A recent event occurred in Gilbert where Felix Bermea, his partner Roy Messerschmidt, and their four children have been enduring anti-gay motivated harassment.
This harassment started with swear words scratched on their cars and graffiti on the exterior of their home. This escalated to people banging on the windows at night then yelling anti-gay remarks. Bushes in their yard were lit on fire. Last week the family came home to find their house broken into. They entered to find anti-gay remarks graffiti-ed throughout their house and on their belongings.
The fear and feelings of hate this family is being the victim of is not OK. Something has to be done about this. We, as a free people, do not tolerate hate and have proven time and time again that we will and can fight against those who harm individuals who look different, who act different, and who are sexually different. It is our job to show those who are LGBTQ that we love them and support them for who they are.
I am now asking you to do what needs to be done to protect the Bermia-Messerschmidt family. It is your job to reach out with unconditional love and supportive actions within your homes, congregations, and communities in a way that will stop these hate crimes from happening.
LeRoy Fiscus
Co-Head of Mormons Building Bridges, Boise, Idaho
Engaged Voter posted at 5:52 pm on Fri, Aug 3, 2012.
Dear homophobic Mormons,
"We join our voice with others in unreserved condemnation of acts of cruelty, or attempts to belittle or mock any group or individual that is different — whether those difference arise from race, religion, mental challenge, social status, sexual orientation, or for any other reason," Otterson said. "Such actions simply have no place in our society." - Offical statement from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
No more hiding your ignorant bigotry behind your faith - the Church has spoken!
Engaged Voter posted at 4:16 pm on Mon, Jul 30, 2012.
I was wondering why the cowardly homophobes got so quiet...
It turns out they're slandering me in another related article.
I am SHOCKED! /sarcasm
Engaged Voter posted at 1:31 pm on Mon, Jul 23, 2012.
chatmandu002 - I took your advice and read the Constitution of the United States of America.
It turns out all American citizens, by virtue of birth, support the rights of ALL American citizens.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_right
Now, if by adhering to the Constitution you feel you are being FORCED to support the rights of all Americans against your will...PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE.
Engaged Voter posted at 1:21 pm on Mon, Jul 23, 2012.
sockratties,
What do I think of the letter? Well, since I participated in the march - http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/cop_shop/article_bf5d7e8e-d068-11e1-9222-0019bb2963f4.html - I think that speaks for my view (see if you can find me in the pictures!)
As for poor chatmandu002 and his delusional fantasies of being bullied...I am not a psychiatrist, so I have no idea what his disfunction is caused by.
I would ask chatmandu002 to please produce the evidence, any evidence, that someone was trying to force him to love someone...but since we all know there IS no such evidence, such a request would just get the typical homophobic, hatemongering reply...so, no thanks! ;)
chatmandu002 posted at 5:25 pm on Sun, Jul 22, 2012.
sockkratties,
I'm kind of afraid to respond to anyone anymore. Enraged Voter and Dale are the bullies around here and if you don't toe the line according to their pollitically correct ideology you will be vilified. I still don't see where my comments were homophobic, racist or overly religious. As a free person I can not be forced to love or support anyone. For those that can't understand that, then please read the constitution.
sockratties posted at 3:53 pm on Sun, Jul 22, 2012.
Chat, Chuck, EV... So what did you think of the letter?
Engaged Voter posted at 10:40 am on Sun, Jul 22, 2012.
chatmandu002/chuckles3, thanks for the clarification! Up until now I had no idea both of those psuedonyms were the same person. Makes sense though.
(and if you're NOT the same person, you two might want to stop responding to each other's posts)
chatmandu002, the reason your comments were removed is that you're not allowed to lie or slander another person with false claims on this forum.
For example, "Why does Engaged Voter get to spew their hate against me" <---you fling your ignorant hatemongering, then have the audacity to call my response "spewing hate"??
Do you call the people who oppose the Ku Klux Klan racists, too?
chatmandu002 posted at 11:44 am on Sat, Jul 21, 2012.
What happened to my comments to Engaged Voter. Am I being censored? What about my free speech was so offensive that they had to be removed. Why was I not told of this censorship. Why does Engaged Voter get to spew their hate against me. "Engaged Voter" has now become the "Enraged Liberal Voter" and apparently the editors of this website bow to this kind of bully opinions.
Engaged Voter posted at 3:09 pm on Fri, Jul 20, 2012.
"My neighbors are a gay couple with a young child. Would you have me open my home and embrace their lifestyle enthusiastically?"
No, just stop praising/protecting those who would burn a cross on their lawn, or vandalize their home, or threaten their children...you DID read the article, right??
"Please re-read your post and reflect on your anger."
After reflecting, I have determinded to stay angry at ignorant bigots.
