest the event.

Dear AFTAH Readers,

Below are two local articles on AFTAH’s just-filed lawsuit against a Naperville, IL Holiday Inn hotel for canceling our banquet two years ago out of fear of “gay” protests.

We hope you can make it to this year’s AFTAH banquet on Sat., Oct. 24 at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights, IL — featuring culture warrior and former professional heavyweight boxer Matt Barber, who was fired by Allstate Insurance Co., after writing an article against homosexual “marriage” on his own time. Tickets are $50 each. A table of 10 is $500. More information here: http://americansfortruth.com/news/matt-barber-to-keynote-aftah-banquet.html; book your seat now at www.americansfortruth.com/donate.

Also, don’t forget our the dinner-lecture at our Carol Stream office Thursday, Sept. 17 featuring Michael Brown, who is going to talk about how to walk that fine line of reaching out to homosexuals with the Gospel of Christ while resisting the radical “gay” political/cultural agenda. I am really looking forward to this talk. Click HERE for more info. RSVP to aftahangela@gmail.com or americansfortruth@comcast.net. (Donations will be accepted at the event to cover costs.)

Lastly, AFTAH has now crossed the half-way mark in our goal of matching a generous donor’s $20,000 grant. Please help us go all the way with your tax-deductible donation to AFTAH at www.americansfortruth.com/donate or by mailing your gift to: Americans For Truth, P.O. Box 5522, Naperville, IL 60567-5522.  Thank you!

Peter LaBarbera
Americans For Truth  About Homosexuality
www.aftah.org

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(Suburban Chicago) Daily Herald story:

Link: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=316820

Anti-gay group sues Naperville hotel, alleges discrimination

August 27, 2009

By Christy Gutowski | Daily Herald Staff

Peter LaBarbera said he was just being honest when he told the Naperville hotel event planner to expect protesters outside his anti-gay group’s upcoming banquet.

His truthfulness, though, may have led to his own undoing.

Americans For Truth About Homosexuality recently filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against Holiday Inn Select, 1801 N. Naper Blvd.

The Carol Stream-based group alleges its Oct. 6, 2007 fundraiser was canceled by the hotel six weeks earlier because of the group’s religious beliefs against homosexuality.

LaBarbera did not have a written contract, and no money was exchanged, but he said organizers verbally worked out details of the 100-person event, including the menu, during two meetings.

LaBarbera said hotel management told him the reservation was canceled due to “potential negative publicity.” AFTAH filed its discrimination suit Aug. 21.

“It’s always easy to come up with excuses,” said LaBarbera, AFTAH’s executive director, “but the real truth is they didn’t like our message. If you allow this sort of hecklers’ veto, you’re sanctioning discrimination.”

The banquet was planned at the hotel on the same night as a couple’s wedding. The Naperville Holiday Inn Select is independently owned and operated. Managers there said they had not been served with the lawsuit, and could not comment.

Georgia-based InterContinental Hotels Group owns the Holiday Inn brand. AN IHG spokeswoman said the cancellation decision was made solely by local hotel management. “IHG is very concerned about any claim of discrimination at any hotel bearing the Holiday Inn name,” said Sarah-Ann Soffer, media relations manager, in a statement. “IHG condemns unlawful discrimination in all of its forms. Since this matter is the subject of pending litigation, we have no further comment at this time.”

The national AFTAH organization, which is devoted to countering the gay agenda, ended up holding its banquet one day earlier at a Lombard hotel. Activists with the Chicago-based Gay Liberation Network often protest AFTAH events, LaBarbera said.

The suit seeks an unspecified amount from the hotel in damages and attorney fees.

“We simply want to send a message that it might be easier to discriminate against a small Christian group, but it’s no less acceptable,” said Jason R. Craddock, AFTAH’s attorney. “We don’t want corporate America to continue in its belief that it’s OK to discriminate against unpopular points of view.”

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Naperville (IL) Sun story:

Link: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1739100,Christian-group-sues-Naperville-hotel_na082809.article

Christian Group Sues Naperville Hotel

August 28, 2009

By KATHY CICHON [kcichon@scn1.com]

Even though two years has passed since the incident occurred, a conservative organization has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against a Naperville hotel.

“Ultimately it would be easy just to ignore it and walk away,” said Peter LaBarbera, president and founder of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality. “(But) it’s really not right to succumb to this sort of hecklers’ veto.” ….

On Friday the Carol Stream-based Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, which describes itself as “a group dedicated to exposing the homosexual activist agenda,” filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Holiday Inn Select, 1801 N. Naper Blvd., Naperville.

The lawsuit stems from the cancellation of a banquet Americans For Truth planned to hold Oct. 6, 2007, at the Holiday Inn Select. While working on the menu several weeks before the event, LaBarbera told the hotel the banquet may draw protesters from the Chicago-based Gay Liberation Network, which describes itself as “a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered direct action group.” According to LaBarbera, a Naperville resident, the group frequently protests Americans For Truth activities.

According to a 2007 Sun article, that information led the Holiday Inn Select to reconsider. With a wedding in the other ballroom, the hotel canceled the Americans For Truth event.

“For the safety and security of all of our employees and guests, we decided that it is not a function that we wanted to have based upon the potential of having a protest,” said general manager Dennis Igoe at the time.

There was no written contract for the banquet, LaBarbera said Thursday.

When contacted Thursday, the Holiday Inn Select said it has no comment at this time. Atlanta-based InterContinental Hotels Group, which owns the Holiday Inn brand, issued the following statement:

“InterContinental Hotels Group, owner of the Holiday Inn brand, is very concerned about any claim of discrimination at any hotel bearing the Holiday Inn name. IHG condemns unlawful discrimination in all of its forms. The Holiday Inn Select Naperville hotel is independently owned and operated. IHG does not dictate local hotel operating policy for such franchised properties other than to require all hotels bearing its trademarks to comply with all applicable governmental requirements. In addition, IHG expects every Holiday Inn hotel to make every reasonable effort to promptly resolve all guest complaints. The cancellation decision in this matter was made solely by the local hotel. Since this matter is the subject of pending litigation, we have no further comment at this time.”

Saying it was unfairly treated because of its religious beliefs, LaBarbera said the group felt compelled to take action to prevent similar situations in the future and send a message to other hotels.

“We want something to come of it so hotels like Holiday Inn think twice before succumbing to anti-Christian (sentiment),” LaBarbera said.

LaBarbera said Naperville prides itself on tolerance, and that a “pro-family, pro-marriage” group deserves the same as other groups. If his group had been a gay rights or other organization, the situation never would have happened, he said.

“Tolerance is a two-way street,” LaBarbera said.

The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages.

“We don’t really have a dollar amount at this time,” said Jason Craddock, a New Lenox-based attorney representing Americans for Truth. “The most important thing is the message.”

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To sign up for AFTAH’s Feedblitz service to receive notice of all AFTAH web postings, click http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub=126361

WARNING: OFFENSIVE DESCRIPTIONS OF DEVIANT HOMOSEXUAL ACTS

PERVERT SHAME? The sadistic boys at “International Mr. Leather” (IML) have no problem with welcoming guys who urinate in each other’s mouths for a sexual thrill, or porn videos extolling the horrifying practice of “fisting” and other über-deviant acts — but they are deeply, deeply concerned that a couple of Christians might show up at IML taking pictures to document such depravities. At left, atheist leatherman Joe Jervis hawks an online “UNWANTED” flier designed to alert IML attendees to the possible presence of Peter LaBarbera (Americans For Truth) and Matt Barber (Liberty Counsel). Check out the hateful comments on Jervis’ “Joe.My.God” blog post, and click HERE for the online “Unwanted” photos, and here for the accompanying flier, filled with lies. LaBarbera challenged Jervis on why he is not “proud” about IML’s twisted activities and instead feels the need to hide them from the public, while Barber says he’d only attend IML in a biohazard suit.

TAKE ACTION:  call Hilton’s HQ in Los Angeles at 310-278-4321 ; and Hilton Chicago at 312-922-4400 to tell them how you feel about Hilton profiting off of the extreme perversion-fest that is “International Mr. Leather”; the Hilton Chicago closed all its rooms to the public from May 22 to May 25 so IML could take over the hotel as a “private event.” E-mail Hilton’s national headquarters HERE.)

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WARNING: GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS OF DEVIANT HOMOSEXUAL ACTS 

By Peter LaBarbera

Folks, the sadistic boys at “International Mr. Leather” (IML) have no problem with guys who urinate in each other’s mouths for a sexual thrill (yuck), or porn videos extolling the horrifying practice of “fisting” and other über-deviant acts — but they are deeply, deeply concerned that a couple of Christians might show up to shoot pictures to document the depravities at the annual “leather” perversion-fest.

Yes, some “leathermen” distributed my photo and that of Matt Barber (a Board Member of AFTAH and Liberty Counsel culture warrior) at the notorious IML, which this year was held in the Chicago Hilton & Towers hotel on Michigan Avenue in the Windy City (phone: 312-922-4400).

