September 27, 2007
PFLAG Praises Senate Passing of Hate Crimes Legislation:
Group Calls on President to Sign Defense Spending Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays (PFLAG) applauded The U.S. Senate today for its passing of the
Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act also known as
the "Matthew Shepard Act," that would extend federal law to cover
crimes motivated by hatred for people based on their gender, sexual
orientation, gender identity, or disability. Over 210 civil rights,
religious, and civic organizations have supported this bill, as well
as virtually every major law enforcement organization in the
country. The Matthew Shepard Act passed in a bipartisan cloture vote
today with 60 Senators voting in favor of cloture and 39 opposing.
"PFLAG applauds the Senate for meeting our challenge to protect all
Americans, especially our children," said John Cepek, National
President of PFLAG. "American families are concerned. Our gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender children of all ages deserve laws
that protect them. With this vote, Congress is sending a message
that when it comes to stopping hate-motivated crimes, no one is left
behind."
The Matthew Shepard Act was approved through voice vote and attached
as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. This
Department of Defense spending bill, if passed, would next go before
the President.
"Clearly, the final step is for the President to accept the
challenge to protect our loved ones," said Jody M. Huckaby, PFLAG
National's Executive Director. "We hope that he will rise to the
challenge by passing this historic expansion of civil rights."
Huckaby noted that the thousands of PFLAG members who contacted
their members of Congress and demonstrated that this is an issue
Americans care deeply about. PFLAG's 500 chapters across the country
representing over 250,000 members and supporters undertook
constituent visits, called Congressional offices, and wrote
thousands of letters in support of the Matthew Shepard Act.
He added, "State laws are inadequate to respond to these crimes.
Only 27 states and the District of Columbia have hate crimes laws
inclusive of sexual orientation, and only five of those and D.C.'s
are expressly transgender inclusive. We need an inclusive Federal
law that protects everybody. Now it is up to the President to make
that happen. As members of Congress consider the Employment Non-
Discrimination Act (ENDA), another bill of great importance to PFLAG
members, we look forward to seeing legislation that similarly
provides protections to all. We will not leave any member of our
community behind."
Editorial resources:
Learn more about the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention
Act (LLEHCPA) by visiting http://www.pflag. org/hatecrimes. html
Interviews with PFLAG leaders are available. Please contact Jean-
Marie Navetta at jnavetta@pflag. org or Adam Ratliff at
aratliff@pflag. org for more information.
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About PFLAG- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
(PFLAG) is the nation's premier grassroots organization committed to
the civil rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender (GLBT)
persons. Founded in 1973 by heterosexual mothers and fathers, PFLAG
has 500 chapters and over 250,000 members and supporters throughout
the United States.
ACTION ALERT ***To U.S. Residents***Metropolitan Community Churches
From Rev. Nancy Wilson
MCC ModeratorJune 15, 2007
I am writing today to urge you to join me in opposing the nomination of Dr. James W. Holsinger for the position of Surgeon General of the United States.
While Dr. Holsinger has a long history of service to the health care profession, he also has a long history of unwise, uneducated and unhealthy positions on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.
+ While serving on a United Methodist Committee, at a time when that communion was seriously considering a supportive position on LGBT sexuality, Dr. Holsinger authored a paper concluding that the sexual practices of gay men "have resulted in a diverse and expanded concept of sexually transmitted disease and associated trauma," and that only heterosexuality is anatomically mandated. Dr. Holsinger subsequently left the committee rather than recognize "the moral dignity of gay and lesbian life," even within monogamous relationships.
+ While on the Judicial Committee of the United Methodist Church, he voted to end the pastoral careers of Rev. Karen Dammann and Rev. Beth Stroud, solely because they are lesbians -- and he even voted to uphold the decision of a clergyperson to refuse church membership to a gay man.
+ Dr. Holsinger is a founding member and leader of Hope Springs Community Church, a church that supports the highly discredited and abusive "reparative therapy," linking the "recovery" from homosexuality with the recovery from homelessness as well as addictions to drugs, alcohol and sex.
All major medical and mental health organizational positions to the contrary, Dr. Holsinger is a steadfast believer in the outdated and discredited theory of sexual orientation as disorder and disease. No person holding such biased views should serve as this nation's leading spokesperson and educator on public health. That just wouldn't be a smart choice for any of God's LGBT children.
The Surgeon General has a responsibility to represent the most recent and scientifically sound medical and psychological positions. We cannot afford to have "America's Doctor" basing his guidance, advice and direction on outdated and prejudicial understandings about sexual orientation, gender identity and health.
I urge all people of goodwill in the United States to contact your two U.S. Senators. You'll find contact information for your Senators below. For the health and well-being of all Americans, ask them to oppose the confirmation of Dr. James W. Holsinger to be Surgeon General of the United States. Tell them America needs a Surgeon General who is committed to the health and well-being of all its citizens, including the LGBT community. Equality in health care is the smart choice.
+ Nancy
Rev. Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches
To locate the names and e-mail addresses of your U.S. Senators, visit
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm