No, there's no need for hate crimes legislation...none at all. Tell that to the family of Kenneth Cummings Jr., a Southwest flight attendant, who was killed by a man who believed he was doing God's work. (Houston Chronicle):
"I believe I'm Elijah, called by God to be a prophet," said 26-year-old Terry Mark Mangum, charged with murder June 11. " ... I believe with all my heart that I was doing the right thing."
Interviewed in the Brazoria County Jail Saturday morning, Mangum said he feels no remorse for killing 46-year-old Kenneth Cummings Jr., whom relatives described as a "loving" son who never forgot a holiday and a devoted uncle who had set up college funds for his niece and nephew. He worked at Southwest for 24 years.
Mangum, who described himself as "definitely not a homosexual," said God called on him to "carry out a code of retribution" by killing a gay man because "sexual perversion" is the "worst sin."
Mangum believed Cummings to be gay.
"I planned on sending him to hell," he said.
Cummings was stabbed with a six-inch blade, and his charred body was found near San Antonio on property owned by Mangum's grandfather.
While not everyone can agree on whether there should be hate crime laws, the fact is that if it's on the books, why shouldn't sexual orientation and gender identity be added to the list, which includes religion -- protection you won't see fundies ready to give up any time soon.
In fact, it's the religious zealots of the right, the usual suspects -- the Traditional Values Coalition, the American Family Association, Concerned Women for America and the rest of the professional persecuted "Christian" set, who like to hide behind homobigoted black pastors that are all-too-willing to be trotted out there. Take a look at this ridiculous video, from a recent rally on Capitol Hill.
Rusty Lee Thomas, who's mentioned in an earlier post, is seen bleating this winner:
"Yes, I dare state that there is a direct connection between the sins and crimes of abortion and the sodomite agenda and the Islamic terrorism that threatens our nation."
As expected, black pastor puppets are also prominently featured. Here's Rev. Johnny Hunter of the Life Education and Resource Network:
"Pastors not only have a right, but they have an obligation to state emphatically that according to scripture, a man or a woman should not perform a sex act with a person of the same sex...nor with a dog...nor with a snake...nor with a hamster or any other creature."
They know that they can quote Leviticus all day long if the measure is passed. The the ACLU has outlined how free speech will be protected, but no matter. That doesn't fill the coffers of the professional hate machine.
As far as the status of the hate crimes bill on the Hill is concerned, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act was recently attached as an amendment to the defense authorization bill. The latter was subsequently pulled from the floor in the Senate by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). It's unlikely to be reconsidered until September or October, according to the Washington Blade.
Although Reid is said to be committed to Senate passage of the hate crimes bill, his decision to delay action on the defense bill upsets the timetable that gay leaders and their congressional allies had set for successive votes this year in the House and Senate on both the hate crimes bill and ENDA.
...With a number of crucial appropriations bills waiting for Senate action, said the lobbyist, who spoke on condition that he not be identified, Reid and Senate Democratic leaders would have to juggle Senate business to accommodate an ENDA vote. He said concern by some Democratic senators from conservative states that an ENDA vote could hurt their chances for re-election in 2008 provides an incentive to put off an ENDA vote this year in the Senate.
Ah yes, we put those Dems in office and they are ready to stab us in the back. Thanks very much.
