“Gary Glenn, who chairs Campaign for Michigan Families…said the group was reacting to (Gov. Jennifer) Granholm’s appointment of Baillargeon, which he called ‘a contempt for the values of the citizens of Allegan County in the first place. This county had voted 68 percent in favor of the Marriage Protection Amendment’ of 2004, which would limit marriage to unions of one man and one woman. To support the PAC’s claim, Glenn cited a $500 donation Baillargeon made to Coalition for a Fair Michigan, a group that opposed the amendment.”

———————————————————-

MICHIGAN LAWYERS WEEKLY
Farmington Hills, Michigan
November 24, 2008

“There was no backup plan” for incumbent judge
by Douglas J. Levy

(Excerpt)

With more than 43,000 votes cast in the western Michigan county’s election, (newly-elected Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Kevin) Cronin won by 255 votes, a margin of 0.6 percent.

…Although the race was technically non-partisan, Cronin had the support of the Campaign for Michigan Families, a conservative political action committee and subgroup of the Midland-based American Family Association of Michigan.

The Campaign for Michigan Families spent about $2,500 on ads and robo-calls that portrayed (incumbent Judge William) Baillargeon, according to one ad, as “personally involved in promoting the homosexual agenda” because of his ties to gay-rights groups Affirmation Community Center of Ferndale, for which he served as a youth-group facilitator, and the Detroit-based Triangle Foundation, where he once served on the board of advisors.

Cronin said his campaign wasn’t affiliated with the Campaign for Michigan Families, nor is he now, and he said he neither heard nor read any of the PAC’s ads.

Gary Glenn, who chairs Campaign for Michigan Families, said the group neither contacted Cronin nor worked with him in the ad campaign.

Rather, he said, the group was reacting to (Gov. Jennifer) Granholm’s appointment of Baillargeon, which he called “a contempt for the values of the citizens of Allegan County in the first place. This county had voted 68 percent in favor of the Marriage Protection Amendment” of 2004, which would limit marriage to unions of one man and one woman.

To support the PAC’s claim, Glenn cited a $500 donation Baillargeon made to Coalition for a Fair Michigan, a group that opposed the amendment.

Glenn did, however, say he was surprised that given the county’s voting history, there was such a narrow margin. But when asked whether that would have suggested the group’s ads were not as effective as anticipated, he answered, “That’s irrelevant. The results are what counts.”

…Considering the narrow vote margin, Baillargeon said he is likely to ask for a recount after the state completes its canvass of the election this week.

(Link to full story at www.MiLawyersWeekly.com available only by subscription)

“Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan based in Midland, said it ‘defies common sense’ to pass legislation that promotes homosexuality. He said that because smoking reduces life expectance by about seven years, rational people stop smoking. And because an Oxford University study showed that being a gay male in college takes up to 20 years off of someone’s life, people should stop being gay, too.

Glenn said he’s concerned that a child who is exposed to homosexuality would engage in gay or lesbian behavior. ‘This issue should not be about emotionally enabling adults who engage in homosexual behavior, it should be about the children,’ he said. ‘There’s no question that what is best for children is to be raised by a mother and a father that are married.’”

————————————————-

CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE
Lansing, Michigan
November 25, 2008

Debates continue over same-sex adoptions
By Alison Costello

LANSING — Five years ago, Lansing residents Deanna Hurlbert and Julie Larson considered adopting a child. But as a lesbian couple, they knew their chances in Michigan were slim.

At the time, Hurlbert said she knew of one judge in Michigan who sometimes granted adoption rights to same-sex couples, but he stopped doing so when his chance of re-election was threatened.

In Michigan, there’s no statute or state Supreme Court decision that outlaws adoption by homosexual couples, but some judges interpret a law governing adoption by married couples to mean that a couple must be married, said Jay Kaplan, an attorney at the Michigan American Civil Liberties Union in Detroit.

Hulbert said any credible adoption agency would have found out about her long-term relationship, and adoption as a gay couple in Michigan would be nearly impossible.

“I wasn’t willing to be dishonest about my relationship,” she said. “One of us would have to adopt and one wouldn’t have legal custody.”

