Left rips into Jewish Home candidate for coming out against single-sex unions | The Times of Israel.
Category: Human Rights
Will Orthodox Throw JONAH Overboard? | The Jewish Week
In Groundbreaking Decision, Rabbinic Court Equates Lesbian and Heterosexual Relations | JewishPress
Jewish Bar Association backs IL marriage equality | Windy City Times
Jewish Bar Association backs IL marriage equality | Windy City Times.
Decalogue Board of Managers Votes to Support Gay Marriage in Illinois
November 28 in Chicago, Il
Resolution Regarding HB5170 (The Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act)
WHEREAS, the Decalogue Board of Managers affirmatively declared HB5170 proposing the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (introduced in the 97th General Assembly of the State of Illinois) to be of interest to the Society and referred HB5170 to the Decalogue Legislative Committee for review;
WHEREAS, the Decalogue Legislative Committee has now reported to the Board that:
(a) The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (750 ILCS 75/1 et seq.), effective June 1, 2011, made it the law of the State of Illinois that parties to a Civil Union (including same-sex couples) are entitled to the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections, and benefits as are afforded or recognized by the law of Illinois to spouses (whether they derive from statute, administrative rule, policy, common law, or any other source of civil or criminal law); however, the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act did not permit same-sex couples to be a party to a civil marriage in Illinois;
(b) On its face, the purpose of HB5170 is to now provide both “same-sex couples and different-sex couples and their children equal access to the status, benefits, protections, rights, and responsibilities of civil marriage”;
(c) On its face, HB5170 relates only to civil marriage in Illinois and does not, in any manner or to any degree, redefine the definition of “marriage” under Jewish (biblical) law or under the religious laws/prescriptions of any other religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group; and
(d) On its face, HB5170 will not be implemented in any manner or to any degree to require or otherwise compel rabbis and/or ministers of any other religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group to solemnize and/or otherwise compel them to give a religious wedding to people that they do not want to give a religious wedding to. Rather, HB5170 specifically states that “any religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group is free to choose which marriages it will solemnize;”
WHEREAS, it is the power of the State of Illinois to establish civil statutes;
WHEREAS, all civil statues enacted in the State of Illinois must conform to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 3 of the Illinois Constitution, guaranteeing religious liberty and promoting the strict separation of church and state; and
WHEREAS, Decalogue’s core purposes have always included participating in social action, promoting human rights, and maintaining vigilance against public and private practices which are discriminatory and oppressive;
NOW THEREFORE, the Decalogue Board of Managers now hereby resolves, by majority vote, that:
Decalogue fundamentally believes in respect for others; condemns all types of discrimination; supports any legislation that seeks to promote freedom, equality, and justice for all; and believes that HB5170, if passed (subject to the recommended changes enumerated below), would ensure that all Illinois couples and their children have equal access to the status, benefits, protections, rights, and responsibilities of civil marriage, as created pursuant to civil statute. Decalogue’s President and/or his designee may take such steps as the President, in his discretion, believes are necessary to disseminate Decalogue’s position (e.g., to Illinois legislators, bar associations, etc.) in furtherance hereof.
Further, Decalogue recommends that the Illinois Legislature take up modifications to HB5170 to review and make any necessary amendments to §212(a) of the Act (750 ILCS 5/212(a)) to avoid prohibiting now-permitted marriages through the creation of new prohibited marriages by reason of consanguinity.
The Homophobic Chairman Of The Zionist Orthodox Habayit Hayehudi Political Party | FailedMessiah.com
Q&A: Evan Wolfson on Marriage Equality Movement | Forward.com
Major Jewish body gives support to proposed anti-discrimination laws | Gay News Network
The ADC opposes discrimination against GLBTI | J-Wire
The ADC opposes discrimination against GLBTI | J-Wire.
Paul Winter says:
The ADC is right to oppose all forms of dicrimination.
