Dear Councilperson Greig Smith,

I was trolling the internet when I noticed that you will be making a public appearance at the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council meeting held at right-winger fundamentalist Shepherd of the Hills Church, Porter Ranch. I look forward to meeting you and asking you a few political questions at the PRNC meeting, like:

Do you support Proposition 8?

Are you aware that Shepherd of the Hills Church, Porter Ranch, acted as a signature gatherer to write discrimination in the California State Constitution?

Are you aware in anticipation of your visit, Shepherd of the Hills and their satellite churches have posted Vote Yes on Prop 8 banners on their websites?

How does it feel standing in a crazed fundamentalist church that wants to write their religious dogma into the California State Constitution?

Was the $2,000 that PRNC gave to Shepherd of the Hills fireworks display used to help write religious dogma into the California State Constitution?

How does it feel holding government sponsored meetings in a church that openly criticizes the Church of Scientology, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jehovah Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Baha'i Faith, Pagans, Hindus, Buddhism and of course, Gays? (http://www.hsministry.org/pages/religions)

Councilperson Smith, does your offices web presence criticizes these groups of people like Shepherd of the Hills web presence does?


I'm just a curious citizen wanting to know your political positions about the politics at the venue you will be attending on September 9th, 2008.

I also look forward to an explanation and hopefully an apology to the Citizens of Los Angeles for allowing LAPD Devonshire Division to hold it's Bi Annual meeting (Sept. 11th) at a church that is intolerable of others. When Nancy Carthwright, the voice of Bart Simpson and a Scientologist, so generously donates her time, talent and energy to raising money for LAPD PALS Youth Center, don't you think that LAPD Devonshire Division holding meetings at a church that criticizes her religion is unacceptable? http://www.tourneyblog.com/category/Poker-News/Nancy-Ca...Charity-Poker-Event/

I look forward to meeting you and having you address my questions.

Sincerely,

Brandy Spears

cc: Mayor,
Councilpersons,
LAPD,
PRNC Board Members, Member of the Press,
Churches mentioned above,
other interested parties

Good for you! You go!

Did you attend the meeting? How did it go?

How did I miss this?

This is great thank you.

Hello. My name is Frank. I am HIV positive and I have two children. Both were adopted from a drug-addled, violent house. There were three children but, mom would not part with her baby. Her baby now lives here in California. Once he was able to figure out that his mother was a drug addict and that his future was bleak (the run-ins with the law and gangs in his area (texas) were enough) he came to try and live with his siblings. Both siblings just started college and work and are productive, STRAIGHT, members of society. My partner and I had been together for almost 15 years as they came into adulthood.

Both were raised in a gay household. Both were loved and cared for like they were born into our house. My son was 3 and daughter was 6. We were careful NOT to show too much affection for eachother to insure that any choices they made later, were their own and not influenced by us.

I hesitated to post this. I hesitate because of fear. Fear is a great motivator. It creates hate between neighbors. It creates hate amongst families. It creates terror in the right wing community. I posted this, however, because I have been to this church. I sang along with all the folks near me. They all greeted me with great joy and love. Because I've been sick in bed for nearly four months now with nerve damage to my legs and feet, a pastor from the church was going to come and pray for me, at the request of my mother. I didn't call him back and after reading this, I doubt I will.

I feel like I've been slimed. This method of fear that they are generating to stop gay marriage is turn of the century. I am not after your children. I am not out to influence ANYONE that my lifestyle is the bomb! I am not out to recruit ANY members of your community. If you shop alongst any of the gay websites for hook-ups, by the way, many of your straight husbands are there looking for male companionship. The sheer hypocrisy of this self-righteous campaign to keep gay folks in their place is indicative of the fear the drives these people. Clean up your own side of the street BEFORE you start throwing stones.

This post may seem like a rant. It IS. I am on mega painkillers but I still have fight. I am getting better. My straight children care for me between school, work and play. They love me unconditionally because that's what I taught them. You will only teach them that it's ok to hate, because they will hate YOU for what you are trying to do.

Funny, I was going to go to church this weekend. I don't think I will. This is a VERY personal post, but people, I am a human. I am not a monster. I am a part of your community. I gave my all for your kids and some of your families. I give to charity without prejudice. I give to my community without insuring that my contributions only go to STRAIGHT folks. I will continue because my parents taught me to. I only hope at some point that some folks stop teaching HATE to their children.. God help us all.

