Quote Of The Day - Sen. Rand Paul

"I’m not for profiling people on the color of their skin, or on their religion, but I would take into account where they’ve been traveling and perhaps, you might have to indirectly take into account whether or not they’ve been going to radical political speeches by religious leaders. It wouldn’t be that they are Islamic. But if someone is attending speeches from someone who is promoting the violent overthrow of our government, that’s really an offense that we should be going after — they should be deported or put in prison." - Supposedly libertarian Sen. Rand Paul, who presumably includes revolution-minded teabaggers among those who should be imprisoned.

VANCOUVER: Comedian Fined $15K For Anti-Lesbian Insults

The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal has ordered a comedian to pay $15,000 in compensation for anti-gay insults he directed towards a lesbian couple during a 2007 show at a Vancouver comedy club.

Stand-up comedian Guy Earl was ordered to pay the money to Lorna Pardy, 32, while the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal also ordered the Vancouver restaurant owner, Salam Ishmail, to pay her $7,500. Pardy said Earle directed homophobic and sexist insults at her when she was a patron, and he was the master of ceremonies at an open mic comedy show at the restaurant in 2007. Earle said he will appeal the ruling and that all he did was insult audience members who insulted him first. He also denied that he said some of the things he has been accused of, said Pardy threw a drink in his face and argued that the tribunal had no jurisdiction to hear the case.

The comedian, who has since apologized to the patrons, intends to appeal the decision, claiming his act is protected under freedom of speech laws. News of the judgment has rocketed around anti-gay and Christianist sites, with American Family Association spokesman Bryan Fischer declaring on Twitter: "Canadian comic pays fine of $15,000 for making fun of lesbians. But if he makes fun of Christians, gets a paycheck."

BRITAIN: Two Men Charged Under New Anti-Gay Hatred Incitement Law

Two British men have been charged with violating a new law against inciting anti-gay hatred.

Razwan Javed, 30, and Kabir Ahmed, 27, were accused of handing out leaflets called ‘The Death Penalty?’ outside a Derby mosque. It reportedly said that gay people should be executed and the pair are also accused of pushing it through letterboxes. The pair were reportedly arrested after a tip-off from a member of the public. If convicted at a crown court, they could face up to seven years in prison or an unlimited fine. They will appear before magistrates today. This is the first time anyone has been prosecuted for inciting hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

The new law matched similar legislation against inciting racial and religious hatred.

ARIZONA: Activists Work To Shield Funeral Attendees From Westboro Protests

CANADA: Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Challenge To Hate Speech Law

In 2005 former male prostitute and Christian "ex-gay" activist Bill Whatcott, the Canadian version of James Hartline, was found to have violated Saskatchewan's hate speech law after he stuffed residential mailboxes with pamphlets describing gay men as "filthy pedophiles" and "sodomites." Last year Whatcott successfully appealed his conviction. Yesterday Canada's Supreme Court agreed to hear Whatcott's challenge to the very basis of the hate speech law, which he says violates the Canadian constitution.

Whatcott's lawyer, Tom Schuck, says what has been the traditional Christian message on appropriate sexual conduct has morphed into being characterized as hate speech. Human rights commissions should remain neutral on such moral issues, he suggests. "The problem that I have and many others in the Christian community (have), is that this law is being used to charge Christians — Christians who have a different view as to what is right and wrong on sexual behaviour and in particular same-sex sexual behaviour," Schuck said Friday in a phone interview from his office in Weyburn, Sask. "The argument is that our Constitution, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, gives all Canadians the freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion. And the utilization of human rights commissions to stop someone from saying that same-sex sexual activity is wrong infringes on all three of those charter rights."

After his 2005 conviction, Whatcott became a folk hero among American anti-gay activists and Christianists, who have long pointed to Canada's stringent hate speech laws as a harbinger of a coming chilling of free speech in the United States. However few have noted last year's overturn of his conviction and most continue cite the 2005 incident in their materials.

VIDEO: From the documentary, The Freedom Of Whatcott.

American Family Association: Flaming Liberals Want To End Freedom Of Speech

SOUTH CAROLINA: State Supreme Court Overturns Conviction For Anti-Gay Speech

The South Carolina Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a street preacher who was arrested and fined after screaming anti-gay epithets at a lesbian couple.

