Some thoughts

Editorial: Port Authority toll increases

2011-08-16T18:28:00.009-04:00

An open letter to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Dear Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ):

There is an old Jewish joke set in Nazi Germany as the persecutions of the Jews by the Nazis were escalating. A Jew is walking through the park and he sees his Jewish friend sitting on a park bench reading the most anti-Semitic newspaper of the time. He asks his friend “why are you reading that trash?” And his friend answers him: “Because when I read this, I feel better. I learn the Jews control the banks. I learn the Jews control the media. I learn the Jews control the government. And I feel so much better knowing how rich and powerful we Jews are.”

Similarly, when I read your latest toll increase proposal, a proposal that can only be called legalized extortion, I felt better. Instead of being a poor person (who used to be middle class) who is struggling to pay his bills, I learn that I am so affluent that money is no object. I learned that I am so rich, that I can afford the skies the limit toll rates to finance your edifice complex. I learned that I am so rich I can afford your lavish executive salaries, benefits and perks. I learned that I can afford the price increases in food and clothing that will result from your toll increases as these increases are passed along to consumers such as myself.

By your own admission, the profits generated by your toll facilities are currently $459 million per year, or to put it another way, a profit of nearly half a billion dollars a year. Yet you have proposed soaking me and people like me for approximately another $1 billion dollars a year in tolls on top of the nearly half a billion in profits you currently steal from me and people like me.

Before you object to my saying you steal, allow me to quote part of the dictionary definition:

steal

[steel] Show IPA ,verb, stole, sto·len, steal·ing,noun

verb (used with object)

to take (the property of another or others) without permission or right, especially secretly or by force: A pickpocket stole his watch.

I never gave you permission to take a thin dime from me. You have your own police force so force is not an unreasonable statement either.

And while we are on the subject of stealing, isn’t it true that the PANYNJ settled lawsuits in which the cities of New York and Newark charged you with defrauding them over the rent payments for the regions three airports. It appears financial fraud may well be a way of life for the PANYNJ.

You have spent years building your empire and you have spent years soaking the public for the ever-increasing expansion of your empire. You have repeatedly picked the pockets of innocent motorists so the people of Jersey City who live in expensive waterfront condominiums can pay less that the full cost of their PATH ride to their jobs on Wall Street. Furthermore, you have gone out of your way to obscure this fact with your creative accounting and misleading word usage. The truth is PATH has never paid its costs and those costs have been subsidized by motorists day after day, year after year, decade after decade, dollar after dollar, millions of dollars after millions of dollars, and billions of dollars after billions of dollars.

As for your toll increase proposal, I have a counter proposal. Refund every dollar in profits that you stole from motorists to subside PATH and your edifice complex. I am aware you might think this unreasonable and unlike the organized crime figures (yes the PANYNJ is organized and yes it engages in stealing and extortion, therefore the PANYNJ is organized crime) that run the PANYNJ, I am willing to compromise. My compromise is that your immediately decrease your tolls by the $459 million in profits you currently steal.

As history has repeatedly demonstrated that I can anticipate your response to involve you shoving something up my backside, I request that you at least pay for the condom and lube for a change.

Unsafe Fair Lawn, NJ Municipal Water

2011-08-14T15:22:00.003-04:00

Update as of 8/18/11: Fair Lawn is now pumping brown municipal tap water into the homes of the Radburn section of Fair Lawn.

Homophobia and Some Examples of Other Hatred as Well

2011-04-01T18:25:00.009-04:00

By Gary Konecky

Copyright © 2011 by Gary Konecky

Gays, lesbians, and other sexual minorities are subjected to discrimination and violence all over the world. Often, these attacks are justified, encouraged, and motivated by religious teachings. The religions most often responsible for these attacks are certain branches of Judaism, the Roman Catholic Church, certain protestant faiths, Christian fundamentalists, and Muslims. This analysis is going to detail the massive extent of homophobia in our society and then the biblical prohibitions against such discrimination and persecution.

One of the reasons gays and lesbians are condemned in society because they do not engage “natural sex”. As Rabbi Simchah Roth notes: “When heterosexuals involve themselves with masturbation, mutual masturbation, fellatio, anti-pregnancy pills, condoms, spermicides, curettage and the most amazing acrobatic feats in order to defeat conception, the heterosexual claim to ‘natural sex’ is sheer hypocrisy!”

Gays and lesbians are singled out as promiscuous, often by religious leaders and politicians. Yet when those same gays and lesbians attempt to form a committed monogamous relationship; those same religious leaders and politicians condemn gays and lesbians as they rant about the sanctity of traditional marriage and make false statements such as “the bible says marriage should be between one man and one woman.” Setting aside the multiple wives and concubines of the bible (as well as the commandment that a rapist marry his rape victim); this argument is nothing more than these homophobic politicians and religious leaders trying to have their cake and eat it too (in a damned if gays and lesbians do, damned if gays and lesbians don’t scenario).

Nor can we overlook the politicians and religious leaders that use gays and lesbians as whipping boys in their culture wars, in their fundraising, and in their political campaigns. Many of these politicians and religious leaders have gone so far as to demand that gays and lesbians be stripped of the limited legal protections currently afforded gays and lesbians. Least anyone think that will not happen here, it has already happened. In California in 2008, the Mormon Church allegedly violated campaign finance laws and bought the election to have same sex civil (as in married at City Hall and not a church) marriage repealed after the California Supreme Court ruled that under the California state constitution gay and lesbian couples have a right to civil marriage. Despite a federal court ruling that this repeal of same sex civil marriage is unconstitutional, gays and lesbians still cannot be married in California.

2009 saw same sex civil marriage repealed in Maine. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) designated hate group the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) spent $2 million on this vote, and the Roman Catholic Church spent over half a million dollars on this vote, while at the same time closing local churches for lack of funds. NOM is still battling in court to keep the names of their donors’ secret, despite loosing every court ruling thus far. If NOM is as moral as they claim, what are they hiding? Why do NOM’s donors demand secrecy if they are doing G-d’s work as they claim? http://www.americanindependent.com/164201/despite-grassroots-claim-most-of-national-organization-for-marriage-funding-comes-from-few-sources and http://nomexposed.org/2011/03/02/nom-appeals-court-ruling-on-its-maine-activities-remains-under-investigation-by-state-ethics-board/

By the way, this is the same Roman Catholic Church that has been rocked by a decades long, worldwide series of scandals involving pedophilia and child abuse. Furthermore, the Roman Catholic Church’s persecution of gays and lesbians appears to be a smokescreen to divert attention from these scandals. Additionally, in an effort to divert attention form the naked bigotry and hate spread by the Roman Catholic Church (a hate that includes persecution of women and Jews in addition to gays and lesbians), the Vatican has gone crying to the United Nations claiming that their freedom of religion (which they define to include hate mongering) is under attack and that they, not their victims are being persecuted. http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE72L4XU20110322

Nor is the hate mongering limited to religious groups. 2010 and 2011 are seeing the same repeal efforts, as well as voting judges out of office and attempting to impeach judges if they rule in favor of same sex civil marriage. The entire Iowa Supreme Court has been voted out of office or faces impeachment because they ruled the Iowa state constitution provides gays and lesbians with equality under the law, including the right to a civil marriage. Attempts to enact constitutional amendments to discriminate against gays and lesbians are currently underway in several states including Iowa. An effort to repeal same sex civil marriage in underway in New Hampshire. Both Iowa and New Hampshire are considered early must win states in the presidential nomination sweepstakes. Leading the charge in Iowa are several SPLC designated evangelical and Christian hate groups. Leading the charge to discriminate in New Hampshire is the SPLC designated hate group NOM. Additionally, the bigoted politicians in congress are attempting to re-enact the failed, unconstitutional policy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT). They obsessed with re-enacting DADT, because if DADT stays repealed, then the world will know that the limp-wrested stereotypes of gay men are merely stereotypes; and that gay men are strong, honorable, men that capable of fighting and defending their country. To put all this activity into historical perspective, one need only look at the Nuremberg Laws of Nazi Germany where first the Jews were first relegated to second-class citizenship and ultimately to the gas chambers and concentration camps. For those who think I am overstating the case, one need only look at the American Christian fundamentalist inspired and promoted pending legislation in Uganda, legislation that carries the death penalty for being homosexual.

Prior to World War 2, Henry Ford wrote numerous anti-Jewish materials that were published in this country. Many of those writings found their way into Hitler’s Mein Kampf. History is now repeating itself in Uganda, where right wing politicians and the American Religious Right have been very active in seeking laws criminalizing homosexuality, including making homosexuality punishable by death.

To see how this is already playing out we need look no further than the murder of gay rights activist David Kato in Uganda, about which the New York Times reported:

…Ms. Kalende was referring to visits in March 2009 by a group of American evangelicals, who held rallies and workshops in Uganda discussing how to turn gay people straight, how gay men sodomized teenage boys and how “the gay movement is an evil institution” intended to “defeat the marriage-based society.”

The Americans involved said they had no intention of stoking a violent reaction. But the antigay bill was drafted shortly thereafter. Some of the Ugandan politicians and preachers who wrote it had attended those sessions and said that they had discussed the legislation with the Americans.

After growing international pressure and threats from a few European countries to cut assistance — Uganda relies on hundreds of millions of dollars of aid — Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, indicated that the bill would be scrapped.

But more than a year later, that has not happened, and the legislation remains a simmering issue in Parliament. Some political analysts say the bill could be passed in the coming months, after a general election in February that is expected to return Mr. Museveni, who has been in office for 25 years, to power.

…Conservative Christian groups that espouse antigay beliefs have made great headway in this country and wield considerable influence. Uganda’s minister of ethics and integrity, James Nsaba Buturo, who describes himself as a devout Christian, has said, “Homosexuals can forget about human rights.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/world/africa/28uganda.html?_r=1

Previously, the New York Times reported:

Last March, three American evangelical Christians, whose teachings about “curing” homosexuals have been widely discredited in the United States, arrived here in Uganda’s capital to give a series of talks.

The theme of the event, according to Stephen Langa, its Ugandan organizer, was “the gay agenda — that whole hidden and dark agenda” — and the threat homosexuals posed to Bible-based values and the traditional African family.

For three days, according to participants and audio recordings, thousands of Ugandans, including police officers, teachers and national politicians, listened raptly to the Americans, who were presented as experts on homosexuality. The visitors discussed how to make gay people straight, how gay men often sodomized teenage boys and how “the gay movement is an evil institution” whose goal is “to defeat the marriage-based society and replace it with a culture of sexual promiscuity…”

One month after the conference, a previously unknown Ugandan politician, who boasts of having evangelical friends in the American government, introduced the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009…

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html

The American evangelicals referred to above are none other than members of C Street and The Family, two of the most influential and shadowy Christian fundamentalist groups in the United States. In addition to their other activities, these entities are involved in the National Prayer Breakfast that is attended by the President, by members of Congress, and by high-ranking government officials.

David Kato’s obituary, an obituary of a man who was only concerned with others including the poor, the down and out, and the proper education of school children can be found at: http://www.economist.com/node/18111806. What is striking about this obituary is that many of those who benefited from his kindness still demonized him because of their intense hatred of gays.

David Kato’s funeral was also marked by homophobic rants from the preacher who officiated at the funeral. The Talmud (Ta'anith 21a) tells us: “…This is in accordance with the view of R. Meir who said: It is a duty to carry out the will of a dying man.” How did this preacher carry out the will of a dying man with his display of hatred against the deceased, with his display of hatred against the deceased’s life work, and with his display of hatred and contempt to the deceased’s mourners? Chapter two of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) tells us: “Rabbi Eliezer would say: The honor of your fellow should be as precious to you as your own…” How did the homophobic ranting of this cleric show honor to his fellows (the deceased and the deceased’s mourners)? What kind of cleric (a man of G-d) would choose to willfully, deliberately, with malice aforethought, inflict emotional harm on mourners? What kind of sickness demands this level of cruelty? What deity demands hate such as this?

The Guardian, in their coverage of this funeral reported:

The incident highlighted the deep, religiously-stoked homophobia that exists in Uganda, and which Kato's friends believe may have caused his death. He was one of few openly homosexual men in the country, and was a regarded as the "grandfather" of the gay community due to his long struggle for equal rights. His death came just three weeks after he won a court victory against a newspaper that had called for him to be hanged….

Following the pastor's departure, Kato's friends completed the burial, before quickly returning to Kampala due to threats from some local villagers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/28/gay-activist-david-kato-funeral

Nor is this situation unique to Uganda. Days after this funeral in Uganda, CNN reported:

A controversial Kansas church says members will picket before the memorial service Wednesday evening for two Florida teenagers allegedly killed by their mother.

In a press release, Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, said it will demonstrate outside the service in Tampa because the mother is a military wife and "the doomed American military declared war on God & His church."

The controversial church and its pastor, Fred Phelps, have made their name picketing near funerals of people who died of AIDS, gay people and soldiers.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/02/02/florida.children.killed/

In a recent 8-1 US Supreme Court ruling, the Supreme Court has ruled this church’s behavior is constitutional. That would be the US Supreme Court that ruled against televising the Prop. 8 trail at the behest of the bigots who sponsored and campaigned for Prop. 8. That would also be the US Supreme Court that ruled that gays and lesbians cannot use the word “Olympics” in the San Francisco Arts & Athletics, Inc. v. United States Olympic Committee case. That would be the US Supreme Court whose ruling in Bowers v. Hardwick was such a homophobic, bigoted, disgustingly gross miscarriage of justice that decades later they overturned it in Lawrence v. Texas.

Days after news about Westboro Baptist Church’s Florida funeral picketing was reported, Republican state representative LaVar Christensen introduced two bills in the Utah state legislature that are designed to strip gay and lesbian families of all legal rights and protections. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/02/03/utah-politicians-bill-to-exclude-gay-families/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Pinknews+%28Pink+News%29 Utah is home to the notoriously homophobic Mormon Church (the Church of Jesus Christ and Later Day Saints or LDS). The Mormons also engage in the disgusting practice of baptizing Jewish dead and then claiming them to be Mormon souls.