I posted the following comment on New York City homosexual Joe Jervis’s blog, Joe.My.God, after Jervis publicized the “UNWANTED” fliers:

My, my. So much homosexual hate, so little time. Joe [Jervis], what are you afraid of re: photos of IML getting out to the public? I thought you and your hateful buddies were “proud” of all things “gay” and “leather.” Could it be that deep down you’re actually ashamed of the depravities or you know that America would regard you as freaks? If not, why don’t you post pictures of the men who urinate on and in one another and explain to America why we should all have more “tolerance” for this lovely activity?

What is comical is to behold the ad hominem attacks from a group that espouses “tolerance.” Gimme a break: there’s more hate and judgmentalism just in this thread than Fred Phelps could muster in a year. Any sane person reading Joe’s blog will see who the real haters are. Your putdowns have as much a basis in reality as your fake “masculinity.” (We oppose homosexual activism, therefore we must be secret homosexuals–wow, that’s profound.) Real men don’t sodomize other men.

I have a proposal in the interest of “Leather Pride”: why don’t you post a webcam at IML Leather Market of all the fun activities so the public can get to know who you are and what you’re about? Like the “watersports” porn, or the “pig sex” booth, or the fisting videos? That way the public can assess who is telling the truth. What are you afraid of, Joe? Show me some “pride”!

Matt Barber made the following comment after learning that he was on the IML “UNWANTED” flier:

“Oh, those fun-loving little sadomasochists. They do enjoy their, um, slapstick, don’t they? I’m flattered to have made such an impression. Comedy aside, though, forgive me if I find the specter of a fussy little mob of queer CPAs, I.T. geeks and interior designers in buttless leather chaps pointing at me shrieking ‘There he is! There he is!’ a little less than daunting. I hate to disappoint, but with the disgusting and wicked perversion that goes on at these events, If I did somehow end up at the Chicago Hilton, I wouldn’t be that hard to spot. I’m the guy walking around the lobby in a full biohazard suit looking for the exit.

“So much for ‘gay pride.’ I don’t blame them for desperately trying to keep their lifestyle under wraps. As John 3:19 tells us: ‘And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.’ The reality of the behavior doesn’t mesh with the rhetoric, you see. It’s all about ‘marriage equality’ and ‘civil rights,’ remember? We can’t focus on the actual perversion or America might get wise to the scam.”

Lies upon lies

The “Unwanted” poster is filled with the usual lies against Americans for Truth, and against LaBarbera and Barber. It refers to LaBarbera using the “gay” smear term “Porno Pete,” implying that the AFTAH president has some prurient interest in homosexual perversion just because he works to expose it. (According to such logic, ardent pro-lifers who protest abortion mills and expose the horror of abortion secretly support the killing of unborn children.) Jervis the leatherman blogger has pushed this silly line before; in fact, he was so irate that AFTAH helped close down a homosexual “pig sex” orgy in a Washington, D.C. hotel that he wrote a piece called “Peter LaBarbera wants to have sweaty mansex with every one of you.”

Apparently if you want to bring out the hate and rage in the “leather” world, take away their vile perversions.

In a different post, Jervis, commenting on an AFTAH article, writes, “Porno Petey [Peter LaBarbera] should know by now that ’sadistic pervs’ is a honorific to Folsom attendees.” If that is the case, I wonder why Joe and his IML friends are so paranoid about AFTAH exposing their pet “fetishes” to the public.

As for Barber — who was fired by Allstate Insurance Company in 2005 after writing an online column critical of homosexuality on his own time — the “Unwanted” flier spreads the Allstate talking points. Don’t forget: Allstate settled Barber’s lawsuit. Clearly they didn’t want all the facts of the case to come out in open court. They folded like a cheap lawn chair, cut their losses and gave Barber an undisclosed amount for violating his civil rights.

More on IML in future posts: AFTAH has learned the Miller Brewing Company serverd as a “proud sponsor” of the perversion-fest.

‘Gay’ Legal Bullies Rewarded: new homosexual dating website, “Compatible Partners” — which was created as part of a legal settlement after eHarmony founder Neil Clark Warren chose to capitulate to a homosexual activist’s harassment lawsuit in New Jersey. Will eHarmony’s sellout inspire other acts of Christian and corporate cowardice?

Folks, we’ve written before on how eHarmony.com and its founder, Neil Clark Warren, failed the test in defending their (and our) religious liberties when they caved in to a homosexual activist’s harassment lawsuit last year. Now I hope that eHarmony.com pays a price for its capitulation, which hopefully will not spawn other acts of corporate cowardice. “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” said abolitionist Wendell Phillips, and creating “civil rights” based on human wrongs (homosexuality and gender confusion) naturally undermines our First Amendment freedoms.

Even lesbian Georgetown law professor Chai Feldblum is honest enough to admit that the battle between “gay rights” and your freedom to act on your moral beliefs is a “zero-sum” game. Of course, Prof. Feldblum thinks homosexual “rights” usually should come out on top. (And speaking of capitulations, what’s up with a “Catholic” school employing a lesbian activist attorney who thinks “rights” based on homo- and transsexuality trump religious freedoms, anyway?)

As a pro-marriage guy who believes that true masculinity is bound up in being a good husband and father — not in sexual conquests and certainly not in homosexuality — I’m all for matchmaking (although my matchmaking attempts for others have been duds so far). I realize that singles are looking for something that works, and eHarmony has been successful in this regard, but I hope that principled single men and women will at least consider using an alternative dating company; here’s one that has remained Christian in focus: www.christiancafe.com.

Please take a good look at the eHarmony’s new court-induced, Bible-defying creation: www.compatiblepartners.net — the moral equivalent of a pro-life group (after settling in court with a radical feminist) creating a website telling women and girls where to go to get an abortion. Let’s cut away the legal rationalizations and get to the nub of it: how could a Christian man allow the use of his “Christian” company — founded with the help of Dr. James Dobson and people of faith — to promote an anti-Christian venture facilitating deviant “relationships” based on immoral behavior clearly condemned in God’s Word? Wouldn’t that be worth fighting to the death against?

Maybe we should ask eHarmony’s Chamberlain-esque legal team to answer that one, or this: How did your settlement resulting in a homosexual dating website advance the cause of liberty? But then again, they might rack up a few more thousand dollars in fees trying to cover their you-know-whats.

In its letter to people who complained about eHarmony settling the homosexual lawsuit, the company wrote: “we ultimately decided it was best to settle with the state [New Jersey] since litigation outcomes can be unpredictable.” Wow. Who knew freedom could be sold so cheaply? Lots of things are “unpredictable” in life and in this cultural battle, but one thing is certain: the same homosexual and liberal activists who routinely malign our sincerely-held, Biblical beliefs (or Judeo-Christian morality) as “hateful, bigoted and homophobic” will continue to seek to criminalize “anti-gay” actions and speech. Which is to say, criminalize Christianity.

A lot of people like this guy, who is no “fundy,” are starting to realize that, as he puts it, “Liberal bullies are the real liberty killers” (he cites Jonah Goldberg’s new book Liberal Fascism).

Sadly, by failing to aggressively defend their own Biblical beliefs and American freedoms, Mr. Warren and his eHarmony executives (and lawyers) made it that much easier for the intolerant “Queer” Lobby to go after ours.  God bless. — Peter LaBarbera, www.aftah.org

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WorldNetDaily.com reports (see their full story HERE):

Dating service moves into ‘gay’ market

eHarmony launches homosexual offering to satisfy ‘discrimination’ complaint
By Alyssa Farah, posted by WorldNetDaily.com April 01, 2009

The Internet dating service eHarmony, which has been distancing itself from its reported Christian foundations for years, now has launched a matching service for homosexuals.

Compatible Partners has been put online by eHarmony, the result of a lawsuit settlement between eHarmony and the attorney general in New Jersey.

The state official pursued a complaint against the company over a 2005 statement from Eric McKinley, a homosexual, who alleged eHarmony’s heterosexual-only matching service violated the state’s anti-discrimination law.

According to the Boston Globe, “it might be the first dating site whose owners didn’t really want to create it.”

Click HERE to read the entire WND story, “Dating Service Moves into the ‘Gay’ Market”

Neil Clark Warren, founder of eHarmony, could have fought all the way to the Supreme Court — like the Boy Scouts did — to preserve his right as an American not to promote behavior that violates his religious and moral beliefs.

________________________________

From: Bob Knight
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 12:49 PM
To: \’+AMER HI [Holiday Inn]-Guest Relations (IHG [InterContinental Hotels Group])\’
Subject:  Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington, OH.

Thank you for your reply, and because it is completely unsatisfactory, I will no longer be using Holiday Inn for any of my overnight stay needs. I find it reprehensible that any responsible company or person would allow this type of an event to be held in one of their \”brand\” businesses. As well, I will be forwarding your response, including the original message that I sent to your office, to inform my friends and acquaintances about your lack of concern in regard to this situation.

Thank you,
Bob Knight
[Melba, Idaho]

________________________________________

From: +AMER HI-Guest Relations (IHG) [HI-GuestRelations@ihg.com]
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 12:17 PM
To: [Bob Knight]
Subject: Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington, OH.

