Tag Archive for: gay

Stopping the ‘war against children’

MassResistance announces fight to stop the “war against children” in Massachusetts.
Schoolchildren across Massachusetts are under assault by the radical homosexual and transgender movement. It’s being funded and supported by the state. It must be stopped.

Announcement by MassResistance

On January 15, Brian Camenker of MassResistance was the featured speaker at thePlymouth Rock Tea Party meeting in Pembroke, Massachusetts. We’ve been invited to the Plymouth Rock Tea Party twice before, as well as several other Tea Parties across the state. But this was a special speech, outlining: What MassResistance is taking on in 2014.

Brian Camenker of MassResistance takes a question at the Plymouth Rock Tea Party meeting.

Camenker, along with others from MassResistance, came and addressed the group with shocking news about the super-charged push of sexuality, homosexuality, and transgenderism on schoolchildren — going on under almost everyone’s radar, including parents. Tea Party people are used to confronting the country’s crises, but this was particularly new and distressing for many of them. And it should be. At any other time in history, it would be considered madness.

The state-sponsored “war on children”

The well-funded and well-organized radical sexual agenda targeting schoolchildren has reached levels once unimaginable. It’s been growing quietly but very forcefully. We’ve documented much of it over the last few years, but the totality of it has stillnot been grasped by the public.

This infamous book, Queering Elementary Education — with aforward by homosexual activist Kevin Jennings –has been widely used by school staff. We’ve even seen it in a high school guidance counselor’s office bookshelf.

Here’s what’s been happening in Massachusetts, centered in the public schools. Much of this is now spreading to other states. Some of it has been going on for years; other things are fairly new. But all of it is horrific:

* Sexualization of young children. So-called “sex-ed” often includes birth-control information, condoms-on-bananas, masturbation, positive discussions of abortion, and other sexual “health” information even in elementary school grades.

* Homosexual and transgender school-wide events. “Gay” and “Transgender”awareness days. Specialized events for particular propaganda purposes, such as the “Day of Silence,” “National Coming Out Day”, and even “Gay History Month.”

* State-supported “Youth Pride” activities. Middle school and high school students are encouraged to attend state-supported annual “Youth Pride Day”activities in downtown Boston. There are homosexual- and transgender-themed booths and speakers. Condoms and anal lubricants are given out. One year there was an adult sadomasochism practitioner as a staff member. Kids march in a “gay” parade. And they attend a “transgender” prom in the evening.

High school kids marching in state-supported gay “Youth Pride Day” parade in downtown Boston.

* Official state GLBT Commission. The Massachusetts Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth includes hardcore adult homosexual and transgender activists. This state “commission” receives hundreds of thousands of tax dollars (and has access to millions more indirectly) to go into public schools and work directly with schoolchildren. It also helps coordinate the homosexual “gay straight alliance” (GSA) clubs in high schools and middle schools across the state.

This man who dresses as a woman is a transgender activist and a long-time member of the MassachusettsCommission on Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Youthand directs the youth club BAGLY.
[MassResistance photo]

* Encouraging kids to “come out” as homosexual and transgender. This isvery dangerous. Schools encourage kids to declare their “true” identity as homosexual or transgender. It is done at events and also with encouragement from staff and school “gay” clubs. This has a profound emotional effect on children, particularly during adolescence.

Normalizing the “transgender” concept in kids’ minds. This booth was at a “Youth Pride Day” in Boston. They also go directly into public schools.
[MassResistance photo]

* Sending kids to outside “gay clubs.” Schools often direct troubled youth to outside “gay” and transgender organizations run by radical adult activists. Where they are told that they are really “gay” and their parents are bad people who don’t understand or appreciate them. There have been reports of homosexual sex between students and adults at these groups. Here’s one mother’s story of what happened to her son.

This outside “club” for youth, run by radical adult activists, also had a booth at “Youth Pride Day.” Note the packages of condoms (round and square) being given out on the table — an indication of what  the “club” is really all about.
[MassResistance photo]

* Move to deny children access to needed therapy. There is an outrageous bill in the Massachusetts State House (House Bill 154, and there are similar bills in other states) to ban children from receiving professional counseling to deal with unwanted homosexual issues — but would allow counseling for children to affirm homosexual feelings they might have! This would have terrible consequences for children and adolescents who desperately need this kind of help.

