Tell Sen. Eichelberger: "We exist. Without your permission."

Target:

PA State Senator John Eichelberger

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We signed the "Tell Sen. Eichelberger: "We exist. Without your permission."" petition!

# 69:

6:23 pm PST, Nov 5, Mekeah Penny, California

# 68:

11:24 am PDT, Oct 22, Talia Popovic, Croatia

# 67:

9:17 am PDT, Oct 14, Carole Hagen, Oregon

# 66:

1:51 pm PDT, Oct 10, Shannon Maynard, Oregon
I am a very happy well adjusted Christian lesbian woman from a broken heterosexual home. I exist Senator... deal with it. I will pray for your icy hard heart.

# 65:

5:32 am PDT, Oct 3, Name not displayed, North Carolina

# 64:

11:27 am PDT, Sep 28, Pam DeLitta, Texas
how did this person get elected to public office?

# 63:

12:44 pm PDT, Sep 27, John Sanders, California
another rupub bozo

# 62:

8:55 pm PDT, Sep 25, Cutter Wolf, Florida

# 61:

10:20 pm PDT, Aug 23, Bryan D. Freehling, Pennsylvania
American history conveniently chronicles countless examples of injustice, intolerance and discrimination perpetrated upon non-white, non-Christian, and non-straight people. In fact, our history clearly illustrates how religion, notably Christianity, has been involved in many, if not all, of these occurrences. Protestant reformers made history by burning suspected witches at the stake and southern Christians used Christianity to defend slavery. It was preached from the pulpit that the master class was charged with the burden of Christianizing heathens in exchange for rewards in the after-life; and slaves were tricked into believing that disobedience to their white masters would be perceived by God as disobedience to Him. Later, racial segregation in the South became the standard of accepted societal discrimination supported once again by Christian scriptures. Many other groups continue to use Christianity to defame, discriminate, and harm minority individuals. They include, but are not limited to, the White Aryan Nation, the Neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan , and the Westboro Baptist Church. These groups believe that Christian scriptures condone the killing of Jews, gays, and gypsies; or the lynching, and murdering of black people. The Catholic Church, in concert with some other Christian churches, continues to fight to repeal a woman's right to have an abortion even if the mother's life is in danger. And the Catholic Church has also been a fierce supporter of abstinence-only sexual education programs for children; they blatantly refuse to accept and endorse the use of condoms despite scientific studies that have concluded that condoms can save lives by preventing the spread of deadly sexually transmitted diseases as well as preventing unnecessary abortions. Sadly, Christianity, and especially the Catholic and Mormon churches have not always been a friend to women. The inequalities and injustices that women have had to endure over the centuries due to the patriarchal hierarchy entrenched in Catholicism and the Mormon Church are indeed staggering. Women, like black slaves, were the property of their husbands or white masters; women could not own property, they were frequently traded or purchased as if they were commodities, and they could not vote. For all intensive purposes, women were objects of convenience for men. They were baby-making-machines, mothers to their husbands’ children that they carried in their wombs, cooks, cleaners, and receptacles for their husbands’ pleasure and seed. What a nasty stroll down memory lane! I find it thoroughly amazing how Christianity can rewrite itself according to the times. I have come to call such revision, morality of convenience. For if one carefully reads Christian scriptures, one might be surprised to find that it shares many similarities with what many Americans refer to as radical Islam. Several months ago we witnessed the Mormon Church in Utah hijack the state of California after pumping millions of dollars into the California November elections to help repeal Proposition 8. This religiously-motivated political coup resulted in the redefining of marriage as a union between and man and a woman prohibiting the marriage of same-sex couples in California. Again Christianity resurfaced to steal the full citizenship of gay Americans in California. Christianity also prevented gay Americans from equal protection under federal law. Last year, The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, commonly known as The Matthew Sheppard Act, was a bill introduced in the US Congress. This bill would have extended the 1969 United States federal hate crime law to include among other things crimes motivated and committed solely based on the perpetrator's hate for the victim's sexual orientation. Although the bill was passed by both the House and the Senate, it never reached the Oval Office since our Christian President, Mr. Bush, had made it known that he would veto it. Imagine, a nation founded in part on religious tolerance for all people, becomes the schizophrenic, divinely-inspired oppressor of gay people—so much for the separation of church and state. Full citizenship should not be dependent and contingent upon one's sexual orientation. American history has chronicled the painful and unjust suffering of women (gender discrimination), Native Americans and African-Americans (race discrimination). The struggle of gay Americans centers on sexual orientation. We've been a minority group disenfranchised from full citizenship ever since the founding of this nation. Legal, religious, and social roadblocks and detours have always stood in our way when we, like women and African-Americans, challenged the white Christian and straight status-quo. Indeed, America needs to erase the last remnants of apartheid that plague our nation. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently stated, "When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir." All Americans regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation should be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Just as America defaulted on its "promissory note" with African-Americans, it continues to default on its "promissory note" to gay Americans. And instead of honoring this "promissory note," the US government simply writes "bad checks" to gay Americans, and these checks always come back with "insufficient funds" stamped on them. Still, we endure this inequality even as we pay our taxes which are then used to subsidize the full citizenship of our straight neighbors who live on Main Street USA. Talk about forced tithing! Although Christianity does not have a monopoly on intolerance, injustice and discrimination, the United States was founded on Christian principles and beliefs. Therefore, it's crucial to consider and review our history through the looking glass of Christianity. There are many denominations found in Christianity-- liberal, moderate and conservative. It's imperative that the liberal and moderate Christians come forth and speak out against the injustices being committed to gay people by their conservative Christian brothers and sisters. Just as many Americans expect peace-loving Muslims to speak out against terrorist atrocities committed in the name of Allah, we expect and welcome liberal and moderate Christians to stand up and fight against those whose interpretations of God's words only seek to do harm to God's children. Not only is it the responsibility of gay Americans to mobilize and combat the injustices in our nation, it is the obligation of all Americans to stand up for those whose causes have yet to be resolved. Remember, silence is indifferent acceptance, and ultimately the fuel that fires all evils. I am optimistic that Presidnet Obama will make gay rights an important issue in his first term in office. Often it takes another minority person to recognize the needs and injustices faced by others who live across town, not on Main Street, USA. Nevertheless, while we wait, we will continue to be creative and productive tax-paying citizens of this nation. However, we will also continue to fight for what is rightfully ours and we will settle for nothing less. And just as women and African-Americans finally secured their full citizenship through amendments to the US Constitution, gay Americans soon will, too.

