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Texas Values Files Brief against Same-Sex ‘Domestic Partnerships’
December 6th, 2012The following release was put out by Texas Values. It would be instructive to compare the progress of homosexual activism in Red States like Texas to Blue States like Illinois — including the penetration of schools with LGBT advocacy and programs. Regardless, the homosexuals always advance through incremental victories, such as the Domestic Partnership policy in question here. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH
12.5.12 — Texas Values Files Brief on Same-Sex ‘Domestic Partnerships’, Pflugerville ISD Board Meeting Next Week
Texas Values and Alliance Defending Freedom submitted a brief today to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, requesting that his office find the Pflugerville ISD and other local governmental entities in violation of the Texas Constitution. Texas State Senator Dan Patrick made a request for the opinion on Nov. 2. PISD and other local governments are creating and recognizing a new legal status of “domestic partnerships” as a method to offer marital benefits to unmarried government employees in direct violation of the Texas Marriage Amendment. PISD and other local governmental entities in Texas are blatantly violating the Texas Constitution and the will of the Texas people, which supported the Texas Marriage Amendment by an over 76% vote. The language of the Texas Constitution and its legislative intent are crystal clear on this issue. Read our brief HERE.
Action Alert: Pflugerville ISD is reconsidering its same-sex benefits policy. The issue is finally being put on the agenda for a School Board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Pflugerville High School cafeteria, 1301 W. Pecan Street. We need you to turn out and let your voice be heard if you are in the area. Contact us if you plan to attend.
Texas Values stands for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at www.txvalues.org. Texas Values 900 Congress, Suite 220 Austin, Texas 78701 (512) 478-2220 Jonathan M. Saenz, Esq. President, Texas Values
Standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas o: 512.478.2220 f: 512.478.2229 jsaenz@txvalues.org txvalues.org facebook.com/texasvalues twitter.com/txvalues *Texas Values is a new state-focused effort of Liberty Institute.
LaBarbera Discusses APA’s Removal of ‘Gender Identity Disorder’ (GID) from DSM-V on Janet Mefferd Show
December 5th, 2012Go HERE to listen to AFTAH President Peter LaBarbera’s Tuesday interview with Dallas-based Christian talk show host Janet Mefferd. We discussed the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) announcement that it will remove “Gender Identity Disorder” (GID) from the next edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) — known as the the “bible” of psychiatry. LaBarbera discusses how the change was the result of politics — with transgender activists heavily lobbying the APA just as homosexual activists lobbied (and bullied) the APA into removing homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973.
The following is Mefferd’s listing for the program:
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
The American Psychiatric Association board has hit another historic milestone: People who call themselves “transgender” or “gender non-conforming” will no longer have their identities classified as mental disorders in the APA manual. Janet will talk over the implications with Peter LaBarbera, president and founder of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality. Also: Is it time for evangelicals to give up the same-sex “marriage” fight? One prominent religion writer thinks so. Janet will discuss it with Dr. Robert Gagnon, associate professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and author of “The Bible and Homosexual Practice.”
AFTAH’s LaBarbera: Why Does Rick Warren Seem ‘Embarrassed’ About Helping Pass California’s Proposition 8?
December 4th, 2012
Americans For Truth is featured in this follow-up by Christian News Network to their original piece on Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren’s comments about homosexuality. The following are excerpts from the article:
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Rick Warren Expresses Regret Over Making Video Supporting Biblical Marriage; Family Group Concerned
December 4, 2012 | Christian News Network
By Heather Clark
A pro-family group is calling into question recent statements made by Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life and pastor of Saddleback Church in California, surrounding his regret over creating a video in 2008 that expressed his support for Biblical marriage.
During a recent interview with Marc Lamont Hill of the Huffington Post, Warren sought to clarify matters pertaining to his creation of a video years ago in which he stated that those who follow the Bible should support California’s Proposition 8 ballot initiative. He had been accused of lying months after releasing the video for stating during an interview on Larry King Live that “[d]uring the whole Proposition 8 thing, I … never once issued a statement, never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop. 8 was going.”
“People say that I campaigned for Proposition 8. The meaning of the word ‘campaign’ means two different things,” Warren told Hill. “To me, that means that you go out and you speak at rallies, you do advertisements for it and stuff like that.”
“I never made a single statement on Prop. 8 until the week before, and in my own church, some members said, ‘Where do we stand on this?’” he explained. “[So], I released a video to my members. It was posted all over like it was an advertisement.”
…
Following Warren’s explanation, some are expressing concern, including Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality. LaBarbera told Christian News Network that Warren’s comments made him appear as if he was ashamed to publicly stand for the Biblical definition of marriage.
“[Warren] regrets that the statement got out wider than his church. To me, that’s incredible because he should be happy that he had influence outside of his church to the whole body of Christ in California — indeed, to people all over the state voting on the issue who look to him for guidance,” he said. “And so, that troubles me that he even says now that he wouldn’t make that video. … That’s saying that he does not want to be a leader on the homosexual ‘marriage’ issue.”