Days after Republican bigot Christensen introduced his hate mongering legislation, Indiana Republican State Rep. Eric Turner introduced legislation to amend the state constitution so that legal protections for same sex couples will be unconstitutional. Unitarian Minister Andy Burnette pointed out: “It’s state sanctioned discrimination. Two straight people can go to Vegas, be intoxicated and be married by an Elvis impersonator and what we’re saying in Indiana is that two people in a committed relationship that care for each other can’t achieve that status. I really have a hard time understanding that.” http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/02/anti-gay-marriage-amendment-advances-in-indiana-house/

Days after Rep. Turner introduced his hate gays and lesbians bill, Tennessee Republican Assemblyman Glen Casada has introduced a bill allowing government contractors to discriminate against gays and lesbians in hiring and employment. Furthermore, this bill makes any attempt to stop such discrimination illegal. The bill is backed by Conservative and Christian groups. http://www.outandaboutnewspaper.com/article/4563

This was followed about a week later by African-American Bishop Harry Jackson, a minister at the Hope Christian Church in Belstville, MD, demanding that the Conservatives in Congress repeal Washington, DC’s civil marriage law that allows same sex couples to have legally recognized relationships in the District of Columbia. Too bad this Bishop, too bad this descendant of slaves, too bad this self-appointed guardian of public morality cannot be bothered to read his own bible, for Leviticus 19:34 tells him and us: “But the stranger who dwells with you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.” http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=7542&MediaType=1&Category=26

Not to be outdone by Bishop Jackson, another African-American, Robert Broadus (Republican, Conservative, Tea Party) railed against same-sex marriage because it could lead to android marriage. He cited Star Trek as proof. He also cited the bible as justification for his bigotry. He is yet another example of a bible thumping ignoramus that has not read the bible, but feels it is his duty to impose is incorrect view of scripture on the rest of us. Perhaps we would all be better served if he actually read the bible instead of using the science fiction movie Star Trek as his source of information. http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/02/android-marriages-are-in-marylands-future-if-same-sex-marriage-legalized/

Republicans in Iowa are seeking to repeal same sex civil marriage. Aiding them are people such as Rev. Keith Ratliff Sr., president of the Iowa-Nebraska chapter of the NAACP. Rev. Ratliff gave a disgusting, hate mongering speech against same sex marriage at a rally to amend Iowa’s constitution to ban same sex civil marriage and overturn an Iowa Supreme Court ruling that such a ban was unconstitutional under the Iowa state constitution. It is note worthy that a similar state constitutional amendment was ruled unconstitutional by a US District Court in a case involving California’s Prop. 8 repeal of same sex civil marriage. http://www.thepridenetwork.org/blog/?p=106

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/03/15/gay-marriage-debate-gets-a-double-dose-at-iowa-capitol-today/

Then there is Iowa homophobe Cary Gordon of Cornerstone World Outreach. Among this outspoken, politically involved pastor’s comments is one that allowing same sex marriage is the same as repealing gravity. This politician in clergy robes is also one of the bigots behind the removal of three Iowa Supreme Court justices who ruled that the Iowa state constitution requires equality under the law for gays and lesbians and that equality under the law includes the right to a civil marriage.

As for this pastor’s other accomplishments, he defaulted on his church’s construction loans and his church is being auctioned off by the sheriff.

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/iowa-religious-right-leader-compares-marriage-equality-ruling-overturning-gravity

Montana Republican Representative Kristin Hansen has introduced a bill in the state legislature that “would effectively overturn Missoula's 2010 ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (transgender protections) by prohibiting local governments from enacting protections beyond those found in the state's Human Rights Act, which does not include sexual orientation and gender identity.” I guess that part about “liberty and justice for all” confuses this bigoted politician.. http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=7630&MediaType=1&Category=26

Republican wannabe presidential candidate, religious fanatic, and ousted Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore is campaigning on a gay bashing platform. It is worth noting that this bigot was removed from the Alabama Supreme Court by an ethics panel for violating the US constitution and a US Court of Appeals court order. Other homophobes campaigning to be the Republican presidential candidate include former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain.

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/hamilton/20031118.html

http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=7947&MediaType=1&Category=26

Maryland Republican Delegate Don H. Dwyer Jr. is once again leading the homophobic charge of the bigots. Apparently, he has decided the way to Republican control of elected offices in Maryland is by abusing his public office and engaging in verbal gay bashing for partisan political purposes. He was successful in that the Maryland legislature let a same sex civil marriage bill die without even having the decency to vote on it.

The SPLC designated hate group NOM took credit for denying gay and lesbians equality in Maryland. It is also note worthy that NOM has a history of using race in their attacks of gays and lesbians. http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=7674&MediaType=1&Category=26

http://holybulliesandheadlessmonsters.blogspot.com/2011/03/nom-loves-playing-african-americans-and.html

There is also nothing like the sanctity of heterosexual hypocrisy. Wannabe Republican Presidential candidate Newt (twice divorced, two extramarital affairs, now on his third marriage) Gingrich is running on the holier than thou moral platform of hating gays. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/50021.html Gingrich also believes that judges who uphold the Constitution (and grant gays and lesbians the same legal protections other Americans take for granted) should be punished. http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2011/03/17/gingrich-reportedly-funneled-125k-through-hate-group-to-punish-iowa-justices/ Apparently, Gingrich wants to be president of the heterosexual bigots of America, and not all Americans.

Wannabe Republican Presidential candidate Donald (twice divorced, now on his third marriage) Trump clearly does not have the qualifications of Gingrich, as Trump has not cheated on his wife. He is making up for that by be opposed to same sex civil marriage. By the way, he has graciously offered to let gays continue to live in New York. http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/02/trump-im-as-conservative-as-anyone-on.html

Then there are the Conservatives and Republicans hypocrites who are screaming because the Obama administration has decided not to defend the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act; as if gay and lesbian people in committed relationships are a threat to marriage; while their heterosexual extramarital affairs and divorces defend marriage. The only thing that seems sacred here is heterosexual hypocrisy and political demagogy.

Nor is the problem just these politicians and their hypocrisy. Target Corporation, the parent of all those Target stores in the country, is suing a group that advocates for marriage equality. Apparently, the notoriously homophobic Target Corp. is offended that these citizens chose to utilize their first amendment rights under the US Constitution. By the way, notorious former closet case Ricky Martin, has again chosen to line his pockets on the bodies of gay bashing victims. At the peak of his career, this prostitute chose to stay in the closet rather than help his gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. Now, this prostitute has chosen to crawl into bed with the notoriously homophobic Target Corp., so that he can again line his pockets. By the way, the very rich and all but useless GLAAD just gave Ricky Martin an award. In contrast, when the situation with Target broke, Lady Gaga walked away from a lucrative marketing deal with Target. http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/03/target-sues-marriage-equality-group-for-canvassing-supporters-outside-stores/

The day after Donald Trump’s keen insight into the sanctity of hypocrisy, North Carolina brought us a news report that Michael Anderson murdered his gay roommate, Stephen Starr. Reports indicate that he shot Starr with a handgun and a shotgun. He also carved up the body with a sword and also used also an axe on it. Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid says it's "probably one of the worst scenes I have seen in my 30 years of law enforcement." Anderson’s 9-1-1 call seems to indicate that he will be using the both the infamous gay panic defense and the infamous Twinkie defense that Dan White so successfully used for the murders of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. http://www.queerty.com/brutal-murder-teen-shoots-hacks-gay-roommate-to-death-after-he-turned-straight-again-20110216/

Least anyone think this is an isolated incident, promising 18-year-old Anthony Santiago Collao was beaten to death in Queens (New York City) in a savage gay bashing. It is believed that Mr. Collao was not even gay, but was mistaken for someone who is gay. Five suspects have been arrested by police, but it appears the Queens County District Attorney’s office is reluctant to prosecute this as a hate crime, despite police charges of it being a hate crime.

http://www.avp.org/documents/AnthonyCollao.pdf

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/03/16/2011-03-16_5th_suspect_arrested_in_fatal_beating_of_queens_teen_bragged_of_hate_crime_on_fa.html

Coming on the heels of Mr. Collao’s being beaten to death in a gay bashing, Damian Furtch, aged 26, was gay bashed in a West Village (in Manhattan) McDonald's. He sustained black eyes and need stitches. The New York City Police Department is investigating this as a hate crime. The attacks on Mr. Collao and Mr. Furtch are part of series of attacks based on sexual orientation in all five boroughs of New York City. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/03/30/2011-03-30_gay_bashing_in_west_village.html

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Cops-Probe-West-Village-Anti-Gay-Attack-118904769.html

Texas brings us Republicans calling for state legislation that sounds very similar to Uganda’s kill the gays bill. http://jaysays.com/2010/06/texas-gop-official-platform-calls-for-imprisonment-of-homosexuals-and-supportive-heterosexuals/

Texas also brings us Democratic homophobic bigotry. Bexar County (San Antonio) Democratic Party Chairman Dan Ramos delivered a rant in which he attacked gay and lesbian members of the Democratic Party. http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2011/03/17/dan-ramos-gays-termites/

Despite the repeal of the failed, unconstitutional Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, the US Navy is continuing its policy of throwing out sailors they believe to be homosexual. http://gay.americablog.com/2011/03/take-action-another-dadt-discharge.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AMERICAblogGay+%28AMERICAblog+Gay%29

Republicans state senators in Michigan are seeking to strip gay and lesbian state employees of domestic partnership benefits. Apparently, if you are a married heterosexual, you are entitled to health care and pension benefits that cover your spouse; but if you are a gay or lesbian state employee then your domestic partner (not spouse as you cannot be legally married) does not deserve such benefits according to these bigots. To camouflage their bigotry, these bigots claim this is a budget issue. http://prideinutah.com/?p=9978

Nor is this hatred and bigotry reserved just for gays and lesbians as we can see from two criminal cases involving prosecutorial and judicial misconduct. Louisiana brings us the equivalent of a legal lynching involving the white power structure using criminal charges to destroy elected African-American officials. http://www.truth-out.org/race-and-politics-a-rural-louisiana-town-attract-national-attention68778

Nor is the first time criminal prosecutions have been used to destroy elected officials, as the Bush administration’s prosecution of Don Siegelman was another clear-cut example. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1858991,00.html

Then there is the Rubashkin case, a case that stinks of anti-Jewish hatred, a case in which the judge worked with prosecutors in a successful effort to arrest, convict and destroy Mr. Rubashkin and his company. http://chabad.info/index.php?url=article_en&id=22566 While Siegelman was persectuted by the Bush administration, Mr. Rubashkin was persecuted by the Bush administration and is now being persecuted by the Obama administration.

Let us also not forget the use of criminal prosecutions to persecute and destroy the lives of gay men on so called morals charges, an activity that police through out the world (including the United States) still engage in.

The there are the other attempts to enact laws that discriminate, usually in the name of some religious point of view, and usually for partisan political advantage. Republicans in US House of Representatives want the IRS to audit women who have abortions. http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/03/gop-bill-irs-abortion-audits

Republicans in the US House of Representatives also have a bill pending that would allow hospitals to let a pregnant woman die rather than perform the abortion that would save her life. By the way, the mother’s life being expendable to save a fetus is fully in line with Roman Catholic Church dogma and right wing Christian fanaticism. http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/new-gop-law-would-allow-hospitals-to-let-women-die-instead-of-having-an-abortion.php

South Dakota Republican and “pro-life” state Representative Phil Jensen introduced a bill pending in the South Dakota legislature “to let relatives of a woman seeking an abortion legally kill the provider performing the procedure.” The bill was voted out of the Republican controlled committee on a party line vote (9-3). It appears the “pro-life” movement is so pro-life that will permit the murder of a living breathing human being if it will save a fetus. http://www.addictinginfo.org/?p=1655

Now lets assume that the fetus from the dead mother, or the fetus that survived the murder of a doctor, is born and turns out to be gay or lesbian. Well then all bets are off. The SPLC designated Christian hate groups will prevent any attempt to save that child from being bullied to death. Right now, the religious rights and Christian fundamentalist hate groups are engaged in a vicious, nasty, hateful campaign to prevent any attempt to stop bullying in schools. Apparently not enough children have been bullied to death to satisfy their blood thirsty G-d, a G-d that demands child sacrifices.

Speaking of bullying, there is this item of Christian bigotry involving Harding University (HU), the 6,800-student private Christian school in Searcy, AK. HU is affiliated with the Churches Of Christ and is telling gay and lesbian students:

…they must "see myself as heterosexual" and tell themselves same-sex attraction is "not natural." Writes one student: "Three days a week in Harding's Counseling Center, I moved from therapist to therapist trying to find a way out. It was my final act of desperation. The choices were as follow: be saved from my closeted sin or death. I had it all planned out. If this failed, I would die. I had already gotten the gun. It was under my dorm room bed."

This isn't a minor annoyance. This is a matter of life and death for some students.

http://www.queerty.com/why-is-arkansas-christian-school-harding-university-telling-gay-students-they-must-turn-straight-20110303/

Yet even after the above quoted report about conditions at Harding University were made public, Matt Barber, Associate Dean of Liberty University and Director of Cultural Affairs for the Liberty Counsel went on radio and television to blame the gay and lesbian children that had been bullied to death for their own deaths. That’s right, the bullies played no part in these children’s deaths. It was there own fault for being born gay and lesbian that is the reason they died.

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/barber-slams-anti-christ-activists-pro-sin-movement-criticizing-his-comments-gay-suicide

We also have another example of these Christian teachings in action. Julea Ward is a self-described “orthodox Christian.” Ms. Ward is suing her school, Eastern Michigan University (EMU), because she wants a career as a counselor and the school had the nerve to insist that she comply with the professional codes of conduct of her chosen profession as part of their degree requirements. Ms. Ward claims she cannot comply with codes of conduct of her chosen profession because that would require her to violate her religious duty to discriminate against gays and lesbians. A federal court has already ruled that the school was well within its rights to require compliance with these professional standards. The court also ruled that her refusal to provide counseling to gays and lesbians is a violation of American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and the American School Counselor Association Ethical Standards for School Counselors. She is appealing the court ruling with the assistance of the notoriously well-funded homophobic Alliance Defense Fund. http://www.au.org/media/press-releases/archives/2011/02/public-university-is-not.html

Unlike EMU, the response to a gay or lesbian student being bullied is usually to back the bullies. One need only look at the deaths of gay and lesbian students who were bullied to death in 2010. http://www.examiner.com/religion-social-issues-in-newark/2010-a-year-of-bullying-and-suicide

Least anyone think things have improved since this issue was called to the public’s attention in 2010, Kameron Jacobsen, aged 14, was bullied to death in New York State over his perceived sexual orientation in January 2011. http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/new_york_state/sources-teenager-kills-himself-after-facebook-taunts-20110119

Then there is Republican Dan Gordon of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. This bigot blamed gay and lesbian students for being bullied. Furthermore, because these students and their allies tried standing up for themselves, he decided to punish the school they were attending by pulling state education funding from the school. He defended himself against accusations of being a bigot with the classic “some of my best friends are gay” defense. A petition to educate Representative Gordon can be found at: http://act.demandprogress.org/act/dan_gordon/?source=fb and a news report about this can be found at: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=7971&MediaType=1&Category=26

Let us also not overlook the Catholic Church’s active political campaigns, as in their successful multi-million dollar campaign to repeal same sex civil marriage in Maine and their current political campaign in Minnesota, which is discussed in this link: http://gay.americablog.com/2010/10/mn-catholic-church-is-now-political.html.

