I thought selected verses in the Bible were supposed to be the ultimate authority, but Gary Randall has just ceded the power to define marriage to that institution he loves to hate, the Seattle Times. Or rather, to his off-the-rails misreading of them.
More below the fold.
Seattle Times recently ran an op ed saying
PASSAGE of the Domestic Partners Expansion bill moves Washington quietly, purposefully and rightfully down a path toward full recognition of same-sex unions for what they are, marriages.Seems clear to me that the Times is saying that we are, quite appropriately, heading towards marriage equality, but we're not there yet. But Gary willfully misreads the op-ed, pretending it "confirms" that the DP Expansion Bill of 2009 "was marriage all along", and takes the opportunity to call Senators Ed Murray and Rodney Tom liars (A bold move for someone who has colluded to lie to entire congregations.).Gov. Chris Gregoire's signature on the legislation, which passed both houses of the Legislature with strong support, is part of a cycle of progress that began in 2007 with the creation of a registry for domestic partners. Last year and this year, lawmakers provided these families with the legal prerogatives granted to spouses...
Marriage is the institution that socializes couples and families into a community. Consider that marriage has at least three elemental features: a loving relationship, a legal definition and societal recognition....
Official recognition of these marriages - these families - is a logical and overdue step.
Here is Gary's blog post about the Times' op-ed. As you read it and my responses (in green), think about what kind of example Gary is setting for his grandchildren: If you have nothing logical o r honest to say, lie like hell.
Seattle Times: "Domestic Partnerships are Marriage, Apply the Word"The Seattle Times is at full throttle, going straight for homosexual marriage in Friday's edition.
The op-ed was meaningful and significant, but it wasn't "full throttle". "Full throttle" would have been the Times doing a big front page photo spread of actual domestic partners, showing our faces and letting us tell our stories. Be assured we are responding with equal passion and conviction in preparation to file our referendum. We, however, are restraining ourselves until the bill is actually signed into law.
No, actually they are restraining themselves until they are certain that Tim Eyman doesn't beat them to m to the referendum filing punch again. No one can file for a referendum until after the Governor signs the bill. Gary, you call filing dozens of mean spirited and sometimes unconstitutional amendments in legislative committee hearings and on the Senate and House floor "restraining ourselves"? Really now. The Times loaded their gun by choosing to carry several national columns supporting homosexual marriage. On Thursday they carried Ellen Goodman's piece "Defense of Marriage Act Is Becoming Indefensible," and Friday, Fromma Harrop's syndicated column, "The State by State Evolution of Gay Marriage," along with their own editorial proclamation, "Domestic Partnerships Are Marriage, Apply The Word."
Before Gov. Gregoire can even sign the bill, SB 5688, into law----and she has a quick draw for advancing the homosexual agenda, Washington's largest newspaper is saying it was marriage all along,
Here is where Gary flat out chooses to misrepresent the Times op-ed. But then this is a guy who cherry-picks the Bible, so at least he's keeping in character. confirming exactly what I and others in the faith community have been saying from the day this bill was introduced.No, what you said was They have introduced a series of bills under the guise of "rights" and "benefits" that are intended to equalize the status of traditional marriage with that of homosexual couples. The bills...are intended to create "marriage" without the name.And that is exactly what we're getting. If there is any place in the DP bill that allows DP'd couples to use the word "marriage" or get a civil marriage from a Justice of the Peace or sympathetic clergy, I wish he would point it out. Maybe Gary can loan me his secret decoder ring.But wait! Didn't Sen. Ed Murray stand tearfully, with quivering voice on the floor of the Senate and say, "I wish this bill was marriage, I sincerely wish this bill was marriage, but it is not"? Yes, he did. I just reviewed the video. And didn't Senator Rodney Tom from the 48th District around Bellevue and Redmond send out a letter assuring his constitutes that this was not gay marriage? He sure did, I just reread it.
Why d id they lie?
