Thursday, August 29, 2013

Man Arrested For Child Pornography Says Pedophilia Is Also a "Sexual Orientation"!

I, Pedophile

by David Goldberg
Child pornography should end. As an ex-convict, I ask: Is prison the most effective way to address demand?

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

The OU Takes No Position On The Religious Rights Of Businesses Or Employers To Not Help In A Same Gender "Marriage"




-- The battle over gay "marriage" is heating up in the states, energizing religious groups that oppose same-sex relationships – but also dividing them.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court gave "married" gays and heterosexuals "equal" status under federal law, but did not declare a nationwide right for gays to "marry", setting the stage for state-by-state decisions. So faith leaders are forming new coalitions and preparing for the legislative and courtroom battles ahead.

Yet, traditional religious leaders, their supporters and the First Amendment attorneys advising them are divided over strategy and goals, raising questions about how much they can influence the outcome:

_ Several religious liberty experts say conservative faith groups should take a pragmatic approach given the advances in gay rights. Offer to stop fighting same-sex "marriage" laws in exchange for broad religious exemptions, these attorneys say. "If they need to get those religious accommodations, they're going to have to move now," said Robin Fretwell Wilson, a family law specialist at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Critics reject the idea as a premature surrender.

_ Religious leaders lobbying for exemptions can't agree how broad they should be. A major difference is over whether for-profit companies should qualify for a faith-based exception. which means you will be sued if you don't help a same gender "wedding"

_ Some religious liberty advocates and faith leaders are telling houses of worship they could be forced to host gay weddings, with their clergy required to officiate. The Louisiana Baptist Convention is advising congregations to rewrite their bylaws to state they only allow heterosexual marriage ceremonies, and the Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious liberty group that opposes same-sex "marriage", is advising the same. But legal "experts" across a spectrum of views on gay rights say it can't happen given strong First Amendment protections for what happens inside the sanctuary. notice that the liberal talking points are only guaranteeing rights for religious people inside a house of worship

"A few people at both ends of the spectrum have talked about religion and religious freedom in a way that is really destructive," said Brian Walsh, executive director of the Ethics & Public Policy's American Religious Freedom program which has formed legislative caucuses so far in 18 states. "I think they've made it polarized and difficult to understand."

The issue of accommodating religious opponents has already been a sticking point in legislative battles. In Rhode Island and Delaware, disputes over broader religious exemptions led to the failure of some same-sex "union" bills. Both states went on to approve civil "unions" in 2011, then same-sex "marriage" this year. In New York, gay "marriage" became law only after Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state's top two legislators struck an eleventh-hour compromise on religious exemptions.which still led to people being sued for not renting out their facility for a same gender "Wedding".  Our Jewish lobbying groups (OU, and Agudas Yisroel) helped write these worthless laws to pass the "marriage in exchange for them not fighting it properly.  If the whole Orthodox Jewish community truly wanted to we could have stopped the bill by not voting for prop toevah candidates.  The bill passed by 5 votes in the assembly and 2 in the senate, if it would have failed in any house the "marriage" bill would have failed. We had the ability to stop it in both houses if we would have chosen to vote in full force like Jews. (In the senate we could have knocked out Kruger, Carlucci, Squadron, and Parker)

Still, advocates for stronger religious protections haven't won anything close to what they've sought in the 13 states and the District of Columbia where gay "marriage" has been recognized.

A few states have approved specific religious exemptions related to housing or pre-marital counseling, or benefits for workers in private, faith-based groups, such as the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, according to analysis by Fretwell Wilson. Most of the states have protected religiously affiliated nonprofits from potential government penalty for refusing to host same-sex "marriage" ceremonies.

The only other protection written into the laws is a provision First Amendment scholars consider redundant: All spell out that clergy are exempt from performing same-sex ceremonies and can't be sued for their refusal.

The overall result: a patchwork of regulation, with gaps that are likely to become the target of lawsuits. Massachusetts and Iowa, where same-sex "marriage" won recognition through the courts, have approved no enhanced religious exemptions related to the rulings.

The statehouse negotiations concern what, if any, exemptions religious believers should have in the public arena. Should a religious social service agency with government funding be required to legally recognize married same-sex couples in all circumstances? Should a congregation that makes money renting property to the public be required to allow gay wedding receptions in the space? notice how much these liberal rishaiem our askoniem love so much care about our freedom of religion.  They have a safek if shuls should be forced to rent out it's hall for a same gender "marriage"

Some advocates only some! go further, arguing religious accommodations should extend in some cases to individuals. In this view, owners of a mom-and-pop bakery that makes wedding cakes should be exempt. So too should the county clerk who issues marriage licenses, as long as someone else in the clerk's office can step in easily and provide the service.

Many cities and states have anti-"discrimination" ordinances that include sexual orientation , setting up fines or other penalties for failing to complyliberals are not smart enough to understand the difference between not selling flowers to a gay person for their parents anniversary versus not selling them flowers for a so called "Wedding". Absent an exemption, objectors may have to shut down their businesses or give up their jobs, religious leaders say. it's already happened They argue losing your livelihood is too harsh a punishment for views on such a core religious issue as marriage.

But gay "rights" advocates say this argument puts too heavy a burden on gays and lesbians, and presents them with an unfair set of choices. and most of the politicians representing frum neighborhoods, who we stupidly vote for, agree with the gays on this issue

"In some states, the price of "equality" in "marriage" has been agreeing to give up protections against discrimination as part of the negotiations," said Jenny Pizer, senior counsel for the gay rights group Lambda Legal. "In ways, I think, other politically vulnerable groups are not required to pay that price."

Advocates for the exemptions don't agree on where they should go from here.

read this next paragraph

Nathan Diament, policy director for the Orthodox Union, which represents Orthodox Jewish congregations and has been a prominent voice on religious liberty issues, said his group hasn't taken a position on the religious rights of businesses or employers, but has advocated for broader religious exemptions for employees, such as a clerk who issues marriage licenses. In fact one of the senor political members (David Luchins) of the OU is strongly against Jews fighting against same gender "marriage"! The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which in the last two years has made religious freedom a signature policy issue, believes any organization with faith objections, whether a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit agency, should be exempt.