Then there is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This group of misogynistic pigs does not care how they endanger the lives of women as long as they can force women to walking baby factories. I would like these bishops to explain what gives them the right to demand laws be enacted that force American doctors to subject American citizens to medical malpractice because of their women hating god. By the way, having seen medical care in Catholic hospitals, I rather die in the street then be treated in one of their hospitals. http://yubanet.com/opinions/Terry-O-Neill-U-S-Catholic-Bishops-Major-Force-Behind-War-on-Women.php and http://thehathorlegacy.com/us-catholic-bishops-wants-women-to-die-of-cancer/

Additionally, there is my favorite example of all this religious hypocrisy and hate; some bigot had Leviticus 18:22 tattooed on his arm; tattoos being a sin under Leviticus 19:28. I wonder if he got his tattoo after eating shellfish at Red Lobster, which is an abomination according to Leviticus 11:9-12. http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/man-tattoos-leviticus-1822-that-forbids-homosexua

Least anyone have any doubt; this is the poisonous fruit of religious homophobia. This is the fruit of the hatred and bigotry that comes from misreading scripture and using scripture as a tool of hate. Furthermore, there is plenty of blame for this hate. There are Orthodox and Ultra- Orthodox Jews (in the United States and Israel) who incite hate with their public displays of bigotry. There are Christian fundamentalists who publicly incite hate and its resulting violence. There is the Phelps clan and their Westboro Baptist Church that behave as badly or worse than the Ugandan preacher at David Kato’s funeral. There are the notoriously homophobic Roman Catholic and Mormon churches that incite hate and violence, and that also lobby and campaign against any form civil equality for gays and lesbians. Coincidentally, both these churches have long histories of Jew hating as well. There is the notoriously homophobic Salvation Army that seeks public donations while pretending to be charity, yet actively practices discrimination against Jews, gays, lesbians, and that also uses those charitable donations to lobby for the right to discriminate in providing taxpayer funded services. There are the numerous well-known, well-funded, Religious Right and Christian Fundamentalist hate groups cited by the SPLC, hate groups that espouse and preach the hate and incitement that leads to gay suicides, gay bashings, and murders. There is the Anglican Communion that refuses to confront the hatred in their midst. There are the appeasement policies of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, who refuses to confront the homophobic hate that is present in the Anglican Communion, hate that comes directly from the mouths of the communion’s most vocal bishops and clerics.

Additionally, this hate and bigotry goes far beyond religious leaders, religious fanatics, and politicians. It includes the government, especially its police and law enforcement agencies. The following are just some of the law enforcement agencies and courts that enable or actively participate in the persecution of gays and lesbians:

· The Ugandan Police

· The Puerto Rican Police

· The Fair Lawn, NJ Police Department

· The Fair Lawn, NJ Municipal Prosecutor

· The Fair Lawn, NJ Municipal Court Judge*

· The Bergen County, NJ Prosecutor’s Office

· The Essex County, NJ Sheriffs Department

· The Palisades Interstate Park (NJ) Police **

· The Palisades Interstate Park (NJ) Municipal Prosecutor **

· The Palisades Interstate Park (NJ) Municipal Court Judge* **

· The New York City, NY Police Department

· The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

· The Fort Worth, TX Police Department

· The Palm Springs, CA Police Department

· The Palm Springs, CA District Attorney

· The Minneapolis, MN Police Department

· The Atlanta, GA Police Department

· The Lansing, MI Police Department

· The Michigan State Police

· The Detroit, MI Police Department

· The Pontiac, MI Police Department

· The Johnson City, TN Police Department

· The New Orleans, LA Police Department

* These two judges were subsequently promoted; the Fair Lawn judge being promoted to a life tenured position.

** Gay men have not been the only victims of entrapment, bogus prosecutions, and discriminatory law enforcement. Other groups targeted have included Jews, Asian-Americans, and African-Americans.

All of the above named police, prosecutors, and courts have done or knowingly allowed one or more of the following:

· Bag-a-fag stings and other police entrapment

· Malicious criminal prosecution of the victims of anti-gay harassment, not prosecution of the harassers, but prosecution of the victims of the anti-gay harassment

· Arrest and prosecution of gay men under provisions of the criminal code that were struck down as unconstitutional and unenforceable by courts

· Aiding, abetting and actively conspiring in the staging of incidents and then making it appear that the party guilty of anti-gay harassment is an innocent victim while taking every action to insure that the gay victim of the harassment is found guilty of criminal conduct

· Cover-ups of and/or refusal to investigate or prosecute hate crimes committed against gays and lesbians including physical attacks, death threats and harassment

· Knowingly arresting gay men on false charges, including prostitution charges and public indecency charges

· Beating, falsely imprisoning, entrapping, violently attacking and/or killing gay men

· Committing perjury to insure convictions of gay men who were arrested in illegal police stings

· Knowingly convicting gay men of “morals” crimes based upon perjured testimony from police

· Raids of gay owned businesses without probable cause

· Discrimination against gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) people

· Use of the 'crimes against nature' statute almost solely against LGBT individuals.

· Seizure of gay owned business records and property without probable cause or a search warrant

We also have the case of Don Scheiferdecker, who has been the sheriff of Schuyler County, IL for over 30 years. He admitted to posting the following comment on Facebook: "Yup and his mouth is open, his glasses are off, he's ready, little fag Jew boy." One can only wonder about the type of law enforcement this sheriff has provided to gay men and Jews for the last 30 plus years.

It is noteworthy that while all of the above are recent cases, the birth of the modern gay and lesbian civil rights movement was the Stonewall Riots, and was the result of a New York City Police Department raid of a gay bar known as the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969. Apparently little or nothing has changed in terms of law enforcement’s harassment of the gay and lesbian community in all the years from 1969 to 2011.

In view of the recent rash of gay and lesbian suicides resulting from bullying, it is important to also note the case (that occurred several years ago) of the Minersville, PA police officers who harassed an 18 year old gay male, Marcus Wayman, into committing suicide.

In the case of Fair Lawn, NJ, the municipal government has been involved in a years long, still on going, campaign of harassment of a gay Jewish resident. In addition to the above named Fair Lawn, NJ law enforcement entities, other Fair Lawn, NJ agencies and municipal employees involved in this ongoing campaign of harassment include:

· The Fair Lawn, NJ Building Department

· The Fair Lawn, NJ Property Maintenance Officer

· The Fair Lawn, NJ Health Department

· The Fair Lawn, NJ Animal Control Officer***

· The Fair Lawn, NJ Chief of Police

· The Fair Lawn, NJ Borough Manager

· And the politically connected Fair Lawn, NJ common interest realty association known as the Radburn Association

*** The animal control officer was known by the Fair Lawn Mayor and Borough Council to have engaged in unprofessional and illegal conduct. Yet rather than fire this employee, they let him keep this job and to ultimately retire with a full pension.

Nor is the problem just corrupt local courts. After Prop. 8 (which repealed same sex civil marriage in California in an election filled with alleged campaign law violations by the Mormon Church that bought the election), same sex couples turned to the courts for justice. A US District Court ruled Prop. 8 unconstitutional. Yet despite it being unconstitutional, both the California Supreme Court and the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit refused to allow same sex civil marriages, instead staying the US District Court decision while considering appeals from the hate mongering bigots. Least anyone think that this is just some legal issue, let me remind them of the important legal dictum that “justice delayed is justice denied,” and as the Courage Campaign puts it in one of their emails: “Ed and Derence of Palm Springs, a couple that has been together for 40 years, demonstrates that lives are in the balance. Ed suffers from advancing Alzheimer's. The California Supreme Court and now the 9th Circuit have decided to make Ed and Derence wait at least 9 more months before they might enjoy the fundamental right to marry. By then, it might not matter anymore.”

Amos 5:24 tells us: “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Where is the justice in the persecution of gays and lesbians by law enforcement? Where is the righteousness in illegal law enforcement activities? Where is the justice and righteousness in a local government harassing a gay man or a Jewish man? Where is the justice and righteousness in police harassing an 18 year old into committing suicide?

Leviticus, chapter 19 tells us:

15. You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment; you shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.

16. You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people; nor shall you stand against the blood of your neighbor; I am the Lord.

17. You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you shall reason with your neighbor, and not allow sin on his account.

18. You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

I would like the people in the governments of Fair Lawn, NJ; of Uganda; and of every other community mentioned in the above list to explain exactly how their persecution and harassment of gays and lesbians complies with the G-d given commandments in these verses from Leviticus.

It is also extremely important to note the deep and lasting harm this hatred, this persecution, and this harassment causes its victims. In the only study I am aware of: “New research from Concordia University suggests that the stress of being rejected or victimized because of sexual orientation may disrupt hormonal responses in lesbians, gays and bisexuals.”

http://now.concordia.ca/what-we-do/research/20110202/physiological-impacts-of-homophobia.php

As we have covered some examples of homophobia, the extent to which it is practiced, and some of the harm it inflicts; now seems a good time to explore if this homophobia, vilification, and persecution of gays and lesbians is condoned by the bible. Therefore, now seems a good time to explore some additional teachings from the Hebrew bible, the midrash, the Talmud, and the mishnah.

In addition to the above, the Hebrew Bible tells us:

· “…what the L-rd demands of you; but to do justice, to love loving-kindness, and to walk discreetly with your G-d.” – Micah 6:8

· “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” – Proverbs 3:17 speaking about Torah

· “For I desire loving-kindness, and not sacrifices…” – Hosea 6:6

· “You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” – Leviticus 19:18

· “A Psalm of David. Lord, who shall abide in your tent? Who shall dwell in your holy mountain? He who walks uprightly, and does what is right, and speaks the truth in his heart. He who does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor.” – Pslams15:1-3

The Midrash teaches us:

· "Thou shalt love thy fellow man as thyself" (Lev. 19:18). R. Akiva said: This is a great principle in the Torah.

R. Simeon ben Eleazar said: To this utterance a great oath was adjoined, "Thou shalt love thy fellow man as thyself: I the Lord"--I, the Lord, created your fellow man. If you love him, I shall faithfully requite you with ample reward. If not, I shall act as judge to punish you.- Sif Lev., ed. Weiss, p. 89b; ARN 16.

· This is what the Holy One said to Israel: My children, what do I seek from you? I seek no more than that you love one another and honor one another.- TdE 26.

^·R. Joshua said: A grudging eye, the evil impulse, and hatred of his fellow men shorten a man's life.

"Hatred of his fellow men"--exactly how is this to be understood? That a man should not set out and say: Love sages but hate disciples, or love disciples but hate the ignorant [the amme ha-aretz ]. He should say: Love all of them. - Avot 2:11; ARN 16.

· Our masters taught: "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart" (Lev. 19:17). You might suppose that Scripture bids you not to strike him, not to slap him, not to curse him. But in saying, "In thy heart," Scripture also bids you to have no hatred in your heart.- B Ar 16b.

· Scripture says, "Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear a grudge against the children of thy people" (Lev. 19:18). Suppose that, while cutting meat, the knife struck your hand; would you turn around and strike the hand [that held the knife]?- P. Ned 9:4, 41c.

· The proverb says: What is in your heart about your fellow man is likely to be in his heart about you.- Sif Deut., #24; Tanhuma B, Shelah, supplement, #19.

(note 1)

Additionally, we are taught: “He who hates a man is as if he hated G-d.” – Pesikta Zutarti Behaaloteka (note 2)

The Talmud teaches us:

· Whence do we know that if a man sees his fellow drowning, mauled by beasts, or attacked by robbers, he is bound to save him? From the verse, Thou shalt not stand by the blood of thy neighbor! (Sanhedrin 73a)

· Just as G-d clothes the naked... so must you clothe the naked. The Holy Blessed One visits the sick... so you must also visit the sick. The Holy Blessed One comforts mourners... so must you comfort mourners. The Holy Blessed One buries the dead... so must you bury the dead. (Sotah 14a)

· On another occasion it happened that a certain heathen came before Shammai and said to him, ‘Make me a proselyte, on condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot.’ Thereupon he repulsed him with the builder's cubit which was in his hand.(12) When he went before Hillel, he said to him, ‘What is hateful to you, do not to your neighbour(13) that is the whole Torah, while the rest is the commentary thereof; go and learn it.’ - (Shabbath 31a)

(12) Rashi: a cubit to measure off the amount of work done by a builder.

(13) The golden Rule; cf. Lev. XIX, 18: but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.- V. Hertz, Leviticus, pp.22 or 223, and cf. R. T. Herford, Talmud and Apocrypha, p. 148.

· But why was the second Sanctuary destroyed, seeing that in its time they were occupying themselves with Torah, [observance of] precepts, and the practice of charity? Because therein prevailed hatred without cause. That teaches you that groundless hatred is considered as of even gravity with the three sins of idolatry, immorality, and bloodshed together . (Yoma 9b)

The Mishnah (Sanhedrin 4:5) teaches us:

A single man only was created in order to keep one man from saying to another: My forefather was greater than yours; to exclude pride of ancestry; to prevent families from quarreling, and men from assaulting and robbing one another, by virtue of the knowledge that they are all of one stock.

The same mishnah also teaches us that:

Only one man was created, in order to teach the lesson that if one destroys a single person, the Scripture imputes it to him as if he had destroyed the whole population of the world. And if he saves the life of a single person, the Scripture imputes it to him as though he had saved the entire world.

Neither the bible, nor the midrash, nor the Talmud, nor the mishnah seems to support the homophobia, the cruelty, and the out right hate expressed by the religious fanatics, opportunistic politicians and law enforcement. In fact, these traditional texts seem to argue against the very behavior expressed by religious fanatics, politicians and law enforcement.

Our discussion of homophobia would not be complete without mentioning the homophobic red herring about homosexuals undermining the family. As Rabbi Roth correctly observes: “more and more gay couples are demanding the right to adopt children or to produce their own offspring by artificial insemination. It is, therefore, paradoxical that while the heterosexual family is falling apart before our very eyes, many homosexual unions are demanding the right to create families modeled on the traditional family! There are now many instances of the legitimization of homosexual families in various countries around the world.”

Additionally, as Rabbi Boteach has noted (see Part 15 of this series):

With one out of two heterosexual marriages failing, with seventy percent of the internet dedicated to the degradation of women through pornography, and with a culture that is materially insatiable even as it is all-too spiritually content, can we straight people say with a straight face that gays are ruining our families? We've done a mighty fine job of it ourselves, thank you very much.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuley-boteach/homophobia-is-itself-an-a_b_765012.html

Furthermore, as Presbyterian minister Murray Richmond observes:

…I think, is that it's easy to condemn homosexuality if you are not gay. It is much harder than condemning pride, or lust or greed, things that most practicing Christians have struggled with. It is all too easy to make homosexuality about "those people," and not me. If I were to judge someone for their inflated sense of pride, or their tendency to worship various cultural idols, I would feel some personal stake, some cringe of self-judgment. Not so with homosexuality. http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/03/27/presbyterian_minister_changes_mind_about_gays

Additional sources and recommended reading:

Some of the quotes of scripture are from the English Translation of Tanach © D. Mandel, Judaic Classics by David Kantrowitz, Version 3.0.8, Davka Corporation.

