Issues@Hand
AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs
January 1998 – Using every public and political ploy, the Clinton administration has become relentless in its effort to overthrow traditional morality in favor of a pro-gay culture.
Clinton promised his continued support for gay “civil rights” legislation when he addressed 1,500 homosexuals attending the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) annual national dinner in November. The 200,000- member HRC, a gay lobby group, also gave a civil rights award to actress Ellen DeGeneres, who was in attendance.
Vice President Al Gore is also enthusiastic about the gay rights movement. In October the vice president praised Disney/ABC’s Ellen for forcing Americans to “look at sexual orientation in a more open light.” And in September Gore promised his help to a cheering audience at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force annual gala.
By virtue of his speech, Clinton became the first U.S. President ever to address a gay rights group in person. His promise of support is seen as critical as House and Senate Democrats prepare to reintroduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) as soon as possible, either as stand-alone legislation or as an amendment to another less controversial bill.
ENDA would make it illegal for a business, including those owned by people whose religion regards homosexuality as immoral, to consider sexual orientation as a factor in hiring, promotions or firing. The legislation was first defeated in 1996, when the Senate rejected ENDA by a vote of 50-49.
“Redefining” Biblical morality
At the HRC banquet, the President promised to play his part in a bold undertaking, saying, “We have to broaden the imagination of America” to accept homosexuals as equals. “We are redefining in practical terms the immutable ideals that have guided us from the beginning.”
Conservatives were outraged by the suggestion that God’s laws were subject to human tinkering. Columnist Cal Thomas wrote, “Bill Clinton didn’t create the world. God did. And God designed norms for behavior that are in our best interests.” Thomas said, “When we change the original standard, there can be no standard left except popular opinion. And that has historically led to destruction of people and of nations.”
But gays in attendance loved the 23-minute speech, interrupting it with applause 25 times – and seven of those times the applause turned to standing ovations. One of those standing ovations was initiated by DeGeneres and her lesbian partner, actress Anne Heche. DeGeneres was there to receive HRC's National Civil Rights Award.
Hate crimes next on Clinton’s list
Just days later, the President also participated in a White House conference on “hate crimes,” where he endorsed the concept of “diversity education.” Clinton and other speakers called for K-12 instruction aimed at teaching children tolerance of, among other things, the homosexual lifestyle.
Attorney General Janet Reno, who hosted the conference, said, “We need to speak out against prejudice, intolerance, and bigotry whenever we see it and wherever we find it,” adding that such anti-gay attitudes lead to hate crimes. And such attitudes, Reno said, “are learned.”
Learned, for the most part, from parents. That was the general consensus among participants, according to the Washington Times. Even the President said schools were a necessary vehicle because parents were failing to teach their children to accept homosexuality.
“Children have to be taught hate,” Clinton said. “We want to teach them a different way.”
According to Thomas, as a result of this new proposal, the departments of Justice and Education would be circumventing parents by sending “anti-hate crime resource guides” to public school districts. Thomas complained that the move would turn schools into “reeducation camps.”
In fact, Reno suggested to the 425 participants that they return to their schools and make certain that diversity training programs are in place. Such programs, she said, should include a “conflict resolution plan,” so that problem children could be enrolled. “Find out what your schools are doing in diversity programs to teach others how to appreciate diversity,” Reno said. 