I expect hateful emails. Bring it. And, for those of you who are THINKING, but, are too afraid to say, "He deserves what he got living that lifestyle" say that to the millions of straight folks throughout the world who are dying of this disease. Thing is, I'm CONFIDENT that God kept me alive for almost 20 years to see my kids through to adulthood. Maybe he figured if I was going to sacrafice some to raise them, I should have a little longer to do so. I've NEVER confided this to anyone and to do so in this pulic forum is NOT my style. but this MATTERS, people. Our CHILDREN MATTER. TEACH LOVE.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: frankie and stephs dad,

You must Remember, God Loves us all, He hates sin and Gods word is very clear about Homosexuality being a sin. He hates all Sin equally, Theft, murder, gossip, ETC... It is never too late for you to accept Jesus as your lord and Savior. God will judge us all at the end. God bless you and I will pray for you.

For give the repost but this comment is just to unthoughtful:

quote:

Originally posted by Jcurrier31:
You must Remember, God Loves us all, He hates sin and Gods word is very clear about Homosexuality being a sin. He hates all Sin equally, Theft, murder, gossip, ETC...

Where does God say that??

Nowhere is homosexuality mentioned in the Bible.

Allow me to point out that the assumption that the Bible condemns homosexuality is passed down from generation to generation (much like racism and intolerance) with very little personal study or prayerful research. The consequences of this misinformation are disastrous, not only for God's gay and lesbian children, but for the entire church.

It would be nice to believe that no person would misuse the Bible to support their prejudice. But time and again it has happened with tragic results. We only need to look at bloody crusades and inquisitions; to support slavery, apartheid, and segregation; to persecute Jews and other non-Christian people of faith; to support the Third Reich, the Holocaust and the Ku Klux Klan; to oppose medicine and science; and to condemn interracial marriage. Shakespeare said: "Even the devil can site Scripture for his purpose."

Misusing the Bible has drenched the planet in blood and tears.

If one believe the Scriptures are "infallible" or "without error," it's very dangerous to think that our understanding of every biblical text is also without error.

Need I point out that over 1,000 people believed that Jim Jones was a faithful interpreter of the Bible. They all died with him in the jungles of Guyana.

Or that Jerry Falwell believed the Bible supported segregation of his church until a black man asked him,"When will someone like me be allowed to become a member of your congregation?"

If leaders of the Christian faith are wrong or can change there minds about the meaning of certain biblical text, shouldn't we be prepared to reconsider our own interpretations of these ancient words?

I'm sure you believe the Bible is the story of God's love for the world and the people of the world. It tells the history of God's love at work rescuing, renewing, and empowering humankind. It was never intended to be a book about human sexuality.

Jesus says nothing about same-sex behavior.

The Jewish prophets are silent about homosexuality.

Only six of the Bible's one million verses refer to same-sex behavior in any way -- and none of these verses refer to homosexual orientation as it's understood today.

In fact, the Bible accepts sexual practices that we condemn and condemns sexual practices that we accept. Lots of them! Here are a few examples.

DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21 

If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.

DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.

MARK 10:1-12

Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.

LEVITICUS 18:19

The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.

MARK 12:18-27 

If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.

DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12 

If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.

I'm sure you don't agree with these teaching form the Bible about sex.

