“Civil Unions” & “Gay Marriage”

Alaska’s Seven-Year Debate Over Homosexual Benefits

Sunday, November 5th, 2006

How much is this lengthy debate costing Alaska taxpayers?

Excerpted from Same-Sex Benefits Dispute, by Andrea Gusty, published Nov 1, 2006, by KTVA:

Same-sex benefits for state and municipal employees: it’s been a seven-year debate in Alaska. The governor’s even called a third special session about it. The debate over same-sex benefits has been raging for the last seven years.marquez-ag.jpg

This summer the Alaska Supreme Court ordered the State of Alaska and the Municipality of Anchorage to provide health and retirement benefits for same-sex partners of state employees and retirees by the first of the year. What is being debated now is what the eligibility requirements for those benefits will be…

Earlier this week, the Anchorage Superior Court ordered the state commissioner to rewrite state regulations to include same sex couples–a move the Alaska attorney general [David Marquez, pictured left] says is, “inappropriate.”

Continue reading at KTVA…

Massachusetts Constitutional Convention to Convene Nov 9

Sunday, November 5th, 2006

Excerpted from Gay Marriage Ban Vote Looms In Mass., published Oct 31, 2006, by the pro-homosexuality 365Gay:

Two days after voters go to the polls members of the Massachusetts legislature will meet in a joint session to consider a measure that would end same-sex marriage in the only state where they are legal

Continue reading at 365Gay…

NJ Supreme Court Staffer Suggests Merkt Could Be Sued for Calling for Impeachment

Sunday, November 5th, 2006

Excerpted from The Auditor, published Oct 29, 2006, by The Star Ledger:

merkt.jpgA Republican lawmaker’s call to impeach all seven members of the state Supreme Court because of its decision on gay marriage apparently didn’t go over too well with the justices.

The Auditor was told a judiciary staffer paid a call to Republican staff offices a day after the decision to voice irritation at Assemblyman Richard Merkt (R-Morris), who had issued the statement. During the visit the staffer “joked” that state law prohibits threatening judges, and since Merkt didn’t make the comments on the Assembly floor, he wasn’t immune from prosecution…

“The court doesn’t like the fact that I am calling them out,” [Merkt] said. “I’m delighted I got their attention.”

Continue reading at NJ.com…

The Confession (Part II): Radical Proponents of Same-Sex “Marriage” Gaining Power

Sunday, November 5th, 2006

Be sure to read The Confession (Part I) posted below…

“Many if not most of the major gay and lesbian organizations who have signed on to the fight for same-sex marriage would instantly sign off at any suggestion that they were actually encouraging gay men and lesbians to marry.” – Gabriel Rotello, in his 1997 book on the AIDS crisis, Sexual Ecology

Excerpted from The Confession, Part II, by Stanley Kurtz, published Nov 1, 2006, by National Review:

…Around the time the Beyond Same-Sex Marriage statement was released, a controversy broke out over news that the Boston Globe had told its gay employees to marry their partners or face losing their domestic-partnership benefits…

According to [Globe journalist Zak] Szymanski, “Many national LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] groups, despite their large investment in securing gay marriage, agree that there is a problem with a society that values marriage over all other family forms.”

For example, Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and a major spokesman in the battle for same-sex marriage, said, “We’re deeply disappointed by the Globe’s decision, and >we do not feel that benefits should flow only from marriage, because a married couple does not reflect the reality of the American family, gay or straight.”

Michelle Granda, of GLAD, which Szymanski calls “the group that is widely credited with winning same-sex marriage in Massachusetts,” said, “We have always believed families are configured in many ways and that marriage is not the answer for all families.”

…Here we have a clear indication of the family radicalism that hides beneath the only apparent conservatism of same-sex marriage advocacy groups…

A Striking Development
In late 2005, I published a piece entitled “Here Come the Brides,” about the role of bisexuality in the drive for legalized multiple-partner marriage. It’s notable that the Beyond Same-Sex Marriage manifesto justified its radical platform, in part, by lamenting the short shrift historically given to bisexuals by the broader LGBT movement. Among the signers of the Beyond Same-Sex Marriage manifesto were a number of bisexual activists. In “Here Come the Brides,” I also noted the role of Unitarian polyamory activists, and the potential role of arguments made by Yale law professor Kenji Yoshino in a pro-polyamory movement. Sure enough, the Beyond Same-Sex Marriage manifesto was signed by a number of Unitarian ministers and by professor Yoshino…

A Political Future
…Jonathan Rauch offered some remarkably frank concessions: “I had originally hoped that the [same-sex marriage] debate would not be followed by a polygamy debate, but clearly it has been. Some [same-sex marriage] advocates maintained that there was no significant constituency for polygamy, but that’s proving to be wrong as well.”

…This all means that in a post-gay-marriage world, the political organization of the gay community will shift. For now, “conservative” proponents of same-sex marriage are out in front, supported by a vast array of considerably less conservative activists and lobby groups. Meanwhile, the radicals are marginalized and/or intentionally keeping a low profile. In a post-gay-marriage world, this situation will flip. The radicals will step out in front, supported by largely the same coalition of activists and lobby groups who currently support same-sex marriage. At that point, the conservatives, no longer needed to run interference for the larger movement, will be quietly put out to pasture. By then we shall be well beyond same-sex marriage. Listen carefully to the words of same-sex marriage supporters, and they confess as much themselves.

Continue reading at National Review…

The Confession: Have Same-Sex “Marriage” Advocates Said Too Much?