Without legal custody, parents often cannot sign medical documents and school permission slips. If the couple breaks up, custody conflicts may be difficult to resolve in court, Hurlbert said.

Several interest groups have lobbied for what they call “second parent adoptions,” a law that would clear up any confusion about homosexual couples being allowed to adopt. They say it would give children in crowded foster care facilities more of a chance to be adopted.

Hurlbert and her partner considered moving out of the state to be able to adopt. Advocates for same-sex custody adoption rights say allowing second-parent adoptions would encourage people to move to Michigan.

But opponents say gay couples aren’t appropriate parents and that if a homosexual couple were to adopt, the institution of marriage would be threatened.

Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan based in Midland, said it “defies common sense” to pass legislation that promotes homosexuality.

He said that because smoking reduces life expectance by about seven years, rational people stop smoking. And because an Oxford University study showed that being a gay male in college takes up to 20 years off of someone’s life, people should stop being gay, too.

Glenn said he’s concerned that a child who is exposed to homosexuality would engage in gay or lesbian behavior.

“This issue should not be about emotionally enabling adults who engage in homosexual behavior, it should be about the children,” he said. “There’s no question that what is best for children is to be raised by a mother and a father that are married.”

On the other hand, some researchers and advocates say Glenn’s argument is indeed questionable.

“Any reputable medical or child welfare organization has found nothing wrong with same-gender parents,” Hurlbert said.

Research has shown evidence on both sides of the question, but much of the recently published studies find that children with one or more homosexual parents are very similar to their peers in traditional, heterosexual households.

There may be political hope for same-sex couples wanting to adopt.

Rep. Paul Condino, D-Southfield, introduced legislation in 2005 and again in 2007 to legalize second parent adoptions.

Although the bills didn’t pass, surveys have shown that the public is warming up to the idea of two dads or two moms.

For example, a 2006 Pew Research Center poll found that 46 percent of Americans support gay and lesbian adoption—up from 38 percent in 1999.

Across the country, gay and lesbian couples may be married in Massachusetts and Connecticut, while Florida, Mississippi, Utah and Arkansas have explicit laws against homosexual adoption.

http://cns.jrn.msu.edu/articles/2008_1125/gayadoption.html

URGENT

Dear AFA-Michigan supporter,

Please read the news release below, then please call Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop today and insist that he not allow House Bills 6340 and 6341 to come up for a vote in the state Senate.
Sen. Mike Bishop —- 517-373-2417
E-mail: http://www.senate.michigan.gov/ima_form.asp?name=COMMENT12&form_path=e:/webforms/rep

Thanks for your prayers and your faithful support and action. We must be prepared to stand strong in the years ahead.

Thanks as always for your support!

Gary Glenn, President
American Family Association of Michigan
www.AFAMichigan.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thurs., Nov. 13, 2008
CONTACT: Gary Glenn 989-835-7978

Family values group criticizes Michigan
House passage of “hate crime” bill

“Divisive and discriminatory” bill violates
equal justice under law, group says

LANSING, Mich. — A statewide family values group late Thursday criticized the Michigan House of Representatives for approving legislation that would provide more severe prison sentences for crimes against certain individuals based on their membership in special “protected class” categories.

Gary Glenn, Midland, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, labeled the legislation “divisive and discriminatory.”

“All citizens should receive equal protection under the law,” Glenn said, “a principle this legislation clearly violates when it provides that a criminal who attacks a small child or a pregnant mom or a senior citizen should be punished less severely than someone who assaults a grown man, solely because that grown man engages in homosexual activity.”

“Because it segregates victims of crime into specially protected categories based on behavioral characteristics such as homosexual behavior or cross-dressing, then doles out more severe sentences for attacking someone in one of those special categories, it sends the discriminatory message that some individuals are worthy of greater protection by society than others,” Glenn said. “Someone who attacks your 75-year old grandmother might get six months in jail, but under this bill, would get a harsher and longer prison sentence for attacking a 25-year old man just because he engages in homosexual behavior.”

Glenn said his group will urge the state Senate to reject the bill.

