White House announces additional members of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Council

Little late for Harry

And, of course, we will support the President in living up to his promise that government has no place in funding bigotry against any group of people.

The Defense budget for FY10 already has funds marked to continue witch-hunting gay servicemembers. Good luck getting this office to support OUR families, Harry. Have fun carrying on your useless corporate ass-kissing in the Beltway.

God save ornery old queens! - kevinchi

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by: Keori @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 14:56:55 PM CDT

Rabbi Saperstein

While I still believe that church and state should stay as far away from each other as possible ... I wouldn't be at all surprised if Rabbi David Saperstein is also on our side.  Reform Judaism can be very LGBT-friendly as well.

And glad to know that someone from an LGBT Civil Rights organization is there as well.

"There are two kinds of people in this world -- the kind who separate the world into two kinds of people, and those who don't."  -- Gloria Steinem

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by: red7eric @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 14:57:18 PM CDT

took me 10 minutes between starting the post and getting it up

so I duplicated some of the info in yours. That's what happens when I get distracted while posting.

Mine below should also say two likely Jewish allies as I don't know anything about either of the appointees other than the organizations they work for.

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by: one jewish dyke @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 15:08:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Rabbi Saperstein is pro-equality

I received an email from S. Kathryn Bigam, Press Secretary of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, who said that Rabbi Saperstein is pro-equality:

I wanted to get in touch to tell you that Rabbi Saperstein and the Reform Jewish Movement, which he represents, are indeed unequivocally pro-LGBT equality.

The Religious Action Center's page on LGBT rights is at http://rac.org/advocacy/issues... and we've got a legislative assistant here, Jason, who deals exclusively with civil rights issues, including LGBT issues. We did a big push to oppose Prop 8 this summer, and we're working closely with LCCR & HRC right now on hate crimes legislation (and in fact sent a letter to Congress on it today: http://rac.org/Articles/index....

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by: Pam Spaulding @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 17:58:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Nancy Ratzan (NCJW) is also a strong ally

The National Council of Jewish Women is also an LGBT allied organization.

From their website (under Civil Rights in the section on Public Policy issues):

NCJW believes that a democratic society and its people must value diversity and promote mutual understanding and respect for all. As such, since its inception, NCJW has been a tireless advocate for the enactment and enforcement of laws and regulations that protect civil rights. NCJW has advocated for public policies that promote equal rights, end discrimination, and encourage opportunities for people of all backgrounds. Today that effort continues as NCJW seeks to end all discrimination against individuals on the basis of race, gender, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. NCJW continues to work for the enactment and enforcement of laws and regulations that preserve civil rights for all to ensure that the plurality of voices and opinions that make our democracy strong are heard in every facet of society.  

People can sign up for their Action Alerts at http://action.ncjw.org/ncjw/jo...

susanferman.wordpress.com

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by: Susan_F @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 18:37:16 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

two Jewish allies

National Council of Jewish Women has in its resolutions strong support for separation of religion and state, and elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Reform Judaism has long been a supporter of rights for LBGT people. I don't know anything about anyone else, but I would have preferred seeing an Episcopalian or UCC representative to balance out the multiple Catholic and Baptist ones.  

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by: one jewish dyke @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 15:02:06 PM CDT

... and two gay men

In addition to Harry Knox, Fred Davie is out and proud.

"There are two kinds of people in this world -- the kind who separate the world into two kinds of people, and those who don't."  -- Gloria Steinem

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by: red7eric @ Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 13:16:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Joel Hunter, Northland Church

Joel C. Hunter was elected President of the Christian Coalition in 2007, but turned the job down.  Hunter was interested in wanted to broaden the Coalition's agenda beyond abortion and same-sex marriage in order to include issues such as poverty, global warming, and HIV/AIDS.  He is also the author of a book called Right Wing, Wrong Bird: Why the Tactics of the Religious Right Won't Fly with Most Conservative Christians that can't have been very popular with the Pat Robertsons of the world.

I was moved at the time to write Hunter an e-mail, thanking him for standing up to the board.  I identified myself in my e-mail as an openly gay man who felt that the activities of the Christian Coalition were often anything but.  He sent me a very gracious response, that read:

Dear [red7eric],

Thank you for your kind words and your encouraging letter. We stand together for the poor, and the rest of the vulnerable who God loves!

Blessings on and through you,
Joel Hunter

I'm not sure that Rev. Hunter is what you could call "pro-gay," but he's certainly able to speak to a gay person without being insulting and bone-headed.

AND ... I wish this council didn't exist.

"There are two kinds of people in this world -- the kind who separate the world into two kinds of people, and those who don't."  -- Gloria Steinem

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by: red7eric @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 15:10:50 PM CDT

On Topic, Blog Against Theocracy

The annual blogswarm Blog Against Theocracy is running this coming weekend.  My own focus for my posts is going to be Prop 8/LGBT issues, and this faith-based mumbo jumbo, which is just wrong.  Any religious organization that wants to help out with meeting the social needs of its community can do so by setting up a non-discriminatory foundation/corporation to do this.  They can raise money in the church AND get federal funding, they just can't discriminate in hiring.  