* Intrusive sexual surveys. Thousands of students in middle schools and high schools across the state are asked to fill out surveys on private, personal issues without their parents’ knowledge or consent. The surveys include questions about heterosexual and homosexual activity, drug use, criminal activity, personal questions about family members, suicidal feelings and attempts, and violence they may be involved with. They are unscientific, and use leading questions to elicit answers from kids that are used by radical groups to justify their programs.

* Cross-dressing and transgenderism. The State of Massachusetts hasdirected all schools to allow so-called “transgender” students — children who decide to “identify” as the opposite sex — to wear opposite-sex clothes to school, use opposite-sex restrooms and locker rooms, and be called by an opposite-sex name. Parents are not required to be notified. And students or school staff who openly disagree are liable for punishment and diversity training.

Very confused. Young man at 2009 state-supported GLBT youth “prom” held each year in Boston City Hall. Part of annual “Youth Pride” day which attracts teenagers from across the state and promotes GLBT identities and behaviors to them.
[MassResistance photo]

* Homosexual-themed school plays. School drama departments across the state are having kids put on school plays with hard-core homosexual themes, with the students acting in homosexual roles. See example here.

* Forcing anti-Christian values on Christian children. Children with Christian values are told that their religious values are inferior to the “modern” acceptance of homosexuality, and that they have no choice but to accept that. See examplehere.

* Explicit homosexual books assigned or recommended to kids. Students in all grades are assigned explicit books promoting homosexuality, masturbation, and related sexual behaviors, some of them very explicit and pornographic. Such books are also made available to students in the school libraries.

After this book about homosexual romance was read to second graders, a federal judge ruled that current Massachusetts law doesn’t give parents the right to opt-out or even be notified!

* Lies and medical disinformation. Schools tell children that homosexuality is “normal” and that they are “born that way” — despite overwhelming medical evidence to the contrary. School officials withhold information about the diseases, addictions, and mental illnesses associated with homosexuality, and the ex-gay therapy available to those who desire it.

This harms kids very badly

This is hurting children (and their families) in many terrible ways. Children who are introduced to sexual topics at a young age — during their “latency period” — can easily be psychologically traumatized by that throughout their lives. Prematurely sexualized children sometimes commit horrible sexual crimes on other, younger children. Pregnancies, diseases, and various self-destructive behaviors have become a problem in society when kids are introduced to this information.

The so-called “coming out” process — persuading a child to internalize that he is “born” homosexual or transgender and cannot change, then publicly declare it — causes even more trauma in vulnerable kids.

The breaking down of religion and moral values by schools and school officials, whom kids look to as authority figures, causes additional problems with youth struggling to develop their sense of right and wrong. And it can cause terrible conflicts with parents who are trying to raise their children with traditional or religious values.

Why are they doing this to children?

What we’re about to say may jolt you. For two decades we’ve been helping parents deal with schools and public officials in reaction to the kinds of things listed above (and worse). After seeing it up close for that long, we’ve concluded that the teachers and school officials (and politicians) doing these things to kids are not simply misguided. In our experience, they are truly bad (some might say evil) people. They know very well how these things affect children. Most of the time the effects are very visible to them. They’ve had it explained to them by us and many others. They know the anguish that parents have about it, and they purposefully mislead parents or don’t inform them or offer them a choice. They refuse to consider or even acknowledge any data or information that contradicts their agenda in any way. This is very dangerous, since they are dealing vulnerable human beings. But in our long experience, they simply don’t care. Whatever vague utopia they’re trying to achieve justifies the means.

In our on-the-ground experience going back nearly 20 years the only thing that ever stops this is the overwhelming force of angry citizens.

And unfortunately, the conservative movement is backing away from this fight. And most state-level establishment pro-family groups are too compromised and fearful to make any meaningful progress against this.

It’s distressing how many adult homosexual activists are attracted to the state-supported “gay youth” activities. This group is shown marching in the “Youth Pride Parade” last year.
[MassResistance photo]

Our goal in 2014

A core group of MassResistance people have been meeting regularly since early September working on this. We have decided that in 2014 we are going to do whatever it takes to stop this state-sponsored war on children.

