| July 9, 2010 Below is just the latest proof that homosexual activists’ political agenda is the single greatest threat to religious freedom in America today. With your continued support, we will continue to stand against it in Michigan. “The University of Illinois has fired an adjunct professor who taught courses on Catholicism after a student accused the instructor of engaging in hate speech by saying he agrees with the church’s teaching that homosexual sex is immoral. The professor, Ken Howell of Champaign…says he was fired at the end of the spring semester after sending an e-mail explaining some Catholic beliefs to his students preparing for an exam. ‘Natural moral law says that morality must be a response to reality,’ he wrote in the e-mail. ‘In other words, sexual acts are only appropriate for people who are complementary, not the same.’ An unidentified student sent an e-mail to religion department head Robert McKim on May 13, calling Howell’s e-mail ‘hate speech.’ …In an e-mail to other school staff, Ann Mester, an associate dean at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said Howell’s e-mail justified his firing. ‘The e-mails sent by Dr. Howell violate university standards of inclusivity, which would then entitle us to have him discontinue his teaching arrangement with us,’ Mester wrote. …Howell has taught at the university for nine years, and was recognized by his department in 2008 and 2009 for being rated an excellent teacher by students.” ————————————- PEORIA JOURNAL STAR Peoria, Illinois July 9, 2010 University of Illinois fires Catholicism professor Ken Howell dismissed after being accused of engaging in hate speech by the Associated Press URBANA — The University of Illinois has fired an adjunct professor who taught courses on Catholicism after a student accused the instructor of engaging in hate speech by saying he agrees with the church’s teaching that homosexual sex is immoral. The professor, Ken Howell of Champaign, said his firing violates his academic freedom. He also lost his job at an on-campus Catholic center. Howell, who taught Introduction to Catholicism and Modern Catholic Thought, says he was fired at the end of the spring semester after sending an e-mail explaining some Catholic beliefs to his students preparing for an exam. “Natural Moral Law says that Morality must be a response to REALITY,” he wrote in the e-mail. “In other words, sexual acts are only appropriate for people who are complementary, not the same.” An unidentified student sent an e-mail to religion department head Robert McKim on May 13, calling Howell’s e-mail “hate speech.” The student claimed to be a friend of the offended student. The writer said in the e-mail that his friend wanted to remain anonymous. “Teaching a student about the tenets of a religion is one thing,” the student wrote. “Declaring that homosexual acts violate the natural laws of man is another.” Howell said he was teaching his students about the Catholic understanding of natural moral law. “My responsibility on teaching a class on Catholicism is to teach what the Catholic Church teaches,” Howell said in an interview with The News-Gazette in Champaign. “I have always made it very, very clear to my students they are never required to believe what I’m teaching and they’ll never be judged on that.” Howell also said he makes clear to his students that he’s Catholic and that he believes the church views that he teaches. McKim referred questions to university spokeswoman Robin Kaler, who said she couldn’t comment on Howell or his firing because it’s a personnel issue. According to the university’s Academic Staff Handbook, faculty “are entitled to freedom in the classroom in developing and discussing according to their areas of competence the subjects that they are assigned.” In an e-mail to other school staff, Ann Mester, an associate dean at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said Howell’s e-mail justified his firing. “The e-mails sent by Dr. Howell violate university standards of inclusivity, which would then entitle us to have him discontinue his teaching arrangement with us,” Mester wrote. Cary Nelson, president of the American Association of University Professors, said professors should be able to tell students their own views and even argue in favor of them, provided students can disagree without being penalized. “It’s part of intellectual life to advocate for points of view,” said Nelson, an emeritus English professor at the University of Illinois. “Hopefully, when they go out in the world, they can emulate that. They can argue a case, and do it in a well-informed and articulate way, and can make a more productive contribution to our democracy that way.” Howell has taught at the university for nine years, and was recognized by his department in 2008 and 2009 for being rated an excellent teacher by students. He said he and McKim disagree on religious views and believes he lost his job over “just a very, very deep disagreement about the nature of what should be taught and what should not be taught.” After he lost his teaching job, Howell also was fired as director of the St. John’s Catholic Newman Center’s Institute of Catholic Thought. The on-campus center directed questions to the Diocese of Peoria, which had paid for his position. Patricia Gibson, an attorney and chancellor of the diocese, said Howell was let go because he could no longer teach at the university. “We are very concerned and very distressed by what we understand is the situation from Dr. Howell,” she said. The diocese hopes to discuss the situation with someone at the university, she said. A Christian legal defense group, The Alliance Defense Fund, said it is considering helping Howell. http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1143354411/Uof-I-instructor-fired-over-Catholic-beliefs __________________________________________________ May 2, 2010 | “McAlpine was handing out leaflets explaining the Ten Commandments…when a woman came up and engaged him in a debate about his faith. During the exchange, he says he quietly listed homosexuality among a number of sins referred to in 1 Corinthians, including blasphemy, fornication, adultery and drunkenness. After the woman walked away, she