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Company now says it would print poster, and that Wisconsin store “misinterpreted” guidelines
Silencing Dissent: This is the Wisconsin Christian News flier that an Office Max in Marshfield, WI refused to print, presumably because it violates the corporation’s anti-“hate” policy.
UPDATE Nov. 8: An Office Depot (Office Max) corporate executive called Wisconsin Christian News publisher Rob Pue to profusely apologize for the Marshfield, WI Office Max store’s refusal to print the poster (at right) for WCN’s “Exposing the Homosexual Agenda” speech by Peter LaBarbera Nov. 16. However, Pue has received no formal written apology from Office Depot, and no assertions that anti-Christian discrimination of this sort will not occur again.
People who contacted Office Depot’s corporate headquarters to complain about the Marshfield, WI incident received a variation of a letter stating the following from Office Depot:
“Office Depot is aware of this situation and it has been addressed. A representative of the company previously contacted the customer to explain that the decision to decline to print the order was made by an associate who misinterpreted our policy regarding the types of items that we will print.
“When reviewed at the corporate level, it was determined that the order did not violate the policy and our representative contacted the customer to apologize. We also offered to complete the order in question, or provide a future order at no cost.
“Store leadership has also re-trained the associates at that location to ensure that our customers have a positive experience in the future.”
AFTAH contacted the Marshfield Office Max Nov. 6 and was told by Print Supervisor Jeffry Costigan that he would now print the identical poster (above) that he and the store had previously rejected.
Said Pue, who is still considering legal action: “While I DID receive a phone call from a man at corporate headquarters, and while he DID apologize for the incident, he ALSO told me he would be emailing me immediately a formal apology, and statement indicating that Office Max/Depot will NOT discriminate against Christians (specifically) in the future. To date, I have received nothing in writing.”
— PL
Best Contact Info for Office Depot (Office Max): we heard from someone who called Office Max’s (Office Depot’s) HQ and this is the best way to reach them: call 561-438-4800, then hit Option #2. From there, hit “0” and ask for the “Executive Consumer Relations Department” and you will be able to leave them a detailed voicemail message.–PL
TAKE ACTION: contact Office Depot (Office Max): National HQ [see “Update” above]: 1) online contact page; 2) 800-GO-DEPOT (800-463-3768); 3) Local Marshfield, WI Office Max store: 715-389-8820.
Note from AFTAH President Peter LaBarbera:
Folks, add this story to your “Intolerant Gay Activists” file. An Office Max in Marshfield, Wisconsin has refused to print a flier submitted by Wisconsin Christian News (WCN) advertising my upcoming speech on the “homosexual agenda” November 16.
WCN publisher Rob Pue Pue created a poster for the event with a (LGBTQ activist) “rainbow flag” covered by the words, “The Homosexual Agenda EXPOSED!” and submitted it Oct. 25 to his local Office Max, which had printed many fliers for him in the past, for various conservative cultural events. He also submitted a Veterans Day poster for printing.
Initially “Eric” from Office Max sent Pue an email saying that they could “definitely” print both posters and that they would be ready by 10:00 AM the next day. But that morning (Oct. 26), Pue instead received another email from Store Manager Jeff Schweiger informing him that while the store could print the veterans poster, “we are unable to print the first print” advertising LaBarbera’s speech.
When Pue inquired as to why the poster could not be printed, he received another email, this time from Print Supervisor Jeffry Costigan, which read:
Good morning Rob,
Unfortunately we will not be able to print the contents of the poster for Peter Labarbera.
The contents of the poster falls under the prohibited guidelines of our company’s Duplication procedures.
We will be able to print the second request for the Veterans poster.
Pue then requested the Office Max (owned by Office Depot) “prohibited guidelines” policy but instead of sending him the “prohibited guidelines” he had previously cited, Costigan simply replied:
Dear Mr. Pue, I stand by the decision not to duplicate your material. If you have anymore questions, I request that you contact OfficeMax at 1-800-GoDepot.
Again thank you for your understanding.
Jeffry A. Costigan Print Supervisor| Office Depot, Inc. 1629 N. Central Ave, | Marshfield, WI. 54449 Tel: (715) 389-8820 | ods06637cpc@officedepot.com
Pue is now weighing possible legal action against Office Max (Office Depot), which has previously been in the news for refusing to print a pro-life flyer. In 2015, a Chicago-area Office Max refused “to make 500 copies of a flyer featuring a pro-life prayer—that calls for the conversion of Planned Parenthood—that was written by a Catholic priest,” CNS News reported.
