AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA
Current Action Alert ( sign up to receive AFA of PA Action Alerts
Education
Issues
Homosexual
Agenda
NEWS RELEASE ARCHIVES 2005
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE: August
25, 2005
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley 1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078
Dr. Amy Gutmann 1-215-898-7221
University of
Pennsylvania Bowing to Those Suffering A Mental Disorder
(Philadelphia)
– Outrageous is the
response of a Pennsylvania pro-family organization at word that the
University of Pennsylvania will be offering gender neutral housing
beginning this fall. In a statement sent to the University, the American Family
Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) issued a warning to the
University of Pennsylvania concerning the inherent dangers in
offering gender neutral housing.
“When the
university added ‘gender identity’ to their non-discrimination
policy in early 2004, we encouraged them not to give into
homosexual, bisexual and transgender activists who presented a
laundry list of demands – including gender neutral housing.
To make such changes are a great disservice to the entire
student body,” Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA stated
today.
In the statement to the President, Dr. Amy Gutmann and the Board of
Trustees, the AFA of PA noted that the danger of sexual assault,
whether creating a gender-neutral environment or allowing
transgenders to have a room on the floor of a dormitory, is creating
dangerous situations for all of the students involved.
"We are calling on the
University of Pennsylvania to do what's best for their
students," Gramley said, "and that would not be to cave in
to homosexual and transsexual activists that are trying to eliminate
distinctions between male and female.
Doing such is putting their students in danger. Gender
neutral housing is simply a cave-in on the part of the
University.”
In a November
2004 article Dr. Paul
McHugh, a University Distinguished Service Professor or Psychiatry
at Johns Hopkins University, responded when confronted with a
request for sex reassignment surgery, “. . . we
psychiatrists have been distracted from studying the causes and
natures of their mental
misdirections by preparing them for surgery and for a life in
the other sex. We have wasted scientific and technical resources and
damaged our professional credibility by
collaborating with madness rather than trying to study, cure,
and ultimately prevent it.” (emphasis
added)
Public institutions are not
legally compelled to make available gender neutral accommodations.
Since the terms "sexual orientation" and "gender
identity" are not included in the Pennsylvania Human Relations
Act or the PA Fair Educational Opportunities Act.
State colleges and universities are not required to include
them in their non-discrimination policies, and thus are not required
to provide gender neutral housing.
#
# #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 12, 2005
CONTACT: Diane Gramley
1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078
Commonwealth Court Says It’s Okay for Men to Come to Work in a Dress and to Shower With Female Co-Workers – A Case of Judicial Activism, Pro-family Group Asks
(Harrisburg)—Yesterday’s Commonwealth Court decision to uphold the Allentown human relations ordinance which added “sexual orientation” and “gender identity is an outrage, a traditional values group said today. According to the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) this is not something that the majority of citizens in Allentown want and is additional evidence of judicial activism as state law does not extend this type special protection to homosexuals.
“Gone unreported in media stories today are the acts of intimidation and harassment on the part of homosexual activists as concerned citizens in Allentown attempted to circulate and/or sign petitions the summer of 2002 after the City Council effectively pushed the ordinance changes through in April of that year. These concerned citizens simply wanted an opportunity to place the matter before all the voters in Allentown to see if the city council-approved language was what the people really wanted. Homosexual activists knew that if the people had a chance to vote the ordinance changes would be removed. I believe the majority of Allentown citizens still oppose the ordinance” stated Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.
The Commonwealth Court has opened the door for men who believe they are women to come to work in a dress and to use the women’s restroom and shower facilities. Even openly homosexual Congressman Barney Frank opposes adding ‘transgender’ or ‘gender identity’ to the proposed federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act because he knows that by so doing radical transgender activists will demand that men who think they are women be permitted to use the women’s restroom and shower facilities in the workplace. The June 3, 2005 issue of the Washington Blade confirms his continued stand against the addition of ‘gender identity’ or ‘transgender.’
In May 2003 Teamsters Union Local 773 forced Carbon County to reinstate a transgender prison guard because of Allentown’s addition of “gender identity” to their human relations ordinance. This was a message to all those who do business with companies and organizations based in Allentown: Your business dealings will be directly affected by the addition of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to Allentown’s Human Relations Ordinance. Does the Carbon County prison still have a man dressed as a woman guard? How man strip searches of female inmates has he conducted?
In a press release dated May 31, 2003 the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition stated,” Although the incident occurred a county away, this may have been the first victory for Allentown’s nondiscrimination law.”
“The Commonwealth court ruling said cities have broad latitude to take steps to protect the health, safety and welfare of their citizens. Extending special protections to homosexuals will not accomplish either as according to the CDC 2 out of 3 cases of AIDS are men who have sex with men, 1out of 5 male homosexuals are victims of same-sex domestic violence and those involved in homosexual activity are more prone to substance abuse, eating and psychological disorders,” responded Gramley. “This is not the direction a city would want to take to protect its citizens.”
The AFA of PA again outlines to the City Council of Allentown and now the Commonwealth Court the following observations included in a fax dated August 2, 2002.
q In many areas where such ordinances have been passed, the Boy Scouts and Salvation Army have been discriminated against.
q Council is putting its stamp of approval upon a lifestyle that, according to the Oxford University Journal of Epidemiology, shortens the lives of men who have sex with men by up to 20 years. The Centers for Disease Control recognizes that bisexuals are a proven "bridge" infecting women with HIV.
q Religious organization which received any city funds and employ four people would be required to hire practicing homosexuals. (Article 181, Section 02)
q "Gender Identity" as defined in the ordinance opens all sorts of doors for radical transsexuals. Even openly homosexual Congressman Barney Frank opposes such language because he knows so-called "transgender" activists will use that language to literally demand that men who believe they're women be allowed to use women's restrooms and showers.
Only time will tell whether Allentown will become another ‘gay-friendly’ city like Philadelphia which currently ranks eighth in the nation in number of AIDS cases. Of course, all this will be with the approval of the court system in Pennsylvania.
# # #
NEWS
RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078
or 1.814.437.5355
GOVERNOR
SAYS COURTS SHOULD DEFINE MARRIAGE, PRO-FAMILY GROUP SAYS THIS IS AN
OUTRAGE
(
q
Scandinavian
countries have had some form of same-sex marriage for a decade –
marriage is no longer viewed as important, in some areas up to 80%of
all births are out-of-wedlock
q
Homosexuality
will be viewed and taught in schools as a safe, alternative
lifestyle while in reality the health ramifications are enormous –
according to the CDC
, almost 60% or 2 in 3 cases of AIDS involve men who have sex
with men (MSM), cases of anal cancer soar among MSM, 1 in 5 gay men
claim they are victims of domestic violence, according to the Gay
and Lesbian Medical
Association
those involved in the homosexual lifestyle are more prone to
substance abuse, cancers, STDs, and psychological disorders, the
Oxford University International Journal of Epidemiology reports that
a man involved in the homosexual lifestyle can shorten his life by
up to 20 years.
q
Studies have
consistently shown that children need a mother and a father.
Children raised in same-sex households grow up confused about
their sexuality and are more prone to early sexual experimentation
and substance abuse.
q
Parents of
natural families will be discriminated against if they try to
protect their children from homosexual indoctrination within the
public school system. This
has already happened in
q
If the
definition of marriage is changed to include same-sex relationships,
it can be changed to include any other type relationship.
In June 2005 addressing an Ivy League school, ACLU president
Nadine Strossen stated that her organization has "defended the
right of individuals to engage in polygamy.”
Additionally,
the governor’s spokesman, Chuck Ardo, has indicated that Governor
Rendell believes the courts should decide the definition of
marriage. This is
exactly what homosexual activists are wanting.
Consistently voters have voted to protect traditional
marriage and decisions by activist judges have overthrown the will
of the people.
“The
majority of Pennsylvanians know the definition of marriage as to be
between one-man and one-woman.
Their elected officials made this quite clear in 1996 with
the passage of the Defense of Marriage Act. We don’t need activist
judges to redefine marriage as anything different than what
Pennsylvanians know it to be. Governor
Rendell needs to stand and defend the traditional family,” stated
Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.
The
issues that homosexuals who live together have voiced concern over
– hospital visitation rights, inheritance of property, etc. –
can all be addressed through legal means without legalizing same-sex
marriage.
“The
legalization of same-sex marriage would be a move to force upon the
general populace the recognition of a lifestyle that most in
#
# #
NEWS
RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078
or 1.814.437.5355
District Attorney James Epstein
1.724.662.3800
ANTI-PORNOGRAPHY
GROUP ASKS, ‘IS
(
“In
May 2003 67.3% of
Under
the law a bottle club is an establishment that does not have a
license to sell liquor but operates as a BYOB or the operator may
provide alcohol. According
to the Bottle Club Law: "If
a majority of the electors voting on the question vote
"yes," then an establishment commonly referred to as a
bottle club shall not be operated in the municipality after 30 days
from the certification of the vote on the question.”
The
letter to DA Epstein says in part,
“This whole scenario – two years in the making -- is becoming
very frustrating to the citizens of
Eric
Boron will continue operating as he always has.
His arrogant disregard for the law is a slap in the face to
all voters in
The
AFA of PA encourages the
The
inaction of the
“We
are encouraged to hear that
#
# #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July
28, 2005
CONTACT: Diane Gramley
1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
AFL-CIO’S PROBLEMS ESCALATE – Two Unions Leave -- Passage of Anti-Marriage Resolution Creates Rift Between Rank & File Members and Leadership
(Harrisburg) – Yesterday’s departure of the Service Employees International Union and the Teamsters from the AFL-CIO is just one indication that they are in trouble, a statewide pro-family group said today. The group asserts their biggest problem will come when the rank and file members realize that the AFL-CIO does not support their marriages and families.
“On March 3rd the Executive Committee voted unanimously to condemn all efforts to protect one-man, one-woman marriage through constitutional amendments. Their message to the majority of rank and file members is that 'you and your marriages and families are not important.’ The problems for the AFL-CIO have only just begun,” stated Diane Gramley, president of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA).
The AFL-CIO resolution has seen little publicity beyond a few homosexual publications.
http://www.aflcio.org/aboutaflcio/ecouncil/ec03032005g.cfm
The re-election of John Sweeney for a fourth term as president will only escalate the problems between unions, rank and file members and AFL-CIO leadership. On June 1st the AFA of PA, in a letter delivered to John Sweeney, joined a broad coalition of national and state organizations, legislators and union members in condemning the Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO in their promotion of same-sex marriage.
The AFL-CIO resolution states that a federal
Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Constitution "and its
state counterparts threaten the rights of working people by creating
an environment across the nation that is hostile to the rights of
domestic partners, regardless of their sexual orientation.”
It concludes with a broad endorsement of homosexual and
"transgender" activists' political agenda: "The
AFL-CIO reiterates its longstanding support for the full inclusion
and equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people
in the workplace and in society.”
Gramley responded adamantly, “When the rank and file members of the AFL-CIO learn what their Executive Committee has endorsed, they will be outraged. The average union member supports one-man, one-woman marriage and the organization that is supposed to represent their best interest has undermined the entire concept of traditional marriage.
Even openly homosexual Congressman Barney Frank opposes adding ‘transgender’ or ‘gender identity’ to the proposed federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act because he knows that by so doing radical transgender activists will demand that men who think they are women be permitted to use the women’s restroom and shower facilities in the workplace. The June 3, 2005 issue of the Washington Blade confirms his continued stand against the addition of ‘gender identity’ or ‘transgender
“If Barney Frank recognizes the problem with the addition of transgender and gender identity language to workplace non-discrimination policies, this is just additional proof of how off-base the AFL-CIO is when it comes to this issue. This is one more reason for union members with deeply held religious beliefs concerning homosexuality to direct their dues elsewhere. The American Family Association Center for Law and Policy is one of several legal organizations that have offered their services free of charge to any such union member,’ remarked Gramley.
# # #
NEWS
RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078
or 1.814.437.5355
MOVE
TO OFFER SAME-SEX DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS TO STATE EMPLOYEES WILL COST
TENS OF MILLIONS, STATEWIDE GROUP SAYS
(
“This
will not only cost
“Neither
same-sex nor heterosexual live-in relationships are recognized as legal
unions in the
The
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) publicly demands
corporations, municipalities and states extend benefits to the same-sex
partners of their employees. However, in 2003 they stopped paying 100%
of the health benefits of the cost was so prohibitive.
