This is revolting.
I am appalled:
No one would be surprised to learn that there are right-wing Christians in this country who disapprove of homosexuality. Neither would it come as a surprise that in rural parts of this country, Christianity and homosexuality when brought together, can create a highly combustible mix.
But who could imagine the hate and rage that would motivate a Pastor to instruct deacons and members of his congregation, Grace Fellowship Church in Fruitland, TN. to physically attack a couple arriving in the church parking lot last Wednesday?
The fact that one of the gay men attacked happened to be the Pastor’s own son, Jerry Pittman, Jr., no doubt contributed to Pittman senior’s noxious edict. According to Pittman Jr., after hearing his Dad yell, “SICK’EM!”:
“My uncle and two other deacons came over to the car per my dad’s request. My uncle smashed me in the door as the other deacon knocked my boyfriend back so he couldn’t help me, punching him in his face and his chest. The other deacon came and hit me through my car window in my back.”
The attackers also verbally assaulted the couple continually with anti-gay verbiage which continued even after a Sheriff’s Deputy arrived on the scene. Bystanders and other congregants made no effort to stop the assault. For that matter, neither did the Deputy Sheriff. Once the barrage of punches ended, the Deputy refused to let the two victims press charges.
Jerry’s own family mercilessly beat him for — existing and the Deputy did nothing.
I shouldn’t have to remind you about the GOP’s stance on “the gays.” Herman Cain wants scientific studies to prove that it’s not a choice. Michelle Bachmann’s husband worked at degaying people. Rick Perry —
Oh to hell with it.
I really shouldn’t have to remind you at all, should I?
[via Addicting Info]
[cross-posted at Angry Black Lady Chronicles]
Baud
I blame Obama.
cleek
well ain’t that America
Jim_n_GA
So Christianist’s in the USA attack a gay couple at church after being ordered by the pastor…SICK ‘EM! And the pastor is the father of one of the two victims??
How far are we from this to execution of gays as in Iran or Uganda? Just sayin’.
Cuppa Cabana
It’s spelled ‘Sic ’em!’
Oh right. Rednecks caint spell.
Omnes Omnibus
Wow, they really exhibited both grace and fellowship at that church.
arguingwithsignposts
@Omnes Omnibus: I believe they should study the phrase “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Seems somebody said that once. It seems like a pretty good rule. I can’t put my finger on whom, though.
Omnes Omnibus
@arguingwithsignposts: The Buddha? Mrs. Woodridge, my kindergarten teacher (Nah, too formal for her)?
kd bart
All Tennesseeans unite in their hatred of Lane Kiffin.
kdaug
Thin line to stones and stakes.
Scott
@arguingwithsignposts: Sounds like some hippie.
Omnes Omnibus
@kdaug: Anorexic.
BruinKid
@kd bart: I hear ya. (UCLA student here.)
arguingwithsignposts
What just happened to Mistermix’s post above? Most of it disappeared, and the comments are disabled?
Joseph Nobles
I look forward to the young couple’s lawsuit against the deputy and his police department for dereliction of duty. Owning a county and a church at such a young age may go to their heads, but since the LORD Himself delivered them into their hands, it may go well. In fact, it couldn’t be any worse.
We hear so much about the encroachment of sharia law and the enormity of honor killings, but when the demon bubbles up inside good Christians, it’s time to break out the fists and the rods and beat till the blood flows.
Mark S.
Don’t the cops have a duty to protect you if you’re getting your ass kicked? Can you sue them for just standing there? I’m almost afraid to ask because I have a feeling our strict constructionists have problem found that the Constitution grants absolute immunity to cops in such cases, and besides, 11th Amendment and fuck you.
Joey Maloney
Tennessee, Tennessee/ain’t no place I’d rather be…
Great that it happened in FRUITLAND. Which, the Googlez tells me, is just up the road from Three Way.
soonergrunt
@Mark S.: Yes, in fact they do have a responsibility, and yes, they can be sued for their failure to do their jobs.
