Friday, January 6, 2012
"God Hates Fags" in Tennessee Schools
Posted by Bruce VanWyngarden on Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 10:10 AM
The Family Action Council of Tennessee is pushing to get this bill passed through the state legislature. The bill will amend the required schools' "anti-bullying" policies to purportedly protect the rights of those whose religious beliefs render them opposed to, say, homosexuality.
What the proposed law says is that anti-bullying policies "may not prohibit their expression of religious, philosophical, or political views as long as such expression does not include a threat of physical harm to a student or of damage to a student's property."
So what "rights" are being defended here? Students already have the right to practice any religion they want to. They are free to attend churches that believe homosexuality is immoral. Schools' anti-bullying policies are in place to protect the vulnerable — small kids, gays, those who are somehow perceived as "different" — from verbal and physical intimidation. Will the new law allow those who attend churches such as the Westboro Baptist Church, of "God Hates Fags" fame, to practice their homophobic and hateful religion in schools? Apparently so. Will the new law allow those who are white supremacists to express their "political beliefs" concerning Jews and African Americans? And how about extremist Muslims? Will they be allowed to practice verbal jihad in school? It's their philosophical view, after all.
Yep, the way I read this, going around saying "God hates fags" will be cool in Tennessee schools as long as, you know, you don't hit anybody.
I'm sure Jesus will be pleased.
And you know who else will be pleased? Nobody. The Tennessee legislature is already a national punchline. If, as GOP legislators constantly claim, jobs are the top priority, this is absolutely the worst kind of publicity the state can get. How many Fortune 500 companies or large international manufacturers are going to want to locate in a state where the public schools are legally required to allow bigotry and homophobia?
It's wrong, and beyond stupid.
Comments (31)
Showing 1-25 of 31
If you case you would like to make your displeasure over this known, we have a petition posted here. - http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-tn-la…
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Apparently I'm so flustered over this that I can't even form a proper sentence. Sorry about that.
what a shame this story!I hope that some day everyone can love whoever they please and don´t look bad for this!
As kids learning biology in England during the dark ages (1970s) we laughed at the history of the Scopes trials and the banning of teaching evolution. Good job we have evolved since then to the point where our beloved wackos in Nashville are regressing on pretty much everything. I wonder how many years until they revisit the whole thing about women voting?. We are becoming a punchline and pretty soon we will make number one on a Forbes list; "10 dumbest states".
The viciousness and rank evil of these worthless people who parade under a banner of "Christian values" never ceases to amaze me. Family Action Council is comprised of fascist thugs; that they are allowed any influence in this state is an embarrassment to every citizen.
Just like in the past. Some of the most atrocious things have happened in the name of christianity.
This is a terrible proposal. Words and scorn, when you are young and vulnerable hurts very bad.
I've been thinking about purchasing some Nashville property off Charlotte Avenue close to the Capitol. I think I'd make a killing bleaching all those assholes.
Better lease or buy a mega-warehouse with extra large docking bays, Smitty. Assholes come by the gross on Nashville's Capitol Hill.
Good idea, Packy. I also think we should bring back the antiquated and downright sadistic "whip & chisel" bleaching method for these antiquated and downright sadistic goobers. They're gonna love it.
This legislature would probably exempt human sacrifice from the law against murder if it were still an accepted religious ritual.
State of TN allow Gay Individuals and Gay father's and mother's work for the governor and sadly they contradict themself due to their "bills they want to pass, yet back-up such Gay individuals who's the son or daughter of a Representative of YOUR DISTRICT!" We look at the openly Gay son, John McManus, of House Representative/Chairman of Commerce Steve McManus, yet again a Republican party in office who declare that it's okay for "their" family to be supportive toward their Gay son or daughter and the gay son or daughter works for the State/Governor at the Capital in Nashville, TN. What type of people do we have working for OUR GOVERNMENT and MAKING CHOICES for YOU and I and OUR FAMILIES!!!! It's do as I say NOT AS I AM DOING!!! The Capital of TN needs some HOUSE CLEANING!
Actually, Steve McManus is a relatively sane Republican in a state increasingly devoid of same.
The Christianban strikes again.
And Marty, as long as the human sacrifice was a Christian ritual it would be exempted as you stated. If it was not Christian, then it would not only be outlawed, but there would probably be a task force searching out the non-Christians and bringing them swiftly to justice. That would also more than likely be a death sentence.
