The so-called “Living Word Christian Center,” an Exodus International member organization in suburban Minneapolis, said it neither supports nor opposes a Minnesota-based Christian punk-rock group which endorses the Islamist-style extermination of homosexual persons.
Here’s the organization’s statement, courtesy of Exodus’ blog:
Statement Regarding You Can Run But You Cannot Hide Ministries
Living Word Christian Center (LWCC) did host You Can Run But You Cannot Hide Ministries on March 25, 2009 in our Senior High School Youth department. The speaker was Jacob MacAulay the chief operations manager of their ministry, his topic was on the influences of pop culture in our society. LWCC does not support financially or in any other manner, nor is an affiliate ministry of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide Ministries. Our faith community at LWCC believes it is the love of God who draws all men (people) to Him, not condemnation or judgment.
LWCC does not apologize for hosting the hate group, does not acknowledge the rock group’s loud-and-proud kill-the-gays message, does not clarify its own policy regarding the imprisonment or execution of homosexual persons, and does not admit to the incident on its own web site.
Meanwhile, You Can Run continues to bring its fundamentalist hate to gullible public schools in Minnesota under the guise of anti-drug and anti-sex music.
Since Exodus International continues to deny prior knowledge of Scott Lively’s Holocaust revisionism and his plans for antigay genocide in Uganda, we pause for a moment to take a quick look back. Over the past four years, Exodus and NARTH have been reminded several times of their ties to Lively — and both organizations responded by deleting the evidence of their ties from their respective web sites.
Wayne Besen noted in passing: “Another major NARTH contributor is Holocaust revisionist Scott Lively, co-author of The Pink Swastika, a book that partially blamed gay people for the Holocaust.” NARTH subsequently deleted the linked page.
XGW devoted an entire article to the ongoing connections between Scott Lively and NARTH, the American Family Association, and JONAH (the Christian Right’s front group for Jewish “ex-gays”). After the article was written, NARTH and the AFA deleted the pages on their respective web sites which documented their ties to Lively. XGW had previously, in August of that year, published an article tying JONAH to another notorious Holocaust revisionist, Paul Cameron — and in February, XGW demonstrated that JONAH’s purpose is not to support largely non-existent Jewish ex-gays, but to convert Jews to politically conservative evangelical Christianity.
Exodus deleted that article from its web site shortly thereafter.
This brief list is not comprehensive.
For the past half-decade, TWO, Ex-Gay Watch, and Box Turtle Bulletin have written numerous articles about Scott Lively — as have our friends at Right Wing Watch and the Southern Poverty Law Center. We know from blog comments and site logs that Exodus staffers monitor these sites. We know that they deleted incriminating articles after we spotlighted them.
And we observe that, even after the past year in which Lively has publicly used his endorsements from Exodus, NARTH, and AFA to fuel his campaign for African genocide, Exodus International still has expressed neither regret nor retraction of its endorsements.
The South Africa Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (SA GLAAD) has drafted a protest e-mail regarding Malawi’s arrest, remand, conviction, sentencing and incarceration of Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza, Amnesty International’s prisoners of conscience.
Please consider writing your own messages to the following officials, using the following bullet points to craft a brief message in your own words.
To: justice@malawi.gov.mw, sg-justice@sdnp.org.mw, lawcom@lawcom.mw, lawcom@sdnp.org.mw, highcommalai@telkomsa.net, distms@malawi.gov.mw, infopol@africa-online.net, chadzapg@malawi.gov.mw,
Subject: Free Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza now
Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza were disingenuously convicted of a supposed indecent act: Daring to hold a symbolic marriage ceremony.
The law under which they were convicted is a remnant from the Western colonial era.
The pair has been adopted as “prisoners of conscience” by Amnesty International. The governments of Great Britain and the United States of America, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, have vocally opposed the conviction. The UNHCR said that protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a fundamental human right that cannot be overruled on cultural grounds.
The sentence is inhumane. The refusal of bail and the remand of Steven and Tiwonge are abhorrent.
It is time for Malawi to rid itself from the defunct colonial codified discriminations and human rights oppressions.
On these bases, Malawi has no ethical or cultural justification for continuing to incarcerate these men and others like them.
U.S. cable network Current TV is premiering a can’t-miss documentary this week:
The network’s Vanguard program traveled to Uganda to “trace the influence of American evangelical leaders on a proposed law that could make being gay punishable by death.”
The episode premieres on Wednesday, May 26 at 10/9c. Current TV is available on DIRECTV channel 358, DISH Network channel 196, Comcast channel 107 (most cities) or 125 (Dallas and Seattle), AT&T U-verse channel 189, and various Time Warner Digital channels. Portions of its broadcasts are also available at Current.com/video.
Update: The documentary is now viewable via Hulu. (Hat tip: Ex-Gay Watch)
In 2009, Holocaust revisionist Scott Lively led an Exodus International board member and a representative of former PFOX president Richard Cohen’s International Healing Foundation to support an antigay conference which launched a campaign for antigay genocide and torture in Uganda.
While that initial campaign was dampened under international pressure, Uganda is now considering a new bill to execute HIV-positive gay Ugandans — and the original bill to execute all LGBT Ugandans remains under consideration.
