The Star of Grand Coulee: Gays just the latest target
May 31, 2006
Christian Broadcasting of Yakima has provided petitions to some area churches to put the anti-gay-rights referendum on the ballot. This referendum is in response to the enacted and signed HB 2661, which prohibits discrimination against persons based on their sexual orientation.
Three issues:
First, the law prohibits churches from circulating political petitions. Churches that return signed petitions should lose their tax-exempt status.
Second, remember that in Germany in the 1930s, Hitler's Nazi party, in order to hold its political position, created an enemy of the people, the Jews. This led to the attempted extermination of the Jews through slave labor, the concentration camps, gas chambers, and cremation ovens.
Our current political structure has a similar enemy of the people, the Gays. In Nazi Germany, the first step of extermination was to take away civil rights from the Jews. These petitions are trying to take away civil rights from people based on their sexual orientations. What is next, the ghettos and the camps?
Third, our history has had a number of enemies of the people: the Blacks, the immigrants of many stripes, the non-acceptable religious types, Senator McCarthy's version of the communists, and even the Jews, to name a few. We, as a nation, have resolved, or we are struggling to resolve, many of the issues relating to our past enemies of the people. Homosexuality equals people trying to get along in this world just like everyone else. They should have the same civil rights as everyone else.
Fred Bichl
Three issues:
First, the law prohibits churches from circulating political petitions. Churches that return signed petitions should lose their tax-exempt status.
Second, remember that in Germany in the 1930s, Hitler's Nazi party, in order to hold its political position, created an enemy of the people, the Jews. This led to the attempted extermination of the Jews through slave labor, the concentration camps, gas chambers, and cremation ovens.
Our current political structure has a similar enemy of the people, the Gays. In Nazi Germany, the first step of extermination was to take away civil rights from the Jews. These petitions are trying to take away civil rights from people based on their sexual orientations. What is next, the ghettos and the camps?
Third, our history has had a number of enemies of the people: the Blacks, the immigrants of many stripes, the non-acceptable religious types, Senator McCarthy's version of the communists, and even the Jews, to name a few. We, as a nation, have resolved, or we are struggling to resolve, many of the issues relating to our past enemies of the people. Homosexuality equals people trying to get along in this world just like everyone else. They should have the same civil rights as everyone else.
Fred Bichl
Kitsap Sun: Marriage is under attack, but not by 'them'
May 30, 2006
The government can't seem to stop spying on us or lying to us.
Our borders are about as secure as a screen door in New Orleans.
Mother Nature is getting hotter and testier with every passing storm.
We've got big problems.
So, naturally, some of our political and religious leaders have something more important on their minds:
Gay marriage.
Must be an election year.
"Today, the institution of marriage is under attack," Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said a few months ago when he promised to haul the Marriage Protection Amendment - which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman - out of cold storage and up for a vote in early June.
Our borders are about as secure as a screen door in New Orleans.
Mother Nature is getting hotter and testier with every passing storm.
We've got big problems.
So, naturally, some of our political and religious leaders have something more important on their minds:
Gay marriage.
Must be an election year.
"Today, the institution of marriage is under attack," Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said a few months ago when he promised to haul the Marriage Protection Amendment - which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman - out of cold storage and up for a vote in early June.
Seattle P-I: Gay marriage issue stirs up race in 43rd District
May 26, 2006
Jamie Pedersen was hoping to distinguish himself as a champion for gay rights among a field of six liberal Democrats vying to succeed Ed Murray as Seattle's 43rd District state representative.
Instead, he got singled out.
The gay editor of Seattle's most gay-friendly newspaper accused Pedersen, the only gay candidate in the race, of being a dishonest "weasel" in his pursuit of gay voters.
Instead, he got singled out.
The gay editor of Seattle's most gay-friendly newspaper accused Pedersen, the only gay candidate in the race, of being a dishonest "weasel" in his pursuit of gay voters.
Seattle Times: Effort to repeal state gay-rights law gathers momentum from pulpit
May 24, 2006
A referendum campaign aimed at repealing Washington's gay-rights law has no paid signature gatherers, no advertising budget and not much money in the bank. Yet supporters say signatures are rolling in by the thousands.
The reason? The Faith and Freedom Network and Sound the Alarm, two conservative religious groups that existed before the measure was filed, say they are leading an extensive grass-roots campaign, urging congregations throughout Washington to sign petitions and volunteer.
The reason? The Faith and Freedom Network and Sound the Alarm, two conservative religious groups that existed before the measure was filed, say they are leading an extensive grass-roots campaign, urging congregations throughout Washington to sign petitions and volunteer.
Seattle Times: 73 seniors stand up for gays
Tim Eyman may think he has his anti-gay-rights referendum all sewn up, after some preachers took to their pulpits on Sunday and urged people to sign.
But there's one little group Eyman didn't count on: Christian seniors. Members of the Panorama Democratic Study Group — based at a retirement community in Lacey — have created and signed a petition opposing Eyman's Referendum 65, which seeks to repeal a new anti-discrimination law that protects gays and lesbians.
But there's one little group Eyman didn't count on: Christian seniors. Members of the Panorama Democratic Study Group — based at a retirement community in Lacey — have created and signed a petition opposing Eyman's Referendum 65, which seeks to repeal a new anti-discrimination law that protects gays and lesbians.