The ultimate source of this horrible problem are the politicians in the Legislature,which has created the legal apparatus for it and lavishly funds it every year. It must be dismantled and stopped. We will direct our energy to mobilizing people from every corner of the state to do the one thing that we know works: to confront them. And continue to confront them more and more until they back down — which they will. And continue to expose the outrages, lies, and disinformation that is being used against innocent children (and their families) which can affect them for the rest of their lives.

We hope intend to be a model for the rest of the country in this regard. The counter-revolution has to start somewhere.

The Massachusetts State House gets a lot of attention from homosexual groups and not enough from regular citizens. That needs to change!
[MassResistance photo]

Getting started

The starting point is a set of strong bills that we filed a (or encouraged State Reps to file) last year at the beginning of the current session — and certain horrific bills filed by radicals that must be stopped. Those include:

Strong bills to be supported forcefully:

1. H333 – Comprehensive Parents’ Rights Opt-In Bill

2. H452 – Protect children from intrusive school surveys on personal issues

3. H427 – Require parental notification when referring child to outside homosexual (or other) organization

4. H2851 – Eliminate the “Commission on GLBT Youth”

5. H1479 – Repeal the Transgender Rights and Hate Crimes law

6. H1282 – Remove exemption of schools from anti-pornography laws

Bad bills by radical groups that must be stopped:

1. H154 – Would deny a child access to therapy to help deal with unwanted homosexual desires.

2. H3793 – Would create required curriculum statewide for sexuality, homosexuality, and similar issues.

3. H1589 – Would expand statewide “transgender rights and hate crimes” law to include public accommodations where children frequent.

4. H454 – Would expand anti-bullying law to force diversity training on homosexuality, transgenderism, etc. on students and staff in schools.

What can you do?

This isn’t complicated. To start with, you can do two things: (1) let us know that you are willing to be involved. And (2) donate money, as much as you can spare.Both of these are really necessary.

The politicians on Beacon Hill (and in states around the country) rarely hear much from large groups of regular people on bills like this. They hear a lot from the radical special interests. With your help, we intend for that experience to change drastically.

After the meeting ended at the Plymouth Rock Tea Party, people continued to ask us questions and sign our sheet to get involved!

 

Billy Graham’s son Franklin: Homosexuality is ‘a sin,’ and ‘I want to warn people’

“In a Meet the Press interview Sunday, Franklin Graham, the son of famed preacher Billy Graham, refused to back down from his Biblical stance against homosexuality. “It’s sin,” he said, and added that he wanted to warn people about it because they will have to stand before God who will judge,” Life Site News reports.

The younger Graham was speaking in the NBC interview about his father’s legacy, as the elder Graham, 95, is ‘very weak’ and eating little. He described how he helped to arrange a final sermon for his father that aired in November. He felt it was God’s will that he help his father “finish well.”

In the context of about Pope Francis’ “who am I to judge” comment, Franklin Graham was asked if he would shift his position on “gays.”

“God would have to shift, and God doesn’t,” Graham replied. “God’s word is the same yesterday and today and a million years from now, that it’s sin.”

“To wink at sin, and to tell somebody that it’s okay, I know the consequences of what will happen one day when they have to stand before God,” Graham continued. “I want to warn people.”

But, he added, “I think the Pope is right when he says he is not the judge. He is not the judge. God is the judge.”

Graham’s stance is the same as that of the Catholic Church.  A Vatican document on the pastoral care of homosexual persons notes that, “There can be no doubt of the moral judgement made there against homosexual relations.” The document, written under John-Paul II and signed by Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict), notes that the Bible “in the course of describing the conditions necessary for belonging to the Chosen People, the author excludes from the People of God those who behave in a homosexual fashion.”

That 1986 Vatican document also encourages speaking out on the immorality of homosexual activity as the younger Graham has done.  “No authentic pastoral programme will include organizations in which homosexual persons associate with each other without clearly stating that homosexual activity is immoral,” it says.

