The next time you hear reports of anti-gay persecution in Iran...

[theHandpuppet]

... or other primarlily ME Muslim countries, reports of human rights violations which seem to come to light only when the Bushreich wants to paint their next target(s) as hot beds of intolerance and religous extremism, consider this:

http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/01/25/iran12535.htm

United Nations: U.S. Aligned With Iran in Anti-Gay Vote
Rice Must Explain Repressive UN Ban on LGBT Rights Groups

(Washington, D.C., January 25, 2006) - In a reversal of policy, the United States on Monday backed an Iranian initiative to deny United Nations consultative status to organizations working to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. In a letter to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, a coalition of 40 organizations, led by the Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Watch, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, called for an explanation of the vote which aligned the United States with governments that have long repressed the rights of sexual minorities.

This vote is an aggressive assault by the U.S. government on the right of sexual minorities to be heard. It is astonishing that the Bush administration would align itself with Sudan, China, Iran and Zimbabwe in a coalition of the homophobic.

“This vote is an aggressive assault by the U.S. government on the right of sexual minorities to be heard,” said Scott Long, director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch. “It is astonishing that the Bush administration would align itself with Sudan, China, Iran and Zimbabwe in a coalition of the homophobic.”

MORE

Or this: "AFA has advocate for executing gays and abortion providers on its radio show" http://pandagon.net/2006/02/14/afa-has-advocate-for-executing-gays-and-abortion-providers-on-its-radio-show/

Or this:
Tue, Feb 14, 2006 11:08am EST
American Family Association opened its airwaves to advocate for executing gays, adulterers, abortion doctors
Summary: Far-right Christian author and American Vision president Gary DeMar was the guest on the February 2 edition of American Family Radio's Today's Issues. In the past, DeMar has advocated the installation of a theocratic government in the United States in which homosexuals, adulterers, and abortion doctors would be executed.

Or this: http://blog01.kintera.com/christianalliance/archives/2005/06/americans_of_ev.html
"Other groups, such as the Alliance Defense Fund, the Coalition on Revival and the Council for National Policy have very close ties to the Reconstructionists. The ADF, which was founded by evangelicals such as the late Bill Bright of Campus Crusade and D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, as well as the late Larry Burkett of Crown Financial Concepts which is the fundamentalist’s version of the ACLU, brings the Reconstructionists to teach law students in their summer Blackstone Fellowship program, including such figures as George Grant, who advocates the execution of homosexuals in his book Legislating Immorality, and Gary DeMar who would also execute adulterers, women who seek abortions, and the doctors that perform them. The Coalition on Revival, which openly advocates the closing of public schools and abolishing the IRS, has detailed position paper on its web site outlining what and why they believe that the Bible should be the basis of all law and government. "

Or these "men of God" who advocate castration or execution of gays: http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_1092.shtml

How about this GOP candidiate who avdocates death for gays? http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/10/25/5445/1320

Video: Republican candidate supports EXECUTION of GAYS
by scottmaui
Mon Oct 25, 2004 at 02:04:45 AM PDT

You've got to watch this video.
My Democratic state Senator here on Maui, J. Kalani English, has a Republican running against him named Robb Finberg, a Pastor for the Christian Fellowship Church.
In this video, Finberg actually says that he would support a law for the execution of people found guilty of performing homosexual acts.
Yes, that's right, he favors the death penalty for gays.

Watch the video here:
http://mikegabbard.info/rob_finberg.htm

Here's some spiritual leadership for you...
http://www.counterbias.com/679.html

Even today, in the first decade of the twenty-first century, some Christian fundamentalists continue the call for hatred and the violence that inevitably follows. Although not calling for their execution, Rev. Lou Sheldon, founder and chairman of the rabidly homophobic Traditional Values Coalition, has claimed gays and lesbians need “an exorcism” and has called for their segregation into “cities of refuge” (aka “concentration camps”).

"Another notorious homophobe is Dr. D. James Kennedy, president of Coral Ridge Ministries. His former vice president, George Grant, wrote Legislating Immorality, a sermonic tome that included a fire-and-brimstone rant on America’s abandonment of a Scripture-inspired death penalty for homosexuality.

And then there’s Michael Marcavage of Repent America, a radical fundamentalists organization, who claims he’s not calling for the extermination of gays, but some take his words to mean just that. At least fellow “Christian” crusader (and certified wing-nut) Rev. Fred Phelps – of “GodHatesFags.com” infamy – is blunt about his desire to execute gay Americans.

