Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council with Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH5)
My Congressional Representative, Bob Latta (R-5), just received an award from the Family Research Council (FRC) for his commitment to ‘pro-life’ and ‘pro-family’ values. It’s obvious that Latta doesn’t mind palling around with a hate group.
Here is the photo Rep. Latta posted on his Facebook page on Thursday:
Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council (L) with Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH5) at the True Blue Award photo-op
According to the FRC press release:
The True Blue award honors Members of Congress who have exhibited extraordinary leadership and commitment to the defense of family, faith, and freedom, according to the two groups’ new scorecard covering House and Senate votes in the first session of the 110th Congress. Recipients of the award are those who have voted consistently for pro-family issues and have stood courageously in Congress in defense of life. “True Bluers” held strong on votes important to families including cloning, destructive embryonic stem cell experimentation, protecting marriage, confirming strict constructionist judges and defeating special protections for homosexuals.
In 2010, FRC was designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). FRC was put on the list as an Anti-LGBT group:
The Family Research Council (FRC) bills itself as “the leading voice for the family in our nation’s halls of power,” but its real specialty is defaming gays and lesbians. The FRC often makes false claims about the LGBT community based on discredited research and junk science. The intention is to denigrate LGBT people in its battles against same-sex marriage, hate crimes laws, anti-bullying programs and the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
To make the case that the LGBT community is a threat to American society, the FRC employs a number of “policy experts” whose “research” has allowed the FRC to be extremely active politically in shaping public debate. Its research fellows and leaders often testify before Congress and appear in the mainstream media. It also works at the grassroots level, conducting outreach to pastors in an effort to “transform the culture.”
Despite recent gains made for LGBT equality, including the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2013 ruling that struck down as unconstitutional parts of the Defense of Marriage Act, the FRC has continued its anti-gay crusade, including continued opposition to the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). According to Perkins, President Obama is working with the “totalitarian homosexual lobby” to sneak ENDA into law and should that happen, freedom of religion will be “destroyed.” Perkins also has worked to keep America safe from Betty Crocker. In September 2013, he called for a boycott of the iconic brand because General Mills, which produces it, donated custom cakes to three LGBT Minnesota couples who were married after the state legalized same-sex marriage a month earlier.
Rep. Latta has voted consistently with the FRC’s position while in Congress. He voted against The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, voted for a federal ban on abortion after 20 weeks, and voted against allowing the military to appoint atheist “chaplains”. Latta has also consistently voted with the FRC against laws that would help the LGBT community including expanding the hate crimes definition to cover violent acts against LGBTs.
It seems Latta has no problem being seen palling around with a hate group.
He is one bigot we don’t need in Congress.