The company relented but stood by its right to refuse print jobs based on its “hate” policy prohibiting “the copying of ‘hate material’ that advocates for the persecution of groups of people, regardless of the reason.”
Pue told AFTAH, “By refusing to do the job, Office Max proved my point, that there is a homosexual agenda. There is no ‘hate’ in that poster, and our speaker is not about ‘hate’ but Christian love and truth.”
Pue and LaBarbera appeared as guest Wednesday on the VCY America program “Crosstalk,” which reaches several states, to discuss the Office Max rejection of the Wisconsin Christian News poster.
AFTAH Media Release, November 1, 2017; 312-324-3787; americansfortruth@gmail.com.
Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) presented its 2017 “American Truth Teller Award” to former homosexual Stephen Black, executive director of First Stone Ministries in Oklahoma City, at its annual banquet and teach-in Oct. 20-21, held outside Chicago.
AFTAH President Peter LaBarbera presented Black with a check for $1,000 as the recipient of the annual award, which is given to a pro-family leader who stands boldly for biblical truth and time-tested Judeo-Christian morality against the lies and myths of homosexual and transgender activists.
As AFTAH’s keynote speaker, Black gave riveting testimony of how he grew up filled with shame after being twice molested as a boy by adult homosexual male predators. He joyfully touted the transformative power of Christ and the many successes of ex-“gay” ministries like First Stone, described in his new book, “Freedom Realized: Finding Freedom From Homosexuality & Living a Life Free from Labels.”
The secular media, which generally caters to LGBTQ activists, rarely covers successful ex-homosexuals like Black, who has been married to wife Robin for more than 30 years.
Stephen came out of the homosexual lifestyle after receiving Jesus Christ as his Savior in his twenties. He and his staff have counseled hundreds of men and women with unwanted same-sex attractions into a life in line with biblical morality and their Christian faith.
Black is also Board Chairman of Restored Hope Network, the umbrella group for “ex-gay” Christian ministries that formed after Exodus International imploded under the failed leadership of Alan Chambers. The latter embraced pro-“gay” apostasy and falsely and arrogantly declared that true, lasting change away from homosexuality is nearly impossible to achieve. Chambers’ top aide at Exodus, Randy Thomas, re-entered the homosexual lifestyle yet still claims to be a faithful Christian—in defiance of Scripture.
LaBarbera praised Black as epitomizing the Christian ideal of speaking biblical truth in the pure love and grace of Jesus Christ, and for leading the effort to hold Chambers and Exodus accountable for their worldly drift.
Black joins a list of accomplished recipients of the AFTAH American Truth Teller Award:
The late Kenneth “Hutch” Hutcherson (2010), founder and pastor, Antioch Bible Church, author and bold family advocate;
Scott Lively, author, “The Pink Swastika,” and other books, founder, Abiding Truth Ministries (2011);
Judith Reisman, author, “Sexual Sabotage,” and leading exposer of corrupt sex researcher Dr. Alfred Kinsey (2012);
Sandy Rios, AFA talk show host and former president of Concerned Women for America (2013);
Michael Brown, Christian talk show host and author. “Something Queer Happened to America” (2014);
Robert Reilly, author, “Making Gay Okay: How Rationalizing Homosexual Behavior Is Changing Everything”(2015), former director, Voice of America; and
Linda Harvey, author, “Maybe He’s Not Gay: Another View on Homosexuality,” and founder and president of Mission America (2016).
“People in ministry and those nobly fighting the good fight against the LGBTQ sin movement would do well to follow Stephen’s example,” LaBarbera said. “Stephen has tremendous compassion for people caught up in homosexuality, gender confusion and sexually broken lifestyles. And yet he is unyielding in defense of biblical truth, even when it is politically incorrect.”
“In an era in which LGBTQ activists and even mainstream evangelicals are pushing the idea of ‘gay-affirming Christianity,’ Stephen remains faithful to the timeless Gospel, which never changes to accommodate sin and self-delusion but rather holds up the Lord Jesus as the hope for repentant sinners,” he said.