The document stresses, “we wish to make it clear that departure from the Church’s teaching, or silence about it, in an effort to provide pastoral care is neither caring nor pastoral.” It adds: “Only what is true can ultimately be pastoral. The neglect of the Church’s position prevents homosexual men and women from receiving the care they need and deserve.”

For Graham, it’s also a matter of truth. “I’ve never really been one to try to be politically correct,” he said. “I just feel truth is truth, and sometimes I probably offend some people.”

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RELATED COLUMN: 5 Horrific Examples of Cultural Decay in America

What a Christ-mess

Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time of the year. But, political correctness has turned Christmas into Christmess.

One way of dissecting the word is Christ-Mas, which in Spanish would be more Christ. If we had more of Christ, I am quite sure we would not have so much deviancy in our society – high divorce rates, high teenage pregnancy, or high crime rates, etc.

Some people and corporations no longer feel like they can wish a person a Merry Christmas. On the advice of lawyers, they feel compelled to say Happy Holidays. I wish I were joking, but this the truth. How is it possible to take Christ out of Christmas when the very root of Christmas is Christ?

Two weeks ago, Ralph J. Osgood Intermediate School on Long Island, N.Y., managed to do just that. Their 5th graders performed their annual Christmas carols. One of the songs they sang was “Silent Night,” but with a twist. According to radio station WCBS, “the school removed several religious references from the song; this included “holy infant” and “Christ the savior.” According to the school, this was done to avoid offending non-Christians.

This is why political correctness makes no sense. So, let me make sure I understand – you want to change the words to a Christian song in order not to offend non-Christians; thereby offending Christians! Huh?

Who is the arbiter of what is offensive? In this case, it is an arbitrary principal of a middle school. What happens if the principal is an atheist? Does he cancel the Christmas concert all together?

Why is it that we Christians have to give up our beliefs in order to make someone else feel good? How about other groups extending to us the same courtesy?

How about the homosexual community accepting the fact that we Christians believe that homosexuality is incompatible with our beliefs and values without calling us names? Should they not be required to give up their beliefs to make us heterosexuals feel good?

If their movement is truly about understanding and tolerance, as they claim, when will we see this demonstrated by their actions?

Not everyone celebrates Christmas and that’s fine; but please don’t force your beliefs on others who do celebrate Christmas. Not everyone accepts homosexuality and that should be fine also.

America must get back to its roots—of embracing God, putting Christ back in Christmas, and the continued promotion of freedom of speech.

What the political correctness police did to Phil Roberson from the TV show “Duck Dynasty” should never happen to anyone else. He called homosexuality a sin and was suspended from the TV show indefinitely, all because he was standing up for his Christian values. I think everyone should boycott A&E, the TV network that carries this show.

To all my homosexual folks, where is the understanding and tolerance for Phil’s beliefs? The Bible is in total support of his position.

If you don’t agree with his beliefs, then don’t watch his TV show. Corporate sponsors should learn to take principled stands in situations like this. If enough people stop watching the show, then the appropriate business decision would be to remove corporate support for the show. But to have 2 or 3 percent of the population (estimates of the percentage of homosexuals in the U.S.) to deny a majority of the population the option to see a TV show is political correctness gone wild.

It is inconceivable to me that Christmas has become so controversial. I don’t like the sport of figure skating, but I don’t demand for it to be taken off of TV. I despise radio shock jocks Don Imus and Howard Stern. They both have made a career out of making racially incendiary statements about Blacks. I have no problem with them being on the radio and having major corporate sponsors. I just refuse to listen to their radio shows.

So, to those who don’t believe or choose not to celebrate Christmas, that’s okay; but please don’t tread on my right to celebrate this most holy of Christian holidays.

FL Human Rights Organizations defeat Miami-Dade “Transsexual” Ordinance

Recently, the Christian Family Coalition (CFC), a Florida based human rights and social justice advocacy organization, with seventeen other civil and human rights organizations held a press conference at Miami-Dade County Hall to permanently defeat the discriminatory “Transsexual” ordinance.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro

The ordinance was sponsored by Miami-Dade Commissioners Audrey Edmonson and Bruno Barreiro. The “Transsexual” ordinance would allow men dressed up as women or pretending to be women to use women’s bathrooms, dressing rooms, locker rooms, and showers. Furthermore, in the area of employment, it would legalize the firing of anyone disagreeing with this policy simply because of who they are and what they believe.