Dear Mr. Knight,
Thank you for contacting InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) regarding the Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington, OH. We appreciate the time you have invested to share your comments with us. The Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington is independently owned and managed by Alliance Hotels & Resorts (Alliance). The Holiday Inn brand did not endorse nor approve the reported activities associated with this group. Alliance has chosen, due to its understanding of its contractual obligations, to allow the group to maintain their reservation. Alliance has assured Holiday Inn that the property is taking every measure to isolate the group to a limited area within the hotel, the event will not be marketed in public areas of the hotel, and that all group events will take place in meeting areas that in addition to being isolated will also be inaccessible to those who are not part of this group. It is our understanding that the hotel has taken several other precautionary measures to manage the impact of this event, including hiring extra security guards. Also, all guests with existing reservations have been notified of this event and have been offered alternate accommodations at a nearby hotel, and the hotel’s inventory has been closed to incoming guests during the event. Once again, thank you for contacting us. I sincerely hope that this experience does not deter you from selecting IHG for your future lodging needs. ———————- Original Message as sent on 2/5/2009

________________________________________

From: Bob Knight
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2009
To: \’+AMER HI-Guest Relations (IHG)\’
Subject: RE: Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington, OH.

I would like to voice my deepest concerns about the event being held this weekend, called \”Winter Wickedness,\” which is set for the Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington Hotel. This event, reportedly, is scheduled to feature classes “on \’gangbang\’ fantasies and various acts of sadomasochistic perversion and consensual sexualized violence, including subjecting fellow participants to hot wax torture, whipping, \’cutting\’ and needles, and being stapled with an electric staple gun.\” Frankly, I am utterly amazed that a hotel chain with the \”family reputation\” that the Holiday Inn brand has would even consider endangering their market base.

By allowing anti-family and socially unacceptable practices you are placing your clientele at harm’s risk. I recently read an article about a 22-month old child who found a used condom between the cushions of a couch in a hotel room. This took place somewhere in the Philadelphia, PA, area. This child proceeded to place the condom in its mouth and swallow the contents. The family is obviously horrified, not knowing if the contents contained any form of venereal diseases or AIDS virus — let alone just the mere thought of what an innocent child had just swallowed. The hotel is now facing [a lawsuit], and the suit contends that Homewood Suites and its subsidiaries, Hilton and Blackstone, put the boy at risk by leaving the \”life threatening\” item in the room and subjecting the boy to an increased risk of contracting a \”sexually transmitted disease, including HIV or AIDS, or some other, potentially life-threatening, potentially fatal illness.\”

Should the Winter Wickedness event take place as scheduled, you can rest assured that neither I nor my family will use the Holiday Inn or any of its subsidiaries for lodging again. As well, I have friends, family, and business acquaintances that I am sharing this news story with. Please carefully weigh the social, economic, and health risks that your company is entering into.

With sincere regard,
Bob Knight
[Melba, Idaho]

[UPDATE:  Keep your protest calls coming!  We have heard that thousands of calls have poured into the local Holiday Inn hotel in question and also their corporate parent, Intercontinental Hotels Group: 800-621-0555. Also, the leading pro-sadomasochist organization, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, has denounced our effort (they call us "extremists"!) and is attempting to rally its followers to call Holiday Inn and IHG, urging them not to cancel this disgusting and dangerous event. -- Peter LaBarbera, www.aftah.org]

The Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington, at 7007 North High Street in Worthington, Ohio is scheduled to host a freakish sadomasochistic perversion-fest called “Winter Wickedness” this Friday and Saturday (Feb. 6-7). TAKE ACTION: 1) call the Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington today at 614-436-0700 and urge them to cancel this event for the sake of decency and public health; and 2) call Holiday Inn’s corporate offices (the chain is owned by Intercontinental Hotels Group) by going to their website or by calling their guest relations department at 800-621-0555 ext. 1. Tell them that is wrong to profit off of degrading and dangerous perversions that could present a health hazard to hotel workers or other guests.

WARNING: GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS OF PERVERSIONS THAT SHOULD BE KEPT OUT OF COMMERCIAL PUBLIC SPACES

By Peter LaBarbera

Americans For Truth has confirmed that the Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington Hotel, at 7007 North High Street in Worthington, Ohio, is hosting a sadomasochistic celebration called (appropriately) “Winter Wickedness” this Friday and Saturday– featuring classes on “gangbang” fantasies and various acts of sadomasochistic perversion and consensual sexualized violence including subjecting fellow participants to hot wax torture, whipping, “cutting” and needles, and being stapled with an electric staple gun.

TAKE ACTION:  1) call the Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington today at 614-436-0700 and urge them to cancel this event for the sake of decency and public health. Pass this story on to your friends to call; and 2) call Holiday Inn’s corporate offices (the chain is owned by Intercontinental Hotels Group) by going to their website HERE or by calling their guest relations department at 800-621-0555 ext. 1. Tell them that is wrong to profit off of degrading and dangerous perversions that could present a health hazard to hotel workers or other guests.

A page on the “Winter Wickedness” website for “Play Space Rules & Guidelines” includes this, indicating the extreme perversions likely to occur at the hotel:

15) Single tail [whip] play, Wax, Medical, Cutting, Needle play, and FirePlay, must be performed in the designated areas only. Please onsult a PSM [Play Space Monitor] for the appropriate area if you are not sure.  Drop clothes, gloves, condoms, sharps containers, tarps, etc., must be used for this sort of play.

The same set of guidelines gives an indication of the extent of the deviance of “leather” practitioners in what it tells them they will NOT allow to occur at the Ohio event. What other conference imaginable would have to issue this shocking warning: “17) Gun Play, Golden showers (urine), Brown Showers (Feces) or Rainbow/Roman showers (Vomit) are not allowed in this venue.”

Another guideline discusses the need for a tarp or drop cloth to clean up after perverse “scenes”:

3) Toys placed on the wooden hangers are Community AIS [Adventures in Sexuality] Property.  Please return them cleaned after use. For everyone’s protection, we ask that you use the cleaning supplies located throughout the Play Space. If you do a wax or other messy scene, please use a tarp or drop cloth (in the designated area only). Please clean up after your scene. Leave all equipment free of sweat, bodily fluids, wax, lubricants, etc. Bring bodily fluid contamination to the attention of a PSM.

All 21 “Winter Wickedness” guidelines are at the bottom of this page. The location of the twisted event was uncovered by the Citizens For Community Values, a pro-family group in Ohio, with offices in Columbus and Cincinnati. A CCV staffer contacted the Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington directly to confirm details of the conference. Staff at the hotel confirmed that the “Winter Wickedness” conference was scheduled for their facility. Registrations for the conference had to go through the sponsoring organization but the hotel would register conferees for their hotel rooms.

This writer also confirmed that “Winter Wickedness” is being hosted by the Holiday Inn Columbus-Worthington. A hotel staffer said the event started out smaller but has “grown to quite a lot of people,” selling out nearly all the 231 rooms in the hotel. He indicated that there would be guests staying this Friday through Sunday who are not part of the sadomasochistic event. Surely, those guests are in for a surprise unless the “wicked” sexual perversion gathering is canceled.

In addition, Coach Dave Daubenmire of Pass the Salt Ministries, a Christian ministry based in Columbus, is preparing to confront the hotel for allowing such revolting activities to go on in pubic conference rooms at the hotel.

The featured speaker at “Winter Wickedness” is Tristan Taormino, the self-described “queer” author of The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women and an advocate of “polyamory” — multiple-partner relationships (see below).

Flogging, Hot Wax, or Staples?

The following are the “Class Descriptions” of the Winter Wickedness event, reprinted from the event’s website:

BDSM [Bondage & Disciple, Dominance & Submission, Sadism & Masochism] Anal Play – Tristan Taormino -
Writer/sex educator (author of The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women and Down & Dirt Sex Secrets) leads you through the world of all things anal, covering a wide variety of topics,including:

• the ins and outs of anal penetration
• incoporating anal play into a scene
• extended butt plug wearing
• anal sex, D/s, and power play
• strap-on anal sex
• an introduction to enema play
• plus, an extensive Q & A — ask her anything!

Florentine Flogging – Arcane
‘Florentine” or ‘Double” Flogging as it is more commonly called, is the art of using two floggers at the same time, one in either hand. In this course we will learn two different patterns of varying complexity. The idea is to take home a new skill, so this will be a hands on class. If possible please bring either two fairly well matched floggers, or a limited amount of “trainer floggers” will be available for use.  You have to come to class to see what the heck a “trainer flogger” could possibly be.  If you have any questions contact arcane at arcane@arcanesattic.com.

Art Of Erotic Biting – Michelle Belanger -
Eager to sink your teeth into your play-partner? Before you bite off more than you can more than you can chew, let author Michelle Belanger explain the finer aspects of the erotic art of biting. Michelle teaches participants a number of different biting techniques that allow for intense but safe play. Learn when biting works in a scene and how to introduce a lover to the concept of biting. Finally, Michelle will go over the best locations for sinking your teeth into your lover.

