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Tom Minnery |
Dear Friend,
You know all about the assault on family values that has begun in Washington. The reality of "change" has hit full-force, and in many respects, it's a nightmare. Thanks to the sacrificial support of friends like you, Focus on the Family Action™ is working nonstop to block anti-family nominees and policies at every opportunity. I'll update you on some of those battles next month.
But as bad as things are in Washington, for many pro-family Americans the greatest political danger lurks much closer to home.
From Albany to Sacramento, state capitols are the flash points for the most aggressive efforts to redefine family and "re-norm" cultural standards—all the while undermining religious freedom. And changes at the state level often cause the biggest impact in our daily lives . . . as the people of Colorado are learning the hard way.
As you may recall, Colorado has in many ways become the poster child for the gay rights movement, thanks to the overwhelming financial backing of homosexual mega-donor Tim Gill and a few of his wealthy allies. Their success has even spawned a new political term: the "Colorado model"1—which implies, correctly, that it's being exported around the country. And considering what's happened in the Rocky Mountain State, that should send up a warning flare to the rest of the nation.
Sex, lies and the truth: The rest of the storyI told you last summer about a new Colorado law that gave special "public accommodation" protections to people who self-identify as homosexual or "transgender."2 I shared with you how Focus on the Family Action warned lawmakers that this payback to Tim Gill would reap a whirlwind of social problems. We specifically warned them that their vote for this bill would even allow men to use women's restrooms—right alongside women and even young girls.
And, with your support, we certainly got their attention. As The Denver Post reported, "No bill this year has seen the kind of heated pre-signing attacks leveled at SB 200. Focus on the Family [Action] launched radio ads and a media campaign urging [Gov. Bill] Ritter to veto the bill."3
Unfortunately, the liberal legislature and governor were in no mood to listen. In fact, they forcefully denied our claims and essentially called us liars:
- A Denver legislator protested that the measure "has nothing at all to do with allowing one gender in another gender's restrooms."4
- The senior staff attorney for the legislature solemnly intoned, "I do not see any basis whatever for an assertion that [the bill] requires that men be admitted to women's bathrooms or vice versa."5
- And, following an ad campaign from Focus Action, a Colorado daily newspaper editorialized: "Contrary to what a few radical interest groups have tried to lead people to believe this election year, the . . . [new law] has nothing to do with the use of public restrooms."6
Now, months later, a state agency has issued regulations to enforce the new law, and a lot of politicians and media folks are cleaning egg off their faces.
You see, a number of the new rules deal specifically with restrooms, locker rooms and other locations where "nudity is customary." But instead of being concerned with public safety and protection of children in these vulnerable public situations, the regulations read more like social engineering that reaches far beyond the sensibilites of the average Coloradan. For instance:
1) "Transgender status" is defined so vaguely that only a mind-reader could know whether a man is actually "transgendered"—or if he's really a Peeping Tom, or worse.
Specifically, "transgender status" is defined as "having a gender identity or gender expression that differs, or does not differ, from societal expectations based on gender assigned at birth." In other words, a "transgendered" man entering a women's restroom might display obvious signs (such as cross-dressing), or he might appear like any other man.
2) All businesses and most nonprofit organizations in the state are required to allow "transgendered" people—which under the vague definition could be anyone—to use whichever restroom or locker room they choose.
3) Don't ask. The rules make clear that questioning an individual or attempting to require documentation of gender "suggests discriminatory conduct"—making it virtually impossible to stop anyone from entering an opposite-sex restroom or locker room.
Not surprisingly, a number of alarming incidents have already been reported to us:
- A female intern at Focus on the Family® encountered a man in a women's restroom in a local airport.7
- A teen girl saw a man in a women's restroom at a Colorado Springs-area Wal-Mart. The man then exposed his genitals to the girl.8
- Two teenage girls discovered a man undressing in a women's locker room in a Denver-area fitness facility.9
- A mother and daughter in a Colorado mall bathroom were intruded upon by a man—in his 20s with a red-dyed Mohawk—who spent several minutes in the bathroom.10
And for anyone found guilty of discrimination, the punishment is severe—not only civil and criminal fines, but also up to a year in jail. For a businessman who simply wants to uphold his religious beliefs—or for a mother trying to protect her child—that's a stiff price to pay.
Thus, Gov. Ritter and the liberal legislature—in paying back political debts to the homosexual movement—have shrugged aside public safety concerns and potentially forced tens of thousands of Coloradans to choose between their religious convictions and the law.
Frankly, while we have deep compassion for those who struggle with their sexual identity—and long to assist them in truth and love—there is no place for these politicians' counterproductive, so-called "solutions" that sacrifice safety and decency in the service of political correctness.