was approached by a (police officer) who spoke with her briefly and then walked over to Mr. McAlpine and told him a complaint had been made, and that he could be arrested for using racist or homophobic language. …The Public Order Act, which outlaws the unreasonable use of abusive language likely to cause distress, has been used to arrest religious people in a number of similar cases. Harry Hammond, a pensioner, was convicted under Section 5 of the Act in 2002 for holding up a sign saying ‘Stop immorality. Stop Homosexuality. Stop Lesbianism. Jesus is Lord.’ while preaching in Bournemouth. Stephen Green, a Christian campaigner, was arrested and charged in 2006 for handing out religious leaflets at a Gay Pride festival in Cardiff.” ————————————- DAILY TELEGRAPH London, England May 2, 2010 Christian preacher arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin A Christian street preacher was arrested and locked in a cell for telling a passer-by that homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of God. by Heidi Blake Dale McAlpine was charged with causing “harassment, alarm or distress” after a homosexual police community support officer (PCSO) overheard him reciting a number of “sins” referred to in the Bible, including blasphemy, drunkenness and same sex relationships. The 42-year-old Baptist, who has preached Christianity in Wokington, Cumbria for years, said he did not mention homosexuality while delivering a sermon from the top of a stepladder, but admitted telling a passing shopper that he believed it went against the word of God. Police officers are alleging that he made the remark in a voice loud enough to be overheard by others and have charged him with using abusive or insulting language, contrary to the Public Order Act. Mr McAlpine, who was taken to the police station in the back of a marked van and locked in a cell for seven hours on April 20, said the incident was among the worst experiences of his life. “I felt deeply shocked and humiliated that I had been arrested in my own town and treated like a common criminal in front of people I know,” he said. “My freedom was taken away on the hearsay of someone who disliked what I said, and I was charged under a law that doesn’t apply.” Christian campaigners have expressed alarm that the Public Order Act, introduced in 1986 to tackle violent rioters and football hooligans, is being used to curb religious free speech. Sam Webster, a solicitor-advocate for the Christian Institute, which is supporting Mr McAlpine, said it is not a crime to express the belief that homosexual conduct is a sin. “The police have a duty to maintain public order but they also have a duty to defend the lawful free speech of citizens,” he said. “Case law has ruled that the orthodox Christian belief that homosexual conduct is sinful is a belief worthy of respect in a democratic society.” Mr McAlpine was handing out leaflets explaining the Ten Commandments or offering a “ticket to heaven” with a church colleague on April 20, when a woman came up and engaged him in a debate about his faith. During the exchange, he says he quietly listed homosexuality among a number of sins referred to in 1 Corinthians, including blasphemy, fornication, adultery and drunkenness. After the woman walked away, she was approached by a PCSO who spoke with her briefly and then walked over to Mr McAlpine and told him a complaint had been made, and that he could be arrested for using racist or homophobic language. The street preacher said he told the PCSO: “I am not homophobic but sometimes I do say that the Bible says homosexuality is a crime against the Creator”. He claims that the PCSO then said he was homosexual and identified himself as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender liaison officer for Cumbria police. Mr McAlpine replied: “It’s still a sin.” The preacher then began a 20 minute sermon, in which he says he mentioned drunkenness and adultery, but not homosexuality. Three regular uniformed police officers arrived during the address, arrested Mr McAlpine and put him in the back of a police van. At the station, he was told to empty his pockets and his mobile telephone, belt and shoes were confiscated. Police took fingerprints, a palm print, a retina scan and a DNA swab. He was later interviewed, charged under Sections 5 (1) and (6) of the Public Order Act and released on bail on the condition that he did not preach in public. Mr McAlpine pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing on Friday at Wokingham magistrates court and is now awaiting a trial date. The Public Order Act, which outlaws the unreasonable use of abusive language likely to cause distress, has been used to arrest religious people in a number of similar cases. Harry Hammond, a pensioner, was convicted under Section 5 of the Act in 2002 for holding up a sign saying “Stop immorality. Stop Homosexuality. Stop Lesbianism. Jesus is Lord” while preaching in Bournemouth. Stephen Green, a Christian campaigner, was arrested and charged in 2006 for handing out religious leaflets at a Gay Pride festival in Cardiff. The case against him was later dropped. Cumbria police said last night that no one was available to comment on Mr McAlpine’s case. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7668448/Christian-preacher-arrested-for-saying-homosexuality-is-a-sin.html __________________________________________________ |
