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Loading ...Anti-gay group accused of ‘intimidating’ lawmakers
03.20.2009 2:41pm EDT
(Charleston, West Virginia) A conservative Christian group opposing an LGBT equality bill and pressing for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage has been accused of trying to intimidate two West Virginia lawmakers.
House Judiciary Chairwoman Carrie Webster and Delegate Barbara Fleischauer say they are on the receiving end of a telemarketing campaign by the Family Policy Council of West Virginia.People in the two lawmakers’ districts have been receiving calls saying that Webster and Fleischauer are blocking a ban on gay marriage, according to The Charleston Gazette.
The calls tell voters to send a message to the two politicians, and if the recipients choose, they are then patched through to Webster’s or Fleischauer’s office.
Family Policy Council President Jeremiah Dys confirmed his group had hired a firm to make the calls “as part of our educational effort.”
“We’ve been encouraging people to make calls to Delegate Webster and Delegate Fleischauer,” Dys told The Gazette. “They are the two people standing in the way of 1.8 million West Virginians deciding the definition of marriage.”
Webster said callers are trying to “intimidate” her and Fleischauer.
“They call my staff idiots. They call my staff God-haters,” she told the paper. “I believe people should be able to exercise their free speech, but I do think it’s a manipulation.”
The proposed amendment has been referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Revision, which Fleischauer heads. If approved there, it would go to Webster’s committee.
Amending the West Virginia constitution requires approval of the legislature and a vote by the electorate.
Last year the Family Policy Council unsuccessfully attempted to pressure Gov. Joe Manchin to recall the legislature to pass the proposed amendment. The measure was added to the legislature’s agenda this session.
Webster said she believes the pressure calls also are related to an LGBT equality bill. Last week the state Senate voted to add sexual orientation to West Virginia’s civil rights laws. It still needs approval in the House.
“I think the objective has been to make sure that we don’t protect gays in employment and in housing,” Webster told the Gazette.
I hope they do not cave in to this intimidation – but it does show you the depths these conservative and religious nut jobs will sink to.
Rise up against these religious zealots. Their flamboyant hatred, that they learn every sunday in their christianist corporations, should not be a considered point of view!
I want to sincerely thank 365gay.com for covering this story. The Family Policy Council has acted despicably this year even to the point of being disavowed by the West Virginia Family Foundation.
Well, there goes that opposition attempt.
Yay new state with an inclusive anti-discrimination law! 
““They call my staff idiots. They call my staff God-haters,””
Yeah, that’s it. There’s no other good reason for backing same-sex marriage or anti-discrimination laws than being a god-hater. Oh people, you slay me.
Maybe we should start calling the Family Policy Counsel to voice our concerns, or maybe should we hire the same firm they have to make calls for us to them! In any event, they should start hearing from us, but in a very very nice way.
Christians are the biggest threat to homosexuals today!
Try reading some of the “Christian” sites for 2 weeks on a daily basis, as I’ve been doing; the most unbelievable thing is the lies and the hatred they spew forth! Perverts, all of them!
Conservative Christians scare me!! They are the Taliban of America!
What amazes me is how the christians spend so much time worry about us! meanwhile their children are becoming crack whores, popping out babies from different daddies… guess Palin’s daughter will have a different daddy or two for her children! but no it wont stop her and her family for making sure gay ppl. suffer!
When your belief system is baised on fear of hell or just fear its self its hard to see truth. This people are lost they try to use God to control and place fear in us. God can’t be love on one side and damnation on the other. We have to stand up to this people we have to use real love and understanding in-order for us to move forward. They just want us to feel the fear that they have put themselves in. Real love will win but we have to say no more. God is love and God is apart of all of us!!!
Gays have difficulty throughout this entire nation. From small backwoods towns to huge cities. Things have changed drastically in the last 20 years. I foresee that in the near future, things will change for the better. The “Christian” (and I use this term loosely) conservatives kinda remind me of 8-track tapes. They’re on their way out and becoming obsolete. Having a religion (any religion, not just Christianity) is a very personal choice and I WILL NOT persecute someone for making that choice, BUT….when you use your religion to justify hatred toward someone else than I have NO RESPECT for you.
You will know they are kraven kowardly konservative kristianist kultist krazies (KKKKKK for short) by their HATE.
Scratch a homophobe, find a hard-on.
Cheers,
Bud Burgoon-Clark
San Diego CA
Ron, that’s the truth.
I would gladly call these clowns at the Family Interbreeding council or whatever they’re called, but then it occurred to me–make sure you block your number. You think these wingnuts wouldn’t use that dialback function and slam your phone with all kinds of calls? I’m just sayin’.
Sounds like NOM to me…
Time to turn the heat up on the American Taliban. Start hitting these folks where it hurts, in the collection plate!
Our government needs to take a strong look at revamping the outdated laws regarding the tax-free disposition of Churches.
When religion in America has become politicized to the point of “Faith Based” Federal programs we need to seriously take a step back and consider the separation of Church and State and the wisdom of subsidizing political evangelism.
>Yay new state with an inclusive anti-discrimination law!
Not yet. I needs to pass both chambers of the legislature. It passed only one.
I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed. I’m a big believer in anti-discrimination laws as a way to set the stage for gay marriage later.