Nevada anti-gay taxi policy criticized

The Nevada Taxi Authority is under fire for a policy that groups gays with alleged criminals among those at high risk of giving communicable diseases to agency employees.

“The policy of the Taxicab Authority is to safeguard, to the highest degree possible, employees and the public who come in contact with …

Homosexuality immoral, but not criminal: Religious leaders

In the first flurry of reactions, religious leaders appeared to be slamming the de-criminalization of gay sex. But while most conservative scholars and clerics remain opposed to homosexuality as an article of faith, many say that they aren’t advocating making it a criminal act as Section 377 of IPC did.

Writer and philosopher Deepak Chopra told TOI from his home in New York, ‘‘A new morality must evolve that is based on a true understanding of human nature, that is also consistent with its biology. Homosexuality has been part of the human condition for as long as human beings have existed. The Delhi High Court should be congratulated for making a decision that finally catches up with our times.’’

Then, while Delhi Catholic Archdiocese has described homosexuality as ‘‘unnatural’’, it says it has nothing against its de-criminalization. Spokesperson of Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, Father Dominic Emmanuel, told TOI,‘‘Homosexuality is a sin — as opposed to a crime. But we believe that those who indulge in it should be treated with respect and compassion.’’

In a newspaper article, Father Dominic was even more forthright. ‘‘It needs to be made clear that the Christian community does not (repeat it does not) treat people with homosexual tendencies as criminals. Nor does it believe that they can be regarded on par with criminals. Therefore, the church has no serious objection to the repealing of Section 377.

‘‘The Vatican’s stand on this is quite clear: Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided’,’’ wrote Father Dominic.

Similarly, some Muslim clerics and scholars, too, favour de-criminalization of homosexuality, saying that while Islam does not permit homosexuality, this doesn’t mean it should be equated with criminality.

‘‘The Quran condemns homosexuality, but doesn’t prescribe any punishment for it. It’s a sin, not a crime. Sin is between Allah and the sinner, but crime concerns the entire society. So, sexual minorities should be left to their conscience. They are answerable to Allah for their act and should not be treated as criminals,’’ said Islamic scholar Asghar Ali Engineer.

Maulana Abu Zafar Hassan Nadvi, a cleric, too accepts that since the Quran is silent on the punishment for homosexuality, it should be treated as an irreligious, immoral act. ‘‘Every non-religious act is not liable to be punished. Just as we don’t pronounce death for atheists, homosexuals should be left alone until they get reformed,” said Maulana Nadvi. See Homosexuality immoral, but not criminal: Religious leaders

Times of India

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Convictions overturned for Senegal gays

(Dakar) An appeals court in the Senegal capital of Dakar overturned jail sentences Monday for nine men convicted on charges of homosexuality.

They were sentenced in January to eight years in prison on charges of “indecent and unnatural acts” and “forming associations of criminals.”

All nine were involved in HIV-prevention work, their …

Rick Warren should repent

Rick Warren, the controversial choice to give the opening prayer at the inaugural ceremony can’t have it both ways. He has called homosexuals criminals and perverts and now he has praised the choice of Gene Robinson the openly gay Episcopal bishop who will give the invocation at the inaugural opening ceremony at the Sunday afternoon concert on the Mall.

Warren issued a statement praising Obama for selecting Robinson, saying the president-elect “has again demonstrated his genuine commitment to bringing all Americans of goodwill together in search of common ground. I applaud his desire to be the president of every citizen.”

The large inaugural audience will allow the Rev. Warren to make a public show of repentance. His cherry picking of scripture to make a political point is often translated into a cultural point by those who hate gay people. So in the name of integrity admit the contradiction and in the spirit of Christian love I suggest the following passage for inclusion in your prayer:

Father God I repent for straying from the path you admonished me to follow in Ephesians 4:15: …speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Help us to go forward from this day committed to our truth but speaking it only in the spirit of love.

Christians believe that words have power, that God created the heavens and the earth in just six days. But the power of words can build up or it can tear down. It’s time to take the hyperbole out of your witness and demonstrate the courage to love all people in the name of Christ.

Rick Warren should repent

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Map of Prop 8 Donors

Oh dear. Get ready to freak out. Somebody has gone and created a mash-up of Google Maps and Prop 8 Donors. Which you can see right here.

Proposition 8, if you recall, changed the California state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. That is to say, Prop 8 allowed discrimination into the state constitution. Eight Maps allows you to see who the people are who donated in order to pass it.

Is this a witch hunt? No. Is it cruel? A bit, maybe. But aren’t the 36,000 people whose marriages risk nullification entitled to know which of their neighbors paid to force them into divorce? Criminals are entitled to face their accusers in court. why can’t married couples know who’s funding their forced divorces? See Map of Prop 8 Donors