The question is, Gary, how you can read truthful statements and call them lies. Again, there is nothing in the DP bill that allows DP's couples to use the word "marriage", or to get a civil marriage like everyone else: from a Justice of the Peace or sympathetic clergy. Isn't there a term for what Gary is doing here? Besides libel, I mean. I guess that was then---this is now. All the homosexual activists who have sworn on a stack of ----something, assuring voters that this was not---I repeat not, gay marriage, are now basking in the afterglow of the deception.
Gary cedes the definition of marriage to a newspaper, but retains the right to define "Christian". Truth changes when relativism is the compass.
Not only is thes the Seattle Times calling for the state to go straight to homosexual marriage, their editorial board has even published their own definition of marriage.
The Times says, "Passage of the Domestic Partners Expansion bill moves Washington quietly, purposefully and rightfully down a path toward full recognition of same-sex unions for what they are, marriage."
The "big lie," that was said to be merely about benefits and fairness---not marriage, has now succeeded, and as the Times now affirms, is marriage.
On the contrary, the Times, not to mention the legislation itself, recognize that same-sex couples are still barred by law from civil marriage. The legislature passed the defense of marriage law in 1998, and the state supreme court ruled it constitutional. Gary can set his hair on fire and lie about the current DP bill, but that doesn't change reality. It just makes him look like a fool. The Times also admits that the big lie was quietly and purposefully moved forward.
Quietly? Here I even disagree with the Times. At each stage, the authors of the bill have publicly announced not only the proximate bill, but their ultimate goal of civil marriage equality (clearly, we're not there yet). Then the multiple public legislative committee hearings, the floor debates in the House and Senate, the press coverage by the Seattle Times and others, the rallies... There has been nothing quiet about the DP bills. We now better understand what we all knew 4 weeks ago when the news media that regularly covers a half dozen people on any given corner protesting any given idea, would not cover 2400 citizens standing on the Capitol steps in the rain in defense of marriage.Their silence on SB 5688 has been deafening.
Not any more deafening than the bored silence from non-Seattle papers. By the way, Gary is a carpetbagger from Oregon, so who is he to criticize Washington newspapers for anything? The Times now has their own definition of marriage: They say marriage is an institution that socializes couples and families into a community; consists of a loving relationship; has a legal definition and societal recognition.
If Gary thinks marriage is none of those things, then can we expect him soon to renounce his wife before his community, tells her he doesn't love her, and get a divorce?& lt;/font> Ellen Goodman, in her column carried by the Times last Thursday titled, "Defense Of Marriage Act is Indefensible," says DOMA, "Is an out of date law that enforces an identity crises."
Those who honor an institution that has existed for more than 5000 years in every civilization, which honors and elevates the special union between a man and a woman, provides for procreation and the nurturing of the child and is the cornerstone of every successful society in history, are now diminished to people who are in some kind of identity crises.
Mitt Romney says it's 3000 years. So which is it? And if God created the Earth only 3000 years ago, then you're saying he set up the institution 2K years before he even created the beings that would use it? Mysterious ways, indeed! &#gt;There is certainly an identity crises, however it exists with those who are helping drive the homosexual agenda who cannot decide from day to day which restroom they want to use.
I think the real crisis lies with people like Gary who see their funding base slipping away, and are so desperate that they throw out random comments in hopes that something will stick. This deceptive agenda seeks not only societal recognition, but cultural affirmation. They are standing squarely against the historical beliefs of every society in history, every major religion in history and the biblical teachings upon which this country was founded.
Nothing deceptive about it. Senator Murray was clear from Day 1 that we're putting DPs in place to provide needed legal security for same-sex families while we pursue our ultimate goal of civil marriage equality. But we haven't reached that goal yet. Is this enough to awaken us? I think it is.
Gov. Gregoire will almost certainly sign the bill this week.
We are prepared to immediately file a referendum to overturn SB 5688 once she has signed it.
The Faith and Freedom PAC board has been expanded, a coalition of nearly all the faith based organizations in the state have come together and we are committed to work together to defend marriage and overturn this back door deception to achieve homosexual marriage in Washington State.