Additional quotes of scripture are from: http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/jewish/The-Bible-with-Rashi.htm

The source of the quote from Pirkei Avot is: http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/680285/jewish/Chapter-Two.htm

Note 1: The midrash quotes are from “Love of Fellow Man and Hatred of Fellow Man” in The Book of Legends, Sefer Ha-Aggadah, English Translation © 1992 by Schocken Books, Inc.; CD-ROM Version © 1995-2003 Davka Corporation

Information about the religious hate groups campaign in Iowa against gays and lesbians can be found at: http://holybulliesandheadlessmonsters.blogspot.com/2011/02/iowa-group-stooping-to-junk-science-and.html?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4d4d816320fd3430,0

A summary of the most stupid remarks said in the New Hampshire repeal same sex civil marriage hearings can be found at: http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2011/02/14835/

Additional information about the same sex civil marriage repeal efforts can be found at: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=7597&MediaType=1&Category=26

One of the many articles covering Christian efforts to stop all attempts at preventing anti-gay bullying in schools can be found at: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/religious-right-slams-purportedly-homosexual-message%E2%80%9D-anti-bullying-efforts-california-schoo

Information about Christian hate groups can be found on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s website at: http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/winter/the-hard-liners

Information about how prominent homphobe Tony Perkins is also a racist can be found at: http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2011/03/reminder-tony-perkins-is-racist.html

Additional information about the corrupt, power hungry, gay hating, Jew hating Mormon Church can be found at:

http://www.iamanexmormon.com/

http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/religion_theseeker/2008/11/should-mormons.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,449727,00.html

The latest report about this murder and Uganda’s kill-the-gays bill can be found at:

http://gay.americablog.com/2011/02/rachel-on-murder-of-david-kato-and-role.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AMERICAblogGay+%28AMERICAblog+Gay%29

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/02/5976853-the-unbearable-sadness-of-david-katos-story

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/02/gay-british-radio-personality-flees-uganda-after-threats-by-anti-gay-mp/

http://lezgetreal.com/2011/02/wikileaks-precedes-ugandan-election-to-reveal-meteroic-rise-of-homophobia/

Information about homophobe, and Jew hater Sheriff Don Scheiferdecker can be found at:

http://www.dallasvoice.com/group-call-resignation-illinois-sheriff-antigay-antisemitic-facebook-slur-1070636.html

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/29/group-wants-resignation-of-illinoise-sheriff-don-schieferdecker/

http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/sheriff-32363-schuyler-group.html

In a show of gratitude to for their US Supreme Court ruling, the Westboro Baptist Church announced they would picket the funeral of seven children who perished in a fire.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/12/westboro-church-plans-pro_n_834727.html

A news report about the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals refusal to lift stay on ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional can be found at:

http://www.keennewsservice.com/2011/03/23/9th-circuit-refuses-to-lift-stay-on-ruling-that-prop-8-is-unconstitutional/

Least anyone think religious based homophobia and persecution of gays and lesbians is only a Jewish and Christian issue, here is a clip from a widely respected and reliable source on what Islam thinks of homosexuals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia6H6dXhYSM&feature=player_embedded - at=28

Nor is the problem of homophobia limited to the United States and Uganda, as this news report from New Zealand proves:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/news/4788324/Gay-hate-killer-released

Scotland also brings us proof of how widespread homophobia is:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/03/22/retired-lecturer-murdered-in-his-own-home-is-third-gay-man-killed-in-a-month-in-edinburgh-86908-23007182/

Tennessee brings news that they are going back to the good ole bible thumping days of the Scopes Monkey Trail:

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/30/tennessee-evolution-education-bill/

In addition to Tennessee, other states trying to bring back the good ole bible thumping days of the Scopes trail include New Mexico, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.

2010: A year of religious hate: http://www.examiner.com/religion-social-issues-in-newark/religious-hate-groups

The Kameron Jacobsen Youth Award: http://petsalive.com/blog/2011/02/23/kerrys-update-february-23-2011/

Blood shortages and homophobia: http://www.examiner.com/religion-social-issues-in-newark/blood-shortages-and-homophobia

The role of police in preventing bullying and harassment – two actual cases: http://www.examiner.com/religion-social-issues-in-newark/the-role-of-police-preventing-bullying-and-harassment-two-actual-cases

My apologies for any formatting errors. This was originally written in Microsoft Word and apparently Word and the blog publishing software are somewhat incompatible. As I do not know any computer languages, I am at the mercy of the apparently incompatible software. My apologies.

Threats from the Liberty Humane Society

2011-03-16T14:49:00.010-04:00

Today I received a letter from Howard Z. Myerowitz, the attorney for the Liberty Humane Society. That would be the Liberty Humane Society that has failed state heath department inspections. That would be the Liberty Humane Society that has filed a SLAPP lawsuit against its critics. That would be the Liberty Humane Society that has admitted to mass killings of animals. That would be the scandal plagued Liberty Humane Society. That would be the taxpayer funded, scandal plagued Liberty Humane Society. That would be the Liberty Humane Society that appears incapable of running an animal shelter, and appears only capable of threatening people who cares about animal welfare. That would be the Liberty Humane Society, whose attorney, Howard Z. Myerowitz, apparently never heard of freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

Do you want to know why Facebook group after Facebook group critical of the Liberty Humane Society has been deleted? If you do, ask Mr. Myerowitz, as credible allegations have been made that he sent numerous threatening letters to Facebook. It appears that the politically connected Mr. Myerowitz has never heard of Americans' constitutional right to free speech.

Yesterday, it appears that examiner.com received the same threatening letter that I received today. Examiner.com then did Mr. Myerowitz's dirty work even better than he could have hoped for. Not only did examiner.com delete the articles that Mr.Myerowitz objected to, they deleted all my articles about all animal shelters, including ones concerning the Liberty Humane society that Mr. Myerwoitz did not object to.

Mr. Myerowitz, I received your letter in which you groundlessly accuse me of reckless disregard for the truth. If you felt any of the articles I wrote were in error, you were and are free to provide me with any evidence to support your opinion, including the judge's decision you mentioned in your letter. Yet you chose not to do that. You chose not to contact me prior to your threats of legal action. Why is that? Surely, if you were concerned with the truth as you claim, you could have asked me to correct articles you feel are factually inaccurate. But no, that is not what did. Instead of that, you threatened legal action and demanded that public allegations of wrong doing by your client be removed from the examiner.com. That sir, stinks of a cover-up; not justice, but a cover-up implemented with threats and intimidation, just as your SLAPP lawsuit stinks of intimidation.

As for your letter, you lied in your letter when you accused of me of personal relationship with people I have never met. You lied when you accused me of "failed to perform due diligence" and "have acted at all times with reckless disregard for the truth." If you lied about these things, what else have you lied about?

By the way, feel free to send me a copy of the judge's opinion that you claimed exonerates your client. If it says what you claim, I may even write about that.

The stench of a cover-up

2011-03-15T17:26:00.005-04:00

Liberty Humane Society (LHS) in Jersey City, NJ has failed state health department inspections. One Board member was charged with criminal conduct. Rumors and credible allegations of animal cruelty, shelter mismanagement and mass murder of animals in LHS care have swirled around this "shelter" for approximately one-year.

Yet rather than correct the apparent deficiencies in this "shelter," "shelter" management has apparently spent all their time engaged in a vile cover-up of their apparent wrong doing at this taxpayer funded "shelter."

Every Facebook group started by "shelter" critics has suddenly been made to disappear. Critics of this "shelter" have been hit with a SLAPP suit. Now, all my LHS articles on examiner.com have suddenly been made to disappear as well.

Meanwhile, the politicians that are supposed to oversee this taxpayer run shelter are all AWOL.

The stench of cover-up and scandal clings to this "shelter" like files on a pile of sh*t.

New location

2010-05-04T18:37:00.002-04:00

Since I started this blog a lot has happened. I built my own website and I became a columnist at examiner.com

The result is that I cannot maintain this blog, write five columns a week and maintain a website. Therefore, I ask you to please visit my website and please check out my column.

Thank you so much for honoring me by reading my blog.

The Health Care Reform Debate

2010-03-22T11:42:00.003-04:00

The debate over health care reform is drawing to a close. Therefore, now seems a good time to review the debate and to ask the questions that were overlooked while the debate was happening.

Charity: The importance of a penny

2010-03-07T18:41:00.002-05:00

By Gary Konecky

“R. Phinehas in the name of R. Reuben said: ‘If a man gives a perutah (a penny) to a poor man, will G-d repay him in perutahs?’ ‘Nay, he gave not a perutah to a destitute man, but he verily gave him life. Suppose a loaf of bread sells for ten perutahs, and the poor man has only nine, does not this enable him to buy life-preserving food by his gift of a perutah? G-d saith to the giver: ‘Thou hast saved the life of the poor man; when the time comes for you life to end, I will give it back to you.’’” – Wayyikra Rabbah, 34 as quoted in The Talmudic Anthology, Tales & Teaching of the Rabbis, edited by Louis I. Newman in collaboration with Samuel Spitz, copyright 1945, published by Behrman House, Inc.

Even in the best economy, there are always those who are poor, as divorce, illness and bad luck work against the best of us. When the economy gets bad, even more people fall into terrible difficulties.

In this region, we have food banks that are in desperate need not only of food donations but also cash. Many of these food banks can purchase food cheaper than you can, so if you spend a dollar on a can of soup for them, they get a can of soup, whereas if you give them that dollar they can get more than a can of soup.

In this region, we have soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Many of them need donations and volunteers.

Even with what we do have, we do not have enough food in our food banks, we do not have enough soup kitchens, and we do not have enough homeless shelters.

Maybe your house of worship can help one day a week or one day a month. Maybe, there is a place you can donate bus fare to so that someone so can get to a job interview. Maybe the local service club (Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions) can host a benefit for the local homeless shelter.

Maybe there are some used clothes in your closet that can be donated to a homeless shelter or social service agency. Think how valuable those clothes can be if by donating them, someone less fortunate will have suitable clothes to wear to a job interview.

Maybe your company can start a program for hiring the homeless, or the long-term unemployed. If I remember correctly, Bergen Community College hires people with developmental issues to work in their mailroom.

It does not matter what you do, just do something, for we are taught that even a single penny can save someone’s life. Just imagine what can be accomplished with more then a penny, or with a good idea, or by teaming up with others. The task is great and none of us are exempt from helping.

A Family Crisis: Is Everyone Doing Their Best Or Their Worst?

2010-02-28T23:16:00.001-05:00

By Gary Konecky

“Honor your father and your mother…” – Exodus 20:12
“Every man shall fear his mother and his father…” – Leviticus 19:3

Imagine the scene: A hospital in Florida. The family’s mother is dying. The family’s father passed away years ago. The daughter lives in Florida. The mother lives in New York and was visiting when tragedy struck. The son who lives in New York flies down to Florida.

Money is tight. The son lost his job sometime ago. He has no place to stay because the area hotels are very expensive as this is peak vacation time in that part of Florida.

The son and daughter do not get along because the son is gay and the daughter feels that her children will catch being gay from him, besides she believes that all gay men are AIDS carriers and you could also catch that from them. She has therefore prevented him from having any contact with his nieces and nephews for years. She has also made it a point to be hostile to him at every opportunity. She has also taught that hostility to her now grown children.

Now the mother is dying. The mother’s health care proxy and living will are in New York. The entire family is in Florida.

The family springs into action. The son and daughter fight. The nieces and nephews take sides and actively participate in the family feud. The daughter makes groundless accusations to hospital staff that the son is trying to kill his mother. The hospital then restricts the son’s visitation privileges. The son and daughter agree on only one thing, not to tell the hospital staff that the mother expressed her wish not to be resuscitated, thereby violating their mother’s wishes.

Is the above scenario honoring the dying mother?

What would happen if this were the case? The son flies down to Florida. As a great crisis has fallen upon the entire family, they set aside their differences. The daughter opens her home so that he has a place to stay. They meet with the hospital staff and tell the staff of their mother’s wish not to be resuscitated. Instead of fighting, they pull together and honor their mother, the woman who gave birth to both of them.

G-d is not a wishing well. G-d listens to our prayers because He wants to. G-d grants our requests because He wants to. Is it possible that because of their respect for their mother, as shown in the second scenario, G-d will be more likely to show mercy on their mother and grant their prayerful requests for their mother’s recovery? Could them showing G-d how much they want to honor their mother make a difference in G-d’s evaluation of their situation? I am not a prophet and I do not claim to know the answers to these questions. Yet it seems possible that the better we behave, the more G-d might be inclined to listen to us.

Why is it that when a crisis comes upon a family, all too often, instead of pulling together, it becomes another opportunity to behave badly, not merely badly, but worse then usual? Much as we like to think the world revolves around us, it does not. It is not about us. It is not about who said or did what to whom. It is not about old grievances (real or imagined). It is about what we are told G-d wants from us: “…what the L-rd demands of you; but to do justice, to love loving-kindness, and to walk discreetly with your G-d.” – Micah 6:8

May G-d grant us the strength, the wisdom, and the insight to behave kindly toward each other, especially when it matters most.

My thanks to Rabbi Joseph Telushkin for his insights into what it means to honor your father and mother.

A Fascinating Contrast

2010-02-09T07:23:00.001-05:00

By Gary Konecky

One of the things that fascinate me is the very different approaches people take to the Bible.

For bible literalists and Christian fundamentalists, the plain text is all that there is. There is no need to think, to research, or to ponder. It says what it says. If you point out errors in the translation, if you point out apparent contradictions in the text, it does not matter. Their attitude is unshaken. It says what it says and that is all I need to know. If you point out that the Hebrew Bible is different than the “Old Testament,” they deny this either with selective quotes pulled out of context or in some cases they deny it without having ever picked up a Hebrew bible.

The other thing that fascinates me about bible literalists and fundamentalist Christians is that they typically use an English translation of the Bible. Every Rabbi I know can read and fluently translate the original Hebrew, as well as Aramaic. The thought of reading or using an English translation would never occur to these Rabbis. There is good reason for this. Hebrew is the original language of all or half of the bible, depending on your religion or faith tradition. Hebrew is a very nuanced language when it comes to matters of scripture, while English is not. Therefore, meanings are lost in a translation. Critical Hebrew words do not have English equivalents. Shades of meaning, sometimes entire concepts hinge on a single Hebrew word that does not have anything resembling it in English.

In addition to this, the total approach taken by Christians to scripture is radically different from the Jewish tradition. The Jewish tradition holds that G-d gave the Jewish nation the Oral Torah and the Written Torah at Mount Sinai. For many Christians, they look to the bible as their only source of guidance. For Jews, even though the Written Torah is the word of G-d, they look to other sources for to know and understand the word of G-d one must turn to the Oral Torah or oral tradition. The written word is only a starting point.

For example, there is the law requiring “Whenever a census of the warriors was taken, every adult Israelite was to pay a Half-Shekel.” - http://www.begedivri.com/shekel/teachings/Hertz.htm This seems a simple declarative statement, yet there is an entire volume of Talmud that discusses this. If the text were to be taken literally, if the text were to not have deeper implications, then there would be no need for a volume of Talmud on the subject.

