"Politically and culturally speaking, Phelps and his protesters serve as a crude caricature of pro-family traditionalists who oppose the normalization of homosexuality. Fred makes an easy target for the media and secularists who are tempted (partly by their own prejudices) to paint any opposition to "gay rights" as ful. For this reason, I have sometimes wondered if Phelps and his lawyerly clan are "gay plants." Peter LaBarbera, Executive Director of the Illinois Family Institute
Peter LaBarbera made a statement on August 15, 2005 suggesting that Phelps could be a gay plant, put out there to make the Christian Right look down right mean. Mr LaBarbera does go onto to take on Phelps and backs away somewhat from his suggestion, however he has made it and for only one purpose, to build up the idea that the gays are will stop to any low in order to discredit the anti gay "christian family values" agenda.
LaBarbera adds, “By denying change for people caught up in homosexuality, Phelps denies the love and power of Jesus Christ Himself--a cruel message that is as ‘hateful’ toward homosexuals as any of his preposterous signs.”
Christian Activists like LaBarbera depend on concerted attacks on an easily defined enemy in order to sustain energy among the money providing masses. Without the demonization of gays, these groups would lose serious amounts of funding. Funding that keeps the wheels spinning on the world's largest ongoing recruitment effort, not to mention keeping an entire industry operating.
Canadians have been spared this for years now see it is changing. Evangelical conservative christian activists are increasingly influenced by American successes and are well positioned to take advantage due to the seeds planted in Canada over 20 years ago.
These people have decided they can impose the bibles dictates on society, that we are all better off if it were so. I of course am one of those skeptical of the ideas being put forward by this small but increasingly effective lobby group.
With American money pouring into Canada and gays as the demon facing all that is wrong with Canada, expect harsher and more American style politics in this country. Also watch for the the stealth candidate. Many people will seek office without expressing their agenda. It worked in the United States and it may well work here. We have already seen Cindy Silver, former in-house lawyer for Focus on the Family(Canada) and Real Women, try to distance herself from her record there. Silver has stated that she doesn't subscribe to everything she argued in court.
Ask her if she argued against gay rights, school materials that reflect gay families and if she agreed with those points. I suspect she will respond that she does not support these gay rights or school materials depicting gay families.
Check out the Christian right folks, see what they have to say these days. Ask your candidates where they stand. In a recent survey 50% of conservative candidates for the next election stated they held evangelical beliefs. Sweep that under the rug Stephen Harper.
See also: Christian Activism in Canadian Politics at Political Cycles
For more information on social conservatives, Stephen Harper, gay rights, same-sex or equal marriage, James Dobson, evangelicals, Focus on the Family, Bishop Henry, The Pope, use the Technorati search box in the side bar here and at Queer Thoughts.
Tags: Gay, GLBT, Queer, Gay Marriage, Christian, James Dobson, Stephen Harper, Conservative Party of Canada, Politics
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