What would you do if someone justified discrimination against you through the Bible? Here’s how one woman handled it.
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In December, the city of Shreveport, Louisiana passed the Fairness Ordinance, which banned discrimination based on sexuality and gender identity. The bill passed 6-1, but the lone Councilman against the law, Ron Webb, was vocal in his opposition, saying the “Bible tells us homosexuality is an abomination” and that he does not socialize with LGBT people.
Webb introduced a bill to repeal the law (which never had a chance of passing), and on Tuesday, the Fairness Ordinance’s supporters came forward in a big way: according to KMSS in Shreveport, “dozens of people” gave testimony in support of the law, while only one spoke against it. Webb, for his part, listened to all of the testimony. But one person, a transsexual woman named Pamela Raintree, did the impossible: she rendered Webb speechless.
Raintree spoke at length of discrimination against her as a transsexual woman, and her pride in Shreveport when the law was passed. But at the end of her testimony, Raintree took a stone and placed it on the table, and said:
“Leviticus 20:13 states, ‘If a man lie also with mankind as he lieth with a woman, they shall surely put him to death.’ I brought the first stone Mr. Webb, in case that your Bible talk isn’t just a smoke screen for personal prejudices.”
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Shortly after Raintree’s tesitmony, Webb withdrew his repeal motion without calling for a vote.
You can watch this remarkable video via KMSS here.
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Credit—Photo/Earthworm
Paul, you said ” two Muslim Congressmen currently serving, Keith Ellison and Andre Carson, both support ENDA and gay marriage.” Makes my point that being a Christian doesn’t automatically warrant a label.
I would like to also note that the Fastest Growing Religion In America Is Islam.
Agree with Webb or not, doesn’t he have a right to believe what he believes? I understand why she brought the stone if for no other reason then to make a point. Whereas we have seen countless Christian groups including denominations, loosen the views, I’m perplexed that I don’t see quotes from the Quran. Perhaps you can bring some light to this as well?
He is an ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE. He doesn’t get to have his own opinion when his constituents speak. If he wanted his own opinion then he shouldn’t have run for office and gone back to his backwater religious cult. No man is more enslaved than the king.
Point being his “religious beliefs” are inherently contradictory. Portions of the Bible condemn murder. Others impel death penalties. If you’re going to use a logically inconsistent opinion to inform biased delineation of public policy as a public servant, you are not doing your job. Period.
Plus of course “first stone” refers to a passage much later in the bible, in the new testament, which can be interpreted pretty clearly as meaning unless you have a completely clear conscience you’re not in a position to make judgement on others. That makes it a very clever prop to use.
Spot on.
Well done Raintree.
” I’m perplexed that I don’t see quotes from the Quran. Perhaps you can bring some light to this as well?” it might be, and this is just a guess, that the reason no one spoke up about Islam or Quran is that no one involved was muslim. Just like there was no one involved here worshiping Joe Pesci. Now the followers of Joe Pesci might have an argument for or against this. but being as there were no one involved with his church it would seem silly to bring it up. Hope that “Sheds some light on the lack… Read more »
Thank you Jason. I guess my point is that every time these issues surface, it’s always the “Christian’s” who are behind the 8-ball. When in fact there are other religions that are even more venomous.
i agree totally religions are indeed very venomous lets all break free and be more atheist like Tom!
Jason, I’m not atheist or was that tongue in cheek?
Sure you are. i am guessing here but i am betting you do not believe in Allah. so when it comes to him you are in fact an atheist like me. when it come to Shiva or Vishnu you are an atheist like me. in fact out of the top 100 religions i am willing to wager that on 99 of them you and i have the same opinion and are both atheists when it comes to that religion. and well i have no problem with people being 99% atheist or 100% i mean it is so close it is… Read more »
Jason,I have to admit that you bring an interesting twist to the term “atheist.”
i define it as “a lack of belief in a god” if you in fact believe in the gods i mentioned and others that i did not, then i humbly apologize, although it may conflict with the Christian tenant of “worshiping false gods” meh but i will let you work it out for yourself. Have a wonderful day.
All Abrahamic religions tend to be very venomous. But the fact that “it’s always the “Christian’s” who are behind the 8-ball” is real, they REALLY ARE behind the 8-ball, at least in USA, because they are the dominant religious group. You can’t justify the bad things Christians do saying that this or that religion do as bad as they. It’s like saying “I killed someone, but you see, Mussolini killed way more people than me, so it’s ok”. It’s obviously not ok, and Christians need to stop hiding their mistakes behind other religions. This story in particular is about a… Read more »
No one is hiding anything but with all the different Christian denominations, many have moved toward a more progressive attitude. Muslim faith is the fastest growing religion in the US. In so far as “Muslims,” I assure you, not that I need to, I am not prejudice, Anyone who knows me here at GMP can attest to that.
And by the way, “muslin” is a fabric.
Thanks for the comment, Tom. As someone else mentioned, the Qu’ran was not apart of this story at all. The fastest growing faith in the US may be Islam, but it’s also where (as of 2007 and according to Wikipedia) 52% of Americans are Protestant, 24% are Catholic, and 3% are designated as “other Christians”. That means that 4/5 of this country identifies as Christian and draws inspiration and guidance from some version of the Bible as the foremost text of their religion. So, in this country’s case, yes, the eight-ball does always fall on Christians, because in nearly every… Read more »