Religious freedom at stake in every stateThis policy battle isn't limited to Colorado.11 In Maryland last year, Montgomery County officials passed a similar measure. Concerned citizens gathered nearly enough signatures to put a repeal measure on the fall ballot, only to have highly questionable court rulings keep it off. And in Gainesville, Fla., pro-family citizens have successfully referred a related measure to a vote of the people on March 24.
Moreover, in at least a dozen states, religious freedom is being threatened by existing "non- discrimination" laws. From the photographer couple in New Mexico that was fined more than $6,000 for refusing to shoot a lesbian "commitment ceremony" . . . to the church camp in New Jersey that lost part of its tax-exempt status for refusing to host another such "commitment ceremony" . . . the homosexual agenda is running head-on into Americans' freedom of religion.12
And in nearly every other state—even family-friendly states like North Dakota13—similar legislation is being introduced and strongly pushed, with a big assist from friendly media.
State-by-state help from Focus ActionThere are numerous ways in which Focus Action is helping local leaders fight this agenda.
1) Every year, Focus Action engages directly in several of these state battles to help stop such legislation in its tracks. If you've been supporting us for any length of time, then you've had a part in defeating such schemes. Your support allows us to activate pro-family citizens through mailings, e-mail blasts, telephone calls and advertising campaigns.
2) Right now, Focus Action staff members are coordinating work with top legal scholars and attorneys to develop a menu of options that states can use to minimize the negative effects of homosexual and "transgender" rights laws on religious freedom.
3) More than ever, we're proactively assisting our three dozen associated state groups to develop more vibrant and potent political operations to counter the work of Tim Gill and others on the Left.
The pro-family community has, in many regards, barely touched the political tools at our disposal. But that may be changing. For example, a Colorado legislator who was a leading recipient of Tim Gill's funding was defeated last year, following a major media campaign by Focus Action to expose his pro-gay-activist votes. The Denver Post called this legislator's defeat "a shocking upset,"14 but that's what can happen when our side gets engaged.
4) We're also investing in major new technological and informational tools to allow our state groups to more easily adapt and implement successful lobbying strategies from state to state. In a period when donors' dollars are often stretched thin, this is a great way to leverage limited resources and help dozens of pro-family groups at the same time. I'm very excited about this economy of scale that your support is allowing us to provide to this network of state organizations.
What can you do?
- First—and I hope this never gets old—I invite you to pray for Focus Action and, most of all, for our nation. The challenges that we are facing in our cultural, financial and political arenas are so enormous that we would be foolish to think that our efforts and strategies alone will be sufficient. We need God's intervention in the affairs of men. Will you join me in passionate prayer for these matters?
- Second, our nation didn't get into this situation overnight, and it's going to take a long, committed effort to get out. That's why I'd like to invite you to team up with us as a monthly financial partner. Your regular support—whether it's $5 a month or $100 or more—allows us to more effectively plan, budget and carry out our work for the long haul.
Of course, we most certainly welcome gifts of any form right now. Between the issue battles we are facing in Washington and in state capitols, our resources have never been spread so thin. Thanks so much for remembering us and helping out as God has enabled you.
Sincerely,
Tom Minnery
Senior Vice President
Focus on the Family Action
P.S. So much is at stake in what I've described here. If we lose our religious freedom, we will have lost the very heart of America. Thank you for your faithful partnership. Please continue to stand with us in prayer, action and financial support.
1 weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/316nfdzw.asp, Jan. 22, 2009.
2 leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/billcontainers/BD7A295EB6F4460E872573F5005D0148/$FILE/200_enr.pdf, Jan. 22, 2009.
3 John Ingold, "Anti-bias measure inked; Governor signs bill covering sexual orientation, religious beliefs," The Denver Post (Colorado), May 30, 2008, p. B-01.
4 Letter to constituent, dated July 25, 2008.
5 Nate Taylor, "Ads Criticize Public Accommodation Bill," Fort Collins Coloradoan, July 8, 2008, p. 3A.
6 gjfreepress.com/article/20080626/OPINION/741440061&parentprofile=search, Jan. 22, 2009.
7 Focus on the Family employee, name withheld, personal communication, June 2008.
8 Name withheld, e-mail message to Focus on the Family, July 8, 2008.
9 Name withheld, e-mail message to Focus on the Family, June 27, 2008.
10 Colorado State Senator Dave Schultheis, e-mail message to constituents, Jan. 16, 2009.
Name withheld, e-mail message to Colorado State Senator Dave Schultheis, Dec. 10, 2008.
11 foxnews.com/story/0,2933,478924,00.html, Jan. 22, 2009.
12 ncregister.com/site/article/17051/, Jan. 22, 2009.
13 grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=102556§ion=news, Jan. 22, 2009.
14 denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_10906174?source=rss, Jan. 22, 2009.
