Updates From the Frontlines

Five states are currently considering bills that would affect marriage. The state legislatures in Vermont and Washington are considering bills that would legalize same-sex marriage (the bill in Washington would not actually call it marriage). West Virginia's bill would create a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Colorado and North Dakota are also considering bills about special rights for homosexuals.

Read more about the proposed bills and contact your state representative.

Parents Who Opt Children out of Homosexual Material Face Penalties

Christian and Muslim Parents Facing Possible Criminal Charges for Opting out of LGBT History Month

By Hilary White, www.LifeSiteNews.com

UK parents could face criminal charges for having removed their children from programs held at George Tomlinson Primary School promoting the homosexual lifestyle. Waltham Forest council has announced it will prosecute parents of about 30 children who did not attend a week's worth of lessons coinciding with "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month."

A spokesman for the council said, "At George Tomlinson, parents were invited to meet with teachers and governors several weeks ago to discuss what work would be taking place throughout the national LGBT History Month, and how this work would be delivered. Regrettably, some parents chose to remove their children from school.

"The council does not condone any unauthorised absence from school and action has been taken."

But parents who objected said they were told by the school there were no other options but to remove their children from classes if they objected to the content of the program.

Pervez Latif, a 41-year-old accountant whose children, Saleh, 10, and Abdurrahin, nine, attend the school, told the Daily Mail, "I wrote a letter to the chairman of the governors explaining that I would be taking my children out of school and he wrote back saying that there was no other option."

He said that parents had not been properly informed about the content of the program. "There was just a newsletter mentioning the week and that certain themes would be taught."

Two homosexual-themed books were read in primary classes: "King and King," about a prince who falls in love with another prince, and "Tango Makes Three," about two male penguins, Roy and Silo, who fall in love and adopt a baby penguin at a New York zoo.

Mr. Latif spoke of the disruption to his family: "My wife is very concerned she might be prosecuted ... I found it difficult to explain topics such as homosexual relationships at such a young age."

"I didn't want my children to be learning about this," he said. "If I am faced with court action, then I will just explain that these are my views.

Although the Waltham Forest council has not yet informed parents how they are to be punished, the council website says that parents of truant children can be asked to sign a contract, fined on the spot or taken to court. Councils have the power to jail parents for truancy.

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Read the rest of the article here.

To those who say this would never happen here in the US, it already has.

Read more facts about David Parker's story here.

Responses to Same-Sex Marriage Arguments

Survey of Marriage Neutering Arguments

By The Playful Walrus, Opine Editorials

Here's a survey of some arguments we have heard from marriage neutering advocates, especially in California. I, and others, have dealt with other arguments in more detail in other entries, but I wanted to touch on these this week.

"The Courts Corrected Past Evils."

Assuming courts have only made correct decisions in the past (demonstrably false, but let's assume for the sake of argument) and, in doing so, did not reach beyond their constitutional authority in doing so, this does not automatically mean it was right for the California Supreme Court to strike down Proposition 22. If the court ordered the ACLU to pay me ten million dollars simply because I wanted it, would that automatically mean it was right, because the court has corrected past evils? There is no reason why this should be an issue for the courts instead of the voters.

"We're Being Treated Like Second Class Citizens"

The state, on behalf the people, treats different kinds of voluntary associations differently, and has requirements for various licenses. This is the only example I know of where people are claiming they are being treated as second class citizens because they aren't interested in obtaining a license on the established terms – which neither bar applicants on the basis of sex nor sexual orientation.

We are not telling you that you have to ride in the back of the bus. You are telling all of us bus riders that the wheels must come off of the bus because you get motion sickness. You don't have to ride the bus if you don't want to, but you should not be able to force us to change the very nature of the bus. It is there to move society forward.

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Read the rest of the arguments here.

Videos: Proposition 8 Oral Arguments

A brief summary of the case being brought before the California Supreme Court and some clips from the oral arguments in the courtroom yesterday.



Glenn Beck discusses why the people of California have a right to amend the State Constitution.

Update from the Courtroom

From The L.A. Times:

"Justices of the California Supreme Court seemed reluctant today to override the will of the people as expressed by the narrow majority vote to effectively ban gay marriage with Proposition 8.

Before supporters of the November ballot measure even got their chance to speak to the court in San Francisco, the justices appeared to be warning Proposition 8 opponents that their arguments that the vote should be invalidated could be viewed as an excessive use of judicial power."

Read the full article here.

You can get Twitter updates from the DNA or Protect Marriage.

Update: Find links to news articles and opinion blogs about today's oral arguments here.