Electric Stapling Sensation Play ~ Markher & The pennygurl
This is a staple gun demo.  Not medical staples, but an electric staple gun, using the same staples that we use to hang insulation in the rafters in the house.  Yes, you will hear the sound of the staple gun as the trigger is pulled and watch the pennygurl as she jumps at the bite of the first staple.  Yes, you will see the staple gun reloaded, maybe more than once, as staple after staple is shot into her lovely body.  But that is only half the fun; just wait until you see how those staples are removed.  And the sounds that come from her are just wonderful. So, if you want a new and different scene, one with a different power tool and the resulting impact play, make sure you take in this class.  We will walk you though each and every step in the process, taking you from the safety aspects, the prep work, the actual scene, and finally the clean up.  Who knows, you may even volunteer to be the next demo dolly…

Age Play – Who’s your Daddy? – British “Lucky” Paul
Info coming soon!

Crazy Glue Invisible Bondage and Infibulation – Dov
Crazy glue is steeped in the depths of urban legends of late night rushes to the emergency room to unglue hapless victims who didn’t heed the warning on the label: “WILL BOND SKIN INSTANTLY.”  This class is about demystifying this fun pervertible for mind[f---s]. We will discuss and demonstrate many wonderful perversions with this super-strength glue for bondage, on genitalia for infibulation, and temporary chastity. We will also cover safety issues, some theory/chemistry of its function, and its intended medical usage.

Dancing with Flame – Fireplay & Cupping – Brian the Pyrosadist
Fireplay is definitely edge play, for anything with fire is implicitly dangerous. But I have found that fireplay has a sensual eroticism and art to it that so many can relate to. Who among us hasn’t sat transfixed gazing into a fires light. And to feel and witness that same sensual flow of warm flame across our bodies, lapping over, then passing and leaving only a warm lingering touch. No experience is necessary for this class, some practice materials will be available for use. Both technique, safety, and sensual/art/erotic applications will be gone over in this class. Even if you might not think it’s quite your thing, you might be surprised by the sensual beauty and artistry of the flame.

[F--king] Machines While Suspended without Rope  – British “Lucky” Paul
Sadly Paul lacks levitation skills so none are taught in this entertaining and enlightening class. Instead, Paul focuses on dedicated suspension equipment rather than rope. Learn how suspension cuffs and steel hardware can combine a sexy aesthetic with speed and comfort to allow for hot scenes in the air. Find out how and where to buy suspension rated equipment and learn play ideas that take full advantage of their versatility.One of the most important reasons suspension makes for such hot scenes is the illusion of danger while maintaining a reasonable margin of safety.While no suspension scene is entirely risk free, following relatively simple rules makes it safe enough that most players consider the risk acceptable.

Did Someone Say “Gangbang?” – Rita Seagrave
Do you fantasize about getting tag-teamed [gang-raped]?  Want to run a train with your buddies? Does bukkake make you drool?  The appeal of gangbangs, for some of us, is to be the center of  attention. For others, it’s about losing ourselves in a crowd of  anonymous perpetrators. Whether pillow talk, porn, or real life adventure, gangbanging is the ultimate challenge in multi-tasking.  Let’s talk about the preparations, guidelines, and precautions for a  successful gathering. And why is it impossible to write this class  description without taking a masturbation break?

Journey Into Poly – Curt & Karen -
This class will explore basic concepts, practices and tools for journeying into the world of polyamory. Curt and Karen will guide you through a wide array of aspects of moving from monogamy to non-monogamy including initial conversations, negotiations, communication tools and real-life examples of the good, the bad and the downright ugly. They will offer an opportunity to share in an open discussion and explore the endless possibilities of living a non-traditional lifestyle in a traditional world.

Foiling the Escape Artist: Working with Body Mechanics to Remove Advantages – Dov
Preventing or delaying escape from rope bondage: This is a hands on workshop exploring various aspects of dealing with escape artist rope bottoms, and why just because you can tie a rope harness doesnt mean no one can escape it. We will be examining and working with various ties and strategies to understand how and why there are or aren’t effective and how to make your work more escape proof.

_______________________________________

Playspace Rules & Guidelines [reprinted from the "Winter Wickedness" website; emphasis added]

Please Read through the Rules.  By Purchasing a Ticket, you agree to these Rules!

**Adults only – AIS [Adventures in Sexuality] Members and party attendees must be 19 or older**

1) No alcohol,  illegal drugs,  illegal substances and/or firearms may be brought into the Event Space. Anyone who is
noticeably affected by either alcohol or drugs will be refused admittance or asked to leave by the Play Space Monitors (PSM).

2) You must maintain vanilla space and follow the grandmother rule outside of the COPE Area within the hotel.  Offenders
will be asked to leave.  During play space hours, there will be hangers and a clothes rack area within the COPE Social Area.

3) Toys placed on the wooden hangers are Community AIS Property.  Please return them cleaned after use. For everyone’s protection, we ask that you use the cleaning supplies located throughout the Play Space. If you do a wax or other messy scene, please use a tarp or drop cloth (in the designated area only). Please clean up after your scene. Leave all equipment free of sweat, bodily fluids, wax, lubricants, etc. Bring bodily fluid contamination to the attention of a PSM.

4) All attendees of the AIS event will be required to wear an armband and Name badge at all times. (The name badge may be removed for play – this is the only exception to this rule – so be sure not to remove either.

5) Smoking is prohibited in the Play Space. Smoking will be permitted only outside the hotel in the designated area.

6) Prostitution, solicitation, and negotiation of compensation for sexual services is ILLEGAL and will not be tolerated.  Any violator will be immediately ejected from the premises without refund, removed from AIS, and banned from further AIS Events.

7) Food and drink (with the exception of water) shall not be brought into the Play Space.  Food and drink is permitted in the social area.

No cameras or cell phones of ANY kind and no video or audio recording devices will be allowed in the Play Space (AT ANY TIME!). Any person seen with any such recording devices shall be immediately ejected from the premises without refund.(Even if the cell phone is not capable of taking pictures, all cell phones are banned from the Play Space.)

9) Normal Play Space etiquette is required. Do not intrude into a scene unless specifically and verbally invited by the participants. Do not touch anyone or anyone’s gear without permission.  NO MEANS NO.

10) Watching from a respectful distance is permitted while in the play space, but please keep all conversation, laughter and
comments to a minimum. DO NOT TALK TO or INTERACT WITH the players while the scene is progressing. (Unless specifically and verbally invited.)

11) Play Space Monitors must be obeyed at ALL times. If someone is breaching Play Space etiquette, your scene is being
disturbed, or you are being bothered unduly, please notify a PSM. (wearing orange safety vests)

12) Play Space Monitors have will have the final say in all activity within the play space. The PSM’s have the right to stop
any scene that they feel is unsafe, non-consensual, or too intense for this venue. If you are planning to do a heavy scene,
resistance play scene, or scene that appears non-consensual – Please discuss it with a PSM beforehand.

13) If you need medical assistance please locate a PSM immediately, we have medical supplies if you need them.

14) The universal safewords are RED and SAFEWORD. If either word is used, the scene will be stopped immediately.

15) Single tail [whip] play, Wax, Medical, Cutting, Needle play, and FirePlay, must be performed in the designated areas only. Please onsult a PSM for the appropriate area if you are not sure.  Drop clothes, gloves, condoms, sharps containers, tarps, etc., must be used for this sort of play.

16) There is a time limit on all equipment of approximately 45 min.

17) Gun Play, Golden showers (urine), Brown Showers (Feces) or Rainbow/Roman showers (Vomit) are not allowed in
this venue.

18) Humans only – must be over the age of 19. No real animals of any kind are permitted in any area of the COPE Event. However, animal and age related role-playing is perfectly acceptable.

19) If you are directly or indirectly responsible for any damage to Hotel Property, to include hotel equipment, structures, and miscellaneous hotel owned items, you are financially responsible for returning it to the condition in which you first encountered it.

20) Safety and discretion of the event participants is paramount. If there is any jeopardization of either, the offending person will be immediately ejected from the event and banned from further AIS events or functions.

21) No refunds will be given to anyone removed from any AIS event for violation of any of the above regulations

Contact: jmattbarber@comcast.net

January 16, 2009;  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lynchburg, VA – Matt Barber, Director of Cultural Affairs with both Liberty Alliance Action and Liberty Counsel [and a Board Member of Americans for Truth], released the following statement today in response to news that the Hilton brand Doubletree Hotel near the White House (1515 Rhode Island Ave., NW – 202-232-7000) will be playing host to a homosexual orgy organized by the “Mid-Atlantic Leather Maneuvers” in at least three of its public banquet rooms this inaugural weekend.  Americans for Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) broke the initial story [CLICK HERE]:

“It’s appalling that the Hilton Doubletree Hotel chain is apparently so beholden to the mighty dollar that it would facilitate – in banquet rooms used by the public – a homosexual orgy boasting some of the most vile sex acts imaginable.  Despite initial denials by the hotel manager, I and other sources have verified with the hotel’s “Sales and Catering” and “Reservations” departments that, unbelievably, the hotel is in fact planning to go forward with the ‘gay’ orgy.