“In
their cost analysis, the Pennsylvania Employee Benefits Trust Fund needs
look no further than the actions of the NGLTF.
But they do need to take a close look at the statistics from the
Centers for Disease Control and the fact that one in three men who
participate in homosexual sex has AIDS and the fact that there is a
syphilis epidemic among homosexuals,” stated Gramley.
On
"(NGLTF
Executive Director Lorri) Jean's first crisis at the Task Force surfaced
several months after she took office (in 2001), sources said, when the
NGLTF's unionized staff threatened to go public with a dispute over
domestic partner benefits. During contract negotiations, Jean called for
dropping a longstanding NGLTF policy of paying 100 percent of the health
insurance premium for staff members' domestic partners, saying the
benefit was prohibitively expensive. She had no objections to the
existing policy of paying 100 percent of the health insurance premiums
for employees themselves. But a 100 percent benefit plan for domestic
partners could not be sustained, Jean said, at a time when the group had
a $500,000 debt, including an outstanding loan of $300,000."
NGLTF's public position on so-called
"domestic partner" benefits is published on the NGLTF website,
as follows:
"It Will Cost Too Much. The most common reason cited by
companies who do not implement DP benefits is the perception that to do
so would be cost prohibitive. ...these concerns are baseless. ...If a
company cares about its employees and about the values of fairness and
nondiscrimination, it should treat all employees equitably, no matter
the pricetag." http://www.ngltf.org/downloads/dp/dp3.pdf
Gramley said it is NGLTF's private rather
than its public position on the issue that reflects the economic
realities of adding to an employer's "insurance pool" new
individuals whose homosexual lifestyle makes them more likely to be
disproportionate consumers of healthcare services, thus driving up
premium costs for the pool of employees as a whole.
The Corporate Resource Council, a non-profit consulting firm based in
http://www.corporateresourcecouncil.org/white_papers/Hidden_Costs.pdf
)
"Taking high risk enrollees and same-sex medical costs into
account, some employers can expect 3 to 5 percent higher costs if only 1
or 2 percent of their employees choose domestic partner benefits,"
the council said.
Gramley cited numerous medical and other studies that document the
disproportionate health care consequences associated with homosexual
behavior:
Domestic
Violence
“The
New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project announced this week
(
“We’ve
seen a steady rise in reports of domestic violence and the level of
violence involved over the last two years,” said Clarence Patton,
acting director of AVP. “In 2004 alone, there was a 35 percent
increase in serious injuries and a 71 percent increase in deaths or
murders that occurred as a result of the violence.
http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn_429/lgbtdomesticviolence.html
"It is likely the incidence of
domestic violence among gay men is nearly double that in the
heterosexual population. As many as 650,000 gay men may be victims
of domestic violence each year." (p. 14) The researchers
estimate battery occurs in 50 percent of gay male couples (p. 12).
(Men Who Beat the Men Who Love Them, by David Island and Patrick
Letellier, co-editors of the National Lesbian & Gay Domestic
Violence Network
newsletter)
"One in five urban gay men is battered by his partner, a new study
by Georgetown University's School of Nursing and Health Studies
shows."
(365gay.com Newscenter at http://365gay.com/NewsContent/012903batteredGays.htm
)
Mental Illness
"(P)eople with same-sex sexual behavior are at greater risk for
psychiatric disorders." (Journal of the American Medical
Association at
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/issues/v58n1/abs/yoa9456.html
)
Life-threatening Disease and Substance Abuse
Compared to heterosexual men, men who engage in homosexual behavior are
at increased risk of HIV infection, hepatitis, HPV and all other STDs,
anal, prostate and colon cancers, eating disorders, depression and
anxiety, and use alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs more often.
(Gay and Lesbian Medical Association at
http://www.gaywired.com/avantgo/storydetail.cfm?Section=12&ID=185
)
"Homosexual men are at significantly increased risk of HIV/AIDS,
hepatitis, anal cancer, gonorrhea and gastrointestinal infections as a
result of their sexual practices. ...Women who have sex with women are
at significantly increased risk of bacterial vaginosis, breast cancer
and ovarian cancer than are heterosexual women." (Executive
Summary, "Health Implications Associated with Homosexuality,"
1999, Medical Institute of Sexual Health at
http://www.medinstitute.org
)
Premature Death
"(L)ife expectancy at age 20 years for gay and bisexual men is 8 to
20 years less than for all men. If the same pattern of mortality were to
continue, we estimate that nearly half of gay and bisexual men currently
aged 20 years will not reach their 65th birthday." (International
Journal of Epidemiology, Oxford University at
http://ije.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/26/3/657?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=
10&RESULTFORMAT=&searchid=QID_NOT_SET&FIRSTINDEX=&volume=26&
firstpage=657&journalcode=intjepid
)
"Among young gay and bisexual men in Vancouver, the HIV/AIDS
epidemic has reduced life expectancy by up to 20 years." (Canadian
Medical Association Journal at http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/162/1/21#SEC3
)
”Pennsylvanians should not be asked to
financially support such a dangerous lifestyle and that is what they
will be asked to do if same-sex domestic partner health benefits are
offered to state employees. Pennsylvanians
do not want marriage redefined and this move by the Pennsylvania
Employee Benefits Trust Fund is one step closer to doing that,” noted
Gramley.
#
# #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
Statewide Organization Reacts to President Bush’s Nomination of Judge John Roberts
(
“President Bush has kept his promise of nominating a strict constructionist to the bench in the model of Justices Scalia and Thomas. This choice will get the nation back on course where justices will interpret the law and not legislate from the bench. We do not need justices which view the Constitution as a living document changing as the years go by.”
Judge
Roberts rules based on the application of existing laws and specific
facts of the cases before him, rather than making new laws or
creating new policies based on personal opinion.
It’s not surprising that The National Journal has said that
“John Roberts seems a good bet to be the kind of judge we should
all want to have * all of us, that is, who are looking less for
congenial ideologues than for professionals committed to the
impartial application of the law.”
Upon
his nomination to the D.C. Circuit, 152 members of the D.C. Bar
wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee to note that Judge Roberts
is “one of the very best and most highly respected appellate
lawyers in the nation, with a deserved reputation as a brilliant
writer and oral advocate.” Signers, ranging from Democratic
lawyers like Lloyd Cutler and Seth Waxman to former President George
H.W. Bush’s White House Counsel C. Boyden Gray, cited his
“unquestioned integrity and fair-mindedness.”
Anne L. Bryant and Julie Underwood of The National School Boards
Association have noted that Judge Roberts “is always willing to
take the time to do things right; and he is willing to support
others who exhibit similar values. Above all, he personifies
the qualities of an outstanding jurist with his even-temper and
respectful demeanor.”
“President Bush has nominated a fine judge to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy – a judge who has historically issued unbiased and fair opinions based upon the Constitution and who has not attempted to legislate from the bench. The AFA of PA is calling on Senator Arlen Specter to quickly move this nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and to the floor of the Senate. We are confident of speedy and fair confirmation hearings,” concluded Gramley.
# # #
NEWS
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2005
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.437.5355 or
1.814.271.9078
LAWSUIT QUESTIONING CONSTITUTIONALITY OF HATE CRIMES LAW TOSSED OUT-- PLAINTIFFS REACT
(
"We,
of course, are disappointed in the court's decision. To say that
we, as concerned Pennsylvanians, don't have standing is ridiculous.
To watch this bill morph into something the original sponsor had no
intention of it becoming and then to allow the law to stand without
review is truly frightening. This bill was authored by
homosexual activists, lobbied for by homosexual activists and has
already been used by homosexual activists to try to take away the
First Amendment rights of eleven Christians in Philadelphia in
October. All Pennsylvanians with deeply help religious beliefs
that homosexual acts are wrong remain in danger of being charged with
a hate crime if they speak publicly against such a lifestyle. Is
a local pastor next?" remarked Diane Gramley.
Additionally,
The
American Family Association of Pennsylvania is a statewide pro-family
organization affiliated with the Tupelo, Mississippi-based American
Family Association.
#
# #
NEWS
RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July
1, 2005
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley
1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078
TRADITIONAL
VALUES GROUP SAYS HISTORICAL MARKER IS ABOUT REVISIONIST HISTORY
(Philadelphia)
– Today’s unveiling of an historical marker is another example
of revisionist history, a statewide traditional values group said.
After addressing the quarterly meeting of the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) on June 15 and waiting two
weeks for the answers posed by Diane Gramley, president of the
American Family Association of Pennsylvania, the AFA of PA sent a
fax June 29 reiterating the questions.
A phone call during the late afternoon of June 30 from the
PHMC answered three questions -- according to the PHMC the marker
commemorating the 1965 homosexual rights protest will be unveiled
at 10:00 a.m. July 1 at the National Constitution Center.
However, apparently the National Constitution Center is not
large enough to contain the “throngs” who are anxiously
waiting the unveiling of this marker as attendance is by
invitation only. Or
possibly the PHMC knows that the majority of Philadelphians and
Pennsylvanians will not approve of the marker when they discover
this desecration of their city!
“This
historical marker is an outrage to our Founding Fathers and our
nation’s history. Number
2 of the Historical Marker Nomination Form says, ‘Be sure to
explain why this marker will have meaning for people for the whole
state or country, not just from your community.’
This event has meaning to less than 3% of the entire
population of the United States of America and should never have
been approved,” stated Gramley.
The
lifestyle this historic marker is commemorating is not about civil
rights and does not represent the 40 conservatively dressed
homosexuals involved in a march in Philadelphia in 1965.
The homosexual lifestyle and this marker now commemorate
the activities that took place at Philadelphia’s Philly Pride
Presents Parade on June 12. On
those floats were partially dressed women in tight leather, who
were bending over with their buttocks exposed being spanked with
bare hands, whips, and other objects.
In addition, as the Philadelphia police stood by as this
illegal activity occurred, simulated sex acts took place on
another float. Homosexual
activism has taken on a new look and Philadelphia was witness to
that on June 12.
“This
issue nor the parade 40 years ago has anything to do with civil
rights. Homosexual
activists are hijacking the civil rights movement. People are not
born gay – it is not an immutable or unchangeable characteristic
– there is no gay gene. Thousands
who have come out of the lifestyle are proof of that,” Gramley
continued.
To
use the beginning of the Fourth of July weekend for this ceremony
is an additional assault on our Founding Fathers and our
nation’s history. The
final location of the historical marker next to Independence Hall
at Sixth and Chestnut Streets is an overt attempt to revise
history to say that our nation’s leaders in generations past
would approve of the 1965 homosexual rights march and the
lifestyle it represents.
“It
is quite evident where our Founding Fathers stood on morality and
to use the Fourth of July weekend to unveil an historical monument
that commemorates a lifestyle that the majority of the nation
views as immoral is not only a slap on the faces of our Founding
Fathers, but also a slap on the face of each American who upholds
morality. Thanks to
the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania
has become a national embarrassment,” Gramley concluded.
The
celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence,
should be a reminder of the words of some of America’s Founders
when it came to morality and the survival of our nation.
“The
practice of morality being necessary for the well-being of society
. . . “ – Thomas Jefferson
“We
are now to rank among the nations of the world; but whether our
Independence shall prove a blessing or a curse must depend upon
our own wisdom or folly, virtue or wickedness.
– George Mason (Father of the Bill of Rights)
“Only
a virtuous people are capable of freedom.
As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need
of masters.” --
Benjamin Franklin
“Religion
and good morals are the only solid foundations of public liberty
and happiness. While
the people are virtuous, they cannot be subdued; but when once
they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their
liberties to the first external or internal invader.” – Samuel
Adams
“Government
is a firm compact sanctified from violation by all the ties of
personal honor, morality, and religion.” – Fisher Ames (author
of the First Amendment)
“We
have not government armed with power capable of contending with
human passions unbridled by morality and religion. . . . Our
Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.
It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.”
