Challenges associated with implementing gay history mandates

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - On July 14, 2011 Gov. Jerry Brown signed the first-of-its-kind bill to include gay history in the California social studies curriculum.  California Sen. Mark Leno (D) sponsored a bill requiring public schools to teach the historical contributions of gay Americans. The bill passed the Assembly on a 49-25, party-line vote on July 5, and was signed into law July 14, 2011

Now California schools are trying to figure out how to implement these new gay history mandates.

Critics of the new law, SB 48, including  the Pacific Justice Institute, are concerned that October, which has been designated as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month, is already being used to distort and politicize history.  Attorneys at the Pacific Justice Institute argue that most of the 31 selections for this year’s list of gay “icons” are inappropriate for K-12 audiences.

This year’s list, which can be found at www.lgbthistorymonth.com, includes a drag queen, the first person believed to have had a sex-change surgery, several political and same-sex marriage activists, and a baseball player with 2 career home runs. One of the better-known individuals on the list is Katharine Lee Bates, who wrote “America the Beautiful.” Bates never claimed to be lesbian, but she is deemed an LGBT icon because she never married and had a close relationship with a female colleague who she lived with for many years.

Last year’s LGBT History Month drew fire for highlighting controversial entertainer Lady Gaga. The event also ignited controversy in New Jersey, where officials called for the firing of a teacher who dared to criticize it on her personal Facebook page.

Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented, “What we are already seeing in advance of LGBT History Month underscores why we fought SB 48 and why we continue to fight for sanity in social studies. Young children learning patriotic songs like ‘America the Beautiful’ don’t need to hear about the author’s alleged sexuality. Nor should our kids be learning that drag queens, activists and politicians are important because of their behavior in the bedroom.”

PJI is encouraging parents to talk to their kids’ teachers and principals to find out whether they will be promoting LGBT History Month in October.

PJI is also offering to represent teachers who conscientiously object to requirements that they teach revisionist or politicized

Say No Way to the DOJ – PJI Advocate Sanctions Against Double-Crossing DOY Attorneys

Pacific Justice Institute is encouraging citizens across the country to visit NoWayDOJ.com to become official complainants.

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - The Pacific Justice Institute is announced today the launch of a  nationwide grassroots campaign to seek official sanctions against Department of Justice attorneys who have changed sides in the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) cases.

"Government lawyers are essentially rising from the table for counsel for the defendant, walking across the courtroom and sitting down at the plaintiff's table. These attorneys are now seeking to have judgment taken against the party that they represent - the United States," said Kevin Snider, chief counsel of PJI who is spearheading the effort. "What the DOJ has done would be unthinkable for any other lawyers, and raises serious concerns that professional rules and ethics are being violated."

The complaints are based on the actions of more than 30 different U.S. and Department of Justice attorneys in 18 different cases. Government lawyers initially filed briefs defending DOMA, then abandoned that defense altogether and began filing papers in support of the plaintiffs in those cases. The complaints are being filed in ten jurisdictions where the attorneys are licensed, including California, New York, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oklahoma, and the District of Columbia.

PJI is encouraging citizens across the country to visitNoWayDOJ.com to become official complainants.

"When the United States and its agencies are sued over the Defense of Marriage Act, the clients are not the President or the Attorney General - the clients are the people of the United States," noted Brad Dacus, president of PJI. "It is bad enough for the Department of Justice to abandon its clients, but it is unethical and sanctionable for those attorneys to switch sides and ask for judgment leading to damages and attorneys' fees against their own clients. We are calling on state bar authorities to simply undertake the same investigations and disciplinary actions they would take against any other lawyers who flagrantly violate their duties of client loyalty."

PJI encourages you to take a bold stand for justice and include your name with the disciplinary complaints. To sign the complaint form click here. Also, please forward this press release to likeminded friends and acquaintances and ask them to sign the complaint.

Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties.  Pacific Justice Institute works diligently, without charge, to provide their clients with all the legal support they need.

City of Venice Florida Threatens Family With $250 Per Day Fine For Weekly Prayer Meeting In Home

It is difficult to understand how it is illegal to have a prayer meeting on Friday night with a half dozen people but it is alright to have the  same group on Monday evening to watch Monday Night Football

Posted by CotoBlogzz

  

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – The city of Venice Florida officials have determined that Shane and Marlene Roessiger hold a prayer meeting at their residence once per week and has  ordered the family to comply with the City's Code which does not allow a "house of worship" on a property of less than 2 acres.

The Roessigers head a small ministry called In Him Healing Touch Ministries and hold a prayer meeting at their residence once per week.  Consequently the Roessigers are  facing fines of $250 per day for having an unauthorized "house of worship" in their home. Like many small nonprofits,  the Roessigers  initially chose to get mail at their home instead of renting out a post office box. Venice Code Enforcement officials are using the listing of the residence as the ministry's address to build a case against the Roessigers.

In addition to prayer and Bible study, the Roessigers inistry has food outreaches in the community and engages in foreign missions work. The latter includes ministering to people living in garbage dumps through providing meals and religious services.

In a letter sent by attorney Kevin Snider of the Pacific Justice Institute, the City Code Enforcement Board was informed that 

" the corporate address has been changed so that the home address is no longer listed with the Florida Secretary of State. However, this family intends to continue to exercise their rights to the use and enjoyment of their property for prayer and Bible study", 

Snider wrote.

In an unusual response, the Board continued the matter indefinitely.

 "It is difficult to understand how it is illegal to have a prayer meeting on Friday night with a half dozen people but it is alright if I invited the same group on Monday evening to watch Monday Night Football," 

said Roessiger. 

Shortly after the last hearing before the Board, Code Enforcement cited the residents again for having a small sign in their yard which reads: "Need Prayer (941) 484-4915." Again, the family is being threatened with a $250 per day fine for the illegal sign. The Venice Code makes an exception for political signs, with which the surrounding neighborhoods are strewn.

"We will not stand idly by while local governments run over families for having these types of religious gatherings in the privacy of their own homes," said Pacific Justice Institute’s President Brad Dacus. "If cities want to fine people and drag them into court or before other tribunals for having prayer meetings, we will be waiting for them," Dacus continued.

Brad Dacus, President PJI

PJI acknowledges and thank attorney Roger Gannam of the law firm Lindell & Farson for serving as Florida counsel in this matter.

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In a change of heart, San Juan Capistrano to protect Bible Studies

Posted by CotoBlogzz



Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -  San Juan Capistrano sparked national outrage after fining and threatening a home Bible study group.  Now, it has taken steps to prevent future conflicts, a  move some say, may become a model for cities across the country.

The City Council of San Juan Capistrano voted unanimously late Tuesday night to adopt changes to its zoning code, based on recommendations by Pacific Justice Institute.

Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties.

After PJI went to court earlier this year to defend the Fromm family, who had targeted by the City’s actions, the City reversed course and refunded the fines it had levied against the family and started a process to to amend its Municipal Code working with PJI.

PJI President Brad Dacus in a video,  praised the City for following PJI’s recommendations so that code enforcement officers will not seek to shut down small home Bible study groups in the future.

Dacus is also encouraging concerned citizens across the country to check with their local officials to make sure that home bible studies will be protected in their communities, offering free legal assistance to people of faith whose cities are hostile to their religious practice.

The changes adopted by San Juan Capistrano conform to the California Building Code, which does not apply church building standards to home-based groups with less than 50 attendees. As a result, small home-based religious groups in the city will be treated like similarly-sized secular gatherings and will not be required to get costly use permits