Government getting involved in setting up "faith-based" committees and such is just pandering to a narrow religious consitituency.  I'm a church-goer, and I find Obama's "faith-based" baloney unnecessary and wrong.

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by: bluegal @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 15:25:05 PM CDT

Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) also has a more progressive reputation

Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples like her: http://news.gladalliance.org/2...

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Claim to fame: Posted first PHB diary to be demoted

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by: cindik @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 15:25:57 PM CDT

Dungy Dumped?

It looks that way.

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by: S1 @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 15:40:50 PM CDT

Just read that he declined

couldn't make two of the four scheduled meetings and therefore removed his name.

I say just as well, no need for his anti-gay voice.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

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by: bkmn @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 16:07:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I still believe ....

...the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships should not be tax funded nor given any kind of authority.

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by: eddie94603 @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 15:56:01 PM CDT

The Clinton-Santorum theocratic corruption law or, how I found out the sky pixies wanted me to vote for (insert party)…

"... I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their "legislature" should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and State. Thos. Jefferson

Jefferson was speaking about the First Amendment to the Constitution. His thinking and most federal law is being undermined by the faith based bribery campaign of Dubois and Obama.

Initially the idea for 'faith based' government was the sick love child of Rick Santorum and Hillary Clinton. It was adopted as a strategy by Karl Rove and Bush who used faith based funds to bribe cult leaders in exchange for their political support, particularly on the question of same sex marriage, probably their most successful wedge issue.

Now Obama, urged on by his Minister of Pandering, Dubois, who orchestrated Obama's vote getting anti-SSM campaign from the first anti-LGBT revival meetings with Donnie McClurkin to Warrens bigotfest at Salddleback where Obama uttered the words that torpedoed our chance to defend same sex marriage gawd's in the mix."

The whole concept is unconstitutional and illegal. But that's never stopped a hustler and it won't stop Obama.  

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

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by: donal1944 @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 17:01:59 PM CDT

What about non-Ibrahimic faiths?

I don't see any Hindu, Buddhist, or Pagan representation there. Hmmm.  

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by: lcloud @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 17:09:47 PM CDT

Asian Indian Women

would presumably cover some Hindus and some Buddhists. But you're still right about the lack of diversity.

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by: one jewish dyke @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 18:15:36 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Dream on

"And, of course, we will support the President in living up to his promise that government has no place in funding bigotry against any group of people."

Obama will live up to his promise when pigs fly out of my backside in a frozen over hell while Peter LaBarbera is announcing that he's really, really sorry for all he's done to demonize the LGBT community.   I know some people really believe he's on our side, but he's just not that into us.  

"If a bullet should go through my head let that bullet go through every closet door."
Harvey Milk

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by: Buffy @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 17:13:40 PM CDT

Nice list of 25 people

  who I would not mind seeing on the unemployment line.  Cheering because so-n-so is on the list is the wrong answer.  There should be no faith based anything in our government.  It doesn't belong there period.

 As mentioned above, there are many religions missing from the list.  That is just one of the major problems with this Faith Based Bull Shit.

 But since this FBBS isn't going away, there needs to be a few Atheists and Agnostic folks on board as well, preferable 50% of this group.

If I make sense? it was quite by accident.

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by: HappyCat @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 17:29:51 PM CDT

well, yes

The point is only that it's not as bad as it could be, as we might have a handful of allies speaking up for us in a room of 25 voices. I'd rather see all the funding go to community action agencies and not religious groups, and have this group of 25 deal with privately-funded arms of their organizations. Plenty of religious charities do good work; I just don't think the government should be in the business of funding them. If a church group or the synagogue Sisterhood wants to do a blanket drive for homeless people or make meals for home-bound seniors, more power to them. But don't ask for tax dollars to fund your initiative.

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by: one jewish dyke @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 18:21:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This is an advisory council, nothing more.

We could have a solid majority of allies on it. and Obama would do what "God" tells hm to, anyway.  And at the same time this council is "advising" him, Rick Warren, T.D. Jakes, Kirbyjon Caldwell and the rest will be advising him too.  It's not too hard to guess who he'll listen to, given that we already know that you-know-who is in the mix.

I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.  -Archbishop Desmond Tutu

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by: QScribe @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 19:31:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This leads back to the Rick Warren problem

Obama considers the homophobic lies by some members of this panel and our push for equality as being on an equal plane.

He needs to read the Iowa decision. Equality is not a relative term. Equal means just that. EQUAL!!!

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by: DilworthDem @ Mon Apr 06, 2009 at 19:17:29 PM CDT

What About Other Religious Voices

I see no one from the segregationist / white suprmacist churches. That says to me that this is not about including everyone, but rather about indulging bigotry.

Please remember that this council will be making recommendations and voting on them. So, for Harry Knox to have any real voice, he has have a majority of the council with him or he'll simply be voted down every time.

It also guarantees that bigotry will continue in taxpayer funded faith-based proselytizing.

That's why I continue to call him Bigot Hypocrite Obama.

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality. -- John F. Kennedy (inspired by Dante's Inferno)

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by: oldbrit @ Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 12:33:58 PM CDT