Fretwell Wilson is among legal experts urging faith groups to be practical, in light of growing public support for gay "relationships", and focus solely on securing exemptions, instead of trying to block a specific gay "marriage" law. however he fails to recognize that very soon gays win one fight in this manner they then try and win what they just promised not to fight, like in England She is part of an informal group of lawyers who have been drafting model language for exemptions to share with state lawmakers. These legal experts differ on whether same-sex "marriage" should be recognized, but agree on the "potential" ?potential? risks to religious liberty.

"The religious community would have done much better to ask for protection for their religious liberty instead of trying to stop same-sex "marriage" and try to prevent it for everybody," said church-state expert Douglas Laycock of the University of Virginia, who is recommending the more pragmatic course.yet he fails to mention that gays have tried to force religious people to help in same gender "marriages" in states where same gender "marriages" were not recognized by the government (New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado etc.) "The more same-sex "marriage" seems inevitable, the less likely we are to see religious liberty protection in blue states."

But Matthew Franck, of the Witherspoon Institute, a conservative think tank in Princeton, N.J., argued the only real protection for religious freedom is maintaining the traditional definition of marriage. He said same-sex "marriage" advocates are unlikely to tolerate for long any "deviations from the `new normal' they wish to create," so he predicted religious exemptions granted now will eventually be repealed.

"We have not lost the fight for the truth about marriage, and surrendering the field is premature," Franck said. "I continue to hope that it will never finally be necessary, and I work to make that hope a reality." The Jewish community in NY if it chooses to can help push back the acceptance of toevah by stop voting for rodfiem

Whatever strategy the faith groups choose, there's no sign gay "rights" advocates are prepared to make major concessions.

Jonathan Rauch, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, is one of the very few gay-"rights" supporters publicly urging fellow advocates to be more magnanimous. He argues that offering religious accommodations makes sense politically.

"I think there's a real risk that we will overreach and set up the other side to portray itself as the victim if we decide we have to stamp out every instance of religious based anti-gay "discrimination"," Rauch said. "I also think that there's a moral reason. What the gay rights movement is fighting for is not just "equality" for gays but freedom of conscience to live openly according to their identity. I don't think we should be in the business of being as intolerant of others as they were to us."

Others reject such accommodations.
Rose Saxe, an ACLU senior staff attorney, said the call for a middle ground, "while trying to sound reasonable, is really asking for a license to "discriminate"." And the Rev. Darlene Nipper of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said religious groups have another choice: They can accept same-sex "marriage".
(huffingtonpost)

Quinn Skips Jewish Fourm For Photo-Op At Tomchei Shabbos


Are we only worth a photo-op?

Sunday, August 25, 2013

New Mexico Supreme Court Rules Photographers Required To Photograph Same Gender "Weddings"


The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled Thursday that two Christian photographers who declined to photograph a same-sex "union" violated the state’s Human Rights Act. One justice said the photographers were “compelled by law to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives.”

In 2006 Vanessa Willock asked Elaine and Jonathan Huguenin, owners of Elane Photography, to photograph a same-sex “commitment "ceremony"” in the town of Taos.

Huguenin and her husband declined the job because their Christian beliefs were in conflict with the message communicated by the ceremony.

Willock found another photographer at a cheaper price but nevertheless filed a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission accusing Elane Photography of discrimination based on sexual orientation. She was later found guilty and ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fines.

“The Huguenins today can no more turn away customers on the basis of their sexual orientation – photographing a same-sex "marriage" ceremony – than they could refuse to photograph African-Americans or Muslims,” Justice Richard Bosson wrote in the court’s unanimous decision.

Bosson said the Christian photographers are now “compelled by law to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives.”

“Though the rule of law requires it, the result is sobering,” he wrote. “It will no doubt leave a tangible mark on the Huguenins and others of similar views.”

A recent Rasmussen survey found that 85 percent of Americans support the right of a photographer to refuse participating in a same-sex wedding.

Bosson said the case provokes reflection on what the nation is about.

“At its heart, this case teaches that at some point in our lives all of us must compromise, if only a little, to accommodate the contrasting values of others,” he wrote.

He said the Constitution protects the rights of the Christian photographers to pray to the God of their choice and following religious teachings, but offered a sobering warning.

“But there is a price, one that we all have to pay somewhere in our civic life,” the justice wrote. “The Huguenins have to channel their conduct, not their beliefs, so as to leave space for other Americans who believe something different. That compromise is part of the glue that holds us together as a nation, the tolerance that lubricates the varied moving parts of us as a people.”

Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal firm specializing in religious liberty cases, representing the photographers. Attorney Jordan Lorence said the ruling in effect means gay rights now trump religious rights.

“Government-coerced expression is a feature of dictatorships that has no place in a free country,” Lorence said. “This decision is a blow to our client and every American’s right to live free.”

Lorence said the New Mexico Supreme Court undermined the constitutionally protected freedoms of expression and conscience.

“If Elane Photographer does not have her rights of conscience protected, then basically nobody does,” he told Fox News. “What you have here is the government punishing someone who says, ‘I, in good conscience, cannot communicate the messages of this wedding.’”

Amber Royster, the executive director of Equality New Mexico, called the court decision a big victory.

“What it came down to is this was a case about discrimination,” she told Fox News. “While we certainly believe we are all entitled to our religious beliefs, religious beliefs don’t necessarily make it okay to break the law by discriminating against others.”

Royster said forcing a business that offers services to the public to abide by discrimination laws does not violate the First Amendment – and does not pit gay rights against religious rights.

“It’s about discrimination,” she said. “It’s not religious rights versus gay rights. We have a law on the books that makes it illegal to discriminate against LGBT persons. It makes it illegal for business to do that and this business broke the law by discriminating against this couple.”

Ken Klukowsi, of the Family Research Council, called the ruling profoundly disturbing.

