In a news conference on Tuesday, July 14, Texas religious leaders launched a coalition called REAL MARRIAGE: One Man/One Woman for Life, which will target businesses and and politicians who support the Supreme Court's marriage equality decision. While the group refused to elaborate on their targets, they did waste oxygen on some incredibly vile statements.
Some choice quotes from the Texas Observer article covering the event:
"'If we redefine marriage, the homosexual political movement will force churches, schools, families, businesses and individuals to accept, to affirm, and even to celebrate those who participate in anal sex, or anal sodomy,' said Dr. Steven Hotze, president of the Conservative Republicans of Texas. 'It will be mandated to be taught to the children in the schools, at an early age, starting in kindergarten. They will be encouraged by their teachers to participate in anal sex.'"
"'We’re going to come at you,” [Rev. Bill Owens] said. 'The church is going to show you that you cannot be double-minded, talk out both sides of your mouths, pretending to be family-friendly and giving in to this ungodly, disgraceful way of making homosexual like it’s natural. It’s highly unnatural. …. We’re going to go at these weak-kneed, slimy-backed politicians who pretend to be with you but will not stand up.'"
This hateful language stands in stark contrast to the Christian holy text that these men claim to revere, a text that exhorts its readers to "love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31)
Groups like this cannot and will not succeed. Protect Thy Neighbor will not allow religion to be used as a sword to intimidate or discriminate against the LGBT community and its allies. If you believe that you have been discriminated against based on someone else's religious beliefs, contact us today. If you wish to support our mission, it's as easy as taking our pledge.
With your help, we'll show REAL MARRIAGE that #LoveWins.