– John Adams
# # #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
GROUP SAYS REPRESENTATIVE METCALFE ON THE RIGHT TRACK
(
“Since it became apparent earlier this year that our tax dollars were being used to promote homosexuality, the AFA of PA has been informing Pennsylvanians of the situation. It has become evident that most legislators did not originally know of this expenditure of hundreds of thousands of hard-earned tax dollars. However, now that this outrage has been exposed it is time for them to step up to the plate and take action to more wisely spend our money and not promote a lifestyle that the majority of Pennsylvanians view as wrong. We commend Representative Metcalfe for taking those initial steps,” commented Diane Gramley, president of the statewide pro-family organization, the AFA of PA.
On
May 2 using the Right to Know Law the AFA of PA requested
information from the Department of Economic and Community
Development (DCED), the source of the Equality Forum grants.
Receipt of that information shows that $185,000 has been
given to Equality Forum since December 2003.
This money is ostensibly used for ‘tourism promotion.’
What type tourist is being attracted to
The AFA of PA continues to wonder whether the arrest of 16 homosexual men having sex in the Center City Strawbridge department store restroom is considered community development by the DCED. These arrests happened just one week before the official opening of Equality Forum.
Or possibly the arrest of eleven homosexual men engaged in sexual activity in the same department store two years ago is more along the line of community development since a ten-year-old boy was witness to that activity.
These
type anonymous activities are substantiated by the Centers
for Disease Control which warns
that men who have sex with men "have large numbers of
anonymous partners, which can result in rapid, extensive
transmission of sexually transmitted diseases."
“This
is not about a divisive political issue, but right and wrong.
Should tax dollars be used to promote a lifestyle which,
according to the Oxford
University International Journal of Epidemiology, shortens the
lives of the male participants by up to twenty years?
Should tax dollars by used to promote a lifestyle which,
even the Gay
and Lesbian Medical Association acknowledges, exposes those
involved to more HIV/AIDS, other STDs, substance abuse, eating and
psychological disorders? Should
tax dollars be used to promote the ‘tourism’ of those involved
in this lifestyle? The
answer is a resounding ‘NO.’ Cities and states need to make
decisions based on the well-being of the majority of its citizens,
not the buying power of 3% of the population which is homosexual.
Additionally, as a reminder
The majority of Pennsylvanians across the state are outraged that their tax dollars are being used to help fund Equality Forum. This year’s activities included discussions promoting Abraham Lincoln as gay and workshops on overturning existing state marriage laws and how to get homosexual special rights laws passed.
There
is apparent double-speak coming out of
- On
one hand,
- On the other hand we have enough extra money in the budget to promote a lifestyle which is destroying the lives of Pennsylvanians.
#
# #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
PRO-FAMILY GROUPS PLEASED WITH SBC RESOLUTION CALLING ON INVESTIGATION OF SCHOOLS
(
“This
vote on the moderately changed SBC resolution addressing the
problem of homosexual activism within the schools was a huge
success for the children of
Support by Christian and pro-family groups and organizations has steadily grown. The original joint statement was signed by less than fifty on June 14 when the statement was sent to Dr. Gene Mims, chairman of the SBC Resolutions Committee, and all members of the committee. By June 17, it had grown to 58 and is now up to 63 organizations which support investigating schools and holding them accountable for the presence of pro-homosexual clubs, curriculum and programs. The majority of these organizations are statewide. The number of supporters is expected to continue growing, with future joint efforts to protect children anticipated.
“Unfortunately some media accounts have stated that the ‘investigation’ clause was removed from the resolution before the vote. This is untrue. In fact, the word ‘investigate’ is stated twice in the approved resolution,” Gramley continued.
The resolution acknowledges that problems exist in many of our nation’s schools and that homosexual activists are using that setting to indoctrinate students. Parents are being asked to find out what is taking place in their child’s school and take the appropriate steps to protect their children from harm.
Gramley further stated, “This resolution is a clear message that homosexual activism within schools is a real problem and that we, who are concerned with the safety and well-being of our children, are going to take steps to protect them. Our schools must no longer be used as places of social re-engineering which allow the lie that ‘gay is okay’ to be perpetuated.”
# # #
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RELEASE
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CONTACT:
Diane Gramley 1.814.437.5355
or 1.814.271.9078
SBC
Resolution Support Among Christian and Pro-Family Groups Continues
to Grow
(
“These grass roots leaders are concerned about what is happening to our children in the public school setting -- how homosexual activists are using the schools as an avenue to desensitize our kids and normalize this abhorrent behavior. The overwhelming support has been phenomenal and I am very grateful to be able to work with such a great group of concerned grassroots leaders in this effort to protect our most precious legacy, our children,” Diane Gramley, president of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania and one of the original signatories on the letter to Dr. Mims said today.
The increase in support now involves the leadership of ten state affiliates of the American Family Association, eleven state affiliates of Concerned Women for America, eight state affiliates of Eagle Forum, sixteen state affiliates of Focus on the Family, home education groups (including the Southern Baptist Church and Home Education Association) and other independent statewide pro-family groups.
E.
Ray Moore, Director of Exodus Mandate, remarked, “We are deeply
grateful to Diane Gramley for her efforts to recruit and rally
pro-family and Christian organizations in support of the resolution
to investigate homosexuality in public schools co-sponsored by Drs.
Voddie Baucham and Bruce Shortt. This wide spread support shows that
there is a rising tide of concern about homosexuality in our public
schools and growing support for Christian schools and homeschooling.”
The
new signatories are as follows:
Kevin McCoy, Executive Director
West Virginia Family Foundation, Inc.
Tammy Bellinger,
State Director
Concerned Women for
Jane
Carron, State Director
Concerned Women for
Kathy Valente, State Director
Concerned Women for
Tammy Mosher, State Director
Concerned Women for
Pat Hanson, Director
Concerned Women For
Orlean Koehle, State President
Eagle Forum of
Violet Vestevich, President
Eagle Forum of
Fran Bevan, President
Eagle Forum of
Joe Glover, President
Family Policy Network
Michael S. Heath, Executive Director
Christian Civic
League of
Brian Camenker, President
Article 8
Mark Forton,
Chairman
Brannon Howse, President & Founder
Worldview Weekends
of
Denise Kanter
Considering Homeschooling Ministry
Ron Shank, State Director
# # #
NEWS
RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley
1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078
(
- How
was this marker approved? PHMC
Guideline # 5 states, “That historically recognized
personages shall no longer be living, and that the place of
their accomplishments shall have become established.”
Guideline # 2 states, “That only historical subjects
(rather than current events) be considered.”
- How
many of our tax dollars will be used to create and install the
marker?
- Exactly
where will the historic marker be placed and when will it be
unveiled?
- Will
Governor Rendell unveil the marker at that time as Equality
Forum said that he would do during their week-long homosexual
event in April/May?
“The
Commission is not following its own guidelines – participants in
the 1965 parade helped fill out the application for the marker and
some attended Equality Forum on May 1st.
Many historians who follow “gay history” do not recognize
the parade in
In light of eye-witness accounts of the illegal activity taking place at this past Sunday’s Philly Pride Presents Parade, the PHMC Commissioners approval of this historical marker is, in essence, commemorating and normalizing these actions also. One float in the parade included partially dressed women in tight leather, bending over with their buttocks exposed being spanked with bare hands, whips, and other objects. Another float had simulated sex acts taking place on it.
“As
was reiterated to the PHMC Commissioners yesterday, Pennsylvanians
do not want their truly historic places desecrated by such a marker.
The majority of Pennsylvanians do not approve of the
homosexual lifestyle and furthermore they know that this is not a
civil rights issue, but a lifestyle choice.
We are demanding answers from Chairman Spilove and the other
Commissioners. We are
also asking the PHMC to rescind their approval of this marker
commemorating this so-called ‘historic event,’” Gramley said.
#
# #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
Pro-Family Groups Rally to Urge Southern Baptist Convention to Vote on Resolution Protecting Children From Homosexual Activism Within Schools
(
Click here to read the letter.
“We, as pro-family leaders, see the need for the passage of such a resolution. But it will get nowhere until it is out of the Resolutions Committee. Unfortunately, homosexual activism within the public school system is a harsh reality and we, as Christians, must take steps to protect our children from this deadly indoctrination. We are encouraging the SBC congregations in our respective states to contact the members of the Resolutions Committee to ask them to move this resolution forward. In the hopes that this resolution will be voted out of committee, we are also asking messengers attending the SBC Convention to vote in favor of the resolution, ” said Diane Gramley, president of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) and a signatory on the letter.
The
signatories include the leaders of pro-family groups from the three
states with the largest number of SBC congregations -- Eagle Forum of
Texas and Concerned Women for
“This coalition of concerned pro-family leaders was brought together in less than a week. The response has been amazing and the AFA of PA is very pleased to be a part of this effort. Each signatory knows, through research and the testimony of concerned teachers, parents and students that something must be done to rein in the advances toward the normalization of the homosexual lifestyle in the public school system,” commented Gramley.
A total of nine state affiliates of the American Family Association, ten state affiliates of Concerned Women for America, seven state affiliates of Eagle Forum,
sixteen state affiliates of Focus on the Family, home education groups (including the Southern Baptist Church and Home Education Association) and other independent pro-family groups signed onto the letter to the Southern Baptist Convention.#
# #
NEWS RELEASE:
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271-9078 or 1.814.437.5355
Groups
Plan ‘Flight of Hope’ Over Homosexual Event in
(
Jesus Christ –hopeforhomosexuals.com
“This
will be the second homosexual event in
Sponsors
of the Pride Parade and Festival include
“If
one of the goals of
# # #
NEWS
RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078
or 1.814.437.5355
(
Through
the Right to Know Law the AFA of PA has obtained documentation
from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)
showing that in the past 18 months Philadelphia-based Equality
Forum has received $185,000 for their annual week-long event.
“The
majority of Pennsylvanians will be outraged when they learn that
their tax dollars are being used to promote an event which
includes panel discussions on Abraham Lincoln being homosexual,
workshops on how to overturn existing marriage laws and getting
homosexual special rights laws passed on the state and local
levels,” Diane Gramley president of the AFA of PA said.
The
grant applications were made under the auspiciousness of
‘Tourism Promotion.’ In
the e-mail to state legislators, Gramley included the following
documentation:
- “Tax dollars should not be used to promote a lifestyle which, according to the Oxford University International Journal of Epidemiology, shortens the lives of the male participants by up to 20 years, exposes those involved to greater risks of HIV/AIDS and other STDs, cancers, substance abuse and eating and psychological disorders. The findings of a new study mirror the findings published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. This new study entitled “Gay obituaries closely track officially reported deaths from AIDS”, and has been published in Psychological Reports (2005;96:693-697).
As
a reminder,
- The
Journal of the American Medical Association reports that
"people with same-sex sexual behavior are at greater risk
for psychiatric disorders" - including bipolar,
obsessive-compulsive, and anxiety disorders, major depression,
and substance abuse.
- A
- The Centers for Disease Control warns that men who have sex with men "have large numbers of anonymous partners, which can result in rapid, extensive transmission of sexually transmitted diseases."
- The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association also agrees with the above findings.
In
addition, the official tourism site for
“Pennsylvanians
do not want this type tourism promoted.
In addition to the state tax dollars, Equality Forum
received money from the City of
Governor
Rendell felt the need to legalize 61,000 slot machines.
Perhaps if the budget was trimmed more and less grant money
made available to promote dangerous lifestyles that would help
eliminate the so-called financial crisis that led to gambling
expansion.
“Legislators
must take steps to prevent our tax dollars from being used to
promote homosexual events which rewrite history and give advice on
overturning marriage laws. Additionally,
the promotion of the homosexual lifestyle seeks to desensitize to
the real dangers involved in participating in that choice Tourism
by the traditional family should be more important than promoting
tourism by the homosexual community which only comprises 2%
of the population,” Gramley concluded.
#
# #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078
PENNSYLVANIA GROUP JOINS OTHERS IN CONFRONTING THE AFL-CIO OVER PROMOTION OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
(
An
AFL-CIO resolution supporting same-sex marriage passed unanimously
in March, but there has been little publicity of this action
beyond a few homosexual publications.
http://www.aflcio.org/aboutaflcio/ecouncil/ec03032005g.cfm
The AFL-CIO
resolution states that a federal Marriage Protection Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution "and its state counterparts threaten
the rights of working people by creating an environment across the
nation that is hostile to the rights of domestic partners,
regardless of their sexual orientation.”