“It’s simply inexcusable that the Doubletree would place at risk the health of its staff and future guests by facilitating this orgy in rooms where food is served,” continued Barber.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics establish that men who have sex with men suffer infection from various forms of communicable disease, such as Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, at an astronomical rate.  Lower income hotel staff will be tasked – ostensibly under penalty of job loss – with cleaning up the various forms of potentially infectious biological waste left behind.

“I have therefore notified the Washington D.C. Department of Health about the planned Doubletree orgy.  The representative I spoke with was stunned and told me that the matter would be immediately investigated.  I also notified the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, which will be looking into possible criminal violations should the Doubletree go forward with the event.

“I suggest people contact Hilton’s Corporate Complaint Line at 310-278-4321 and tell them that they will no longer be staying at Hilton brand hotels if the Washington Doubletree goes through with this vile event.”

_________________________

From: Jan
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 5:34 PM
To: ncwarren@eharmony.com [Dr. Neil Clark Warren, founder, eHarmony.com]
Subject: unbelievable

Dear Mr. Warren:

I was absolutely shocked that you would cave into the homosexual agenda, by offering date-matching for homosexuals on your “Christian” dating website.  They have their own dating websites which I understand to be extremely X-rated.

I have several single and widowed friends who use your website.  I will be sending an e-mail to them about your caving into EVIL and that they should not use your website — ever again.

Extremely disappointed,

Jan
Crystal Lake, IL

E-PERVERSION.COM? Born-again Christian Neil Clark Warren and the company he founded, eHarmony.com, have capitulated to a New Jersey “sexual orientation” complaint using the state’s homosexual “rights” law– by expanding its dating service to homosexuals. The Boy Scouts fought the same law rather than cave on their principles. Click HERE for the settlement and HERE for a news release by New Jersey’s Attorney General. TAKE ACTION: write Warren at ncwarren@eharmony.com. 

Americans For Truth sent out the following e-letter today to: Dr. Neil Clark  Warren, founder of the eHarmony online dating company; eHarmony’s management team; and various pro-family groups and leaders (listed at bottom). We refer you to WorldNetDaily’s story, “eHarmony to Match ‘Gays,’” detailing the company’s capitulation to New Jersey following a “discrimination” complaint by a homosexual activist. Some excerpts from the WND story are at bottom. — Peter LaBarbera, www.aftah.org

TAKE ACTION: Contact Dr. Neil Clark Warren at ncwarren@eharmony.com. An eHarmony contact page and blog for comments can be found HERE (several management e-mails listed bounced back).

________________________________

Subject: Dr. Warren et al, you sold your soul (or at least eHarmony’s)…

Importance: High

FR: Peter LaBabera, Americans For Truth

TO: Dr. Neil Warren, founder of eHarmony, and eHarmony’s Management:

Dr. Warren et al, you sold your soul (or at least eHarmony’s)…

… It is a shame that you chose not to follow the lead of the Boy Scouts of America by standing up for your legal rights as a moral company that believes in REAL marriage – one that would not promote homosexuality and ungodly, unhealthy relationships. (You will recall that the Scouts, too, were challenged under New Jersey’s “sexual orientation” law, but New Jersey was overruled by the U.S. Supreme Court.)  I suppose this means you have now officially joined the list of Companies Promoting Immorality (CPI) – a growing list, indeed. How tragic that eHarmony’s resources – and your good name — will be used to advance the cause of homosexual behavior, a changeable sin.

You could have set an example to Christians and freedom-loving Americans everywhere by fighting on principle for your company’s First Amendment right not to be bullied into submission by a politically correct state bureaucracy. Instead, you capitulated. In addition to hurting the cause of Christianity, you have damaged the cause of freedom and particularly religious freedom in America. It appears that eHarmony is no longer a “match” for Integrity.

Your attorney told WoldNetDaily that eHarmony “spent three years defending against this proceeding …It was a burden in terms of the high costs of litigation and the time and resources management devoted to it.” Do you know what is a far greater burden? Forcing Americans bit by bit to lose their liberty by abandoning their faith and moral creed to appease modern, worldly notions of sexuality — in which behavior once universally regarded as sinful is now a mere “orientation” and the basis for “civil rights.”

Evidence that homosexuality is a behavior — and not an “identity” — issue can be found in the many ex-gays and ex-lesbians who have found freedom from homosexuality through Christ — and true love and marriage with a member of the opposite sex.

I would like a written response giving your justification for now promoting relationships that you, Dr. Warren, (presumably) at least once believed were against God’s will. But please do not try to argue that eHarmony was forced into this sellout, because you could have chosen a brave and noble course of resistance rather than submit to state tyranny.

I will join other pro-family organizations in encouraging singles to use other dating services that have not sold out their God and their moral beliefs for the almighty dollar.

Sincerely,

Peter LaBarbera
President, Americans For Truth about Homosexuality
Naperville, Illinois
www.aftah.org

630-717-7631

Cc. Various pro-family leaders representing: Family Research Council, Liberty Counsel, Culture & Media Institute, American Family Association, Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America, Maine Family Policy Council, Illinois Family Association, West Virginia Family Foundation, American Family Association of Michigan; Family Policy Network; WorldNetDaily; attorney Jan LaRue; American Family Association’s “One News Now”; CNSNews.com

Ref: “eHarmony.com to match ‘gays,’” WorldNetDaily: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=81446

____________________________________

WorldNetDaily reports:

 eHarmony.com to match ‘gays’

Dating site originally promoted by James Dobson bows to lawsuits

Posted: November 19, 2008

By Chelsea Schilling
© 2008 WorldNetDaily

Internet dating service eHarmony has officially agreed to begin matching homosexual couples, beginning next year.

The popular California-based service has been known for focusing on long-term relationships, especially marriage, which has been said to align with founder Clark Warren’s early work with Focus on the Family’s evangelical Christian base and perspective.

Warren, a psychologist with a divinity degree, has had three of his 10 books on love and dating published by Focus on the Family. It was an appearance on James Dobson’s radio program, in 2001, that triggered a response of 90,000 new referrals to the website, starting a climb of registered participants on the site from 4,000 to today’s 20 million clients.

As WND reported, the company originally said it was ” based on the Christian principles of Focus on the Family author Dr. Neil Clark Warren.” It stood firm on its decision to reject homosexuals from its profiling and matching services. Its entire compatibility system is based on research of married heterosexual couples.

In 2005, Warren told USA Today the company’s goal is marriage and that same-sex marriage is illegal in most states.

“We don’t really want to participate in something that’s illegal,” he said. …

Last week, eHarmony agreed to begin providing an eHarmony-affiliated “Compatible Partners” service to gays and lesbians, with listings labeled “male seeking male” and “female seeking female” by March 31, 2009.

For complying, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights has dismissed the complaint against eHarmony, and Warren is considered “absolved of liability.” Also, the dating site has been ordered to pay the division $50,000 for investigation-related administrative costs and give McKinley $5,000. It has agreed to provide a free one-year membership to its “gay” service to McKinley, plus free six-month memberships to “the first 10,000 users registering for same-sex matching within one year of the initiation on the same-sex matching service,” according to the settlement.

A news release by New Jersey’s Office of the Attorney General reveals that eHarmony has also agreed to the following terms:

• eHarmony, Inc. will post photos of same-sex couples in the “Diversity” section of its website as successful relationships are created using the company’s same-sex matching service. In addition, eHarmony, Inc. will include photos of same-sex couples, as well as individual same-sex users, in advertising materials used to promote its same-sex matching services
• eHarmony, Inc. will revise anti-discrimination statements placed on company websites, in company handbooks and other company publications to make plain that it does not discriminate on the basis of “sexual orientation”
• the company has committed to advertising and public relations/ marketing dedicated to its same-sex matching service and will retain a media consultant experienced in promoting the “fair, accurate and inclusive” representation of gay and lesbian people in the media to determine the most effective way of reaching the gay and lesbian communities….

Click HERE for the full WND story.

AFA Chairman Don Wildmon writes:

AFA ends boycott: McDonald’s agrees to changes

October 9, 2008

Dear Pro-family Americans,

Great news! Because of AFA supporters like you, McDonald’s has told AFA they will remain neutral in the culture war regarding homosexual marriage. AFA is ending the boycott of McDonald’s. As you know, AFA called for the boycott in May after McDonald’s joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

McDonald’s said McDonald’s Vice President Richard Ellis has resigned his position on the board of NGLCC and that his seat on the board will not be replaced. McDonald’s also said that the company has no plans to renew their membership in NGLCC when it expires in December.

In an e-mail to McDonald’s franchised owners the company said, “It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald’s remains neutral on same sex marriage or any ‘homosexual agenda’ as defined by the American Family Association.”

We appreciate the decision by McDonald’s to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations. You might want to thank your local McDonald’s manager.

Thank you for caring enough to get involved. If you feel our efforts are worthy of support, would you consider making a small tax-deductible contribution to help us continue?

Sincerely,

Donald E. Wildmon,
Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

AFTAH letter sent today to MillerCoors spokesman Julian Green [contact Green at green.julian@mbco.com or phone: 1-800-MILLER-6 or 414-931-2000.]:

Dear Mr. Green,

We are highlighting MillerCoor’s support of and advertising at the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco [to be held Sunday, September 28]. I am president of a conservative pro-family group, Americans For Truth (www.aftah.org). The Folsom Street Fair is probably the most extreme and debauched public event in the United States. As you can see from below and through the links on our site, it features men walking around fully nude and engaging in public homosexual orgies on the streets of San Francisco (as the police stand idly by).

