On gay question, Georgia legislators side with Sharia
A bill proposed in the Georgia House of Representatives would make it illegal for public employers, such as schools, universities and state government itself, to discriminate against Georgians on the basis of their sexual orientation or identity.
At this point in history, you might think that protecting school teachers and others from being fired solely because of their sexual orientation would be pretty uncontroversial. In fact, the legislator who sponsored the bill, state Rep. Karla Drenner of Avondale Estates, is herself gay. In a subcommittee hearing this week, every witness but one testified in favor of House Bill 630.
The sole exception was Tanya Ditty, a teacher and state director of the conservative and anti-gay Concerned Women of America, which claims 12,000 members in Georgia. Among other things, the group also campaigns against the imposition of Sharia law, which it describes as “a threat to America as we know it.”
Here is an excerpt from Ditty’s testimony.
For those unable to view the video, Ditty warns that the legislation would force public schools to hire and employ people who engage in beastiality, necrophilia and other -ialities and -philias too horrible to mention. She also expresses concern about restroom policy, recounting a searing incident five years ago in which she believes she shared a restroom with a man dressed as a woman, but didn’t discover it until afterward.
The good news is, she survived.
“What’s going to protect our children if a pedophiliac comes in and gets a teaching job, is a bus driver, is a custodian?” Ditty asked legislators. “And they can be people who just want to prey on children, and they will be protected with this law.”
For the record, child sexual abuse is a vicious crime. It is a felony in this state. Anyone with a record of pedophilia is not only barred by Georgia law from teaching in a school or serving as a bus driver; such a person is banned from living or working in any job within 1,000 feet of a school or even a school bus stop. Nothing about HB 630 would have changed that. The legislation does not protect criminals or sexual predators.
Nonetheless, the House subcommittee voted 3-2, with the Republican majority carrying the day, to kill the bill and to continue to deny gay and lesbian Georgians the right to be employed by the same government to which they pay taxes and by which they are governed.
However, I wonder if they realize that by doing so, they themselves have ensured that Georgia law remains in compliance with Sharia law, which like Ditty and others condemns gays for “transgressing the limits.”
NOTE: Please keep personal comments about Ditty and others within the bounds of civil discussion.
– Jay Bookman
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440 comments Add your comment
Subversive Librarian
February 24th, 2012
11:35 am
@williebkind
“No, but marriage is between one man and one woman”
————————————
True, if you’re a Southern Baptist or orthodox Jew. Not true if you go to United Church of Christ or Quaker or Unity or Reform Jew. Why should your religion get to decide this policy debate instead of mine?
jewcowboy
February 24th, 2012
11:36 am
williebkind,
“No, but marriage is between one man and one woman.”
Not in 8 states, the District of Columbia, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Mexico and Brazil.
Keep Up--Te gusta losing woofinpoofs?
February 24th, 2012
11:37 am
I do find it offensive that some protests the attacks on Ms. Diddy who is state-director of CWA which has no problems attacking individuals. For the record, I have not attacked Ms. Diddy but she has made herself a public figure as state-chair of that group. So let’s avoid the drama queen charade of poor Ms. Diddy the state chair. She is not in the same “moral outrage” category as a mother who testifies because of the loss of a child.
jewcowboy
February 24th, 2012
11:38 am
Kirk C,
“I find it funny that we’re reminded to keep personal comments about Ditty civil when she certainly did not about us”
Bingo!
(ir)Rational
February 24th, 2012
11:39 am
williebkind – So you’re literally just arguing against calling it marriage? That makes less sense than the argument I thought you were making.
Julia
February 24th, 2012
11:40 am
doggone/Ga I’m not gay but I also vote, and i refuse to vote for any of these hose bags who support these insane homophobic laws. what I want to know is what is it with these ‘conservatives’ and their constant obsession with anything of a sexual nature. if it isn’t that nut job Rick Santorum, it is the VA General Assembly and their transvaginal ultrasound bill…the list goes on. Don’t these people have anything better to do beside obsess about what grown people might or might not be doing in the privacy of their own homes???? As Shakespeare said, me thinks thou does protest too much.
TaxPayer
February 24th, 2012
11:42 am
When you abandon civility you forfit the right to be treated civilly.
One with lost melanin,
Ditty should have thought about that before spewing her lies. Unless you think that spewing lies is a civil form of communication.
Brosephus™ - Some things simply make you think WTF??
