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The panel fielded questions about the language and implications of the legislation, both at the national level and in South Carolina. The legislators on the panel urged AFFA’s members and guests to spend the time between now and next session contacting their representatives and educating them on the need to pass hate crimes legislation.<\/p>\n
It may be a steep learning curve. Sen. Ford himself seemed to be rather disconnected from gay reality. At one point he claimed he hadn’t known there was discrimination against gay people until the marriage amendment fight last fall. He bet his colleagues didn’t know either. He then asked the audience, “Did y’all know?” They nodded. “Oh,” he said. “I guess you would.”<\/p>\n
For more about AFFA and how you can get involved, see its Web site www.affa-sc.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last night AFFA also marked a new era of leadership. After serving three years, president Susie Prueter handed the office to Sue Weller. Congratulations to them both.<\/p>\n AFFA was a most gracious host, feeding us well, keeping us good company and putting us up for the night at the hotel. Thanks for a fine time.<\/p>\n To see pictures of the event, as well as some from the July 1 vigil for Sean Kennedy in Columbia, see the albums in the photo gallery.<\/p>\n On the drive back to Columbia from Charleston this morning, Brett was reading the hotel-issue USA Today. Ironically, in it was this ad. (The ad didn’t fit on my scanner, but you get the gist. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.)<\/p>\n USA Today ad, July 11, 2007<\/p>\n The ad reads, in part: “Christian clergymen and people of faith are making a stand today for religious liberty. WE OPPOSE S. 1105, the so-called “hate crimes” bill. Similar laws at the state level and in other countryies have already been used to muzzle the church. Labeling politically incorrect views as “hate” will have a chilling effect on the free speech and religious liberty of our churches and of our members.<\/p>\n Let’s be clear: Violent crimes should always be punished, no matter the victim – but thoughts and opinions should never be. Laws punishing violent crime already exist in all 50 states. So what then will define hate? Simply, preaching Bibical sexual morality. Such laws will ultimately establish, as a matter of legal principle, that any opposition to homosexual or other unbiblical behavior is inherently a form of “hate,” a direct threat to every Amercan citizen’s freedom of conscience.”<\/strong><\/p>\n The ad was paid for by a group called the High Impact Leadership Coalition. You can check out its Web site www.hilc.net<\/a>.<\/p>\n The People for the American Way has a brief about the group on its Web site www.pfaw.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n I wonder if there are South Carolina ties to this group.<\/p>\n Becci<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Network Director Brett Bursey was invited to be part of a panel discussion on hate crime legislation at AFFA’s program meeting last night at the Renaissance Hotel in Charleston. Also on the panel were the primary sponsors of South Carolina … Continue reading 
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