“We must make sure that this discriminatory ‘Transsexual’ ordinance never returns,” said Nathaniel J. Wilcox, Director of  People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality (PULSE), a South Florida civil rights organization.

CFC notes, “Even though the ordinance was never approved, it claimed its first victim when Commission Vice-Chair Lynda Bell was threatened and dehumanized by the extremists pushing the ordinance.”

“I am truly grateful to Miami-Dade Commission Vice Chair Lynda Bell for doing her duty as a public servant and voting against a proposed ordinance on its first reading,” Teresita “Tessie” Miglio said at Monday’s press conference. “Unfortunately, she became a victim of discrimination and hate by the very group that was trying to force this discriminatory law on every Miami-Dade County resident. Commissioner Bell, please know that there are numerous human rights organizations that proudly stand by you.”

“Today, we are calling on Commissioners, Edmonson, Barreiro, Jordan and Heyman to sign the CFC Anti-Discrimination Challenge to make sure this discriminatory ordinance never returns to Miami-Dade County,” stated Anthon Verdugo, CFC Founder and Executive Director.

CFC protest against Transgender ordinance. For a larger view click on the photo.

The “transsexual” proposal, passed 11-1 on first reading. Commission Vice Chairwoman Lynda Bell casting the lone vote against it. The proposal then went to the commission’s Health and Social Services Committee, comprised of chairwoman Edmonson, Bell, Commissioners Jose “Pepe” Diaz, Jean Monestime and Javier D. Souto.

After intense lobbying by the CFC and a broad coalition of human rights organizations, ordinance co-sponsors withdrew it on Aug. 13, when they realized they did not have the votes to pass it in committee.

According to CFC, “Now, Miami-Dade residents and human rights activists are asking all four ordinance sponsors to lead by example by signing the ‘NO to Discrimination Challenge‘.”

State Senator Nancy Detert is one of those behind an effort to recognize domestic partnerships (a.k.a gay marriage) in Florida. Many believe Detert would support transgender ordinances like the one defeated in Miami-Dade County. According to the Florida Family Policy Council (FFPC), “On February 20, 2013 at approximately 3:25 p.m. in the Florida Senate Children and Families committee (which Detert is a member), a deceptive and highly controversial bill died. The bill, SB 196, was labeled as a domestic partnership but actually attempted to create a full blown civil union and a form of homosexual marriage in direct violation of the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment passed by Floridians in 2008 by 62%.”

Miami-Dade Commission Transgender Ordinance video:

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Gay journalists plan to disrupt 2014 Olympics

Mass Resistance reports:

Homosexual activists in the U.S. are working with media groups, “out LGBT athletes,” and both the US and Canadian Olympic hockey teams in a secret plan to smuggle rainbow flags, homosexual propaganda, etc. into Russia. Their intent is to disrupt the 2014 Winter Olympics with homosexual symbolism, according to a presenter at the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Convention in Boston on August 24. The planned disruption is a retaliation by the homosexual movement to Russia’s recent ban on the public promotion of homosexuality.

They are also talking about “utilizing diplomatic channels” to help smuggle the homosexual flags and other materials into Russia.

Patrick Burke, co-founder of the You Can Play Project, a campaign to “end homophobia in sports,” also referred to plans for athletes to wave rainbow flags on awards podiums and at the closing ceremonies. Burke told the group that “we can’t talk about that publicly” but “there’s a lot going on behind the scenes.”.

MassResistance was present and recorded the presentation.

The Park Plaza Hotel in downtown Boston, during the conference.

Russia’s ban on public promotion of homosexuality

The 2014 Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi, Russia on February 7-23, 2014. This past June, as MassResistance reported, Russia’s parliament overwhelmingly passed a bill which bans the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations” to minors, and which also includes bans on “gay pride” rallies or other public promotion of “homosexual propaganda.”

The Russian government has made it clear that the ban also covers participants and attendees of the 2014 Olympics. According to Burke, Russian authorities have decided to preemptively confiscate rainbow flags and pins at airports.