“We will ask Michigan families to join us in urging the state Senate to stop this divisive and discriminatory legislation that also threatens religious free speech rights, that has already been used in other states to prosecute citizens merely for publicly expressing their religious conviction that homosexual behavior is wrong,” he said.

Glenn cited the arrest in 2005 of a multi-racial group of Christians — including a 75-year old African-American grandmother — who were arrested in Philadelphia and prosecuted under that state’s “hate crime” law merely for reading Bible verses on a public street during a “gay pride” festival. http://www.stophatecrimesnow.com

“Consistent with their attempts to silence critics of the homosexual agenda through fear and intimidation tactics such as disrupting church services in Lansing,” he said, “homosexual activists would similarly use this new law if enacted to try to suppress the religious free speech rights of their critics here in Michigan.”

Glenn pointed to a news release earlier this year in which the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force suggested that he and Cardinal Adam Maida — because they publicly supported a Marriage Protection Amendment to the state constitution — should be held responsible as accessories to the falsely alleged beating death of a homosexual man in Detroit. “It is appalling hypocrisy for these forces to pretend that their venomous words and organizing have no connection to the plague of hate violence against gay people, including the murder of Mr. Anthos,” NGLTF said. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,65356.shtml

Detroit police and the Wayne County Coroner’s office later announced there was no evidence of any assault and that the man died of a head injury resulting from a fall caused by arthritic paralysis of his neck.

# # #

From CBS affiliate KPSP-TV in Palm Springs…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tues., Nov. 11, 2008
CONTACT: Gary Glenn 989-835-7978

Family group condemns intimidation
tactic by self-described “pack of wolves”

AFA-Michigan joins Catholic League in call for investigation

LANSING, Mich. — A statewide family values organization Tuesday condemned a homosexual anarchist group which Sunday disrupted the worship services of an evangelical Christian church in Michigan’s capital city. The anarchist group, Bash Back, claimed credit for the disruption, referring to Mount Hope Church of Lansing as “a deplorable, anti-queer mega-church…complicit in the repression of queers in Michigan and beyond.”
http://bashbacknews.wordpress.com

“So long as bigots kill us in the streets, this pack of wolves will continue to Bash Back!” the group threatened in an online posting.

Mount Hope Church, a 5,000-member racially diverse church, issued a statement which described the disruption: “On Sunday, November 9, 2008 at the 11:30 AM services the people of Mount Hope Church were shocked by an unwelcome violent demonstration by a homosexual/transgender anarchist group based in Chicago, IL. The group threw fliers at churchgoers and shouted sentiments such as, ‘It’s okay to be gay’ and ‘Jesus was a homo’ during a Sunday morning service. The Eaton County Sheriff’s office was called and the illegal demonstration ceased.”

Gary Glenn, Midland, president of the American Family Association and co-author of the Marriage Protection Amendment approved by Michigan voters in 2004, condemned the homosexual activist group’s intimidation tactics.

“We will alert churches statewide of this now close-to-home threat of disruption of their members’ freedom to worship in peace and safety,” Glenn said, “but this is not the first time in history Christians have faced persecution or threats of reprisal for standing for their faith and values.”

“Politically, it is immensely helpful when homosexual activists let the ‘tolerance’ mask slip
from their faces and reveal the true nature of their repressive and obviously intolerant agenda,” Glenn said. “The truth is, they will tolerate no dissent from their political demands, and what they demand are new laws that empower them to redefine marriage, impose their political will on our families and schools and churches, and silence anyone who dares disagree.”

“When that fails, homosexual activists — including this particular group calling itself a ‘pack of wolves’ — are making clear across the country that they’re willing to resort to property violence or perhaps even worse to try to frighten and intimidate people into submission,” he said, referring to angry and sometimes violent street protests since voters Nov. 4th approved Marriage Protection Amendments in Arizona, California, and Florida. In Michigan, Hamtramck voters rejected a so-called “gay rights” ordinance by 55 to 45 percent. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Election2008/Default.aspx?id=312782

“Here’s my prediction,” Glenn said. “Americans, particularly people of strong religious faith, are not cowards. The overwhelming majority who believe marriage is and always should be only between one man and one woman, who have said so at the ballot box in 30 states, will not be bullied by emotional adolescents who disrespect private property, the rule of law, and anyone who dares hold opinions diverse from their own.”

