Category Archives: LBGT

September 4, 2015 Radio Commentary

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Creeping Persecution

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, September 4, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

A current example of religious persecution happened this summer in Kentucky where pastors of juvenile offenders can no longer call homosexuality “sinful” or “disordered” when ministering to juveniles in Kentucky’s Department of Juvenile Justice. Based on the state “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” policy, Christian minister David Wells was informed by letter on July 17, 2015 that his volunteer status was revoked and he was barred from entering the Warren County facility unless he signed a state-mandated declaration that homosexuality is not “sinful.”

The superintendent told Mr. Wells, “You can give a scripture reference to the kids, and let them look it up, but you can’t read it in their hearing You can’t say ‘sinful;’ you can’t discuss sexual orientation – heterosexual or homosexual – period.” Then, somewhat apologetically, the superintendent said, “I’m just doing what the state is telling me to do.”

In a letter dated July 23, 2015 Liberty Counsel responded to the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, demanding the reinstatement of Mr. Wells and the other volunteer ministers, as well as a reversal of such unconstitutional religious discrimination. The letter further stated that the Kentucky policy comparing the teaching of biblical morality with “derogatory,” “biased” and “hateful” speech creates an unconstitutional religious litmus test for access to juveniles in the Department of Juvenile Justice. Continue reading →

August 2015 Newsletter

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(The August 2015 Newsletter content includes topics on Anti-Gay Counseling; Kentucky Bans Christian Counseling; APA Defines “Trans”; Liberty wins in Caddell Poll)

In 2004 Anti-Gay Counseling was Banned in
DHR-Funded Children’s Services

Since 2012, four States & D.C. have totally banned anti-gay counseling by anyone,
including religious counselors, volunteers, and licensed psychologists.
In 2015, two states killed such bans; 14 states
have anti-gay counseling bans in committee.

Georgia’ anti-gay counseling ban. Bellmore v. UMCH, filed August 2002 by Lambda Legal Defense against United Methodist Children’s Home (UMCH) of the North Georgia Conference, the State Department of Human Resources (DHR) and then-Commissioner Jim Martin, had state-wide implications. The crux of the case was the State’s provision of some 50 percent of the daily cost for each of about 70 foster care children in the UMCH Decatur, Georgia facility, where all resident minors participated in religious services.

The Lambda lawsuit charged that State funding of UMCH encouraged religious indoctrination and job discrimination, specifically, citing UMCH’s (a) “anti-homosexual indoctrination,” (b) its refusal to hire gay or lesbian staff, and/or (c) the failure to provide pro homosexual services to gay and lesbian residents. Lambda requested the following remedies:

(a) Reinstate and compensate certain employees terminated because they are homosexual;
(b) Hire applicants who are not Christian; and
(c) Stop requiring resident children to attend religious services.

Had the case gone to court, only UMCH would have suffered the consequences, but the case was settled between Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, Inc., and the DHR. Lambda’s Supervising Attorney signed the settlement September 29, 2003; Defendant Commissioner Jim Martin signed it for himself and the Georgia Department of Human Resources on October 1, 2003, 12 days after he resigned the DHR. Although UMCH and every provider of children’s services in Georgia bear the brunt of the changes, UMCH was not a signatory on the agreement.

UMCH was set up! Lambda plaintiffs had prior knowledge that the UMCH shared religious beliefs with resident children. Plaintiffs interviewed, also, were informed that all applicants were required to read and complete “The United Methodist Children’s Home Position on Family, Marriage, and Human Sexuality.” Then, sign a document containing these statements:

“Although all persons are sexual beings whether or not they are married, sexual relations are only clearly affirmed in the marriage bond … we do not condone the practice of homosexuality.”

Knowing UMCH’s stance that homosexuality is a sin, the applicant completed the employment documents without revealing her sexual orientation and was hired. In six months administrators learned that she misrepresented herself, and released her. Other plaintiffs signed a document stating, “I understand the above positions of the UMCH and will support them by precept and example while affiliated with the Children’s Home.”
Lambda and the State Department of Human Resources settled out of court and the state had a year to comply, which gave the DHR 12 months to adjust policy and rewrite regulations.

  • To read the rest of this newsletter in PDF format, please click here.

July 10, 2015 Radio Commentary

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Decades of Decadence

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, July 10, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

You might think culture began decaying in 1963 when the Supreme Court ruled 8 – 1 that school-sponsored Bible reading is unconstitutional, but school-sponsored prayer in public schools had already been tossed out in 1962. Both decisions cleared the way for atheism to take root and challenge the Christian fiber of students and their families. Those were monumentally tragic decisions, but things became increasingly worse as atheism replaced Christian influence in public schools.

To track the change in public schools, consider this: The National Education Association (NEA) has become the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States. In both those capacities, NEA is a powerful, maybe the most powerful, force in public schools and it does not peddle conservatism. From Jimmy Carter to Barak Obama, NEA has endorsed only Democrat presidential candidates, never a Republican.

During the 20 years before 2010, the NEA spent $36 million lobbying for its liberal agenda in Washington, D.C. and beyond the United States, through its global affiliation with Education International, the world-wide federation of teachers’ trade unions in 172 countries. The NEA not only supports Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, but also promotes the agendas of the National Council of La Raza, the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and Amnesty International. Continue reading →

September 26, 2014 Radio Commentary

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“Draggin’” in Milledgeville

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, September 26, 2014 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning. Ninety-nine miles southeast of Atlanta is the town of Milledgeville, which was the state capitol before the capitol moved to Atlanta. Milledgeville was the site of elegant architectural structures, such as the Old Governor’s Mansion that exemplified Greek revival architecture so well that it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Now it’s operated by Georgia College & State University as an antebellum historic house museum.

Georgia College, created as an industrial college for females, was the women’s version of the then-new Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1922 Georgia College was a two-year teacher’s college, but ten years later offered four-year degrees and became part of the University System of Georgia. During World War II Georgia College was a training center for female volunteers who wanted to serve in the Navy. At that time, they were called WAVES.

There’s much more to the distinguished history of Milledgeville and Georgia College, but recent publicity in the The Baldwin Bulletin reflects drastic cultural changes in the little town that birthed an industrial college for women deep inside the Southern Bible Belt. Continue reading →