NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign
For Immediate Release – Tuesday, Dec 13th, 2005
Contact: Steven Fisher | Phone: (202) 216-1547 | Cell: (202) 431-7608
Contact: Brad Luna | Phone: (202) 216-1514 | Cell: (202) 812-8140
“Your readers are not immune from hate crimes that affect thousands of Americans every year,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.
WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign released the following letter today in response to full-page ads placed today by right-wing extremist groups in opposition to hate crimes laws. The ads (one and two) ran in the Orlando Sentinel, The Indianapolis Star, The Nevada Appeal, Omaha World Herald and Roll Call.
Dear Publisher,
Full-page advertisements that ran today were both inflammatory and inaccurate. In ads that claim hate crimes laws treat straight and gay Americans differently, right-wing extremist groups are using lies to promote fear and stop the passage of a critical crime-fighting tool.
Your readers are not immune from hate crimes that affect thousands of Americans every year. Hate crimes based on the victim’s sexual orientation, either gay or straight, remain in the top three of all reported hate crime categories. But local law enforcement officials don’t have the tools they need to fight hate crimes against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.
That’s why the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Foundation and the National Sheriffs’ Association support a bill in Congress that would provide assistance to state and local law enforcement officials in cases of hate crimes.
This bill would ensure that local police departments aren’t forced to furlough deputies because of the costs associated with prosecuting heinous crimes, as was the case in Laramie, Wyo., in order to prosecute the men who murdered Matthew Shepard.
Covering both gay and straight victims equally, this bill is also supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans.
Newspaper policies typically ensure that inflammatory and inaccurate ads are thoroughly vetted before even the slightest consideration of publishing. We are requesting that you stop running these ads and set the record straight with your readers.
Nobody should be misled about one of the most important crime-fighting tools being considered by Congress.
Sincerely,
Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign President
I’m glad to see the Human Rights Campaign tackling the Exodus lies head on. I hope they do a lot of this sort of press release given the regular blantant lies of Exodus, “Focus on the Family”, etc.
I wish it were stronger on the “these are lies” and less on the reasons why the laws are needed.
The news vendors know that there’s legitimate debate on the need for the laws and that ads promoting one side are just fine.
But they also know that they have an obligation to deny ads that are factually incorrect. These ads state that homosexuals get treatment denied to “former homosexuals” and that is simply a lie no matter how they phrase it.
Good point Timothy, these clearly are lies.
How did they manage to find the listed newspapers? Omaha? This is not a hotbed of gay activism. Weird selection.
Re: “I wish it were stronger on the “these are lies” and less on the reasons why the laws are needed.”
Uh-huh. Exactly. That’s the critical missing link. I blamed GLAAD, but Mike and others rightly pointed out that griping about it won’t do much good.
I’ve finally decided to try to do my teeny tiny part. I didn’t want to unwrap it until after the holidays, but here’s a sneak preview of what I have in mind. What’s up is sort of a primitive dry run thrown together as a learning exercise, and its not quite ready for wide distribution. So, Shhhh! 😉
If anybody wants to help, E-mail me.
DaleA
Re: How did they manage to find the listed newspapers? Omaha? This is not a hotbed of gay activism. Weird selection.
That might have been a fund-raising consideration.
Dalea, I think it comes down to finding papers willing to run this garbage. What I find interesting is that the Orlando Sentinel(“red” market) ran it. This paper is owned by Tribune Media (Chicago Tribune), which also owns the L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale) and numerous other papers.
While the Chicago Tribune is generally a fine paper, they’ve always had a Republican slant in their editorials (thanks to the founder, Col. Robert McCormick), while trying to market in an increasingly blue state. I wonder how this might affect circulation of their newspapers in the “bluer” states and/or markets….
Or, by “they” did you mean HRC? I first thought you meant the folks who placed the ad.
The copy of said ads do not make sense. How is hate crimes legislation to protect gays and lesbians in any way related to their supposed self-worth as a “former homosexual”. If these folks are ever attacked for “perceived gayness” as happens frequently, then a the crime would receive it’s deserved harsher punishment due to the attack being motivated by sexual orientation. It is no different than an attack that is racially or religously motivated. In my view, these people are displaying the trendy “presecuted christian complex”.
Jim
IT LOOKS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!
I’m with you there Tim W. This ad is a complaint for a non happening and non issue.
Perception of homosexuality, or those who are in the company of gay friends who are attacked is usually what happens.
IF ever I hear of an ex gay being attacked FOR BEING EX GAY…or a Christian being attacked, harassed, kicked out of school and school authorities banning socializing for BEING CHRISTIAN and ex gay, or when physical attacks are violent, protracted in their motive to inflict pain and suffering and Christians are threatened on the street with epithets shouted at them by roving youths out to bash Christians, then I’ll say that there is a case for Christians to be concerned regarding hate crimes directed at THEM.
And it’s without doubt that law enforcement would also be concerned for their safety and be moved to act swiftly and with surety to get the perps off the street.
However, I wish these ex gays would understand that NOT wanting to be Christian or hear anti gay rants or indeed, be lectured or be given unsolicited Scriptural advice: isn’t a crime or an offense of any kind.
It’s simply very hard to tell a determined ex gay Christian gently, that they are getting on your nerves and when to mind their own damn business.
Jim,
Looks good. Glad to see something like this done. I’ll link to the site when you guys are up.
Out of curiosity, does the name of the site come from John Cornyn’s box turtle comment about gays from a little while back?