"Ex-Gay' Leader Expresses Opposition to Federal Hate Crimes Bill

Alan Chambers, the President of Exodous International, a ministry that claims to be able to lead homosexuals into a straight lifestyle through "the Gospel of Jesus," has weighed in on "The Matthew Sheppard Bill," which would extend federal hate crimes protection to cases based on sexual identity:

"[R]eally what we're saying is this legislation is unfair, because it means that I was more valuable as a homosexual than I am today as a former homosexual," Chambers told reporters before he began visiting on Capitol Hill April 17. "You know, this law would give special protection to those who are gay and lesbian, yet it doesn't give any protection to those who are children. That's saying that a gay man is more valuable than a child, is more valuable than a grandmother, is more valuable than the majority of Americans. That's just not fair."

"The bill is "primarily being pushed by those in the homosexual activist community, really as a reinforcement that homosexuality is valid, that they need protection, and that's just not the case," said Chambers, who left homosexuality 15 years ago and has been married for more than nine years. "[Homosexuals are] protected as much as I am protected under the Fourteenth Amendment."

First, there is no such thing as a "former homosexual." There are homosexuals like Mr. Chambers who are leading a straight lifestyle. The number of cases of ex-gay leaders being caught in gay bars are too long to list here.

Of course, no one is assigning "value" to a person based on their sexual orientation, or in Mr. Chambers' situation, their current practice. In fact, hate crimes legislation, like that which punishes lynching of African-Americans or church burnings with extra penalties, are designed to prevent minorities from being treated as "less valuable" parts of society. History is littered with examples of violent acts committed against individuals or groups because they are different. Such is currently the case with the GLBT community.

Homosexuality IS valid and they do need protection. Just the fact that someone with the bully pulpit like Mr. Chambers can even question the validity of an entire group of people only, in my opinion, serves to reinforce the need for them to be protected by hate crime legislation accross the nation, not just in a few friendly states.

Thanks to Jesus Politics for the tip.