This particular lawsuit needs to go to federal court. IANAL, but it seems to me that their civil rights were violated by the Deputy’s actions.
Revrick
@ABL To hell with all those who assaulted these two young men, the police who failed to do their duty and their political enablers. Grace Fellowship sounds like a church of Satan.
Pococurante
‘I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers.’
– Khalil Gibran
Rihilism
@Joey Maloney:
???????????????????????????????????
Can you please clarify what you meant by typing this?
Odie Hugh Manatee
You know that they would have loved to have been able to have beaten them both to death if they could have gotten away with it. After all, Gawd and Jeebus is on their side in this Holy War of theirs.
That and the law enforcement there.
drkrick
@arguingwithsignposts: Unfortunately, some of these sick SOBs probably think they would want somebody to beat the gay out of them if they were in that position – or wish somebody would beat it out of them because they are.
Joey Maloney
@Rihilism: Irony, I usez it?
Mark S.
@Mark S.:
Lack of coffee
Li
Actually, the police have no obligation to protect the public, from violence or in emergency situations. The latter was long established, but the former was set back in 2005.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/politics/28scotus.html
The police are not here to protect you, they are here to ‘maintain order’. Whatever that means. . .
However, given the shape of this situation, I have a feeling that a federal civil rights lawsuit might be filed, but I’m not sure if it would succeed. Are there any legal experts here who have any idea how the Castle Rock decision bears on hate crimes lawsuits?
Sir Nose'D
Sorry, I can’t snark this–this is beyond a WTF moment. This is heartbreaking/horrifying/infuriating.
greennotGreen
From the pastor’s point of view, his son showing up with his boyfriend was just a way for him to flaunt his sins (and therefore his father’s failings) in front of the congregation. Unfortunately, the pastor’s point of view is not based on the teachings of Jesus (“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” “He who is without sin, cast the first stone.”) but on selections from the Old Testament “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives.” (Leviticus 20:13 NAB) Of course, the Old Testament also says, “Judge not, lest ye be judged,” but that doesn’t apply when you’re trying to punish your son for humiliating you.
I grew up in Tennessee and in the church, and it really hurts to see people like the members of Grace Fellowship Church twist the gentle and wise teachings of Jesus into supporting an act of bigotry and hate. I love the land of Tennessee, but some of her people…
It’s ignorance, it’s really just ignorance. That’s why it behooves conservatives to undermine the public school system. Keep the people ignorant so they’ll keep voting you into power.
Mark S.
@Li:
That’s what I was worried about.
SiubhanDuinne
@Mark S.:
I think the strict constructionists also have problem.
Rihilism
@Joey Maloney: Hmmmm. Never completely understood when a situation could be deemed ironic. Seems to me that “Fruitland” would be more of a coincidence than irony, since the location is not actually known for being accepting of homosexuality (though I’m not actually clear on how the “fruit” modifier implies acceptance rather than a derogatory reference) nor is it known for a large gay population, thus the event was not necessarily incongruous with what would have been expected.
What I would consider irony (as well as poetic justice), though I am no expert in things ironic, would be the virulently homophobic pastor, who believes in beating gays, getting beaten up by a gay prostitute he hired for gay sex.
Personally, I’m not clear on how the circumstances lend themselves to attempts at humor, ironic or otherwise, but that’s just me…
Joey Maloney
Yes, I believe it is just you. Do you need some pearls to clutch?
I was at this fancy-ass wedding chapel the other day and, for the first time in my entire life, saw an honest-to-god fainting couch in the lounge.
Jennifer
Wow, I’m sure their God is so proud of them, and that’s exactly what Jesus would have done… (sarcasm)
And, this is why I can’t stand Christians. (Sorry if you’re a christian, but I’m a lesbian and I was forced to go to church for 16 years, it was horrible, I was surrounded by hypocrites and jerks).
Heez
Court date was yesterday, but I can’t find a thing on it.
