Last week we reported that LSU students are organizing protests and other events in response to “The Response,” a prayer rally to be hosted by the American Family Association — an anti-LGBT hate group — on the university’s campus January 24. 

Since then, the LSU Faculty Senate has issued a strongly worded condemnation of “The Response,” which will be headlined by Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal (above) as he prepares to kick off his 2016 presidential campaign. The Faculty Senate said although it doesn’t appear the university can legally deny the rental of space to the AFA, the rally is “inconsistent with the goals and aspirations of a great university”:

The Faculty Senate has made use of its extensive media resources to focus public attention on this matter. … In all of these interview opportunities, Faculty Senate representatives have stressed that the “Response” event both damages the University and conflicts with its values, whether by associating intolerance with University venues or interfering with the goal of disseminating the best in science. … 

The story of “The Response” is far from over, but I do want to assure the LSU and the statewide higher education community that the LSU Faculty Senate is working vigorously to assist the administration not only in repairing the damage resulting from this event but also in using it as an educational, formative opportunity.

Despite widespread opposition from students and faculty at LSU, Jindal continues to defend holding “The Response” at LSU. This week, he insisted the rally is “not a political event, it’s a religious event”:

“Christians have the right to rent, to pay for a hall at a public university so they can come together and pray,” Jindal told reporters at an economic development announcement in New Orleans.

Asked if he agreed with the American Family Association’s agenda, Jindal sidestepped that question and said, “The left likes to try to divide and attack Christians.”

Jindal said the protesters themselves should consider joining the prayer rally. He said they “might benefit from prayer.”

Meanwhile, in addressing criticism of the event, AFA spokesman Bryan Fischer continues to suggest that gays are to blame for natural disasters. The website for “The Response” initially included a prayer guide blaming gays, abortion and pornography for Hurricane Katrina, but it was quickly removed. However, Fischer told The Times-Picayune this week:  

Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perry headlined an AFA prayer rally in Houston in 2011 to kick off his presidential campaign, so we assume Perry and GOP Texas Sen. Ted Cruz will be fighting over the Lone Star State’s AFA hatefest next year. 

Ultimately, though, these events may only backfire by galvanizing progressive opposition in places where they’re held, such as in Baton Rouge. A reader poll on The Times-Picayune website shows that 66 percent of respondents believe “The Response” should be held at a private building or church. 

Watch Jindal’s invitation to “The Response,” AFTER THE JUMP …

Last week we reported that a Houston-based anti-LGBT group planned a petition drive to repeal the non-discrimination ordinance passed by the Plano City Council earlier this month. 

Now, opponents of the ordinance have launched a website, PlanoEqualRights.com, dedicated to gathering signatures to place the ordinance on the ballot.

A group of 80 pastors opposed to the ordinance reportedly held an emergency meeting this week at Plano’s Prestonwood Baptist Church, an evangelical megachurch that’s also known as “Six Flags Over Jesus.” 

The Houston-based Texas Pastor Council, led by anti-gay bigot Dave Welch (pictured below), reports: 

Dr. Jack Graham, Senior Pastor of Prestonwood opened the meeting with full support of the effort, calling the city’s rapid vote (same night as the first hearing) “doing business in darkness”.  He expressed appreciation for TXPC Executive Director Dave Welch taking the initiative to organize the pastor meeting as well as the stand of the Houston pastors.

Jeff Mateer of Liberty Institute gave a legal analysis of why the Plano ordinance and others like it are a direct offense against First Amendments of religious belief, expression and “free exercise”. Dave Welch then closed the meeting with the “how to” of the referendum petition process.  He explained that since Plano and Houston City Charter requirements for qualifying a referendum are nearly identical, the critical steps of signature gathering and having notarized are likewise the same so they could benefit from our experience.

Of course, the group’s petition in Houston was rejected by the city due to invalid signatures, resulting in a lawsuit. According to the Texas Pastor Council, the Plano petition will need 3,822 signatures by Jan. 20 to qualify for the ballot. 

The repeal website, under the banner “Plano Citizens United: Equal Rights For All/Special Rights For None,” hilariously contains a typo in the First Amendment (above) and states:

Under Plano’s new “Equal Rights Ordinance” (ERO) anything any business owner or employee says or does to another person regarding the person’s gender, sexuality, or “identity” may be a CRIME.  Plano now CRIMINALIZES Christians’, Jews’, Muslims’, and others’ beliefs about men and women.  City bureaucrats will determine whether citizens’ statements and actions are “unjust”.  This policy subjects citizens to CRIMINAL SANCTIONS for our beliefs on topics affecting much of human interaction and is a direct threat to our freedoms of both speech and religion!

Meanwhile, the Plano ordinance continues to draw heavy criticism from transgender advocates, due to exemptions for nonprofit organizations as well as for restrooms and similar facilities.

The Transgender Education Network of Texas said in a press release this week:

We, the staff and board of Transgender Education Network of Texas are of mixed reaction in regard to news in Plano, Texas about the passage of a NonDiscrimination ordinance. On the one hand, taking steps towards treating all city employees in a fair and just manner based on merits rather than preconceived ideas and prejudice is an act worthy of respect. On the other hand, implementing provisions into that same ordinance allowing nonprofits to continue practicing bigotry in providing services severely undercuts any advance possibly made. …

We are left wondering, what is the real intent of Plano’s NonDiscrimination ordinance? To look good on paper, but really do nothing or to just disguise better the injustice already being done?