IN SUPPORT of President Obama’s declaration that June is to be Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, Virginia, has hoisted a rainbow flag outside its headquarters. According to this report, Obama is:
Perhaps the most pro-homosexual president in US history.
The rainbow has outraged the Family Foundation. This dotty “family values” outfit has a new office in Richmond which offers “a beautiful view of the state capitol and the flags” – now utterly ruined by the inclusion of the rainbow flag.
The rainbow flag pictured outside the Federal Reserve Bank. Inset: Christian zealot Victoria Cobb
Wailed Foundation President Victoria Cobb:
Our expectation is it’ll be flying all month … We think the Federal Reserve ought to be focused on the economy rather than focusing on special rights.
The Federal Reserve is a private operation and is not government run, but Cobb points out that it is simply following the nation’s leadership in promoting a lifestyle that involves less than two percent of the population.
The Mississippi-based American Family Association says it has received a complaint from a Federal Reserve employee “who objects to the flag and what it represents”. In reference to the “gay pride” flag flying just below the American flag, the employee wrote in an email:
For the past five or six years, the homosexual agenda has been pushed down our throats. [The bank president and vice president] have initiated this agenda. This offends me as a Christian.
According to Cobb, more than just bank employees are offended.
We know of businesses that are actually housed within the Federal Reserve building that I [bet] are very unhappy today. So it’s going to be interesting to get the feedback from them.
She also surmises that the flag flies in the face of most Virginians.
In Virginia, this is not a stand that should be taken. We’ve as a state said we are not going to support gay marriage, for example, in our constitution, and we’ve been very clear on issues of gay rights. So it’s disappointing to see such a large flag flying, as if it’s something that this commonwealth supports.
In an interview, Sally Green – the bank’s chief operating officer – says the institution:
Strongly support[s] a diverse and inclusive culture …  it is important to value and embrace differences  - both seen and unseen. We are flying the ‘Pride’ flag as an example of our commitment to values of acceptance and inclusion.
Speaking on American Family Radio, Cobb argued that to be fair, the bank should recognize an upcoming observance as well.
I look forward to the month where I look out my office window and see the Christian flag hanging during September, celebrating Christian Heritage Month. I suspect we’ll see otherwise, unfortunately, because that’s the route our culture has taken.
Of course, the Federal Reserve Bank could please all parties during Christian Heritage Month by flying this flag … or maybe not.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
June 5th, 2011 at 11:22 am
What a sham this “Famili Foundation” is! They don’t care really about families, they care only of theirs bloody prejudices. I support all families. gay or hetero!
June 5th, 2011 at 11:56 am
To reiterate, American Family Radio is a production of the American Family Association, virulently anti-gay and designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.....ssociation
They’re lucky they still have tax-exempt status.
June 5th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
Windbag Hag Slags Fag Flag
June 5th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
America is not meant to be a Christian nation, it says it right there in the First Amendment.
And why all of a sudden are Christians claiming that they are being victimised by secular society? It is not us who are homophobic, misogynistic, racist, bigots….its them. We do not seek to impose beliefs on people…but they do.
Not everything is a direct attack on Christianity or your crazy beliefs. Just keep your big mouths shut and leave us alone.
June 5th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Not the “homosexual agenda has been pushed down our throats” whining again; they sound like a broken record.
Anything that pisses off the fundies must be a good thing.
June 5th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
No doubt about who is behind that flag, is there? It is them, thar varmints of agressive atheists. They get everywhere stirring up trouble and upsetting decent folks who could be attending church and persecuting blacks, gays and non believers. That Obama has never been the same since he visited Ireland and heard all thoses lies about good christian priests being accused of abusing children.
Off subject: Amusing interview on “Sunday” radio programme (I only listened to about a minute – honest) when an army padre was asked about his religious faith, and the idea of a loving God, amongst all the maiming and killing. He said it “intensified” his faith. If you you what he meant you are a better man than I am Gungda Din. He then said a soldier, whose friend had been killed amongst same carnage, wanted to know why God allowed this. Padre’s answer: about some things we just have to say “We don’t know.”
Extraordinary that these padres are paid at the rank of a major. Nice little earner for them out of taxes.
June 5th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Not to be outdone:
June 5th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
I would have had no idea this was LGBT Pride Month were it not for groups like the American Family Association freaking out. Nice of them to keep the issue in the headlines so everybody’s well aware.