April 7, 2010 | “Shawn Holes was preaching to a crowd in Glasgow, Scotland, when same-sex couples asked the American evangelist what he thought about homosexuality. …Holes said he answered, ‘Your homosexuality is the least of your problems. Your problem is your heart.’ He added that homosexuality is a sin deserving of hell but that all sinners, including himself, deserve God’s wrath but are offered salvation. Afterward, police officers arrested Holes and took him to jail… Holes spent the night in a damp jail cell with only a thin covering and a mat for sleeping on the hard floor. The next day he pleaded guilty to breaching the peace by ‘uttering homophobic remarks’ that were ‘aggravated by religious prejudice.’ The court fined him £1,000 pounds (about $1,500)… March 23, 2010, marked the day a new ‘homophobic hatred’ law came into effect in England and Wales. The law has a free speech shield but could carry a sentence of up to seven years of imprisonment for those who ‘incite hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.’ Justice Minister and Deputy Women and Equality Minister Maria Eagle said the law would not prohibit expressions of religious belief but ‘cover words, behavior or material which is threatening in nature, and which is intended to stir up hatred against people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual.’” ———————————————————– WORLD Magazine Asheville, North Carolina April 5, 2010 Street illegal American evangelist Shawn Holes was arrested in Scotland for ‘uttering homophobic remarks’ by Alisa Harris Shawn Holes was preaching to a crowd in Glasgow, Scotland, when same-sex couples asked the American evangelist what he thought about homosexuality. It wasn’t the first time the question had come up; in fact, he hears it asked frequently. Holes said he answered, “Your homosexuality is the least of your problems. Your problem is your heart.” He added that homosexuality is a sin deserving of hell but that all sinners, including himself, deserve God’s wrath but are offered salvation. Afterward, police officers arrested Holes and took him to jail—a surprise since he said his fellow preachers had just hours earlier asked an officer if it was acceptable to preach freely and to answer questions about homosexuality. The officer had told them yes. Although the police were courteous, Holes spent the night in a damp jail cell with only a thin covering and a mat for sleeping on the hard floor. The next day he pleaded guilty to breaching the peace by “uttering homophobic remarks” that were “aggravated by religious prejudice.” The court fined him £1,000 pounds (about $1,500)—the highest fine ever levied against a street evangelist, according to Christian Institute’s Simon Calvert on Christian Premier Radio. Holes, who has returned to the United States, said his intention was to simply answer a question: “We don’t single out people because of their sexual preferences, but certainly when they start asking questions we want to make sure they know what the Bible says about what they’re doing and what they’re practicing.” Other Christian groups hoped that Holes would battle the charges. In fact, Colin Hart, director of The Christian Institute, said in a statement that the institute was “very disappointed” and that they were confident he would have won if he had challenged the charges. Holes stressed that his motives were “pure,” saying that he wanted to get back to his father, who is in hospice care, and to his daughter’s wedding this July. He was told it would take eight weeks or more to stand trial. Unlikely allies have spoken up for Holes. He said that he received an email from a prominent atheist expressing support for his right to free speech. Gay rights activist Peter Tatchell called Holes a “homophobe” but condemned the fine as “an attack on free speech and a heavy-handed, excessive response to homophobia.” He affirmed Holes’ right to free speech and urged public officials to “concentrate on tackling serious homophobic hate crimes, instead of wasting public money on petty, distasteful homophobic ranters.” Free speech is tenuous in the United Kingdom. In 2001 another U.K. street evangelist, Harry Hammond, held up a sign that said, “Jesus gives peace, Jesus is slive, stop immorality, stop homosexuality, stop lesbianism, Jesus is Lord.” An angry crowd formed as some threw dirt at Hammond and poured water on him, knocking the 69-year-old man to the ground. Hammond, however, was the one arrested and fined £300 under the Public Order Act 1986. The England and Wales High Court denied an appeal, agreeing that the sign was “insulting” and that Hammond’s conduct was “not reasonable.” March 23, 2010, marked the day a new “homophobic hatred” law came into effect in England and Wales. The law has a free speech shield but could carry a sentence of up to seven years of imprisonment for those who “incite hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.” Justice Minister and Deputy Women and Equality Minister Maria Eagle said the law would not prohibit expressions of religious belief but “cover words, behavior or material which is threatening in nature, and which is intended to stir up hatred against people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual.” http://www.worldmag.com/webextra/16590 __________________________________________________ |
April 5, 2010 SAGINAW NEWS Saginaw, Michigan April 3, 2010(Guest Commentary) Columnist’s disagreement is with his Maker, not Gary Glenn by Mike Westfall, Presque Isle In answer to Justin L. Engel’s March 26 column in The Saginaw News, “Anti-gay critic doesn’t — and shouldn’t — rattle Democratic leader:” http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2010/03/opinion_anti-gay_push_doesnt_-.html Mr. Engel, shame on you for your biased, pro-gay piece written at the expense of American Family Association of Michigan President Gary Glenn and the hard-working Michigan families who support his work. Your article, as well as some of the twisted commentaries, are representative of the politically correct, liberal mindset of many misguided people today. Let me put you straight. According to Scripture, the practice of homosexuality is a sin. Gary Glenn did not write the Bible. Your confusion and disagreement, along with those who agree with you, is with your Maker, not Mr. Glenn. The American Family Association, which you choose to bash, believes America was founded upon biblical truth and that the Bible is the only inspired and infallible word of God. Today, special interest groups are bashing Christians because the Bible will not support their lifestyle. The faith and cultural values of our nation’s foundation are under attack. The obvious goal of these special interest groups is for America to become a Godless, hedonistic, self-indulgent, complacent place where ridiculed Christians are rendered voiceless. So, no, Mr. Engel, I am not buying your arguments, because your conclusions are faulty. I will continue to support the AFA and Gary Glenn, who co-authored the Marriage Protection Amendment. Gary correctly states that those who support the protection of traditional marriage should be concerned with homosexual activists who have risen to the top of the Democratic Party chain. Gary is an appreciated lightening rod for decency, a powerful man of faith and a true American hero. We thank our God for his untiring dedication, for putting the cause above himself and for the abuse he takes from people like yourself. Every American who espouses a biblical world view owes Gary Glenn a debt of gratitude. Largely because of him, traditional marriage still stands in America today. http://www.mlive.com/opinion/saginaw/index.ssf/2010/04/columnists_disagreemnent_is_wi.html __________________________________________________ |