Seeing a new opportunity for influence and fund-raising, Lively is jumping to the forefront of efforts to rejuvenate Uganda’s war against its own citizenry. This year, Lively is posturing as a moderate who merely favors the torture of gay Ugandans in “ex-gay” prison camps until they pretend to change their orientation.
Lively told Edward Ssekandi, the speaker of Uganda’s parliament, in a March 2010 letter that antigay torture is more palatable to the international community than an all-out death penalty. (Read More)
The National Association of Social Workers of Uganda (NASWU) argued “there is justification for Uganda to put in place appropriate legislation to comprehensively prohibit homosexuality” by killing the nation’s homosexuals through a “process that even other countries will want to emulate.”
In response, Exodus International President Alan Chambers criticized the NASWU but gives the organization too much credit:
Although the NASWU seems genuinely concerned in helping those struggling with same-sex attraction, the organization fails to see that Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009–as any legislation that criminalizes homosexuality–does more to hurt than help homosexuals.
Genuinely concerned? Nonsense. One does not help people by silencing and killing them.
Exodus fails to support human rights or freedom for any Ugandans; instead, Exodus merely suggests that evangelical churches patronize the unfree masses by offering “hope and healing” to those who surrender to the U.S. fundamentalist ideology that these churches have imported.
On its blog — but not its web site — the ex-gay activist umbrella group Exodus International today released a statement which sidesteps the organization’s well-documented role in fomenting antigay genocide legislation in Uganda. The statement is signed by board members and numerous regional coordinators and “ministry” leaders.
The statement:
implicitly denies the existence of sexual orientation, referring only to behavior.
falsely states that Exodus has not supported legislation depriving others of “life and dignity,” despite the organization’s prior support for Uganda’s March 2009 pro-genocide conference and years of official organizational support for legislation that separates LGBT parents from their children and that fosters discrimination and ostracism against LGBT workers, renters, and youths.
conspicuously omits “liberty” and “the pursuit of happiness” from the “life and dignity” that it claims to uphold.
fails to hold president Alan Chambers and board member Don Schmierer accountable for their negligent and reckless affirmation of the March 2009 conference and subsequent disregard for human life in Uganda
is one year late — an official statement was sought by human-rights advocates and ex-gay watchdogs a full year ago, when such a statement could have prevented Uganda’s ensuing genocide campaign.
is likely to be ignored by the organization’s partners in Uganda — and by Exodus Global Alliance –because it is a year late and written under extreme public pressure.
sidesteps the only truly literal “conservative” interpretation of the Bible regarding homosexuality — an interpretation which requires LGBT people to be stoned to death by the self-righteous. There are NO Bible verses which support Exodus and NARTH’s discredited variations of reparative therapy, nor any verses calling for Exodus-style discrimination and deception, though some verses may be liberally and non-literally interpreted as an affirmation of same-sex orientation.
fails to affirm any human rights whatsoever — it opposes antigay genocide solely because genocide prevents churches from evangelizing those who are slaughtered. To Exodus, human lives are just pawns in a chess game, or ticks on a scorecard.
falsely and piously claims that signers have sole ownership of unspecified “transformation” — a deliberate insinuation that said signers have been “cured” of their sexual orientation.
falsely characterizes Christianity as a right-wing ideological “identity” and not a spiritual profession or practice.
The entire statement and its current list of signers is copied below.
Exodus International believes that every human life, regardless of an individual’ sexual behavior, is of inestimable worth to God and that defending this principle is foundational in offering a Christian response to any issue. As such, Exodus International has not and will not support any legislation that deprives others of life and dignity including, but not limited to, Uganda’ Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. We stand with all who are defending this basic, biblical tenet and remain committed to sharing the compassion, hope and life-giving truth and grace of Jesus Christ.
In November of 2009, several of us sent a letter to Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady Musenevi expressing our concerns regarding The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. The legislation would render some homosexual practices crimes punishable by life imprisonment and possible death. We believe that sexual crimes against children, whether committed by someone of the same or opposite sex, are the most serious of offenses and should be punished; we consider same-sex behavior in consensual adult relationships another matter.
Since the Bible clearly states that homosexual behavior was not part of God’ creative intent for human sexual expression, the Christian church must remain a safe, compassionate and confidential place. If homosexual behavior and knowledge of such behavior is criminalized and prosecuted, as proposed in this bill, church and ministry leaders will be unable to assist hurting men, women and youth who might otherwise seek help in addressing this personal issue. The Christian church must be permitted to extend the love and compassion of Christ to all, regardless of an individual’ adherence to scripture. We believe that such legislation would make this mission a difficult, if not impossible, task to carry out.
Many of us, and those we know and work with, have personally struggled with same-sex attractions and some have lived as gay-identified individuals, but we have since found a new identity in Jesus Christ. We now live our lives to reflect the transformation that is available to those who submit their mind, will and emotions to the Lordship of Christ. We sincerely believe that such transformation cannot be achieved in an environment of government coercion where the vital support, care and compassion of the Christian community is discouraged and prosecuted. In addition, it wasn’t through coercion that Christ set us free, but through the gracious invitation He extended to us for relationship and the freedom He gave us to choose our own path.
