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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
The Family Policy Council of West Virginia should immediately remove an online video ad that compares same-sex marriage supporters to snipers targeting families. The goal of the ad is to rally supporters to lobby in favor of amending West Virginia's constitution to prohibit same sex couples from marrying.
This kind of overheated rhetoric creates a climate where hate crimes can occur. We should demand that The Family Policy Council of West Virginia apologize and take down this violent ad. This video is reckless, wrongheaded and irresponsible.
In the Federal Bureau of Investigation's latest hate crime report, such crimes based on sexual orientation were ranked third (16%), slightly below religion (19%) and race (52%). The ad is part of a plan to get hundreds of churches across West Virginia to participate in a "Stand4Marriage Sunday'' on March 1.
According to the Associated Press, "about a minute into the video, the crosshairs of a rifle scope appear over the image of a family blowing bubbles." The narrator warns that "same-sex marriage is a closer reality in West Virginia than you may think,'' and that activists are "working tirelessly to define marriage away from God's design.''
The AP also reports that The Family Policy Council of West Virginia, has yet to register as a charity with state officials, though it's reported raising enough to trigger that requirement.
The Family Policy Council is not above the law. The state of West Virginia has an obligation to immediately investigate and ensure they are following the rules.
Like other attempts to ban marriage in state constitutions, there is evidence that this effort is no more than a sneaky attempt to elect Republicans. The AP story said that both of the council's Web sites were created with the help of CampaignSecrets.org, a Georgia firm that says it is "focused exclusively on electing Republicans to local office.''
Such "Family Councils" are often tied to Focus on the Family, an organization that runs the Love Won Out conference that teach homosexuals to "pray away the gay."
This is a golden opportunity for Focus on the Family to demonstrate their professed love for gay people by reining in their renegade offshoot in West Virginia. What do you think the chances are that they will back up their "loving" rhetoric with action?
Great job, Wayne, by bringing attention to this. Of course, any action that these narcissistic bigots engage in has "eternal consequences" and, naturally, lines up with "God's work." It is the year 2009 for goodness sakes...how can anyone, even in West Virginia, not see through this crap? These are bigots without a soul who are not beneath using God to get their way. It is disgusting and offensive, and is badly disguised as "morality." Beneath the obvious religious facade is a group of hateful, ignorant, murderous individuals.
posted by Chris L., at
2/24/2009 1:04 PM
Thanks Chris. I may go to West Virginia on Friday to draw attention to this.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
2/24/2009 1:21 PM
I'd like to know where these bigots can point to any reference in the bible regarding civil marriage which is totally different to religious marriage. Why is it they alone have the power to influence state legislatures to prohibit our right to marry when most of us wouldn't even want a religious marriage, let alone care for one. I just don't get it. Neither do I get the attitudes of politicians who think the same way as these bigots. How can my right to a civil marriage affect or threaten theirs or society? Not one of them has provided a reasonable, logical answer. Nowhere have I read in the old testament that God whoever it was actually instituted marriage by "its" very own words. It was merely assumed that the creation of Eve was proof that marriage was ordained by God between a man and a woman, if you believe that creationist nonsensical myth. Polygamy (islam still practices it) however was condoned in the old testament as well as incest. How do the scriptural cherry-picking bigots deal with that I wonder?
posted by Anonymous, at
2/24/2009 1:52 PM
Robert, they don't have to deal with it, because they tell the people they're manipulating that "The Bible says..." and the followers turn their brains off. Ignorance is bliss! That's why the biggest con men in the world enter the ministry; they're already 99% home. For the first few centuries, the Bible was a hodgepodge of different writings, including writings which claimed that the world was created by an angry, ruthless deity. Even when they settled upon accepted scripture (and rejected the 'gospel of Mary' because it was written by a female), the copyists altered it and made it fit their own viewpoints.
It took me years of study to discover all of this. The fundamentalists believe you shouldn't even question religion; they're intellectually doomed. Worse, they don't care! Why do you think the most religious states and the religious parts of secular states are shit communities? I'm sorry for my crudeness, but it's true.
Look at that picture of "Willow Creek" that Wayne posted for anther story; complete with TV cameras and klieg lights. It would be a joke except for the fact that millions fall for it without a second thought.