It concludes with a broad endorsement of homosexual and
"transgender" activists' political agenda: "The
AFL-CIO reiterates its longstanding support for the full inclusion
and equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people
in the workplace and in society.”
Diane
Gramley, president of the AFA of PA responded adamantly, “When
the rank and file members of the AFL-CIO learn what their
Executive Committee has endorsed, they will be outraged.
The average union member supports one-man, one-woman
marriage and the organization that is supposed to represent their
best interest has undermined the entire concept of traditional
marriage.”
The
letter urges the AFL-CIO Executive Committee to “respect and
honor the views of your own rank-and-file membership by voting --
during your upcoming July 25-28 annual convention in
"In
anticipation that the AFL-CIO Executive Committee may refuse to
rescind its opposition to constitutional protection of
marriage," the group wrote, "(we will also) communicate
our commitment to ensure that legal counsel and representation are
provided at no charge to any union member who wishes – in
response to your resolution – to exercise any or all of the
above-stated legal rights to withhold funding from the AFL-CIO and
its affiliate unions."
“The
AFA of PA is urging all Pennsylvanians to contact the PA AFL-CIO
headquarters here in
# # #
NEWS RELEASE:
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078
GROUP
WARNS
(
“It is important for all students to feel safe within their schools, tolerance and acceptance should be extended to all students. However, a Gay, Straight Alliance is not the answer. No school should promote a lifestyle which, according to the Oxford University International Journal of Epidemiology, can shorten the lives of the males involved by up to 20 years,” Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA said today.
Students
are encouraged by the Gay, Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
to start GSAs in their schools.
Thus GSAs are greatly influenced by GLSEN and have been
used to promote the acceptance of the dangerous homosexual
lifestyle. In
addition on April 30 a
A brief description of the book follows:
NOTE:
THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL MAY BE OFFENSIVE TO SOME PEOPLE:
The
book describes various gay sex acts including watersports,
fisting, oral sex, ingesting body fluids, rimming, mutual
masturbation, etc., in explicit language.
The booklet tells teens that they have three "sexual rights
and responsibilities" including: "You have the right to
enjoy sex without shame or stigma! You have the right to safer sex
materials that speak to your desires! You have the right to take
action for your community! Be heard, you are the expert!"
______________________________________________
“For
the wellbeing of students, schools should keep GLSEN at arms
length. For the past
two years the AFA of PA has requested a list of
Concerned parents and taxpayers have also seen GSAs encourage participation in the Day of Silence in April. During this taxpayer-funded day students remain silent to show support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues. GSAs have been used to further promote the homosexual lifestyle through diversity days and diversity training for teachers and students. These GSA-related activities are of great concern to parents and school administrators alike.
“The AFA of PA has encouraged Shippensburg school board not to approve the GSA. The issues of name-calling, bullying and tolerance can be dealt with in other ways besides the existence of a GSA. All schools have a legal liability to protect all students and promoting homosexuality would do the very opposite,” concluded Gramley.
# # #
NEWS
RELEASE:
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May
27, 2005
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078
or 1.814.437.5355
PRESIDENT
BUSH'S FIGHT FOR CONSTRUCTIONIST JUDGES REFLECTED IN KEYSTONE PRAYER
ISSUE
(Pittsburgh)
-- Strict constructionists judges sitting on the Third Circuit Court
of Appeals in 1995 and 1996 could have avoided the attack by the
ACLU on the Keystone School District in Knox, Pennsylvania, a
pro-family group said today. The Black Horse Pike decision was
handed down during that time period.
This places the residents living in the Third Circuit
(Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
under one of the most restrictive interpretations of the U.S.
Constitution when it comes to graduation prayer.
There are such varied interpretations among the circuit
courts that eventually the U.S. Supreme Court will have to sort it
all out!
The
American Family Association of Pennsylvania president, Diane
Gramley, stated, "Within the past 50 or 60 years too many
judges have viewed the Constitution as a living, breathing, changing
document. Thus it
changes with the times and culture.
This is not what our Founding Fathers intended."
Historically
this nation's schools were first started so the general populace
would be able to read the Scripture and the first colleges were
started to train those wanting to become ministers of the Gospel.
A look around our nation's capital will reveal this
unmistakable link to our Christian roots.
There are Scripture references on historic buildings and
monuments from the Supreme Court Building to the Jefferson Monument.
At our Capital Building in Harrisburg one must pass several
references to God before even walking into the front entrance.
"The
tragedy of Monday evening, May 23 is that while the Keystone School
board was struggling with how to comply with the ACLU demands
pertaining to the historic presence of prayer at their graduation
services, fourteen senators in Washington, D.C. were working on a
so-called compromise to not end the unprecedented judicial
filibuster against President Bush's nominees.
President Bush wants to nominate judges who will interpret
the Constitution as the Founders intended, not read between the
lines or legislate from the bench.
The actions of the Gang of Fourteen will be felt around this
nation for decades to come," cautioned Gramley.
One
must not forget the actions of President Thomas Jefferson the day
after he penned the now-famous words -- wall of separation between
church and state -- in his letter to the Danbury Baptist Church on
January 1, 1801. Those
actions? He went to
church -- in the chambers of the House of Representatives.
Can there be any doubt where even Thomas Jefferson would have
stood on the issue of graduation prayer at Keystone High School this
evening?
#
# #
NEWS RELEASE :
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 25, 2005
CONTACT: Diane
Gramley 1.814.437.5355
or 1.814.271.9078
AT PALISADES HIGH SCHOOL'S DIVERSITY DAY THREE
SPEAKERS OUT OF FOUR ARE PRO-HOMOSEXUAL
(Philadelphia) -- In a recent e-mail to
Palisades School District's Superintendent Dr. Marilyn Miller, the
American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide
pro-family group asked for clarification on today's Diversity Day
speakers. No response has been received from that e-mail or the phone
message left for the principal, Richard Heffernan.
"The AFA of PA was contacted by a
concerned parent whose child will be forced to attend Diversity Day.
Upon further investigation, we discovered that today's Diversity Day
is worse than a repeat of January 18th's Diversity Day where the
parents' of students could at least opt them out of the workshops
and they could do a writing assignment," Diane Gramley,
president of the AFA of PA commented today.
Today parents are forced to place their child
in a situation where they must attend one of the four options or
receive a zero for Social Studies class.
Additionally, the AFA of PA has discovered that three of the
four speakers are advocates for the homosexual lifestyle.
The AFA of PA again asks - 'is this diversity?'
Dr. Mohamed Bugaighis will once again be making a presentation on life as a Muslim in the U.S. after the September 11th terrorist attacks. But the other three speakers are the main concern of the AFA of PA.
q
Dr. Jeanne Stanley is the Director of the Bryson
Institute of the Attic Youth Center in Philadelphia. This center works with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
and questioning youth (LGBTQ).
Apparently this collaborative program is geared toward
religious forums. Will
her presentation cause a division in the family on the issue of
homosexuality.
Representatives from Planned Parenthood are Justin Sitron and Monifa Bishop. Their topics will include racism and stereotypes. Planned Parenthood has proven to be quite one-sided.
The AFA of PA's questions to the school
included:
q Is this the same Justin Sitron who is the Vice-President of the Main Life Youth Alliance? This alliance provides LGBTQ and straight youth with social, educational and supportive activities in Philadelphia's western suburbs.
q
Is Monifa Bishop the Lesbian Health Service
Coordinator of theCallen-Lorde Health Center?
This is New York City's "premier healthcare facility
serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community."
"The AFA of PA's questions about the
speakers remain unanswered. From
this line-up of speakers, parents cannot help but wonder if the
school district doesn't have an agenda to desensitize their children
to the dangers of the homosexual lifestyle.
Parents have the right to know what their children are being
taught in schools," continued Gramley.
In the e-mail to Dr. Miller the AFA of PA
included information about the legal liability
of schools which expose students to pro-homosexual programs and
messages.
"A school has the responsibility of protecting the children in their charge and must not forget the fact that those involved in the homosexual lifestyle are more likely to be exposed to HIV/AIDS and other STDs and have more instances of anal cancer, breast cancer, substance abuse and eating and psychological disorders. Facts that even the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association acknowledges.
Additionally cases of syphilis and gonorrhea
are running rampant among those engaged in homosexual
activity," Gramley continued.
The AFA of PA has spoken with this year's
organizer of Diversity Day and we have received assurances that if
there is a Diversity Day next year there will be changes. Our
suggestion has been that speakers include those with a different
message on homosexuality as there are tens of thousands of former
homosexuals.
Our concern continues to be -- 'What message are the students receiving this year?"
# # #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2005
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
BREAKAWAY SENATORS CONFIRM LITMUS TEST FOR JUDICIAL NOMINEES, PRO-FAMILY GROUP SAYS
(Pittsburgh) -- The signatures of fourteen United States Senators on a "Memorandum of Understanding on Judicial Nominations" was a betrayal to these Senators' constituents and the American people, the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide pro-family group said this evening.
"This so-called compromise is a betrayal to fairness and confirms there will be a ideological litmus test on all future nominees. All President Bush's judicial nominees deserve an up or down vote -- not just a select few that these rogue Senators name in a compromise," Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA said.
The three that were specifically named in the memorandum have had their lives put on hold for years and are finally being told they will get an up or down vote.
Priscilla Owen has waited four years, two weeks, and one day
William Pryor -- two years and one month
Janice Rogers Brown -- twenty-two months
But what about the others who still wait in the wings -- David McKeaque, three years and six months; Susan Neilson, three years and six months; Richard Griffin, two years and eleven months; Henry Saad, three years; William Myers, two years and one week.
The AFA of PA agrees with Senator Bill Frist that if Owen, Pryor and Brown deserve an up or down vote, so do the others who are awaiting a yes or no answer to their confirmation. It is unfair to President Bush and these nominees to do any less than respect them enough to vote on them.
"The memorandum states, 'Nominees should only be filibustered under extraordinary circumstances.' Who defines these extraordinary circumstances? Owen and Brown, who have overwhelming support from the people who put them into office and their fellow judges, were deemed out of the mainstream and deserving of a filibuster. One reason was their stand on parental consent before minors got an abortion. Again, who defines extraordinary circumstances?" Gramley asked.
This backroom wheeling and dealing will not lessen the tension. It will instead drive a deeper wedge between the two factions. The three signatories who are up for re-election in 2006 -- Senator DeWine (Ohio), Senator Chafee (Rhode Island) and Senator Snow (Maine) perhaps need to be reminded of the clear message sent to former Senator Tom Daschle last November when he insisted on his obstructionist's ways.
"This evening's actions by fourteen breakaway Senators will hamstring the President's efforts to get strict constructionists judges on the bench. The American people expect fairness from their elected Senators and these fourteen have shown all Americans this evening that they do not believe in fairness. Nor do they believe in a President's right to nominate judges that he believes will do the best job of upholding our nation's Constitution and the Founding Fathers original intent when they penned the words. The ideological litmus test has now officially been put into place," commented Gramley.
# # #
NEWS
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May
18, 2005
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078
PRO-FAMILY
GROUP REMINDS SENATOR SPECTER OF STATEMENTS HE MADE TO BECOME
CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY
(Philadelphia)
-- The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a
statewide pro-family group, notes that the process for judicial
confirmation continues to be stalled as the filibuster of President
Bush's judicial nominees remains in place, but also notes that
Senator Arlen Specter may hold the key.
The day after the November 2004 election, Senator
Specter described Roe vs. Wade as "inviolate" and compared
its importance to the Brown vs. Board of Education case that
desegregated public education. He added that "the president
should be mindful of these considerations" when sending up
nominees. This
statement led to an effort to stop Senator Specter from becoming the
chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"At
that time the AFA of PA and other pro-family, pro-life organizations
around the nation decried his statement and noted that someone
holding such a position would not use his influence to get a fair up
or down vote on President Bush's pro-life judicial nominees, "
Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA said today.