February 24th, 2012
11:45 am
Doom
Points well taken…
Aquagirl
February 24th, 2012
11:47 am
Bingo!
Double Bingo! The woman says if this bill passes necrophiliacs will be driving your kid’s school bus….and we’re supposed to chalk that up to a “different viewpoint?” If she was here accusing people of the same $#!^ Jay would kick her out.
Adam
February 24th, 2012
11:48 am
Thulsa: You are welcome to provide evidence that the “facts” are that oil drilling permits have slowed to a grinding halt. I have evidence that says otherwise, and I’m gonna go with that.
Remember when several oil rigs left the gulf
Exactly 2 rigs from a single company left. Do you have evidence of others? Because I remember people ACTING and TALKING like this was going to happen, but it never came true.
(ir)Rational
February 24th, 2012
11:50 am
Thulsa – What exactly, outside of the bedroom, differentiates me from a gay man? Can you define it?
Thulsa Doom
February 24th, 2012
11:52 am
If that “different viewpoint” meant you were equated with necrophiliacs you might have a little less tolerance yourself
Aquagirl,
I did not see where she equated being gay with necrophilia. What I read into it is that from the research she gathered that the term sexual orientation scientifically can mean 23 different definitions. Now no one is pretending that she doesn’t oppose the gay agenda. Clearly she does. But she also opposes language that includes many other behaviors.
As for the stall incident lets not pretend that there are many women in this state who would be uncomfortable with a man in the stall next to them. Perhaps many wouldn’t be but many would be. I don’t imagine any of the girlfriends I have had would be cool with me doing my business in stall next to them.
“America pageant who prefaced her opposition to gay marriage with “no offense to anyone, but….” how do you tell someone their family shouldn’t exist without being offensive?”
Easy. She preference her statements by letting gays no that it wasn’t her intent to be offensive. She then clearly stated that her objection was based on her personal religious views. Of course that doesn’t stop the judgemental folks like yourself from automatically labeling her a ditz. And it didn’t stop the Perez Hilton guy from using her free speech against her to penalize her in the contest because he didn’t like her views. And that is a shame that he used his position as a judge to cost her the crown all because she didn’t tow his line. But then I suppose that’s just A-okay with you. Free speech is great. Just as long as its your free speech.
What if I said “no offense, but I don’t think Speedo-wearing BLT-making guys shouldn’t be able to post here?”
Then that would be your opinion. But it wouldn’t cost me anything as it did in the case of this young lady who did not win the crown due to Perez Hilton black balling her.
“and Jay banned you?” The blog sheriff has done it before. Maybe you’ll get lucky and he’ll do it again. One can always hope.
“Republicans want to deny gay people the rights to do the same things everyone else does, like work and raise a family”
So do the Dems. In the California vote on gay marriage who carried the day in denying gays the right to marry??? 2 traditional Dem voting blocks. In exit polling blacks voted heavily against the proposal with Hispanics voting against gay marriage to a lesser degree. Overall whites who traditionally are more R voted in favor of gay marriage. So much for your stereotype.
Boris Badnoff
February 24th, 2012
11:55 am
Why would anyone object to someone being happy? We should all be gay. Let’s celebrate the spirit of the old War Between the States song and “we will all be gay when Johnny comes marching home.” Or at Christmas time when we don our gay apparel. Or when we watch classic Fred Astaire movies such as “The Gay Divorcee.” Gay is simply half way between indifferent and giddy. Have a gay day.
The Kingfish
February 24th, 2012
11:55 am
Once stupidity gets out of the bag it’s hard to get it back in.
Mrs. Ditty’s positions and particularly the Sharia Law boogerboo is stupid, but there are 12,000 more who belong to her organization in Ga. Looks like we’re winning the contest with Aladamnbama.
HoyaLawya
February 24th, 2012
11:57 am
“Pedophiliac”? Please tell me she doesn’t teach English…
HoyaLawya
February 24th, 2012
11:59 am
And I am pretty sure my kids are safe from the necrophiliac school bus driver, unless he also plans to run them over first.
Thulsa Doom
February 24th, 2012
12:05 pm
Adam,
This is from politifact. Certainly new permit apps are down, way down. As I said it has been slowed significantly. Infor is from politifact and is in response to a claim from Michelle Bachman that only 1 permit had been approved. Clearly she was wrong as it looks like she was possibly referencing 1 deepwater permit.You will have to read the whole article to get a jist on things. But the fact remains permit approvals have declined substantially.