Sorry about that.
"Keep the hate going"
One of us keeps using that word...one of us does not. ;)
chuckles3 posted at 2:52 pm on Fri, Jul 20, 2012.
Keep the hate going Engaged voter.
My neighbors are a gay couple with a young child. Would you have me open my home and embrace their lifestyle enthusiastically? Or is it enough that I mind my business and they mind theirs?
Apparent not, if I say I don't have to support and love their lifestyle like another poster you respond with a hate-filled rant about rights.
Please re-read your post and reflect on your anger.
We can have a discussion about hate crime legislation another day and how it does not provide equal protection under the law but rather creates protected groups.
Engaged Voter posted at 2:14 pm on Fri, Jul 20, 2012.
"you are not the kind of " Engaged Voter" this country needs."
Actually, I am EXACTLY the kind of voter this country needs...a voter not blinded by political grandstanding or religious myopia.
Like some "other" people who comment here...*cough*
Engaged Voter posted at 2:12 pm on Fri, Jul 20, 2012.
"Are you committing a HATE crime against me? Your attack against me is as much a crime, as far as I am concerned, as the attacks against the gay people."
Yes, because posting a comment on an online forum is the same as destroying someone's property and threatening their lives.
That an adult in today's world can be so proud of such ignorance disgusts me...and anyone else with an ounce of morality.
bfera posted at 2:07 pm on Fri, Jul 20, 2012.
Our apologies. It was purely accidental that the letter-writer's name has been left off, and it has since been added. Thanks!
sockratties posted at 5:52 am on Fri, Jul 20, 2012.
Dale… Having a little trouble with your reading comprehension again?
My comment relates to the content of the letter which said “It is our job to show those who are LGBTQ that we love them and support them for who they are.” It has nothing to do with other commenters. The point is that personal feelings have nothing to do with the rule of law or political climate. Everyone should get equal protection under the law.
chatmandu002 posted at 7:12 pm on Thu, Jul 19, 2012.
Dale,
What did I do? Why attack me? Was it because my comments were not politically correct enough or that I didn't bow down to the alter of GLTB love? You don't know if I'm a Christian or what. I could be gay, lesbian or transgender as far as you know. As a free people we can not be forced to love or support anyone or anything as the letter writer was calling for.
Dale Whiting posted at 9:33 am on Thu, Jul 19, 2012.
Anonymous Letter Writer
I'll assume the editors omitted you name by accident. But if you asked to be anonymous, I'll assume you fear retrobution. And either way, I understand.
Sockratties and Engaged Voter. Take it easly on chatmandu. Did you see Morgan Freeman's "Through the Dark Hole" last evening? Turns out even babies who love attention focused on them, identify strongly with objects they perceive as being similar to them and turn away from objects they perceive as being dissimilar. Hence, it is only natural that chatmandu would critise LGBTs.
We who have known a few LGBTs, a few Muslims, a few Jews, a few Blacks, a few Native Americans, know that they really are more like us that we might at first have throught. our experience gives us MOP, a "more objective perspective' on life. Too bad today's Christians are not very good at being Christ Like!
Just look at Michelle Bachmann. She's about as bad as they come. Just when I think she's as outrageous as they come, she tops herself. The real shame is she'll get re-elected. McCarthy had nothing on Bachmann. Chatmandu may like them both.
Chat, defend yourself! "Love they neighbor," both gay and straight! It's the Law of Christianity and it applies to you!
sockratties posted at 7:15 pm on Wed, Jul 18, 2012.
I don’t “love them and support them for who they are.” I don’t really care who they are. Their rights, privacy, and the sanctity of their home should be respected. If this is a failure of the Gilbert PD then someone needs to be held responsible. If this is beyond the capacity of Gilbert police to control, then it should be referred to the State Attorney General and ultimately to the FBI as “hate crimes” are a federal offense.
I hope the victims are documenting every crime and every request for help and every response by the Police. It’s easy for a local police force to stonewall investigations in the hope that it will just go away. Lots of pictures will help. Also give the TV stations a call as they may help take it to the next level.
Engaged Voter posted at 5:56 pm on Wed, Jul 18, 2012.
That's right, chatmandu002, you have the freedom to be an ignorant homophobic imbecile your entire life if you so desire.
You do NOT have the right to force your Dark Ages myopia on others.
You do NOT have the right to assault or threaten someone because they don't live the same lifestyle as you.
You do NOT have the right to deprive another American citizen of their rights.
All clear now?
chatmandu002 posted at 4:51 pm on Wed, Jul 18, 2012.
Because we are a nation free people we do not have to support or love GLBTXYZ people. Because we are a nation of laws therefor hate crimes are against the law, as well as assault or breaking and entering.
Enforce all the laws all the time.