Responding
to the backlash, Senator Specter issued several statements. The AFA
of PA is reminding Senator Specter of those statements and is asking
him to keep his word.
Senator
Specter's statement immediately after the November 2004 AP story:
"Contrary
to press accounts, I did not warn the President about anything and
was very respectful of his Constitutional authority on the
appointment of federal judges.
"As
the record shows, I have supported every one of President Bush’s
nominees in the Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor. I have
never and would never apply any litmus test on the abortion issue
and, as the record shows, I have voted to confirm Chief Justice
Rehnquist, Justice O’Connor, and Justice Kennedy and led the fight
to confirm Justice Thomas.
"I
have already sponsored a protocol calling for a Judiciary Committee
hearing within thirty days of a nomination, a vote out of Committee
thirty days later, and floor action thirty days after that. I am
committed to such prompt action by the Committee on all of President
Bush’s nominees.
"In
light of the repeated filibusters by the Democrats in the last
Senate session, I am concerned about a potential repetition of such
filibusters. I expect to work well with President Bush in the
judicial confirmation process in the years ahead."
[end of statement]
If
Senator Specter is truly concerned about a repeated filibuster by
the Democrats then it is time for him to step forward and support
the Constitutional Option of a simple majority vote on all President
Bush's judicial nominees.
"An
end must come to the unprecedented judicial filibuster, never before
used as a partisan blocking tool until 2003 and 2004 -- never before
used to block judicial nominees with majority support as
these have. All
President Bush's judicial nominees deserve an up or down vote,"
continued Gramley.
But one cannot ignore the
fact that during Senator Specter's fight to claim the chairmanship
of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he was supported by Planned
Parenthood for his stand on abortion.
The Log Cabin Republicans endorsed him during his re-election
campaign and came to his defense last fall during the controversy
over his warning to President Bush. They endorsed Specter because
of his sponsorship of homosexual special rights bills.
And
according to a March 7, 2005 article by Robert Novak,
"Conservative misgivings about Sen. Arlen Specter's rise this
year to become chairman of the Judiciary Committee were validated
last week. Without consulting the Republican leadership, Specter
launched a procedure that undercuts party strategy for confirming
President Bush's judicial nominees. Ironically, however, Democrats
are so intransigent that not even Specter's temporizing has
moderated them so far."
"If
Senator Specter is ' very respectful of his (President Bush's)
Constitutional authority on the appointment of federal judges' as he
stated in November 2004, then it is time for him to step up to the
plate and work to restore the Constitutional Option.
He must support Senator Bill Frist's efforts to see President
Bush's nominees get an up or down vote.
The Senate's constitutional authority gives them the role of
advisor and reviewer, not blocker of a President's judicial
nominees. The next few
days will reveal whether Senator Specter really believed what his
statements made in the fall said," Gramley concluded.
In
a letter sent to President Bush during the heated debate over
Senator Specter's chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
the AFA of PA stated:
"During
the Senator's hotly contested fight in the Primary, he (Specter)
gave the impression that he shared your concerns and values on
issues that are important to all Americans.
Is this to be a repeat of his broken promise of 1986?
During that Primary he promised to support all President
Reagan's judicial nominees, but almost immediately after his
election he played a key role in defeating the Supreme Court
nomination of Judge Robert Bork.
The reason: Judge
Bork failed to view the Constitution as a "living, growing
document, responsive to the needs of the nation."
Judge Bork believed in a strict interpretation of the
Constitution and shares your views against judicial activism.
Obviously a view not shared by Senator Arlen Specter."
Only
time will tell.
#
# #
NEWS
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April
29, 2
CONTACT: Diane
Gramley 1.814.271.9078
or 1.814.437.5355
PRO-FAMILY GROUP SAYS UNITED METHODIST PANEL WRONG IN REINSTATING LESBIAN MINISTER
(Philadelphia) – Today by a vote of 8-1 the regional appeals panel of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Committee on Appeals moved to reinstate Beth Stroud's credentials as a United Methodist minister. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a state-wide pro-family group, views this decision as one without Biblical basis and calls on the full Judicial Council to quickly review the case and reach the correct Biblical conclusion.
“Scripture is clear on the issue of homosexuality – it is sin – no greater or lesser than any other sin. One who is living in sin should not be in a leadership position in any church, let alone a pastor of a church. It sends the message that the Bible is not the infallible Word of God,” commented Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.
On December 2, the
clergy court found Stroud guilty of violating denomination law
forbidding the ordination and appointment of "self-avowed
practicing homosexuals. The appeals panel partially reversed
that decision by reinstating Stroud’s clergy status on
a legal error. Stroud
has indicated that she will not participate in the activities of an
ordained minister until a final decision is made by a higher court.
Paragraph
304.3 in
the 2000 Book
of Discipline, states that
"self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as
candidates, ordained as ministers or appointed to serve" the
church
“I
attended the final day of Beth Stroud’s trial in December.
There were accusations of ‘spiritual violence’ against
her because of the trial while
real spiritual violence was being ignored in Philadelphia with the
‘hate crimes’ charges against the Philadelphia 11.
There are ‘rules to the game’ and you cannot try to
change the rules simply because you do not like them.
The Episcopal Church is paying the price for their decision
on openly gay V. Gene Robinson and if the United Methodist Church
makes the wrong decision in this case, they will also see a mass
exodus of the faithful who believe the Bible for what it says,”
Gramley concluded.
# # #
NEWS
RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley
1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078
PROGRAMS CUT ACROSS THE STATE,
(
The majority of Pennsylvanians across the state will be outraged when
they learn that their tax dollars are being used to fund discussions
promoting Abe Lincoln as gay, the legalization of same-sex marriage
and laws giving special protections to homosexuals.
Using the Right to Know Law, the
“The
http://www.equalityforum.org/2005/sponsors.cfm
“This
event is not about community and economic development nor is it
about tourism. This
event is about promoting a very dangerous lifestyle and our tax
dollars are being used to help in this promotion.
Sixteen homosexual men were arrested for having sex in the
restroom of Strawbridge department store one week ago.
Is this the type of ‘community’ development that the
DCED is promoting with our tax dollars,” questioned
In
February 2003 when similar arrests were made at the Strawbridge
store, one of the witnesses to the homosexual sex acts was a
10-year-old boy. How
many young boys were once again exposed to this activity in a
public restroom? The
danger of homosexual molestation is very real.
"Dr.
Gene G. Abel, professor of psychiatry at
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=13210
“
Those involved in the homosexual lifestyle are more prone to substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, anal and other cancers and eating and psychological disorders. We are calling upon the#
# #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 19, 2005
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.437.5355
Governor Ed Rendell: 1.717.787.2500
Barbara Franco (Executive Director PHMC): 1.717.787.3362
ARTICLE PROVES THE PA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION WAS WRONG IN APPROVING 'GAY' PLAQUE
(Philadelphia) -- In recent weeks the PA Historical and Museum Commission approved an historical marker to commemorate the 1965 homosexual rights protest at Independence Hall. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) has contacted Governor Rendell's office and the PA Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) expressing concern and outlining reasons why the marker should not have been approved under the PHMC guidelines. Today's article in the Philadelphia Inquirer confirms that the AFA of PA was correct in its assertion that the plaque should never have been approved.
'Today,
even (Franklin) Kameny is surprised at the elevation of his
"fringe" status. He noted that Pennsylvania plans to put a
historical marker on the site of the 1965 picketing.
"Now
we're considered historical personages," Kameny said. "In
many ways, after the ensuing 40 years, there are still many issues.
Nevertheless, I feel that we have succeeded considerably more than I
ever dreamed."
"Franklin Kameny was one of the protesters. According to the PHMC guidelines the persons being considered for recognition must no longer be living. Apparently Mr. Kameny is alive and well since he is attending the May 1st event," commented Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.
Guidelines for historical markers set down by the PHMC on December 2, 1987 include:
q
That
only historical subjects (rather than current events) be considered.
q That historically recognized personages shall no longer be living, and that the place of their accomplishments in history shall have become established.
"This decision is driven by current events, not a truly historic happening. It is doubtful that the place of their accomplishments in history has been established to qualify for a historical marker," continued Gramley.
Equality Forum is stating that Governor Rendell is to unveil the historical marker on May 1st at Independence Hall.
The AFA of PA continues to call upon Governor Rendell not to be a part of this desecration of Independence Hall. We are also asking the PA Historical and Museum Commission to reconsider their approval of this marker since it should not have been approved under their own established guidelines.
# # #
NEWS RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 2005
CONTACT: Diane
Gramley 1.814.437.5355 or 1.814.271.9078
PARENTS MUST NOW PAY TO HAVE THEIR STUDENTS FURTHER INDOCTRINATED
(Pittsburgh) -- Mt. Lebanon School District in Allegheny County is considering a proposal which would require each K-12 student to pay a $20 per year activity fee. In essence each family with deeply held religious beliefs opposing the homosexual lifestyle are being asked to contribute an additional $20 per year per child to support activities such as the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network's (GLSEN) Day of Silence, which has become a part of the school calendar at Mt. Lebanon.
Today the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide traditional values group, in an e-mailed statement to the district, expressed concerns about the increased monetary requirement of parents to support an activity that goes directly against their religious beliefs.
According
to the Post-Gazette
article, " The fee is
being considered in an effort to raise at least $100,000 to help defray
the $1.5 million the district is spending this year on athletic and
nonathletic extracurricular activities and additional costs it incurs
for student field trips."
"Parents in schools which participate in the Gay Day of Silence are already supporting, through their tax dollars, a day which seeks to normalize a dangerous lifestyle which is diametrically opposed to their religious beliefs. To ask them to dig into their wallets deeper to help support students who remain silent during a taxpayer-funded school day is outrageous," Diane Gramley president of the AFA of PA said.
The e-mail states in part:
Dear Dr. Wilson,
Last Wednesday April 13 Mt. Lebanon High School was one of several schools in Allegheny County which participated in the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network's Day of Silence. Last week the Post-Gazette and Tribune-Review reported that there are plans to begin charging a $20 Activity Fee for each K-12 student in the school district. In addition to paying school taxes, now parents who have deeply held religious beliefs against homosexual acts are being asked to pay an additional $20 per year per child for their student to attend school while those who support 'gay,' lesbian, bisexual and transgenders remain silent during a taxpayer-funded school day! This is outrageous!
The American Family Association of Pennsylvania realizes this activity fee is not necessarily in support of the Day of Silence. But the Day of Silence has become a part of the school year at Mt. Lebanon, so the activity fee would also go towards its support.
It is of utmost importance that you understand the lifestyle which is being endorsed by the school's participation in the Day of Silence. According to the Oxford University International Journal of Epidemiology, men engaged in homosexual sex can shorten their lives by up to 20 years. CDC statistics show that the vast majority of HIV/AIDS cases are men who have sex with men. The CDC also recognizes that bisexuals are a known bridge for AIDS.
For a school to, in anyway, support an effort to normalize such a dangerous lifestyle is irresponsible.
_____________________
end e-mail
# # #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2005
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
The American Family Association of Pennsylvania Joins Almost 200 Others in Calling for an End to the Judicial Filibuster
(Harrisburg) -- Today during a press conference in Washington, D.C. a letter was released calling for an end to the filibuster of judicial nominees and a restoration of Senate tradition. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide pro-family organization, joined almost 200 other signatories representing other pro-family groups, authors, radio talk show hosts, civil rights and legal organizations.
"An end to the judicial filibuster is crucial for our Constitution to work as our Founding Fathers intended. Senate tradition must be restored and this President must be given the option every President has had since the beginning of our representative republic, the right to nominate judges and expect a clear up or down vote before the full Senate -- not have his nominee be stopped in his or her tracks by the minority party in the Senate Judicial Committee," stated Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.
The AFA of PA is calling of the Senate leadership to use their Constitutional Options and stop the filibuster of judicial nominees.
Below is a copy of the letter released during the Washington, D.C. press conference:
National
Coalition to End Judicial Filibusters
The Honorable William H. Frist, M.D.
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
The Honorable Rick Santorum
The Honorable Jon Kyl
The Honorable Elizabeth Dole
The Honorable Arlen Specter
United States Senate
U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC
April 4, 2005
Dear Senators:
As the representatives of millions of American voices, we write to ask you to end the judicial filibusters at the earliest possible moment and well before a Supreme Court vacancy should occur.