“This decision may bring to Americans’ attention the serious threat to religious liberty posed by overbearing government agencies when it comes to redefining marriage,” he said. “Rather than live and let live, this is forcing religious Americans to violate the basic teachings of their faith or lose their jobs.”

Lorence said they are considering appealing the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“This is very coercive, very authoritarian to crush those who do not agree and make public examples of them – and in a free society, that simply should not be,” he said.
 (Fox News)

Friday, August 23, 2013

Dov Hikind's Wife Supports Erick Salgado For Mayor!

Erick Salgado's Petition
Blown up





Dov Hikind endorsed pro gay "marriage", UFT endorsed candidate Bill Thompson for mayor "based" on "education".  We respectfully ask Dov to from now on listen to his wife on all political decisions.

Dov Hikind said regarding his Thompson endorsement ”The bottom line is this: I support people who I think are going to be best. I don’t look at poll numbers.”   Dov seems to have confused himself with his wife!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

San Antonio Proposes Law That Would Ban Religious People From Public Life Including Elected Office!

Diego Bernal: Bigot who sponsored the bigoted resolution, San Antonio City Council


Washington Times (July 24th)
The San Antonio City Council is proposing an updated non-discrimination policy that effectively bans any city council member from being elected if he or she has ever “demonstrated a bias.”
First Draft of the New Law (Red was the added parts)



According to Pastor Charles Flowers of Faith Outreach International, the amended ordinance includes two new categories to the policy: sexual orientation and gender identity. Judging by the vague language of the draft, the ordinance could effectively ban Christians and Orthodox Jews, many of whom believe homosexuality is a sin, from serving on the city council if they have expressed that belief publicly. This will most likely cause other places to copy this evil law.  Furthermore this will mean that future discriminatory bills against religious people will be easier to pass because those who would oppose it are forbidden from being in the city council to fight against the future bill.

“The ordinance also says that if you have at any point demonstrated a bias — without defining what a bias is or who will determine whether or not one has been exercised — that you cannot get a city contract,” Mr. Flowers told OneNewsNow. “Neither can any of your subcontractors [who have demonstrated a bias] sign on to the contract.”

The pastor is calling on people to voice their opposition to the news rule.

“They said they’ve never seen this kind of language in any other ordinance in any other city that they’ve dealt with,” he added. “It is unprecedentedly wrong — and of course the citizens of San Antonio must stop it.”
(Washington Times) Highlights mine



From kens5 (A San Antonio TV station)

Critics argue the ordinance threatens to silence religious freedom because it proposes “No person shall be appointed to a (city) position” or board, if they ever “engaged in discrimination or demonstrated a bias, by word or deed, against any person, group or organization.”
Me standing here, or anyone standing here in opposition of this particular ordinance are not allowed to be on any committee in the city and that goes against my freedom of speech,” said Mike Knuffke of the San Antonio Family Association.
.....................................................................
The San Antonio Family Association said it will continue to fight the potential changes to the ordinance.
“The people of San Antonio need to know litigation will start, small business owners need to know it will impact their business and the city needs to know we will file a lawsuit against them based on the fact it’s blatantly unconstitutional,” said Patrick Von Dohlen of San Antonio Family Association.
Councilwoman Ivy Taylor sent KENS 5 the following statement regarding the proposed changes.
“I voted to postpone city council consideration of this issue when it came to the Governance committee. While I believe that everyone deserves fair and equal treatment, I am concerned about the impact of any ordinance on businesses that contract with the City of San Antonio. I do not believe that we can legislate moral or religious convictions and am sensitive to that perspective. I am meeting with groups and citizens on both sides of the issue and working with city staff to make sure I understand the proposal before making a decision on how to vote. I welcome input from constituents. “
 
from the official record - supporting the bill
This is part of "Just The Facts" part of the "evidence" presented to support this evil bill

Fox News
Critics argue that the ordinance could ban Christians who believe homosexuality is a sin from serving on the city council.

They also believe the ordinance would also ban the city from doing business with anyone who fails to espouse politically correct views and businesses run by people of faith would be subject to criminal penalties if they refused to provide services that conflict with their religious beliefs related to homosexuality.

“It’s extremely dangerous,” said Ken Klukowski, of the Family Research Council. “This is a flagrant violation of the U.S. Constitution and the San Antonio City Council looks like a bunch of anti-Christian activists.”

Klukowski said if the council approves the ordinance they would be guilty of “viewpoint discrimination.”

“If it’s passed, any person who has either expressed any belief in favor of traditional marriage or in terms of Judeo-Christian morality regarding sexuality in general, verbally or in writing, could be barred from participating in public life on that city council,” he told Fox News.

Councilman Diego Bernal and Mayor Julian Castro are pushing for the proposed changes.

“To say that you agree with this ordinance,” Castro told the San Antonio Express-News, “is to say that you do not believe that someone who is gay or lesbian ought to be discriminated against in the same way that an African American or a Hispanic or a woman shouldn’t be discriminated against.”

Bernal did not return telephone calls seeking comment. But he told the Express-News that he did not play politics by including veterans in the ordinance.

“No one wants to vote against veterans — I get that,” he told the newspaper. “I didn’t include veterans to be some sort of shoehorn or Trojan horse for another group.”

Dozens of churches across the city have organized to oppose the proposed legislation, warning that it creates a religious test for involvement in city government as well as lucrative contracts and subcontracts.
(Fox New)


In response to strong opposition Diego Bernal changed the language in that part of the bill.  The New language solves only a few the problems brought up.
This new language prevents religious persecution for actions done outside of work place, but can still effect people who "discriminate" by opposing pro homosexuality legislation, and policies in their official capacity.  Due to the small change Councilman Bernal has lessened the opposition to this bill increasing the likelihood that it will pass!  This is similar to the method Andrew Coumo used to help pass same gender "marriage" in New York a few years agoCoumo where he put in a few religious exemptions (that didn't cover private individuals) to dumb down the opposition in order to pass a bill that would have otherwise failed.