Remarks made at “Out on the Playing Field” session at conference

The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA) is a powerful national organization of homosexual journalists from major television news, newspapers, radio, and more. Their annual conference was held August 22-25, 2013 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel.

Burke spoke at a conference session titled, “Game Changer: Out on the Playing Field and In the Press Box,” Its description: “Hear from sportswriters and athletes who can tell you what homophobia they still see in sports and where there are areas of real improvement.” Burke apparently thought he was talking to an all-“gay” audience, and was surprisingly candid about what he’s been doing to help organize the disruption at the upcoming Olympics.

Patrick Burke prepares to address his session at the NLGJA conference. Photo courtesy of Mass Resistance.

“Rainbow flag on the podium” and more

Here is what Patrick Burke said in his presentation about the plan to infiltrate the Olympic Games and embarrass the Russian government:

We’re going to have three weeks of sustained media presence there. We are going to have out LGBT athletes there. We are going to have very vocal and visible allies there.

We’ve spoken with the Canadian and U.S. hockey teams. We’re going to be doing work with both of those teams.

The frustrating part right now is we can’t talk about that publicly because if you talk about it publicly, the Russians don’t let you in the country. So when everyone keeps asking us “What are you going to do when you get there? What are you going to do when you get there?” and we keep having to say “We can’t tell you.”

The Russians have said they’ll confiscate rainbow flags if you try and bring them in your regular luggage. They’ve said they’ll confiscate pins. We are talking about utilizing diplomatic channels to get things into the country.

There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that will frustrate people because it won’t be made public until you see an athlete on a medal stand or at closing ceremonies . . .

There’s two types of backlash that we’re concerned about.

One is government. Where a journalist or athlete whoever it might be, is arrested or is, you know, fined, is deported. Not that anyone wants to stay in Russia if the Olympics are over. That’s certainly the type of backlash that we’re concerned about.

The second is non-governmental groups. We looked into securing a pride house in Sochi. One of my very good friends basically runs the Continental Hockey League and he knows every Russian billionaire out there. We said what would it take to get a pride house? He said he’d ‘need security.’ Well yeah, get some security guards. He said ‘no, someone would shoot it up.’ He said ‘you would need ex-KGB to secure it. You guys can’t afford that.’ Well probably not. So there’s concern on my end about non-governmental groups taking matters into their own hands.

I think the athletes are going to be safe. I think if you see an athlete or a journalist do something, unless it’s excessively provocative — and I use that term from the Russian point of view; I wouldn’t consider anything excessive — you’re going to see athletes deported. I don’t think you’re going to see fines. I don’t think you’re going to see arrests. I think you’re going to see, someone waves a rainbow flag on the podium; you go right from the podium to an airplane. You get sent home.

AUDIO: LISTEN to the above comments HERE.

(NOTE: Open recording and video taping of the conference and its sessions were allowed. Some sessions were recorded and/or videoed by several people.)

A diplomatic embarrassment to Americans?

The Russian government’s efforts to protect children and society has attracted support from pro-family organizations around the world, and also from countries such as Nigeria and Uganda who are also dealing with these issues.

If this effort is successful, it will be an embarrassment not only to the Russian government — which is working hard to have a clean, wholesome atmosphere for its Olympic games — but certainly to many Americans, given that American corporations, American athletes, and possibly even our government would be  also involved in the Olympics.

The pro-homosexual Obama Administration has already complained loudly about Russia’s new law. And President Obama himself, while visiting Russia this past week, in a purposeful affront to the Russian government met with Russian homosexual activists in St. Petersburg, along with his national security advisor and the US Ambassador to Russia. So it would not be surprising Obama had the US diplomatic corps involved with this, too.

The international fallout from this, given the wide range of those involved, could be considerable.

Florida Churches changing bylaws after gay marriage ruling

Prophecy News Watch reports:

Worried they could be sued by gay couples, some churches are changing their bylaws to reflect their view that the Bible allows only marriage between one man and one woman.

Although there have been lawsuits against wedding industry businesses that refuse to serve gay couples, attorneys promoting the bylaw changes say they don’t know of any lawsuits against churches.