We believe that short of a compromise that guarantees an up or down vote at the end of debate, the Constitutional Options available to you will serve to honor the Constitution, restore Senate tradition, and protect judicial independence.
We believe that generations of Americans are called at moments to lay foundations for the future, and that this is one such moment.
The independence of the judiciary was a core reason for our national birth. The threat to the judicial independence was high among the grievances that our Founding Fathers listed to King George III in the Declaration of Independence. The Framers firmly established an independent judiciary, but one subject to a written Constitution and the checks and balances of the other branches that it prescribes.
In recent times, partisan special interests have threatened judicial independence again by inserting ideology into the Senate confirmation process of federal judges. Now the Minority has changed 215 years of Senate tradition by abusing the filibuster for the first time against nominees with clear majority support.
The Senate must act as steward of the federal courts by returning the power to confirm judges to the Constitution’s simple majority requirement. While it is the right of the President to expect the Senate to give Advice and Consent within a reasonable period of time, it is the duty of every Senator to offer Advice and Consent through an honest, up or down vote.
Moreover, the unprecedented abuse of the filibuster is a device intended to undermine the prerogatives of the Presidency as well as the tradition of the Senate. It must not stand. You must not waver. The President, this President, must have the freedom to nominate appellate judges and Supreme Court justices who will restore the courts to their constitutional role.
We are convinced that the proof of history is overwhelming that the Constitutional Options are a conservative response that do not threaten but will restore Senate debate rules and tradition.
As you know, the right of unlimited debate in the Senate ended in 1917 when President Wilson demanded that the Senate not filibuster matters of national security. The Senate adopted the “cloture” rule. The last amendment to that rule came in 1975 – thirty years ago. For three decades, there has been a broad consensus supporting 60-vote threshold to end debate, at least for legislative filibusters. In 1995, nineteen (19) Democrat senators voted to end debate after three weeks with a 51 vote threshold. That proposal’s purpose was to limit the legislative filibuster. Senate Republicans were a new majority that year, but unanimously opposed the change. The Democratic leadership and a majority of Senate Democrats joined Republicans in opposing the proposal. .
That failed vote in 1995 and the absence of any other amendment efforts for three decades is ample evidence of bipartisan agreement to preserve the legislative filibuster, demonstrating a two-century-old consensus. Clearly, however, the partisan abuse of the cloture rule in the last Congress to obstruct honest votes on judicial nominees has fractured the consensus as to filibusters on nominations.
We understand that Article I of the Constitution allows the Senate to adopt rules for itself, but that right belongs to this Senate as much as it did to the first Senate. We call for a restoration of Senate traditions, returning to the majority vote on Advice and Consent the Constitution mandates.
We ask you also to put partisan advantage aside. While there is no doubt that the Minority’s filibusters have helped Republicans win recent elections, we are certain that Republicans will do the right thing for themselves and the Nation by ending the partisan obstruction now.
We call on the Senate Leadership and the Republican Majority to end the filibusters on appellate nominees and well before a Supreme Court vacancy occurs.
Sincerely,
C. Boyden Gray, Committee for Justice
Kay R. Daly, Coalition for a Fair Judiciary
Harvey Tettlebaum, Republican National Lawyers Association
David A. Keene, American Conservative Union
Gary L. Bauer, American Values
Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform
Paul Weyrich, Free Congress Foundation
Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family
James D. Daly, Focus on the Family
Tony Perkins, Family Research Council
James J. Fotis, Law Enforcement Alliance of America
Chuck
Colson, Prison Fellowship Ministries
Mark Earley, Prison Fellowship Ministries
Connie Mackey, Family Research Council
Lisa DePasquale, Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute
L. Brent Bozell III, Conservative Victory Committee
Dr. William A. Donohue, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
Jim Backlin, Christian Coalition of America
Dr. Carl Herbster, AdvanceUSA
Ray Ruddy, Gerard Health Foundation
Kurt Entsminger, Care Net
Dr. Virginia Armstrong, Eagle Forum's Court Watch
Duane Parde, ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council)
Matt Kibbe, Freedom Works
Peter A. Samuelson, Americans United for Life
Clarke D. Forsythe, Esq. AUL's Project on Law and Bioethics
Richard Land, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Dr. Barrett Duke, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Dr. John C. Eastman, The Claremont Institute Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
Jay Sekulow, American Center for Law and Justice
James Bopp, Jr., James Madison Center for Free Speech
Samuel B. Casey, Christian Legal Society
Kelly Shackelford. Liberty Legal Institute
Mathew D. Staver, Liberty Counsel
Alan E. Sears, Alliance Defense Fund
Roy Innis, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)
Niger Innis, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)
Lanier Swann, Concerned Women for America
Dr. Keith Wiebe, American Association of Christian Schools
Jeffrey Mazzella, Center for Individual Freedom
Brian McCabe, Progress for America
Phyllis Berry Myers, New Black Leadership Coalition
Nancie
Marzulla, Defenders of Property Rights
Kevin
W. Blier, Center for American Cultural Renewal
Steven
Mosher, Population Research Institute
Ken Connor, Center for a Just Society
Rick Scarborough, Vision America
Michael Valerio, Vision America
Gary Marx, Judicial Confirmation Network
Ron Robinson, Young America's Foundation
Michael
Howden, Stronger Families
Manuel Lujan, Jr., Hispanic Alliance for Progress Institute
James L. Martin, 60 Plus Association
Penny
Nance, Kids First Coalition
Charles W. Jarvis, USA Next (United Seniors Association)
Dr. D. James Kennedy, Coral Ridge Ministries
Dr. Gary Cass, Center for Reclaiming America
Mark Sutherland, Joyce Meyer Ministries
Dr. S. Dale Burroughs, Biblical Heritage Institute
Mike Snyder, The Wilberforce Forum
Bishop Keith Butler
Pastor Rod Parsley, Center for Moral Clarity
Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, Traditional Values Coalition
Andrea Lafferty, Traditional Values Coalition
Jeff Ballabon, Center for Jewish Values
Bill May, Catholics for the Common Good
Oliver N.E. Kellman, Jr., National Faith Based Coalition
Rev. Rusty Thomas, Eijah Ministries
Dr. Paige Patterson, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Dr. Steve Lemke, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Dr. Craig Blaising, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas
Austin Ruse, Culture of Life Foundation
Thomas Glessner, National Institute of Family and Life Advocates
Leslee Unruh, Abstinence Clearinghouse
Thomas A. Shields, Coalition for Marriage and Family
Bradley Mattes, Life Issues Institute
Warren Kelley, National Center for Freedom & Renewal
Robert
B. Carlson, American Civil Rights Union
Chuck Muth, Citizen Outreach
Jennifer Bingham, Susan B. Anthony List
Paul Caprio, Family-PAC Federal
Larry Cirignano, CatholicVote.org
William Greene, RightMarch.com
C. Preston Noell III, Tradition, Family, Property, Inc.
Phil Burress, Citizens for Community Values
Alvin Williams, Black America’s PAC (BAMPAC)
Donald E. Wildmon, American Family Association
Stephen M. Crampton, AFA Center for Law & Policy
Dr. Patricia McEwen, Life Coalition International
Rev. Keith Tucci, Life Coalition International
Richard Ford, Heritage Alliance
Karen Testerman, Cornerstone Policy Research
Gregory K. Blankenship, Illinois Policy Institute
Mary Anne Hackett, Catholic Citizens of Illinois
Irwin Essenfeld, Renew Illinois Foundation
Mary T Erickson, Illinois Citizens for Life
Peter LaBarbera, Illinois Family Institute
Thomas
Smith, America 21 (Tennessee)
Tom Brejcha, Thomas More Society, Pro-life Law Center (Chicago)
Denise
Mackura, Ohio Right to Life
Russell Johnson, American Restoration Project (Pastor, Fairfield Christian Church, OH)
James E. Barrett, Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Gary
Glenn, American Family Association of Michigan
Len
Deo, New Jersey Family Policy Council
Dr.
Steven J. Kidder, New York State Family Policy Council, Inc.
Michael
S. Heath, Christian Civic League of Maine
Kenneth Endean, Maine Association of Christian Schools
Lisa E. Roche, Esq, Maine Right to Life Committee
Cathie Adams, Texas Eagle Forum
Kris Mineau, Massachusetts Family Institute
Diane Gramley, American Family Association of Pennsylvania
Dr. Ed Johnson, Minnesota Association of Christian Schools
Tom Prichard, Minnesota Family Council
Michael N. Duff, United Families Idaho
Julie Lynde, Cornerstone Institute of Idaho
Chuck Hurley, Iowa Family Policy Center
Kelly M. Rosati, JD, Hawaii Family Forum
Dr. James Efaw, Colorado Association of Christian Schools
Gene Mills, Louisiana Family Forum
Sadie Fields, Christian Coalition of Georgia
Rev. Reece Yandle, South Carolina Association of Christian Schools
Brad Fleming, Maryland Association of Christian Educators
Douglas P. Stiegler, Family Protection Lobby - Maryland
Dr. Ronald Konopaski, United For Life- San Francisco
Dr. Joe Haas, North Carolina Christian School Association
Bill Brooks, North Carolina Family Policy Council
Robert E. Regier, South Dakota Family Policy Council
Kent Ostrander, The Family Foundation of Kentucky
David Bydalek, Family First (Nebraska)
Len Munsil, The Center for Arizona Policy
Micah Clark, American Family Association of Indiana
John Stemberger, Florida Family Action, Inc
Forest Thigpen, Mississippi Center for Public Policy
Michael L. Jestes, Oklahoma Family Policy Council
Julaine K. Appling, The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin
Joe Bob Mizzell, Alabama Baptist Christian Life Commission
Tim Parish, Rocky Mountain Association of Christian Schools.
Dr. Ken Hutcherson, Antioch Bible Church, Redmond, WA
William F. Large, Alaska Republican Party
Hiram Lewis, Esq., West Virginia GOP
Dorcas
K. Harbert, GOP County Chair, Monongalia County, Morgantown, WV
Charles Bolen, Past Chairman, West Virginia Young Republicans
Former
Congressman Mick Staton (R-WV)
West Virginia Senator Larry Kimble (R-WV)
Mark Coyle, former Communications Director, WV Republican Party
Grant M. Lally, Irish American Republicans
Brian McCarthy, Irish-American Republicans
Don A. Daughtery, Wisconsin Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Maclin Davis, Tennessee Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Mark E. Foster, Oregon Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Craig Hymowitz, Philadelphia Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Jefferson Knight, Florida Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Paul D. Seyferth, Kansas Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Frank B. Strickland, Georgia Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
William M. Todd, Ohio Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Corey R. Weber, California Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Thomas E. Wheeler, Indiana Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
William B. Sellers, Alabama Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Brian T. Egan, New York Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Ann Browning, California Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Cameron Quinn, Virginia Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
Lee Goodman, Virginia Republican National Lawyers Association Chapter
David
Blackwood, Maryland Republican National Lawyers Association
Chapter
Mark Chadwick, Southern Arizona Republican National Lawyers
Association Chapter
Keith Carlson, Orange County (CA) Republican Lawyers Association
Rhet Miles, Chairman of the Benton County, Arkansas, Republican Committee
Ron Shuping, The Inspiration Television Networks
Janet Parshall, nationally syndicated Radio and TV host
Martha Zoller, Radio Talk Show Host and Political Analyst (Georgia)
Kevin P. Doran, Radio Talk Show host (New York)
Mike
Siegel, Radio host and author of Power
Talk: The Influence of Talk Radio
Chris Dickson. "The Dickson/Chappell Report", (Midwest)
Dom Giordano 1210 AM Radio (Philadelphia)
Adam McManus, Radio Host of "Take A Stand" (Texas)
Dave “Doc” Kirby, Radio Host (Alabama)
Inga Barks, Radio Host (Southern CA)
Marta Montelongo, Radio Host (Central CA)
Vicki McKenna, Radio Host, News/Talk 1310 WIBA (Wisconsin)
Brian Farrar, Syndicated talk show host, Michigan Talk Radio Network
Mark R. Levin, author of Men in Black
Craig Shirley, author, "Reagan's Revolution; The Untold Story of the Campaign that Started it All."