Uganda’ parliament is preparing to pass a brutal new law that would punish gay people with prison — even death.
Initial international criticism drove the President to call for a review. But after a well-funded and vicious lobbying effort by extremists, the bill looks set to be passed — threatening widespread persecution and bloodshed.
Opposition to the bill is rising, including from the Anglican church. Ugandan gay rights advocate Frank Mugisha writes, This law will put us in serious danger. Please, sign the petition and tell others to stand with us — if there’ a huge global response, our government will see that Uganda will be internationally isolated by the proposed law, and strike it down.
With the decision expected in days, only an irresistible wave of worldwide pressure will be enough to save Frank’s life and many others. Let’ build a huge petition to stop the gay death law — click here to take action, then forward this email:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_rights/?vl
The petition will be delivered to President Museveni, members of the review committee and Ugandan embassies worldwide this week before it’ too late, as well as to key donor governments.
The bill proposes life imprisonment for anyone convicted of having same-sex relations and imposes the death penalty for “serial offenders”. NGOs working to prevent the spread of HIV could be imprisoned for up to 7 years for “promoting homosexuality”. Even members of the public face up to three years in jail if they fail to report homosexual activity to the police within 24 hours!
The bill’ advocates claim that it defends national culture, but its strongest critics come from within Uganda. The Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha is one of many who’ written to us — he says,
It is violating our cultures, traditions and religious values that teach against intolerance, injustice, hatred and violence. We need laws to protect people — not ones that will humiliate, ridicule, persecute and kill them en masse.
By rejecting this dangerous bill and supporting the breadth of opposition to it, we can help set a crucial precedent. Let’ build massive support for Uganda’ human rights defenders, and save lives by stopping this bill — sign now here, then tell friends and family:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_rights/?vl
With hope and determination,
Alice, Ricken, Ben, Paul, Benjamin, Pascal, Raluca, Graziela and the whole Avaaz team
SOURCES
African letter to Ugandan President to throw out Anti-Homosexual Bill:
http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22761
Ugandan church leader brands anti-gay bill ‘genocide’:
Uganda’s corrupt and undemocratic parliament is preparing to pass a bill that may execute LGBT Ugandans and imprison anyone who works to prevent HIV infection among LGBT Ugandans, who favors tolerance, or who fails to report gay or transgender loved ones to the authorities.
Ugandan and international human rights activists are responding with a last-ditch petition.
The petition will be delivered to President Museveni, members of the review committee and Ugandan embassies worldwide this week, as well as to key donor governments.
Ugandan gay rights advocate Frank Mugisha writes, “This law will put us in serious danger. Please, sign the petition and tell others to stand with us — if there’ a huge global response, our government will see that Uganda will be internationally isolated by the proposed law, and strike it down.”
The Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha says of the legislation, “It is violating our cultures, traditions and religious values that teach against intolerance, injustice, hatred and violence. We need laws to protect people — not ones that will humiliate, ridicule, persecute and kill them en masse.”
The host of the petition is Avaaz.org, which describes itself as “a 3.8-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people inform global decision-making.”
The text of the petition reads:
To President Museveni of Uganda, Members of the Review Committee, and donor governments:
We stand with citizens across Uganda who are calling on their government to withdraw the Anti-Homosexual Bill, and to protect the universal human rights embodied in the Ugandan constitution. We urge Uganda’ leaders and donors to join us in rejecting persecution and upholding values of justice and tolerance.
An Open Letter from Soulforce to Jan and Paul Crouch, founders of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and the Evangelical Christian broadcasters who are featured on Lighthouse Television, TBN’ affiliate in Uganda, including: Matthew Crouch, Joyce Meyer, Andrew Wommack, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, and Franklin Graham:
By now you are well aware of the anti-homosexual bill pending before the Parliament of Uganda. We urge you to denounce this bill. Use your personal friendships with President and Mrs. Museveni, with MP David Bahati (your Christian colleague who proposed this bill) and with Stephen Langa, (the Ugandan Christian organizer behind the bill) to take a public and passionate stand against it.
The media are blaming the visit to Uganda by three of your colleagues for this despicable and truly un-Christian law. In fact, for years you have used your Lighthouse Television programs, your radio broadcasts and your massive public meetings to warn Ugandans of the so called “threat homosexuals pose to Bible-based values and the traditional African Family.”
In no small part, you are already responsible for the current call by Ugandan leaders to enforce the old law condemning lesbian and gay Ugandans to up to 14 years in prison. This new law increases that sentence to life imprisonment and even death by hanging. Denounce this new bill or the blood of lesbian and gay Ugandans will be on your hands.
It isn’t just the “liberal media” who are condemning the bill. (Read More)
Bruce Wilson of Talk To Action – a veteran watchdog of the Christian Right — has created a very short documentary called “Transforming Uganda.”
Please share the video with friends or colleagues, and spread the word that the Uganda antigay genocide legislation is not an isolated incident. In fact, the “transformational” movement is working underground in several cities in America.
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