Tag: Tony Perkins

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Tony Perkins hating on equal protections in Houston

Tony Perkins has become famous for his use of hyperbole to support his positions. When he cites “serious criminal punishment” for violating the Houston ordinance, what he is referring to is a fine of “not less than $250 nor more than $500.”

Houston’s fine for exceeding the speed limit by 15mph is $240.
 

“Can five words change the outcome of a radical measure in Houston? Locals hope so. When openly lesbian Mayor Annise Parker said, ‘This debate is about me,’ she may have been the undoing of the very ordinance she’s fighting for. Under the watchful gaze of the rest of the country, America’s fourth largest city has been locked in a vicious debate over an anti-freedom, anti-safety, anti-Christian proposal that could shape the landscape for special privilege. Wednesday, the public battle reconvenes, as the City Council votes on a measure that would force Houstonians to celebrate homosexuality and transgenderism, regardless of their personal beliefs, or face serious criminal punishment.

“As part of the bill, Mayor Parker (who said this effort was ‘intensely personal’) men would be allowed to use women’s showers, locker rooms, and bathrooms (and vice-versa) based on their ‘perceived gender’ — opening the door (quite literally) for sexual predators to prey on women and girls under the guise of gender confusion. The backlash against the ordinance has been severe, thanks in large part to a strong coalition of pastors and local conservatives who refuse to be steamrolled by the forces of political correctness. While the actual vote was put off, the opposition hasn’t. It continues to sound the alarm to local families about the devastation this could inflict — not just on Houston, but any city emboldened to try a similar stunt.” – Hate group leader Tony Perkins, via press release.

Read the ordinance here.

(h/t JMG)

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Tony Perkins says marriage equality will lead to the “Dissolution of the Republic”

Hate group leader Tony Perkins

Hate group leader Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council is so freaked out over the many recent rulings in favor of marriage equality he’s now telling anyone who will listen that equal rights for gays will “drive a wedge between parent and child” and lead to the “dissolution of the Republic.”

From Right Wing Watch:

The Family Research Council president told Mefferd that the marriage debate is “is literally about the entire culture: it’s about the rule of law, it’s about the country, it’s about our future, it’s about redefining the curriculum in our schools, it’s about driving a wedge between parent and child, it’s about the loss of religious freedom, it’s about the inability to be who we are as a people.”

SRSLY?

Talk about fear mongering. It’s really insidious what this man does. And the fact that media outlets like CNN will allow the man airtime to spew his hideous ideas just to divide the country is ridiculous. It’s like giving the leader of the KKK airtime…

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Tony Perkins and FRC gins up poll to “prove” huge majority of GOP opposes marriage equality

Hate group leader Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council are at it again.

Via press release, Perkins attempts to allay fears that Republicans could actually be softening on same-sex marriage. Oh, the horror!

Today, Family Research Council (FRC) and American Values released the results of a commissioned national survey conducted by Wilson Research Strategies showing that 82 percent of Republican and Republican-leaning independents believe marriage “should be defined only as a union between one man and one woman.” 74 percent strongly agreed with this statement.

The same survey found that the voters want their elected leaders to promote this view in public policy: 75 percent of Republican and Republican-leaning independent voters disagree that “politicians should support the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples.” 67 percent strongly disagreed with this statement.

FRC President Tony Perkins made the following comments in response to the survey:

“Republican voters continue to resist the demands of cultural elites who want to see the party abandon the very core values that gave rise to American exceptionalism. The vast majority of the GOP base continues to believe that marriage is a non-negotiable plank of the national platform and want to see their elected officials uphold natural marriage as the national standard, a goal to stand for, encourage and promote in law.

“The results of this survey are no surprise especially considering what has taken place in recent months. Republican voters, like everyone else, have seen that redefining marriage is really about fundamentally altering all of society. Redefining marriage undermines our fundamental freedoms of speech and religion and in the case of the Mozilla CEO, even the ability to engage in the democratic process without the fear of losing one’s livelihood.”