Moreover, Folsom directly promotes anti-religious bigotry through its association with the anti-Catholic “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” and sale of (”religious”) “sex toys” that mock the Christian faith.

I would like to know how much MillerCoors is spending to promote its products at, and/or to “sponsor” the Folsom Street Fair (you are not listed in the program as an official sponsor, but you have a full-page ad in it). Does MillerCoors have any ethical guidelines for events it will — or will not — promote (through ads) and participate in? Would MillerCoors sell beer and advertise at, say, an Incest Rights festival, or take out an ad in the publication of other openly bigoted gatherings such as a Neo-Nazi rally?

If you would like to discuss MillerCoor’s promotion of Folsom and participation in this event, please call me. … We will be headed to San Francisco to monitor the perverse goings-on there and Miller’s role at the event. Here is the link to the Official Program Guide of the 2008 Folsom Street Fair containing your full-page ad [WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC IMAGES]: http://www.folsomstreetevents.org/documents/2008_Official_Folsom_Street_Fair_Guide.pdf.

Sincerely,

Peter LaBarbera
Americans For Truth
www.americansfortruth.org
W: 630-717-7631

Cc: Pro-family leaders and media: Mission America; World Net Daily; Lifesite News; Concerned Women for America; Liberty Counsel; Culture & Media Institute;  CNSNews.com; American Family Association; Bott Radio Network; Pastor Ken Hutcherson, Antioch Bible Church; One News Now; Family Research Council; Citizens for Community Values, Catholic League

PROFITING OFF OF PERVERSION: Miller Brewing Company took out a full-page ad (left) in the 2008 Folsom Street Fair Official Program Guide, on page 40. Five pages before that is this “StraightHell” ad that glories in the depraved and sadistic behaviors celebrated by this annual San Francisco “fair.” At least the gross Folsom ad has got one thing right: these boys are going STRAIGHT TO HELL if they don’t repent of this wickedness and accept Christ’s forgiveness. You can contact Miller though their spokesman Julian Green at green.julian@mbco.com or phone: 1-800-MILLER 6 or 414-931-2000.

Folks, AFTAH is organizing this event in America’s “queer” Mecca later this month to remind the rest of the country (and Californians voting on the marriage protection) about the downward spiraling trajectory of liberal “tolerance” and the homosexual activist agenda. My good friend Linda Harvey will be joining us in exposing this sure-to-be unbelievably evil spectacle occurring on Sept. 28 in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s city. Democrats with any sense of decency and “family values,” as they say, should be ashamed at what their party has become: enablers for the worst public perversions known to mankind (see Mayor Gavin Newsom’s welcoming letter to the Folsom Street Fair HERE). — Peter LaBarbera

PS. The organizers for Folsom tried to intimidate Americans For Truth from publishing graphics from their website and Program Guide — including the welcoming letter from Mayor Newsom, a public servant! It did not work: we have “fair use” rights to expose their filth. More on that in another post.

___________________________________

Mission America writes:

California ‘Corruption Footprint’ Not Wanted in Middle America

September 8, 2008

Contact: Linda Harvey, (614) 442-7998, lpharvey@missionamerica.com

(Columbus, OH) Traditional families, especially children, will be harmed if California forces its sexual deviance on the rest of America, says Linda Harvey of Mission America.

Harvey joins other pro-family groups later this month in San Francisco to protest and expose the Folsom Street Fair, a public street orgy which includes sado-masochism, full nudity and homosexuality. They will also discuss the urgent need to pass Proposition 8, the ballot initiative upholding traditional marriage.

The event falls on Sunday, September 28, following “Leather Pride Week.” The alleged crowd estimate of 400,000 has no age restrictions, merely warnings about the “adult oriented nature” of activities. Last year, children were observed in the crowd where they could witness, for example, bare-bottomed men being whipped.

“There ‘s one big question: why?” said Harvey. ”How can Mayor Newsom, city officials and even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (who represents San Francisco) tolerate disturbed people publicly displaying this deviance as police stand by and do nothing to stop it?

“California’s unsustainable sexual license is not an export we welcome in middle America,” said Harvey. “We don’t want same sex ‘marriage’ legalized, nor to have our children taught to praise homosexuality, as California children now must do after the passage of SB 777 and AB 394. And we don’t want naked people having sex in our streets.” Under the new laws, children must be taught favorable viewpoints about homosexuality and transgenderism. Other opinions are banned.

If Proposition 8 fails  –  and Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama succeed in their stated goal of repealing the federal Defense of Marriage Act –  all states could  be forced under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution to recognize homosexual ‘marriages’ legalized by a CA court ruling in May.

Joining Mission America for the protest are Americans for Truth, American Family Association of Pennsylvania, the St. Joseph Men’s Society and other concerned groups.

“The ‘corruption footprint’ of California is staggering,” Harvey stated. “Sadly, San Francisco is a dying city discarding its children. Its only hope is the ‘offset’ provided by the fresh air of California’s traditional, caring families. Hopefully, these families will turn this state around and spare the rest of America from the polluting effects of California’s moral decay.”

Web site: www.missionamerica.com

By Peter LaBarbera

Needless to say, the AP (Always Politically-correct?) story below contains no critical comments from a pro-natural-family critic of homosexual “marriage.” I sent this note to Hallmark, after calling the company (816-274-5111) and being informed that Hallmark CEO Don Hall is not taking critical calls:

Dear Hallmark CEO Don Hall,

My wife and I won’t be buying Hallmark cards again until you stop promoting homosexuality and “gay marriage.” It’s very sad that your company — which most Americans would associate with more wholesome values — has now chosen to profit off of sexual immorality. (Homosexual behavior is sinful, changeable — see this EX-gay site: www.janetboynesministries.com — and often linked to serious health risks.)

Good luck with your new, politically correct business plan, but I will be informing as many people as I can to stop buying Hallmark cards until you get out of the homosexuality-promotion business.

Sincerely,

Peter LaBarbera
www.americansfortruth.org
americansfortruth@comcast.net

You’ll actually get a human being when you call Hallmark at 816-274-5111 as opposed to their computerized customer service line at 1-800-HALLMARK (800-425-5627). Please politely communicate your disappointment to them, as the operator is not responsible for this bone-headed move and might actually share your values. You can also e-mail them off their web contact page. Below is Associated Press’ biased story:

________________________________

Now on the Hallmark aisle: Gay marriage cards
Thursday August 21, 8:17 am ET

By Sarah Skidmore, AP Business Writer

Hallmark, seeing a new market after California ruling, rolls out gay ["marriage"] greeting cards

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Most states don’t recognize gay ["marriage"] — but now Hallmark does.

The nation’s largest greeting card company is rolling out same-sex ["wedding"] cards — featuring two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers, with best wishes inside. “Two hearts. One promise,” one says.

Hallmark added the cards after California joined Massachusetts as the only U.S. states with legal gay ["marriage."] A handful of other states have recognized same-sex civil unions.

The language inside the cards is neutral, with no mention of wedding or marriage, making them also suitable for a commitment ceremony. Hallmark says the move is a response to consumer demand, not any political pressure.

“It’s our goal to be as relevant as possible to as many people as we can,” Hallmark spokeswoman Sarah Gronberg Kolell said.

Hallmark’s largest competitor, American Greetings Corp., has no plans to enter the market, saying its current offerings are general enough to speak to a lot of different relationships.

Hallmark started offering [homosexual] “coming out” cards last year, and the four designs of same-sex ["marriage"] cards are being gradually released this summer and will be widely available by next year. No sales figures were available yet.

Click HERE for the rest of the story

Take Action!

• Sign the online Boycott McDonald’s petition.
• Forward this to family and friends and ask them to sign the petition.
• Print and distribute the Boycott McDonald’s petition.

August 13, 2008

McDonald’s has done it again. First, the company paid $20,000 to become a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and to have a seat on the board of directors. Next, McDonald’s refused a request to remain neutral in the culture war by choosing to promote the gay agenda. Then McDonald’s accused those opposing the gay agenda, including same-sex “marriage,” of being motivated by hate.

Now we learn that McDonald’s sponsors training for homosexuals on how to promote their agenda among corporations from the inside. Out & Equal™ Workplace Advocates is a national organization devoted to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the workplace. One of its primary purposes is to train employees how to aggressively promote homosexuality within the company they work for, all the way to the corporate boardroom. Part of last year’s Out & Equal Summit in Washington, DC, (sponsored by McDonald’s) was an organized march into congressional offices demanding same-sex “marriage” laws be passed.

At the bottom of McDonald’s half-page ad in the Out & Equal Summit booklet is this statement: “From neighborhood to neighborhood, coast to coast and around the world, McDonald’s is proud to celebrate diversity” [homosexuality].

Thank you for caring enough to get involved. If you feel our efforts are worthy of support, would you consider making a small tax-deductible contribution to help us continue?