# 60:

10:55 am PDT, Aug 19, Robert Michael Andrews, Florida
With such attatudes he should become a member of the Iranian or Saudi Arabian parliament. I'm sure he would have no trouble getting elected on a'wipe out gays platform'. Project Outfront www.amnestyusa.org/outfront

# 59:

6:19 am PDT, Aug 16, Renee Adrian-Moyer, Pennsylvania
For more impact, add a personal comment here

# 58:

1:42 pm PDT, Jul 29, Tony Naaman, Texas

# 57:

8:29 am PDT, Jul 7, Amelia Irish, Florida

# 56:

6:25 pm PDT, Jul 6, Renee Naden, New Jersey

# 55:

3:20 pm PDT, Jul 2, Cory Baney, Pennsylvania

# 54:

10:11 am PDT, Jul 2, Anna Hutchings, California
Eichelberger: You are a gay-hating bigot. Having gay friends does not excuse you from this fact.

# 53:

8:39 am PDT, Jul 2, Janice Mastin-Kamps, Ohio

# 52:

9:55 pm PDT, Jul 1, Tatiana Costa, Brazil

# 51:

3:27 pm PDT, Jul 1, Carmo Mascarenhas, Portugal

# 50:

11:22 am PDT, Jul 1, Tasia Hooper, Wisconsin
How dare he? Maybe he needs to consider that our great nation allows dumba%%es like him to exist.

# 49:

4:30 pm PDT, Jun 30, Chandler Moss, Texas
the constitution is gold, do not water it down with changing the rights for one group or another because of your own "judgment." the solidness of the constitution is not up for review. people have a right to do what they want to do, whether gay or not. you cannot get in the way of this fundamental aspect of society. and if you are covering up your own sexuality by discriminating against gays, this is a shame, and you need a therapist before you need to be undermining yourself with taking your own rights away. taking your own rights away will not make you closer to God, it will just repress you. Senator Eichelberger , face your own questions about sexuality alone, leave us enlightened folk available to teach and guide others through their humanness and seeming imperfections. its ok that you started this ball rolling, its ok for you to stop it too and really make a statement about all this nonsense. you are only human, and you are supposed to make mistakes. peace, chandler moss

# 48:

11:15 am PDT, Jun 30, Name not displayed, Finland

# 47:

4:28 pm PDT, Jun 29, Name not displayed, South Carolina

# 46:

3:32 pm PDT, Jun 29, Christina Thom, Pennsylvania

# 45:

11:52 am PDT, Jun 29, Cindy Daro, Pennsylvania

# 44:

9:46 am PDT, Jun 29, Rondal Spradling, Arizona

# 43:

5:24 am PDT, Jun 29, James Lewis, California

# 42:

5:07 am PDT, Jun 29, Amanda Rector, Pennsylvania

# 41:

10:19 pm PDT, Jun 28, Pam Boland, Georgia

# 40:

1:31 pm PDT, Jun 28, Shirley Rector, Pennsylvania

# 39:

1:12 pm PDT, Jun 28, Sarah McConnaughey, Nevada

# 38:

12:21 pm PDT, Jun 28, Paula Behanna, Pennsylvania

# 37:

12:11 pm PDT, Jun 28, Ruth Hillegass, Pennsylvania
we don't chose who we love, I have many gay and lesbian friends and they should have the right to be happy..I really think you need to apologize to all gay people and do it soon before your job depends on it...

