Hate crimes bill promotes ‘cross-dressing,’ critics say

[LostInTime]

Proposal receives 137 co-sponsors in House


clause in the federal hate crimes bill would slip through Congress without controversy were put to rest last week as social conservative groups blasted the legislation as a pro-homosexual measure that would promote "cross-dressing" and "transsexualism."

Representatives of a bipartisan coalition of advocacy groups supporting the bill, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, brushed off the attacks, saying the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 enjoys widespread support.

"The right wing has been spreading lies and myths about hate crimes legislation for 20 years," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force. "The fact is that most lawmakers see through this nonsense."

[Hazumu]

Any thoughts that a transgender protection clause in the federal hate crimes bill would slip through Congress without controversy were put to rest last week as social conservative groups blasted the legislation as a pro-homosexual measure that would promote "cross-dressing" and "transsexualism."

So, are gays and lesbians blaming transsexuals for raising this bill onto the radar of the strict-father moralists?  Do gays and lesbians wish the ->-bleeped-<-s would just go away, or shut up and be grateful for what they have?

"In 33 states, it is legal to fire someone otherwise qualified, simply because of his or her sexual orientation; the same is true in 42 states based on gender identity. ENDA is a common-sense remedy for this unfair situation," the letter says.

So, which 8 states are trans-friendly?  (And, can they secede from the union? >)

I received an e-mail from a former friend whom I'm not out to yet.  The attached e-mail tract referred to the very bill this topic is about.  So I found

View the text of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act
of 2005 {S. 1145} With astute commentary by Rev. Ted Pike.

Specifically, Rev. Pike's commentary here: (The numbers in curly braces refer to footnotes Rev. Pike inserted immediately after the paragraph.)

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

      Congress makes the following findings:

            (1) The incidence of violence motivated by the actual or {1} perceived {2} race, color, religion, national origin, gender {women}, sexual orientation {homosexuals/->-bleeped-<-s}, or disability of the victim poses {3} a serious national problem.

So, he thinks that 'gender' refers only to women, and that transsexuals fall under sexual orientation.. OY, VEY!!!


Finally, this bit of text in that e-mail tract caught my eye"

New Openness in Religious Right

            Today, many are increasingly disenchanted with "born again" President Bush, mainstream Republican conservatism, and right wing "establishment" talk show hosts. These, for all their loquacity, seem helpless to stem the tide of evil against America. More and more evangelicals listen to the alternative Christian message of truthtellers.org. This includes my many broadcasts on talk radio, faithfully made possible by talk show hosts primarily of the Genesis and Republic radio networks.<snip> Thanks to Christ's grace, the internet, and the moderate Biblically balanced message of NPN, the whole truth is increasingly being received by thousands of evangelicals.

That's one great codeword there! "New Openness in Religious Right" means anything but 'openness'...

I certainly hope this bill passes.  If not, it might not be a bad idea to plan to move to one of those 8 trans-friendly states -- or emigrate to 'free-speech-isn't-allowed' Canada <sigh>

Karen

[Thundra]

hey K.,

Last I heard, is that the old line GL's that obfuscated gender-presentation from being included into ENDA protection lo these many years had finally relented and included it in this bill. Many of us in the GL community had always supported that inclusion, but it was the barney Franks and his assimilationist allies that had hindered progress.

Apparently, enough of us in their own constituency that were being left unprotected because of our own ambiguous presentation finally got thru to them.

I would hope that they would keep ramming this thing thru until it passes, preferably without being comprimised all too much in the final draft. This is our best chance of getting this stuff thru, now that the Dems have control in congress. I will not count on the Dems being able to elect a new pres, or keep hold of both houses over the next few years.

T.

[Elizabeth]

You mean after passing the "Patriot Act", which has stripped more civil liberties than any law that preceded it, all the sudden the far right is concerned about the civil liberties of white Christians and thier god given right to hate whoever they please?

Love always,
Elizabeth