“We will pray for and offer help to those who have gender identity and same-sex attraction disorders, but Americans will continue to reject their attempts to overturn the will of the people and impose their disorders on our children and society at large,” he said.

Glenn said AFA-Michigan will join the Catholic League — a leading Catholic civil rights organization based in Washington, D.C. — in urging Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox to investigate the organized violation of the church’s private property rights and the group’s threat of future disruptions of worship services.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue Tuesday issued a statement condemning the group’s actions and accusing the news media of failing to report it with the same intensity they routinely do complaints by homosexual activist groups.

To keep reading, click here: (more…)

AFTAH
Chicago, Illinois
November 7, 2008

Hamtramck, Mi., voters easily reject homosexual
ordinance in 87 percent pro-Obama district

Pro-family coalition defeats “gay” agenda by 55-45%

Said Gary Glenn of American Family Association of Michigan: “California voted overwhelmingly Democratic and at the same time voted to constitutionally protect one-man, one-woman marriage, with minority voters overwhelmingly supporting the Marriage Protection Amendment. In Hamtramck, Michigan, a Detroit suburb, residents voted nearly 90 percent for Barack Obama, while rejecting a so-called “gay rights” ordinance by a 10-point margin.

“As the Republican Party’s braintrust starts casting about for issues consistent with their party’s values that appeal to minorities and Democrats, perhaps they’ll choose to embrace — rather than keep running away from — the issue of stopping the threat that the homosexual activists’ political agenda poses to marriage, traditional family values and religious freedom,” Glenn said.

http://americansfortruth.com/news/hamtramck-michigan-voters-easily-reject-homosexual-ordinance-in-80-percent-pro-obama-district.html

GAYPOLITICS.COM
Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund
Washington, D.C.
November 3, 2008

Garnet Lewis subject of anti-gay attack ad
Every year it happens and every year it seems surprising. The practice of smearing openly Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender candidates because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is a time-tested strategy that bigoted campaigns employ to win, often in the final days of the campaign.

This year is no different. Victory Fund candidate Garnet Lewis has become the target of a radio attack ad sponsored by the Campaign for Michigan Families that aims to scare voters by mentioning her affiliation with LGBT groups, including the Victory Fund, as well as pointing out her support of laws that would allow same-sex couples to adopt.

Listen to the ad below and read GayPolitics.com on election night to find out the results for all of the Victory Fund’s endorsed candidates.

http://www.gaypolitics.com/?p=868

Hamtramck voters rejected “gay rights”
ordinance while voting 85 percent for Obama…

“‘The results in Hamtramck, Michigan, ought to be a wake-up call to Republicans who are now going to be casting about for issues that are consistent with the party’s platform but also appeal to minorities and Democrats,’ Glenn concludes.”

————————–

ONE NEWS NOW
Tupelo, Mississippi
November 6, 2008

Michigan town turns back ‘gay rights’ ordinance
by Charlie Butts

The media has largely overlooked an election outcome in a small Detroit village where a “gay rights” ordinance was soundly rejected.

Residents of Hamtramck were displeased with action by local government officials, who promoted the ordinance to establish “special protected class” status for homosexuals and cross-dressers, so voters launched a successful petition drive to give themselves a say on Election Day.

Gary Glenn of the American Family Association (AFA) of Michigan explains:

“Well, an astounding multicultural and diverse coalition of Hamtramck citizens waged a campaign against a so-called ‘gay rights’ and cross-dressing ordinance that would have established special protected class status on the basis of homosexual behavior and cross-dressing,” he says.

Glenn adds that a wide range of beliefs were represented in the fight against the ordinance. The campaign hosted a rally where six Muslim imams and three Catholic priests spoke against the ordinance.

According to a press release from AFA of Michigan, voters soundly defeated the “discriminatory ordinance” by a 55-to-45 percent margin. Glenn believes the victory is something political candidates can latch onto in the future.