# 36:

11:58 am PDT, Jun 28, Lauren Nugent, Pennsylvania

# 35:

7:52 am PDT, Jun 28, Amanda Carpenter, Michigan

# 34:

7:45 am PDT, Jun 28, YADICSELIE MARTINEZ, Pennsylvania

# 33:

7:25 am PDT, Jun 28, Doron Henkin, Pennsylvania
Sen. Eichelberger, I listened to you on the radio and I'm not convinced. Gay marriage neither encourages nor discourages sexuality, although old school thought used to be the heterosexual marriage was good to discourage extramarital sexuality.

# 32:

7:19 am PDT, Jun 28, Chaz Gaily Berlusconi, South Africa

# 31:

7:08 am PDT, Jun 28, Kayla Irwin, Pennsylvania

# 30:

5:34 am PDT, Jun 28, Amy Schmidt, Pennsylvania

# 29:

5:30 am PDT, Jun 28, Sherie Hayden, Canada

# 28:

4:20 am PDT, Jun 28, Scott Gleaves, Pennsylvania

# 27:

3:06 am PDT, Jun 28, Steve Klein, Virginia

# 26:

2:56 am PDT, Jun 28, Bill C, Germany

# 25:

2:23 am PDT, Jun 28, Simon Robson, United Kingdom

# 24:

8:45 pm PDT, Jun 27, Brent Weaver, Pennsylvania
Mr. Eichelberger - Stop hurting me. Anti-gay marriage is anti-marriage. Why do you want to hurt families? Outlawing gay marriage will not help heterosexual marriage. Stop masking your hate as something good. Brent Weaver

# 23:

6:03 pm PDT, Jun 27, Mary Hockett, Alabama

# 22:

5:07 pm PDT, Jun 27, Joe Park, Oregon

# 21:

3:02 pm PDT, Jun 27, Sigrid De Ruyck, Canada

# 20:

2:54 pm PDT, Jun 27, Trevon Champion, Arizona
Though I am not effected due to geographical differences, this is still wrong! LGBT people should not be handed the feeling of existence, it should already be there!

# 19:

1:42 pm PDT, Jun 27, Lori Chinitz, Pennsylvania

# 18:

1:27 pm PDT, Jun 27, Ariel C, Canada
All people have a right to live as they choose and have any kind of love and life they choose to have without discrimination, bigotry, abuse or abuse of their rights. No one has a right to choose someone else's lifestyle. This is a human right and is the law. Discrimination, bigotry and abuse has gone on for far too long. The governments need to follow their human rights acts and for those that don't have a proper human rights act there should be one set in place without prejudice or personal feelings involved at all. Thank you and I trust you will do what is right for all people and not just those you approve or disappove of.

# 17:

12:26 pm PDT, Jun 27, John Geiger, Pennsylvania
Please don't choose to see me as less than human.

# 16:

11:30 am PDT, Jun 27, Mieke Bernaards, Belgium

# 15:

11:00 am PDT, Jun 27, David N Moore, Connecticut

# 13:

9:31 am PDT, Jun 27, Name not displayed, Illinois

# 12:

9:30 am PDT, Jun 27, Amanda Smith, Pennsylvania
As they say, God didn't make ANY mistakes...

# 11:

9:03 am PDT, Jun 27, Julien Ruelle, Belgium

# 10:

8:57 am PDT, Jun 27, Kelly Schucker, New York

# 9:

8:39 am PDT, Jun 27, Michael Mclaughlin, Pennsylvania
"It's 2009, Yet were still fighting for our rights to life liberty and pursuit of happiness!?! This is the United States Of America- Land of the Free...!! Just let it be....!"

# 8:

8:08 am PDT, Jun 27, Scott Gleaves, Pennsylvania

# 7:

8:03 am PDT, Jun 27, Robert Schotter, Pennsylvania

# 6:

7:52 am PDT, Jun 27, Jo Braithwaite, Pennsylvania
The only being, who has allowed me to exist, is God.

# 5:

7:51 am PDT, Jun 27, Elizabeth Bradbury, Pennsylvania
My spouse Patricia Sullivan and I have been together for 21 years. We were legally married in CT last week. I don't know whether to be amused or outraged that you would say the only reason a 52 year old woman and a 64 year old woman would legally marry is for sex. I do know that we will continue to exist whether you choose to allow us to or not. We married to legally protect our family, it's a shame that you cannot understand that - but please try.

# 4:

7:19 am PDT, Jun 27, Frank Pellicone, Pennsylvania

# 3:

7:18 am PDT, Jun 27, Linda Miller, Pennsylvania

# 2:

7:07 am PDT, Jun 27, Eric Singel, Pennsylvania
Perhaps you are confused as to what country you live in, Senator, but the government of MY country does not "allow" me to exist.

# 1:

6:53 am PDT, Jun 27, Michael Morrill, Pennsylvania

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