Thousands rally for biblical marriage

Thousands rally for biblical marriage
Support state lawmaker who says homosexuality dangerous

An estimated 2,000 people gathered today in Oklahoma City to rally support for state Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, who has been the target of a campaign organized by pro-homosexual interests to inundate her e-mail with tens of thousands of messages, many profane, vulgar and threatening.

WND previously reported when the case first developed Oklahoma police were investigating threats e-mailed to Kern because of her remarks to a Republican meeting that warned of the homosexual community's growing influence.

Her statements were taped secretly and posted in a YouTube production prepared by the Victory Fund, an ardently pro-homosexual lobby that by its own admission "provides strategic, technical and financial support" to homosexual politicians.

The video pieced together audio of Kern's comments with slides of statements condemning her speech as well as photographs of various individuals holding "I heard that" signs.

She told WND earlier she had received in excess of 30,000 e-mails, many vulgar, abusive and hateful. Her life was threatened, her son falsely accused of being homosexual and her financial supporters harassed, officials reported.

But according to a report from officials with Concerned Women for America, today's crowd spilled over onto all levels of the Rotunda at Oklahoma's Capitol in an event sponsored by more than 50 area pastors who have lauded Kern's biblical stand.

"This astronomical show of support for Rep. Sally Kern today sends a strong message," said Matt Barber, the policy director for cultural issues at CWA. "People with traditional values who value God's design for human sexuality will not be intimidated and bullied into silence.

"Political correctness can never trump truth," he said. "Sally Kern stood for truth, and she was hated for it. She was persecuted for Christ, but the Body of Christ was there to lift her up. Sally was faithful to God, and He was faithful to her in return. This is a great day for all who love righteousness."

Linda Caswell, the state director for CWA, said Kern and her husband both talked of the institution of marriage, and expressed forgiveness for those who have been attacking the family with telephone calls around the clock.

"The homosexuals are saying she called them terrorists. She did not do that. She said she has no hate for anyone," Caswell said.

"This is an awesome experience," she said.

"Radical homosexual groups have done all they could to intimidate her, yet she has not backed down," said Richard Thompson, president of the Thomas More Law Center, a national Christian public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The organization has agreed to represent her in any actions that need to be pursued because of the attacks.

Kern came under fire after she expressed her concern "that the homosexual agenda was destroying our nation, and that young school children were being indoctrinated into believing that the homosexual lifestyle is normal," the law firm said.

Kern was quoted as saying the homosexual agenda is dangerous "because it destroys the basic moral fiber of this nation, which is traditional marriage and the traditional family."

"She couldn't be more right," the CWA said.

"There are certainly those who hate Rep. Kern. They've made that perfectly clear with vicious personal attacks and even death threats," Barber said. "But millions of Americans proudly stand alongside Sally Kern and say, 'Thank you. Thank you for boldly standing your ground and for unapologetically defending biblical truth.'

"They intended to make an example of her. They have, but not in the way they had hoped. She has set an example for millions of believers around the world. Her courage and refusal to deviate from God's unequivocal condemnation of sexual immorality is serving to galvanize and embolden others. People say, 'Well Sally Kern wasn't intimidated, why should I be?'" Barber said.

In a commentary for WND, Faith2Action chief Janet Folger wrote of the "gays' respect and tolerance."

Kern had said in the meeting: "What they're trying to do is send a message of intimidation to those people who are taking a stand for traditional marriage and against the homosexual lifestyle. They want to silence us, is what they want to do. And it's happening all over the state. You know, the very fact that I'm talking to you like this, here today, puts me in jeopardy. OK, and so, so be it."

Among the few e-mails that soon arrived in Kern's mailbox that could be quoted was, "YOU NAZI FREAK!!!! … YOU MORON!!!!!!!!" Folger reported.

About another e-mail, she wrote, "If I dashed out the obscenities in the rest, there wouldn't be anything left except this: '… you stupid dyke.' Now if we said that, we'd be facing charges of 'hate speech.'"

She reported even Ellen DeGeneres "joined in the ridicule when she tried to call Kern on her show."

WND has reported on multiple attempts in Congress to ram through a "hate crimes" plan that would target those who follow biblical teachings that condemn homosexual behavior. Similar laws already have been imposed in Canada, where people have been charged with the crime of criticizing homosexuality.

"Her comments represent the view of a majority of Americans," Thompson said. "All you need to do is look at all of the states that have overwhelmingly adopted constitutional amendments or statutes defending traditional marriages from the homosexual agenda. Christians believe that homosexual acts are acts of grave depravity, contrary to the natural law and under no circumstances can they be approved.

She told WND she's holding up "rather well" under the onslaught the campaign against her has produced.

"I have the prayers of the people in my state and cards and e-mails from people all over the country who are supporting me," she said. "I haven't lost any sleep over this."

She said the state police investigation actually was launched by another member of the Oklahoma legislature who saw some of the threats contained in e-mails and called authorities.

She was told the investigation was continuing.

"I stand by my statements. Everything I said I can verify. It is a deadly lifestyle," Kern said.

The response to her statements, actually, would surprise few people familiar with the strategies of the homosexual activists, however.

In chapter one of his best-selling book "The Marketing of Evil," WND Managing Editor David Kupelian exposes the powerful marketing strategies used by the "gay rights" movement to "sell" Americans on homosexuality as a healthy alternative lifestyle. One key tactic for accomplishing this is called "jamming."

"Jamming is pure intimidation," said Kupelian. "And what homosexual activists are doing right now to Sally Kern is a grotesque case of jamming. Basically, they're trying to silence her by threatening, intimidating, harassing and frightening her until she can't take any more abuse. No dialogue, no debate – just crush her. That's their game. It's despicable, and utterly un-American."