Read the rest of this article »
AP Style Book Ends Use of Smear Term ‘Homophobia’ in Political and Social Contexts
December 4th, 2012
“Homophobia” is routinely used to describe opposition to homosexuality and the “gay” movement.
Needless to say, we at AFTAH are pleased that the Associated Press has dispensed with the use of the pejorative term “homophobia” in its official and influential Style Book. “Homophobia” is usually employed by pro-“gay” advocates to denigrate sincere and well-meaning opponents of homosexuality as irrational bigots.
Predictably, homosexual activists like John Aravosis — the very types who routinely smear pro-family advocates like this writer (and organizations like the Boy Scouts) as “homophobes” — are disappointed with AP’s decision.
We at Americans For Truth, like our peers in the pro-family, conservative movement who stand in principled and faith-based opposition to the LGBT political and cultural agenda, do not “fear” homosexuals. We simply disagree profoundly with the normalization of homosexual behavior and the elevation of homosexuality and “gay” identity to “civil rights” status.
Of course, there are people who do fear homosexuals, but there are also people who fear conservative Christians. So isn’t it odd that “homophobia” (and “Islamophobia”) became mainstreamed in America’s media-driven lexicon, while “Christian-phobia” did not? (And now transgender activists, piggybacking off the semantic success of their homosexual allies, are pushing the equally dubious “transphobia” to advance their agenda.)
You could easily fill ten large books with examples of abuses of the tendentious term “homophobia” and its derivative, “homophobe,” in the same-sex debate. Advocates of homosexuality and foes of biblical sexual morality would never allow themselves to be categorized and caricatured as “phobes” — our friend John Biver posits the Secular Left as “morality-phobia” HERE — yet they pretend that somehow “homophobia” objectively describes opposition to homosexuality. That’s because to far too many homosexual advocates, the end justifies the means, and the “gay” cause advances when its critics are cynically and falsely cast as hateful and fearful creeps.
We will have more on this story. For now, it is gratifying to see AP make a move toward neutrality, objectivity and fairness in its coverage of homosexuality. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH
Politico reports (emphasis added):
AP Nixes ‘Homophobia,’ ‘Ethnic Cleansing’
By Dylan Byers, 11/26/12
The Associated Press has nixed “homophobia,” “ethnic cleansing,” and a number of other terms from its Style Book in recent months.
The online Style Book now says that “-phobia,” “an irrational, uncontrollable fear, often a form of mental illness” should not be used “in political or social contexts,” including “homophobia” and “Islamophobia.” It also calls “ethnic cleansing” a “euphemism,” and says the AP “does not use ‘ethnic cleansing’ on its own. It must be enclosed in quotes, attributed and explained.”
“Ethnic cleansing is a euphemism for pretty violent activities, a phobia is a psychiatric or medical term for a severe mental disorder. Those terms have been used quite a bit in the past, and we don’t feel that’s quite accurate,” AP Deputy Standards Editor Dave Minthorn told POLITICO.
“When you break down ‘ethnic cleansing,’ it’s a cover for terrible violent activities. It’s a term we certainly don’t want to propagate,”Minthorn continued. “Homophobia especially — it’s just off the mark. It’s ascribing a mental disability to someone, and suggests a knowledge that we don’t have. It seems inaccurate. Instead, we would use something more neutral: anti-gay, or some such, if we had reason to believe that was the case.”
“We want to be precise and accurate and neutral in our phrasing,” he said.
The changes made to the online Style Book will appear in next year’s printed edition.
Matt Barber: Jerry Sandusky Laws (Banning Reparative Ex-Gay Therapy): ‘Sick and Twisted’
December 3rd, 2012Sounds alarm over criminalization of ‘gay’ change counseling
This column was first published by WND.com two days ago
By Matt Barber
In recent months, “progressive” lawmakers, activist attorneys and militant homosexual pressure groups have launched a fierce campaign to ban therapeutic help for child victims of monsters like homosexual pedophile Jerry Sandusky. California has already passed such a law (SB 1172).
On Friday, Liberty Counsel founder and chairman Mat Staver challenged this twisted ban in federal court, seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the law from taking effect on Jan. 1. Judge Kimberly Mueller will likely issue a decision within a week or so.
SB 1172 would make illegal any counseling to diminish or eliminate same-sex sexual attractions or high-risk behaviors, even when, as is often the case, those attractions and behaviors derive from sexual abuse.
Thousands of people, many of whom once identified as “gay,” have received positive, life-changing benefits from such counseling. Yet, among other things, the fact that people can, and do, leave homosexuality bulldozes the politically motivated, scientifically discredited “born that way” meme.