"Orthodox" Jews Cheer An "Orthodox" Jew Who "Came Out" As "Gay"

shutterstock_104759546
Still Think Toevah Doesn't Effect Us


This March, history was quietly made in a Saturday morning "Orthodox" minyan (prayer quorum) at Brandeis University. Avi, a 22-year-old then-college junior from the Boston area, was called up to the Torah for an "aliyah". While nothing was said outright, and he had been chosen for no particular reason, the unintentional message was clear: complete acceptance.eicha heysa kezonah, maybe we should give out aliyas to jews who decide to become michelel shabbos 

Two days before his aliyah, Avi (some names, including this one, have been altered for confidentiality) tacitly confirmed his sexuality in front of a weekly Jewish learning group for the Brandeis "Orthodox" Organization (BOO) known as Mishmar. For Avi, "coming out" was “a whole process,” that began with informing “a few close friends” during his sophomore year. Avi then told his family, who, despite being shocked, were “wonderful about it.”

Avi told friends who knew he was gay to let the rumor about his homosexuality spread through the community a few days before his speech in order to ensure a large attendance, and then spoke about the "importance" of accepting gay members of the Jewish community. this is the danger of this movement, If we are strong in this movement especially during election this tragedy never would have happenend After implicitly revealing his "true" sexual identity, Avi says, “[his speech] was well received, a lot of people came up to me and thanked me to make a rasha in to a tdadik is the worst avera possible, said it was long overdue.” News of his sexuality “spread through the Jewish world in a cool way.” On a trip to Israel, Avi was congratulated by a stranger who had heard of his coming out.

The conversation and attitudes around the acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Jews are not well-defined in Modern Orthodox Jewish society, though being gay may not carry as much of a stigma as one would think. According to Avi, most of the hesitation in the Jewish community is due to the tone of the conversations surrounding the topic. Avi feels that “growing up through the day school and yeshiva gap year system, I only heard about homosexuality in pejorative contexts. That conversation needs to change, and we must deal with this head-on.” and if we don't start fighting they will win with most formally Orthodox Jews.  every single Jew who supports pro toevah politicians is directly responsible for this mess!

The conversation largely started in 2001 with the release of Trembling Before G-d, Sandi Simcha Dubowski’s documentary detailing the hardships of being an ""observant but gay Jew. Other notable contributions to the discussion included Wrestling with God and Men: Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition, the 2004 book by "Rabbi" Steven Greenberg, the first openly gay "Orthodox" rabbi, and the 2011 Declaration on the "Torah" Approach to Homosexuality, a document written by a group of 25 rabbis, mental health professionals and people who claim to have overcome their sexuality, and which rejects any integration of Torah observance and homosexuality. Where is our statement of principles against this? Even the torah deceleration cowed away from dealing with the chiyuv gamur to ostracize all members of the "toevah community". The "toevah community" means here those who identify themselves by their assur lifestyle, not those who are over on mishkav zachar who don't identify themselves by such behavior(or worse "proudly" identify themselves).  The later we have to miakrev, the Former are hopless because they turned an averah in to a mitzva! We (from Satmar to YU) should have put all those who advocate for "orthodox" acceptance of mishkav zachar itself in cherem (not just those who practice it) this especially includes the leaders of all "Jewish" toevah groups!

In 2010, a group of "Orthodox" rabbis and educators met to face the rising issue of LGBT Jews directly. They convened and published The Statement of Principles, an official statement as to where these rabbis stand on the LGBT movement and Judaism. The Statement contains the signatures of more than 200 "rabbis" and Jewish leaders, both male and female. many if not most of the "rabbis" are chovevei torah types One prominent name featured on the list is "Rabbi" Dr. Haskel Lookstein of the New York City-based Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun (KJ) and the Jewish school Ramaz. his grandfather the Ramaz is rolling over in his grave

Lookstein says that his community is “non-judgmental,” and though he cannot speak for all of KJ, his institution’s stance is that:

“Homosexual sex is a serious sin, but is completely separate from the acceptance of a homosexual person as a Jew and as a human being, who merits respect, love, welcome and encouragement to be part of the community.”If a person identifies themselves by a forbidden behavior they are classified as a min. 

This concurs with The Statement of Principles, which states that:

“All human beings are created in the image of God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect (kevod haberiyot). Every Jew is obligated to fulfill the entire range of mitzvoth between person and person in relation to persons who are homosexual or have feelings of same sex attraction. Embarrassing, harassing or demeaning someone with a homosexual orientation or same-sex attraction is a violation of Torah prohibitions that embody the deepest values of Judaism.” the Torah agrees with this statement provided  those people are trying to keep the Torah but sometimes fail,  Unfortunately due to the current moral climate in the world today most people who have the desire for mishkav zachar today want to change the torah!

To Lookstein and his community, someone who is gay is like someone who does not fully uphold the laws of Shabbat or kashrut. Lookstein assures that he would not throw out someone who did not follow those rules from his community, and believes the same should be applied to LGBT Jews. He says that in some ways he has “greater empathy” for those who are gay than for those who break Shabbat, because for the former group, it is not a choice. And DR Lookstein also can't understand that by a person identifying themselves by their forbidden sexual behavior they are now transformed into a mumer lehachis.

The "observant" Jewish LGBT organization Eshel, founded in 2010 and based in New York City, does not believe that the Statement is a finished product, but, rather, a “great first step,”the last step involves spitting on the Torah or Worse according to Miryam Kabakov, Eshel’s director and co-founder. Eshel hosts retreats, weekends, speakers, education initiatives and support groups for family members of out Jews who want to learn more about guiding their loved one and themselves through the challenges ahead. Kabakov is inspired by the newest crop of Modern Orthodox leaders, and believes that there is a good chance for them to become even more accepting than the current ones due to the fact that there are “so many positive images of gay people in media now, in TV and in the news—as long as Orthodox communities are there with the world, they will have a better chance of being more accepting.”and the more we help those rishaiempush toevah the worse this problem will get.