The Jews have wonderful bible stories. There is the terrific story taught in Hebrew school about what Abraham’s father did for a living. Read the Hebrew Bible, search for it, read the “Old Testament”. Do you see any mention of what Abraham’s father did for a living? If you cannot find it, don’t worry, as it is not there. It is part of the oral tradition.

Then there is the fantastic story about the sex organs of the original Adam. Is there any mention of this in the Hebrew Bible or “Old Testament?” No, it is not there, it is part of the oral tradition.

One of the most quoted passages from the Hebrew Bible “is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus chapter 21, Leviticus chapter 24 and Deuteronomy chapter 19). It is also one of the most misunderstood. To know its meaning, one must again look toward the Oral Torah.

Are the 10 commandments are the same for everyone? No! There is the Jewish version, the Catholic version, and the Protestant version. In fact, there are differences in things as simple and straightforward as the mere numbers assigned to the commandments.

Then there is the difference in translation involving the commandment: “Thou shall not murder” that is often mistranslated as “Thou shall not kill.” In fact, the Torah lays down very specific laws for when it is appropriate to kill.

I have a book that is over 500 pages long and that only covers the weekly Torah portion involving the 10 commandments. This book devotes hundreds of pages to discussing and explaining the 10 commandments. If the meaning was self-evident and that was all there is to know, then why was a 500 page plus book written?

The bible literalists claim that the bible flat out bans homosexuality, yet nowhere in the bible does it say: “Thou shall not be a homosexual.”

The other funny thing is that many of those who claim the bible condemns homosexuality think nothing of going out for a family dinner at Red Lobster, even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Leviticus chapter 11).

Leviticus 19:19 says: “You shall observe My statutes: You shall not crossbreed your livestock with different species. You shall not sow your field with a mixture of seeds, and a garment which has a mixture of shaatnez shall not come upon you." - http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9920
Do you know from reading this verse what shaatnez is?

Why is it that I do not see the Roman Catholics, the Christian fundamentalists, the Mormons, the Orthodox Jews and the bible literalists marching on Congress demanding an end to shaatnez? Why is there no outcry from these people demanding that the US Department of Agriculture regulate the mixing of seeds in a field? Why is no one lobbying Congress to close down Red Lobster? Why is no one is demanding the shutting down of the lobster industry in Maine? Why did the Roman Catholic Church spend $550,000 to repeal same sex marriage in Maine, yet never say a word about shellfish?

As Rev. Mel White has pointed out:
"Over the centuries people who misunderstood or misinterpreted the Bible have done terrible things. The Bible has been misused to defend bloody crusades and tragic inquisitions; to support slavery, apartheid, and segregation; to persecute Jews and other non-Christian people of faith; to support Hitler's Third Reich and the Holocaust; to oppose medical science; to condemn interracial marriage; to execute women as witches; and to support the Ku Klux Klan. Shakespeare said it this way: 'Even the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.'

Even when we believe the Scriptures are 'infallible' or 'without error,' it's terribly dangerous to think that our understanding of every biblical text is also without error. We are human. We are fallible. And we can misunderstand and misinterpret these ancient words -- with tragic results." - http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christian

Marriage: Civil vs. Religious

2010-01-07T05:30:00.002-05:00

By Gary Konecky

In the United States, we have two forms of marriage.

The first is civil marriage. Civil marriage is a legal contract between the people getting married and it is governed by the laws of the various jurisdictions that make-up the United States. This is the reason that even if you are being married in a house of worship you must first get a marriage license. This is also the reason that in the unfortunate event of divorce (regardless of your religion) you must go to court to be issued a divorce decree.

The second is religious marriage, which is governed by the laws, rules, and traditions of the various faiths. As the Untied States has a separation of church and state, the government allows clergy of all faith traditions to marry people. When a member of the clergy performs a wedding, that couple is wedded in the religious sense and the legal sense.

If a couple decides they want to be civilly married legally only, they have the option of a marriage at city hall or before a justice of the peace. The beauty of this is that those who want a religious marriage can have what they want. Those who want a civil marriage can have what they want. Best of all, no one is forced to do anything that they do not want to do. If a Roman Catholic priest does not want to marry a gay male couple, there is no law that says he has to. If a Unitarian Church minister wants to marry a lesbian couple, she should be allowed to.

Some people have messed with this system. They have acted on their religious, moral, or political beliefs to seek to impose their point of view on all Americans. By doing this, they actively interfere with other people's ability to practice their faith. A similar issue had come up previously, when people of different races where not allowed to marry in certain jurisdictions. Ultimately, the US Supreme Court in Loving v. Virginia (1967) ruled this was unconstitutional. Sadly, the issue of whom the government will allow to be married is back again. This time the issue is back in the debate, political campaigns, legislation, constitutional amendments and court battles over same sex marriages.

The argument made by religious people is it is against the bible or that marriage has always been this way. Such an argument is in error. One need only look at Abraham who had a concubine and a wife. In the case of Jacob, he had two wives and two concubines. In the case of Solomon, he had 700 wives and 300 concubines.

Then there are the compromises such as civil union and domestic partners. This brings us back to the segregation of the South, where colored people were treated as separate but equal. Separate but equal turned out to be anything but equal and it took a long, painful and sometimes bloody civil rights movement to fix that. Just as separate but equal did not work then, there is no reason to expect it to work now. Proof of this can be found in the state of New Jersey, which has civil unions. New Jersey had a state commission review the Legal, Medical, Economic and Social Consequences of New Jersey’s Civil Union Law. The commission’s report catalogs an impressive series of failures of the law to provide the equal benefits of marriage that legislators claimed the law would provide. New Hampshire, which had civil unions for approximately two years, has changed its civil union law into a same sex marriage law and will automatically convert all civil unions to marriages in 2011. Those who wish to convert their civil unions into marriages can do so now without waiting to 2011.

Every faith tradition should be allowed to marry or not marry any couple they choose. Every clergy person should have the right to marry or not marry any couple they choose. For politicians and religious leaders to impose their view and their faith tradition on those not of that belief or faith tradition is just plan un-American.

Brett Harris, Moses, Mickey Marcus, Rich Amato, and Countless Others

2010-01-03T14:58:00.001-05:00

By Gary Konecky

On January 1, 2010, the ministers of Friends of B.R.Y.C.E lost a good and dear friend. Most importantly, the gay and lesbian community, especially its youths and young adults lost not only a dear friend, but also a visionary, Rev. Brett Harris.

Over the years, I have become aware of a recurring pattern that I find most disturbing. It seems that people work their entire lives either training for or working toward a specific goal, a goal that stands to help a great many people. Then just as they are about to realize that goal, they pass away. I do not pretend to know the ways of G-d and I do not understand why this is so.

When we read the bible, we learn that just as Moses was about to lead the Jewish people into the Holy Land, the culmination of a lifetime of training and work, he dies.

One of my childhood heroes was Col. David “Mickey” Marcus (US Army). Col. Marcus is the only solider buried at West Point who died fighting under a foreign flag. He was the first Israeli General in 2,000 years and he died at his post in the hills of Jerusalem during Israel’s War of Independence. He was shot mere hours before a truce was about to take effect. He was the last Israeli solider to fall before that truce. He was in those hills working to break the siege of Jerusalem and he died just as that siege was about to be broken. His tombstone reads “A Solider For All Humanity.”

I grew up on Long Island, NY. As I was coming to terms with my sexual orientation, Rich Amato was the gay civil rights movement on Long Island. When I met him (as I was maturing into a self-accepting, confident, adult gay man) Rich was already dying of AIDS. Just as the movement he labored to create was being born, he died. Sadly, tragically, he never got to see the first gay and lesbian rights march on Long Island.

Martin Luther King was killed as his dream was turning into reality. John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert were both men of vision and compassion. Just as they were moving toward making this a better country for all its citizens, they were struck down. Theses three men, men of greatness, men of vision, men who saw a way to make a better world for all people; these men were assassinated in their prime and they let behind a legacy of so many dreams unfilled, and a vision that in many ways has yet to be born.

And so I come to my good and dear friend, Rev. Brett Harris. Brett was a special man. Brett was one of the few truly great people I will have the privilege to know in my lifetime. Brett passed away, like the men I just mentioned, as a lifetime of work was about to turn into reality. Brett’s passion was opposing conversion or reparative therapy, the discredited and dangerous practice of trying to change someone’s sexual orientation. To that end, Brett had established Friends of B.R.Y.C.E., where I had the honor and privilege to assist him as the Minister of Scriptural Affairs. Brett’s concern and worry was always for others; for the poor child about to be shipped off to some religious run conversion therapy compound, to the gay person being harassed by his neighbors or by the local government. Brett had personally experienced harassment from those religious extremists who took issue with his opposition to conversion therapy. Having experienced that harassment, and knowing how these situations sometimes turn violent, Brett went out of his way to ensure that those who worked with him were kept safe.

Brett was that rare breed of individual who had vision, intelligence, compassion, and was above all a kind and generous soul who was here only to help and protect others. We are all diminished by his loss. We are all left to struggle in a cold, indifferent, and many times hostile world without our beloved champion to help us.

May G-d rest his soul and comfort his mourners. May G-d grant us the wisdom and the strength to fill this man’s shoes and to carry on his work. May we live to see his dream fulfilled. May we see a world where every gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and intersexed child is safe from threats, from intimidation, and from violence. May we all learn to love and care for each other as Brett loved and cared for us.

Some Challenges For Bible Literalists

2009-12-27T10:14:00.000-05:00

By Gary Konecky

On Saturday, December 26, 2009 / Tevet 9, 5770, Jews across the world read the Torah portion of Vayigash during morning services. Vayigash consists of Genesis 44:18 – 47:26. Among other things it recounts Jacob’s family moving to Egypt. Starting in Genesis 46:8, we are given a name by name account of who in Jacob’s family went to Egypt. It is interesting to note that wives of Jacob’s son’s mentioned as going to Egypt in Genesis 46:5 are not named nor counted in this lengthy list.

As bible literalists insist that the plain, literal meaning of the text is all that matters as it is G-d’s word, why this significant omission? Surely, the infallible, all knowing G-d, did not slip up in editing; so my first challenge to you is to explain the literal meaning of this apparent contradiction.

We now come to Genesis 46:26-27: “All the souls coming to Egypt with Jacob, those descended from him, excluding the wives of Jacob's sons, all the souls were sixty six. And Joseph's sons, who were born to him in Egypt, two souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob who came to Egypt were seventy.” - http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8241

All the souls were sixty-six plus Joseph’s two sons equals sixty-eight, yet we are told “all the souls of the house of Jacob who came to Egypt were seventy.” Since 68 does not equal 70, and an all knowing, infallible G-d would know basic arithmetic, your second challenge is to explain this math error using a literal meaning of the text. As you are restricted to a literal reading of the text, as it is your position that only a literal meaning of the text is the appropriate way to understand scripture, you cannot use names or people other than the sixty-eight mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.

For those who do not believe in the bible literalism, there are extensive commentaries by learned Jewish sages that explain these seeming contradictions. Such explanations draw on the oral Torah, and the Jewish tradition to search for meaning in the word of G-d. For we are taught in:
· Leviticus Rabbah 22:1: “He who loves the study of G-d’s words will not be satisfied with the written Torah, but will go on to the Mishnah and Talmud.”
· Baba Metzia 33: “The Rabbis have taught: ‘Those who study Scripture are scholars of degree, but not a high degree. Those who study Mishnah are scholars of higher degree. Those who study Talmud are scholars of the highest degree.’”
· Sopherim 16: “We read: ‘The L-rd spoke with you faces to faces.’ (Deut. 5:4) The passage does not read ‘pan to pan,’ face to face, but ‘panim le-panim,’ faces to faces. This teaches there are four faces or kinds of Torah: Scripture, Mishnah, Halakah, and Aggadah.” (note 1)

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Note 1: The source of the quotes from Leviticus Rabbah, Baba Metzia, and Sopherim is page 467 of The Talmudic Anthology, Tales & Teachings of the Rabbis, edited by Louis I. Newman in collaboration with Samuel Spitz, copyright 1945, published by Behrman House, Inc.

Poverty

2009-12-24T16:19:00.002-05:00

By Gary Konecky

Recently, there was an Associated Press story out of London. (note 1) According to the news report, Rev. Tim Jones told parishioners in a recent sermon “that shoplifting can be justified if a person in real need is not greedy and does not take more than he or she really needs to get by. “

The Priest was wrong to say theft is okay. Having said that stealing is wrong, it is a damning indictment of our society when it so reduces the poor to needing to steal to stay alive. Not only should we be ashamed, but also our leaders in business and government who do not give one whit that things have come to this should be ashamed.

For we are taught that: "Just as G-d clothes the naked... so must you clothe the ...naked. The Holy Blessed One visits the sick... so you must also visit the sick. The Holy Blessed One comforts mourners... so must you comfort mourners. The Holy Blessed One buries the dead... so must you bury the dead." - Talmud (Sotah 14a)

Let us also remember: "If all the sufferings and pain in the world were gathered (on one side of the scale) and poverty was on the other side, poverty would outweigh them all." - Exodus Rabbah 31:14

Note 1: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hTjAbr5r-50aYmMXrtHSC4I2jjngD9COI1T00

The Bible: The Word of G-d?

2009-12-21T17:22:00.001-05:00

By Gary Konecky

There are those who believe the bible is the word of G-d. There is no doubt in my mind that the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) is the word of G-d. That said, I believe Joshua may have written the account of Moses’ death at the end of Deuteronomy.

The problem is that many of those who say the bible is the word of G-d, then cite a fundamentalist, literalist interpretation of the bible as authority for their beliefs and prejudices. They then act on those beliefs and prejudices to impose their will upon others. There are several scriptural problems with this approach, in addition to the lack of respect for those of differing faith traditions.

The first scriptural problem is that G-d no longer sends us prophets. No one today can speak for G-d, as no one today is a prophet.

Second, I have yet to see an accurate translation of the Hebrew Bible into English. The reason for this is very simple. It is impossible to translate Hebrew into English accurately. Hebrew is a very nuanced language in regard to scriptural matters. For example, there are different names for G-d used in the Hebrew Bible. These different names all indicate different attributes of G-d. If we are to properly understand the Almighty and his intent, it would be useful to know what attribute the original Hebrew text is mentioning; just as it is useful to understand the difference between a drizzle and a thunderstorm if one has to go out in the rain.

Another example involves the Hebrew word “et” (also transliterated as “es” or “eth”). Et appears many times in the Hebrew Bible. Et is a word that has no meaning. Yet every time et appears, it alludes to something important, something important yet unspoken. Et is so important it is discussed in the Talmud (Kiddushin 57a). The Talmud is second only to the Bible in the Jewish tradition. This important word, this word so full of meaning that it appears numerous times in the bible as well as being discussed in the Talmud, is not translated into English. How can one know the will of G-d when not all the words of G-d are present?