Lee Hunt, executive director of the International Association of Drilling Contractors, said there has been a “molasses effect” with permitting by the Obama administration. Even the 39 permits for new shallow water wells is dramatically lower than previous levels. And even with six deepwater permits issued in the last month, as well as the ones projected to be approved this year, permits for deepwater wells are likely to be a third of what was projected prior to the gulf oil spill. The permitting process has undeniably slowed, Hunt said, but as the numbers above show, Bachmann’s statement — at least the way she worded it — is wrong.
According to Andy Radford, senior policy adviser at the American Petroleum Institute, permit approvals have dropped 65 percent, post gulf oil spill. Prior to the gulf disaster, the Obama administration reported approving 217 new well permits (shallow and deepwater).
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/mar/29/michele-bachmann/michele-bachmann-claims-there-has-been-just-one-ne/
Aquagirl
February 24th, 2012
12:12 pm
Then that would be your opinion. But it wouldn’t cost me anything as it did in the case of this young lady who did not win the crown due to Perez Hilton black balling her.
Oh, the irony. A subsidized breast implant queen says other people shouldn’t be allowed to marry and gets whooped by other people expressing their opinion she shouldn’t be Miss California. Other people shouldn’t try to enforce their opinions on her life, but she thinks she has the right to enforce hers? Maybe those subsidized implants leaked into her brain.
(ir)Rational
February 24th, 2012
12:17 pm
Going to lunch. If you respond Thulsa, I’ll be sure and take a look at it when I get back.
Tom(Independent-Viet Vet)
February 24th, 2012
12:22 pm
Blame it on Bush!!!! Also, I almost forgot, Apologize. apologize, and apologize some more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
zeke
February 24th, 2012
12:30 pm
Kind of the same problem here as with insurance companies and with medicare! They won’t pay for elective procedures, neither should we be forced to accept an elective perverted lifestyle! PERIOD!
YOUR party SUCKS! But MINE is GRRRRRREAT! (formerly That Black Guy)
February 24th, 2012
12:30 pm
TaxPayer
February 24th, 2012
11:42 am
When you abandon civility you forfit the right to be treated civilly.
One with lost melanin, – I didn’t lose my melanin, I’m still the chocolate teddy bear my momma gave birth to.
Ditty should have thought about that before spewing her lies. Unless you think that spewing lies is a civil form of communication. – I understand your point, I just aim to be civil when dealing with people I disagree with. That may come from spending part of my youth in rougher areas.
A lack of civility often lead to a one way trip downtown.
But to each his own.
YOUR party SUCKS! But MINE is GRRRRRREAT! (formerly That Black Guy)
February 24th, 2012
12:33 pm
HoyaLawya
February 24th, 2012
11:59 am
And I am pretty sure my kids are safe from the necrophiliac school bus driver, unless he also plans to run them over first.
THAT shyte was funny as he!!
Get some Therapy
February 24th, 2012
12:43 pm
She made valid points! Gay = Happy .. homosexual lifestyle is just being Queer.
If it were Sharia law, the homosexual’s would just be killed .. It isn’t Sharia, it is an American law .. Live the life you want behind closed doors, but put your clothes on when your in public .. Detroit Parade is a great example of coming out of a closet! Sickening!
GT
February 24th, 2012
12:46 pm
Try as you may, the gay or any other population is not going away, unless Hitler returns. As usual the cons form these freaky opinions of things. They think a gay man or woman wants to be gay. They claim life at conception. They stage their arguments and then have pep rallies like they have defended something, instead of the reality of being an aggressor. It is like changing the rules of a football game to whatever suits your team. Since they have declared themselves God’s team all the rest of us are outside the circle and the rules are played on their interpretations. Good work if you can get it, and of course they also have no problem translating it into money as Ralph Reed has shown us. The Indians were not God’s people and so smirking as you steal their money is righteous in the eyes of his lord. To the rest of us he and they are just a bunch of mean jerks. How does their Bible deal with mean jerks, probably a lot more severely than mine?
billy wingartenson
February 24th, 2012
12:52 pm
If you check with the southern poverty law center, you will find that CWA is a hate group dominated by right wing xtians – the same religious culture that bullwarked slavery and gave us the kkk and segregation.
Some christians are anything but……………
While eg the methodist church – the most convservative of protestant mainline churches – over a thousand of their pastors late last year voted to ask their national board to change our book of discipline to allow gay religious marriages in our church.