With regard to same sex “marriage”, it would be well advised to adopt the historical Jewish perspective which regards homosexuality as an abomination.
Progressive Jews do not regard homosexuality as an abomination and, as I read in the Jewish press, even Orthodox Jews love homosexual people as fellow human beings.
However, for millenia, marriage has been the union of a man and a woman for the bringing forth and the raising of children and for being role models for them. And that’s what marriage should remain.
In Australia, unlike as in the USA, all forms of relationship are treated as equal for all privileges and entitlements. We have no inequalities. Homosexuals claim to seek equality only to compel us to accept any type of relationship as equal to normal and time-honoured marriage. It isn’t and never will be.
If homosexual people want to formalise a relationship, let them enter upon something, like say, a partnering pact. My marriage of nearly five decades and the marriage of my children is something I treasure and respect and it is not something that people who chose alternative life styles are entitled to, nor are they entitled to demean those just because they cannot reconcile themselves to their social and sexual differences.
Otto Waldmann says:
Cannot understand what is all this fuss about.
Those who belong to a certain life style , as described above, have acquired in Australia – at least – complete freedom of whatever they want to do with themselves privately.
Is there a prohibition or shortage of gay bars, brothels or any other social venues for their enjoyment !!
Is the gay and lesbian mardi gras suddenly not allowed to parade through the main CBD !!?? Are the same gay and lesbians not employed in public places and , in certain institutions of general function, don’t they even dominate the “scene” ??!! Are there any obstacles in the public domain for the same to proclaim their sexual prefferences, such as open statements in all kind of forums about one’s sexual profile ??!! Such groups state quite strongly that they are gay or lesbian whenever interviewed on any OTHER topic. A certain Federal Minister is practically cellebrated for her lesbian relationship, child with two mothers included, the recently departed Greens bloke leader has been introducing us to his husband, Paul – see I even know his/her name !! – without fear or reaction to that at all. Is anyone stopping not a perfectly shaven transgender lovely lady strolling on his high heels around unhindered and perfectly ignored ??!! Are partnerships of this kind not allowed to function leglly in terms of inheritance ??! Aren’t they treated equally in terms of welfare benefits as partners !!?? And so on and on and on and on…….
Not good enough !!?? Too bad.
ADC opposes discrimination against GLBTI Australians
[SOURCE]
B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission
PROMOTING DIVERSITY
CHAIRMAN: Dr Dvir Abramovich
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Geoffrey Zygier
PATRON: Greg Rosshandler, Yaniv Meydan
ASSOCIATE PATRON: Rosetta Bloom
COUNCIL OF ADVISORS:
The Hon RJL Hawke AC; The Hon JW Howard AC;
Professor Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE;
The Rt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE;
Emeritus Professor Louis Waller AO, President
MEDIA RELEASE
ADC opposes discrimination against GLBTI Australians
17 December 2012
Chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich today expressed the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission’s opposition to discrimination against GLBTI Australians. He noted as follows:
“I recently wrote to Attorney General Nicola Roxon to express this organisation’s general support for the federal government’s proposed Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Bill 2012 [see media release, 06/12]. In doing so, I congratulated the government on the inclusion of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people as grounds for complaint.”
“To further clarify the ADC’s views, the Commission has always opposed any form of bigotry, prejudice or hatred and will continue to fight for individual liberty and freedom from discrimination for all Australians on various grounds, including sexual orientation and/or gender identity.”
“Perhaps the most contentious and divisive of the ‘equal treatment’ issues in the Jewish and larger communities is same-sex marriage. While the ADC’s new Board has no position on marriage equality at this time, its management team will determine its policy on this and various other issues in 2013.”
“Local GLBTI media have circulated the ADC’s views; I draw your attention to the following link: http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2012/12/13/jewish-body-backs-lgbtiprotections/91482.”
Please address any enquiries to ADC Executive Director Geoffrey Zygier on 03 9272 5672.