Original Post:
It’s no secret to most of us that many mainstream denominations are against gay marriage. But are you aware that many mainstream religions actively spend money to lobby Congress, in an effort, to deny the gay community its basic legal rights?
For decades religion has had a presence in Washington, D.C. Most faiths are represented, including: Catholics, Southern Baptists, United Methodists, Reform Jews and Quakers, just to name a few. Some of these lobbyist groups serve as the voice for individual denominations, while others represent a larger body of associations. Religious lobbyist groups concern themselves with issues ranging from loosening immigration policy, to anti-abortion measures and of course, working against gay rights.
Many of the religious lobbyists have exerted their power to help push the passage of positive and important legislation, such as civil rights in the 1960s, ending the Vietnam War in the 1970s, and the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. However, over the last decade or so, there has been an enormous uprising against the gay community by many of these organizations. We have also seen the emergence of groups like The Christian Coalition, The Family Research Council, and the American Family Association all of which work to decry anything they deem to be “immoral”, including or especially, homosexuality.
The groups working to “save the institution of marriage” are not only attempting to claim the word, marriage, as their own, but are also attempting to deny the gay community their basic legal rights, as Americans. Not all of the religious lobbying groups are anti-gay. Episcopalians and The United Methodists, for instance, are known to be gay-friendly.
The fight in the gay community isn’t about faith, or religious belief; it’s about having legal and equal protection under the law. Let me be clear, it’s about legal rights, not religious beliefs! This is very important. In the larger picture, one truly has nothing to do with the other. The only binding force between the two is the word, “marriage”.
By denying legal and equal protection to the gay community, the law is denying hospital visitation, inheritance rights of property, and adoption of children to long-term same-sex couples.
So if as an example, I were to be on my death-bed at the hospital and my doctor told everyone to leave the room except my family, my partner of more than nine years would have to leave. He would legally be denied the right to hold my hand and comfort me through my final hours. Then after my death, my half of the home we both share (financially, domestically and spiritually) would be inherited by my next of kin. If my kin wanted to liquidate their share, then they could force my partner to sell his own house.
Granted, there are ways to legally protect property through the terms in a will, as well as the terms on a property deed. However, paying to protect one’s self through a legal contract does not guarantee that the legal contract won’t be contested in a court of law (and many have been). Also, drawing-up legal contracts is costly, often ranging into the thousands of dollars; whereas, if one were able to marry his/her same-sex partner these protections would simply be afforded to them like any other married heterosexual couple. It would be automatic protection, under the law.
Remember, these powerful religious lobbying organizations operate tax-free under the federal law. So, before the next time you or your church-going loved ones tithe, ask questions and do some light investigative work because your money could very well be going to deny yourself, or your family and friends their legal rights.
Below is an example of how giving money in church funnels its way to work against the gay community. Please understand that this example IS an accurate path that church money takes; however in all fairness, the Southern Baptist Convention is NOT THE ONLY group to lobby against gay rights. Click on the chart below to enlarge it.
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