So to sum it up, the next time the Bushreich steps up its campaign to paint its enemies in the ME as barbaric persecutors of gays (and we know they will use gays to suit any political purpose), remember that it's perfectly predictable for them to point fingers elsewhere whilst committing or tolerating persecution and hate crimes right here at home. In fact, in its virulent war against gays, this government has aligned itself with countries like Iran and against its own tradtional allies in Europe.

Hate and intolerance is unacceptable anywhere, but the next time the PR machine for the Bushreich starts pointing fingers at nation's half a world away simply to serve their own agenda, let's call them on their own record here at home. Let's demand that domestic terrorists embedded within organizations such as the AFA and elsewhere be exposed for the religious extremists THEY are.

Finally, GET THE FACTS AND FIGHT BACK!
http://www.hatecrime.org/index.html
http://gaylife.about.com/od/hatecrimes/a/statistics.htm
http://www.exgaywatch.com/blog/archives/2005/02/uniform_hate_cr.html
http://www.glaad.org/
http://www.lambda.org/hatecr1.htm
http://www.stophate.us/hcpa.html
http://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=16949

[Donnachaidh]

1. k&r!

Excellent links!

[Trajan]

2. In all fairness ....

Iran and nearly every other muslim state is VERY socially conservative, and Liberals would find such conditions unbearable to exist within for long ....

Muslim states are at least as bad as Republican states ....

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. Thank you.

I hate it when I see posts here reacting to press releases about gays, women, drug users, etc. being condemned to death in fundie islamic countries. The only reason we hear about them is because the corporate media is trying to bring gays, feminists, and druggies (IOW, in their minds, Democrats) into line behind Bushco's continuing war on Islam.

Never mind that fundies right here at home want the same thing.

[theHandpuppet]

5. Exactly.

Smoke and mirrors -- a typical tactic of the Bushreich PR machine. Anything to keep the American people from examining the very real problems we have right here at home.

[ck4829]

4. Iran treats Transgendered fairly

Groups like the TVC slander them.

Still a stretch for GLBT equality in Islamic countries, but still I think it's good to know that.

[question everything]

6. These are two separate issues

First, sure there are wackos who want to execute gays and physicians who perform abortions and, for all I know, married couples who use birth control pills (but not condoms, of course, even though the bible prohibits "spilling" of a man's seed.

This is not, however, in the penal code of any state, but Iran is doing it with relish as it is the state's policy.

Second, I am reminded of what my mom used to say: just because so and so does this does not mean that you should, too.

Cuba and Iran are some of the most repressive of human rights in the world, North Korea, too.

But just because these countries are the bad guys list of the Bush administration does not mean that DUers should coddle them. There were many, apparently, with Castro when he was hospitalized, and many that do this with Ahmadinejad after the Mike Wallace interview.

Please let's keep our perspective, OK?

[Jed Dilligan]

7. If, by "coddle," you mean "not start a war,"

we disagree.

[question everything]

8. No, Praising them as greatest gift to humanity

I did not read all the threads about Castro, but Ahmadinejad is embraced for pointing out to Wallace the lack of health care and the number of prisoners and... I don't remember what else. Being praised as friendly and articulate. This is not how a dictator should be viewed. He probably loves kittens, too.

[Jed Dilligan]

10. Truth's truth whatever the source,

I'm not a fan of anyone who rules or holds power over other people. But if his words are true I won't deny it.

I haven't seen the Ah'madoajihad threads you refer to, most of the threads I've seen on Castro are balanced positive and negative.

[AntiFascist]

15. It's no wonder BushCo wants to paint Ahmadinejad as being humane...

He's in a very vulnerable position right now, and he's the best thing they've got going since bin Laden to unite all of Islam into a singular enemy that can start WWIII. Who cares if he criticizes the Chimp, as long as he looks and sounds like a Democrat. Ahmadinejad is the best hope the Republicans have for the upcoming elections, and I'm sure he is a valued commodity.

[theHandpuppet]

12. Oh, yeah, my post was all about "coddling" hatemongers

Maybe you should go back and reread my OP because you so totally missed the point. In addition, if you wish to dismiss this post by whipping out that broad brush of yours and painting me as a pal of Castro or Ahmadinejad, then you're no better than those who painted Ned Lamont as the "al Qaeda" candidate or those who object to the Iraq War as "aiding and abetting terrorism". As a gay person I am outraged and offended that you would intimate that I would coddle any hatemonger, anywhere.