The problem with the FRC’s poll is it doesn’t jive with what’s happening in reality OR other recent polls.

Remember, the FRC paid for their poll using  a right-leaning polling company.

According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll last month, 54% (not 82%) of Republicans oppose same-sex marriage.  Forty percent of Republicans support the freedom to marry.

I guess Tony can at least feel he “got what he paid for” – a poll that shows what he wants it to show.

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Tony Perkins: Dan Cathy of Chick-Fil-A is a “coward”

In a strange, topsy-turvy world, Mike Huckabee chats with hate group leader Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council about how those who would keep the LGBT community from having equal rights are somehow the ‘victims’ of attacks on their religious freedoms. See, in their world, it is their right to discriminate against other Americans. And those who would seek to express themselves through their wallets are “economic terrorists.”

During the segment, Tony Perkins calls out Chick-Fil-A CEO Dan Cathy as a “coward” for stepping back from his opposition to marriage equality.

But remember, Tony Perkins and his ilk are the ‘victims’ here.

Joe Jervis of JoeMyGod explains the anti-gay view of boycotts like this:

When major national Christian groups with millions of followers call for boycotts, that is a righteous use of the free market in order to preserve morality, marriage, family, and the American way. But when gay folks call for a boycott, THAT is homofascist intimidation, intolerance, bullying, economic terrorism, a stifling of religious liberty, and an attempt to deny the freedom of speech. And don’t you forget it.

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Tony Perkins happy that Indianapolis gay couple chose to just “move on” after bakery turned them away

Last Friday I posted about an Indianapolis bakery that shared on its Facebook page that it had told a gay couple they would not – due to their deeply held religious beliefs – make the couple a cake for a commitment ceremony.

Now, anti-gay stalwart and hate group leader Tony Perkins has praised the couple for deciding to walk away from the discrimination they faced:

A few weeks ago, the owners of 111 Cakery got a call from Mike Stephens and Shane Laney, a newly “engaged” couple who wanted to hire Randy and Trish to make the cake for their April commitment ceremony. Knowing it could cost them their business — or at the very least, change it forever — the McGaths never wavered. Politely, they explained they couldn’t accept the job.

Although Mike and Shane complained about the decision on social media, they seem content to “move on” and find another bakery without involving local officials. “We found someone that will do it for us, so we’re going to focus on the good,” Mike said. And that’s exactly as it should be. This is how religious liberty and the free market are supposed to work. Instead of forcing Christians to participate in these ceremonies against their will, the customers simply found their service elsewhere.

As with any business policy, the market will vote with their dollars on whether they agree with the McGaths’ position. And as consumers, they should have that right. Tragically, Mike and Shane’s response is an anomaly among those pushing for the redefinition of marriage.

First of all, how does Tony Perkins know just how “politely” the bakery turned down the request?

And second, Tony Perkins’ says the gay couple did exactly as they should – in the face of discrimination they should turn around, quietly walk out and “move on.” Don’t make a fuss, guys. Just “move on.”

I should note that Indiana has no statewide public accommodation protection for LGBT citizens.

Indianapolis, however, does have citywide LGBT discrimination protections. It is against the law to refuse public accommodations based on sexual orientation in Indianapolis.

Tony Perkins does not care about the law.

Or, rather, Tony Perkins doesn’t care about THIS law.

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Tony Perkins stuck in a time warp over marriage equality in Virginia

Hate group leader Tony Perkins

Hate group leader Tony Perkins is still stuck in 2006, a world away when it comes to political issues and an America that has seen a seismic change in attitudes over marriage equality.

In response to the Virginia Attorney General’s announcement that he would not be defending the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, having found it unconstitutional, Tony Perkins had this to say:

Like a majority of states, Virginia had overwhelming support (57%) to pass its marriage amendment in 2006. Now, under the new regime of Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe and Attorney General Mark Herring, the democratic process has been tossed out the window — along with the votes of 1,328,134 Virginians.

