If the civic and economic leaders of the cities of the Hampton Roads area of Virginia wanted to devise an advertising campaign of why NOT to move to the region, they would be hard put to outdo the daily lunacy broadcast by Pat Robertson and Christian Broadcasting Network. The man exudes hate and intolerance and a disdain for anyone who doesn't adhere to his religious beliefs - or at least those he publicly espouses (Rumor has it that he's been seen at the Greenbrier Resort in the bar absolutely hammered). But despite what Robertson does when off camera, he, CBN and Regent University give a nonstop air of religious fanaticism to the whole region. In this time of economic down turn when cities and regions are working to make themselves appear attractive to new business, Robertson is a huge negative. Think Progress has a piece on brother Pat's latest episode of diarrhea of the mouth as he went over the edge condemning the recently passed Hate Crimes law. Here are some highlights, plus a video of Pat's foul ranting:
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Yesterday [October 29, 2009] on the Christian Broadcasting Network, televangelist Pat Robertson aired a segment slamming President Obama for signing the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law. Extending hate crimes protection to the gay and transgendered community, Robertson argued, was a targeted attack on homophobic Christians like himself. Robertson said the new law is the latest example of a “noose” tightening around “the necks of Christians.” Later in the segment, he implied Democrats in Congress were “opposed to many of the fundamental Christian beliefs.
Sadly, too many of the leaders of the region's cities do nothing to counter the toxic picture of the region spread by Robertson. What progressive businesses or individuals want to live in a region that harbors such a vile mindset towards other citizens? In fact, Mayor Paul Fraim of Norfolk appears to be an out right homophobe who will find any excuse to avoid attending a HRBOR networking event. Even though the GLBT community has been a driving force in restoring Norfolk's historic neighborhoods that had become hell holes. In contrast, the mayors of Virginia Beach and Hampton have been open minded and attended, with Virginia Beach's Will Sessoms reminding me the last time we saw each other to let him know when the next event would take place in Virginia Beach so that he can attend. Here's HRBOR's less than threatening mission statement that seems to terrorize Mayor Fraim:
Sadly, too many of the leaders of the region's cities do nothing to counter the toxic picture of the region spread by Robertson. What progressive businesses or individuals want to live in a region that harbors such a vile mindset towards other citizens? In fact, Mayor Paul Fraim of Norfolk appears to be an out right homophobe who will find any excuse to avoid attending a HRBOR networking event. Even though the GLBT community has been a driving force in restoring Norfolk's historic neighborhoods that had become hell holes. In contrast, the mayors of Virginia Beach and Hampton have been open minded and attended, with Virginia Beach's Will Sessoms reminding me the last time we saw each other to let him know when the next event would take place in Virginia Beach so that he can attend. Here's HRBOR's less than threatening mission statement that seems to terrorize Mayor Fraim:
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Hampton Roads Business OutReach (HRBOR) is a broad based coalition of LGBT owned and LGBT supportive businesses and professionals dedicated to the development, growth and advocacy of Hampton Roads and its LGBT community. By promoting an environment in which diversity can flourish, HRBOR is committed to the economic growth and prosperity of our members and our community.
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