Carol A. Taber, FamilySecurityMatters.com (former publisher, Working Woman and Working Mother magazines).
Victor K. Williams, Professor of Law, Catholic University of America School of Law
Clint Bolick, Esq. (Arizona)
# # #
NEWS RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March
29, 2005
CONTACT: Diane Gramley
1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
Wayne Spilove (Chairman PA Historical/Museum Comm.)
1.717. 214-7125
TRADITIONAL VALUES GROUP BLASTS DECISION BY HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO DESECRATE INDEPENDENCE HALL
(Philadelphia)
The recent decision by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission (PHMC) to approve a historical marker to recognize a
homosexual demonstration in Philadelphia in 1965 is a blatant
attempt to rewrite our history and desecrate one of the most
important historic sites in America, a traditional values group said
today. The American
Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) has sent faxes to
Governor Rendell and Wayne Spilove, chairman of PHMC blasting the
Commission's decision last week and asking that the decision be
reversed. Governor
Rendell is expected to unveil the historical marker on May 1st.
"Homosexual activists continue their
attempt to rewrite history. This
decision is a slap in the faces of our Founding Fathers.
They met and debated the suppression by the English monarchy
in this building. Finally
"with a firm reliance on Divine Providence, (we) mutually
pledging to each other (our) lives, (our) fortunes, and (our) sacred
honor" they signed the Declaration of Independence.
This historical marker is an affront to our Founding Fathers
sacred honor and the sacrifices they made," Diane Gramley
president of the AFA of PA said today.
In announcing the decision, Spilove spoke of events which advanced 'civil rights' in America. Apparently he is confused, as the debate on homosexuality has nothing to do with civil rights, but rather forcing the acceptance of abhorrent sexual behavior on all America. Homosexuals have never been denied the right to vote, never had to sit in the back of the bus, never had to attend segregated schools, and there have never been "Gay Only" water fountains. Homosexual activists are attempting to hijack the civil rights movement.
Guidelines for historical markers set down by the PHMC on December 2, 1987 include:
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/DOH/guidelines.asp?secid=31
q
That
only historical subjects (rather than current events) be considered.
q
That
historically recognized personages shall no longer be living, and
that the place of their accomplishments in history shall have become
established.
"This decision is driven by current events, not a truly historic happening. Two of the organizers of the homosexual protest in 1965 helped fill out the application for the marker. Obviously they are still alive and it is doubtful that the place of their accomplishments in history has been established to qualify for a historical marker," continued Gramley.
"This
move by the PHMC is an assault on all Americans who cherish the true
history of this nation. To
take one of our most cherished historical buildings and desecrate it
in such a manner is unthinkable and, not just Pennsylvanians, but
all Americans should be outraged by this decision.
We again demand that this decision be reversed," Gramley
stated.
# # #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2005
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
Kim Gandy (NOW President) -- 1.202.628.8669
THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN IS A LIE, PRO-FAMILY GROUP SAYS.
(Pittsburgh) -- The continued hypocrisy of an organization which carries the words "for women" as part of its title is astounding. Today the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) again attempted to get a response from NOW concerning the Terri Schiavo case.
"Their silence in this situation continues to be deafening. NOW's blatant hypocrisy is very revealing of an organization who will push for 'emergency contraceptives,' 'abortion rights,' and 'lesbian rights,' but turn its back on a disabled Florida woman," Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA said again today.
Terri Schiavo left no clear directive as to her wishes in a situation such as she finds herself. After receiving over $1.6 million to be used for her rehabilitation, her husband, Michael Schiavo, suddenly remembered that she did not want to remain alive 'artificially.' She is not, and never has been, on life support. She receives nourishment by feeding tube because Mr. Schiavo refuses to allow nurses to feed her soft foods by mouth. If one considers food and water life support, then we are all in trouble.
The AFA of PA is calling on NOW to break the silence and take a stand in defense of this disabled woman in Florida.
Below is the text of the e-mail sent today by the AFA of PA:
Dear Ms. Gandy,
As Terri Schiavo's court-sanctioned murder proceeds, NOW's hypocrisy also continues. The silence of NOW, who purports to be an organization to protect women's rights, is deafening. Organizations such as yours, obviously, have only the desire to protect those whom you deem worth protecting or who have a radical enough agenda.
It has been over a week since the following letter was faxed to you, still we have heard nothing from you. Terri Schiavo has been without food and water for a week. Her death is not the "peaceful' death described by Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos. This type death is best described by someone who has seen many die in this manner:
Dr. Stevens, a physician with the Christian Medical Association, addressed the pain of dying from starvation and dehydration.
"Most so-called experts have never seen someone die in this manner. Unfortunately, having worked for 13 years in Africa, where the most common cause of death in children is dehydration from gastroenteritis, I have seen hundreds if not thousands of patients with dehydration and some of them so far gone, that despite resuscitation attempts, they died."
Dr. Stevens explained, "As dehydration begins, there is extreme thirst, dry mouth and thick saliva. The patient becomes dizzy, faint and unable to stand or sit; has severe cramping in the arms and legs as the sodium and potassium concentrations in the body goes up as fluids go down. In misery, the patient tries to cry but there are no tears. The patient experiences severe abdominal cramps, nausea and dry-heaving as the stomach and intestines dry out.
"By now the skin and lips are cracking and the tongue is swollen. The nose may bleed as the mucous membranes dry out and break down. The skin loses elasticity, thins and wrinkles. The hands and feet become cold as the remaining fluids in the circulatory system are shunted to the vital organs in an attempt to stay alive. The person stops urinating and has severe headaches as their brain shrinks from lack of fluids. The patient becomes anxious but then gets progressively more lethargic.
"Some patients have hallucinations and seizures as their body chemistry becomes even more imbalanced. This proceeds to coma before death occurs. The final event as the blood pressure becomes almost undetectable is a major heart arrhythmia that stops the heart from pumping.
"Contrary to those that try to paint a picture of a gentle process, death by dehydration is a cruel, inhumane and often agonizing death."
This is the manner in which this disabled woman is dying in Florida. The Shiavo situation has drawn a stark line between those who are really concerned with the lives of women and those who only talk about it. Those who have remained silent, i.e. NOW, will have the death of Terri Schiavo upon their heads. Never again will NOW be able to say they are concerned with the rights and well-being of women. That lie has been exposed.
Diane Gramley
President
American Family Association of Pennsylvania
________________________________
begin letter
March
16, 2005
National
Organization for Women
1100
H Street NW, 3rd Floor
Washington,
D.C. 20005
Via
Facsimile: 202.785.8576
Dear
Ms. Gandy:
The
National Organization for Women professes to be an advocate for
the equality of all women. Your
website is filled with support for women's rights, LGBT rights,
gay marriage rights, abortion rights, emergency contraceptive
rights and even the rights of disabled women.
Where does your organization stand on the Terri Schiavo
case? There is no
apparent reference to this situation on your website.
Are her rights not as important as the rights of other
women?
I
believe the slow starvation and dehydration death of a disabled
woman should be a top priority for an organization that purports
to be a stanch advocate for women.
Terri Schiavo's husband is treating her like a piece of
property to dispose of at will and NOW doesn't see a problem?
NOW's
website also states it wants to stop "violence against
women." Again
the questions: 'which
women?" and "what type violence?"
What greater violence can there be to a woman, or anyone,
than a slow death by starvation and dehydration?
Apparently
NOW is only interested in the rights of certain women.
But a brain-damaged woman in Florida whose husband is going
to great lengths to see dead is not important enough to have
rights. How can an
organization that supposedly fight for women's rights stand
silently by? The time
to come to Terri's defense is running out and NOW is nowhere to be
seen or heard.
We,
as a pro-life, pro-family organization, are asking for an
explanation of NOW's silence and apparent hypocrisy in the case of
this brain-damaged Florida woman facing a slow death through the
removal of her feeding tube.
Sincerely,
Diane
Gramley
President
# # #
NEWS
RELEASE:
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley
1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
(
“The
City of
“The
fight is continuing in this battle, as the
#
# #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 17, 2005
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
NOW's Silence in the Terri Schiavo Case is Deafening, Traditional Values Group Says
(Pittsburgh) -- The National Organization for Women portrays itself as a champion for women -- even, according to its website, women with disabilities --
http://www.now.org/issues/disability/disability.html
But where does the organization stand on the Terri Schiavo case? The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) made that inquiry asking for an explanation of NOW's silence and apparent hypocrisy in the case of the brain-damaged Florida woman facing a slow death through the removal of her feeding tube.
In a message to NOW Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA, noted that NOW's website was filled with support for women's rights, LGBT rights, gay marriage rights, abortion rights, emergency contraceptive rights, but no mention of Terri Schiavo was evident.
"Apparently NOW is only interested in the rights of certain women. But a brain-damaged woman in Florida whose husband is going to great lengths to see dead is not important enough to have rights. Terri Schiavo's husband is treating her like a piece of property to dispose of at will and NOW doesn't see a problem?" Gramley questioned.
NOW's website also states it wants to stop "violence against women." Again the questions: 'which women?" and "what type violence?"
"What greater violence can there be to a woman, or anyone, than a slow death by starvation and dehydration? Our society does not view that as an acceptable action toward the most heinous criminal. The SPCA or PETA would be outraged if such a thing happened to an animal. How can an organization that supposedly fight for women's rights stand silently by? We are still awaiting NOW's reply. The time to come to Terri's defense is running out and NOW is nowhere to be seen or heard," Gramley remarked.
The AFA of PA also noted that NOW is not the only left-wing rights organization that is absent from the effort to preserve Terri's life and allow her parents to care for her. The fight to save Terri has drawn a stark line between those who want to preserve life and those who want to destroy it. If Terri's court ordered starvation is allowed to proceed many true advocates for those with disabilities recognize this as a first step toward euthanasia for the disabled.
# # #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 22, 2005
CONTACT: Diane
Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or
1.814.437.5355
PITTSBURGH MAYOR MADE A MISTAKE, PRO-FAMILY GROUP
SAYS
(Pittsburgh) --
Today in a faxed statement to Pittsburgh's Mayor Tom Murphy,
the American Family Association of PA (AFA of PA) expressed concern
that he had proclaimed
January 24-28 as "No Name Calling Week" for Pittsburgh's
schools. Even though no schools participated, the door was opened by
the mayor for city school children in grades 4-8 to learn that 'gay is
okay.' No Name Calling
Week" has a nice sound to it, but one must look behind the scenes
to see who is pulling the ropes.
The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
is the main organizer behind this week and their goal is to teach
children that homosexuality is simply a safe, alternative lifestyle.
On January 13 GLSEN was one of 22 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender
organizations that signed a "Unity Statement" advocating,
among other things, same-sex marriage and LGBT inclusive sexuality
education. In September
2003 GLSEN made available to the nation's high schools "
Exploring the Debate Over Marriage Rights for Same-Sex Couples"
curriculum.
"Parents know that bullying is not
acceptable and that all children should be protected from those who
would bully. But they do not want their children taught to view as
normal a lifestyle that they know is wrong and dangerous.
They do not want their children taught that same-sex marriage
is equal to one man, one woman marriage," president of the AFA of
PA, Diane Gramley, stated.
The goal of any anti-bullying program should be
to stop bullying of any sort -- not to single certain groups out to
portray them as more of a target of bullying than others.
Schools are especially wise to leave the 'gay' and 'lesbian'
issue to parents. The AFA
of PA strongly disagrees with Stephen Glassman, chair of the PA Human
Relations Commission, that the words 'gay,' lesbian,' 'bisexual,' and
'transgendered,' must be included as part of the program.
Gramley went on to say, "Steve Glassman is
mistaken to say these words must be included in the program. The addition of these words seeks to normalize the homosexual
lifestyle. Why would one
want to normalize such a dangerous lifestyle?
True compassion would be to be honest about the dangers of
engaging in the homosexual lifestyle.
On the other hand it is bullying to tell children that they are
'homophobic' if they do not view homosexuality as normal."
There are many news accounts of homosexual
students who have been bullied, sued their schools and won.
But many times the opposite is true and those with an opposing
view are the ones bullied into silence.