Proposition 8 challenge begins

I thought Prop. 8 Passed. Why do I need to worry about it now?

From Goodsense Politics

Because the Governor, the Attorney General, the Legislature and the Supreme Court of California, along with the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Santa Clara are all conspiring to once again overturn the vote of the people last Nov. 4th. The State Supreme Court will hear arguments and is expected to nullify Prop 8 this Thursday, March 5th!

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Marriage is not a vehicle for social recognition of morally taboo behaviors. It is a protected and honored arrangement designed to promote the raising of children in an ideal environment, the way nature intended. Prop 8 is not about denying rights to homosexuals: They retain every right that heterosexuals do . . . plus the right to a same-sex “civil union” that state law ensures is equal to marriage in all ways but name. They have no right to force the rest of society to change their moral convictions to fit their fancy. Twice, the people of California voted in fair elections for marriage to remain solely between a man and a woman. The government of California should abide by the democratic voice of its people and not tyrannically impose its will on them.

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Finish reading the article and learn 5 important reasons why Prop. 8 should not be overturned.

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Oral arguments are scheduled for tomorrow, March 5, from 9:00am-12:00pm Pacific time.

Viewing Options for March 5 Oral Argument

Television Viewing

California Channel : this public affairs channel is carried by most local cable companies in California. Check local listings .

San Francisco: SFGTV2 (Comcast cable channel 78); Astound cable Channel 28; also available via online streaming to your PC or MAC from SFGTV .

Note: many local organizations and law schools are hosting viewing events that may be found by performing an Internet search.

Watch Online

California Channel : watch the live Web cast on your computer.

Public Seating
Public seating will be offered on a "first come, first served" basis to those in line outside the Earl Warren Building, 350 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA, before the doors open at 7:30 a.m. on March 5. Only 20 public seats will be available in the courtroom.

Satellite Broadcasts Locations in San Francisco
The oral argument will be broadcast live at various locations in San Francisco, such as the Milton Marks Conference Center, Lower Level, Hiram Johnson State Office Building, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, and at Hastings College of the Law's Auditorium, 198 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA.

Educate yourself about the Homosexual Agenda

Journalista Chronicle has a great post about the consequences of advancing the homosexual agenda and believing that it won't affect you. There would be negative consequences for your job, your children, your right to parent as you see fit, and for any organization that did not treat homosexuals as a special minority group.

Opine Editorials writes about the significance of the latest move by the homosexual activists:

"Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the Boston-based legal group that successfully sued to bring same-sex marriage to Connecticut, is filing a lawsuit in federal district to challenge the federal Defense of Marriage Act."

OneNewsNow reports that young conservatives are being misled by the homosexual activists and "are being taught to think of homosexuality as a civil rights." The activists have also been successful in their push to make people think that that civil unions are okay when, in reality, they are just a step to homosexual marriage.

Nominee Updates: David Ogden and Kathleen Sebelius

President Obama officially nominates Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. There are major concerns for the pro-life movement about her record on abortion. Read more about her here.

Update: George Weigel analyzes and details her position on abortion.
Americans United for Life offers a detailed history of her abortion record.

Senate Committe confirms porn lawyer David Ogden for Deputy Attorney General despite public disapproval. His name will now be sent to the senate for a full vote. Read more information about Ogden here.

Obama to rescind Bush abortion rule

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Writer

The Obama administration is moving to rescind a federal rule that reinforced protections for medical providers who refuse to perform abortions or other procedures on moral grounds, an official said Friday.

A Health and Human Services official said the administration will publish notice of its intentions early next week, and open a 30-day comment period for advocates, medical groups and the public. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official notice has not been completed.

The Bush administration instituted the rule in its last days, and it was quickly challenged in federal court by several states and medical organizations. As a candidate, President Barack Obama criticized the regulation and campaign aides promised that if elected, he would review it.

Read the full article here.

UK Advises Parents Not to Teach Morality

From Timesonline

Parents should avoid trying to convince their teenage children of the difference between right and wrong when talking to them about sex, a new government leaflet is to advise.

Instead, any discussion of values should be kept “light” to encourage teenagers to form their own views, according to the brochure, which one critic has called “amoral”.

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The most unbelievable excerpt from the pamphlet: “Discussing your values with your teenagers will help them to form their own. Remember, though, that trying to convince them of what’s right and wrong may discourage them from being open.”

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Read the full article here.

Considering some of the shocking statistics (more here and here) about US teenagers being sexually active, now may be the time to start teaching the morality. Do you think the attitude portrayed in the pamphlet is prevalent in the US school system, government, or society in general?