Sunday, November 5th, 2006

Excerpted from The Confession, by Stanley Kurtz, published Oct 31, 2006, by National Review:

Suppose a large group of same-sex-marriage activists came together and made the following confession to a group of same-sex-marriage skeptics:

“Look, we’re going to level with you in a way that we haven’t up to now. We all support same-sex marriage, but for many — even most — of us, gay marriage isn’t an end in itself. It’s a way-station on the path to a post-marriage society. We want a wide range of diverse families — even ‘polyamorous’ groupings of three or more partners — to have the same recognition, rights, and benefits as heterosexual married couples. In short, your worst fears are justified. The radical redefinition of marriage you’ve been worried about for so long is exactly what we want…

“And consider the complex families created when three or even four gay men and lesbians combine through, say, artificial insemination, to bear and raise children. We want recognition for these sorts of unconventional families too, even — or especially — if such recognition leads to legalized polyamory. Pretending that certain aspects of the gay community don’t exist only weakens our diverse families. The way we live is the way we live. Up to now, we’ve tried to hide it. But at last we’re ready to own up to reality, and to push for legal recognition for all types of families, even if that expands the definition of marriage until the very idea of marriage itself is stripped of meaning.”

For all practical purposes, this confession has already been offered. A good part of the substance of the above message was conveyed this past July, when hundreds of self-described lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) and allied activists, scholars, educators, writers, artists, lawyers, journalists, and community organizers released a manifesto entitled, Beyond Same-Sex Marriage.” Among other things, that statement called for recognition of “committed, loving households in which there is more than one conjugal partner.”

Continue reading at National Review…

Run, Don’t Walk, from ECUSA’s Incoming Leader: Homosexuality Not a Choice

Saturday, November 4th, 2006

Excerpted from ECUSA’s Incoming Leader: Homosexuality Not a Choice, Jesus Not the Only Way, by Jody Brown and Allie Martin, published Nov 2, 2006, by Agape Press:

Where does [Katharine Jefferts-Schori] stand on the issue of homosexuality? The Episcopal Church has been embroiled for years in a debate over the ordination of homosexual clergy and “blessing” ceremonies for same-sex couples. Jefferts-Schori supports both — and in fact, she voted in 2003 to confirm her denomination’s first openly homosexual bishop, V. Gene Robinson. She told AP that she does not believe the Bible condemns “committed” homosexual relationships. God, she says, made some people “gay.”

“Sexual orientation is pretty clearly defined at a very early age, before the age of reason. It’s not a choice,” she said. “In that case, a person of faith would need to say that it’s a piece of how one is created.” Consequently, she says, the Church should offer what she calls “a sacramental container” to help homosexuals find “holy ways of living in relationship.”

Scriptures in the Bible about homosexual acts being sinful, she says, are misunderstood. “They’re not about what today we see as mature human beings entering into committed relationships with each other on a full and equal basis,” says Jefferts-Schori, who believes such “committed” relationships can be blessed. “The religious community’s job, really, is to help all human beings find healthy and whole and holy ways of living in relationship.”

Run, Don’t Walk
Canon David Anderson is president of the American Anglican Council, a group of conservative clergy and lay people from the Episcopal Church. Anderson says he’s not surprised at the recent comments by Jefferts-Schori, and offers what he sees as the only option for those still in churches aligned with ECUSA.

“I think they need to run, not walk, to the exit and find an orthodox Episcopal church,” suggests Anderson.

According to Anderson, the Episcopal Church cast off biblical beliefs long ago in favor of postmodernism. Jefferts-Schori’s comments, he claims, is merely in harmony with that. “Her remarks with regard to the plurality of ways to God are consistent both with what she has said before and with what the top level of leadership in the Episcopal Church has been saying now for probably a decade,” says Anderson.

Continue reading at Agape Press…

“American Nuns” Promote Homosexuality

Saturday, November 4th, 2006

The National Coalition of American Nuns has issued an open letter encouraging “all Catholic citizens to vote their own consciences in the November elections.” Two of their seven points are supportive of homosexuality and same-sex “marriage” even though the Catholic church stands squarely against such.

4. We believe that citizens in committed relationships – whether marriages or civil unions – should retain all rights consonant with their state including, but not limited to, adoption of children, ownership of property, inheritance, health, and end-of-life decisions.

7. We pledge ourselves to initiate, invite, and support deepening actions on behalf of social justice, particularly as these impact women, racial/ethnic minorities, and gay or lesbian persons.

Catholic Citizens has posted a “heresy update” regarding this letter.

LifeSite News has published a related story entitled American Nuns’ Group Voter’s Guide Favours Abortion, Homosexuality.

UCC Pastor Says He’s Okay with Legalizing Polyamory

Thursday, November 2nd, 2006

From: John Grigsby
To: Blue Ridge Leader
Subject: Note (not letter) to editor – re: event tonight
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:01:45 -0700 (PDT)

Dear Editor,

I called Don Prange, pastor of St. James United Church of Christ in Lovettsville, which is sponsoring a “Faith and Life Forum” tonight (Wednesday, Oct 25th), where “Gay and Lesbian partners will share their stories”.  I offered to find, for Pastor Prange, Christians involved in ex-gay ministries, in order to open the forum up to a wider body of opinion.  Specifically, I intended to invite Regina Griggs…  Regina was agreeable to participating.

Pastor Prange told me that he would no more “invite George Bush defending (presumably  U.S.) Imperialism” or “Satan himself” to the podium than invite ex gays.  No, I am not making this up, and by the way I was very polite to him.

He also told me that Jesus wouldn’t have opened up a place at the podium for the Pharisees, and when I asked him what he thought about other familes, specifically polyamourous ones, he had no problem with legalizing them as well. 

I don’t think the media does a good enough job of covering this issue, so I’m offering up his answers to my questions as an example of what I think the media might want to ask, which is what the opponents of the Marriage Amendment support.  When we are talking about the Unitarian Universalists and the ACLU, you might be surprised how close they are to Pastor Prange’s views.

Best regards,

John Grigsby


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