Port Townsend Leader: Gay pride proclamation stirs controversy
A cheer went up Monday when a proclamation declaring June as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Month was read aloud during the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners meeting.
The proclamation was a historic event for Jefferson County, said Kellie Ragan, who had asked the commissioners to sign the document.
"This is a first for this county," she said. "It's really about increasing the visibility of our community and letting folks know it's not just about having a proclamation but it’s about having a celebration."
The proclamation was a historic event for Jefferson County, said Kellie Ragan, who had asked the commissioners to sign the document.
"This is a first for this county," she said. "It's really about increasing the visibility of our community and letting folks know it's not just about having a proclamation but it’s about having a celebration."
Seattle Times: State may drop HIV encoding
Next month, state health officials likely will finalize a temporary rule that will no longer allow the names of some HIV patients to be encoded for extra security.
Though the change has been protested by advocacy groups, if the state Board of Health does not pass it by June 14, the state will lose as much as $5 million in federal money for a range of services for about 2,000 low-income AIDS patients, including drugs, food, housing and transportation.
Officials at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last summer that states must keep all HIV patients' names to allow better tracking of the epidemic.
Though the change has been protested by advocacy groups, if the state Board of Health does not pass it by June 14, the state will lose as much as $5 million in federal money for a range of services for about 2,000 low-income AIDS patients, including drugs, food, housing and transportation.
Officials at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last summer that states must keep all HIV patients' names to allow better tracking of the epidemic.
Olympian: Sheldon’s bid for access to Democratic data rejected
Thurston County Democrats have rebuffed state Sen. Tim Sheldon, deciding his voting record is not reliably Democratic enough to qualify him for use of party mailing lists and other services in his re-election campaign.
The vote to reject the Potlatch Democrat’s request contrasts with a decision a month ago by Thurston Democrats to give those services to Sheldon’s primary challenger, Kyle Taylor Lucas.
Lucas, who said she lives in Mason County, told Democrats last month she would carry truer Democratic values than Sheldon, describing him as leader of a “Democrat for Bush” effort in the last presidential election and a supporter of GOP gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi.
The vote to reject the Potlatch Democrat’s request contrasts with a decision a month ago by Thurston Democrats to give those services to Sheldon’s primary challenger, Kyle Taylor Lucas.
Lucas, who said she lives in Mason County, told Democrats last month she would carry truer Democratic values than Sheldon, describing him as leader of a “Democrat for Bush” effort in the last presidential election and a supporter of GOP gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi.
Seattle P-I: Nation raises its voice in prayer
May 5, 2006
An hour before the Westlake Park event started, a group of liberal clergy led a very different prayer service.
At a Capitol Hill church, members of the Religious Coalition for Equality prayed against intolerance and for justice for all people, including gays and lesbians.
They later released a "faith statement in support of anti-discrimination" that lauded a new state law that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing and lending. They also criticized those who would support a referendum aimed at overturning the legislation.
"We, too, on the left are 'prayerers,' " said the Rev. Monica Corsaro, a United Methodist pastor who serves as ecumenical campus minister at the University of Washington.
While "our Christian brothers and sisters believe there's only one way to pray and one God to pray to," she said, the coalition believes there are multiple ways to reach God.
At a Capitol Hill church, members of the Religious Coalition for Equality prayed against intolerance and for justice for all people, including gays and lesbians.
They later released a "faith statement in support of anti-discrimination" that lauded a new state law that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing and lending. They also criticized those who would support a referendum aimed at overturning the legislation.
"We, too, on the left are 'prayerers,' " said the Rev. Monica Corsaro, a United Methodist pastor who serves as ecumenical campus minister at the University of Washington.
While "our Christian brothers and sisters believe there's only one way to pray and one God to pray to," she said, the coalition believes there are multiple ways to reach God.
Seattle P-I: Suit says union violates religious freedom
A Safeway meat department manager is suing the union representing him for allegedly violating his religious freedom by requiring him to pay dues even though the labor organization supports "special rights for homosexuals."
The National Right to Work Foundation -- which brings legal challenges around the country against what they call "compulsory unionism abuses" -- is representing Kent Safeway worker Daniel Gautschi in the suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
The National Right to Work Foundation -- which brings legal challenges around the country against what they call "compulsory unionism abuses" -- is representing Kent Safeway worker Daniel Gautschi in the suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
Seattle P-I: Reed reports Microsoft paid him $1.57 million
A year ago, Microsoft severed ties with Reed. At the time, Microsoft spokeswoman Ginny Terzano said Reed's company had lobbied for Microsoft on international trade and competition issues. While declining to comment on his candidacy, Terzano said it would not be appropriate for the company to have a consultant on retainer who's seeking elective office at the same time.
The move came after liberal activists urged Microsoft to quit using Reed as a political consultant. The groups chastised Microsoft for pulling its support for a Washington state gay rights bill it had backed in the past.
A short time later, the company said it would support such legislation in the future, and did during this year's legislative session.
The move came after liberal activists urged Microsoft to quit using Reed as a political consultant. The groups chastised Microsoft for pulling its support for a Washington state gay rights bill it had backed in the past.
A short time later, the company said it would support such legislation in the future, and did during this year's legislative session.
