Last-minute tax filers encountered two opposing groups while driving toward the Main Dallas Post Office on Monday: about a dozen queer activists protesting anti-gay tax laws, and an equal number of Kingdom Baptist Church members protesting the queer protesters.
The gay group’s hand-painted posterboards read, “Equal Taxes, Equal Rights,” “Love Knows No Gender,” and “With Liberty and Justice For ALL.”
Kingdom Baptist’s professionally printed signs read, “REPENT ABORTION AND MURDER,” “TURN OR BURN” and “GAY IS NOT OK.” Over bullhorns the church members yelled ceaselessly about sin and sodomy while the gay folks occasionally shouted back about a loving God and the separation of church and state.
As it currently stands, federal law makes it illegal to lie on tax forms. But the Defense of Marriage Act requires legally married same-sex couples to file as two separate single individuals, which is, well, a lie. A recent campaign called “Refuse to Lie” urged wedded gays to file as married couples. Married gay couples pay higher taxes for filing separately and risk a potential IRS audit if they try to file as a married couple.
According to protest organizer Daniel Cates, “Today in America [marriage] brings with it 1,138 rights on a state and federal level. That’s what we’re after. We’re not asking [for people] to change what they believe religiously or to even to endorse our marriages in their churches. But we are asking for equality under the law.” The gay protesters want to reform the tax law through a DOMA repeal and full LGBT equality nationwide.
“It’s wicked what’s going over here,” said a male Kingdom Baptist congregant from Venus, Texas. “Basically [the gay protesters are] thinking they should get equal rights to have man lie with man and woman with woman. They think they they should get equal tax benefits because of their lifestyle. Their lifestyle shouldn’t enter into the equation at all, it’s a moral issue.” Kingdom Baptist pastor Joey Faust said the government has an interest to discourage homosexuality because social acceptance of the gays leads to in increase in immorality, godlessness and disease. Plus, it puts our society on a slippery slope to pedophilia, bestiality, and eventually cannibalism, he said. For Faust, it’s not about fighting for tax benefits, but avoiding the wrath of God.
Texas A&M grad student Natalie Saladino pointed to homosexual animals as proof that humans are naturally born gay. But Faust said humans shouldn’t justify their behaviors by comparing themselves to beasts. Gay ex-military preacher Timothy Beauchamp noted that more faiths like the Episcopal Church are welcoming gays into the fold. But Faust replied says in “the last days” some churches “will not endure sound doctrine” and “shall depart from the faith.” He then went on to elaborate about the “mark of the beast,” a one-world dictator, and natural disasters.
A Kingdom Baptist member said their church only wanted to help the gay protesters recognize and renounce their sins. But if their plan involves screaming at homos with a megaphone about burning in Hell, it’s probably not going to work. Protesting for LGBT equality in a red state where gay marriage seems as far off as the second coming can seem equally futile. But self-proclaimed “lover” America Tarin said she hoped her attendance would encourage other gays to become politically active and said that if her group encouraged even one driver to begin thinking about gay rights, then that would be enough.
Venus, Texas? I didn’t think their wagon trail went all the way to Dallas.
Are these guys trying to become the new Westboro clan?
Haha! Awesome. They got my “4 year old” skirt on there too! ;P
@Mike: They wish. lol!
It’s sad what most Christians call love today. They seem to think that if the church says its OK then God will not judge their sin (and Sodomy clearly is). The Church is going to be busy being judged itself (1 Peter 4:17). Letting a dog getting run over in the freeway is no more love than letting some one spend eternity in the Lake of fire. Just as you tell Christians we don’t love we say you don’t love. I guess you would rather believe you come from a rock so you can enjoy your sexual mores for this short life span than enjoy the future. Better listen to the preacher and get right. You can see what a college education gets you look at that animals for your morality. I saw monkeys in Panama that would crap in their hand and throw it at you. Maybe Mrs. A&M would think that’s OK too.
@James- WHAT? That was completely incoherent
I’m sorry I guess I assumed whoever read my comments had read the article, I apologize for that assumption so, I will break it down for you.
Their comment “Loving God”
So this comment “It’s sad what most Christians call love today.”
Their comment “Gay ex-military preacher Timothy Beauchamp noted that more faiths like the Episcopal Church are welcoming gays into the fold.”
My comment “They seem to think that if the church says it’s OK then God will not judge their sin (and Sodomy clearly is).”The Church is going to be busy being judged itself (1 Peter 4:17). Letting a dog getting run over in the freeway is no more love than letting some one spend eternity in the Lake of fire. Just as you tell Christians we don’t love we say you don’t love.
Their comment “Texas A&M grad student Natalie Saladino pointed to homosexual animals as proof that humans are naturally born gay.”
My comment “You can see what a college education gets you, look at the animals for your morality. I saw monkeys in Panama that would crap in their hand and throw it at you. Maybe Mrs. A&M would think that’s OK too.”
Would you like 1 Peter 4:17 written out for you or do you have access to the KJV?
I would gather by now you know that I was there. The writer in his infinite bias did not note that the sodomites also had a bull horn. After we arrived they began to alter their signs to insinuate that they were Christians. We were not there to protest but take opportunity to win people to Jesus. If that seems like hate (and it always has, look what happened to Stephen the first Christian Martyr) then that’s OK.
If you need further explanation please feel free to post. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJtjqLUHYoY&feature=youtu.be
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/The-Bible-is-No-Defense-for-Violence-118792059.html
Hey James,
I assumed whoever made comments here had read my article, I apologize for that assumption so, I will break it down for you.
You said in your second comment, “The writer in his infinite bias did not note that the sodomites also had a bull horn.”
But maybe you missed the fourth sentence in the article which says, “Over bullhorns the church members yelled ceaselessly about sin and sodomy while the gay folks occasionally shouted back about a loving God and the separation of church and state.” See? BullhornS, plural. I even included what each side shouted over said bullhornS.
Also, what infinite bias have I demonstrated? I merely attended the event and reported verbatim what each side told me. I asked both sides difficult questions and provided their answers as given to me.
I also conclude the article by questioning the efficacy of both sides. I’m not sure holding signs does any more for gay rights than yelling at homos does for “saving their souls and avoiding the wrath of God.”
If you need further explanation please feel free to post 😀
I’m from Venus and find this disturbing and embarrasing. I support equal rights; I hope readers don’t think the majority of Venusites support this church. I certainly don’t.
I too am from Venus and am embarrassed by the small minded individuals from this church. Not all who live here are as ignorant as this.