Tuesday, May 22, 2012

North Carolina Pastor Calls for Death to Homosexuals

This story has caught fire across the Internet, and for good reason.  Here's the blunt, honest truth about what's going on in our culture today:  With the momentum that the LGBT community has picked up in its fight for equality, the far-right has declared war on everyone who falls under that umbrella.  The latest example of that is a North Carolina pastor, Charles Worley.  The head of the Providence Road Baptist Church made a statement that should be viewed as dangerous, if not criminal:
“I figured a way to get rid of all the lesbians and queers,” he says.
“Build a great, big, large fence — 150- or 100-mile long — put all the lesbians in there . . . do the same thing for the queers and the homosexuals, and have that fence electrified so they can’t get out.
“Feed ’em, and you know what?” Worley continues. “In a few years they’ll die. Do you know why? They can’t reproduce.”
Now, before any naysayers get riled up and leave comments about free speech, save it.  Rest assured that free speech has nothing to do with hate speech.  When a person publicly calls for the death a person, that's not free speech;  that's hate speech.  And, it's criminal.  In "pastor" Worley's case, he called for the death of an entire segment of our population!  That's NOT free speech:  that's hate speech!!  That's called genocide.  Pastor Charles Worley is calling for the genocide of all LGBT people in this country.  That cannot be tolerated.
For a human being to call for the extermination of another human being is reprehensible, to be sure.  For a human being to call for the extermination of an entire group of people is Hitler-esque, to say the least.  For a person of power and influence, a so-called "man of God"!, to call for the mass murder of a group of people in front of his congregation is irresponsible, dangerous, and (should be) criminal.  

It's the knowing that people of this mentality not only exist in our society but hold positions of great power and influence that continues to fuel the bullying of LGBT teens in schools and online; it's the reason why those who do the bullying feel sanctioned in their actions.  It's a dangerously vicious cycle that demands immediate attention and firm action.

Petitions are already up and running online to combat this tyrant.  At the very least, it is this author's belief that he should be forced to step down from "ministering" the congregation at Providence Road Baptist Church.  Further, he shouldn't be allowed to minister at all, anywhere, ever again.  

Look, this blog has nearly 15,000 direct followers, either as members on the facebook blog page or as subscribers to it.  Yet, only 10% or less read it on a daily basis.  Even less actually get involved when the whistle blows.  I get it:  in any arena, there are people on the field and in the game; and, there are spectators.  I get that.  However, this is an urgent call to action!  This article needs to be read and heavily circulated.  Even more importantly, the petitions need to be signed.  Being a spectator to the call for genocide shouldn't be an option for anyone.  Understanding that "they" are officially declaring war on the entire LGBT community is vital at this point in time.

History will view people like Charles Worley through the same lenses that other historical tyrants are viewed.  He's no less evil or dangerous, at least in his thought process, than Hitler.  However, "history" connotes future eyes looking back over time.  Right here and now, we're in that time.  Lives are at stake, in the here and now, like never before.  When religious and political "leaders" begin to speak out and call for the death of an entire cultural group, it needs to be understood that they are essentially declaring war on said people.  

It's time for everyone to understand the urgency of the situation and get involved.  Here are the petitions to sign:



Whether you're gay or straight or anything in between, sign these petitions!!  If nothing else, do it for Harvey Milk.  He would've gone to bat for you.





36 comments:

  1. I have had it with all this hate going around. I would like to talk to this pastor and make him see sense otherwise disaster will most surely follow after this.

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  2. I think there will be one Pastor being surprised to find heavens gate closed and a space reserved for him in a hot concentration camp in another place ...

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  3. Gay people can't reproduce? Not sure how I exist then, as my mother is a lesbian (and I'm not adopted)

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  4. Wow :( #PROUDUNITARIANUINIVERSALISTFOREQUALITY!!!!!

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  5. I signed both and many of my friends on FB will be signing as well.

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  6. I think its a distinction worth noting: otherwise the Right will claim this guy is being misrepresented and ignore the real issue...

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  7. Signed. Hate speech is not free speech, agreed...