Its all over but about 10 more years and the children of those who demonize and treat unequally our gay friends and neighbors will look upon their parents with disdain and horror
Subversive Librarian
February 24th, 2012
12:55 pm
“Kind of the same problem here as with insurance companies and with medicare! They won’t pay for elective procedures, neither should we be forced to accept an elective perverted lifestyle! PERIOD!”
Oh, my, Zeke. Interesting analogy. Unfortunately, the “ewwww!” factor doesn’t count as measured, thoughtful debate. Not even if you capitalize it.
Aquagirl
February 24th, 2012
1:03 pm
Detroit Parade is a great example of coming out of a closet! Sickening!
So sickening you’ve forced yourself to watch the footage over, and over, and over…to protect your children, of course.
Actually I have no idea what parade you’re talking about but then I’m not on constant alert for the sight of a gay man’s sweaty, muscled loins thrusting in sync with throbbing music.
Keep Up--Te gusta losing woofinpoofs?
February 24th, 2012
1:11 pm
But…but…. don’t you know that a parade is certainly different than a sports mag with bikini clad women, a beauty contest, girls gone wild videos or spring break…..
TaxPayer
February 24th, 2012
1:33 pm
formerly that black guy that still possesses all his melanin,
I treat civility with the same and I treat lies with incivility because a lie is not civil no matter how nicely one does it.
The law is needed
February 24th, 2012
1:36 pm
To those of you saying that this law isn’t even needed, you obviously don’t know anything about employment law in Georgia. I can be fired for being gay. They can eve tell me that and it be ok. It would totally stand up in a court of law. Being gay is not a protected thing like religion, race etc. so any employer would be well within their rights to fire someone for being gay.
(ir)Rational
February 24th, 2012
1:42 pm
The law is needed – No, you’ve misunderstood Thulsa and the others. They’re not saying the law isn’t needed, just that it needs to be re-written to take every part out that mentions it being okay for you to have different ideas of what is okay in the bedroom than they do. Wait, no, Thulsa insists that sex/sexual orientation has nothing to do with what you do in the bedroom, so I guess it just needs to be re-written to narrow down the protections to make it where it is okay to be straight, and nothing else.
Boarderthom
February 24th, 2012
1:45 pm
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has written some strong words on this, from his latest book –
“This is a matter of ordinary justice… I could not have fought against the discrimination of apartheid and not also fight against the discrimination that homosexuals endure, even in our churches and faith groups.” (page 54)
and –
“Equally, I cannot keep quiet while people are being penalized for something about which they can do nothing – their sexuality. To discriminate against our sisters and brothers who are lesbian or gay on grounds of their sexual orientation for me is as totally unacceptable and unjust as apartheid ever was.”
Mattiality
February 24th, 2012
2:11 pm
Okay, just so I’m clear: when I’m filling out a job application, I should NOT answer “yes” to the “Have you ever engaged in necrophilia?” question, right? Jotting this down, just to be sure.
Sassykmh
February 24th, 2012
2:14 pm
“Gay population is just not that big of a demographic. At least as of now”
For reasons such as this. Too many still afraid to come out of the closet and represent for fear of it affecting their livelihood and much more because of people who still have the mindset of this Ditty woman.
Bernie
February 24th, 2012
4:11 pm
Georgia has always had its own group of MULLAH lawmakers….No surprise here.
Baldur
February 26th, 2012
3:54 am
Pedophilia is not a crime. Pedophilia is a sexual orientation. CHILD ABUSE is a crime.
Why do so many posters here believe that they are able to control themselves without regard to their sexual orientation, but for some reasons pedophiles cannot?
Way to throw innocent people under the bus!
Baldur
February 26th, 2012
4:04 am
Incidentally, attacks on pedophilia are attacks on humanity itself. The evidence is growing that not only is pedophilia natural and common, but that the retention of juvenile characteristics (which necessitates the sexual attraction to such characteristics) is what separates humans from the animal kingdom.
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/02/self-domestication/
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/03/taming-wild-animals/ratliff-text
Bristol Va Dawg
February 28th, 2012
12:36 pm
Well the law is needless. people are protected as individuals not as groups. No one has called for a ban of gays or penalty for being gay.
jezel
February 29th, 2012
3:37 pm
Thought this Ditty creature was the cross dresser..could have fooled me.