Third, is the issue of mistranslation. An example of this can be found in the English name for one of the books of the bible, Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy comes from ancient Greek via Latin, with the Greek being a mistranslation of the original Hebrew (note 1). Deuteronomy “literally means 'second law' coming from the Greek words nomos (law) and deutero (second).” (note 2) The problem is not only is this word mistranslated, but its meaning is incorrect as Moses did not merely retell the law in Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy, Moses also discussed commandments that are given only in Deuteronomy (and that are not given in any of the other books of the Hebrew Bible). If you are giving additional commandments, then you are not merely retelling the law, which is what the name Deuteronomy means.

The Hebrew name for Deuteronomy is “Devarim” meaning “events” and “which can also be translated as ‘words.’” (note 3) It is interesting to note that the Hebrew name provides a very accurate insight into the content of this book of the bible, as this book consists of Moses’ final address to the Jewish people (words); with the address consisting of Moses; explaining the law, recounting the wondering in the desert (events), and providing final instructions for the Jewish people as they enter the Land of Israel upon his passing.

Fourth, there are three different versions of the Ten Commandments. There is the Jewish version, the Protestant version, and the Catholic version. Surely, if the English translation of the bible that is being used were an accurate translation of the word of G-d there would be only one version. It is also worth noting that there are subtle differences in the text of the Hebrew Bible, as the two sets of tablets were slightly different. This raises the question; what is G-d telling us with these two slightly different versions?

Lastly, the Hebrew Bible is filled with instances that cry out for explanation. For example in the account of creation; day and night is created on the first day, yet the sun and moon are not created until the fourth day. We also have the example of chapter one of Genesis telling us that G-d created man and woman. Yet chapter two of Genesis seemingly contradicts this when the account of the creation of woman is given, thereby implying that woman was not created as stated in chapter one. Another example would be the unusual word choice in Genesis 1:26 which states: “And G-d said: ‘Let us make man.’” Who is the us? Did G-d create man or was it a group undertaking? If creating man was a group undertaking, who are the other members of the group? If G-d created man, why is us used? These few examples are all from the biblical account of creation. In addition to these examples, there are numerous other examples like this throughout the Hebrew Bible.

In conclusion, I believe that part of the Bible is the word of G-d. I also believe only an arrogant fool would think that he or she has the knowledge and the wisdom of the Almighty, and can therefore state with absolute certainty G-d’s intent based upon a literalist reading of a text filled with ambiguity, mistranslations, missing words, and seeming contradictions.

Note 1: http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=Deuteronomy&gwp=13

Note 2: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_meaning_of_the_Bible_word_Deuteronomy

Note 3: Page 319 of The Torah Anthology / Me’Am Lo’Ez, Book Two, The Patriarchs by Rabbi Yaakov Culi, translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Moznaim Publishing Corp., copyright 1989

Talking Nonsense

2009-12-16T11:13:00.003-05:00

By Gary Konecky

"Not everything that is thought should be said. And not everything that is said should be repeated. And not everything that is repeated should be remembered." - Rabbi Israel Salanter

We recently had extensive coverage of Tiger Woods and his extramarital affairs. What good was done by all this talk? Do we really need to know his intimate affairs? Does whom he slept with or details of his marriage affect our lives? Would we have been better off if something useful was discussed instead?

Several months ago Bernie Madoff was in the news and we again had extensive media coverage of details involving him and his family. Yet the larger issue of how the government has repeatedly failed to protect the American public from financial fraud after financial fraud (Enron, TYCO, MCI WorldCom, Adelphia Communications, HealthSouth, Washington Mutual, AIG, Countrywide, et. al.) was not reported nor discussed. Wouldn’t reporting about the government turning a blind eye to financial fraud been more useful?

Recently, in comments on one of my blogs, I was attacked by so called religious people. I was called a sinner. I had bible verses thrown at me. Did this do anyone any good? What is fueling their hate and anger and what gives them the right to lash out at others? How does any of this benefit society? Whatever happened to: "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn." - Hillel (Talmud, Shabbat 31a)?

Nor is the problem of inappropriate speech a new problem. In chapter 22 of Samuel I, we learn the Doeg the Edomite told Saul about Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. Ahimelech was the priest who was unaware of Saul’s hatred of David and who innocently aided David. Doeg’s tale baring resulted not only in the death of Ahimelech, but it also resulted in Nob, the city of the priests, being smote with the sharp edge of the sword, both man and woman, infant and suckling, and ox and ass, and lamb. The lesson for us is that people sometimes die when we say things we should not say. Least anyone think I am exaggerating, let us remember not so many years ago when those so-called religious people opposed any funding of AIDS research saying; “AIDS was G-d’s wrath.”

We also have some interesting teachings from the Talmud. In Sukkah 49b we are taught that performing charity and justice is more acceptable to the L-rd than offering sacrifices. In Shekalim 15a, we learn: "Everyone was gossiping about Zecharyah, the son-in-law of R’ Levi, saying that he does not need to take charity, but he nevertheless takes. When he died, they investigated, and found that he was distributing it all to others, who were needy, but were too embarrassed to take themselves."

How much harm does our needless talk cause? How many times do we open our mouths because we are absolutely convinced we know something, only to find out that we knew nothing, as in the case of those who gossiped about Zecharyah?

In Pirkei Avot 1:17, we are taught: “Shimon his son said: All my days have I grown up among the wise and I have not found anything better for a man than silence.” http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Rabbinics/Talmud/Mishnah/Seder_Nezikin_Damages_/Pirkei_Avot/Chapter_One.shtml

How much of our talk serves no useful purpose? How many times would our silence be wiser than our speech? Perhaps we should think before we open our mouths. Perhaps we should weigh our words with care. Perhaps we should speak only when we have something, something truly useful, to say.

Same Sex Marriage

2009-12-09T20:55:00.003-05:00

By Gary Konecky

I recently had the wonderful privilege to participate on a very distinguished panel of clergy that discussed the issue of sexual orientation and scripture. One of the audience members asked a question that attempted to link the ban in Leviticus on homosexuality to the ban in Leviticus on bestiality. Several panel members addressed this question. Then the audience member asked it again, which I take as unwillingness to listen or to accept the pro-gay explanation that was offered.

This brings up several issues, one of which is why deliberately misinterpret scripture? The ban in Leviticus is not a ban on all homosexual expression. A literal reading of scripture clearly indicates that it is referring to male homosexuality (not lesbianism) and it appears to not be banning all male homosexual sex acts. Therefore, we can already conclude these two verses are not the ban that this person was claiming which leaves us with the question of why deliberately misinterpret scripture?

The next issue is the ridiculous argument against same sex marriage that the religious right and bible thumping bigots make. This is the slippery slope argument that somehow marriage is so fragile that it needs to be an excusive club for heterosexuals only. Implied in this argument is the premise that only heterosexuals are capable of loving each other and that homosexuals do not form loving relationships but only rut around like farm animals. I would like to point out that I have never heard of any cleric who was approached by two farm animals that wanted to be married. Furthermore, an approximately 50% divorce rate among heterosexuals seems to indicate that heterosexuals have done far more harm to marriage than any gay or lesbian person could ever do.

Another problem with this argument by religious fundamentalists and bigots is that it equates a committed relationship between two consenting adults to a sex act involving sheep. Recently, my lover of 19 years and I went for a walk in a local park. This was the first time that we had walked in that park in many years without our pet dog (who had died earlier this year). How can any sane individual equate 19 years of for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, to sex with a pet dog? Much as we loved the dog, no one ever had sex with her. How does one equate the worry about a sick lover who is in the hospital with a sex act involving an animal? What type of sick individual would equate 5 or 10 or 20 or 50 years of two adults in a committed relationship to a sex act involving an a cow? How could anyone in their right mind equate an intimate loving walk in a park by two adults with a sex act involving a donkey? Yet that is what this audience member did and that is what members of the clergy taught him.

Why is that when two heterosexuals walk in public with their children, children that are the product of heterosexual sexual intercourse, they are not flaunting their sexuality; yet if two men walk down the street holding hands they are flaunting their sexuality? Why is it that those who oppose equality for gays and lesbians can only think of gays and lesbians in terms of what they do in the privacy of their bedroom? Does anyone think that gays and lesbians have such great sex that they would go through all the trials and tribulations of a committed relationship for a quickie?

Those who oppose same sex marriage are at best uneducated and are blatant hate mongering bigots at worst. In either event, they use ridiculous, completely bogus arguments to oppose same sex marriage. Same sex marriage will not lead to incest any more than heterosexual marriage does. Same sex marriage will not lead to people marrying their pets. Same sex marriage will not lead to pedophilia. There is no way that two loving adults in a committed relationship can be a threat to anyone’s marriage. To say any of these other things is to tell a lie. All these arguments against same sex marriage are bogus, they are all red herrings designed to distract people from the real issue.

As for the pedophilia argument, I want to point out that the Roman Catholic Church, that has spent millions of dollars opposing any civil rights for gays and lesbians, is known for a worldwide series of pedophilia scandals.

The there are those who claim that same sex relationships are unnatural. They make this argument despite a massive body of scientific evidence that proves that homosexuality is a natural behavior common to all mammals.

Then there is the bible literalist interpretation that says homosexuality is a sin. To which Rev. Mel White replies: “Even when we believe the Scriptures are ‘infallible’ or ‘without error,’ it's terribly dangerous to think that our understanding of every biblical text is also without error. We are human. We are fallible. And we can misunderstand and misinterpret these ancient words -- with tragic results.”

Leviticus Rabbah 22:1 teaches us: “He who loves the study of G-d’s words will not be satisfied with the written Torah, but will go on to the Mishnah and Talmud.” In Baba Metzia 33, we are told: “The Rabbis have taught: ‘Those who study Scripture are scholars of degree, but not a high degree. Those who study Mishnah are scholars of higher degree. Those who study Talmud are scholars of the highest degree.’” Lastly, according to Sopherim 16; “We read: ‘The L-rd spoke with you faces to faces.’ (Deut. 5:4) The passage does not read ‘pan to pan,’ face to face, but ‘panim le-panim,’ faces to faces. This teaches there are four faces or kinds of Torah: Scripture, Mishnah, Halakah, and Aggadah.” In Pirkei Avot 5:21, we are taught: “HE USED TO SAY: FIVE YEARS [IS THE AGE] FOR [THE STUDY OF] SCRIPTURE, TEN-FOR [THE STUDY OF] MISHNAH, THIRTEEN-FOR [BECOMING SUBJECT TO] COMMANDMENTS, FIFTEEN-FOR [THE STUDY OF] TALMUD…” (see note)

The real issue of same sex marriage is about love, as in two adults who care for each other more than they care for life itself. It is about giving two people (who love and want to care for each other) the tools needed so that they can love and care for each other. Such a love should be cherished and strengthened by society. Such a love should not be open to public debate. Such a love should not be the subject of political campaigns. Such a love should not be subjected to being voted on. Such a love should not be subjected to the whims of a “majority”. Such a love should not be made contingent on the approval of the Roman Catholic Church, nor the approval of the Mormons, nor the approval of fundamentalist “Christians,” nor the approval of Muslims, nor the approval of Orthodox Jews. Such a commitment should be the providence of the two people who G-d has blessed so that they were able to find each other and to love each other. Let us remember that one of the greatest curses is that of loneliness and that one of the greatest tragedies is to die alone and unloved.

Civil marriage is about strengthening the bonds of love and giving two adults in a committed relationship the tools needed to take care of each other. Those tools being health insurance (which many employers provide for married employees and their spouses), hospital visitation rights (which are frequently restricted to family members), immigration rights (so as not to break up a loving relationship because one person was not born here), the right to bury ones spouse (which does not include mere lovers or mere domestic partners) and finally the right to inherit property (which again does not include lovers or domestic partners). How dare anyone attempt to interfere in such a personal and intimate relationship? How dare anyone interfere in such a loving relationship with the goal of destroying such a relationship? How dare anyone liken such a caring relationship to a sex act with an animal? How dare anyone call loving and caring for another person a sin?

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Note: The quote from Pirkei Avot is in all caps as the quote is a mishnah, To distinguish mishnah from gemara, some publishers print the mishnah in all caps when it is printed in English. The source of the quote is The Soncino Talmud , Judaic Classics by David Kantrowitz, Version 3.0.8, Copyright 1991-2004.

Sermon: The Burning Palace

2009-12-07T22:25:00.003-05:00

By Gary Konecky

In Genesis 12:1, G-d tells Abraham to leave his father’s house and journey to a destination that G-d will show him. In the Midrash of the Burning Palace (Genesis Rabbah 39:10), we learn that as Abraham journeys, he passes a burning palace. Abraham wonders is it possible that the palace does not have an owner? Is it possible that the owner built a beautiful palace, only to abandon it and let it be consumed by fire? Abraham then sees someone in a palace window. Abraham asks if he owns the palace. The owner says that he is the owner of the palace. The owner does not make any attempt to flee the fire nor to put out the flames. He merely states that he is the owner of the palace. What does this mean?

The meaning of this midrash is that as Abraham contemplated the world, G-d’s creation, a creation rich in miracles and wonders; from childbirth, to crops and food to eat, to spectacular sunrises and sunsets, to beautiful flowers, to the miracle of life itself; it is as if G-d built a palace. Yet the palace is in flames; the flames of injustice, war, terrorism, greed, rape, looting, plunder and murder. Abraham wonders, as do many of us, did G-d create all this only to abandon it? G-d answers from the burning palace that he is the owner.

What does G-d mean by this? G-d’s answer is: “ I am the ruler, Sovereign of the universe.” While this is a factual statement, the meaning is not clear to us, nor was it clear to Abraham. Remember the palace is in flames; G-d’s creation is being destroyed by man.

Abraham wonders how this could be happening. Why did G-d let man destroy His creation? Why would G-d abandon His creation, the palace? G-d replies, “I am the owner of the palace, I am Sovereign of the universe.”

Abraham is asking G-d why He abandoned his creation. G-d replies by asking Abraham why did we abandon G-d? G-d gave us free will, and we used that free will to set fire to G-d’s palace. Because of G-d giving us free will, G-d cannot put out the fire consuming His palace. Therefore, G-d is asking Abraham, and us, to help Him by putting out the fire.

And so we come to our mission; to extinguish the fires of immorality and injustice. It is our mission to be appalled by evil man has wrought upon G-d’s creation. To help guide us in the fulfillment of our mission, we come to this teaching from the Talmud (Sotah 14a ): “Just as G-d clothes the naked... so must you clothe the naked. The Holy Blessed One visits the sick... so you must also visit the sick. The Holy Blessed One comforts mourners... so must you comfort mourners. The Holy Blessed One buries the dead... so must you bury the dead.” Let us also remember what we are told in Micah 6:8: “…what the L-rd demands of you; but to do justice, to love loving-kindness, and to walk discreetly with your G-d.”

May we all have the wisdom to use our free will to choose wisely and compassionately. May we use our lives to help to put out the fire of the burning palace.

I am indebted to Rabbi Yosef Y. Jacobson for his keen insights into this important midrash.