A story here seems to indicate one of the deacons had his house torched and another (maybe?) was shivved recently. Alas, the story is behind a pay-wall (who the fuck is going to pay for Ass-end of Tennessee news?);
Villago Delenda Est
@arguingwithsignposts:
Wasn’t Mammon-Jeebus, I can tell you that.
Villago Delenda Est
@Li:
Protect the persons and property of the parasite overclass, is what that means.
Nothing else.
beergoggles
This is what christians are. For all the no-true-scotsman fallacies that the christians who give these people cover state, these are the ones actually following their book of hate.
Ajay
Now if we ban Sharia law this would never happen.
Yevgraf
@Mark S.:
Nope – been there, done that, got the t-shirt. They’re absolutely immune as of Federal law, leastwise as of 1991 vintage (and I’m certain it hasn’t improved since I last tried to do it).
My case was particularly heinous – a woman was fighting with her husband at her mother in law’s house. The police were called and arrived as he went upstairs to sleep it off.
Cops, being lazy, decided to leave him up there.
As the cops were pulling onto the street, he woke up. As they drove off onto their patrol, he chased his wife to the neighbor’s house, shot her, then shot and killed the neighbors who were offering safety. I sued on behalf of the neighbors, and got summaried out, which then got affirmed. There’s no duty to protect.
burnspbesq
@beergoggles:
Ignorance and bigotry show up for coffee. Have a donut, too.
Paul in KY
Personally, I don’t think anyone who lives in ‘Fruitland’ TN should be throwing stones (physical or metephorical) at anyone else.
I’m sure this has already been mentioned, but I love swinging at low hanging fruit :-)
Edit: Not trying to minimize the hateful & hopefully illegal acts committed by the hick pastor. I feel very sorry for what the two young men had to endure.
lacp
@greennotGreen: No, you need to read the passage in context.
Jesus: “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Boy, really had you going there, didn’t I?”
Rihilism
@Joey Maloney:
Since you are offering, my preference is for black pearls, though natural freshwater pearls will do in a pinch (I have a fondness for diadems, though obviously, they are less suitable for clutching). As for fainting couches (were you offering to swipe the one you saw in the “fancy-assed” chapel?) I’d need to provide dimensions, finishes, and upholstery choices prior to committing. I’m afraid we likely have different definitions of what constitutes “fancy-ass” (as well as irony and humor, go figure) and I wish there to be no misunderstandings.
While we’re at it, I’m quite certain that I will require generous foot massages and soothing words to comfort me whilst I recover from my frequent bouts of the vapors on my newly acquired chaise longue (pearls in hand), so we’ll need to work out an equitable schedule of your time to provide such services (bathroom and smoke breaks will, of course, be taken into account).
Now, I’m perfectly capable of feeding myself grapes (chilled and served in a semi-precious stone encrusted goblet), but would it kill you to hold the silver-plated Tiffany waste receptacle near my right side so that I can expel seeds without undue stress on my neck and shoulders? Sheesh, you can’t get good help these days…
NonyNony
@arguingwithsignposts:
Sadly guys of this stripe will insist that if they were gay they would want someone to beat the gay out of them too. Or kill them if that didn’t work.
The whole “Do unto others” formulation of the Golden Rule opens itself up to this kind of abuse. You can justify all sorts of behavior if your Christian blinders are tuned the right way.
Yevgraf
Always go to topix for the good local dirt.
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/trenton-tn/TCN2U0QHIM5L354QO/p2
Violet
Wow. That’s just awful. Those poor kids.
Cap'n Magic
Fruitland-the Tehran of Tennessee. I dare someone to present an anti-Deuteronomy law to match up with the anti-Sharia laws being presented.
Paul in KY
@NonyNony: They’d be lying (IMO).
Xecky Gilchrist
Lemme guess, spare the rod and spoil the child, eh?
What a sad sick bunch of loonies. I hope those boys are able to move somewhere civilized and have a decent life.