Sincerely,

Donald E. Wildmon,
Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

I am very conflicted about the boycott taking place because of my history with your company. I stop by my local McDonald’s every day for my large fountain Coke. Even when I travel, I make it a point to get to the nearest McDonald’s for my daily Coke. I have done that for years out of a preference for the taste and out of loyalty. I have read the biography on Ray Kroc and the history of the McDonald’s and have always had admiration for the man and his company. For the first time in my life, you are acting in a way that damages both my admiration and loyalty. I do not want to boycott McDonald’s, but you are forcing me into a position of compromise on doing business with a company every day that undermines my values. I take that personally.

You are going out of your way to put financial resources behind a group of individuals that choose to have sexual relations in an immoral, unnatural and unhealthy way. It would be fine if they were content to keep it to themselves, but they must flaunt this destructive lifestyle, dare to coerce others into supporting it, and threaten and castigate those who do not approve of it.

You have been asked to be neutral and withdraw your corporate sponsorship. It is a fair request for you to simply be neutral and not take a public position either way. Why do you insist on offending the majority of your customers to please a few? Please don’t make me give up my daily visit.

Janine, Illinois

I’m always mystified when allegedly intelligent, bottom-line-obsessed corporate types abandon the fiscally secure milieu of political neutrality and take sides, officially, on deeply polarizing, socio-cultural issues of the day.

That’s exactly what the formerly family-friendly McDonald’s Corporation recently did. In an apparent effort to pierce the hyper-demanding good graces of the radical homosexual lobby, these clowns (pun intended) have thrown the vast majority of potential Mickey D’s customers, worldwide, under the bus. Because of this colossal corporate blunder, the hamburger giant is now facing an embarrassing and ever-growing international boycott.

McDonald’s self-inflicted woes started back in March, when the company paid $20,000 to have Richard Ellis, McDonald’s “out and proud” homosexual vice president of communications, placed on the board of the innocuously tagged “National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.” NGLCC is an extremist, “gay” activist organization that lobbies for leftist causes, such as “gay marriage,” and pushes for other policies that would grant special privileges to certain individuals who define themselves based upon unhealthy, traditionally immoral and changeable sexual behaviors.

Unfortunately, the radical San Francisco-style policies both the NGLCC and McDonald’s advocate run directly counter to the best interests of the vast majority of Americans outside California’s “Sodom on the Bay.” For example, under communist-tested, McDonald’s-approved “hate speech” legislation, such as the so-called Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Christians and other business owners with traditional values would be forced – under penalty of law – to abandon sincerely held religious beliefs and adopt McDonald’s own secular-humanist, moral-relativist view of right and wrong. In many cases, business owners would be persecuted, even if the business in question were expressly faith-based. This pits the government directly against the free exercise of religion and, for that reason, is unconstitutional on its face.

But perhaps most damaging is that McDonald’s is now publicly supporting counterfeit “same-sex marriage,” despite the fact that, according to a March 2007 CBS/New York Times poll, only 28 percent of Americans believe same-sex pairs should be allowed legally to marry. As far as bad business decisions go, this one’s a real whopper (sorry for the mixed metaphor). This has, no doubt, made shareholders grimace … (OK, I’ll stop).

Still, same-sex marriage is a contradiction in terms. It’s a bizarre bastardization of legitimate marriage. It both mocks and undermines the genuine article. Marriage is a fundamental building block to any healthy society. If you introduce counterfeit money into commerce, the dollar is devalued. If you introduce counterfeit marriage into society, true marriage is devalued and society is harmed. Yet McDonald’s has now thrown its full weight, brand name and presently tarnished reputation behind the push for “gay marriage” in all 50 states.

If you take time to write McDonald’s and inquire as to why the company has betrayed a majority percentage of its customers, you’ll get a condescending, cutesy and self-aggrandizing form letter that takes about 350 words to say absolutely nothing. It’s built upon euphemistic talking points, spoon-fed by homosexual activist pressure groups such as the NGLCC and the anti-Christian “Human Rights Campaign”. It goes a little like this: “At McDonald’s we respect and value everyone … blah, blah, blah … Diversity … blah, blah … Inclusion … yada, yada … We have a long and proud history of leadership … blah, blah, (gag!)” You know the drill.

However, when McDonald’s steps up to the mic to address the media, a veritable rainbow of true colors is revealed. While referring to customers with traditional family values, spokesman Bill Whitman regurgitated this little McNugget to the Washington Post: “Hatred has no place in our culture.” Nice job, Bill. I’m sure the hundreds of millions of customers you’ve just smacked down with this little insult are itchin’ for a Happy Meal now.

Get it? If you happen to support the historical definition of marriage – which is, and has always been male-female – then you’re a drooling, inbred hatemonger. This kind of rhetoric is right out of the left’s PC handbook. It’s an intellectually bankrupt copout intended to avoid legitimate debate. When you’re getting your tail whipped, you lob personal attacks.

So, truth is McDonald’s definition of “diversity” doesn’t really mean diversity after all. The company has wholeheartedly bought into that euphemistic notion of “diversity” pushed by liberal elites – a paradoxical model for “inclusion” that only swings one way. So when you hear McDonald’s talk about “diversity,” what they’re really feeding you is warmed-over, anti-Christian bigotry in a cheap, thin wrapper.

Diversity is as diversity does, and McDonald’s brand of diversity has them in a real pickle. I suspect if the king of burgers were alive today, McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc would be some kind of flame-broilin’ ticked-off.

This column first appeared in WorldNetDaily.com. Matt Barber is also on the Board of Americans For Truth.

Buying gas is painful these days — and there’s much resentment against the Big Oil companies, Exxon included. But if you’re going to pay ridiculous prices at the pump anyway, why not reward a company that refuses to buckle to the aggressive and intolerant Homosexual Lobby? While you’re at it, follow the video’s advice (or go to Exxon’s Contact Page HERE) and commend Exxon Mobil’s executive team, while politely urging them not to give in to the homosexual activists.

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE. Chicago’s CBS TV affiliate fields a float every year at the city’s bawdy homosexual “pride” parade, but CBS and other major Chicago secular media were no-shows at AFTAH’s pro-family coalition press conference yesterday highlighting a huge and growing pro-family boycott of McDonald’ s (based outside Chicago). McDonald’s was given a high 85% rating by a homosexual lobby group for its pro-homosexuality and pro-transsexuality policies. Photo courtesy Illinois Family Institute.

Dave Diersen, an Illinois Republican activist, has provided a summary of the coverage of our press conference in front of McDonald’s’ world headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. Predictably, I suppose, we were completely blacked out by Chicago’s and Illinois’ major media — which had no excuse since they were inundated with press releases about the event by four pro-family organizations taking part: Americans For Truth, American Family Association, Illinois Family Institute and Liberty Counsel. It appears that the Fox News item below came from AP.

So once again the major media are doing the work of the homosexual lobby. Many in the media have decided that the “gay” issue is settled, and the homosexual activists have won. (Remember when Big Media thought the abortion issue was pretty much over?) Yesterday’s non-coverage was appalling journalism, even by corrupt Chicago standards. Clearly, the boycott story is compelling — even from a pure business perspective: already, nearly 200,000 people have signed AFA’s boycott petition (www.boycottmcdonalds.com).

The people involved in this boycott of McDonald’s are good family people — not vegans, America-hating leftists, or some other fringe group. And the idea really seems to be catching on. As I said yesterday, millions and millions of Americans have had it with the elite media’s and pop culture’s promotion of homosexuality, but they don’t know what to do about it. Boycotting McDonald’s, an easy target but admittedly not the worst corporate offender — PepsiCo Foundation recently gave $500,000 to the homosexual group Human Rights Campaign Foundation, compared to McDonald’s $20,000 to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce — is something simple to do to stand up for marriage and the natural family.

More coming on this story. — Peter LaBarbera

P.S. Most major Chicago media either field floats or participate in the annual Chicago “Gay Pride” parade, and the local ABC affiliate televises it (see photo above). Now there’s some “news” with wide appeal in Chicagoland!

______________________________

Dave Diersen writes:

[Note for those outside Illinois: the "combine" derogatorily refers to Chicagoland Democrat and Republican politicians and interests that work together (corruptly) to advance their own political and monetary interests irrespective of party and principle.]

News clips and upcoming event information:
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
VERY SAD BUT NOT SURPRISING: The Combine gets its news media members to keep the McDonald’s boycott off their websites – Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
The American Family Association and other groups have called for a boycott of McDonald’s because it promotes homosexual activity. It is very sad, but not surprising, that the Combine got its news media members to keep the boycott off their websites. The boycott was announced at an outstanding 10:00 AM press conference yesterday at the McDonald’s restaurant across from McDonald’s world headquarters in Oak Brook. Because the Illinois Democrat Party Platform promotes homosexual activity and the Illinois Republican Party Platform discourages homosexual activity, the boycott is a political story. I was hoping to see Mary Ann Ahern, David Beery, Mike Flannery, Rick Preason, Andy Shaw, and other political reporters at the press conference, but I did not. Speakers at the outstanding press conference included Matt Barber, Peter LaBarbera, Sandy Rios, and David E. Smith. Sadly, McDonald’s is a member of the Combine. Hopefully, Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Chairman Andy McKenna Jr. will get his father, Andy McKenna Sr., the President of McDonald’s, to get McDonald’s to stop promoting homosexual activity. Also, hopefully, he will get his father to cancel McDonald’s membership in the Combine. IRP Chairman Andy McKenna Jr. was scheduled to meet with DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC) leaders in Wheaton this evening. Hopefully, all this will be discussed during that meeting and summarized in a DCRCC press release.

