Knot My Line » Civil Rights

Equality Denied

Papa Joe — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:48:15 +0000

I have dear loved ones that are members of the LGBT community. They are denied the same freedoms that the rest of Americans enjoy. They cannot serve their beloved country without a denial of their sexuality. In most of America, they can not wed and enjoy the legal benefits of marriage. This denial of basic freedoms is encouraged by many of the religious faiths cults in America.

The most prominent of these is the Mormon Church and the followers of this cult. They have chosen to exert financial and political pressure to promote laws denying LGBT individuals the freedom to marry.

It is illegal for organizations which have received a 501(c)(3) status from the IRS to participate in our political system in this manner. Clearly the Mormon Church has done exactly this.

So I encourage everyone to go to this site and follow the instructions to file your complaint with the IRS. You are asking for the revocation of the church’s 501(c)(3) status.

If you have a blog or other web site you may also wish to post the following on that site.

Oregon governor signs LGBT rights bills

Papa Joe — Wed, 09 May 2007 23:58:45 +0000

Technorati tags: Civil Rights, Tolerance, Human Rights, Decency, Common Sense, Freedom, Oregon, Civil Liberties

Oregon on Wednesday joined a growing list of states prepared to offer same-sex couples at least some of the benefits of marriage.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed legislation creating domestic partnerships for gay men and lesbians in the state starting Jan. 1. He also signed a bill that outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation, effective the same date. Source: Gay.com

I am very pleased and proud that the people of Oregon, the State I chose for my home, have elected enough legislators and a Governor all with the common sense, decency and and humanity to enact this legislation.

This is a victory for decent people everywhere and I hope that soon the freedoms protected by this legislation will be given first to all the people of the United States and then to all the people of the world.

This is not the end of the war on racism, bigotry and hatred, this is only a small dent in the armor of those of our world that refuse to see those around them as human. They chose instead to hate and punish those who differ from themselves.

That said, this legislation is a great step forward and I offer my personal thanks and express my gratification to all that supported it.

Thomas Jefferson on Religious Freedom

Papa Joe — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:50:10 +0000

On Jan. 16, 1786, Thomas Jefferson’s “Act for Establishing Religious Freedom” became law in Virginia. The Virginia statute reads in part;

“Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish enlarge, or affect their civil capacities”