In October 2004 a federal district judge ordered the Ann Arbor
(Michigan) Public Schools to pay $102,738 in attorney fees and costs
because school officials prevented a student from expressing her
religious views against homosexuality.
And lets not forget, also in October, the eleven Christians in
Philadelphia who were charged with 'ethnic intimidation' and faced 47
years in prison and up to $90,000 in fines for reading Scripture and
holding signs opposing the homosexual lifestyle.
Who actually is being bullied in these cases?
A portion of the letter to Mayor Murphy follows:
"This
is the second year that they (GLSEN) have used the anti-bullying
mantra to get into schools with "No Name Calling Week."
Why target children this young with the 'gay is okay' message?
All children need to be protected from bullying . . .
period! Certain groups
should not be targeted. In
reality, teaching children that they may be homosexual if they have
friends of the same sex is a form of bullying.
Those who are involved in a homosexual relationship are more
prone to substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and other STDs, eating and
psychological disorders. According
to the Oxford University International Journal of Epidemiology, men
who have sex with men shorten their lives by up to 20 years.
These statistics are what should be taught children.
Not that 'gay' students are more likely to be bullied nor that
they are born that way and their lifestyle is normal.
There
is no doubt that GLSEN is targeting grades 4-8 with 'No Name Calling
Week' and their message of tolerance for lifestyles and family
structures that parents may not approve.
The AFA of PA made three requests of GLSEN to provide a list of
all the schools in Pennsylvania that participated -- we are still
awaiting its arrival. Apparently
GLSEN will not tolerate anyone making a simple inquiry into the names
of schools that are participating.
On
January 13 a joint unity statement was released by the leaders of 22
national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organizations. GLSEN's name was among the twenty-two. The unity statement includes the following statements:
q
We
must advocate for HIV/AIDS policies - including age-appropriate, LGBT-inclusive
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) comprehensive sexuality
education . . . .
q
And
we must continue our vigorous fight for the freedom to marry . . .
."
__________________________
end
# # #
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18, 2005
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
OUTRAGEOUS THAT JUDGE EQUATES CHRISTIANS TO NAZIS AND THE KKK, PRO-FAMILY GROUP SAYS -- DEMANDS APOLOGY
(Philadelphia) -- All the charges have been dropped against the four remaining adult defendants of Repent America who were arrested in October during the homosexual Outfest event. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide traditional values group, is pleased with the judge's decision to dismiss the charges, but questions Common Pleas Judge Pamela Dembe use of the words Nazis and KKK.
"It is very disturbing that in her statements Judge Dembe compared the activities of Repent America to those of Nazis and the KKK. This in addition to the fact that the video she viewed has been available since the arrests. This was not new evidence, yet it took the City of Philadelphia 18 weeks to decide no crime had been committed. This was an obviously egregious violation of First Amendment rights and the charges should never have been filed," Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA said today.
"In light of all that these Christians have been through in the last few months to have the judge compare what they did in October to the demonstrations of two of the most notorious white supremacist hate groups in American history is unbelievable. The AFA of PA is demanding an apology from Judge Dembe for this hateful and bigoted comparison of peaceful Christians to these hate-filled groups," continued Gramley.
The actions of the City of Philadelphia law enforcement officials are more reminisce of a police state which arrests people for merely expressing a point of view at odds with the government's politically correct view point. Perhaps the judge should have mentioned this in her statement. The AFA of PA agrees with Representative Yewcic that Philadelphia has become a national embarrassment.
"Thursday's decision closes the book on just one chapter of this story. The hate crimes law will continue having a chilling effect upon the First Amendment rights of all those who oppose the homosexual lifestyle. Changes must be made," Gramley concluded.
The eleven Christians were arrested in Philadelphia on October 10, 2004 for reading Scripture and holding banners proclaiming homosexuality as sin. The felonies and misdemeanor charges included 'ethnic intimidation' stemming from the state hate crimes law. This law had been revised to add the words 'actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender and gender identity' in December 2002. Charges against all but five were dropped in December. Each faced 47 years in prison and up to $90,000 in fines.
# # #
NEWS
RELEASE:
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February
14, 2005
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
Kevin
Jennings (GLSEN) 1.212.727.0135, ext. 113
WHAT
IS THE GAY, LESBIAN, STRAIGHT EDUCATION NETWORK HIDING?
(Pittsburgh)
-- The week of January
24-28 was the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) event
"No Name Calling Week" in middle schools in America.
According to GLSEN thousands of administrators and schools
participated, yet how can one obtain a list of participants?
The American Family Association of Pennsylvania
(AFA of PA), a statewide traditional values group, made the
attempt not once, but three times. As of today, no list has been received.
Three
phone calls to GLSEN were made -- January 24, 27, and the 31st.
The first phone call was answered by Riley Snorton, media
contact person for GLSEN. A
request was made for a list of all the schools in Pennsylvania
participating in' No Name Calling Week' be e-mailed to Diane Gramley,
president of the AFA of PA and a contributor to American Family Radio.
The list was never received and two follow-up phone calls
resulted in voice mail messages with the same request being left.
"GLSEN
is targeting grades 4-8 with 'No Name Calling Week' and their message
of tolerance for lifestyles and family structures that parents may not
approve. Apparently, they
will not tolerate anyone making a simple inquiry into the names of
schools that are participating. Why
the secrecy?" asked Gramley.
On
January 13 a joint unity statement was released by the leaders of 22
national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organizations. GLSEN's name was among the twenty-two. The unity statement includes the following statements:
q
We
must advocate for HIV/AIDS policies - including age-appropriate, LGBT-inclusive
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) comprehensive sexuality
education . . . .
q
And
we must continue our vigorous fight for the freedom to marry . . . .
Possibly
some of GLSEN's secrecy is that parents would be very upset if they
knew that an organization with easy access to their children in the
public school setting had signed onto such a statement.
Parents do not want their children indoctrinated or taught LGBT-inclusive
comprehensive sexuality education or that same-sex marriage is equal
to traditional one-man, one-woman marriage.
"Our
message to GLSEN is that we are still waiting for the list of
Pennsylvania schools which participated in "No Name Calling
Week." Pennsylvania
parents want to know who has access to their children and what their
children are being taught during taxpayer-funded school days,"
Gramley stated.
#
# #
THE
TRUE PURPOSE OF HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION – TO SILENCE CHRISTIANS --
IS REVEALED IN PHILADELPHIA ARRESTS
January
25, 2005
(Philadelphia)
– The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA)
continues to ask legislators to throw out the hate crimes law signed
by Governor Schweiker on December 3, 2002.
Its passage, as warned, is placing a chilling affect upon the
free speech rights of Christians.
On
October 10 eleven Christians from Philadelphia-based Repent America
were arrested and charged with crimes including criminal conspiracy,
possession of instruments of crime, reckless endangerment, ethnic
intimidation, riot, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct, and
obstructing highways.
The
ethnic intimidation charge stems from the state hate crimes law.
“Pennsylvania
is increasingly becoming like Sweden.
Last July Ake Green, the pastor of a Swedish Pentecostal
church, was sentenced to one month in prison by a Swedish court, for
inciting hatred against homosexuals.
He was prosecuted in early 2004 for ‘hate speech against
homosexuals’ for a sermon he preached citing Biblical references to
homosexuality. That is
exactly what has happened in Philadelphia – these Christians have
been charged with hate crimes simply for reading from the Bible
Scripture dealing with homosexuality.
But instead of facing one month in prison, they are facing 47
years,” Diane Gramley president of the AFA of PA stated.
The
prosecutor for the Swedish cases claims “collecting Bible cites on
this topic as he (Pastor Green) does makes this hate speech.”
The Philadelphia City Prosecutor, Charles Ehrlich, is no
different than the Swedish prosecutor as he referred to preaching from
the Bible as “fighting words.”
The
Swedish hate crimes law forbids any criticism of homosexuality.
Apparently Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law is being used the
same way. Christians are
no longer permitted their free speech rights in Philadelphia, if they
quote Scripture references dealing with homosexuality.
Freedom
is dead in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
#
# #
NEWS
RELEASE:
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January
13, 2005
CONTACT:
Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078
or 1.814.437.5355
WE
NEED AN EXPLANATION FROM LEGISLATORS AND REPEAL OF HATE CRIMES LAW,
PRO-FAMILY GROUP SAYS
(Philadelphia)
– Today the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA)
contacted the state representatives who voted in favor of the hate
crimes bill in November 2002 asking for an explanation of the case
involving the eleven Christians in Philadelphia.
In November 2002 legislators assured Pennsylvanians that
changes to the law adding "actual or perceived sexual
orientation" and "gender or gender identity" would not
infringe upon the First Amendment rights of Christians.
On October 10, 2004 those assurances proved false as the
Philadelphia 11 was charged with ethnic intimidation for preaching at
the annual Outfest event in the City of Brotherly Love.
The AFA of PA vigorously opposed passage of the law and said it
would, at the very least, chill the free speech rights of those who
oppose the normalization of homosexuality.
“Our
prediction of the arrest of Christians under this law became true in
October. We are now
asking for an explanation from legislators who voted in favor of the
bill. Secondly for the
protection of Pennsylvanians free speech rights, we are asking for a
repeal of the law signed by Governor Schweiker on December 3, 2002,”
said Diane Gramley president of the statewide pro-family group.
Legislators
in favor of the hate crimes law were either misled themselves or were
misleading their fellow legislators. During debate on the floor of the
House when legislators expressed fear that the proposed hate crime law
would infringe upon the First Amendment rights of those who oppose
homosexuality, their fears were downplayed.
Some quotes in defense of passage of the hate crimes law from
the November 26, 2002 Legislative Journal include:
Representative
Cohen from Philadelphia County: “Mr.
Speaker, it seems to me that imaginations are running rather freely in
this debate by opponents of this bill.
This bill is not – is not – about calling names.
This bill is about breaking bones and causing serious injury or
death. This bill is not
about what ministers or Sunday School teachers say.
This bill is about what thugs, hooligans, and murderers do.
This bill is not about jokes that are offensive or tasteless.
This bill is about blood in the streets.”
(page 2269)
Representative
Nickol from York County: “So
I think it pretty well speaks to the fact that what we are doing here
is not outlawing fighting words or outlawing ethnic slurs or doing
anything of that nature. What
we are dealing with here are actual crimes committed against someone,
not words." (page
2270)
Representative
Metcalfe of Butler County specifically asked for clarification,
"It was mentioned that this bill was not about verbal
communication. It was not going to infringe on the ability of people
who believe in the Word of God and believe that homosexuality is an
abomination, that it was not going to prevent these people from
stating that and preaching against homosexuality . . . . So it would
not infringe on people's rights to do that, is what was said."
Representative
Nickol from York County responded, "Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is
correct." (page
2273)
The
question the AFA of PA has for Representative Nickol is "If the
gentleman is correct why are five Christians currently facing ethnic
intimidation charges in Philadelphia for preaching against homosexual
acts?"
Our
question for Representative Cohen is "Where are the thugs,
hooligans and murders? Where
is the blood on the streets of Philadelphia?"
"Michael
Marcavage and the other members of Repent America were simply
exercising their First Amendment rights.
The only way to restore the freedom of speech for all
Pennsylvanians is to repeal the hate crimes law that was passed in
November 2002. The
assurances of those in favor of its passage have proven to be empty
promises," Gramley stated after reviewing the November 26, 2002
debate on the floor of the House.
Canadian homosexual columnist Eleanor Brown said it best, ""The religious right says we (homosexual activists) are trying to outlaw the Bible. And they’re right. A legal precedent has already been set."...
"Those who deny that the Bible condemns homosexuality need to learn to read. The inability to accept reality is truly sad, and makes us all look like morons."...
"As
a community, we must accept that the religious right has some basis
for its fear...Hate speech can lead to violence. But hate speech
does not necessarily lead to violence. Speech should not be
banned. Thought cannot be censored. I know many of us believe it
should. 'I believe in free speech but....' is one of the gay
community’s most common refrains. We need to stop saying the
'but.'
"
http://www.365gay.com/opinion/Eleanor/Eleanor.htm
#
# #
Copyright 2002 - 2008 American Family Association of PA