The organizations have asked me to lead and we will be using the Faith and Freedom PAC, however nearly all the faith based groups will be involved in the campaign and in leading their respective groups of supporters.
Larry Stickney from Washington Values, Senator Dan Swecker, Representatives Matt Shea and Jim McCune have been added to the PAC board and Ron Boehme of YWAM and others will be involved in top leadership.
We must all stand together. No one alone can or should attempt to address this issue. We believe that with God's help and blessing, your support, and a united effort, we can turn this tide. The wind is not at our back at the moment.
We fully understand that we are standing against the press and the electronic media in most cases. We further understand that many young people have been indoctrinated by public education to turn away from the historical model of marriage and forsake both societal norm and biblical teaching on homosexuality and marriage.
A curious comment coming from a man who uses "the electronic media" of websites and blogs, as do his compatriots in The Wt;The Washington Hate Coalition. Also curious that an evangelist would have a word of criticism about indoctrination, whether real or perceived. Isn't that what Sunday school is all about? We also understand that many well meaning people have been misled and deceived into thinking that this is about fairness and benefits, not about homosexual marriage. We feel that the truth will surface and it will be seen in the light of articles such as the Times columns, the Seattle Times editorial board itself and our campaign to educate the public on this issue.
Since Senator Murray has been open and honest from Day 1 that civil marriage equality is our ultimate goal, the only deception taking place is in Gary's libel. The numbers I'm initially seeing are indicating that Washington voters do not approve of homosexual marriage. More on that later.
Our efforts to overturn SB 5688 will draw national attention and nationwide financial support from homosexual activists to defeat us.
And you will receive no assistance from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Roman Catholic Church, Focus on the Family, Eagle Forum or any of the other cash cows anti-LGBT Professional Christians milk? Uh huh. Are you prepared to stand with us?
We are already receiving emails from Europe and elsewhere opposing our efforts.
This is the time. And this is the defining issue.
This is an issue in which people of faith and conservatives must prevail. The future of our culture hangs in the balance. The kind of state and community you will hand to your children and grandchildren is attached to this issue.
Please stand with us financially and prayerfully. Donate to Faith and Freedom Foundation.
Please DO click on that link so that you can see that Gary is funneling cash into his organization, not into the PAC set up for the referendum effort. What a scammer. Thank you and God bless you.
______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
Surf over to the National Journal to see the results of its "insiders poll" on the issue of party strategy regarding marriage equality. The question asked was "Which statement comes closest to your political views on gay marriage?"
The choices were:
* My party should support it
* My party should oppose it
* My p;* My party should avoid the issue
Look at what the GOP Political Insiders has to say; Steve Schmidt and Meghan McCain still have a lot of convincing to do regarding the direction of the party.
Q: Which statement comes closest to your political views on gay marriage?Surf over to see the Dem "insider" responses; the non-news is that almost a third of the insiders think the Democratic party should avoid the issue (surprise!), on the other hand, 59% say the party should support it. I wonder which faction will win that struggle, and what it would take for that other slice to feel confident in supporting civil equality. See who "the insiders" are who weighed in on this question below the fold.
Republicans (104 votes)My party should support it 8%
My party should oppose it 50%
My party should avoid the issue 37%Also receiving votes: Leave it to the states, 2 percent; party should "accept" it, 1 percent; leave it to candidates, 1 percent; party should oppose "but not make a federal case out of it," 1 percent; and "party shouldn't care," 1 percent.
My party should support it
"Perception of complete hostility to all gay rights is killing the GOP among voters under 29. Evolve or perish, Republicans."
"If Republicans are ever going to grow the base, they need to take a considerably more libertarian view.... There are so many gay Republicans, I get a bit hacked off that my party is so freaking mean."
My party should oppose it
"Our party's defense of traditional marriage is one of those issues that distinctly define us. But we have to argue for traditional marriage, as opposed to just railing against gay marriage."