Critics say the changes are unnecessary, but some churches fear that it’s only a matter of time before one of them is sued.

“I thought marriage was always between one man and one woman, but the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision said no,” said Gregory S. Erwin, an attorney for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, an association of Southern Baptist churches and one several groups advising churches to change their bylaws. “I think it’s better to be prepared because the law is changing. America is changing.”

In a June decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that defined marriage as between a man and a woman for purposes of federal law. A second decision was more technical but essentially ushered in legal gay marriage in California.

Kevin Snider is an attorney with the Pacific Justice Institute, a nonprofit legal defense group that specializes in conservative Christian issues. His organization released a model marriage policy a few years ago in response to a statewide gay marriage fight in California. Snider said some religious leaders have been threatened with lawsuits for declining to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies.

Dean Inserra, head pastor of the 1,000-member City Church Tallahassee, based in Florida, said he does not want to be alarmist, but his church is looking into how best to address the issue.

Inserra said he already has had to say no to gay friends who wanted him to perform a wedding ceremony.

“We have some gay couples that attend our church. What happens when they ask us to do their wedding?” Inserra said. “What happens when we say no? Is it going to be treated like a civil rights thing?”

Critics, including some gay Christian leaders, argue that the changes amount to a solution looking for a problem.

“They seem to be under the impression that there is this huge movement with the goal of forcing them to perform ceremonies that violate their freedom of religion,” said Justin Lee, executive director of the Gay Christian Network, a nonprofit that provides support for gay Christians and their friends and families and encourages churches to be more welcoming.

“If anyone tried to force a church to perform a ceremony against their will, I would be the first person to stand up in that church’s defense.”

Thirteen states and the District of Columbia now recognize gay marriage.

Some Christian denominations, such as the United Church of Christ, accept gay marriage. The Episcopal Church recently approved a blessing for same-sex couples, but each bishop must decide whether to allow the ceremony in his or her local diocese.

Read more.

Family Group Vows to Remind Voters Of Consequences of 296

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA— Florida Family Action has released documentation today gathered from the Duval County Supervisor of Elections office displaying how the citizens of Jacksonville voted on Florida’s Marriage Protection Amendment in 2008. The report is broken out by each Council Member’s district, showing both the precise number and percentage of voter’s voting for marriage and against the creation of new gay rights on this issue.

Not a single district had less than 59% voting in favor of the Defense of Marriage Amendment, which amended the Florida Constitution to include language to prohibit “no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”

Percentages range from district to district, all showing a decided majority in favor of maintaining the traditional definition of marriage. Districts 1, 8, 10 and 11 had more than 70% voting in favor of the Amendment, with 78.9% of District 12’s citizens voting Yes.

John Stemberger President of Florida Family Action released the following statement today:

Jacksonville residents will not be fooled about the real intent and purpose of this ordinance. Full legalized gay marriage is the goal of its proponents. 2012-296 is just a stepping stone to that end. In every state where traditional marriage laws were overturned to allow homosexual marriages, whether by judicial decision or state legislature, proponents of gay marriage cited the collective scheme of non discrimination ordinances that created new protected classes like the one proposed in 296. Local ordinances of this nature have been consistently used as legal precedent for introducing gay marriage. Even state constitutional amendments supporting traditional marriage, like California’s recently overturned amendment, are not safe. We pledge to remind the constituents in every Council Member’s district who votes for this bill on August 15 about its true effect. It would be our hope that members of the Council will remember both the commanding vote margin in this research and the recent record lines outside of Chick fil A stores in Jacksonville this past week in support of natural marriage.

This data has been released for the information of the City Council while they are considering Ordinance 2012-296, a bill that would amend several City ordinances to add “sexual orientation, and perhaps gender identity or expression” to the listings of personal conditions or statuses which cannot be discriminated against. The ordinances proposed to be amended include Public Accommodations, Fair Housing, and others.

Voting yes on 296 would be decidedly against the will of the citizens of Jacksonville, who overwhelmingly voted to uphold the traditional definition of marriage when given the chance. The City Council may wish to consider the way their constituents voted when this similar issue was presented directly to them.