Yes, the Hebrew scriptures are filled with polygamy, but the Bible kooks are too ignorant or too afraid to acknowledge this fact. Or, they develop some convoluted explanation as to why "that was OK then" but not now.
Anyone who claims that the Bible is "the literal word of God" is brainwashed and has been totally hoodwinked. As for how the politicians can believe in this nonsense too, trust me, Robert, the politicians don't believe in anything except whatever will get them re-elected so that they can enjoy the unearned advantages of government power and the filthy lucre it brings, whether they're liberal or conservative. If Barack Obama had to be anti-gay in order to get elected, he'd turn himself into the biggest homophobe in America. Politicians and clergy are natural allies.
posted by Chris L., at
2/24/2009 2:21 PM
Chris, I daresay you are right about that. I only wish someone with vast knowledge of the bible would emerge to debunk and challenge the bigots head on. The Vatican holds many versions of early scripture in its vaults, some that could allegedly spin christianity on its head. To this day, it refuses to allow scholars to study them which only proves they have much to hide.
posted by Anonymous, at
2/24/2009 3:14 PM
When I left the Pentecostal church in my early 20s, one of the saddest, most mind-numbing things I discovered was the truth about how they abused the Bible and encouraged a nonsensial belief in literalism in order to control people. Through my studies, I saw how they purposely and deliberately misled people, many of whom are hurting and searching for meaning in life. They exploited those people, many of whom were very well-meaning, in order to gain wealth, power and privilege. Few things could be more devious; it still beings tears to my eyes when I realize that the greatest evil occurs within the so-called House of God.
Ok, that whole video is pretty sick. But the part that was particularly disturbing is the focus on the fear of “poisoning” students minds in the classroom by equating man/woman unions = to same sex couples. They must keep students believing that same sex unions are not only less than, but non-existent according to God and society. And if a homosexual relationship does attempt to be made public, it must be dissolved. I’m interpreting one key focus of this is to brainwash the very young students into believing homosexuals are bad, and any form of bigotry is ok. It’s a ticket to violence and pretending gays don't exist. If they do they should be shamed. Teachers are willing to spend much time instilling the “family values”, but very little discouraging racism or bigotry. This is the case in public schools.
Robert, the fact is more Scrolls and manuscripts were discarded than included in the bible. Men drunk on wine determined that they were not “the word of God”. Well, the wine was pretty strong in those days and they ran around in robes. So not only were there a few homophobes in the group but there was much paranoia.
I find there are enough politicians on both sides of the aisle that are behind this save marriage between man and woman act. It’s not a conservative issue alone. That said, I don’t believe Obama will abandon his core values for the sake of political inroads. He may be withholding his support now for gay marriage, but I believe that will change once some of the economical issues subside.
I've been screaming "bloody hell" over this video for weeks. It's interesting to note that they've now edited the vid. . .not the hate, but the photoshop pic in the "adoption" part of the slideshow (gay snipers are still okay).
This is more FOF funded hate. . .multiple web sites and accounts.
posted by Gary, at
2/24/2009 6:03 PM
gee, talk about living in a bubble. I suppose this wacky group do not consider many european countries to be part of our long history of civilization. Hooey. It is all a bunch of hooey. This is not ultimately up for a vote by the citizenry.
posted by Spouse Walker, at
2/24/2009 8:22 PM
It is pitiful that we keep fighting this battle over and over and over, though of course we must do so whenever this hateful crap rears its evil head.
So much seems to be assumed when it comes to the Bible. Of course, those who assume are inevitably shown to be asses which will be the case here.
Thank you for bringing attention to this. I live in West Virginia. I hope you will come to our state. I found out about this last week and was a bit surprised I did not find out about it before then. There are plenty of people who love me just as I am here and accept gay people just as they are. I was saddened when I watched the pastor summit WV for marriage hosted. I have been thinking about what I could do. The only thing I could think of was to talk about it with people and make them aware. Thank you
posted by Justin, at
2/25/2009 1:19 AM
I always put fundie organizational names like "Family Policy Council" in quotes. The names are deliberately deceptive and should be treated accordingly.
posted by libhom, at
2/25/2009 8:24 PM