March 6, 2010  American Family Radio’s public affairs talk show Today’s Issues Wednesday featured AFA-Michigan President Gary Glenn (left) and host AFA President Tim Wildmon discussing the federal civil rights lawsuit — filed by the Thomas More Law Center on behalf of Glenn and three Michigan pastors – asking the Supreme Court to rule that the new federal “hate crime” law poses an unconstitutional threat to the religious free speech rights of those who publicly oppose homosexual behavior and homosexual activists’ political agenda.
To listen to the 40-minute discussion, click here — http://www.afa.net/Radio/show.aspx?id=2147491263&tab=audio — then under Archives, click on the Feb. 24th broadcast. For more information and news coverage of the lawsuit, please visit: www.AFAMichigan.org and www.ThomasMore.org. The American Family Association of Michigan deeply appreciates your support. __________________________________________________ February 19, 2010 “Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, is concerned that the ‘Hate Crimes Act’ signed into law last year will be used to prosecute those who speak in favor of traditional Biblical morality. …He encourages boldness. ‘Don’t be intimidated,’ he counsels. ‘Continue to speak Biblical truth; continue to tell people that marriage is and always has been between one man and one woman — that’s what’s best for society, best for children. And stand up against these continuing restrictions on the exercise of free speech.’” ——————————————————————- ONE NEWS NOW Tupelo, Mississippi February 15, 2010 Speak the truth, defend your rights by Bill Bumpas A pro-family advocate in Michigan says he’s honored to be on the front lines in fighting for First Amendment rights to speak out against homosexuality. Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, is concerned that the “Hate Crimes Act” signed into law last year will be used to prosecute those who speak in favor of traditional biblical morality. He cites a personal example. “Several years ago Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit and I were personally accused by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force in a news release of being responsible for inciting the alleged beating death of a 72-year-old homosexual man in Detroit, merely because we had actively supported Michigan’s Marriage Protection Amendment reaffirming marriage as only between a man and a woman,” he remarks. Glenn says aside from the fact that officials found that there was no assault and the man died of natural causes, it illustrates the point that preachers of biblical truth are being targeted. He encourages boldness. “Don’t be intimidated,” he counsels. “Continue to speak biblical truth; continue to tell people that marriage is and always has been between one man and one woman — that’s what’s best for society, best for children. And stand up against these continuing restrictions on the exercise of free speech.” Glenn and three Michigan pastors recently challenged the constitutionality of the Hate Crimes Act by filing a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Their attorney argues the law violates his clients’ rights to freedom of speech, expressive association, and free exercise of religion as protected under the First Amendment. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=895582 __________________________________________________ February 19, 2010 HOLY BULLIES AND HEADLESS MONSTERS (homosexual activist website) Columbia, South Carolina February 15, 2010 Hypocrisy of the day — Gary Glenn (again) Gary Glenn of the American Family Association of Michigan got a little press from the right-wing One News Now today: …Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, is concerned that the “Hate Crimes Act” signed into law last year will be used to prosecute those who speak in favor of traditional biblical morality. He cites a personal example. “Several years ago Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit and I were personally accused by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force in a news release of being responsible for inciting the alleged beating death of a 72-year-old homosexual man in Detroit, merely because we had actively supported Michigan’s Marriage Protection Amendment reaffirming marriage as only between a man and a woman,” he remarks. Glenn says aside from the fact that officials found that there was no assault and the man died of natural causes, it illustrates the point that preachers of biblical truth are being targeted…
Glenn is speaking of the case of 72-year-old Andrew Anthos, who died mysteriously in 2007. Anthos, shortly before his death, had told family members that he was attacked because of his sexual orientation. However, the police and medical examiners concluded that his death was the result of a fall and there was no evidence that he was attacked. But Glenn plays a little loose with the facts regarding the Gay and Lesbian Task Force letter. This is what it said: “For years, Michigan has been subjected to the homophobic rants of Gary Glenn of the American Family Association of Michigan, while so many otherwise good and decent people have been silent. Just two years ago, the state endured an ugly campaign, led by Cardinal Adam Maida, to ‘protect marriage’ by writing anti-gay discrimination into its constitution. Based on that amendment, a three-judge panel of Michigan’s court of appeals voted last month to terminate medical insurance coverage for families of LGBT government workers throughout the state.
