I’ve learned more than a few things about Republicans since closely observing the Party since W. stole the Presidential election in 2000. In particular I noted how the Party and its candidates are masters at fear mongering. I also discovered that when a candidate or potential candidate goes on a rampage about a situation, spewing outrage from every rooftop, like perverted men lurking in public women's restrooms in Houston, chances are the person venting about the horrible act probably committed that very act or is defending that act or the person who has committed the travesty.
When Texas Democrats don’t vote.
The Houston Equal Rights Ordinance went down in flames on the November 3 municipal elections in Houston. I wrote a blog post about it last week. How Good Ol' Boy Republicans, Bigots and Preachers Sold Hate in Houston. This ordinance extended protections for 15 different groups of people. Since it included rights for the GLBT community, Houston’s cabal of bigots and Christian fundamentalist preachers joined forces and focused exclusively on this community, demonizing HERO as the “bathroom ordinance.” The group fear mongered about how men could put on dresses so they could enter women’s restrooms in order to commit rape.
The right wing fear mongering and the shameless “Houston’s bathroom ordinance” ad won the day.
But apparently, according to the anti-HERO cabal, it is perfectly fine for some men to hang out in bathrooms with women. Especially men with cameras when women are changing their clothes.
According to a report in the Houston Press, the leading anti-HERO activist, Jared Woodfill, former Harris Co. Republican Chair and Houston lawyer is defending a man who has taken photographs of women changing their clothes in a bathroom. The women had no clue they were being photographed.
Right wing bigotry prevails in Houston.
Jared Woodfill, the former Harris County Republican Party leader who successfully championed the fight against the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance by proclaiming "no men in women's restrooms," is representing a man in court who has admitted to taking photos of women changing clothes without their knowledge—in a bathroom.
Worse, Woodfill’s client enjoys fondling unconscious nude women.
In that deposition, Farmer also admitted to doing this on more than one occasion, and to having pictures of himself fondling an unconscious nude woman at another party.
Fine Christian good ol’ boy smut.
Years ago at a pool party at a private residence in Houston three men hid in a bathroom shower and photographed women as they changed into their swimming suits. The women were unaware of the men’s presence.
Ten years ago, at a pool party at a private home, seven women went into the master bathroom to change into their bathing suits. Following them were three drunk men, including local tech-company owner BJ Farmer, who sat in the shower, took out their cell phones, and began snapping pictures while the women changed. Earlier this year, one of those women, Andrea Villarreal, sued Farmer after his ex-wife found the pictures on his laptop, shortly before their divorce proceedings, and brought them to Villarreal's attention.
Jared Woodfill is defending one of the sleaze bags.
Cognitive dissonance merges with hypocrisy.
Four months later, a small crowd at the anti-HERO election night party would applaud Woodfill for his efforts to keep Houston safe from bathroom predators. At the podium, he said, "Houston has spoken loudly and clearly that we don't want men in women's restrooms."
I don’t suppose Woodfill’s supporters know he’s defending a man who quietly ambushes women with his camera. While hiding in a bathroom.
Meanwhile, another leading anti-HERO activist, Pastor Ed Young of Houston’s Second Baptist Church hides a sick and twisted skeleton in his fine Christian closet. Houston megachurch slapped with sexual abuse lawsuit over youth pastor's behavior asks for prayer.
In short, Second Baptist Church hired a sexual predator as its youth pastor.
Led by senior pastor Ed Young, Second Baptist Church has about 65,000 members across five campuses. It has an annual budget of $53 million.
According to the suit, Second Baptist "encouraged Foster to develop close emotional bonds with unsuspecting youth he met at public schools," yet the church did not provide any training about appropriate behavior with minors.
Instead, the suit alleges, the church focused on "enticing pre-teens" with free lunches from McDonald's and Pizza Hut.
"By engaging youth met in public schools in church activities, the parents eventually become involved as they shuttle their children to various church activities. These same parents proceed to join Second Baptist, and subsequently help grow the flock financially," the suit reads.
Dr. Ed Young and his fine Christian Baptist community looked the other way when it hired a sexual predator. After all, the perv enticed his victim’s parents to join Second Baptist Church in order to enrich its coffers.
Once Foster won Jane's trust, he began to chat with her on Facebook and Skype. "Using Jane as his muse, Foster would expose himself and engage in acts of self-gratification while he was in his bedroom," the suit reads. "He would ask Jane to take off her clothes, talk dirty to him and help him."
Sometime after January 2011, the suit says Second Baptist "quietly passed Foster off" to another church, Community of Faith. He continued his sexual abuse of Jane, and Community of Faith "simply picked up where Second Baptist left off."
Of course Second Baptist Church and its leaders knew nothing about the sexual predator they hired. But everyone in the church will pray for the poor victim.
Our hearts ache for the young lady and her family if she was subjected to the things described in the lawsuit. HOWEVER, Second Baptist Church did not know of any of those allegations. If these happened and if Second had been made aware of them, we would have immediately terminated anyone involved and ensured that such conduct did not continue for one minute. Mr. Foster’s departure from Second was not due to any sexual conduct or due to any inappropriate interactions with young people. At this point, we are praying for healing for those involved."
Maybe the time has arrived in which to remove the tax exempt status from churches that openly engage in politics and tacitly support smear campaigns against the GLBT community as well as criminal activities, i.e. failing to properly vet sexual predators who will prey on young girls in religious communities.
Next time we hear right wing Republicans scream about something from every rooftop, pay attention. Chances are the screamers are guilty of the acts for which they shriek and defend.
Meanwhile, there is a Houston mayoral run-off election that will take place in December. The candidates in the so-called non partisan race are former state legislator Sylvester Turner (D) and a former mayor of Kemah, a small community south of Houston, Bill King (R). Ted Cruz supports King.