THE POINT IS, question everything, that you're not. Questioning everything, that is. I question why I suddenly read so many reports in our own press about gay persecution abroad when there are gay folks being persecuted and beaten every damn day right here at home. Gays are being used as nothing more than political footballs by this administration, either to whip up the support of RW fundies here at home or, ironially enough, to be promoted as the victims of religious extremists somewhere else in the world, particularly if that country happens to be a foe of the U.S or a Muslim country we wish to invade, those "barbarians at the gates".

You said, "This is not, however, in the penal code of any state, but Iran is doing it with relish as it is the state's policy." And THE POINT IS, question everything, that there are religious groups and leaders right here that would like nothing better than to institute such laws and who are actively working towards that goal. Why aren't they being exposed by the press for the vile bigots they are instead of getting booked as guests on every cable show around? Many states have already signed anti-gay legislation into law and many more have such legislation in the works. The administration itself, along with many GOP and Some DEM lawkers, would love to include anti-gay language into the Constitution of the United States. THE POINT IS that religious extremism comes in all stripes.

Then you write, "Second, I am reminded of what my mom used to say: just because so and so does this does not mean that you should, too."

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

"Cuba and Iran are some of the most repressive of human rights in the world, North Korea, too."

And? What has that to do with pointing out some homegrown hypocrisy? Yes, we all know about the human rights abuses in those countries. How much do the American people know about our own?

I deeply resent how you have twisted my post but then your response is but an example of why there is such a lack of self-reflection and dialogue in this country about real problems we have right here at home. I'm sick of gay folks being used as a politicial football by this administration, pandering to RW religious extremists in this nation while painting everyone else's religious extremists as something to fear. I fear them all, including the ones next door and the ones stuffing Republican coffers with money and passing laws to strip me of my rights.

[readmoreoften]

9. Error: You've already recommended that thread.

I'll see you all in the "city of refuge." Oh wait. In the CITIES of refuge. They'll need more than one.

[Jankyn]

11. K & R n/m

[cali]

13. It's absurd to compare the

U.S. with Iran when it comes to gay rights. In Massachusetts gays can marry. In VT and CT gay and lesbian couples can get a civil union, which in VT, at least, differs only in name from marriage. Most large companies provide benefits for gays and lesbians. Yes, it's disgraceful that the bush administration is siding with Iran on the issue of gays at the U.N.,and yes there are nuts who want to impose the death penalty on a religious basis, and certainly there are politicians who try and foment any-gay sentiment, but we don't execute people for being gay here. And if you can't see the difference, well, nothing anyone says is likely to sink in.

[theHandpuppet]

14. Yet another poster who missed my point

Do I really have to explain it yet again?

Edited to add: Sorry to snap, but this is getting really frustrating.

[Laughing Mirror]

16. And there's this under-reported story from the other day:

U.N. chides U.S. on gay rights
Efforts sought to combat job discrimination, hate crimes

By JOSHUA LYNSEN
Wednesday, August 02, 2006

U.S. officials must do more to protect gay citizens from discrimination and abuse, according to a United Nations report.

In the report released July 28, the U.N. Human Rights Committee says the U.S. must undertake efforts to combat anti-gay job discrimination and hate crimes. The report “notes with concern” the absence of such protections.

Gay and human rights groups that have pushed for stronger pro-gay laws welcomed the findings.

“The challenge now is for human rights activists back home in the U.S. to use this as another tool — and additional leverage — to force the U.S. to do what it’s required to under U.S. law,” said Mark Bromley, spokesperson for the human rights group Global Rights.

“We will certainly be asking for meetings with the U.S. government to discuss this finding, and point out how embarrassing it is for an international human rights body to find such serious violations here in the U.S.”

http://washingtonblade.com/2006/8-2/news/national/rights.cfm

[theHandpuppet]

17. Yes, don't you find it curious...

... that recently the MSM have jumped all over reports of gay persecution in the Middle East as if this is news? IMHO it's been carefully orchestrated to paint Muslim societies as "barbaric" so we can all feel self-righteous by invading their countries. Pointing the finger across the ocean, whether that's pointing out others' human rights abuses or generating wars overseas, certainly keeps the home folks from noticing the rotten things that are going on right here at home.

By comparison, how much coverage has been given to our own government's efforts to derail human rights issues at the U.N.? I'm tired of gay rights being used as a political football by this administration. Some of our so-called allies in the ME, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan and Egypt, are some of the most repressive in the world but do you see our government putting pressure on them? It's just a damn political game.

[Tom Joad]

18. Yes, but the US may yet nuke Iran, thereby stopping anti-gay bias

there. Can't have bias in an unpopulated zone of radioactive waste.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

19. so much for being "Christians" and having "Moral Values"