“The results in Hamtramck, Michigan, ought to be a wake-up call to Republicans who are now going to be casting about for issues that are consistent with the party’s platform but also appeal to minorities and Democrats,” Glenn concludes.

http://www.onenewsnow.com:80/Election2008/Default.aspx?id=312782

“Campaign for Michigan Families, a political action group, spent $1,500 on radio ads and $1,000 on robo-calls to voters, citing (Judge William) Baillargeon’s past as a board member of the (homosexual activist) Triangle Foundation and a 2004 donation he made to a group opposing Michigan’s Marriage Protection Amendment. …Gary Glenn, chairman of the PAC and president of the American Family Association of Michigan, said he thought the PAC’s advertisements and phone messages were fair. ‘Judge Baillargeon does not warrant any special exceptions, to not be held accountable for his personal actions,’ he said.”

————————————-
GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
Grand Rapids, Michigan
November 6, 2008

Attack ads’ role debated in Allegan judge ouster
by John Tunison

ALLEGAN — In the judicial world, ousting a sitting judge at the polls seldom is successful.

Attorney Kevin Cronin achieved the feat Tuesday, as supporters credited “key conservative support” in his razor-thin victory over Allegan County Circuit Judge William Baillargeon.

They do not deny, however, an attack campaign questioning Baillargeon’s past ties to a support group for gays and lesbians may have helped.

“I don’t know it had as much of a role as some say,” said Cronin’s campaign manager, Joshua Leatherman. “But it may have made some difference.”

Campaign for Michigan Families, a political action group, spent $1,500 on radio ads and $1,000 on robo-calls to voters, citing Baillargeon’s past as a board member of the Triangle Foundation and a 2004 donation he made to a group opposing Michigan’s Marriage Protection Amendment.

Cronin’s campaign is not affiliated with the PAC.

Close results

The election came down to the last two of 52 precincts in the county, with Cronin ultimately winning by 255 votes out of more than 43,000 cast in the race.

Candidates, with both receiving more than 21,000 votes, learned the outcome about 5 a.m. Wednesday after election workers solved a voting machine malfunction in Gun Plain Township, near Plainwell.

Baillargeon, appointed judge last year by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to fill a vacant seat, was aware of the PAC’s campaign against him, but chose not to respond with attacks of his own.

“I don’t think that is something that has a place in the judicial campaign, and I still don’t,” he said Wednesday.

A quality campaign

He said he was proud of his campaign, which focused on his qualifications and support from area judges, attorneys, the Allegan Bar Association and law enforcement, including Sheriff Blaine Koops.

“They put themselves on the line for me,” he said. “I have no regrets.”

Baillargeon, a former civil litigation attorney, said he was not sure what he will do when his term expires in January.

Cronin’s supporters believe a key endorsement from Right to Life of Michigan, as well as support from U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra and businessman Dick DeVos, made a difference in the election.

“You can never underestimate the Right to Life endorsement in Allegan County,” said Leatherman, who noted an aggressive door-to-door campaign, direct-mail advertising and last-minute robo calls to get out the vote.

Cronin could not be reached for comment.

Gary Glenn, chairman of the PAC and president of the American Family Association of Michigan, said he thought the PAC’s advertisements and phone messages were fair.

“Judge Baillargeon does not warrant any special exceptions to not be held accountable for his personal actions,” he said. “The entire race was as much a reflection of Jennifer Granholm’s disdain for the values of Allegan County as anything.”

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-44/1225980944205920.xml&coll=6

“After holding a narrow lead most of the night, an Allegan County judge was narrowly unseated by a challenger whose backing by a ‘family rights’ group injected controversy into the race. …The Campaign for Michigan Families, a conservative political action committee (chaired by AFA-Michigan President Gary Glenn), has been running radio ads attacking Baillargeon’s past service on the board of the Detroit-based Triangle Foundation, which serves the gay and lesbian community.”

————————————

GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
Grand Rapids, Michigan
November 5, 2008

Allegan County Circuit Court judge defeated
by The Grand Rapids Press

ALLEGAN — After holding a narrow lead most of the night, an Allegan County judge was narrowly unseated by a challenger whose backing by a “family rights” group injected controversy into the race.

As final precincts were tallied today, challenger Kevin Cronin edged past Circuit Judge William Baillargeon, defeating him by barely 200 votes.