Shame On These Rabbis

2009-12-02T01:09:00.003-05:00

By Gary Konecky

I am appalled that Jews who would team up with world class Jew haters to discriminate against gays and lesbians. It is stunts like this (baseless hatred) that is the reason we still do not have the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

Additionally, there is something fundamentally immoral about victims of
discrimination demanding that the government practice discrimination.

Rabbi Osher Lieberman and his fellow travelers (including Orthodox Union and the Jewish ghetto in Monsey, NY), need to explain to me, a fellow Jew, how economic insecurity resulting from not having adequate health insurance, not having the right to inherit property (G-d forbid my lover predeceases me), and so on strengthens the Jewish community.

Rabbi Osher Lieberman and all his fellow travelers need to explain to me
how economically hurting people, how discriminating against the stranger, how demanding the government enforce social policies akin to those of Sodom is in accordance with Jewish teaching.

Rabbi Osher Lieberman and his fellow travelers have decided to live in
a ghetto of their own making in Lakewood, and now these bigots need to go back to their ghetto in Lakewood and get out of my house and my intimate relationships.

However, as they have raised the issue of public policy, I feel it is now appropriate to ask how many Jews reproduce like rabbits and have so many children that they cannot afford to support them resulting in these families being on welfare? How many of these Jews have families so large that they do not pay income taxes on six figure incomes? If you are on the public dole, or if you do not pay income taxes, you have a huge amount of chutzpah telling us, the gays and lesbians who pay the taxes that support your irresponsible sex lives and resulting children, that we should be denied their civil rights.

Furthermore, “'This really hurts us,' said Rabbi Osher Lieberman." How does it hurt you? How does my having a mature, monogamous, loving relationship with a consenting adult hurt you? How?

Speaking on the subject of hurt, how many gays and lesbians will be the victims of hate crimes because of your bigotry. How much blood will you and all your fellow travelers be responsible for spilling when the Hebrew Bible tells you that you should not stand by while your fellow's blood is being shed. The Misnah teaches us “Whoever saves one life, it is as if he saved the entire world.” We also know the converse of this is true. So I ask you as bigoted Jews, how many worlds are you destroying to enshrine your bigotry into law?

Lastly, Rabbi Osher Lieberman, you and your fellow travelers owe every single gay and lesbian an apology for holding their personal lives up to public ridicule and name-calling.

Rabbis, heterosexuals join NJ gay marriage debate
By GEOFF MULVIHILL (AP) – December 1, 2009
LAKEWOOD, N.J. — The leaders in the local large Orthodox Jewish community go to great lengths to keep out the outside world, discouraging nonbusiness use of the Internet and encouraging strict filters to keep the ungodly out when members must use the Web.
But last month, several rabbis and other elders did something astounding for them: They took a public stand on a political issue, declaring their opposition to same-sex marriage in the state.
"This really hurts us," said Rabbi Osher Lieberman, a key figure in the community in the suburbs about 30 miles east of Trenton. "To say (it's) immoral is not enough."
He said community members are being encouraged to do whatever they can to make sure lawmakers don't vote to recognize gay marriage.
In a state that leans a bit left, the conservative rabbis are one of a handful of groups taking a passionate — and maybe surprising — role in a debate that's likely to be decided by January. The newly political rabbis have joined a coalition including Roman Catholic bishops, evangelicals and some black and Latino leaders.
The other side of the debate, anchored by a well-organized, well-connected gay rights group, is getting a boost from heterosexual liberals.
When Republican Chris Christie unseated Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in the gubernatorial election last month, it gave gay-rights activists more urgency to try to achieve their long-held goal of getting a same-sex marriage bill through the Legislature before Christie takes office Jan. 19.
The reason is simple: Corzine supports the bill. Christie says he would veto it.
If it's not passed by the end of the legislative session, that means the window will close for now on New Jersey joining Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut as the only states to recognize gay marriage.
Democratic lawmakers have been wrangling over whether the matter will get a debate in the Legislature. Most party leaders say they won't bring it up unless it looks as though it will pass.
Gay-rights supporters and social conservatives alike have been lobbying lawmakers, though it's a debate that doesn't seem to be enrapturing the state as a whole. Two polls last month found the public is divided over the issue. One found narrow support, the other narrow opposition.
But the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll, which found support, also showed that most residents think the issue is not a big deal.
It is a big deal to Betty Wyka, a museum employee from Parsippany who has long supported same-sex marriage. In February, she started volunteering for Garden State Equality, the state's main gay-rights group. Steven Goldstein, the chairman of the group, says that as a straight woman Wyka is typical of a new volunteer.
Wyka said she joined partly to counter a claim that gay-marriage opponents often make: that allowing gay couples to wed will make society value traditional marriages less.
"I got sick of hearing that same-sex marriage is going to impact my marriage. That's a bunch of hooey," she said. "It's a civil rights issue."
Lakewood's Orthodox community is mostly isolated from the rest of society. The men wear long beards, white shirts, black suits and black hats, and women are not nearly as visible as men. The community was founded in 1942 by a rabbinic leader who fled Poland and the Holocaust. It's now home to some 10,000 Orthodox families and the rabbinical school, which has more than 5,000 students.
Before last month's election, rabbis allowed distribution of a voting guide from the socially conservative New Jersey Family Policy Council. While religious institutions would not be required to marry gay couples, some say their religious freedom could be squeezed by permitting something they say runs against their beliefs.
Orthodox Jews, like many Christians, look to the Old Testament Book of Leviticus, which many interpret as saying that homosexuality is immoral.
A group of Lakewood community leaders granted an interview with an Associated Press reporter — a rarity and part of the effort to become involved in the push against gay marriage. The leaders said they're taking their position public because in the Internet age more information about the broader world is flowing into their community.
The large Orthodox community is not the first to speak out against the prospect of gay marriage. Last year, the New York-based Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America made a public statement in favor of California's Proposition 8, a state constitutional amendment that outlawed gay marriage there months after a court allowed it.
And leaders in Lakewood say they received political guidance from some in the Orthodox Jewish community in Monsey, N.Y. In New York, the state Assembly already has passed a law to allow gay marriage, and the Senate is considering whether to follow.
Orthodox Jews traditionally have been regular voters who oppose candidates who support abortion rights and gay rights, said Yaakov S. Ariel, a professor of religion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"The visible part is what's new," Ariel said. "The opinions and the support of candidates is not new."
What's especially troubling to some in Lakewood is not just that New Jersey might recognize same-sex marriages but that Orthodox Jews would be more likely now than in the past to know about it — and think that it's OK to be gay.
"These type of laws bring an exposure to our community," Rabbi Aaron Sarscher said.
And that's why there's a new voice in the debate.
"I really don't believe in getting involved in government," said another community leader, David Sofer. "But when an issue is so dangerous, you have to stop it."

I Do Not Understand and I Pray I Never Will

2009-11-16T13:43:00.001-05:00

I do not understand this and I pray I never will. I do not understand what type of person or people could do such a thing. I do not understand how a police officer could condone such an outrage. From this news report, from personally seeing the New York Police Department in action and from seeing the Fair Lawn, NJ Police Department in action, I do understand that the police are unwilling to enforce hate crime laws when the victim is a gay male.
Gay Puerto Rican Teen Decapitated, Dismembered, and Burned

http://www.towleroad.com/2009/11/gay-puerto-rican-teen-decapitated-dismembered-and-burned.html

Over the weekend the brutalized body of gay teen George Steven Lopez Mercado was found by the side of a road in Puerto Rico. The police investigator suggested that he deserved what he got because of the "type of lifestyle" he was leading.

Mercado According to an iReport by Chrisopher Pagan: "On November 14 the body of a gay 19 year old was found a few miles away from the town in which he was residing in called Caguas. He was a very well known person in the gay community of Puerto Rico, and very loved. He was found on the site of an isolated road in the city of Cayey, he was partially burned, decapitated, and dismembered, both arms, both legs, and the torso. This has caused a huge reaction from the gay community here, but its a difficult situation. Never in the history of Puerto Rico has a murder been classified as a hate crime. Even though we have to follow federal mandates and laws, many of the laws in which are passed in the USA such as Obama’s new bill, do not always directly get practiced in Puerto Rico. The police agent that is handling this case said on a public televised statement that 'people who lead this type of lifestyle need to be aware that this will happen'. As If the boy murdered Jorge Steven Lopez was asking to get killed..."

Jorge Here's a report on the murder (in Spanish) from PrimeraHora.com. Said activist Pedro Julio Serrano: "It is inconceivable that the investigating officer suggests that the victim deserved his fate, like a woman deserves rape for wearing a short skirt. We demand condemnation of this investigator and demand that Superintendente Figueroa Sancha replace him with someone capable of investigating this case without prejudice." (my translation, please suggest a better one if you can).

We Must Make Sure This Does Not Happen Again

2009-10-15T10:56:00.004-04:00

We must speak out against despicable acts such as this. We must condemn our elected officials, our clergy, and our politicians who preach the hate that leads to this. We must demand passage of a federal hate crimes law that will prevent acts such as this and provide a means to prosecute such horrendous acts.

News > Top Stories
Gay bashing caught on video
BY VICTOR G. MIMONI

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 5:01 PM EDT

One man is in jail on Rikers Island and another in Virginia, for the hate crime beating of an openly-gay College Point man, who is on a respirator after days in a medically induced coma in New York Hospital Queens.

A surveillance video recorded at about 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 8, shows Jack Price, 49, being chased by two assailants and beaten to the ground, then kicked and punched repeatedly.

Daniel Rodriguez, 21, of 56-02 215th Street in College Point, was apprehended by U.S. Marshals on Tuesday, October 13, at the home of a relative in Norfolk, VA. He is being held in connection with the assault, pending extradition to New York.

Daniel Aleman, 26, of 18-04 College Point Boulevard, was arrested on Sunday, October 11. He is charged with second degree assault as a hate crime – increasing the possible prison sentence from seven to 15 years. Judge Robert Raciti set bail at $40,000.

According to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, Price went to the 24-hour deli-grocery store on 18th Avenue and College Point Boulevard to buy a pack of cigarettes.

As Price – who is 5’6” tall and weighs about 130 pounds – entered the store, the two allegedly yelled an anti-gay slur and repeated it twice when he left. The men then punched Price repeatedly – and stomped and punched him after he fell to the ground, DA Brown alleged.

The camera, one of several recently installed by the College Point Board of Trade, captures two men leaving Price collapsed, and then returning to rifle his pockets and further assault him.

Price managed to stagger and crawl some 11 blocks to his home, where he called 9-1-1. He was rushed to the hospital with injuries including two collapsed lungs, all of his ribs broken, a lacerated spleen and shattered jaw.

He reportedly told family members about his ordeal from his hospital bed before lapsing into unconsciousness. “Look what they did to him because he is gay,” his sister-in-law reportedly said.

Surgeons had to operate on Price’s spleen and put a metal plate in his jaw, according to reports.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly called the crime “despicable” and said “He was attacked simply for his orientation and we aren’t going to tolerate it.”

There can never be true justice for Jack Price,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who praised Kelly, detectives from the NYPD Hate Crimes Unit, federal Marshals and Norfolk Police for “the excellent work of the men and women” involved.

“I have the highest respect for Queens District Attorney Brown, and I know he will prosecute these offenses swiftly, sending the message that our city's commitment to tolerance will not be tarnished,” Bloomberg said.

In an official statement, the board said that the cameras were installed “in a number of businesses to deter graffiti through a grant obtained by Senator Frank Padavan. In this case one of those surveillance systems captured this crime.”

The complete news article is available at: http://www.queenscourier.com/articles/2009/10/14/news/top_stories/doc4ad61270981c8020097678.txt

Visiting the Sick

2009-10-01T21:50:00.002-04:00

By Gary Konecky

"Just as G-d clothes the naked... so must you clothe the naked. The Holy Blessed One visits the sick... so you must also visit the sick. The Holy Blessed One comforts mourners... so must you comfort mourners. The Holy Blessed One buries the dead... so must you bury the dead." - Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 14a

Recently, a good and dear friend came to town to visit her dying father. She asked me to accompany her to the nursing home that was taking care of her father. I was appalled by the conditions there. The facility was obviously understaffed and what little staff they did have did not seem motivated to do anything. One patient had to go to the nurses’ station and make a fuss so as to help another patient get the nurses’ attention so that other patient would be taken to the bathroom. In the case of my friend’s dying father, we had to meet with senior staff at the nursing home to request that they change this dying man’s diaper and give him extra blankets.

We met with the senior staff in an unused dayroom. While we were meeting, the nurses’ aid was taking the patient mentioned earlier from the bathroom that was part of the dayroom suite. The aid had to navigate this patient through several closed doors. While she was opening one of the doors to do this, she left the patient in a wheelchair facing me. I waved at him. The way his face lit up you would have thought I gave him a million dollars. Why did this man get so happy from a mere wave of my hand? When was the last time anyone had paid any attention to him? Does anyone come to visit? It is obvious from my visit that the staff has neither the time nor any inclination to pay any attention to him.

According to TAFA (The Turn A Frown Around Foundation), 50% of nursing home residents and 75% of patients in mental hospitals do not get any visitors. Can you imagine the loneliness? Can you imagine the quality of life when you are left in a soiled diaper for hours or an entire day at a time? Can you imagine the quality of life when another patient has to plead with nurses for someone to take you to the bathroom?

The Talmud tells us that it is our duty to visit the sick. Imagine the difference we could make in someone’s life if we took a few hours out of our busy schedule and visited one or more of these patients.

For more information, please contact: Drew Horn, President of TAFA at 973-746-7353 or at frown2smile@aol.com. Also, please visit TAFA’s website at http://www.frowntosmile.org/

The Need For a Federal Hate Crimes Law - Yet Again

2009-09-24T00:29:00.003-04:00

At the end of June Fort Worth, TX police and TABC officers raided a gay bar. They beat one patron so badly he was hospitalized with life threatening injuries. The police, when caught, publicly lied about the raid, and used the infamous gay panic defense to justify their acts of violence.

In mid September, police raided a gay bar in Atlanta, GA. Again, the police violated the Constitutional rights of the people in the bar. Again, the police used the infamous gay panic defense to justify their violent conduct.

Does anyone think that a hate crime against the LGBTI community in Fort Worth or Atlanta would receive a proper investigation? How many other raids happened this summer that did not make it into a news report? How many other police departments (Fair Lawn, NJ for instance) have incompetent police departments that refuse to even acknowledge a hate crime has taken place?

Year after year after year, Congress has no nothing, nothing to protect the LGBTI citizens of this country. It is time for the President and Congress to make it a federal crime for local, gay-bashing, police departments to engage in violence against the LGBTI community. It is time to make bashing the LGBTI community a crime.

----------------------------------------------------
Details about the September Atlanta, GA raid can be found at:
http://www.sovo.com/2009/9-14/news/localnews/10607.cfm?CFID=37445236&CFTOKEN=77612917
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/09/there_was_a_protest_this.php
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jaysays/2009/09/24/Closet-Talk-The-Eagle-Bar-Raid-with-Nicholas-and-Johnnie

URGENT: I need help immediately!