June 5th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
The idiotic tag ‘gay lifestyle’ pisses me off. What I do with my cock does not define me, for Christ’s sake. Would the phrase ‘straight lifestyle’ convey anything to anybody?
June 5th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Anonymous: Interesting link you supplied with some great responses on it to the O and FFA. The Florida Family Association, with the usual perceptivness of fundies, are spending serious money advertising the very event they want people to ignore. Not in the same League of FundieDements as Harold Camping and the big spending Rapture Outfit, of course.
June 5th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
“Our expectation is it’ll be flying all month … We think the Federal Reserve ought to be focused on the economy rather than focusing on special rights.”
Why not press them to do both?
“The Federal Reserve is a private operation and is not government run, but Cobb points out that it is simply following the nation’s leadership in promoting a lifestyle that involves less than two percent of the population.”
Two percent you say? So they are a minority and therefore don’t matter is that it? Just so you know, two percent is about the amount of regular church-going Christians that we have here in the UK. Oddly, the rest of us don’t feel the need to constantly have a go at them and deny them equal rights.
As for the “Gay Agenda” it appears to be nothing more than gays wanting to be left alone to live their lives in peace, free from harrassment from the likes of the Family Foundation.
One more thing, Christians hijacking the word ‘family’ is so presumtious. You do know that the Bible promotes polygamy and encourages parents to kill their children for trivial misdemeanors. you should also be aware that divorce rates are slightly higher among Christians than they are among atheists. Your faith does not have a lot of effect on “The Family” but whatever effect it does have is negative.
June 5th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
@Stonyground: I think the Florida Family Association have more to worry about than this issue. As unemployment gets close to 10 per cent in the USA a poll, quoted in the Daily Beast, reveals that two thirds of Americans are “angry with God.” This tells you something about how they view God – scarcely the Lord of the Cosmos – but more as a kind of one step up from the president. If they have got angry with God, a ludicrous idea, maybe they will decide to ditch him.
June 5th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Latest news re Harold Camping:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....l?ITO=1490
June 5th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Broga:
http://youtu.be/jqRzCzVtTSo
June 5th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
@barriejohn: (1) Harold Camping – I feel sorry for the relatives watching as the money of a sick and dying (now dead) woman goes to the scoundrel Camping. He should be locked up either in a prison or a psychiatric unit.
(2) The Reverend Troy on the youtube. Pure Elmer Gantry which, after many years, I have started reading again. How can people continue to be taken in by this? Thanks.
June 5th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Lovely! Anything that spoils their day is worth 100% support.
June 5th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Hooray for Sally Green! Victoria Cobb and anyone else against equal rights for all, listen: Not everyone is a Christian. Even within that, there are Christians out there who DO believe in equality for LGBT folks. So not even all Christians have the exact same set of beliefs. What gives you and your group the right to say what should and shouldn’t be legal, or what flag should and shouldn’t be flown? There are MANY different religions out there and everyone has the right to believe what they believe and practice what they practice. Why can’t you guys just leave everyone else alone? Keep your religion to yourselves, especially one that is riddled with hate and persecution throughout its history. I’d think one would be ashamed of that and try to put a new, compassionate face on the old one of intolerance and murder. Wouldn’t you? And really, again, if you don’t think equal rights for all is a good idea, fine. But practice your intolerance at home, in silence, please. The rest of us are trying to get on with our lives and don’t really want to hear whether you and yours think it’s right or not. There are much bigger problems in the world than whether the Christians agree with us or not and we’d really like to focus on fixing those. Thank you.
June 5th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
barriejohn
Good link. Pastor Troy – what a complete and utter tosser! He’s nothing more than a character out of a seriously bad pantomime. But, as ever, there are hundreds if not thousands of gullible people lapping up the sewage the spills out of his mouth.
I appreciate that on forums like this we only ever get to discuss the lunatic fringe, but I really worry that the US is fast becoming a nation of people who are, even in the mainstream, as brainwashed as anything the taliban could ever have hoped for.
Scary stuff!
June 5th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
I am happy to live in a country where are President is accepting like Jesus and you are able to express your opinion.