Folks, this is a short, edited and condensed interview I did Oct. 21, 2017, with my friend and AFTAH’s 2017 banquet speaker Stephen Black, about his new book “Freedom Realized: Freedom From Homosexuality and Living A Life Free From Labels.’ Stephen is executive director of First Stone Ministries and Board Chair of Restored Hope Network–two wonderful Christian ministries. The book is available for a donation of $20 or more to Americans For Truth; give safely online or send your gift noting the book offer to: AFTAH, P.O. Box 5522, Naperville, IL 60567-5522. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH; americansfortruth@gmail.com; Twitter: @PeterLaBarbera
Changed Life: Stephen Black of First Stone Ministries and Restored Hope Network once lived his life as a “gay” man [see his powerful video testimony HERE]. Now he helps others leave the homosexual lifestyle. Stephen will give four presentations on understanding homosexuality and reaching out to those trapped in sexual sin and gender confusion—in the love and truth of Jesus Christ. Full banquet details HERE. Sign up for just $25 for both days HERE.
Dear AFTAH Supporters,
Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) is holding its annual banquet this Friday, Oct. 20, followed by a “Teach-in” Saturday, Oct. 21. There will be a total of four presentations by our keynote speaker, my friend Stephen Black, a godly Christian man who came out of homosexuality and now helps others do the same. [See his powerful video testimony HERE.] We also have an “all-star” Q-&A panel Saturday featuring: Denise Shick, whose father told her he wanted to be a “woman” when she was a young girl; stellar writer Laurie Higgins of Illinois Family Institute; and AFA-Pennsylvania pro-family warrior Diane Gramley.
This Teach-in is ideal for anyone with loved ones trapped in homosexual and/or transgender lifestyles. Like all our events, it will be highly educational and spiritually uplifting—loaded with information that you can put to use in your life and relationships. It is only $25 for both days and will be held at Grace for Life Bible Church in Naperville, Illinois, Oct. 20-21. Full details are HERE.
WHEN: Banquet with casual dinner (catered by Portillo’s) is Friday, Oct. 20, 6:00-9:30 PM. Doors open at 5:30 PM Friday, and 8:30 AM Saturday. Teach-in seminars led by Stephen is Saturday, Oct 21, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. A casual lunch will be served Sat., and the Q&A panel begins at 1:30 Sat.
WHERE:Grace For Life Bible Church, Naperville, Illinois (west of Chicago), 7S201 S. River Rd., Naperville, IL. [at the corner of River Rd. and Aurora Ave.; entrance is on River Rd. across the street from “Safety Town” and the Naperville PD.]
COST: Just $25/person to attend either or both events. Table of 10 at banquet for $250. Separate gift offerings will be taken both Friday and Saturday. Mail check to: AFTAH, PO Box 5522, Naperville, IL 60567-5522 — or pay online HERE
RSVP and AFTAH contact info: americansfortruth@gmail.com, or call 312-324-3787.
AFTAH Reboot
This year’s banquet is a little different from past ones in that it launches what is essentially AFTAH’s “reboot” as an organization. For the last year, I have been writing full-time for LifeSiteNews.com, an excellent pro-family news site for which I will continue to write blog articles. But my Americans For Truth work in the last year has been limited mainly to doing dozens of interviews on conservative and Christian media relating to LGBTQ issues [see HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE]. Moral-minded conservatives are big fans of AFTAH because we are direct and honest in speaking the truth about homosexual-bisexual-transgender activism, in the love and grace of Christ.
Beginning at the Friday banquet [casual dinner catered by Portillo’s], I will again be devoting my full energies to AFTAH, which I formed more than two decades ago (an offshoot of my “Lambda Report”) and has always been my first love when it comes to opposing Big Gay and its cheerleading media enablers. (We veterans of the fight against the LGBTQueer lobby could tell Donald Trump a few things about “fake news.”)
Our website will return to doing that for which AFTAH is known (and which drives LGBT militants and the Left crazy): telling the hard truths about homosexuality and “transgenderism” that so many others—even people on our side—are often unwilling to tell. Yes, that includes publishing disturbing (albeit boxed-out) photos of unsavory “gay” events that remind us why, for centuries, homosexuality has been regarded as deeply immoral and an unnatural perversion.
Denise Shick’s father told her he wanted to become a “woman” when she was just nine years old. Now she runs the Help 4 Families Ministry, which reaches out to families dealing with “transgender” issues. Shick will be speaking on a panel at the AFTAH Teach-in Sat., Oct. 21, following our dinner-banquet with ex-“gay” Stephen Black Oct. 20. Black also will give three presentations on Saturday.