"The media and the Democrats like to think that cultural issues are a thing of the past. And they are wrong."
"But support civil unions and equal benefits."
"The trend toward gay marriage is unstoppable. Democrats would be smart to soft-pedal their support, and the GOP would be wise to downplay its opposition."
"Social conservatives have an obligation to push back on cultural condescension that has deemed their legitimate, heartfelt beliefs 'mean-spirited' and rendered us defensive."
"The party needs to be against gay marriage without being against gays. This will be tough."
"Homosexuality should not be encouraged, period."
My party should avoid the issue
"Alienating those outside our party on marginal issues like this is foolish."
"It's going to happen in this country, regardless of what the Republicans do. The Republicans should retain their commitment to 'pro-life,' but gay marriage isn't hurting anyone that I can see."
"Among younger voters this has become a threshold issue about tolerance. And opposition is now hurting Republicans with swing voters more than it helps them with their base."
"Time for the libertarian strain [in the GOP] to stand tall."
Democratic Political Insiders: Jill Alper, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Deb Callahan, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Jerry Crawford, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Eric Eve, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Don Fowler, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery, Jr., Harold Ickes, MarcusJadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonng, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Kam Kuwata, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bill Lynch, Bob Maloney Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Scott Parven, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Larry Rasky, Bruce Reed, Mame Reiley, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, John Ryan, Wendy Sherman, Terry Shumaker, Kevin Shuvalov, Sean Sinclair Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Darry Sragow, Katrina Swett, Sarah Swisher, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Mike Veon, Rick Wiener, Bridgette Williams, JoDee Winterhof, and Jim Zogby.
GOP Political Insiders: Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, RichAshooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Clark Benson, Wayne Berman, Brian Bieron, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Danny Carroll, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Charlie Crist, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Steve Duprey, Debi Durham, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Sam Geduldig, Adam Geller, Benjamin Ginsberg, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bruce Keough, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris Lacivita, Jim Lake, George LeMieux, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Brian McCormack, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, KenMehlman, Jim Merrill, Tim Morrison, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Todd Olsen, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Kevin Shuvalov, Don Sipple, Robin Smith, Javier Soto, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Eric Tanenblatt, Richard Temple, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Stewart Verdery, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Tom Wilson, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, and Fred Wszolek.
It's not like folks are tuning in to see the next world leaders on the Miss USA pageant, but the producers clearly wanted to convey a tad more gravitas by having judges ask deeper questions than the usual "achieving world peace" variety. At this year's pageant, held at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, there were some fireworks.
When Miss California, Carrie Prejean, a motivational speaker (who also tried out to be a briefcase model on Deal or No Deal), stepped up to pull a judge's name from a fishbowl, she drew Perez Hilton's card, who proceeded to ask her the following question:
"Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not?" Drum roll please...
Um. That answer makes no sense -- does she really believe that marriage for same-sex couples is available in every state? Needless to say she received boos from some audience members. Perez Hilton wasn't amused.
"Well, I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or another. Um, we live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And, you know what? In my country and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised and that's how I think that it should be - between a man and a woman. Thank you!"
BTW, Miss North Carolina, Wilmington native Kristen Dalton (who holds a degree in Psychology and Spanish at East Carolina University), took home the crown; she had to answer a question about the taxpayer bailout of companies. Her answer as to where the stimulus funds should go: "education and school systems and welfare and health care. That's what out taxpayers money should go to, absolutely." Her quote on the win:
"It feels really natural. I've worked so be here and this has been my lifelong dream and it's finally here. And whoever knew you could win in a turquoise gown?"I would have loved to hear her answer on marriage equality.
And as we all know, Miss California will still be able to put on the crown if Miss NC is unable to fulfill her duties.
I think I'll take a pass on the next round, which ishich is the Miss Universe pageant in August.