It's just great that we have people who tell us how to think and vote obviously because we're not intelligent enough to figure it out on our own.
Yet, knowing the trash behind the scenes and such aptitude that certain politican's have and use the most disgusting manipulative personality.. Get rid of the TRASH and get the NEW GENERATION in to get things done and fixed. Not individuals who only care about themselves and will do and say whatever to get to the next level. As Obama preached/preaches CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE--- that isn't going to happen until we get our states representatives out and new ones in that have a newer/better desire to REPRESENT the people of their District...Not just a "job" because you've been in it so long and all is giving money to your Speaker of the House, or the Govenor, or whomever just because they "helped" you get a job or in a certain position.. I mean REALLY???
This is utterly revolting. Their tasteless, hateful and bigoted slogans aside, that those signs are in the hands of children should be grounds for having those children removed from the care of their parents. It's mental child abuse. Those kids are being raised to be intolerant, hateful, small-minded, bigoted adults just like their parents, who are trying to pass on their intellectual defectiveness to their offspring. Utterly revolting, and even more revolting that under the guise of "tolerance" and "religious freedom" (the very thing that anti-bullying measures seek to instill and nurture in schools), fundamentalist Christians have managed to have their hate speech sanctioned and protected by the State.
I don't think I can say anything without words in it that would get my post deleted. I do know for sure that I will never go to that state again. I'm floored.
man where is this rubbish gonna end? its almost like state-sanctioned murder
For those of you claiming homosexuality is a "lifestyle", that is a false and ignorant statement. Homosexuality is not a choice. Just like you don't choose the color of your skin, you cannot choose whom you are sexually attracted to. Virtually all major psychological and medical experts agree that sexual orientation is NOT a choice. Most gay people will tell you its not a choice. Common sense will tell you its not a choice. While science is relatively new to studying homosexuality, studies tend to indicate that its biological.
http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/03/differential-brain-activation.pdf
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/sex/dn14146-gay-brains-structured-like-those-of-the-opposite-sex.html
Gay, Straight Men's Brain Responses Differ
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155990,00.html
http://www.livescience.com/health/060224_gay_genes.html
http://www.springerlink.com/content/w27453600k586276/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/06/16/172/
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that homosexuality is not a choice. Sexual orientation is generally a biological trait that is determined pre-natally, although there is no one certain thing that explains all of the cases. "Nurture" may have some effect, but for the most part it is biological.
And it should also be noted that:
"It is worth noting that many medical and scientific organizations do believe it is impossible to change a person's sexual orientation and this is displayed in a statement by American Academy of Pediatrics, American Counseling Association, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American School Health Association, Interfaith Alliance Foundation, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, and National Education Association."
We need to get the word out to religious communities that anti-gay people are twisting God's words to condone their hate.
Homosexuality is not a sin. The Bible is constantly being taken out of context to support anti-gay views. Scholars who have studied the Bible in context of the times and in relation to other passages have shown those passages (Leviticus, Corinthians, Romans, etc) have nothing to do with homosexuality. These passages often cherry-picked while ignoring the rest of the Bible. The sins theses passages are referring to are idolatry, Greek temple sex worship, prostitution, pederasty with teen boys, and rape, not homosexuality or two loving consenting adults.
http://www.soulfoodministry.org/docs/English/NotASin.htm
http://www.jesus21.com/content/sex/bible_homosexuality_print.html
http://www.christchapel.com/reclaiming.html
http://www.stjohnsmcc.org/new/BibleAbuse/BiblicalReferences.php
http://www.gaychristian101.com/
http://www.mccchurch.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Resources&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2121
http://www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.org/biblical_evidence.html
http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christian
http://www.goodhopemcc.org/spirituality/sexuality-and-bible/homosexuality-not-a-sin-not-a-sickness.html
This is the perfect example of how anti-gay people change the bible's words for their anti-gay agenda.
Corinthians 6:9-11
Let us examine that very closely.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [malakoi], nor homosexual offenders [arsenokoites], nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.
First of all, before we address this line, let us consider one thing. Supposedly taken from a 2000+ year old book, understand that the word "homosexual" was not coined until 1869 by Austrian-born novelist Karl-Maria Kertbeny. So how it happens to be included in a true reading of the particular biblical passage should make you ponder how accurate the interpretation actually is. So man changing the words of the Bible to conveniently spread hate?
Absolutely.
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