So while the letter did somewhat link him to Anthos’s death (which was probably unfair), Glenn really has no right to plead total innocence here. He wasn’t “merely standing up for marriage.” The letter speaks to his long history of vilifying the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender community. Like in 2006 when he spoke against gay/straight alliances in public schools because according to him, they “promote risky behavior,” Or when he opposed anti-discrimination policies on the assumption that they would make bathrooms co-ed, Or when he opposed anti-bullying legislation because according to him, it “promoted the homosexual agenda.” Or that ridiculous lawsuit he has help to launch against hate crimes legislation, legislation which does nothing to punish anyone for speech unless that speech is advocating violence, Or last week when he declared that there should criminal sanctions against “homosexual behavior.” The discussion that he had with me afterwards in which he tried to justify his words only spoke to his desire to further stigmatize the lgbt community even to the point of using information designed to help us as a weapon against us. And that’s the huge hypocrisy of folks like Glenn. They claim that they are being attacked for merely standing up for “Christian values,” and it’s a good lie they tell as long as no one is made aware of how low they stoop to defend their idea of morality. http://holybulliesandheadlessmonsters.blogspot.com/2010/02/hypocrisy-of-day-gary-glenn-again.html __________________________________________________ February 17, 2010  ACLU-Michigan threatened to sue when a Lansing health club refused to allow the man on the left to use the women’s shower and locker room. Former Spring Arbor University dean and Baptist pastor John (now Julie) Nemecek, right, is executive director of Michigan Equality, a homosexual activist group headquartered in Lansing.
“The ACLU has for years tried to pressure the Secretary of State to officially certify a ‘transgender’ male who has not had so-called ’sex change’ surgery as ‘female.’ The ACLU succeeded, temporarily, when the Secretary of State’s office announced in 2005 that it would adopt such a policy change. Three weeks later, Secretary Land reversed the change, reverting back to the previous and still standing policy that the sex designation would be changed only after such surgery. Even that policy begs the question of whether a surgically-mutilated man whose DNA proves he’s male should be officially certified ‘female.’ There are also serious implications for women’s privacy rights and comfort, since women and girls would legally be forced to share public restrooms, showers, locker rooms and changing areas with men who — if challenged — can present an official government I.D. ‘proving’ their claim to be women. …Citizens should be able to trust that the Secretary of State will tell the truth and will not — by falsifying identifying characteristics on an official government I.D. — facilitate and enable identity theft, use of false I.D.s, or violation of the privacy rights of women and children.” ————————————————————————- FLINT JOURNAL Flint, Michigan February 11, 2010 Another View Rep. Scott didn’t pull transgender statement out of thin air; ACLU has campaigned for official IDs by Gary Glenn Critics have rushed to condemn Republican Secretary of State candidate Rep. Paul Scott’s pledge to ensure that our state government fulfills its public trust to always tell the truth — including when a man who claims to believe he’s a woman wants the government to enable that disorder by changing the sex on his driver’s license. Having the state officially certify delusions associated with a “gender identity disorder” as if they’re documentable fact is a high enough priority for some, apparently, that they feel compelled to attack anyone who says the government should simply tell the truth instead. In an era of heightened sensitivity about identity theft and terrorists using fake I.D.s, the issue is not how often the state might be asked by individuals suffering such disorders to falsify a government record, but whether our government under any circumstance should certify identifying characteristics on an official I.D. as anything other than what they truthfully are. Perhaps critics who pretend Rep. Scott pulled this issue out of thin air don’t want you to know that the ACLU has for years tried to pressure the Secretary of State to officially certify a “transgender” male who has not had so-called “sex change” surgery as “female.” The ACLU succeeded, temporarily, when the Secretary of State’s office announced in 2005 that it would adopt such a policy change. Three weeks later, Secretary Land reversed the change, reverting back to the previous and still standing policy that the sex designation would be changed only after such surgery. Even that policy begs the question of whether a surgically-mutilated man whose DNA proves he’s male should be officially certified “female.” There are also serious implications for women’s privacy rights and comfort, since women and girls would legally be forced to share public restrooms, showers, locker rooms and changing areas with men who — if challenged — can present an official government I.D. “proving” their claim to be women. The next Secretary of State will be pressured by the ACLU and homosexual and “transgender” activists to again adopt such a policy, this time permanently. AFA-Michigan’s position is simple: While we as individuals should compassionately sympathize with the difficulties experienced by others in some cases, government certifying agencies must dispassionately deal in reality and truth in all cases. Citizens should be able to trust that the Secretary of State will tell the truth and will not — by falsifying identifying characteristics on an official government I.D. — facilitate and enable identity theft, use of false I.D.s, or violation of the privacy rights of women and children. ——————————- Gary Glenn, Midland, is president of the American Family Association of Michigan, online at www.AFAMichigan.org. http://www.mlive.com/opinion/flint/index.ssf/2010/02/rep_scott_didnt_pull_transgend.html __________________________________________________ February 11, 2010  CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO: http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/video.aspx?id=414337