2009-07-21T18:10:00.009-04:00

My homophobic, Jew hating, neighbors are harassing me again. They keep calling Fair Lawn, NJ borough hall to make complaints against me. Yesterday, the Health Dept. was here because of an outdoor fly trap that was trapping files outdoors.

If you know anyone in Fair Lawn, NJ local or NJ State government, it is imperative that you put me in touch with them immediately!

Action Alert: Fort Worth Police Raid on the Rainbow Lounge - “You shall not stand by [the shedding of] your fellow's blood.”

2009-07-06T12:35:00.005-04:00

On June 28, 2009, I was in New York City with approximately one million other people. We were in New York City to mark the 40^th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a New York City Police Department (NYPD) raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village (in New York City). The Stonewall Riots are considered the birth of the modern gay and lesbian civil rights movement.

On June 28, 2009, the same day we were marking the 40^th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the Fort Worth Police Department and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission tried to reenact the failed NYPD raid on the Stonewall Inn. As there is no Stonewall Inn in Fort Worth, Taxes, they raided the Rainbow Lounge, a Fort Worth gay bar that had been open for approximately two weeks. They made a series of questionable arrests for public intoxication. More importantly, these law enforcement officials physically attacked bar patrons. It appears they deliberately went looking to beat up and arrest the patrons without cause. One patron, Chad Gibson, has been charged with public intoxication. He is suffering from a head injury after being attacked by five law enforcement officials and he may not survive.

Owing to the wonders of the Internet and cell phone cameras, this incident has been reported and documented. An excellent account of this incident can be found at: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/06/30/fort-worth-police-chief-that-faggot-had-it-coming

Judging from the numerous misleading statements made by the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD), as well as the misleading statements made by the Chief of the FWPD and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), I have little faith that justice will be done in this case. The FWPD and TABC have launched their own “investigations.” Maybe they will conduct complete and through investigations. So far, both the FWPD and TABC seem more interested in public relations and lying about what they did.

The FWPD and TABC now want us to believe that after they went into a gay bar and without provocation violently attacked bar patrons, then lied about the attacks; that the very same people who they attacked should go to the very same FWPD and TABC that attacked them and swear out statements against the FWPD and TABC officers. They want the victims to believe that their complaints will be taken seriously, will be fairly investigated, and that FWPD and TABC officers will not retaliate against them after the make charges against FWPD and TABC officers.

I suspect there will not be an investigation by either the FWPD or the TABC. I suspect there will be a whitewashing of the incident and the whitewashing will be called a “complete and thorough investigation.” I suspect that being Fort Worth is run by politicians who will want to be re-elected, the FWPD will find a scapegoat to blame the incident on. The scapegoat will probably be the TABC. I suspect there will not be any criminal prosecutions of the FWPD or TABC officers who attacked the patrons on the grounds that no one was willing to come forward given the situation I described in the preceding paragraph. I suspect that no FWPD or TABC officers will be disciplined. I suspect the FWPD and TABC will prosecute bar patrons in an attempt to publicly justify their outrageous conduct during a ridiculous bar raid, a bar raid that appears to have the sole purpose of intimidation of the gay community in Texas, especially Fort Worth, Texas.

This brings me to Leviticus 19:16, which states: “You shall not stand by [the shedding of] your fellow's blood. I am the L-rd.”

<http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9920/showrashi/true>

Rashi the great Torah commentator explains, “I am the L-rd” as follows:

I am the Lord: faithful to pay reward [to those who heed the above warnings], and faithful to exact punishment [upon those who transgress them].

<http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9920/showrashi/true>

The question is not if we are supposed to stand by while this blood is shed, but how we are supposed to this outrageous attack. Leviticus 19:16 demands that we do something.

The answer is before the US Congress. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act has been languishing in the US Senate. Those bigots who hate, including some members of the clergy and some members of Congress, have lied about this proposed law and its consequences. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) went so far as to lie about Matthew Shepard’s death and make cruel insensitive remarks in front of the dead child’s mother, Judy Shepard.

The fact of the matter is that the FWPD and TABC have proven in shed blood that local law enforcement cannot be trusted. If the victims of this attack are to see justice (“Justice, justice shall you pursue” – Deuteronomy16: 20), it is imperative that federal law enforcement be empowered to launch a complete investigation of this and other incidents. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act would give the federal government the authority to investigate incidents such as the one at the Rainbow Lounge. Sadly, this needed legislation is stalled in the US Senate. I call upon you to contact the President, your two Senators and your Representative and demand that they push for immediate passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909). I call upon you to demand that the FBI launch an independent investigation into this unprovoked attack.

An excellent statement in support of this important legislation can be found at: http://forum.themonastery.org/index.php?showtopic=5936.

Your congressional delegation can be reached at 202-224-3121 or at http://www.house.gov/ and http://senate.gov/. The White House can be reached at 202-456-1414 or at http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/.

Forty years after the NYPD raid on the Stonewall Inn, police raids of gay bars and attacks by police on bar patrons should be a thing of the past. It is time that we make it a thing of the past. For G-d tells us “You shall not stand by [the shedding of] your fellow's blood. I am the Lord.” Furthermore, the L-rd is faithful to pay reward to those who do not stand by while their brothers’ blood is shed.

Gay and Lesbian Pride - A Religious Experience

2009-07-02T21:59:00.003-04:00

June was gay and lesbian pride month in New York City and through out much of the world. 40 years ago in June, the modern gay and lesbian civil rights movement was born in a series of riots when the New York City Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn, a bar in Greenwich Village. On the last Sunday of June, in New York City, a march is held to commemorate that event. The March is the largest annually scheduled civil rights march in the country.

Pride in New York is something to behold. There are rallies, parties, film festivals, dances, concerts, a candlelight AIDS Vigil and religious services.

This year, as in year’s past, I attended the Gay Pride Shabbat service at Temple Emanuel in Edison, NJ. Congregation Beth Simchat Torah (CBST) is the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) synagogue in the world and yes they have services during Pride. I believe openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson was in New York to help celebrate Pride in New York on Pride Sunday. Area churches also have services to celebrate Pride.

Earlier in June, I attended some of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexed (LGBTI) pride events in Asbury Park, NJ. There were special services at the Metropolitan Community Church and there were marching contingents from area churches. There were various religious organizations with tables at the Pride festival following the march. This year, as in years past, Trinity Church in Asbury Park handed out packets of seeds in the hopes that we plant them and bring flowers into our lives.

In New York City, there were more religious marching contingents than one could count. There were the Episcopal churches (lots of Episcopal Churches), CBST, Metropolitan Community Churches, Dignity (the gay and lesbian Catholic organization), Integrity (the Episcopal gay and lesbian organization), AXIOS Eastern and Orthodox LGBT Christians, Lutheran churches, Presbyterian churches, nondenominational churches, the Jesuit Church of Saint of Saint Francis Xavier, and so many others that I cannot even remember them all.

The NYC March can best be descried as a party for 1 million of your closest friends. There are wonderful people who I see once a year at Pride. The March route is four miles long and with this many people, it takes hours and hours in the usually hot end of June sun. After being on the March route for hours, Marchers finally reach the Village. As they enter the Village they come across two or three marvelous churches along the March route. These churches hand out water to the marchers. My personal favorite is The Church of the Ascension. For over 20 years, I have volunteered and helped out at the NYC March. This year, I was assigned near The Church of the Ascension. They took care of my backpack for me, they gave me water, and they treated me like family. They were wonderful. They did not merely hand out water to tired, sweaty marchers, the handed out water with ice and lemon to the marchers.

For those who have never experienced NYC Pride, it is something very special, plus it can be a religious experience.

A Heavy Heart

2009-06-26T17:46:00.007-04:00

I write this with a heavy heart. I write this in pain, the pain one gets from freshly inflicted wounds, wounds inflected by those who preach hate.

As most of you know, I am doubly blessed, gay and Jewish. Everyday, I get to hear or read about my brothers and sisters who are persecuted or violently attacked because they are gay or lesbian or transgender or Jewish.

I live in the NYC Metropolitan area, which has a significant Jewish population. Therefore, while I experience hatred on a regular basis, it is not the same intense filth that one gets in areas without a sizable Jewish population.

For the last two days in a moderated, all faiths, religion forum, I and my Jewish brothers and sisters were attacked by a Pastor who preaches replacement theology. For those who do not know what replacement theology is, it is a discredited Christian teaching. Replacement theology is the religious justification for persecuting and murdering Jews during the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition and the Holocaust.

When the bigot was called on his hatred, he was defiant. He was proud of his disrupting an all faiths forum. He was proud of the hate and pain he brought to people. He was proud of his perverse use of religion to inflict pain. He was proud because he believes that only he and his followers know the true word of G-d. While he was preaching hate, one of his supporters was actively ridiculing Judaism and making fun of the prophet Elijah and also one of the Jewish sages.

Today, in a Jewish Yahoo group, a Messianic Jew tried to convert me. For those who do not know what a Messianic Jew is, it is someone who converted to Christianity, yet has the nerve to claim to still be Jewish. Typically they try to then convert Jews to Christianity.

I have seen hate and violence close up. I have seen the NYPD do nothing while glass bottles were thrown at gays and lesbians during an anti-violence march in NYC.

I have seen some of the finest human beings I will be privileged to know die from AIDS while the government did nothing because; they were expandable, because they were a persecuted minority, because it was politically convenient to let them die. Yet none of that hate has prepared me for the last two days.

My life was threatened by a homophobe soon after Mathew Shepard’s murder and the Fair Lawn, NJ Police Department refused to make an arrest citing “insufficient evidence.” Insufficient evidence according to the Fair Lawn police would be footprints in the snow leading from the perpetrator’s property to the crime scene and back. The failure of the Fair Lawn Police Department ultimately lead to the situation deteriorating and becoming violent. By the way, years ago, a similar incident was handled very professionally by the Nassau County, NY Police Department and instead of violence, further incidents were avoided.

None of this has prepared me for the onslaught of hate in the last two days. None of the horrors I have seen have prepared me for the filth I have experienced in the last two days.

My heart is heavy because we are all children of G-d and there are those of us who preach hate and practice cruelty instead of love, peace, kindness and goodness. My heart is heavy because there are those of us who get off on causing misery to others. My heart is heavy because there are those who do not understand the concept of respect. My heart is heavy because there are those who insist on going into places they do not belong because they are so convinced they are right that they think they are exempt from matters of common courtesy and decency. My heart is heavy because one would hope after endless bloodshed and war that maybe, just maybe, a moderated all faiths forum would be a safe place to learn about each others' faiths, traditions and beliefs.

Allow Me to Introduce Myself

2009-06-21T12:56:00.008-04:00

I was the first born to Jewish parents. My earliest religious experiences were my bris (The Jewish religious rite of circumcision at eight days of age) and being redeemed by my father (Redemption of the First Born). According to Jewish tradition, it was the first born who were to be sacred to G-d and were to serve him as Priests. Because of the sin of the Golden Calf, that privilege was transferred to the Kohanim. In some way, I want to reclaim what was once my birthright.

I am gay. Gay as in demonized by organized religion. Gay as in demonized by verses quoted from the bible. Gay as in taught that G-d does not love me, that I am not wanted.

The theme of my spiritual journey, is that of being twice blessed (Gay and Jewish) and my seeking to reclaim what was mine.

After much study, I have reached the point that I finally understand that G-d loves me. After much study, I understand that being Jewish is my birthright and that it comes with an inheritance that is priceless. Finally, I have reached the point were I am starting to understand the richness of my faith. Finally, I am starting to understand and appreciate the patience, love, tremendous kindness and forgiveness G-d has showered upon me.

My decision to become ordained was done after some serious soul searching. I needed to know that I knew enough about my faith to justify my becoming a Minister. I needed to know that I was going to take being a Minister seriously. Soon after becoming a Minister, I was contacted by the President of a gay organization that I had been involved with sometime before. The problem he called about was gay and lesbian homeless youth. He had just been involved in helping to find shelter for a teenage boy who had been kicked out of his home (with only the clothes on his back) because of his sexual orientation. After a lengthy talk, I offered to help out by leading a series of discussion groups and I started writing a series of articles designed to bring G-d’s love and affirmation to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, intersexed, and transgenedered community.

For me as a minister, this is about G-d loving us, and my sharing that love with those who feel unloved and unwanted. For me, this is about reclaiming my birthright and by reclaiming my birthright, I am fulfilling the reason G-d put me here.

We are all children of G-d and we are all here to help each other. If I can be of any help, please contact me.

Same Sex Marriage

2009-06-21T01:47:00.004-04:00

Same Sex Marriage

An Open Letter to Every Politician in the United States

The issue of same sex marriage is a simple issue. Same sex marriage is about; fairness, justice, human dignity and respect for that dignity. It is about standing before friends, family and loved ones and publicly stating your commitment to: love, honor, care for another human being. It is about having that person, who you love with all your heart; make that same commitment to you.

It is also about civil rights and legal rights, such as the right to inherit property, the right to make funeral arrangements for a loved one. It is about the right to visit someone in a hospital. It is about the right to help make medical decisions about the only person in the world whose life matters more than your own life.

We have a word for that commitment, the word is marriage, not civil union, not domestic partnership; only one word means all this and that word is marriage. We have only one word for that one special person in our lives and that word is spouse. No other word comes close, not domestic partner, not significant other, not any other term.

Our laws are written using the terms marriage and spouse. The many contracts we enter into during our lives, including but not limited to employment contracts, are written using the terms marriage and spouse. Our relationships are defined using the terms marriage and spouse.

Civil union is not the same as marriage. Civil union is well intentioned, but despite its intentions, it is an insult. Civil union and domestic partnership say that the state does not recognize our same sex loving relations as being equal to those of heterosexuals. Because our relationships are not equal, we are not equal. This is an insult to every gay man and lesbian.

For you the issue is moral courage, the challenge to do the right thing in the face of uncertain consequences. Organized religion cannot help guide you. The Unitarian Church, the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church, the Reform and Reconstructist branches of Judaism, and many other religions and religious leaders support same sex marriage. On the other side, there are vocal religions leaders who oppose same sex civil marriage. Therefore, religion does not have an unequivocal viewpoint that can guide you.

The proposed law allowing all loving adult couples to marry does not require any religion, and does not require any religious leader, to act against his or her or their understanding of G-d’s will. It merely grants the option of marrying to all those adult couples who wish to do so. Nobody is being forced to do anything.

Furthermore, one’s marriage is diminished if another loving couple is granted the right to marry. There is no limit to the number of marriages that can be performed, so that and if a same sex couple gets one then a heterosexual couple cannot. Mr. And Mrs. Smith’s marriage is not threatened, nor is it diminished, if Mr. and Mrs. Jones get married, so how can their marriage be hurt if Mr. and Mr. Jones get married?

I call upon you to show moral courage, to stand for fairness and justice, to stand for equality under the law. I call upon you to live up to the idea this country is founded upon, the idea “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”