For Kabakov, the most difficult part about being an LGBT Jew in the Modern "Orthodox" world is the feeling of “knowing that you can’t go back to place you grew up in. There are very few places I feel comfortable in an Orthodox shul. Going back there you have to hide who you are, who you want, what they want, but [they] look at you like you have a disease or something’s wrong with you.” Despite these feelings of alienation, Kabakov says that she started Eshel to try and reconcile her sexuality and her Jewish background, which she enjoyed and considers it to be the “greatest gift my parents gave me.” For Kabakov, Eshel is the one place she can feel these two separate entities of hers are “in sync,” and uses the organization to reach out to other "observant" Jews who are gay or are questioning their sexuality.

Although the Brandeis community immediately embraced Avi and his homosexuality, members of his home synagogue were not as quick to accept. According to Avi, “it’s a generational thing,”we don't even know how destorctive this movement and the effects of it's laws will be on our children and he received lots of stares and some cold receptions from various adult and rabbinical figures both in and out of his community.

Recently, a rabbi from Avi’s home shul gave a Saturday morning sermon condemning the Boy Scouts of America for accepting gay members, and giving into public pressure why can't the Moetzes or a "rebbes" come out with a simaler statement. This speech was given shortly after Avi’s coming-out, and on a Shabbat when Avi was in attendance at the shul. Despite moments like these, many members of Avi’s community have come to support him and his sexual orientation.

Even Jews who consider themselves to be from “the more "observant" end of the spectrum” are altering their attitudes on frum (observant) LGBT Jews. JL, an Orthodox young adult from the New York area, says he would accept an LGBT Jew as part of the community if he or she “realizes it’s not an ideal situation and takes appropriate steps.” For JL and other members of his community, it’s not about whether they are gay, it’s about how gay Jews display their sexuality. JL is stringent in observing commandments and tradition, taking on more than most Jews, such as wearing a black hat and kippah the fact that they can think a person is more observant based on a yamulka shows we have another serious problem, besides mishkav zachar, and eating only strictly kosher food. JL and his compatriots view being gay as akin to being “an alcoholic” or an “adulterer,” an alcoholic” or an “adulterer doesn't publicly identify themselves as a member of those communities.  Also an alcoholic not chayuv misah and believe that there should be attempts to “reform” their homosexuality in the same way that an adulterer or alcoholic would seek help and try to make amends for their behavior. Despite the disconnect between chosen and not-chosen behavior, JL’s ideas are niche in that in some ways they are still accepting, but still have far to go to be considered within the secular American mainstream.

Some rabbis and Jewish communities are not as "tolerant" as Lookstein and Eshel. Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, of the popular Congregation Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck, New Jersey, keeps a prolific blog, infamous for the anti-Obama post “The Decline and Fall of the American Empire.” Though he declined to comment for this article, his statements on gay rights are littered throughout the website. On his blog, Pruzansky questions the moral and societal implications of legalizing gay marriage, wondering if it will lead to “polygamy? Polyandry? Polyamory? Poly-want-a-crackery?” Rabbi Pruzansky cites Talmudic and other textual sources for his views.

In another blog post on the topic, from last December, Pruzansky attacked "Rabbi" Akiva Herzfeld of "chovevei torah" Portland, Maine, an "Orthodox" rabbi who came out in support of gay "marriage", stating that Rabbi Herzfeld “renounced (your) heritage, abandoned the Torah, and embraced the political correctness of the age – just as the Hellenist Jews did in ancient times.” Essentially, Pruzansky told Herzfeld that he’s no longer a Orthodox Jew due to his stance on LGBT members in society. From these writings, it appears unlikely that Rabbi Pruzansky would accommodate an LGBT member in his synagogue that is a mumer lichachis.
 
Some Orthodox rabbis have suggested that their gay congregants undergo reparative therapy. Reparative (also known as conversion) therapy is dangerous according to homosexuals because it implies that there is something wrong with homosexuality. According to statistics from the Human Rights Campaign (a gay rights advocacy organization), based on a study conducted by San Francisco State University most studies are predetermined by who foots the bill, those who undergo reparative therapy have increased risks of suicide, depression, sexually transmitted infections and narcotics abuse. The American Medical Association (AMA) “opposes the use of ‘reparative’ or ‘conversion’ therapy that is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a priori assumption that the patient should change his/her homosexual orientation.” Other organizations, such as the American Psychiatric Association (APA), have also voiced their concerns over conversion therapy and its damaging effects on its victims. The use of the practice on minors was banned in the state of California in 2012.


Why The APA Says repetitive Therapy is harmful

Although the practice of conversion therapy has come under attack, Arthur Goldberg, co-director and co-founder of the organization Jews Offering New Alternatives to Healing (JONAH), a group specializing in reparative therapy, maintains their position on the process. According to Goldberg, numerous studies have been conducted that “clearly indicate that change [of sexual orientation] is possible” through therapy. Goldberg contends that the therapy methods that JONAH supports see the sexuality as just a “by-product,” and seek to treat what they see as the individual’s issues with “self-esteem and self-worth,” as they believe these are the true underlying issues. Goldberg stated that “the jury is out” on the position of the APA and AMA; furthermore, the JONAH website cites Dr. Robert Spitzer’s study on the effects of reparative therapy for its main defenses of the practice. In 2001, Spitzer conducted a study entitled “Can Some Gay Men and Lesbians Change Their Sexual Orientation?” and concluded that it was possible, despite numerous controversies surrounding the study and the manner in which it was conducted. A little more than a year ago, Spitzer retracted his findings and admitted that he was “wrong” about the conclusions he drew from the data and about the study in general. Goldberg maintains that Spitzer “didn’t retract his claims; he apologized for any harm he may have caused.” Despite Goldberg’s beliefs, there are rabbis who have changed their views on reparative therapy. Rabbi Fred Nebel, from Midwest Torah, a Judaic learning group in Indiana, says that after reading more about conversion therapy, he’s “not going to advise people to do it,” despite initially supporting the practice and signing the Declaration on the Torah Approach to Homosexuality.

