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Report for January
31, 2003
Another Proverbs 17:15 Decision by
George W. Bush
We meant to get this up last week, but did not
get around to it. The news release below is from the powerful, well-funded
sodomite lobby group Human Rights Campaign. The topic is President George
Bush's change of mind concerning his decision to have Jerry Thacker serve
on a presidential AIDS advisory panel. Bush made his decision in response
to a howl of protest over Thacker's appointment. Mr. Thacker is a
Christian, a graduate of Bob Jones University, and believes that the Word
of God forbids the commission of homosexual acts. His wife was infected
with AIDS during a blood transfusion, and he was infected by his wife. In
response to questions about President Bush's about face on Thacker, the
president's spokesman Ari Fleischer states, "The views that [Jerry
Thacker] holds are far, far removed from what the president believes. The
president has a total opposite view. . . . the president's view is that
people with AIDS need to be treated with care, compassion."
In his ongoing, seemingly insatiable urge to pander to perversion,
President Bush has the audacity to tell a Christian suffering from AIDS,
due to no fault of his own, and watching his wife and child suffer from
the same disease, that he has no compassion because of his biblical
position that homosexuals need to repent and put their faith in Christ for
salvation. Mr. Fleischer was right in one regard--George W. Bush's views
on homosexuality are far, far removed from Jerry Thacker's views which are
rooted in God's Word. "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that
condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD"
(Proverbs 17:15).
Jerry Thacker was one of seven new appointees to the AIDS advisory panel.
Four of the seven are openly "gay"; but like Mr. Bush's many
other sodomite appointees to other high posts in government, no amount of
protest from Christians will cause him to have a change of heart regarding
those four sons of Sodom.
Of course, George Bush's philosophical friends at the Human Rights
Campaign share his sentiments on Jerry Thacker and then some. We have
highlighted the "evidence" HRC offers which they say render
Thacker unfit for service in a government position. Discerning minds will
easily understand the implications.
NEWS from the
Human Rights Campaign
919 18th Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003
HRC HOPES WITHDRAWAL OF CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTEE SIGNALS BUSH
ADMINISTRATION SHIFT TOWARD SCIENTIFIC-BASED HIV/AIDS POLICIES
Jerry Thacker Steps Aside After Anti-Gay Comments Cause Political
Firestorm
WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign called on the Bush administration
to recommit itself to a science-based plan to combat HIV/AIDS after a
controversial appointee to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA)
withdrew his name today. Anti-gay activist Jerry Thacker stepped aside
after a political firestorm ensued from comments found on his website (www.scepter.org)
that call homosexuality a "deathstyle."
"Thacker was right to step aside and we hope that future
administration appointments will reflect a commitment to epidemiology, not
fringe ideology," said HRC Political Director Winnie
Stachelberg. "It is important that the administration bolster PACHA's
credibility by avoiding divisive figures, such as Thacker, who distract
the panel from doing the important work of fighting against HIV and AIDS.
We look forward to working with the administration and PACHA on
scientifically sound policies that disseminate accurate information and
save lives."
The offensive remarks were made on Thacker's website for the
Scepter Institute, an online AIDS ministry he operates. In an apparent
effort to stop the controversy, Thacker, a former Bob Jones University
faculty member, deleted the "deathstyle" reference from the
website.
Thacker was one of seven new PACHA appointees to the 35-member panel,
including four who are openly gay -- David Greer, Brent Minor, David
Reznik, Don Sneed. These new leaders offer an opportunity for the panel to
change direction and move forward with helpful new policies, says HRC.
"We will look to these new members, several of whom are openly gay,
to offer fresh insight and steer PACHA in the right direction, which is
focusing on the best scientific solutions available," said
Stachelberg. "We are pleased the administration tapped their
formidable experience and is counting on their expertise.". . .
There is also grave concern that the administration's focus on
abstinence-only education is ineffective, omitting crucial, life-saving
facts and ignoring the needs of gay people - particularly gay youth.
"There is little evidence that abstinence-until-marriage education
works," said Stachelberg. "And it does not help anyone in the
gay community -- particularly gay youth who desperately need accurate
information -- because we can't legally marry."
Thacker became infected with HIV after his wife, Sue, contracted the
disease in 1984 through a blood transfusion. Following the announcement of
his appointment, Thacker's website contained an anti-gay section
labeled "Help for Homosexuals," which promoted the discredited
theory that gay people can change their sexual orientation through prayer
. . .
Specifically, the site contained:
"A message on the nature of homosexuality and how Christ can
rescue the homosexual. Includes statistics on homosexual behavior, tips
for ministry to those practicing the 'deathstyle' and information on the
homosexual movement and its political agenda."
To avoid an escalation of mounting concerns surrounding his views, Thacker
removed this section from his website. According to a story in today's
Washington Post, Thacker also removed a section from his website that
referred to AIDS as the "gay plague" and replaced it with
"plague."
Nonetheless, some of Thacker's anti-scientific and anti-gay views remain
on his website. In another section of www.scepter.org,
Thacker asks, "Isn't HIV/AIDS a homosexual disease?" To this
question he answers: "When HIV was first diagnosed in the early
1980's it was found primarily among the homosexual community. Even today
the majority of reported cases are found among homosexuals."
In fairness, Thacker does acknowledge on his website that HIV can be
transmitted through unprotected heterosexual sex and intravenous drug use.
However, his emphasis on HIV/AIDS as a gay disease sent a mixed message
that could have harmed the already difficult task of preventing the spread
of HIV among other at-risk groups, such as people of color, gay youth and
women, says HRC.
Thacker displayed anti-gay views in a "Chapel Message"
when he returned to Bob Jones University, his alma mater in September
2001. According to The Washington Post, the speeches summarized on the
university website discussed the "sin of homosexuality."
"When he and his wife discovered in 1986 that they had contracted
HIV, the most horrible thought was that it was a disease connected with
the sin of homosexuality," according to The Post. "They didn't
want anyone to think they were homosexual because they knew what the Bible
said about homosexuality."
A summary of Thacker's Bob Jones speeches also said:
"Homosexuality is not inborn biologically, just as incest and
bestiality are not inborn. Studies have shown that thousands of
homosexuals have been set free from this sin." . . .
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay
political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively
lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to
ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans can be open,
honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
Homo-Fascism
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