The Pale Scot
A little more info off the front page pdf
assets.matchbin.com/sites/705/assets/HF2G_pg_1a_10_05_11.pdf
The recent ruckus at
a Fruitland church was
followed last week by one
of the member’s home
being the site of a suspicious
fire. Another member was
cut outside his home in
Bradford.
Firefighters responded to
a fire at Eugene McCoy’s
home at 237 Alamo
Highway, Trenton, at 2
a.m. last Saturday. The fire
began on an outside wall
and was confined to the
back bedroom and wall. The
fire is under investigation
by the Gibson County Fire
Department and the State
Fire Marshall Ron Powers,
said GC Fire Chief Bryan
Cathey. Arson is suspected.
Patrick Flatt, another
member of Grace
Fellowship Church, was
attacked and stabbed in his
backyard, reported Bradford
Police Chief Scott Combs.
Two men wearing hoodies
reportedly jumped Flatt
at his home at 413 West
Main in Bradford. That
investigation continues as
well.
An incident at the church
Sept. 23 was responded
to by the Gibson County
Sheriff’s Department but
ruemara
@Yevgraf:
Yeesh. Seriously? No fucking duty to protect? Didn’t any of the mandatory reporting laws for domestic violence change this?
Back on topic, I read this in your FB feed and it was so horrible I couldn’t comment. I still can’t. I just want to beat everyone involved in perpetrating this crime.
polyorchnid octopunch
All I can say is… these folks are all in for a rude shock when they kick this mortal coil.
piratedan
@ruemara: well if their cars have the motto “to protect and to serve” on them, then at least you could get them on a false advertising charge…..
deep cap
@polyorchnid octopunch: How do you know what’s beyond this mortal coil? Did the magical man in the sky tell you?
Matthew Reid Krell
@Rihilism: Irony, you usez it rite.
Yevgraf
@ruemara:
This was pre-mandatory reporting. In fact, my case was the one that got a lot of policies changed locally on that, and kicked off department-wide directives on two separate large departments even as they were kicking my ass in court.
Howlin Wolfe
“Rednecks caint spell.” Maybe, but misuse of apostrophe”””””””s cuts across all socio-economic groups:
“Christianist’s in the USA”
WereBear
There is no cloak for wrongdoing so effective as the religious one.
Not only are you immune from criticism or skepticism as a “person of god.” You are also served up the most gullible of all possible victims in the form of those who are used to believing the most ridiculous things in order to stay right with “god.”
I understand the people who are critical, but THIS IS NOT CHRISTIANITY, any more than the cult who released the nerve gas in the Tokyo subway were really Buddhists. For that matter, the priesthood that covered up for the predatory child abusers were not good Christians, either.
Con artists who prey on people under the guise of religion are not religious people. And a moral code that mandates cruel behavior is not a moral code, either.
tulip
fucking lunatics. I hope every.single.one DIAF.
polyorchnid octopunch
@deep cap: I’m just using their own terms of reference against them. In no way can I be considered a Christian. I’m pretty sure the Church would’ve burned me at the stake in the Dark Ages.
The point being… by their own terms of reference, they are evil people who are going to hell. They’re just too dumb to realise it. I know that people refer to John Walker Lindh as the “American Taliban”, but really, it’s these folks that deserve that moniker.
polyorchnid octopunch
@deep cap: Oh, and deep cap… you should try reading with comprehension. Your snarkiness is misplaced and only reveals you for the reactionary you are, no matter what side of the religious divide you happen to be on.
Rihilism
@Matthew Reid Krell: I may be alone in this, but it seems to me as if there should be something akin to irony for describing the habit of using homophobic slurs to mock homophobes, but as I said, I am not an expert in such matters…
soyaki
Obviously America is splitting into two countries at the moment.
DougW
This father is no father. He is not even human. He’s an asshole that needs to be charged with the crime of violence against family. It should carry a number of years in the pen. It’s one thing to disown a family member, but to incite others to attack his own son? Life in prison is too harsh, but some stiff sentence needs to be levied against a parent that would invite others to attack his/her child.
lovable liberal
I am seriously getting tired of turning the other cheek.