Read the rest of this article »
West Point’s Cadet Chapel Hosts Same-Sex ‘Marriage’ Ceremony
December 2nd, 2012Here is the latest manifestation of America’s descent into decadence and godlessness. What right do West Point and all the military academies have to teach young men and women integrity and right from wrong when they now are celebrating sexual immorality on such a grand scale? And yet Rep. Paul Ryan (echoing his pro-“gay” Republican running mate, Mitt Romney) said it would be a big mistake for the GOP to revisit the homosexuals-in-the-military issue (i.e., reinstate a homosexual exclusion policy).
Are we heading toward a bipartisan push in favor of Big Homosexuality — for which the revolutionary redefinition of marriage is but one goal? And where does that leave Christians and all moral-minded citizens who put loyalty to their Creator and sexual sanity above party politics? We’ve heard a lot about the “Fiscal Cliff,” but America is also dangling off the Moral Cliff. Too bad few governing and cultural elites seem to care enough to try and rescue us from going over it. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH
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FoxNews reports:
First same-sex marriage being celebrated Saturday at West Point’s Cadet Chapel
Published December 01, 2012, FoxNews.com
The first same-sex marriage at West Point’s Cadet Chapel will be celebrated Saturday – when a military veteran and her partner exchange vows roughly one year after President Obama ended the military policy banning openly gay people from serving in the military.
The ceremony will take place in the Military Academy’s Cadet Chapel between Brenda Sue Fulton and Penelope Dara Gnesin. Fulton is a military veteran and spokeswoman for Outserve – an advocacy group for actively serving gay, lesbian and bisexual military personnel, reported first by USA Today.
West Point hosted its first same-sex marriage last weekend, but it was a private ceremony at a smaller campus venue.
Read the rest of this article »
Rick Warren Hedges on Whether Homosexual Sex Is Always Sinful
December 1st, 2012
The following is excerpted from from an article in Christian News Network, in which AFTAH President Peter LaBarbera is quoted. The original article contains video footage of the controversial Rick Warren interview with Huffington Post [or click HERE]:
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Rick Warren Uncertain if Homosexual Behavior is Sinful, Says ‘Gays’ Go to Heaven
November 29, 2012 By Heather Clark, Christian News Network
Controversy is stirring over recent comments made by Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book The Purpose-Driven Life and megachurch leader of Saddleback Church in California, who stated that homosexual behavior “might be” sinful, and that he believes homosexuals go to Heaven.
During an interview this week with the Huffington Post, Warren was asked by Marc Lamont Hill if having romantic feelings for a member of the same sex is a sin. Leading up to the question, Warren was explaining that he does not hate homosexuals, and that people should disagree politely on the subject of homosexuality.
“I have many, many gay friends, and have worked around the world with them in gay organizations to try to stop AIDS,” he said. “We’re doing ‘World AIDS Day’ this weekend at Saddleback Church. My wife and I have given millions of dollars to help people with HIV/AIDS and have worked with gay organizations on that.”
“What about the love part, though? I hear about the AIDS part,” asked Hill. “It’s not illegal to love somebody,” Warren replied.
“But you think it’s a sin,” Hill asserted. “No, it’s not a sin to love somebody,” Warren said.
“It might be a sin to have sex with them,” he added. “It might be.”
Read the rest of this article »
AFTAH Interviews Pastor Ken Hutcherson on Washington State ‘Gay Marriage’ Measure – Part One
November 30th, 2012
This is the first of a two-part interview [click HERE to listen] with Ken Hutcherson, senior pastor of Antioch Bible Church, in Redmond, Washington. It was recorded November 29, 2012. Hutcherson discusses the failed pro-family campaign to defeat a homosexual “marriage” bill in his state. He drew attention in pro-family circles by. criticizing national groups such as National Organization for Marriage (NOM) for coming into the state and dictating a “moderate” leadership for the pro-traditional-marriage forces–at the expense of a unified, local coalition of religious and pro-family leaders that had already formed. (See these articles quoting Hutcherson in One News Now and Christian Post.) Hutcherson compares the Washington State anti-“gay marriage” campaign’s effort to stay moderate (he says he was denied a leadership role because he was viewed by NOM as “too controversial”) to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney avoiding social issues to reach out to moderate voters. “Hutch” says Romney would have won had he exposed President Barack Obama’s radical record on “same-sex marriage,” abortion and other social issues because that would have motivated more Christians and conservatives to go to the polls. AFTAH will be inviting NOM to tell its side of the Washington State marriage vote story in a future interview. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH
HOW TO LISTEN: This is an mp3 file, supported in most operating systems by Windows Media Player, Quick Time and/or I-Tunes. Real Player is not supported and there may be difficulty when attempting to listen with it. Left click once on the link below to play. (Please be patient, depending upon the speed of your internet connection it may take a moment to load.) OR right click the link then “save target as” to download the whole show.
Americans For Truth
P.O. Box 340743
Columbus, OH 43234