Folks, I’m excited to announce that Denise Shick, founder and executive director of Help 4 Families Ministry, will be speaking at the AFTAH Teach-in Oct. 21, which follows our banquet with former homosexual Stephen Black Oct. 20. Help 4 Families describes itself as “a Christian ministry that compassionately reaches out to family members and brings understanding of the emotional and spiritual issues that families face when a loved one is gender confused.”
As you can read in the essay by Denise below, Shick’s father revealed to her when she was just nine years old that he wanted to become a “woman,” then asked her not to tell her own mother. Her ministry today was birthed by her many years of dealing with the pain and trauma of such emotional abuse at the hands of her own gender-confused dad; read more about her harrowing personal story HERE.
Denise is author of three books dealing with “transgender” issues (see below). She will be on our Q-and-A panel Saturday afternoon, following three presentations on homosexuality by Stephen Black, who has lived 35 years free of the “gay” lifestyle that he once thought defined him. Black also speaks Friday evening, Oct. 20, with a casual dinner served. Tickets are just $25 for both days of outstanding teaching. My friend and pro-family leader Diane Gramley of American Family Association of Pennsylvania will also appear on the final Saturday panel.
Banquet & Teach-in sign up: More information HERE; sign up with your safe payment online HERE. — Peter LaBarbera, Americans For Truth
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The ‘Transgender’ Lobby Is Weaponizing Children as Pawns in the Culture War
By Denise Shick, Oct. 1, 2017
I’ll never forget the first time I heard of warlords such as Uganda’s Joseph Kony turning little boys into killer soldiers and little girls into sex slaves. My heart ached at the thought. It still does. It seemed like a horrible war movie—but it was real, with real children as casualties.
War is always horrible, but in some sad cases it is necessary. But children should be—to the greatest degree possible—shielded from violent conflicts. They should never be forced to kill or do violence. Innocent, impressionable children are malleable. They can be sculpted into persons of deep character, guided by transcendent principles. Or they can be turned into weapons, as Joseph Kony and many other evil men have done.
Folks, please make plans to attend the Americans For Truth banquet and next-day teach-in featuring my friend and pro-family leader Stephen Black, Oct. 20-21, 2017 — at Grace For Life Bible Church, in Naperville, IL (west of Chicago). Stephen once considered himself “gay” but now is a Christian family man and the director of First Stone Ministries, which helps people overcome homosexuality like he did. He is also author of the forthcoming book, Freedom Realized, and Board Chairman of Restored Hope Network, the largest umbrella group of ex-gay Christian ministries. This will be a spectacular learning event that you will not want to miss!! Event details follow the video from our friends at PFOX. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH; Twitter: @PeterLaBarbera
AFTAH Banquet and Teach-in on Homosexuality (note venue change):
WHAT: AFTAH’s annual dinner-banquet and next-day teach-in on homosexuality.
WHEN: Banquet with casual dinner is Friday, Oct. 20, 6:00-9:30 PM. Teach-in seminars led by Stephen is Saturday, Oct 21, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. A casual lunch will be served.
WHERE: [Note venue change] Grace For Life Bible Church, Naperville, Illinois (west of Chicago), 7S201 S. River Rd., Naperville, IL. [at the corner of River Rd. and Aurora Ave.]
COST: Just $25/person to attend either or both events. Table of 10 at banquet for $250. Separate gift offerings will be taken both Friday and Saturday. Mail check to: AFTAH, PO Box 5522, Naperville, IL 60567-5522 — or pay online HERE (we are still updating the banquet donor form).
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Background
Stephen H. Black’s life is a microcosm of homosexuality and the “gay” cultural debate. Molested and bullied as a boy, he came to believe the lie that he was “gay.” Unsatisfied with his homosexual life as a man, he ultimately found salvation through Jesus Christ, walked away from homosexual sin, married a wonderful woman and had children (Stephen is a grandfather now, too). In recent years, Stephen was used by God to defend the truth about homosexuality as a board member of the largest Christian ex-gay umbrella group, Exodus International, which imploded after its leaders embraced apostasy.
Stephen is the author of the forthcoming book, Freedom Realized: Finding Freedom from Homosexuality & Living a Life Free from Labels, which testifies to the truth, ignored by the media, that many men and women have found freedom from homosexuality through Christ. Stephen’s powerful testimony and bold defense of biblical truth is a rebuke to the timidity and shallow, defensive thinking on homosexual sin that pervades the evangelical church today.