June 5th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
AgentC: Not all Americans are as gullible, as this clip shows, but some of the comments are beyond compare. They just don’t get it!
http://youtu.be/3pZY4M-J-Cg
June 5th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
barriejohn
Did I say scary stuff? I meant terrifying stuff!
June 5th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
“Wailed Foundation President Victoria Cobb: Our expectation is it’ll be flying all month … We think the Federal Reserve ought to be focused on the economy rather than focusing on special rights.”
yeah, and our expectation was that politicians would go about making our economy better and creating jobs the focus rather than the social agenda THEY are following! how’s it feel?
June 5th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
Well – you know what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah!
June 5th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
You are damn right that is the route our culture has taken, and rest asured that as long as I am breathing, I will keep fighting for things to get a lot worse for you and your deluded ilk.
Oh, and if that flag offends you so much, for whatever reason, I am sure you can find a train or truck to walk in front of. I am sure all your problems will be over.
Enjoy!
June 5th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
For those who are curious about the “Gay Agenda”, here it is:
http://www.bettybowers.com/homoagenda.html
June 6th, 2011 at 12:06 am
As has been noted, the ‘shoving it down our throats’ line crops up way too often with reference to these stories. You could almost imagine they’re thinking, at length, about noshing on a cock or something. ; )
Check out this quote:
“We know of businesses that are actually housed within the Federal Reserve building that I [bet] are very unhappy today.”
That’s faith-heads in a nutshell. Just knowing things that may or not be the case. Certain when only doubt is available, because certainty takes less effort, at least when you stand to benefit.
The fundamental selfishness of faith
June 6th, 2011 at 12:48 am
The flag will not survive past mid June.
Some good old boy red neck in a 57 chevy pick up will climb the pole….no pun intended….and rip it down to replace it with the Southern Confederate Cross…..while screaming Dam Yankees!!
June 6th, 2011 at 12:52 am
It’s a flag for crying out loud; you’d think they were flying a weapon of mass destruction. To all of those who so vehemently object to the rainbow flag being flown outside the Federal Reserve Bank HQ: Put your money where your mouths are. Show your disapproval by shunning money. Stop spending it, and any of that dirty, gay money that you happen to have on hand should be surrendered immediately.
June 6th, 2011 at 8:43 am
How about this?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....oters.html
June 6th, 2011 at 9:03 am
@ Frank Kone
Thank you for proving my point.
June 6th, 2011 at 9:37 am
I think Frank Kone’s remarks are actually aimed at the right wing!
June 6th, 2011 at 10:08 am
Ah! Sorry, Frank. I read that completely the wrong way. (Note to self – wait until fully awake before posting!)
June 6th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
My daughter has just been at university in VIrginia and she said there had been a protest gathering against the appalling cobb woman. Not all americans are religiots. we do not hear enough about the open minded ones.
June 6th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
Get those pink-edged bingo cards at the ready:
“…promoting a lifestyle”
“…homosexual agenda”
“…down our throats”
“…offends me as a Christian”
HOUSE!
June 7th, 2011 at 12:34 am
StuartW: You missed “…less than two per cent of the population”! As someone else has said, “So what?”
June 7th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
The 2% thing always amused me – a good number of studies have suggested that homosexuals are in the region of 10% and of course they are all dismissed by these people, while the moment one survey suggests a significantly lower figure, they decide the debate is over and that must be the true proportion of gays out there. Naturally these bigots are too stupid to understand that just because homosexuals may be a smaller minority than previously thought does not have any bearing on whether or not they should be treated like any other human being, but their shameless bias is quite humorous. Besides, if that 2% figure is based on the study I am thinking of, the methodology was atrocious and basically designed to not find any but the most open and forthright of gay people. Phoning people up out of the blue and asking their sexuality? Come on, as if that’s going to get you anything like an accurate result.
@Thoreau – Great post, and I particularly like the phrase “the fundamental selfishness of faith” – sums it up perfectly.
June 7th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
@JMW – Thanks
June 7th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
What is a “homosexual” anyway? Educated people know that sexuality is far more fluid than these people will ever admit to, and they just use the old practice of repeating a lie often enough for it to become accepted as the truth. As Stonyground says above, so what if it WERE only 2% of the population: they would still be entitled to their rights!
June 8th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Did anyone else notice the poll on this page?
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Cult.....id=1359642
Nice options the respondents were given. Very balanced.