TV from Yesterday's Marriage Equality Rally

Brethren-Mennonite church group condemns Sen. Eichelberger’s “assault upon gay and lesbian people.”

Brethren-Mennonite church group condemns Sen. Eichelberger’s “assault upon gay and lesbian people.”
Statement by Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests says he
“brings shame to himself and to the Church of the Brethren.”

(HARRISBURG, PA)—In a strongly worded statement, a church-based lesbian and gay advocacy group has condemned Senator John Eichelberger’s recent remarks as bringing “shame to himself and to the Church of the Brethren.”

The Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests (BMC) issued their statement in response to the growing controversy around Eichelberger’s comments calling LGBT people “dysfunctional” and saying of same-sex couples that “we are allowing them to exist.”

Last week, activists presented Eichelberger a petition with 5,000 names asking for an apology. He refused, saying, “You know where I stand.”

Senator Eichelberger’s state-funded website (http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senate_bio.cfm?districtnumber=30) says that he is a member of First Church of the Brethren. BMC is the LGBT caucus for his denomination, the Church of the Brethren, which prompted their condemnation of Eichelberger. Their website (www.bmclgbt.org) says, “The mission of BMC is to cultivate an inclusive church and society and to care for the Mennonite and Brethren lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and allied community.”

Carol Wise, executive director of BMC, is a former Pennsylvania resident, now based in Minnesota. She called on Sen. Eichelberger “to educate himself and cease his assault upon gay and lesbian people. His uninformed and callous remarks do little to promote understanding and serve only to foster an atmosphere of fear that gives rise to acts of violence and discrimination. Our families, and all families, deserve better.”

The entire statement from BMC is attached.

-END-

Statement in Response to Senator Eichelberger
July 2009

Senator Eichelberger brings shame to himself and to the Church of the Brethren, his religious affiliation, through his ill-informed and disrespectful comments about gay and lesbian individuals and families. In addition to significant misinformation about the realities of gay and lesbian relationships, it appears that the Senator’s imagination and fantasy life have gone into overdrive as he anticipates polygamy and child marriage emerging from same sex marriage. Indeed, we would gently remind him that such practices are most generally advocated in cultures that are quite punitive of same sex relationships, not affirming of them.

Senator Eichelberger comes from a Christian denomination that, while not supportive of marriage equality, specifically calls upon its members to “challenge openly the widespread fear, hatred and harassment of homosexual persons” as well as “advocate the right to jobs, housing and legal justice.” It is disheartening to hear his disregard of such directives by calling gay and lesbian relationships “dysfunctional;” by his casual dismissal of the needs of the children of lesbian and gay couples; and especially by his disturbing comment that gay and lesbian people are “allowed to exist,” as though our very lives depend upon his generosity.

We urge Mr. Eichelberger to educate himself and cease his assault upon gay and lesbian people. His uninformed and callous remarks do little to promote understanding and serve only to foster an atmosphere of fear that gives rise to acts of violence and discrimination. Our families, and all families, deserve better.

Carol Wise
Executive Director

Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests
Box 6300
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-343-2060
www.bmclgbt.org

Sen. Leach debates Bill Devlin on Fox-29 in Philly.

Sen. Leach debates Bill Devlin on Fox-29 in Philly.

Sign the petition to support same-sex marriage in PA: http://www.keystoneequality.org

Fatal Shooting by Philly Cops Should Cause Concern

From the blog Dr. Chuck Speaks, written by Keystone Progress board member Dr. Chuck Williams:

According to published reports, a 59-year old homeless man, apparently mentally ill, was fatally shot, killed by police officers responding to concerns about the man calling 911 repeatedly. Details are still forthcoming, however, what is known is that the man would not stop dialing 911, even when officers arrived at the scene; this obviously annoyed the officers. He was told to stop calling, at which point he pulls a knife and is fatally shot. Now, I am not a law enforcement officer, and I don't claim to know what it’s like to have to deal with life and death matters, regularly. Moreover, I do believe that those who chose such a profession do it out of a sense of altruism and civic duty. The job that they do is tough and they are under paid and underappreciated. However, there is a serious need to do some re-training. These fatal shootings, when there is no evidence of an overwhelming threat to life of the officer (s) or public have to end.

Read the whole article here:

http://drchuckspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/07/fatal-shooting-by-philly-cops-should.html

Rep. Frankel says Eichelberger is a reason we need non-discrimination law

Frankel applauds passage of Allegheny County Human Relations Act

HARRISBURG, July 2 - State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, issued the following statement on Wednesday evening's passage of the Allegheny County Human Relations Act:

"I applaud the members of the Allegheny County Council who voted in favor of the non-discrimination ordinance. This ordinance will make the law more fair and just in Allegheny County and make us more competitive for attracting and retaining jobs. This vote -- in Pennsylvania's second most populated county -- will also help advance similar statewide legislation in Harrisburg.

"Recent comments by state Senator John Eichelberger highlight why this ordinance is necessary. The senator said, in a public debate, that we 'allow [same-sex couples] to exist,' as if that were all our fellow citizens should expect.

"This kind of basic lack of respect for hundreds of thousands of his fellow citizens also jeopardizes economic development for our state. I'm reminded of the Oklahoma state legislator who cost her state 1,000 jobs when she made anti-gay comments last year.

"I'm delighted that residents of Allegheny County will now be protected from discrimination but am still concerned that many Pennsylvanians lack this basic protection, even while most residents believe it should be the law. Look at the 71 percent support statewide - including 63 percent support in the central/'T' region -- for House Bill 300, which would protect people who live or work in Pennsylvania from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression."

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MEDIA CONTACT: Ben Turner
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Email: bturner@pahouse.net

Harrisburg TV Coverage of Eichelberger event

Take action at www.WeExist.us

Eichelberger takes our petitions, refuses to apologize. Again.

LGBT leaders and the allies wiated two hours for an apology from Senator Eichelberger. He gave us about one minute, took our petitons, refused to apologive, then turned his back and left.

The video below is unedited, bad sound and all, so that no one can say anything is "out of context."

Take action at http://www.WeExist.us

New Sotomayor poster

Presente and Keystone Progress are circulating our new "I stand with "Sotomayor" poster. Feel free to copy to use on your websites, Facebook profiles, etc.

Eichelberger still can't apologize. Still blaming us for his words.

More local coverage of Senator John Eichelberger on Altoona’s right-wing talk radio. He's still blaming Keystone Progress, instead of taking responsibility for his words.

WRTA-AM 1240. http://www.wrta.com/page.php?page_id=39385

See the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umB6hSVhSJs

And take action at http://www.WeExist.us