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  8. I signed both, invited as many FB ppl as i could, and will tell everyone i meet tomorrow. this is insane. anyone with a brain should have immediately stood up and called him hitler. imagine in this day and age!? call the police, call the government, get rid of this tumour before it spreads.

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  9. as a tax paying gay man, I think that it is time that the IRS come crashing down on the gay bashing parade lead by these "christian" radicals!!!! I find NOTHING christian about this pastor's hate strewn speech. How have we allowed our society to reach such incredible lows??

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    1. The unfortunate answer to that, as I have come to believe, is there are too many willing to let an evil exist that does not effect them directly, or so they believe, and not enough people that fight it because it is an evil that exists, regardless of who it effects.

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    2. If churches don't have to pay taxes so they can do christian things like calling for my extermination, than I shouldn't have to pay taxes either.

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  10. Death to a large group of society? Then death to the bigots!

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  11. Appalling on so many levels. How can he not see he is calling for genocide?

    And does he think that that if we took all the female Christians and fenced them up in one pen, and we took all the male Christians and fenced them up in a different pen, and fed them, that they wouldn't die out after a while because they could reproduce(asexually)? I didn't know that about Christians.

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  12. This confuses me. Preaches and Priests spouting hate and yet turning around and saying God and Jesus spread love and joy and forgiveness and tolerance. Its like the are speaking for God and Jesus and yet just talking out their A$$. This is why I am not in any organized religion.

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  13. I signed both and I sincerely hope this man is forced to leave the ministry and some legal action is able to be taken towards him. I had the same thought Mihiraku did, although my mom wasn't lesbian. Since there would be both men and women, they would be able to reproduce.

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  14. I'm just horrified by this... man (?). I'm French, and in my country, such a person would not have any legal right to say or write anything like that. The French law sentences homophobic words to strong fines. And, personnaly, if I could meet this little bastard, my fist would let his rectum know what is a real homosexual relationship ! But sorry, let's keep our calm...
    May I translate this article in French on my FB page, in order that more people can sign the petitions ?
    Please excuse my English, I'm not a Native...
    Regards

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    1. Please, Monsiuer. Definitely translate it for your countrymen and women.

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    2. Your English is just fine, as are your sentiments.

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  15. What about all the married people in hiding out doing the same sex... So much in our society is floored... An yes people like his in positions of power are a big part of the problem. I hope we evolve a least to a logical level of peace.

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  16. Is North Carolina even a part of the United States?

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    1. I like to think of it as the estranged half-brother of the U.S. that the rest of the country is ashamed to say that it's still related to...

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  17. The Pope, priests, ministers of church, all Christians and Islamists as well as Jews, state the words they speak are devine and inspired by "God". All of these religions have one god in common, so their sermons and beliefs are that of one and the same god. The logic deduction is, if a Chrisian speaks, he or she speaks for "God'. So all the religious leaders speaks only one common truth. This pastor then speaks on behalf of "God", all these religions and thus share a common message from "God". Analise his words, especially these words:... "so the won't reproduce," Either "God" is a bigot and dumb, or they are liars. The believers in these religions especially Christians cannot claim that only some pastors or religious leaders speak on behalf of "God" and others not. How do they know? What is the proof?

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  18. The images that came to mind when I listened and watched his pulpit speech were of men, women and children crying, screaming and starving behind razor wire. Images all too real in the 20th century. Why is it so often the Baptists?

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  19. Anyone with even REMOTE intelligence knows that this fool does not reflect the beliefs he claims to teach. I am not religious anymore but was raised an evangelical presbeterian... I let go of the hate and negativity the church tried to fix in my brain... the parts I still hang on to are "Love thy neighbour," "Judge not, lest ye be judged," "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" and, OH WAIT "Thou shalt not kill."
    BUT In a country where that same religious right you see here is in power, do you really want to let the government start deciding what is OK to say and what isn't? Let this asshole tie his own noose with the hateful speech he's spouting. You can ban hate speech... but malicious, uneducated parents and religious fanatics will still say the same things behind closed doors. Hate isn't born in you, it's taught by elders and authority figures like this fuckwad. Proper education on human sexuality, I think, is the key to fixing this problem. The generation of hate will DIE and fade into obscurity or be ruined by their own scandalous and ignorant beliefs very shortly. He is nothing but a fool, but even a fool has a right (I believe in the constitution before any religion)to say his stupid, misguided beliefs. You can't change this idiot by banning his right to say stupid shit, or even by killing him (which is what he wants done to others, as he said). That makes him a martyr for the cause... and if you know anything about religion, you know how well killing someone works to kill their beliefs and followers, don't you?

