Homosexual lobby thwarted -- Massachusetts Senate removes all earmarked funds for GLBT Commission in budget amendments
First time since early 1990s. Caves to flood of pro-family pressure!
May 22, 2009
It was pro-family forces vs. the powerful homosexual lobby in the Massachusetts Legislature. This time we beat them!
People across the state stepped up and made calls, sent emails, and more!
Our message: NO money for homosexual programs and NO mention of the "gay and lesbian commission" in the budget.
The homosexual lobby made it their top priority to get the earmarked funding back for their programs in the schools. They filed an amendment (see below) to the Senate's state budget to earmark $300,000 for the Mass. Commission on Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Youth, to push their programs in the schools. This was less than the $850,000 they got this year, but enough to do significant damage. They put out an alert in the homosexual newspaper Bay Windows to rally their supporters.
In the end, the Senate backed down. All the money was removed! (And except for one place, all the mention of "gay and lesbian commission" was taken out.)
The Senate threw them that one small bone: The GLBT Commission is still mentioned in one place. They could theoretically get some money funneled to it at some point. But this is big. It's the first time in nearly 20 years that the homosexual lobby is cut out of all earmarked money!
Here's what happened
There were three amendments in play that affected the homosexual agenda in the schools targeting kids:
(1) The Senate caved in on this key amendment, EDU 334:
Original version of Amendment EDU 334 that was introduced last week:
EDU 334
SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAM
Mr. Galluccio moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 7010-0005, by adding to the end thereof the following:- "; provided further that the department, in collaboration with the commission on gay and lesbian youth established by section 67 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, shall allocate not less than $300,000 for programming to ensure public schools' compliance with the board of elementary and secondary education's recommendations, which take into account the commission's recommendations, for the support and safety of gay and lesbian students and the implementation of related suicide and violence prevention efforts and reduction of health disparities for GLBT youth."
Here's the 2nd Redraft EDU 334 that was passed by Senate on Thursday:
EDU 334
SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAM
Mr. Galluccio moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 7010-0005, by adding to the end thereof the following:- "; provided further that the department, in collaboration with the commission on gay and lesbian youth established by section 67 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, may allocate funds for programming to ensure public schools' compliance with the board of elementary and secondary education's recommendations, which take into account the commission's recommendations, for the support and safety of gay and lesbian students and the implementation of related suicide and violence prevention efforts and reduction of health disparities for GLBT youth."
(2) The Senate, unfortunately allowed the homosexual lobby to get a toe in the door by letting EHS 494 get passed.
But it's severely weakened from last year, when it had $550,000 specifically earmarked for homosexual activism. (In the House version there's no mention at all of the commission.)
EHS 494
COMMISSION ON GLBT YOUTH
Ms. Creem moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 4590-0250 by adding at the end thereof the following: "provided further that funds shall be expended for the support of the commission on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) youth, and shall be used to address the recommendations of said commission for reduction of health disparities for GLBT youth"
(3) The Senate "fixed" this amendment, EHS 599, in our favor.
They took out the "gay and lesbian youth" language and substituted "intimate partner violence in the GLBT community" and other programs:
EHS 599
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION
Mr. Eldridge moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 4513-1130 , by striking in line three the words: "and provided further, that funds shall be expended for statewide suicide and violence prevention outreach to gay and lesbian youth .......$4,058,264",
and inserting in place thereof:- "for sexual and domestic violence prevention; for batterers' intervention services; for sexual abuse and domestic violence services for immigrants and refugees; and for the public health model of community engagement and intervention services and crisis housing for sexual violence and intimate partner violence in the GLBT community........ $6,391,677"
This is a huge victory for parents, children, and the pro-family movement!
What's next in the budget process
The process isn't done entirely. This week it goes to a conference committee which irons out the differences between the House and Senate versions. In this case, the differences are minor. But there's still a fight over getting the commission out and not officially funded. (More on that coming up.)
After that it goes to the Governor, who will surely veto a lot of it. The above three items were severely cut in the governor's original budget recommendation. Let's hope he vetoes them now!
After that: getting rid of the GLBT Commission - and more!
Although its cash cow is killed, the GLBT Commission can still do a fair amount of damage. It can still meet and go into schools and work with "gay clubs" and kids. It can still threaten school officials and meddle in other government agencies. It can sponge off of office space and money siphoned off of various DPH and DOE budgets. And worst of all, it can collect money from private individuals, corporations, foundations, etc. (And since its members are committed radicals, they will continue working as hard as they can even without state funding.)
That's why we've filed a bill to eliminate the GLBT Commission entirely. Bill H145 (Text of bill / Text of current law) would get rid of the commission. Besides the David Parker Bill, that's at the top of our list for this session. A public hearing on that bill hasn't yet been scheduled, but we'll keep you informed on it.
Beyond that, our work is far from over. There are a number of good pro-family bills that need to be passed -- and bad anti-family bills that need to be killed - coming up this year. We need to be vigilant.
The homosexual lobby isn't giving up. We need to get even stronger in the months ahead and continue to meet the challenge.
Postscript: In general, watching the budget process in the Massachusetts Legislature is not for those with weak stomachs. They also use it as an opportunity to slip in otherwise unpopular bills (as phony "budget items") that would never get in via the normal process, i.e., public hearings, etc. This includes an easy route to raising taxes and every "fee" imaginable -- for which the public-sector unions successfully put on the full-court press all week. The special interests are everywhere. It's up to groups like us to represent the ordinary people.