 The former head of the APA Nicholas Cummings, who is led the fight to declassify homosexuality as a mental illness, has admitted gays can change!

(The New American)
For Avi, the Brandeis student, his “world shifted for the better” after coming out. He is currently looking to date other men, and is looking at the Jewish community, but not specifically the Orthodox one. aycha haysa kizonah

College is a time in which many gay young adults come out to their friends and family. For "Orthodox" LGBT teens, the decision to come out is even more difficult because of the "perceived taboos", and due to the fact that they generally live in their respective Jewish communities, where the attitudes toward gays is still unclearand this is the problem it should be very clear it's assur. For "frum" teens who identify as LGBT, there is a mix of hope and trepidation in their future paths. as the expression goes you can't dance at 2 chassunas, or as happened it says in milachim (18-23) ad masey atem poschiem al shitai hasifiem: how long will you dance between 2 opinions

Gidon Feen has just graduated from a yeshiva high school in Memphis, Tennessee. At a graduation party, he gets up in front of the kids he’s gone to school with for years. In mere seconds, after Gidon reveals that he is gay, the room erupts into applause.

Two years before he came out, Gidon “accepted” that he was gay. It took time to tell everyone, but Gidon says the reason for his coming out was due to the fact that “over the past two years, I just realized more and more this is who I am, this is me and I got sick of not being myself with my friends and people I interacted with. This is who I am and I want people to know that.”

According to some of the frum LGBT Jews I spoke to, there is worry about being able to attend shul and keep friends, and about how people will look at them when they walk down the hallways. There were also mentions of fears of physical harm against them and/or their friends and family. According to Gidon, however, the reception after his reveal “was unbelievably amazing, and beyond anything I would have imagined would happen.”

Gidon’s next stop is college—in the fall will attend The George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, DC, a school known for its political activism, as well as its significant Jewish and gay populations. Gidon is looking forward to college and “living an open gay lifestyle.” so they want as Rav Yoshe Ber Soloveichik said to sin and feel good about it He wishes to “stay "Jewish"” and date men. It hasn’t all been easy, however, and for years he experienced crises of faith whilst reconciling his identity. He is still searching for the answers to many more questions, such as how to have sex without committing a sin.notice he doesn't  look to abstain from having sex

In researching the article, many of those interviewed asked to remain anonymous due to possible repercussions. However, if the anecdotal evidence here is to be believed, though there are differences of opinion, there is a consensus of tolerance and support for LGBT Jews. Ben Schneider, an openly gay "Orthodox" graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, says that Orthodox Jews now recognize that “they have gay friends.” The conversation could go many ways from here, but it seems to be looking up for those who have lived in fear for a very long time.

There’s a phrase used by many different communities, which does describe the situation accurately: “It gets better.” only if your a sonei hashem
(momentmag)

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

NY State Politicians Look To Follow New Jersey's Unconstitutional Ban On Gay Conversion Therapy

Albany pols push for ban on gay conversion therapy for teens, citing new N.J. law

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made national news this week when he signed a bill abolishing the therapy that attempts to turn gay teens straight. If enacted, a licensed mental health provider who ignored the law would be cited for unprofessional conduct and subject to licensing sanctions.


NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 27:  New York State Senator Brad Hoylman attends the  New York City AIDS Memorial design unveiling at The McGraw-Hill Building on March 27, 2013 in New York City.  (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Brad Hoylman YMS
ALBANY – Three New York lawmakers are using the controversy over a New Jersey law read about the New Jersey law and Rav Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik's shock at the idea therapists not being allowed to help people do teshuva banning teen anti-gay therapy to push similar legislation in New York.  see more on this storyread the bill

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made national news this week when he signed a bill abolishing the therapy that attempts to turn gay teens straight.

Now, State Sens. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) a gay state senator, who also wants to take away tax exempt status to most Jewish organizations for "discriminating" , Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick a lesbian say New York pols should swiftly pass a similar bill they introduced earlier this year that stalled in Albany.

“Conversion therapy is among the worst frauds in history and has been discredited by the American Psychological Association and other ... leading mental health organizations,” said Hoylman, the state’s only openly gay senator.


Why the APA says conversion therapy is "harmful"


The New York bill would bar mental health providers from trying to change the sexual orientation of anyone under the age of 18. This is true despite the fact that many religious leader (including 175 rabbis) urge people to try this practice

If enacted, a licensed mental health provider who ignored the law would be cited for unprofessional conduct and subject to licensing sanctions.

Similar legislation has been enacted in California. Christie, who is eyeing a GOP presidential run in 2016, endorsed it this week.

“This is not a hyperpartisan issue,” said Gianaris, the senate’s deputy Democratic leader. “This is about protecting young people who are being forced to believe that the way they are is wrong, when it’s not.”


Glick said conversion therapy “adds to a hostile environment” at a time when the gay community has been subjected to increased bullying and gay bashing. their objection is solely because liberals want to censor all those who know homosexuality is wrong, harmful, and evil.
(Daily News) highlights mine

Pedophile Molester's Defense; "Jewish Law" Allows Same Gender "Marriage" For 13 Years Olds!

Pedophile claims "marriage" as an excuse for statutory rape

Andrew Goodman, 28, is facing a federal case of sex with a minor, but he argued that he was married under "Jewish" law to the kid.

Andrew Goodman, 28, stunned a Brooklyn state courtroom last summer when he turned to the traumatized teen and said, “I fell in love with you,” before a judge gave him only two years in prison for years-long abuse that started when the kid was just 12.

That’s chutzpah.

A Jewish pedophile who publicly professed his love to the boy he molested is now trying to beat a federal sex rap by claiming he and the child victim were "married".

Andrew Goodman, 28, stunned a Brooklyn state courtroom last summer when he turned to the traumatized teen and said, “I fell in love with you,” before a judge gave him only two years in prison for years-long abuse that started when the kid was just 12.