“Gary Glenn, the president of the American Family Association of Michigan, along with the pastor of First Baptist Church in Bridgeport Township, and two metro Detroit pastors, say under the Federal Hate Crimes Act, people who speak out against homosexuality could be prosecuted as accessories to crimes against them. …Glenn says, ‘We would join anyone else in condemning acts of violence against anyone, including people involved in the homosexual lifestyle, but a pastor should remain free in this country to express his sincerely held religious views without having to fear prosecution as a criminal accessory if someone involved in the homosexual lifestyle is a victim of violence.’” ————————————————— WEYI-TV (NBC) Channel 25 Flint, Michigan February 10, 2010 Homosexual activists weigh in on Hate Crimes lawsuit by Dan Armstrong The hate crimes lawsuit story NBC did Monday has lit up connectmidmichigan.com. More than 8,000 people have clicked on the story, hundreds have voted on the online poll, and dozens have left comments. It’s about a local group of religious leaders that are challenging the federal hate crimes act. Now, supporters of the hate crimes act are weighing in. Gary Glenn, the president of the American Family Association of Michigan, along with the pastor of First Baptist Church in Bridgeport Township, and two metro Detroit pastors, say under the Federal Hate Crimes Act, people who speak out against homosexuality could be prosecuted as accessories to crimes against them. However, homosexual activists and supporters of the hate crimes act disagree. Alicia Skillman, Executive Director of the Triangle Foundation in Detroit, says “I think the complaint is a smokescreen, and it takes people away from the real issue. I believe the government did the right thing by protecting gay people from those physical acts of violence and those physical acts of hate.” Gary Glenn says, “We would join anyone else in condemning acts of violence against anyone, including people involved in the homosexual lifestyle, but a pastor should remain free in this country to express his sincerely held religious views without having to fear prosecution as a criminal accessory if someone involved in the homosexual lifestyle is a victim of violence.” PFLAG (Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) of the Tri-CIties says “Hate crimes legislation is about actions, not words. The hate crimes legislation that has passed on the federal level includes clear and concise protections for free speech.” Homosexual advocates NBC25 spoke with say pastors will not be prosecuted based on their views of homosexuality. Skillman says, “There have been no instances reported of this happening. I believe they’re just trying to incite hate, but the real issue is that people are now protected from physical acts of violence and hate.” Plaintiffs in the case say they’re not acting out of hate. They say they condemn the beliefs and actions of those who claim God hates homosexuals. Homosexual advocates say additional laws need to be establish to protect gays in Michigan from discrimination. They say there are no state laws that protect homosexuals from being fired from their jobs and being denied housing. http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story.aspx?id=414337 __________________________________________________ February 8, 2010  AFA-Michigan President Gary Glenn, right, during an interview Monday with WEYI-TV Channel 25 (Flint) reporter Dan Armstrong. Click to watch video: http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/video.aspx?id=413343
“A 2005 Saginaw News article quotes Jeffrey Montgomery, the executive director of the Triangle Foundation, a homosexual activist group in Detroit, as saying crimes against homosexuals are on the rise. He says: ‘The vocal anti-gay activists should be held accountable as accessories to these crimes because, many times, it is their rhetoric that led the perpetrators to believe that their crimes are O.K.’ Gary Glenn is the president of the American Family Association of Michigan. He says, ‘We filed a lawsuit to protect religious free speech rights of individuals who want to continue to speak out for their religious values.’ …Glenn says, ‘Everybody should be protected from violence, but everybody should also be free to express their religious or political views without fear of prosecution by people who want to silence those who disagree with the homosexual political agenda.’ He says, ‘Under this so called hate crimes law, a criminal that attacks a pregnant woman, or a child, or a senior citizen would be punished less severely than someone who attacks a grown man, if that grown man is involved in the homosexual lifestyle. That’s not equality under the law.’” ————————————– WEYI-TV (NBC Channel 25) Flint, Michigan February 8, 2010 Mid-Michigan religious leaders challenge hate crimes law by Dan Armstrong Some MidMichigan religious leaders say a new law limits their liberty. The president of the American Family Association of Michigan in Midland, along with a Bridgeport Township pastor, say the hate crimes act is unconstitutional and prohibits their right of free speech. They say, the law could be used against them for saying homosexuality is a sin. Gary Glenn is the president of the American Family Association of Michigan. He says, “We filed a lawsuit to protect religious free speech rights of individuals who want to continue to speak out for their religious values.” The lawsuit was filed through the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor. It lists Gary Glenn, the pastor of First Baptist Church of Bridgeport Township Rene B. Ouellette, the pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Waterford Township Jim Combs, and the pastor of Bible Church in Ypsilanti Levon R. Yuille as plaintiffs and Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General, as the defendant. The plaintiffs say the hate crimes act is unconstitutional. A 2005 Saginaw News article quotes Jeffrey Montgomery, the executive director of the Triangle Foundation, a homosexual activist group in Detroit, as saying crimes against homosexuals are on the rise. He says “The vocal anti-gay activists should be held accountable as accessories to these crimes because, many times, it is their rhetoric that led the perpetrators to believe that their crimes are O.K.” Glenn says, “Everybody should be protected from violence, but everybody should also be free to express their religious or political views without fear of prosecution by people who want to silence those who disagree with the homosexual political agenda.” The Triangle Foundation says, the reaction is out of anger and fear. It says positive images of gays on television shows, along with the issues of gay marriage and civil rights are getting fundamentalists worked up. Glenn disagrees, he says the law prefers one group over another. He says, “Under this so called hate crimes law, a criminal that attacks a pregnant woman, or a child, or a senior citizen would be punished less severely than someone who attacks a grown man, if that grown man is involved in the homosexual lifestyle. That’s not equality under the law.” It’s a debate of liberty and law to be decided in court. The lawsuit was filed last Tuesday. The U.S. attorney general has 60-days to respond. Click below to read the lawsuit. Related Links Hate Crimes Lawsuit American Family Association of Michigan Triangle Foundation Thomas More Law Center http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story.aspx?id=413343 __________________________________________________ February 8, 2010  AFA-Michigan president Gary Glenn, left, and Pastor Levon Yuille at the Secretary of State’s office in 2004 to help turn in the half-million signatures that placed the Marriage Protection Amendment on Michigan’s 2004 ballot.
“Pastor Levon Yuille of The Bible Church, outside Detroit, Michigan, joined three other ministry leaders in filing a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. They are concerned, among other things, that under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, those who speak out against homosexuality could be prosecuted. …The lawsuit against Holder was filed last week by the Michigan-based Thomas More Law Center. Joining Yuille in the suit are Pastors Rene Ouellette and James Combs, and American Family Association of Michigan president Gary Glenn.” ——————————————————————— ONE NEWS NOW Tupelo, Mississippi February 8, 2010 Pastor comments on his ‘hate crimes’ lawsuit by Bill Bumpas A black pastor who is challenging the constitutionality of the recently enacted federal “Hate Crimes Act” says he’s offended by comparisons to the civil rights struggles of African-Americans with those who engage in homosexual behavior. Pastor Levon Yuille of The Bible Church, outside Detroit, Michigan, joined three other ministry leaders in filing a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. They are concerned, among other things, that under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, those who speak out against homosexuality could be prosecuted. Yuille tells OneNewsNow that he also finds it insulting to equate the supposed “civil rights” struggle of homosexuals with the real civil rights struggle of African-Americans. “I feel like individuals [are] demeaning the black community in trying to equate us to what someone chooses to do sexually,” Yuille remarks. “The totality of black people is far greater than what one would prefer to do in expressing themselves in the manner I’ve already stated.” The Michigan pastor says the spotlight should be on how the HIV virus is devastating his community — women in particular. “I’m most certainly disheartened to see that there’s so little focus being placed on this issue relative to so many black men participating in heterosexual and homosexual behavior — and ultimately and regrettably a lot of black women contract AIDS through this type of behavior,” he shares. Pastor Yuille says he is taking a stand for truth, and believes he is doing what is right from a biblical, social, and health perspective. The lawsuit against Holder was filed last week by the Michigan-based Thomas More Law Center. Joining Yuille in the suit are Pastors Rene Ouellette and James Combs, and American Family Association of Michigan president Gary Glenn. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=888646 __________________________________________________ February 8, 2010 Dear AFA-Michigan supporter, Please watch this excellent news video regarding our lawsuit asking that the new federal “hate crime” law be declared unconstitutional: http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/video?id=7261290 Pastor Ouellette does an outstanding job of explaining our position. Thanks as always for your prayers and support! 