UPDATE 2: She's blaming her loss not on her ignorant answer, but the homosexual agenda. (Also see: Miss California's Bigotry: She Foists Loss on Homosexual Agenda @ La Figa.):
"It did cost me my crown. I wouldn't have had it any other way. I said what I feel. I stated an opinion that was true to myself and that's all I can do. It is a very touchy subject and he [Hilton] is a homosexual and I see where he was coming from and I see the audience would've wanted me to be more politically correct. But I was raised in a way that you can never compromise your beliefs and your opinions for anything."See her bio below the fold.
Oh my...
"I knew there were secular judges,
but I felt I needed to express my
passion for the Lord."Carrie Prejean is dedicated to serving the Lord and is not at all shy about her Christianity -- even on national television. As the new 2009 Miss California USA, Carrie has shown that she can balance the pressures of national competition with her desire to share Christ's love with younger women.
Carrie has recently been serving with a ministry that seeks to reveal Christ's transforming love to women in the adult entertainment industry. Led by a young women who herself was delivered by Christ, the group "gets real" with these women and discusses their problems and life struggles. Carrie feels that she can connect with women her age and believes that God is using her to bring hope to others.
In addition to her passion for young women, Carrie has volunteered at the local International Ministry Center where she has helped refugees learn to speak English. She is also involved with Voices for Children, a mentor program for children in foster care. "I've been extremely passionate about that. I especially have a heart for helping young girls with low self-esteem. I want to focus on San Diego and give back to my community", she said.
Carrie is currently a student at San Diego Christian College, but has decided to leave for the spring semester of 2009 to compete in the Miss USA Pageant, which takes place in April 2009. Her goal is to return to SDCC to finish her Bachelors Degree, and to later obtain a Masters Degree in the field of Special Education.
Hat tips, Lisa Derrick and Towleroad.
She discusses the tragic cases of Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover and Eric Mohat, two youth who committed suicide after being the targets of relentless anti-LGBT harassment in their schools. And she cites some sobering numbers:
"Nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT youth (86.2 percent) reported being verbally harassed at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation, nearly half (44.st year because of their sexual orientation, nearly half (44.1 percent) reported being physically harassed, and about a quarter (22.1 percent) reported being physically assaulted." [...] "Nearly two-thirds of LGBT students (60.8 percent) who experience harassment or assault never reported the incident to the school. . . . Of those who did report the incident, nearly a third (31.1 percent) said the school staff did nothing in response."
Nothing in response? Nothing to help young people who rise each morning not knowing if school brings another day of hell on earth or something a bit more tolerable? As parents and school leaders, we cannot tolerate this status quo.
Read the full piece here, then write to your state Senator in support of the Oregon Safe Schools Act (HB2599).
Portland’s Night of Noise will benefit the Set LGBT and allied youth.
Portland’s Night of Noise will benefit the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC) and will take place at the Jupiter Hotel at 9:00 pm tonight! Click here for a map of the Jupiter's location.
As we’ve discussed previously on the blog, bullying and harassment remains a major problem for LGBT students, and for students who are perceived to be LGBT. And the effects of school-based harassment reach far beyond middle school and high school.
For more information on the climate for LGBT students on Oregon’s college campuses, read Too Afraid to Learn, the report coauthored by Basic Rights Education Fund and the Oregon Student Equal Rights Alliance. Click here to download the report (PDF).
The lawsuit was brought forward by the Transgender Law Center on behalf of Gigstate.
The lawsuit was brought forward by the Transgender Law Center on behalf of Gigi Marie Somers, a 67-year-old Kansas resident seeking to change her documentation. Read the full story at the Advocate’s web site, or read the court’s decision.
Birth certificates are often relied upon as a primary documentation resource, used by employers, creditors and the government to verify individuals’ identities. Without the ability to change their birth certificate, many transpeople are left in legal limbo, and are frequently outed by their documentation, which may not match their gender presentation.
Birth certificate change procedures vary from state to state, and some states don't allow any alteration to the sex listed on this critical document. This increased ease in changing birth certificate will benefit California-born transpeople across the country. Congratulations to the Transgender Law Center on this fantastic victory!
No comments:
Post a Comment