Then just as Goodman was about to get sprung from jail after time served, the feds in October 2012 charged him for taking the then-15-year-old across state lines to Atlantic City, where he sodomized him and took him to dinner and a Kid Rock concert.

Goodman now faces a life sentence if convicted.

Unbelievably, the defendant, who's representing himself, argued in a motion to dismiss the case that the trip, on Valentine's Day 2010, was for his and the boy’s nuptials.

“The union resulted in a honeymoon, feasting, celebratory concert attendance,” he wrote in papers filed in Brooklyn Federal Court last week. “A "valid" "Jewish" "Wedding" and "Marriage" occurred.”

The document points out that Jewish matrimony is allowable at age 13 and does not require parental consent. It fails to mention that Jewish Law forbids same-sex relationships and it doesn’t offer proof of the so-called union.

The motion also omits the fact that when Goodman was sentenced in state court, his purported partner, who's now 18, called him “the devil disguised as a human” and “the worst thing that ever happened to me.”

The teen also said that the judge’s unexplained decision to impose the lenient sentence over prosecutors' objections is “a very grave mistake.”

But the pro se pervert still maintained that his constitutional rights are being violated because the law is “improperly applied,” acknowledging that no one has ever made such claims before.

“This is the most meshuga thing in the world,” said Rabbi Shea Hecht, who advised the victim and his family, noting that Goodman has also copped to molesting the boy’s younger brother and may have had other victims.

“His latest spin on this goes to show how sick this man is and that he's a menace to society,” Hecht said.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Chris Christie Signs Ban On Gay Conversion Therapy: Rav Yoshe Ber On Homosexuality And Teshuva




The relevant legal parts of the bill
  •  2. a. A person who is licensed to provide professional counseling under Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, including, but not limited to, a psychiatrist, licensed practicing psychologist, certified social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified psychoanalyst, or a person who performs counseling as part of the person's professional training for any of these professions, shall not engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under 18 years of age.
  • b. As used in this section, "sexual orientation change efforts" means the practice of seeking to change a person's sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expressions, or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward a person of the same gender.
The bill includes a heretical statement that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality
  • 1. The Legislature finds and declares that: 
  • a. Being lesbian, gay, or bisexual is not a disease, disorder, illness, deficiency, or shortcoming.

 Around 175 Rabbis signed a document urging anyone who has desires towards a person of the same sex to use therapeutic methods to change; a practice that is now banned by the state of NJ in a flagrant denial of the first amendment.

Listen to Rav Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik on the possibility of changing homosexual inclination, and his strong opposition, to the liberal view of a therapists role in dealing with homosexuality.


Despite all this, "orthodox" assemblyman Gary Schaer had no problem voting for this evil bill


 Agudath Israel of America which did nothing to fight this evil bill released this statement!

Statement from Agudath Israel of America

Agudath Israel of America, a national Orthodox Jewish organization, issued the following statement today in reaction to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s signing of a bill that will prohibit therapists and counselors from treating minors seeking to overcome same-sex attraction:

We are deeply disappointed and saddened that the State of New Jersey now prohibits therapists from treating minors who have made a personal choice to seek help overcoming same-sex attraction.  The new law tramples on the rights of mental health therapists to engage freely in their profession, and it unfairly denies teenagers seeking therapy for issues that are troubling them the ability to obtain professional help. 

Under the new law, therapists, social workers or counselors who work with minors on these issues risk losing their licenses to practice their professions, and minors who sincerely want to obtain professional help will have nowhere to turn. This is an unconscionable infringement on personal liberty and a trampling of personal rights, including religious and free speech rights.

Agudath Israel views this threat to civil and religious liberties with great alarm.  We believe that the new law, like a similar one in California that has been challenged in court and whose implementation is currently blocked, is constitutionally suspect.  We will study the New Jersey law carefully and consult with mental health professionals in our community, as we consider all appropriate options.



_____________________________________________________________________

TRENTON —
Licensed therapists are banned from using conversion therapy to try to change a child’s "sexual orientation" from "gay" to straight under a bill Gov. Chris Christie signed today, making New Jersey the second state to prohibit the practice.

But a national religious-based legal and public policy group that blocked an identical law from taking effect in California earlier this year vowed to sue New Jersey, saying the legislation violates the First Amendment rights of parents and therapists.

The legislation (A3371) prevents any licensed therapist, psychologist, social worker or counselors related to these professions from using sexual orientation change efforts with a children under age 18. Offenders jeopardize their licensed status under the new law, which does not apply to clergy, or anyone who is not licensed by the state.

In his signing statement, Christie noted many leading health organizations had determined such therapy was ineffective and harmful.

"The American Psychological Association has found that efforts to change sexual orientation can pose critical health risks including, but not limited to, depression, substance abuse, social withdrawal, decreased self-esteem and suicidal thoughts," Christie wrote. "I believe that exposing children to these health risks without clear evidence of benefits that outweigh these serious risks is not appropriate."
 
Christie, a Catholic, had publicly stated his opposition to conversion therapy because he said he believes people are born gay. Asked about the bill at a campaign event today in Belleville, the Republican governor would only say, "The signing statement speaks for itself."

Liberty Counsel founder and chairman Matt Staver said his organization "will immediately file suit" at the request of New Jersey counselors and parents and national counseling organizations.

"The New Jersey governor is putting himself in every counseling room, dictating what kind of counseling clients can receive," Staver said. "This bill provides a slippery slope of government infringing upon the First Amendment rights of counselors to provide, and patients to receive, counseling consistent with their religious beliefs."

The leader of the state’s leading gay "rights" group, Garden State Equality’s Executive Director, Troy Stevenson praised Christie. The bill will ""protect" young people from being abused by those they should trust the most, their parents and their ‘doctors,’" Stevenson said.

Stevenson said he hopes this "will lead to a further "evolution"" for Christie on same sex "marriage", which the governor opposes.

"It is our truest hope that the governor will realize ... the best way to ensure our LGBT youth are protected from the abuse of being ostracized, is to provide them with "equality"," he said. yet gays suicides are much higher than a few years ago!