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    1. "Do unto others, as you would have others do unto you," is the biggest message in the entire Holy Bible. Yet many religious leaders seem to have forgotten this truth, and unfortunately are leading their congregations to the gates of hell rather than the gates of Heaven.

      I was once a Christan, but the religion raised more question than it answered, but I held myself to the truth of that message as closely as possible. I may failed upholding myself to it more times than I can remember, but I always let it guide my actions.

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  20. It's time to remove the U.S. from the human race.

    A human mind can see why this behavior is plain wrong.

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  21. You're sure this has been verified? Please tell me someone got it on audio or has a video of it.

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  22. Enough is enough with this hate speech claim. Who cares what he says but he does have that right, you have the right to ignore him, yet you chose to give him a platform. What is hate speech, where do you draw the line, and will something you say be deemed as hate speech. Frankly, a person's sex life is private, and no one should be given special preference because they are gay.

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  23. Right you are, 1776blues - no one should be given special preference because they are gay. Just equality. Well-said!

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  24. Dear Mr." You should be ashamed to call yourself a Pastor"
    I would be very careful what you say infront of your Beholder. I am sure that HE is not to pleased with your behaviour and nasty comments. Not sure what faith you belong to that teaches such hatred. I can't see this taking you to the Gates of Heaven more like the Gates of Hell. Take care of what goes on in your own back yard and bedroom. So stay out of Mine. Sincerly, a Very Proud Lesbian.

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  25. "Death to a large group of society? Then death to the bigots!"
    Noooononononononono, no! What, are you kidding?! I mean, honestly. As much as they're wrong and need to shut up and not try to kill all LGBTQs on the planet, killing them won't exactly help. Seriously. Hate does not stop hate. I mean, don't start a war. Defend, but don't attack. Find some other way to make them stop, 'cause that route will get you somewhere you don't wanna be.

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  26. He just needs to be spanked and have his mouth washed out with soap! Publicly! I'd happily volunteer to do it to him!

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  27. I was wondering who keeps bringing all the beautiful gay into this world?...oh, wait it's the straight people...now think about that one Pastor Worely!!

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  28. I find it interesting that his joke though a horrible and not funny joke is viewed as "war" and a severe "threat" to yay people. He clearly doesn't agree with homosexuality but I bet he really doesn't want you to actually die. You are way too uptight. You're looking to pick a fight. I agree it was ignorant to say. Actually it was downright stupid but I'm sure he was joking. On top of that, all of the people commenting with all the horrible things to say, listen to yourself. You're just as intolerant, you're just a bigot with a different opinion. When you begin to refute a pastors ignorant joke with compassion and love and equality, the things you scream for and claim are your root motivations, then will you be making headway. Until then you're just like him just on the other side of the fence.

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    1. Whereas I do have to agree with you that, at times, the rhetoric from "this side" can be as harsh as it is coming from "the other side", I wholeheartedly disagree with you that there was any possibility that Worley was "joking". In fact, he has re-stated what he said during his sermon and pointedly stated that he stands by his words. It is seen as "war" because that's exactly what it is. There are people on "the other side" who have clearly stated that they think all LGBT people should be dead. I don't know if you're paying attention to the media, but it's really kinda hard to miss. And, if you've missed those stories, all you have to do is take a look at the laws around the country, or the laws "they" are attempting to pass, as they pertain to discrimination against the LGBT community and, in particular, its youth. There are states that are trying to literally sanction the bullying of LGBT teens. Exactly what message would you say that's sending? The LGBT community may be "uptight", although I disagree; however, when you have people in powerful positions essentially trying to eliminate your very being, I'd say there's just cause to be uptight. Thank you for your comment.

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  29. I'm trying to write a resolution for student congress and I need the percentage of teen suicides. I also need to know out of that percentile, what percent of the teen suicide is from teenage girls?

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