Yesterday's violence at the Family Research Council headquarters has garnered many reactions.
I present to you two of them.
A joint statement by 25 LGBT organizations condemning the violence:
We were saddened to hear news of the shooting this morning at the offices of the Family Research Council. Our hearts go out to the shooting victim, his family, and his co-workers.
The motivation and circumstances behind today’s tragedy are still unknown, but regardless of what emerges as the reason for this shooting, we utterly reject and condemn such violence. We wish for a swift and complete recovery for the victim of this terrible incident.
Michael Adams
Executive Director, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
Tico Almeida
President, Freedom to Work
Katie Belanger
Executive Director, Fair Wisconsin
Wayne Besen
Founding Executive Director, Truth Wins Out
A.J. Bockelman
Executive Director, PROMO
Sharon Brackett
Board Chair, Gender Rights Maryland
Carly Burton
Deputy Director, MassEquality
Dr. Eliza Byard
Executive Director, Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
Jennifer Chrisler
Executive Director, Family Equality Council
Brad Clark
Executive Director, One Colorado
R. Clarke Cooper
Executive Director, Log Cabin Republicans
Dwayne Crenshaw
Executive Director, San Diego LGBT Pride
Heather Cronk
Managing Director, GetEQUAL
Jerame Davis
Executive Director, National Stonewall Democrats
Emily Dievendorf
Director of Policy, Equality Michigan
James Esseks
Director, ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project
Lynn A. Faria
Interim Executive Director, Empire State Pride Agenda
Jenna Frazzini
Executive Director, Basic Rights Oregon
Joshua A. Friedes
Spokesperson, Equal Rights Washington
Herndon Graddick
President, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
Chad Griffin
President, Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Jody M. Huckaby
Executive Director, PFLAG National (Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
Mara Keisling
Executive Director, National Center for Transgender Equality
Kate Kendell
Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)
Abbe Land
Executive Director & CEO, The Trevor Project
Gregory Lewis
Executive Director, True Colors Fund
Eileen Ma
Executive Director, API Equality-LA
David Mariner
Executive Director, The DC Center for the LGBT Community
Ineke Mushovic
Executive Director, Movement Advancement Project
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs
Darlene Nipper
Deputy Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Donna Red Wing
Executive Director, One Iowa
Marisa Richmond, Ph.D.
President, Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC)
Aubrey Sarvis
Executive Director, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
Josh Seefried
Co-Director, OutServe
Peggy Shorey
Executive Director, Pride at Work
Brian Silva
Executive Director, Marriage Equality USA
Lee Swislow
Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
Rachel B. Tiven, Esq.
Executive Director, Immigration Equality
Shane Windmeyer
Executive Director, Campus Pride
Chuck Wolfe
President & CEO, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute
Evan Wolfson
President, Freedom to Marry
Meanwhile, Brian Brown from the National Organization for Marriage attempted to score points:
For now, we are learning that FRC's anti-gay actions was the reason why the young man committed the act. While the violence of his actions should be condemned (all violent actions should be condemned), let's not sugarcoat the fact that FRC is a hate group whose sole reason for existing is to denigrate the gay community through lies and distortions.
That being said, the actions of the lgbt groups was classy and appropriate. And unfortunately, Brown's comments is the main reason why we shouldn't let FRC off the hook on this one.
Related post - Shooting at the Family Research Council - ALL violence (physical and spiritual) must be condemned
I present to you two of them.
A joint statement by 25 LGBT organizations condemning the violence:
We were saddened to hear news of the shooting this morning at the offices of the Family Research Council. Our hearts go out to the shooting victim, his family, and his co-workers.
The motivation and circumstances behind today’s tragedy are still unknown, but regardless of what emerges as the reason for this shooting, we utterly reject and condemn such violence. We wish for a swift and complete recovery for the victim of this terrible incident.