The final tally was 21,220 to 21,005.

The Campaign for Michigan Families, a conservative political action committee, has been running radio ads attacking Baillargeon’s past service on the board of the Detroit-based Triangle Foundation, which serves the gay and lesbian community.

Baillargeon has claimed the group unjustly injected “fear and concern” into the race. Cronin’s campaign emphasized a “family man” image.

Baillargeon was appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2007 to fill the seat of then-retiring Judge Harry Beach.
http://www.mlive.com/grpress/news/index.ssf/2008/11/allegen_county_circuit_court_j.html

“(Openly homosexual Democrat Garnet) Lewis, 47, a Central Michigan University administrator, said she had no regrets, despite negative attacks launched on her in the final days of the campaign. …The Campaign for Michigan Families, which listed on state campaign finance records conservative American Family Association of Michigan president Gary Glenn as its treasurer, launched a radio ad that in part took issue with Lewis as a potentially openly gay legislator. Glenn, an activist opposed to gay marriage and same-sex benefits for public employees, also sent e-mail to the media Oct. 24 noting Lewis had received endorsements from Michigan Equality, Triangle Pride and other gay rights groups. …Lewis said she would not run for office again.”

——————————–
SAGINAW NEWS
Saginaw, Michigan
November 5, 2008

Republicans win state House seats
by Barrie Barber | The Saginaw News

Midland Township Republican James N. Stamas had to hire a manager at his Midland pizzeria so he could take a job in Lansing.

Stamas beat Tittabawassee Township Democrat Garnet Lewis in Tuesday’s general election to claim the state House 98th District. Term limits prevented state Rep. John R. Moolenaar of Midland from re-election in the district that spans parts of Saginaw and Midland counties.

Stamas captured 25,977 votes (about 57.9 percent) versus 18,871 (42.1 percent) for Lewis.

…Stamas, 43, will join his brother, Sen. Tony Stamas, also a Midland Republican, in the Legislature. Lawmakers earn about $79,600 a year in base salary.

“It’s about putting people back to work and getting jobs,” said James Stamas, vice chairman of the Midland County Board of Commissioners. “We knew it was going to be a tough race. We’re very pleased with the results.”

Lewis, 47, a Central Michigan University administrator, said she had no regrets, despite negative attacks launched on her in the final days of the campaign.

“We ran a good race, we ran an honorable race,” she said. “We can be very proud of it.”

The independent political action committees Great Lakes Education Project, funded in part by former gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos, had attacked her as a tax raiser — despite Lewis saying in interviews she wouldn’t raise taxes. The Campaign for Michigan Families, which listed on state campaign finance records conservative American Family Association of Michigan president Gary R. Glenn as its treasurer, launched a radio ad that in part took issue with Lewis as a potentially openly gay legislator. Glenn, an activist opposed to gay marriage and same-sex benefits for public employees, also sent e-mail to the media Oct. 24 noting Lewis had received endorsements from Michigan Equality, Triangle Pride and other gay rights groups, The Associated Press has reported.

Lewis said she would not run for office again.

“I love my job in education, and I feel when I go in the classroom and I interact with young people they accept me as I am,” she said. She didn’t respond directly to the ads, but still criticized the attacks.

“I don’t like the dirtiness of things,” she said. “I want to wash my hands, and it’s unfortunate that’s what it takes to win an election. It’s filthy. … Everything they did in the last two weeks was absolutely filthy. I’m better than that. I’m above all that. I won’t lower myself to that.”

The Coalition for Progress, a PAC founded and funded almost entirely by Kalamazoo billionaire Jon Stryker, spent more than $320,000 mostly on TV ads that touted Lewis as an effective candidate to answer the state’s woes.