Stephen will be the keynote speaker at our dinner banquet Friday, October 20th, and then will lead three seminar discussions on Saturday, October 21st, answering questions like these:
People I love are “gay.” What is the best way to reach out with the heart of Christ to homosexual or “transgender” strugglers?
Why should I believe what the Bible teaches about homosexuality and marriage, and how do I defend it in a secular culture?
If “born gay” is a myth, what are the major contributing factors to a person embracing a homosexual identity?
Is there really solid evidence that MANY once-“gay” men and women have changed and found lasting freedom apart from homosexuality?
Why is it wrong to affirm “LGBTQ youth” in “gay” identities and gender confusion?
What is the danger of “gay”- and “trans”-affirming “Christianity” and how should believers answer its false claims?
Why should the Church stay engaged in the cultural battle for Truth surrounding LGBTQ issues?
How are LGBTQ activists destroying religious liberty in America?
Folks, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my tax dollars spent on transsexual “male-to-female” “vaginoplasty” “surgeries” that attempt to turn a severely gender-confused man’s healthy penis–which God designed to bring forth new life–into a makeshift “vagina.” Nor do I want to subsidize through my government the surgical removal of a woman’s healthy breasts so she can have a flat chest to help fulfill her disordered “transgender” fantasy of becoming a “man.” Ex-transsexual Walt Heyer of SexChangeRegret.com is right: your DNA does not lie and you cannot change your sex.
The mutilations are revolting and tragic, yet YOU and I are paying for them. Recently, the U.S. House narrowly rejected the Hartzler Amendment to the main defense spending bill–designed to stop taxpayer funding of such grotesque operations in the U.S. Armed Forces. Amazingly, 23 Republicans joined the unified Democrats in voting it down.
The following graphic is excerpted from a larger description of a “vaginoplasty” by the Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery. Beneath the graphic (after the jump), we have reprinted the Center’s full “Vaginoplasty Methodology” description. Let’s put an end to this tax-funded madness; call your U.S. Congressman at 202-225-3121 and your Senators at 202-224-3121. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH; Twitter: @PeterLaBarbera [click on graphic to enlarge]
On Tuesday (July 18, 2017), I was a guest on VCY America’s “Crosstalk,” with my friend and host Jim Schneider (who always does an excellent job) [Click HERE to listen.] It was a great program; Crosstalk’s description of it follows (I have added some links). Also, a reminder: you can view all of my articles and columns on LifeSiteNews by clicking on the button at the lower right or by going HERE. — Peter LaBarbera, president, Americans For Truth; Twitter: @PeterLaBarbera; write us at americansfortruth[at]gmail.com.
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Selling Out to the LGBT Agenda
Posted on July 18th, 2017
??Date: July 18, 2017 Host: Jim Schneider Guest: Peter LaBarbera ?Listen: MP3 ???| Order from VCY America
?This edition of Crosstalk began with an update concerning baby Charlie Gard. An American doctor, who previously testified that Charlie’s chances of improvement are up to 50%, is examining him.
The judge is allowing for this examination and then he’ll allow up to a week in making a decision.
Also, Charlie has received a government appointed lawyer who supposedly is speaking for Charlie in the courts. The problem is that this lawyer is the chairman for Compassion in Dying, an end-of-life advocacy group with a sister organization that supports assisted suicide.
Peter LaBarbera is the founder and president of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality and also a writer for Lifesitenews.com.
Jim indicated that he commends the Trump administration for putting on hold the recruitment of people who desire to identify in a way that’s contrary to their biological sex. That policy was set to take effect July 1st but has been postponed to January 1st. However, those in the military who wish to identify as transgender are being allowed to do so. Peter feels it’s ridiculous that under President Trump we’re not shelving this radical experiment.
According to Peter, there’s radical pro-transgender training which is telling even women that they need to get used to and accept (in the name of non-discrimination) the idea that there will be biological males in the same shower facilities, barracks and restrooms with them.
Jim noted that what’s even more disturbing is that now when a vote has come before Congress to put a stop to things like this, they have refused to do so. For example, he mentioned how the Republican led U.S. Congress had an opportunity to ban taxpayer funding for sex change surgeries for military personnel. They blocked a ban on such operations which means they kept the Obama era policy intact and put taxpayers on the hook for those in the military who are gender confused.