Greenville Circuit Judge Edward Miller had previously upheld Joseph D. Bane's 2008 conviction, but the Supreme Court said a city rule against remarks that “humiliate, insult or scare” was too vague. All five of the court's justices also agreed there was no evidence to convict Bane under other provisions of the ordinance. According to the opinion handed down Monday, Bane was fined $200 after preaching loudly against homosexuality in downtown Greenville and, according to testimony, calling two women “faggots” who would “burn in hell.” Bane's attorney, Samuel Harms, said the ruling means residents can once again “preach against homosexuality without the fear of being arrested by a city police officer.” Harms said the city should have realized its ordinance was unconstitutional and voluntarily dismissed the case.

City attorneys say the state Supreme Court ignored local ordinances on disturbing the peace. The ACLU says that while it "abhors" the preacher's message, it supports the high court's decision.

It's National Anti-Pornography Week

This is Morality In Media's annual White Ribbon Against Pornography week and they would like you to start demanding that the police enforce all those laws about folks legally purchasing the legally-made smut featuring legally consenting adults.

"The reason we have continued to promote the campaign is because people all across the country find it to be a convenient way for them to express their opposition to pornography and their support for a standard of decency in the community," explains Bob Peters, head of Morality in Media. Bob PetersEven though the Supreme Court has partially corrected the problem, one of the reasons for the proliferation of pornography is court decisions. "Another main reason why we have so much pornography in our country is because people don't complain," Peters suggests. "They don't make complaints to the police; they don't make complaints to their local or state prosecutor; they don't make complaints to the U.S. attorneys and they don't make complaints to members of Congress, to mayors, to city legislators and state legislators."

Please support Morality In Media by tying a white ribbon around your tingly parts and emailing a photo of same to Christine O'Donnell.

RELATED: The Evidence For God blog wants you know that sex with robots is always wrong and that is where we are headed if we don't stop interweb porn, like, right now.

DOJ Declines To Appeal Ruling Allowing Christianists To Proselytize In Parks

The Department of Justice has elected to let stand a court ruling which allows Christianists and other religious groups to demonstrate, preach, and proselytize in federal parks. The original case was brought by the anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund over a preacher who was made to stop handing out pamphlets at Mount Rushmore.

"It was a bureaucratic nightmare," said Nate Kellum, senior counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund, a nonprofit Christian legal defense group. "He was completely stymied from sharing his Christian views with anybody else." The case "establishes that national parks are no different than any other public park," Kellum said. "There's no distinction now between Mount Rushmore and the city park down the street." Groups of 25 or fewer people may now demonstrate or distribute or sell printed material in designated areas of national parks and historic sites without a permit, according to interim regulations to be published soon in the Federal Register.

Even though this decision by the DOJ is unrelated to DADT, Servicemembers United feels it is emblematic of the Obama administration's hypocrisy. Via press release:

"In the very same week, the administration says that it absolutely must appeal a federal court's decision on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' while it orders the Justice Department not to appeal a federal court's ruling in favor of the conservative Alliance Defense Fund. This contradiction is simply incomprehensible and insulting," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and the sole named veteran plaintiff in the case along with the Log Cabin Republicans. "Servicemembers United renews its call for the administration to withdraw its appeal of both the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' ruling and the injunction pursuant to that ruling."

Outside Snyder Vs. Phelps

Good As You has an email from Shirley Phelps about her time before the Court yesterday. It begins:

I am floating home on a cloud of euphoria. We got to tell the conscience of Doomed america that if they would stop with the proud sin the soldiers would stop dying. Alito was a serious disappointment. I don't know why I would expect him to man up and tell a squally rebel to drink a frosty mug of shut the hell up and AVERT your eyes. On the other hand, the three women were lions of proper and simple First Amendment Law. When a nation is cursed of God, everything becomes so complicated and there [i]s no MAN among the people, so I find that dynamic to be altogether perfect. Shortly this nation is going to crack open like a walnut and be cast into the sea. The horrors of it will make this nation of girly boys beg for some good old-fashioned troops from Iran or China pouring into your borders and laying you waste.

TODAY: Supreme Court Hears Westboro Baptist Church Free Speech Case

The Westboro Baptist Church picketed the White House yesterday in advance of their appearance before the Supreme Court today where the father of a slain U.S. Marine is asking that his $5M judgment against the Phelps family be reinstated.

Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., took legal action after church members picketed the funeral of his son. "My son and the hundreds of thousands of other men and women who have died for this country worked too hard to preserve our freedom of speech than to have it mocked and cowardly stood behind like this church does," Snyder said. The church members claim America's acceptance of homosexuality and abortion are some of the reasons for all of its problems. In 2006, church members demonstrated at Matthew Snyder's funeral. His father sued and in 2007, a jury ordered the church to pay $11 million US. That penalty was later reduced to $5 million. The verdict and penalty were later overturned on appeal.

Westboro is being represented by the ACLU. If you can bear it, Megan Phelps is live-tweeting the proceedings.

UPDATE: JMG reader Meredith sends us the below live-shot from outside the court.

MISSOURI: Westboro Baptist Church Wins Right To Picket Funerals

A federal judge in Missouri ruled yesterday that a ban on political protests near funerals is unconstitutional. In 2006 Missouri legislators passed the ban in an attempt to thwart the Westboro Baptist Church.

The primary state law had barred protests near any church, cemetery or funeral establishment from an hour before until an hour after any funeral ceremony, procession or memorial service. The secondary measure specifically stated protesters must stay back at least 300 feet from ceremonies and processions. Both provisions levied the same penalty: up to six months in jail and a $500 fine for a first offense and up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine for repeat offenders. Judge Gaitan concluded Missouri officials did not demonstrate the protest restrictions served a significant government interest nor that they had been narrowly tailored to prevent the harm of interruptions of funeral services. The judge wrote he was sympathetic to the argument people attending a funeral deserve some protection but noted a federal appeals court already had previously rejected that argument.

The case was brought on Westboro's behalf by the ACLU, who always does the right, if difficult, thing.

BRITAIN: New Government Refuses To Lift Travel Ban On Michael Savage

Britain's new government is refusing to lift its predecessor's travel ban for American radio blowhard Michael Savage unless he "repudiates" his previous inflammatory statements about Muslims and other groups. Savage whines to World Net Daily:

Savage today called his ordeal a "true nightmare of Kafka." "The 'new' British government continues 'the big lie' initiated by the previous British government, all based on extracts of radio programs over many years edited by Soros-backed Media Matters to slander me," he told WND. Savage said that after "over one straight year of legal hell, I had hoped the new British government would remove my name from their list of actual murderers and terrorists." "Apparently there's been a change of window figures in England," he said. Savage said his next course of action will be to take his case before the European Court of Human Rights. "The European Union seems to be very forgiving of those who have actually murdered people in terror acts," Savage said. "Let's see if they will defend my right to free speech."

Other Americans on the UK's banned list are a former KKK leader and Fred Phelps.

Pakistan Blocks Facebook And YouTube On "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day"

Spawned by a Seattle cartoonist who later denounced the campaign, today is "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day." In response, Pakistan has instituted a block on YouTube, Facebook and other social media sites.

Prompted by a court order, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority today told providers to suspend access. The order runs until 31 May. The Facebook group for "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" has more than 43,000 supporters. The group has become a target for protest in Pakistan, and today a group of Islamic lawyers obtained a court order for a full suspension of Facebook. The government had previously blocked access to only the "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" pages. The group's organisers say it is not designed to offend ordinary Muslims, but as a demonstration of their right to free speech and "to show the extremists... that we're not afraid of them". Islamic teaching typically forbids depictions of its prophet. After online threats of violence last month, the US cable network Comedy Central bleeped Mohammed's name in an episode of South Park that featured him hidden in a bear suit.

Wikipedia has been blocked in Pakistan as well.

BRITAIN: Charges Dropped Against Preacher Who Called Homosexuality A Sin

British police have dropped the charges against Rev. Dale McAlpine, the American preacher who was arrested earlier this month after a gay police liaison heard him telling passersby that homosexuality a sin. American anti-gay groups immediately began using McAlpine's arrest as an example of the so-called homofascism that will roil the United States as a result of the passage of ENDA.

Chief Superintendent Steve Johnson told the Times & Star: “The Crown Prosecution Service has carefully assessed the evidence in the case and has decided to discontinue the prosecution of Mr McAlpine. “We would like to reassure the public that we respect, and are committed to upholding, the fundamental right to freedom of expression. “We are just as committed to maintaining the peace and preventing people feeling alarmed or distressed by the actions of others in public places.” Mr McAlpine, who regularly delivers sermons from a stepladder in Workington, described the charge of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress as “ridiculous”.