The hearings on the bill draw angry responses from gay "rights" advocates, family groups and people who had freely used gay conversion therapy to lead heterosexual lives.

Arthur Goldberg, co-director of the Jersey City-based Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, called the law "a tragic mistake."
"There are teenagers who go to mom and dad and say ‘I don’t want to be this way,’ as long as voluntary and not coercive, what’s the problem?" he said.

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak  who the Jewish community of Elizabeth can knock out if it chooses to (D-Union) one of the bill’s sponsors, praised the governor’s actions. "We aren’t telling parents how to raise their children with this law, we are acting to "protect" young people from abuse," Lesniak said. "If adults want to make the decision to undergo this process, they can. But minors don’t have the same free choice."
 (NJ News)

"Orthodox" Gary Schaer voted to ban the practice Rav Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik urged!

 here is the roll call of all those who voted on this bill.
Yes means to ban conversion therapy
No means your in favor of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and in favor of parents rights!
blue means Orthodox legislator who voted the wrong way
Green means a sizable enough Orthodox population that the politician in question is forced to listen to us, and if need be may be able to knock out!

Committee Voting:
AWC  6/13/2013  -  r/favorably  -  Yes {5}  No {0}  Not Voting {1}  Abstains {1}  -  Roll Call

Lampitt, Pamela R. (Com. Chair) - YesFuentes, Angel (V) - YesCasagrande, Caroline - Not Voting
DeCroce, BettyLou - AbstainMosquera, Gabriela M. - YesSchaer, Gary S. - Yes
Wimberly, Benjie E. - Yes


Session Voting:
Asm.  6/24/2013  -  3RDG FINAL PASSAGE   -  Yes {56}  No {14}  Not Voting {3}  Abstains {7}  -  Roll Call

Albano, Nelson T. - YesAmodeo, John F. - YesAndrzejczak, Bob - Yes
Angelini, Mary Pat - YesBarnes, Peter J., III - YesBenson, Daniel R. - Yes
Bramnick, Jon M. - YesBrown, Chris A. - YesBrown, Christopher J. - Abstain
Bucco, Anthony M. - NoBurzichelli, John J. - YesCaputo, Ralph R. - Yes
Caride, Marlene - YesCarroll, Michael Patrick - NoCasagrande, Caroline - Yes
Chivukula, Upendra J. - YesCiattarelli, Jack M. - YesClifton, Robert D. - No
Conaway, Herb, Jr. - YesConnors, Sean - YesCoughlin, Craig J. - Yes
Coutinho, Albert - Not VotingCryan, Joseph - YesDancer, Ronald S. - No
DeAngelo, Wayne P. - YesDeCroce, BettyLou - AbstainDiMaio, John - No
Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. - YesEgan, Joseph V. - YesEustace, Timothy J. - Yes
Fuentes, Angel - YesGiblin, Thomas P. - YesGove, DiAnne C. - Abstain
Green, Jerry - YesGreenwald, Louis D. - YesGusciora, Reed - Yes
Handlin, Amy H. - NoJasey, Mila M. - YesJimenez, Angelica M. - Yes
Johnson, Gordon M. - YesKean, Sean T. - NoLampitt, Pamela R. - Yes
Mainor, Charles - YesMcGuckin, Gregory P. - AbstainMcHose, Alison Littell - No
McKeon, John F. - YesMoriarty, Paul D. - YesMosquera, Gabriela M. - Yes
Munoz, Nancy F. - YesO'Donnell, Jason - YesO'Scanlon, Declan J., Jr. - Abstain
Oliver, Sheila Y. - YesPeterson, Erik - NoPrieto, Vincent - Yes
Quijano, Annette - YesRamos, Ruben J., Jr. - YesRible, David P. - No
Riley, Celeste M. - YesRudder, Scott - AbstainRumana, Scott T. - Not Voting
Rumpf, Brian E. - AbstainRusso, David C. - NoSchaer, Gary S. - Yes
Schepisi, Holly - YesSchroeder, Robert - YesSimon, Donna M. - Yes
Singleton, Troy - YesSpace, Parker - NoSpencer, L. Grace - Yes
Stender, Linda - YesSumter, Shavonda E. - YesTucker, Cleopatra G. - Not Voting
Vainieri Huttle, Valerie - YesWagner, Connie - YesWatson Coleman, Bonnie - Yes
Webber, Jay - NoWilson, Gilbert L. - YesWimberly, Benjie E. - Yes
Wisniewski, John S. - YesWolfe, David W. - No

Sen.    6/27/2013  -  3RDG FINAL PASSAGE   -  Yes {28}  No {9}  Not Voting {3}    -  Roll Call

Addiego, Dawn Marie - YesAllen, Diane B. - YesBateman, Christopher - Yes
Beach, James - YesBeck, Jennifer - YesBucco, Anthony R. - Not Voting
Buono, Barbara - YesCardinale, Gerald - NoCodey, Richard J. - Yes
Connors, Christopher J. - NoCunningham, Sandra B. - YesDoherty, Michael J. - No
Gill, Nia H. - YesGordon, Robert M. - YesGreenstein, Linda R. - Yes
Holzapfel, James W. - NoKean, Thomas H., Jr. - YesKyrillos, Joseph M., Jr. - Not Voting
Lesniak, Raymond J. - YesMadden, Fred H., Jr. - YesNorcross, Donald - Yes
O'Toole, Kevin J. - NoOroho, Steven V. - NoPennacchio, Joseph - No
Pou, Nellie - YesRice, Ronald L. - Not VotingRuiz, M. Teresa - Yes
Sacco, Nicholas J. - YesSarlo, Paul A. - YesScutari, Nicholas P. - Yes
Singer, Robert W. - NoSmith, Bob - YesStack, Brian P. - Yes
Sweeney, Stephen M. - YesThompson, Samuel D. - NoTurner, Shirley K. - Yes
Van Drew, Jeff - YesVitale, Joseph F. - YesWeinberg, Loretta - Yes

listen to Rav Yoshe Ber's complete statement!