Note – Perkins mentions the legislation being passed in 2006. As anyone who is paying attention to the issue, same-sex marriage has evolved very, very quickly for many Americans who once opposed these rights. To not acknowledge that 2014 is a different political landscape from 2006 is to be blind to what is happening in the world around him.  Society evolves.

According to a Christopher Newport University poll this past October, a majority of Virginians support a repeal of the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. The poll found that 56 percent of likely voters oppose the ban on same sex marriage, compared to 36 percent who favor it.

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Hate group leader: Forcing businesses to follow the law is the same as making gays attend church

Hate group leader Tony Perkins, of the Family Research Council,  says that requiring businesses to follow the law and not discriminate against gays is “essentially” the same thing as forcing gays out of a gay bar and into a church.

And clearly, by “essentially” he means “not at all the same.”

Jeremy Hooper at Good As You gets it right:

“The proper analogy would if a gay bar wanted to deny a Christian customer bar service. In that case, Tony would actually have a point, as religion, like sexual orientation, is a protected class in most state nondiscrimination laws.

But the case, as the reliably hostile FRC president states it, only shows (a) how fully he misunderstands what’s going on and (b) just how excessive his evangelical superiority complex truly is.”

You can listen to the flawed logic of Tony Perkins below.

(via Good As You)

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Meme of the day: Betty Crocker makes ‘Devil’s Food’

Relating to my post yesterday where hate group leader Tony Perkins had to piss and moan calling for a boycott of Betty Crocker because the gay-friendly corporation gave away cakes to early newlyweds in Minnesota.

Remember – when the haters want to boycott – it’s free speech.  When we do it, we’re trampling on First Amendment rights.

Lord…

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Hypocrisy, thy name is Tony Perkins

On Tony Perkins’ daily “Christian” radio show, hate group leader Tony Perkins urged his listeners to join NOM’s sadly misguided failure of a boycott of General Mills.

Why, you ask?

Because Betty Crocker has the nerve to donate wedding cakes to same-sex weddings:

At Betty Crocker, the only thing they’re mixing up is their priorities.

Hi, I’m Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C.

If you ask conservatives, Betty Crocker’s latest promotion is a recipe for disaster. This summer, the famous dessert line decided to jump on the same-sex “marriage” bandwagon-and bring cakes to celebrate.

In Minnesota, where parent company General Mills is headquartered, Betty Crocker decided to donate wedding cakes to the first homosexual couples who exchanged vows on the first day that counterfeit marriage was legal. “Betty celebrates all families,” said manager Laura Forero. “We don’t want to be old fashioned,” the company explained.

Unfortunately for General Mills, the majority of Americans think natural marriage is anything but old fashioned. And they’ve made it tough on companies like Target, Starbucks, and JC Penney who disagree. Know where your money is going.

When you’re at the store, think outside the Betty Crocker box! For a full list of products that are undermining marriage, check out DumpGeneralMills.com.

First of all – when it comes to a majority of Americans, multiple recent pools show Americans support marriage equality:

• an ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 55 percent of Americans say they support the right of same-sex couples to legally tie the knot
• An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released in April found that 53 percent of Americans favored allowing same-sex marriages
• 52 percent of respondents in a new Gallup Politics poll would support a law that would legalize same-sex marriage across all 50 U.S. states

You know, the anti-gay Christian groups love to start these boycotts over things they don’t like or find “icky.” And when they do it’s “good and true” in the name of morality, marriage and protecting the children.

BUT – when LGBT groups boycott over bigotry, suddenly the use of a boycott is “intolerant,” “bullying,” and “intimidation” as we are clearly trying to shut down someone’s First Amendment rights.

Got that? When we do it – we’re the bad guys.  When they do it, they’re the good guys.

Riiiight….