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Tell MSNBC: Don't Give Hate Groups a Soapbox
  1. Signatures
    367 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. MSNBC Viewer Services
  2. Created By
    Michael Jones
    Boston, MA
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

After decades of anti-gay demonizing rhetoric, the Family Research Council has finally been designated an official hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Indeed, the designation comes amidst the Family Research Council saying that "gay behavior should be outlawed," as well as a disturbing track record of homophobic statements that should cause everyone pause. Here's a sampling of what the Family Research Council has said about LGBT people in recent months and years:

(1) "...one of the primary goals of the homosexual rights movement is to abolish all age of consent laws and to eventually recognize pedophiles as the 'prophets' of a new sexual order," from the Family Research Council publication, Homosexual Activists Work to Normalize Sex With Boys

(2) "Homosexuals have never been forced to sit in the back of the bus. They are as privileged a group as any. To compare their attempts to affirm deviant sexual conduct to the legitimate discrimination claims of true minorities is a sham."

(3) "involvement in homosexuality can kill you. It can kill you emotionally, it can kill you physically, and it can certainly kill you spiritually."

Yet networks like MSNBC still feel like the Family Research Council deserves to be given legitimacy?

On a recent episode of Hardball with Chris Matthews, Tony Perkins from the Family Research Council was on to debate someone from the Southern Poverty Law Center. At the end of the segment, Chris Matthews said to Perkins "Tony, you're always welcome here, you're always..."

But why should MSNBC always welcome a group with such a history of violent, anti-gay statements, that they've now been dubbed a hate group?

Nobody wants to censor free speech. And indeed, debating the issues is exactly what a responsible news network is supposed to do. But what's irresponsible is giving a soapbox to a group that legitimizes violence and discrimination toward an entire group of people, something the Family Research Council proudly and intentionally does. 

Send MSNBC a message that hate groups don't belong on their airwaves. We can have responsible debate about politics without legitimizing homophobia.

 

Recent Signatures

Don't give hate groups a soapbox on MSNBC

Dear MSNBC

Recently, the head of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, appeared on an episode of Hardball with Chris Matthews. At the end of the segment, Matthews told Perkins, "You're always welcome here."

But the Family Research Council, which has a lengthy track record of homophobia and campaigns of violence and discrimination against LGBT people, has just been dubbed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Why would MSNBC want to give legitimacy to a group like this, which works solely to demonize gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people?

Please stop giving soapboxes to hate groups. We can have responsible debates about politics in this country, without resorting to commentators or guests who preach hatred toward LGBT people.

Thank you for your time.

[Your name]

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