Michigan TV Station Pulls Anti-Gay Special

Yesterday, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issued a national action alert, calling on the LGBT community to contact WOOD-TV, a Grand Rapids, Mich. television station, and demand it pull a television special produced by the American Family Association (AFA) and full of anti-gay propaganda off its upcoming schedule.

Within an hour of HRC's announcement of its national action alert, WOOD-TV did just that.

Score one for LGBT progress.

"I am so proud of our members who answered the lies and distortions of the AFA and stopped this campaign of hate and deception," HRC president Joe Solmonese says. "Our community stood up and would not let those lies stand."

"This should be our wake up call. We are poised to make real progress, for the first time, for millions of LGBT Americans. We know it and so do our opponents," Solmonese stresses. "We must stand guard and not allow them to stop these overdue, basic protections by rolling out the same, tired script albeit in new packaging. Today's action proves we have the voices and the power to demand a fair fight and a fair debate.".

WOOD-TV had planned to air the AFA's paid special, titled Speechless: Silencing Christians, this weekend. The program aims to "reveal the truth about the radical homosexual agenda and its impact on the family, the nation and religious freedom."

Hosted by Janet Parshall, a controversial talk show host who went on Larry King Live and suggested that Matthew Shepard's lifestyle was responsible for his murder and described gay adoption as "state-sanctioned abuse," Speechless: Silencing Christians, according to HRC, purports that allowing the government to redefine marriage hurts children because studies show children need a mother and a father to do well in life; claims that homosexual acts have a key role to play in the spread of all STDs and HIV/AIDS; and maintains that passage of hate crimes laws will lead to the prosecution of pastors for preaching what the Bible says about homosexuality.

While the HRC won this battle, Speechless: Silencing Christians can be seen online and may run in other markets.

Surely, you have something to say about this. What do you think of the AFA's crusade against the LGBT community, and how do we best combat their smear campaign?

Comments

[Voy]

I LOVE the irony of this. ^_^

I'm watching their film right now, just to see how terrible it is.

[Rev Donald Spitz]

Matthew Shepard? How many straight children have been molested and murdered by homosexuals like you? A lot. How many Christians have been assaulted by homosexuals like you because you didn't like the way they voted? A lot. How many Christian churches have been burned down by homosexuals like you because you disagree with the Holy Bible? A lot. Matthew Shepard is in eternal hell fire now and will never get out.
Whatever you think, you will not be able to change God's Word and will one day have to pay the price for not believing what God has written.
Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Romans 1:22-27

V22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, V23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

V24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

V25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, Who is blessed for ever. Amen.

V26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

V27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

SAY THIS PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I am a sinner and am headed to eternal hell because of my sins. I believe you died on the cross to take away my sins and to take me to heaven. Jesus, I ask you now to come into my heart and take away my sins and give me eternal life. http://www.armyofgod.com

[Andrew Brown]

To Rev Donald Spitz.

Another Christian view, without the Fire and Brimstone!

Every Christian knows (or at least should know) the Bible isn't the DIRECT word of God. The Bible was decided by a group of church MEN and is to be interpreted. I don't believe that Noah LITERALLY gathered two of each animal and placed them in an Ark, for instance, and this is commonly accepted to be a myth.

If you wish to interpret the Bible as condemning Homosexuals, that's your prerogative, but I was raised to believe that God forgives our sins (all of us, including you as you too are a sinner). The Bible is full of outdated references, and people like you choose to ignore what is convenient to ignore, whilst grabbing onto parts that seem to justify your ignorance and prejudices.

That brings me to my second point. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Are you without sin?

My view is that God created gay people gay, and it's not for us to question why - he has a reason for doing everything. To assume that he made an error is a blasphemy in my view. Some suggest it is a test, but I do not think God is toying around with people, testing some and not others. It's just the way some people are wired up.

But then I expect you aren't interested in reason.

Rev, I hate to say it but your values don't come across as very Christian to me... It worries me that 'Christians' like you go around actually damaging the image of God, not bringing people to Him.

For those of us who follow these human rights issues from across the globe, it's downright worrying when we hear people like you spout your bile. In some countries you would be locked up for inciting hatred. For I feel your views go beyond evangelicalism.

I find myself wondering what your views on other hot topics might be such as racial relations, interfaith relations and international relations. However, I think you really need to work on your issues on this particular topic first... though with the will of God you will be able to accomplish this in private without exposing the rest of the world (Christian or Other, Homosexual or not) to your worrying rhetoric.

Good luck to our Gay and Lesbian brothers and sisters across the world in achieving equal Human rights.

[Adrian L.]

I am slowly becoming terrified of anyone who claims to be christian

[Eddie Adams]

When will you guys wake up?

There is no god. It's a fantasy, a fabrication of the needy human mind which longs for reassurance, like a lonely kid creating an imaginary friend or playmate. The imaginary playmate doesn't exist; god doesn't exist.

It's time to grow up. Society can evolve based on reason and not on ancient poetry and fantasies. Accept you'll die and there's nothing after that. It's not so bad; be brave. Enjoy your life.