Michael Adams
Executive Director, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
Tico Almeida
President, Freedom to Work
Katie Belanger
Executive Director, Fair Wisconsin
Wayne Besen
Founding Executive Director, Truth Wins Out
A.J. Bockelman
Executive Director, PROMO
Sharon Brackett
Board Chair, Gender Rights Maryland
Carly Burton
Deputy Director, MassEquality
Dr. Eliza Byard
Executive Director, Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
Jennifer Chrisler
Executive Director, Family Equality Council
Brad Clark
Executive Director, One Colorado
R. Clarke Cooper
Executive Director, Log Cabin Republicans
Dwayne Crenshaw
Executive Director, San Diego LGBT Pride
Heather Cronk
Managing Director, GetEQUAL
Jerame Davis
Executive Director, National Stonewall Democrats
Emily Dievendorf
Director of Policy, Equality Michigan
James Esseks
Director, ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project
Lynn A. Faria
Interim Executive Director, Empire State Pride Agenda
Jenna Frazzini
Executive Director, Basic Rights Oregon
Joshua A. Friedes
Spokesperson, Equal Rights Washington
Herndon Graddick
President, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
Chad Griffin
President, Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Jody M. Huckaby
Executive Director, PFLAG National (Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
Mara Keisling
Executive Director, National Center for Transgender Equality
Kate Kendell
Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)
Abbe Land
Executive Director & CEO, The Trevor Project
Gregory Lewis
Executive Director, True Colors Fund
Eileen Ma
Executive Director, API Equality-LA
David Mariner
Executive Director, The DC Center for the LGBT Community
Ineke Mushovic
Executive Director, Movement Advancement Project
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs
Darlene Nipper
Deputy Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Donna Red Wing
Executive Director, One Iowa
Marisa Richmond, Ph.D.
President, Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC)
Aubrey Sarvis
Executive Director, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
Josh Seefried
Co-Director, OutServe
Peggy Shorey
Executive Director, Pride at Work
Brian Silva
Executive Director, Marriage Equality USA
Lee Swislow
Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
Rachel B. Tiven, Esq.
Executive Director, Immigration Equality
Shane Windmeyer
Executive Director, Campus Pride
Chuck Wolfe
President & CEO, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute
Evan Wolfson
President, Freedom to Marry
Meanwhile, Brian Brown from the National Organization for Marriage attempted to score points:
"Today's attack is the clearest sign we've seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as 'hateful' must end," said Brian Brown, President of NOM. "The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the Family Research Council a 'hate group' for its pro-marriage views, and less than a day ago the Human Rights Campaign issued a statement calling FRC a 'hate group'—they even specified that FRC hosts events in Washington, DC, where today's attack took place."
For now, we are learning that FRC's anti-gay actions was the reason why the young man committed the act. While the violence of his actions should be condemned (all violent actions should be condemned), let's not sugarcoat the fact that FRC is a hate group whose sole reason for existing is to denigrate the gay community through lies and distortions.
That being said, the actions of the lgbt groups was classy and appropriate. And unfortunately, Brown's comments is the main reason why we shouldn't let FRC off the hook on this one.
Related post - Shooting at the Family Research Council - ALL violence (physical and spiritual) must be condemned
3 comments:
This was a horrible incident that benefits no one or any group. Just pure evil.
However, when you label a group with a judgment like "Hate group," unless they outright tell you that hate is their motivation (which FRC certainly does not), you are playing God by defining someone else's feelings. Yes, hate is a feeling. You may strongly disagree with their actions. Fine. But don't pretend you understand their feelings or motivation.
When a group seeks to motivate others to negative thoughts and actions against group of people by using lies and distortions, they are fostering hate and therefore should be considered as a hate group. I have ample evidence of what FRC has done on this blog to back up that assertion.
Dear Anonymous,
I'm sorry but it's not playing god to help others define their own feelings. I've worked with a lot of people with poor emotional skills and it actually an aid to them to have their actions connected with their feelings. It helps them grow as people. Since FRC clearly does not understand how their words effect others or even the reason behind their words, how is pointy out their hateful comments wrong in "god's eyes"? Even if you argument made sense by calling FRC gays child molesters and attributing false motives to gays all in the name of their God aren't you calling the pot black?
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