Evangelical=Hate?

Hmmm. . .very interesting. The usual suspects, including Focus on the Family's James Dobson, Andrea Laffterty ofTraditional Values Coalition, and Tony Perkins of the American Family Association are rallying their opposition---not to abortion rights, not to gay marriage or civil unions, but to hate crimes legislation! Imagine that, prominent Christians standing tall, standing together as the body of Christ. . .to hate!

New legislation, inspired by the murder of Matthew Shephard in Wyoming, seeks to give protected status to gay people in existing hate crime laws that already protect African-Americans and other minorities from horrible crimes of physical violence and mental and emotional intimidation and harassment. We have these laws on the books for a good reason, since these crimes go beyond the intial victim, creating communities of fear and intimidation among the larger minority communities the victims represent. And certainly, gays and lesbians fall into a group that is often targeted by hate criminals---people who hurt and kill others because they are different.

While these people have a constitutional right to believe what they want about different sexual orientations, it's disgraceful to the church and to Jesus Himself for them to oppose this legislation. All of the above claim, in their own words, that the legislation would make evangelical ministers targets for prosecution and incarceration because of their words from the pulpit. My question to them is, "Why are you fighting so hard for hate speech?" It also makes me wonder if they ARE ALREADY inciting violence, and if they are just admitting it.

It's really past time that Christians and lovers of this country and its civil rights stand up to these people. They don't speak for all Christians---they are a loud, obnoxious minority that must be defeated. From now on, any time I hear the word "evangelical," I'm thinking "hate." If that wasn't clear already, it is now. Thanks for letting us know where you REALLY stand on human rights.