An Oct. 9 WorldNetDaily article by Bob Unruh repeats one of WND’s treasured lies about the proposed expansion of hate-crime laws to cover gays — that it also “protects pedophiles.”
Unruh uncritically quotes the American Family Association as claiming that since “sexual orientation” nowhere is defined in the law, “this law will give pedophiles, voyeurs, and exhibitionists special protections, which is why the bill has correctly been called ‘The Pedophile Protection Act.'” In fact, as we’ve detailed, “sexual orientation” is already defined by federal statute as applying only to “consensual homosexuality or heterosexuality,” so there is no need to do so again.
Unruh went on to claim that “Attempts by Republicans to add amendments stating ‘pedophilia is not protected as a sexual orientation’ were blocked by House Democrats.” Unruh failed to report that, as we also detailed, such an amendment is superfluous because the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 specifically excludes pedophilia, thus precluding protection for pedophiles from the hate crimes bill.
Unruh also repeats claims that “Politically incorrect thoughts about homosexual behavior will result in enhanced criminal sanctions under this law” and will “this would be the very first governmental and societal disapproval of a sincerely held religious belief, held by a majority of Americans, namely that homosexual behavior is immoral” without noting that the bill states that “Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the Constitution,” which would include the First Amendment protection for freedom of religion.
Unruh lies about something else as well in referencing opposition to the bill by a group “founded by former U.S. Navy Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt, who was involuntarily removed from the U.S. military after he prayed ‘in Jesus name.'” In fact, Klingenschmitt was removed for disobeying an order that he not appear in uniform at media events or political protests.