Gary Glenn AFA-Michigan __________________________________________________ February 8, 2010 “‘Our point is that pastors and others (should not be) prosecuted as criminals for speaking out against homosexual behavior and the political agenda that promotes it,’ said Gary Glenn, a Midland resident and president of the American Family Association of Michigan. ‘It’s all about free speech,’ Glenn said. Glenn and three mid-Michigan ministers filed a civil rights suit challenging the constitutionality of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act that President Barack Obama signed in October. …Glenn cited the 2007 death of Andrew Anthos of Detroit, allegedly a victim of hate crime violence due to his homosexuality. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force partially blamed Glenn’s anti-homosexual speeches for Anthos’s death. ‘We of course condemn violent acts of any kind, including those committed against those involved in homosexual acts,’ Glenn said. ‘We are protecting the right of individuals to express their views and values without having to fear criminal prosecution for doing so.’” —————————————————————- BAY CITY TIMES Bay City, Michigan February 4, 2010 Midland man, Bridgeport minister say hate crimes law could make sermons illegal by LaNia Coleman | The Bay City Times Opponents of a new federal hate crime law say the legislation could turn ministers into criminals. “Our point is that pastors and others are not prosecuted as criminals for speaking out against homosexual behavior and the political agenda that promotes it,” said Gary Glenn, a Midland resident and president of the American Family Association of Michigan. “It’s all about free speech,” Glenn said. Glenn and three mid-Michigan ministers filed a civil rights suit challenging the constitutionality of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act that President Barack Obama signed in October. The act makes it a federal offense to assault someone because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. The civil rights lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bay City names U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. as the defendant. Besides Glenn, the plaintiffs are The Revs. Rene B. Ouellette, senior pastor of the 7,000-member First Baptist Church in Bridgeport Township; Jim Combs, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Waterford Township; and Levon R. Yuille, pastor of The Bible Church in Ypsilanti. Ouellette said the ministers are concerned that the law has the potential to allow the government to prosecute ministers for the content of their sermons. “We believe that the law will be used to stifle free speech and keep people from quoting scripture as it is written,” Ouellette said. “We do not object to others exercising their free speech rights when they say things we disagree with. But there are those who don’t want us to have a right to say what we believe based on word of God.” Bay City attorney Jason P. Gower said he doesn’t believe that is the intent of the law, but he understands the pastors’ concerns. A lawyer could cite the law in arguing that a sermon incited violence. “For example, they could say that, but for their speech from the pulpit, this person would never have gone out and killed someone,” Gower said. “I don’t think that’s the intent of the legislation, but it needs to be made clear.” A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice says the law simply provides for an added measure of justice in cases of violence based on bias. “The new federal hate crimes law protects Americans from perpetrators who turn prejudice into acts of violence,” said Alejandro Miyar, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice. “Hate crimes seek to deny the humanity that we all share by victimizing whole communities. We will defend these vital protections in court.” The plaintiffs’ attorney, Robert J. Muise of the Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center, said they are challenging a specific provision of the act which provides for penalties and potentially criminalizes actions motivated by biases born out of religious beliefs. “Basically, we want the court to rule (the law) is unconstitutional,” Muise said. Glenn cited the 2007 death of Andrew Anthos of Detroit, allegedly a victim of hate crime violence due to his homosexuality. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force partially blamed Glenn’s anti-homosexual speeches for Anthos’s death. “We of course condemn violent acts of any kind, including those committed against those involved in homosexual acts,” Glenn said. “We are protecting the right of individuals to express their views and values without having to fear criminal prosecution for doing so.” Glenn is known across the United States for his public stand against gay rights activism. He co-authored the 2004 Marriage Protection Amendment that defined marriage as between one man and one woman in the Michigan Constitution. Fifty-nine percent of voters approved the proposal. He also has chaired the Campaign for Michigan Families political action committee. In 2008, Glenn raised sexual orientation as an issue when he campaigned against Democrat Garnet Lewis, an openly gay candidate for the 98th District seat representing Saginaw and Midland counties in the state House of Representatives, Bay City Times records show. In 2007, he and his group protested Saginaw Valley State University’s production of “Angels in America: Part One,” a play dealing with the AIDS crisis. Glenn and his ilk objected to the frontal male nudity and use of the F-word, Times records show. He has also opposed the use of public money to provide benefits to same-sex partners of state university employees. In 2002, he led a charge against mid-Michigan hotels that provided pornographic movies on-demand. He also has spoken against gay and unwed couples’ rights to adopt children. Ouellette is the author of five books and several pamphlets and Bible tracts. His work, including sermons, often reflect his “strong public stand against homosexual activism,” court documents show. “My position is we love people, whatever their sin,” Ouellette said. “All of us are sinners and God loves us just like we are. We can not, however, say that the sin is OK. And we want everyone to know the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Attorneys for Holder have 60 days to respond to the suit. “It would not surprise me if they file a motion to dismiss,” Muise said. http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2010/02/midland_man_bridgeport_ministe.html __________________________________________________ |
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