[Troy Beard]

I am sick and tired of people telling me my life is a sin. I am not gay because I want to be, I was born that way. I was raised to believe that God loves all his Children, not just the ones who go out and say things to cause more problems for others. Every gay person needs to stand up and tell these so called Christians, it is time they stay out of our lives and check their own. Divorce rates at or around 50% they need to concentrate on themselves, and let us live. I believe God has a plan for all of us, not just the straight religous right. This country was fonded to end the tirany of Kings and Queens making the rules, it was a government for the people by the people. Thats all the people. We all have the right for happiness, and all men are created equal. So the Christian right can say what they want,but they can not say things that will bring injury or death to others, because we are not just like them. Just remember the bible says Judge not less you be judged.
Let he who is free of sin cast the 1st stone. One last comment on gay and lesbians adopting how many gay and lesbian parents have molested their kids compaired to straight parents, I have never herd of any doing this, and how many kids would stil be orphans with out their gay and lesbian parents. IT IS TIME FOR THESE PEOPLE TO COME OUT OF THE STONE AGE

[George]

It is no wonder that so many people, gay or not, do not believe in God when people like Rev. Spitz spew hatred like they do. It also amazes me how many people will just take what is spoon fed to them and not think for themselves. God gave us brains so that we would use them and think for ourselves. He also gave us free will, and although the Bible is God's word, it was written by man. They were free to insert their own views into the mix.

My religion was the biggest stumbling block with coming to terms with my sexuality. It was also that religion that helped me accept that God made me gay. I don't believe it was meant to be a test. I just think that is the way that he wanted me to be. It wasn't a mistake. God does not make mistakes.

You are free to believe what you will, but unlike the Christian right, I am not about to try and force my beliefs and opinions on those who believe differently. Nor am I going to use programs like this one to wrongfully scare people to make them believe lies. It makes the average Christian, like myself, look really bad to non-believers. For a religion where the basic tenet is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.", the vocal minority apparently thinks that Christ meant for that to only apply to others who's beliefs and lifestyle are identical to your own. Maybe they should have put an asterisk with a disclaimer in the footnotes or something. . .

Even if you don't agree with the gay lifestyle and you believe that is a choice that we make, God gives us the free will to live our lives as we see fit. It is no one's business who I love but mine. Let me live my life and I'll let you live yours. Don't get all pissed off if you try to take away my right to live that life and I bite back.

[Dan in Florida]

If Rev. Donald Spitz took the time to actually study his bible, he would know that the verse in Leviticus says "ish" (ordinary man) shall not lie with "zakhar" (a man or male animal specifically dedicated to a deity for some sacred purpose). Medeval translation errors, personal bias and ignorance have fostered the idea that the bible condems homosexuality when it does not.

[Rob]

I wonder what Rev. Spitz is doing on gay.com in the first place.

[DT in NC]

I can't keep my mouth shut about this. I have looked at Rev. Spitz's website, armyofgod.com. Which god is he advocating? This website has areas that are dedicated to Eric Rudolph and a man named Paul Hill, both of whom murdered employees of abortion clinics and glorifies their actions. I consider myself a Christian that believes in a loving God and I can happily say that I do not believe in the same god that Rev. Spitz believes in. Rev. Spitz's god spews hate and intolerance. That's not the God I've come to know.

[DT in NC]

And one more thing, Rev. Spitz. I'm a gay man. I do not, in any form or fashion, desire to have any kind of sexual contact with a child. That is what is detestable in my eyes. I find it highly unlikely that you have the authority to judge every single gay and lesbian and call us pedophiles based on some news articles that you post on your hate-filled website. Look at people of your own sexual persuasion and point some fingers in that direction. Please put out your hateful fires.

[A Parent]

Rev. (sic) Spitz's opinion on the beliefs or behavior of others should carry no weight whatsoever. He uses his own website to try to make heroes out of murdering terrorists like Paul Hill, Eric Rudolph, John Salvi, and James Kopp. He is so delusional that he thinks that he was ordained by the International Gospel Crusade, a denomination that only exists in his imagination.

[jono]

Wow Mr. Spitz I didn't know that we had been burning down churches. I didn't know it was us who were beating the crap out of heterosexuals.
You have a warped, warped view of the world. I hope you never come to Canada - if you do your head might just explode to see how a society can still prosper while granting full and equal rights to homosexuals.
Peace - I hope god forgives you for the hatred that swells in your heart.

[Robin Fletcher]

The rev is a hate monger, a devil followerr... childish name-calling, yes, I know, aimed at a man of god who is so full of hate (!) that he will lie (sin!) about the bible in order to spew his hatred so this hateful and ignorant followers (not god's follers, but HIS, the Rev's, followers) will become an army of The Rev God. I spitz on you, Rev. I, a straight man of no denomination, am growing more intolerant of evangelistic 'Christians' every day because they are hateful, wicked and disgusting liars and non-followers of the Fair God of Love I was raised to believe existed in heaven. The Rev is a preacher of false tongue and his followers and more than mere fools--they are sinners who shall have hellfire to look forward to for all eternity for following their pied piper Rev SPitz.