If the Bible is the story of God's love for the world and not a handbook about sex, then that should shape how we read the Scriptures.

~~~~

In closing a bit of humor- The Bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn't mean that God doesn't love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision.

I am a 62 year old woman. I am also a mother and grandmother. I have been with my partner for 32 years. In a day where 50% of hetrosexual marriages end in divorce. We raised a well balanced, straight, responsible and loving daughter who is married and has made us grandmothers. As my daughter was growing up my partner and I became girlscout leaders (there was no troop in our area). When she was in middle school and high school we volunteered any time the school needed parental help and support. We became the "Cheer MOMS" and even went to cheer camp for a weekend. None of the other parents wanted to give up a weekend. All thru my daughter's school years our house was the "safe house" for all of her friends. We were introduced to all her friend and their partents as "her parents". I think we deserve the same rights as other parents to marry the one we love.
Using fear and lies to scare voters into changing the constitution is wronge, unfair, unnessary and UNAMERICAN. I think our actions speak louder than words, vote NO ON 8 and stop prejudice,segregation and hatefulness.

If Proposition 8 is not passed, doesn’t that open up a whole new can of worms? Shouldn’t polygamy also be legal? If 3 or 4 consenting adults want to be in a committed relationship, MARRIAGE, who are we to tell them that it’s not right? Aren’t we discriminating against them? Are they hurting you?
How about an incestuous relationship? If a brother and sister truly love each other and are consenting adults, why can’t they get married? Aren’t we discriminating against them? Are they hurting you?
Where do we draw the line? Homosexuals have every right that we do, except the right to marry. Why do they need to take marriage too? Why not have their own word for their relationship that we don’t use? Oh wait, they already do! It’s called a ‘civil union’!
Yes on Prop. 8!

I agree with No on Prop 8; as I've mentioned elsewhere I am a female, registered Republican heterosexual. I am going to vote "NO".

My personal opinion is that "traditional" marriage is between *two people* (man-woman, woman-man, man-man, woman-woman) and that is the only definition I would like to see in this state. No polygamy, no polyandry (look it up), no bestiality, no incest.

Who are we, in hindsight (and that's what it is) to think what G-d intends? It's very presumptuous to speak for G-d about many issues, including this one.

I wonder how many gay family members of the "Yes on 8" supporters are hurt by that support? And those supporters do have gay family members.

"Traditional" marriage is between two people, Peaches. A man and a woman. Since that is up for change, then why not change the number of partners too? Why is it okay for you to discriminate against polygamists? I guess I don't understand this double standard. And you'll notice that I don't mention G-d at all! G-d has absolutely nothing to do with how I have come up with my opinion.

to terik65: I have been with my NOW spouse for over 32 years. If narrow minded people like you win with yes on 8, everyone like me will lose our right to marry the one we love. Does our wanting the right to use the word spouse hurt you? My "marriage" has last longer then many hetrosexual marriages, are you jealous?

It wouldn't be such a problem if you could keep your Godless Sinful practices out of my kids schools.

terik65

You see the problem is, they are going to try and say that they were born that way. Last time I checked, During the ultrasound, Which two men or two women would never have to worry about getting, The doctor didn't say hey look, its a Homosexual. You are a man or a Woman, Homosexuality is a Choice, that's why there are only check boxes for Male and Female on any kind of application. Homosexuality only comes up on an application while giving blood and that's only because it has been medically proven to lead to more disease.

quote:

Originally posted by slymom:
to terik65: I have been with my NOW spouse for over 32 years. If narrow minded people like you win with yes on 8, everyone like me will lose our right to marry the one we love. Does our wanting the right to use the word spouse hurt you? My "marriage" has last longer then many hetrosexual marriages, are you jealous?

slymom, I am very happy for you that you both have been together so long. No I am not jealous. I have been married for over 20 years (you are older than I am.) I feel you should be allowed the same rights as a married couple, except for using the word married. Why do you want to be the same as heterosexuals? Wouldn't you like your name for it to be special? Are you ready to share that title with polygamists and people in incestuous "marriages"? Or is it okay to discriminate against those people? Where do we draw the line?

No terik65 It does not open a whole new can of worms. People are going to do what people do. If someone wants to live in polygamist relationship they will and do. If a brother and sister want to marry each other they will- but we all know the dangers of such relationships. And therefore are unlawful, and if they feel there rights are being taken away and they can pool there resources to enact change then so be it- but it's unlikely because we are speaking of a rather small percentage of the population.

As for the GLBT community you are speaking of way over 15% of the population, and when such a large portion of the population wants the same rights as other consenting adult, then the law should reflect it.

As for civil union it is not sanctioned by the state and therefor does no guarantee the same rights that are afforded to two people that have attained a marriage license issued by the state.

If you don't like the use of the word marriage, then have the state change the name of the license.

It's all about equal rights for all people.

~~~~

Jcurrier31-

You ignorant being you! You obviously have forgotten everything you learned in school. First do you remember having ever been taught about marriage in school? As a matter of fact sex ed is not even brought up until 7th grade.

Marriage is not tough in public schools.

As for Godless Sinful practices- I'm sure you've committed a few as well.

And by the way, homosexuals are born that way; otherwise why would anyone want to put up with the hatred and abuse dished out from the likes of you if it was just a matter of choice? But you could never fathom such a concept because you are obviously someone that has never seeked knowledge and or understanding. But one day someone you know and love will come to you and inform you that they are gay. Then you'll understand.