Noted LGBT activist Peter Tatchell had denounced McAlpine's arrest as "totally disproportionate" and a waste of public money. Which it was, of course. While we're glad to see the charges against McAlpine dropped, you can bet that the Family Research Council and their ilk will fail to note that inconvenient fact in the ongoing and vicious campaign against LGBT rights.

Family Research Council On Arrest Of Anti-Gay British Preacher

As expected, the wingnuts are leaping on the case of the British preacher arrested last week for calling homosexuality a sin. Yesterday it was the American Family Association, today it's the Family Research Council. Via press release:

Homosexuality may be a crime in God's eyes, but saying so is a punishable crime in England. Last month, Dale McAlpine was on his usual perch in the Wokington town square. Despite years of preaching in that same spot, he was arrested for telling a passerby that homosexuality "went against the word of God." Although the comment was made in conversation--not during his sermon--a gay "police community support officer" said he violated the local Public Order Act and, when police arrived on the scene, forced him into a van and took him to headquarters. He was locked in a cell for seven hours and subjected to fingerprinting, a DNA swab, palm print, and retina scan. "I feel deeply shocked and humiliated that I had been arrested in my own town and treated like a common criminal," McAlpine told reporters. He was later released "on the condition that he not preach in public," but he still awaits a trial.

Think this sort of harassment won't happen in the United States? Think again. This is exactly the type of persecution that Christians will face if the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) passes. Together with the expansion of "hate crimes," Big Brother will be out in full force to silence men and women of faith. In U.S. cities, similar laws have already had an effect. Learn how by checking out FRC's new website.

American Family Association Responds To Arrest Of Anti-Gay UK Preacher

The American Family Association is quick out of the box to denounce the homofascists behind the arrest of a British preacher for calling homosexuality a sin. AFA radio host Bryan Fischer:

I've often said we will have to choose between homosexuality and religious liberty, because we can't have both. Every advance of the homosexual agenda comes at the expense of religious freedom. Every piece of turf taken by homosexual activists is turf taken from those who believe in freedom of conscience, speech and religious expression. More proof from England, in a piece from the London Daily Mail. You will note the Christian in question is a layman, who got hauled off to jail for doing nothing more than gently but publicly declaring that homosexuality is a sin. Further, take note that the charge against him was "using abusive or insulting words or behavior." Remember how we've been told that "hate crimes" laws do not punish speech? Well, think again.

Fischer has previously called for the criminalization of homosexuality and the forced internment of gays for "reparative therapy. He's also claimed that according to the Bible, staffers at Sea World should be put to death over the recent killer whale incident.

BRITAIN: Preacher Arrested For Calling Homosexuality A Sin

A British preacher has been arrested and charged with causing "harassment, alarm, or distress" after he was overheard reciting a list of sins that included homosexuality. Dale McAlpine was taken into custody after a gay police liaison officer overheard him and summoned regular cops.

The 42-year-old Baptist, who has preached Christianity in Wokington, Cumbria for years, said he did not mention homosexuality while delivering a sermon from the top of a stepladder, but admitted telling a passing shopper that he believed it went against the word of God. Police officers are alleging that he made the remark in a voice loud enough to be overheard by others and have charged him with using abusive or insulting language, contrary to the Public Order Act. Mr McAlpine, who was taken to the police station in the back of a marked van and locked in a cell for seven hours on April 20, said the incident was among the worst experiences of his life. “I felt deeply shocked and humiliated that I had been arrested in my own town and treated like a common criminal in front of people I know," he said. “My freedom was taken away on the hearsay of someone who disliked what I said, and I was charged under a law that doesn't apply.” Christian campaigners have expressed alarm that the Public Order Act, introduced in 1986 to tackle violent rioters and football hooligans, is being used to curb religious free speech. Sam Webster, a solicitor-advocate for the Christian Institute, which is supporting Mr McAlpine, said it is not a crime to express the belief that homosexual conduct is a sin. “The police have a duty to maintain public order but they also have a duty to defend the lawful free speech of citizens,” he said.

Like similar cases, McAlpine's arrest is already being splashed across anti-gay and right wing sites as yet another example of the coming crushing of American religious expression at the hands of censorious homofascists.