Violating the principle of equal justice under law, this so-called "hate crime" legislation would mean that a criminal who attacks a senior citizen, pregnant mom, or small child would be punished less severely - with a shorter prison sentence - than someone who attacks a grown man, if that grown man is involved in homosexual behavior or cross-dressing.  The notion that some victims are worthy of greater protection than others, especially if it's based on their choice of sexual behavior, is simply outrageous.

"Hate crime" legislation has also proven in other countries and states to be a severe threat to religious free speech rights.  In Sweden, a pastor was jailed for preaching a sermon in which he called homosexual behavior a sin.  In Canada, a Catholic bishop was brought up on charges for writing in his church newsletter that marriage should remain between a man and a woman.  In Philadelphia, eleven Christians were arrested for reading Bible verses out loud on a public street during a "gay pride" festival.

In Michigan, homosexual activists openly admit they want to see pastors and others who speak out against the homosexual agenda criminally prosecuted as "accessories" any time a violent crime is committed against an individual who's involved in homosexual behavior or cross-dressing.

As the Saginaw News reported:

Jeffrey Montgomery is calling out the political extremists and religious fundamentalists whose rhetoric, he says, has fueled a steady rise in hate crimes against gays and lesbians.  "We've seen an increase in vitriolic, vociferous, vehement, demonizing rhetoric against gays and lesbians," said Montgomery, (the openly homosexual) executive director of the Triangle Foundation, a Detroit-based (homosexual) advocacy group.  "The vocal anti-gay activists should be held accountable as accessories to these crimes because, many times, it is their rhetoric that led the perpetrators to believe that their crimes are OK." . . . If a criminal borrows a gun and then uses it to kill someone, the law considers the gun owner an accessory to the crime.  So, too, are the people who own the words that incite violence, Montgomery said.

Or as the State News in East Lansing reported:

"We personally believe that the AFA may support the murder of gay, lesbian and bisexual people," (openly homosexual Triangle Foundation Director of Policy Sean Kosofsky) said.

One clear example:  The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in 2007 accused Cardinal Maida of Detroit and AFA-Michigan President Gary Glenn by name of being responsible for inciting the alleged beating death of a homosexual senior citizen in Detroit.  According to NGLTF, Maida and Glenn were responsible for this purported "hate crime" merely because they were both prominent public supporters of the Marriage Protection Amendment approved by Michigan voters.  (Notably, homosexual activists' "hate crime" propaganda evaporated as soon as Detroit police announced they had found no evidence of any assault, and the Wayne County Medical Examiner ruled the man had died after falling and hitting his head due to arthritic paralysis of his neck.)

If those statements don't make clear the threat to religious free speech, please take a few moments to watch this short video that explains what can happen if the Michigan Legislature passes HB 4836, the so-called "hate crimes" bill.  Watch this video and then forward it to others, especially your pastor.

Contact your state Representative today - right now, before it's too late - and urge him or her to vote NO on House Bill 4836, the homosexual "hate crimes" legislation.

Please forward this alert to urge your family, friends, neighbors, and fellow church members to join you in requesting a NO vote.