Stamas has said he had no control over outside groups attacks on his opponent. He said he focused on his message of lower taxes and jobs in his campaign.
http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/news/index.ssf/2008/11/republicans_win_state_house_se.html

Note to Republicans who will now be scrambling to identify issues (1) consistent with the conservative values the party’s platform professes (2) that also appeal electorally to minorities and Democrats…

In addition to passage of the Marriage Protection Amendment in deep blue California, election results from Hamtramck, Michigan:

PRESIDENT

Obama 4,945

McCain 708

YES: 2,333

NO: 2,903

———————————-

HAMTRAMCK CITIZEN
Hamtramck, Michigan
November 5, 2008

Hamtramck election results
By Charles Sercombe

Hamtramck voters once again voted a straight Democratic ticket. Voters also rejected the controversial “Human Rights” ordinance by almost 600 votes.

The Hamtramck election results came in at 11 p.m. and as usual voters overwhelmingly supported the Democratic ticket.

And in the most controversial election, the city’s “Human Rights” ordinance, which opponents dubbed the “Gay Rights” ordinance, lost by nearly 600 votes.

The two state ballot proposals, allowing marijuana use for medical purposes and allowing the use of human embryonic stem cells for research, were passed. The tax extension for Wayne County Community College also passed.

Some 5,788 voters turned out in Hamtramck – a record number in decades.

At the time of this posting, Presidential candidate Barack Osama was announced the likely winner.

Here are the results for some of the key races in Hamtramck:

PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT
Obama/Biden (DEM): 4,945
McCain/Palin (REP): 708

HAMTRAMCK ORDINANCE
YES: 2,333
NO: 2,903

http://www.hamtramckcitizen.com/news/hamtramck-election-results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tues., Nov. 4, 2008
CONTACT: Gary Glenn 989-835-7978

Special “rights” based on homosexual behavior,
cross-dressing defeated by vote of 2,903 to 2,333

Hamtramck voters reject “gay rights” ordinance

HAMTRAMCK, Mich. — A statewide family values organization Tuesday congratulated a multicultural coalition of Hamtramck citizens on their successful campaign to reject a so-called “gay rights” ordinance that would have established special “protected class” status on the basis of homosexual behavior and cross-dressing.

Voters rejected the ordinance by a vote of 2,903 to 2,333, a 55-to-45 percent margin of victory identical to the percentage by which Hamtramck voters approved Michigan’s Marriage Protection Amendment in 2004.

Gary Glenn, Midland, co-author of that amendment and president of the American Family Association of Michigan, said Hamtramck voters “once again defeated homosexual activists ’special rights’ agenda by soundly rejecting this discriminatory ordinance.”

“AFA-Michigan congratulates the diverse and multicultural citizens coalition that stood in defense of traditional family values, religious freedom, and the privacy rights of women and children,” Glenn said.

He noted the campaign was highlighted by a rally at which three Catholic priests and six Muslim imams spoke out against the proposed ordinance.

“We salute Father Andy Wesley for his courage and leadership in being the first to stand against this discriminatory ordinance at a time when the city’s political establishment and news media were intent on demonizing and caricaturing anyone who dared oppose homosexual activists’ fraudulent ‘rights’ agenda,” Glenn said. “In the end, voters had the last word, standing with Fr. Wesley and repudiating the mayor and city council and the local newspaper.”

Glenn said in other jurisdictions that have adopted such ordinances, the language has been used to penalize and discriminate against Catholic Charities, the Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army, and other groups and individuals who refuse to endorse homosexual behavior and cross-dressing. Such ordinances have also been used to allow men who dress as women to use women’s restrooms and changing rooms in schools and shopping centes and other public buildings.

AFA-Michigan last summer drafted the citizens petition required to force the ordinance onto the ballot and recruited Wesley and others to launch the successful petition drive which did so. The group’s national affiliate, the American Family Association, donated $5,000 to the local citizens committee that opposed the ordinance, Hamtramck Citizens Voting No to Special Rights Discrimination.

The organization later exposed to the media Hamtramck city officials’ attempt to confuse voters by wording the ballot question in such a way that opponents of the ordinance would have been forced to vote ‘yes.’ As a result, officials were forced by the secretary of state’s office to reverse the ballot question’s wording.

Glenn also said the defeat of the ordinance would not have been possible without the efforts of campaign manager Jay McNally, a Catholic activist who commuted from Ypsilanti to manage the winning campaign, and the Thomas More Law Center, which provided legal counsel to the campaign and a regular speaker at campaign rallies, attorney Brian Rooney.