FOX NEWS CHANNEL
– Christian Group Boycotts McDonald’s for Supporting Gay Chamber of Commerce
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,383561,00.html
(THE ARTICLE: OAK BROOK, Ill. – A Christian group that opposes same-sex marriage launched a boycott of McDonald’s because of the fast-food chain’s support for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. American Family Association president Tim Wildmon says almost 200,000 people have signed an online pledge to boycott McDonald’s for promoting homosexuality instead of remaining neutral. McDonald’s spokesman Bill Whitman says the company has made a financial contribution to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and a McDonald’s executive serves on the chamber’s board. He insists that doesn’t mean that McDonald’s supports “a particular lifestyle or same-sex marriage.”)

LIFE SITE NEWS
– Family Advocates Take McDonald’s Boycott to Home of the Golden Arches After “Hate” Smear – Peter Smith
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08071602.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: OAK BROOK, Illinois, July 16, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The boycott against McDonald’s over its public support of a gay lobby group pushing same-sex “marriage” has now escalated, as the pro-family groups the global hamburger giant accused recently of “hate” have brought the fight right to the home of the famed Golden Arches. The American Family Association (AFA), Americans for Truth, the Illinois Family Institute, and the legal advocacy group Liberty Counsel held a joint press conference Wednesday in front of the McDonald’s restaurant across from McDonald’s corporate headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois to protest the corporation’s statements that people opposed to its support of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), were motivated by “hate.” . . . The AFA boycott petition may be found here: http://www.boycottmcdonalds.com/ Contact info for McDonald’s: Andrew J. McKenna, President, McDonald’s Corporation USA, McDonald’s Plaza, Oak Brook, IL 60523 Phone: 1-800-244-6227 or: 630-623-3000 Fax: 630-623-5004)

DAKOTA VOICE
– Protest at McDonald’s HQ Over Promotion of Homosexual Agenda – Alexander Sheffrin
http://www.dakotavoice.com/2008/07/protest-at-mcdonalds-hq-over-promotion.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: McDonald’s, however, has been unapologetic about its pro-gay stance, asserting that organizers of the boycott are motivated by a hateful agenda against homosexuals. “Hatred has no place in our culture,” McDonald’s USA spokesman Bill Whitman told The Washington Post. “That includes McDonald’s, and we stand by and support our people to live and work in a society free of discrimination and harassment,” he explained. But the AFA is arguing that its boycott is about the record of McDonald’s and its duty to be a responsible and neutral corporation. “This boycott is not about hiring homosexuals, or homosexuals eating at McDonald’s, or how homosexual employees are treated,” the AFA said. “It is about McDonald’s, as a corporation, choosing to put the full weight of their corporation behind promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage,” the group explained. In an e-mail to boycott supporters, Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth, which organized a press conference outside McDonald’s headquarters Wednesday, said that the accusations of “hate” and prejudice from McDonald’s were a reflection of the food chain’s own deeply embedded anti-Christian views. “When we’ve reached the point where belief in the Bible and traditional morality is routinely equated with hatred, America has become hostile territory for people of faith,” he said. “Sadly, ‘diversity’ is becoming a corporate code-word for anti-Christian bigotry – forcing people of faith to imbibe politically correct ideologies that violate their beliefs,” he added. According to a press release, boycott organizers “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.”)

WICHITA EAGLE
– Not ‘lovin’ it’: McDonald’s supports gay group – Brent Castillo
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/castillo/story/465759.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Bigot. Homophobe. Hater. These are the terms that many gay activists and their supporters use to label you if you oppose gay marriage, or believe homosexuality is immoral. What is surprising is to see the spokesman for McDonald’s USA, Bill Whitman, incorporate some of the same rhetoric when justifying the company’s support and involvement in the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The chamber lobbies Congress on a wide range of issues, including the promotion of same-sex marriage. “Hatred has no place in our culture,” Whitman said in an interview with the Washington Post. “That includes McDonald’s, and we stand by and support our people to live and work in a society free of discrimination and harassment.” The “hatred” he is referring to is the American Family Association’s call for a boycott of the restaurant chain.)

PAM’S HOUSEHOLD BLEND
– DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: “tfeminist” a) denigrates Christians as being “religious wingnuts” and “kooks” and b) defends McDonald’s promotion of homosexual activity
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showComment.do?commentId=69952
(THE POSTING: My view on McDonalds – McDonalds is a corporation based in eastern DuPage county. As much as DuPage gets a wrap for being conservative, lets be clear, the wing nut section is in Wheaton, eastern DuPage is some pockets of liberalism and corporate conservatism. The eastern part of DuPage draws employees from Cook and Chicago. It is really just a gigantic corporate office park, especially Oak Brook. McDonalds, secondly exists in Illinois and is a stones throw from “gay friendly” Chicago (I still love the fact that Mayor Daily turned down the Republican Convention saying he was to busy with the gay games). They have to play to Dem Politics to keep State Tax incentives. Illinois is not going to turn red any time soon, the state has become indigo, as younger blue collar folks, and their white collar brethren are starting to share a common political vision for the state. Dem Politics in Illinois, has become pro-queer as a result. Some of it has to do with the increasing progressive nature of the state, and some is pure economics. They want the state to be a “creative class” one that rivals California. They have done a pretty good job of it so far. The state is without question getting an increasing amount of corporate relocations, sees major Hollywood movies regularly (both Batman and Wanted were filmed there). McDonalds, wants to be part of this effort, they have strong ties with the interests of the state and the City of Chicago. McDonalds, a long time sponsor of the Olympics, also wants to see the games in their back yard. So to say they have increasing ties to the democratic party in the state would be an understatement. They may as well be a million miles from these religious wingnuts, they exist in another political reality and honestly are not influenced by these kooks. Their reality that is more about tax incentives, the Olympic games in Chicago and recruiting, than right wing boycotts, really don’t have much of an impact. Either way, I am encouraged that McDonalds is ignoring the boycott. When it gets down to it the company has always been one that success is tied to urban areas and urban politics more than anything. I am not saying McDonalds is great, rather . . . that they are a corporation that exists in Illinois and influenced by the politics of the state. A corporation that exists in a pragmatic reality unaffected by right wing politics, and more centered on their own corporate interests.)

Americans For Truth
www.americansfortruth.org
Contact: Peter LaBarbera: 630-717-7631

NAPERVILLE, Illinois — Americans For Truth has called a press conference tomorrow with other family groups from across the country at the world headquarters of McDonald’s – to support the national boycott of the fast-food giant and highlight its record of promoting homosexual activism.

The press conference will be held at Wednesday, July 16 at 10:00 AM at the McDonald’s restaurant adjacent to McDonald’s world headquarters – at the corner of 22nd and Spring Streets in Oak Brook, Illinois. Participating groups joining Americans for Truth include:

• American Family Association (AFA), which launched the McDonald’s boycott
• Liberty Counsel
• Illinois Family Institute
• AFA of Pennsylvania
• Family Taxpayers Foundation

“AFA has focused its boycott on McDonald’s $20,000 grant to a homosexual businessman’s association –– calling for the company to return to neutrality in the culture wars,” said Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans For Truth about Homosexuality (AFTAH). “We agree, but AFTAH will also be highlighting McDonald’s daily promotion of unhealthy homosexual and transsexual lifestyles through corporate policies like funding unmarried ‘domestic partner’ (DP) benefits.”

McDonald’s scored an 85 percent rating on the homosexual lobby Human Rights Campaign’s corporate scorecard –– indicating its support for DP benefits, policies that reward transsexual behavior, donations to homosexual activist groups, and failure to support pro-family groups (e.g., those defending traditional marriage).

“McDonald’s has wisely chosen to alter its menu to promote healthy eating habits. Now it needs to examine its fiscal priorities and stop rewarding unhealthy lifestyles –– starting with an end to corporate subsidies for homosexual and transsexual behavior,” LaBarbera said. “Homosexuality is unhealthy, especially for men: 71 percent of male HIV cases in 2005 involved men who have sex with men, according to the CDC. And syphilis and other STD’s continue to afflict men practicing homosexuality at rates astronomically disproportionate to the rest of society.”

Noting that a McDonald’s recently suggested that pro-family critics of the corporation’s homosexuality-friendly policies are guilty of “hate,” LaBarbera said:

“Christians and religious people – and moral-minded Americans who are irreligious – cannot sit back while Corporate America turns them into second-class citizens by equating their traditional beliefs with ‘hate.’ Sadly, ‘diversity’ is becoming a corporate code-word for anti-Christian bigotry – forcing people of faith to imbibe politically correct ideologies that violate their beliefs.”