Tiny Queer Footballs

Seriously? Real Civil Rights?

It came to my attention today on the AFT home page that Peter Labarbera has started yet another misleading website/organization aimed at fighting the forces of good and equality in Illinois.  His new organization that he’s “director” of is called “Real Civil Rights Illinois.”

From the “About” section:

Real Civil Rights Illinois is a statewide pro-marriage, pro-life organization founded for the purpose of defending real civil and human rights as opposed to the modern, counterfeit variety based on homosexuality, abortion and pornography usage. We reject the notion of expanding “civil rights” to include homosexual behavior (”sexual orientation”) - which tramples on the rights of people of faith to oppose homosexuality - and abortion, which destroys the God-given right of children in the womb to live. We oppose the idea that citizens have a “right” to view pornography in taxpayer-funded public libraries. Real Civil Rights Illinois is part of Americans For Truth Action, a national C-4 organization. Gifts to RCR-IL and Americans For Truth Action are not tax-deductible, allowing us greater freedom to lobby in defense of pro-family and pro-life values.

Peter LaBarbera, Director
630-717-7631
Send E-mail

Where to begin?  Has Peter LaBarbera gone daffy?  Discrimination and fomenting violence are not rights.  Ensuring that a group of law-abiding, tax-paying, citizens remain second-class is not a right.  Forcing people in a free society to live by the rules of someone’s God is not a right.  Peter apparntly doesn’t know what a civil right is. 

civil right

noun

right or rights belonging to a person by reason of citizenship including especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th amendments and subsequent acts of Congress including the right to legal and social and economic equality

Poor, poor, Peter.  He pulls out the religious persecution card again, saying equal civil rights  would trample of the rights of people of faith to oppose homosexuality.  How is this so?  In the United States he and everyone else that is opposed to LGBT equality are and will be forever able to spout their anti-gay rhetoric.  What is not acceptable and that we fight for unapologeticaly is the same fundamental rights that heterosexuals have.  We want to know that if we’re attacked solely because of our real or percieved sexuality that law enforcement officials will not be able to turn a blind eye because of their personal bias agianst us.  No one is going to take away Peter’s right to be a ‘Peter’ and disagree with us. 

Besides, Peter, aren’t two anti-gay organizations enough?  Now you need to inject a third dosage of poison into Naperville?

RSS 23. March 2007 (14:53)
Filed under: Americans for "Truth", Fundies, Hate Crime Laws, Hate Speech, Lies, Peter LaBarbera, Uncategorized