NEBRASKA: Christian Groups Work To Repeal LGBT Protections In Omaha

Joe.My.God. reports:

God’s Gentle People are working to make it legal again to discriminate against LGBT people in Omaha, which only narrowly approved its workplace protection ordinance in March of this year. 

Some churches involved in the effort put the call to sign the petition more directly than others; approaches range from reminders to sign petitions after Sunday services to one pastor’s 39-minute sermon urging congregants to demonstrate their faith by signing their names. But the step into city politics reflects a similar perspective from some churches: that the ordinance limits their right to express their Christian views. “I think from time to time the people of God are called to resist their government at key crossroads, and I’m convinced that we stand at one of those crossroads right now in our city,” the Rev. Mark Ashton, lead pastor of Christ Community Church, said in a sermon last Sunday. “Every signature makes a difference in the future of our city,” he said later. “I’d encourage every registered voter who lives within the City of Omaha and follows Jesus to sign your name.”

Leading the repeal charge is the Nebraska Heritage Coalition, which has this message on their website: 

Homosexual activity (not temptation or preference) is explicitly prohibited as sin in multiple passages in the Old and New Testament. We do not have the right to change God’s moral law to fit our sexual preferences. We believe that when we admit our sin, the Lord is faithful to forgive. Whether it is gossip, greed, violence, hatred, homosexual activity or heterosexual adultery, every last one of us is guilty. Fortunately, our welcome before God is not based on our ‘religion resume,’ or our ability to live up to a moral code. It is based on what Jesus did on the cross to pay for our wrongdoing. He forgives us and begins to change us from the inside out to become more like him. This is the Good News for men and women, young and old, rich and poor, clergy and laity, gay people and straight people alike. Therefore, everyone is welcome to attend our churches. Together, we can discover God’s forgiveness and the strength to live a life in obedience to his moral law.

There are 242 churches listed as backers of the repeal.(Tipped by JMG reader Sam)

RELATED: Last month Omaha Archbishop George Lucas issued a letter demanding that Nebraska’s Catholics support the repeal petition.

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Canada: Teachers Criticized For Queer Ally Cards

CNEWS reports:

A group of parents are demanding two Grade 5 teachers remove cards displayed in their classrooms pledging support for gay and lesbian youth.
“We have to sign hundreds of petitions to allow religious exercises in school,” parent Kim Peters Sawatzky said. “We should treat this situation in the same way, as it seems to be just as controversial.”
The cards declare that Stephanie Fortier and Peter Wohlgemut, teachers at West Park School in Altona, about 120 km south of Winnipeg, have completed training sessions through the Rainbow Resource Centre in Winnipeg.
Last October, the two voluntarily participated in a session, along with 25 other educators from the region, as part of the provincial professional development day.
Participants were given the option to display the card, which includes the word “Ally” on a rainbow, along with the words, “As an Ally, I support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, intersex, queer, and questioning individuals, families and communities. As an Ally, I will work towards a more aware, affirming, safe and open work environment in both policy and practice.”
Since the cards were posted, the school has had a steady stream of parents asking they be removed. Many only heard about the card this week.
“I would like to have the choice of how I choose to teach my children about these words and what they mean,” Peters Sawatzky said.
Rachael Friesen, whose son is in Wohlgemut’s class, said she has no issue with the card.
“The kids are hearing some pretty crazy stuff on the playground and we have no control over that. All we can do is damage control, so I’m not understanding why a teacher can’t answer a question without everyone freaking out,” she said.
Ultimately, the school decided to post only the top piece of the training card, the rainbow piece that only contains the word “Ally.” Still, a group of parents is insisting the cards be removed entirely.
Border Land School Division superintendent Krista Curry said discussions about the card will continue.
“Inclusive education is a divisional priority regardless of gender, race or ethnicity,” she said. “We want everyone to feel accepted, safe and supported in our schools.”

GHANA: Christians March Against Gays

Joe.My.God. reports:

A coalition of Christian groups gathered in a southern Ghana city over the weekend to march againstthe so-called rise of homosexuality in African culture. Ghana is only the latest African nation to be swept by Christian-fueled anti-gay hatred.

• Christians from various denominations including Heads of churches on Saturday took to the streets against the upsurge of homosexuality and lesbianism in Sekondi-Takoradi. The Western Regional Network of Churches organized the demonstration. Some placards carried by the demonstrators read, “Speak against Gayism”, “Avoid Gayism” and “Don’t do it, it is wrong”. The demonstrators converged at the Railway Park at Sekondi where Bishop Emmanuel Botwey, General Overseer of the Christian Faith Church, presented a petition to Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister. Bishop Botwey called on all arms of government to come out openly and condemn homosexuality. He said the practice was not acceptable religiously and culturally and should not be encouraged in the country.

Hypocrisy Of Christians On Homosexuality

Anti-Gay Bigots: Homos Are Bullying Us!

Joe.My.God. reports:

This takes the damn ass fucking cake, but it’s no surprise to those of us on Twitter.
As the gay-rights movement advances, there’s increasing evidence of an intriguing role reversal: Today, it’s the conservative opponents of that movement who seem eager to depict themselves as victims of intolerance. To them, the gay-rights lobby has morphed into a relentless bully — pressuring companies and law firms into policy reversals, making it taboo in some circumstances to express opposition to same-sex marriage. “They’re advocating for a lot of changes in the name of tolerance,” said Jim Campbell, an attorney with the conservative Alliance Defense Fund. “Yet ironically the tolerance is not returned, for people of faith who don’t agree with their agenda.” Many gay activists, recalling their movement’s past struggles and mindful of remaining bias, consider such protestations by their foes to be hollow and hypocritical.

What the religious and homophobic people are doing is confusing being tolerant with tolerating intolerance. if they can’t process that, it’s nobody’s fault but theirs.

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Those Britons and their cute accent and their ironic sense of humour. Whatever they say sounds so eloquent. 

(Via Joe.My.God.)

Supreme Court OK’s Westboro Protests

Joe.My.God. reports:

The Supreme Court today ruled 8-1 to overturn a $5M judgment against Westboro Baptist Church, saying that the First Amendment protects their right to picket the funerals of military members. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: “Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and– as it did here– inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker.”

Well, that’s very unfortunate. But as I’ve said before, Hate Speech can only be fought with More Speech.

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We Heading For Android Marriage, People!

Joe.My.God comments:

So says Robert Broadus of Protect Marriage Maryland, whom you may recall for his map of the United States which designates the states that are most defying of God for their laws on same-sex relationships. On the upside, the off switch on a robot husband could be quite handy.

Well, this is what happens when you ask religious fanatics to give their point of view on minorities issues. And clearly, this guy doesn’t know where the mules come from (talking about the argument of two species can’t reproduce). But then again, what does that have to do with marriage equality? Are we gays another specie from the rest? (well, maybe, but not biologically)  

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