The Christian Civic League of Maine's Mike Hein calls Pam's House Blend: "a leading source of radical homosexual propaganda, anti-Christian bigotry, and radical transgender advocacy."
He is "praying that Pam Spaulding will "turn away from her wicked and sinful promotion of homosexual behavior."
(CCLM's web site, 10/15/07)
Ex-gay "Christian" activist James Hartline on Pam:
"I have been mocked over and over again by ungodly and unprincipled anti-christian lesbians."
(from "Six Years In Sodom: From The Journal Of James Hartline," 9/4/2006, written from the "homosexual stronghold" of Hillcrest in San Diego).
"Pam is a 'twisted lesbian sister' and an 'embittered lesbian' of the 'self-imposed gutteral experiences of the gay ghetto.'" -- 9/5/2008
Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth Against Homosexuality heartily endorses the Blend, calling Pam:
A "vicious anti-Christian lesbian activist." (Concerned Women for America's radio show [9:15], 1/25/07)
"A nutty lesbian blogger." (MassResistance radio show [16:25], 2/3/07)
Pam's House Blend always seems to find these sick f*cks. The area of the country she is in? The home state of her wife? I know, they are everywhere. Pam just does such a great job of bringing them out into the light.
--Impeach Bush
who monitors yours Bevis ?? Just thought I would drop you a line,so the rest of your life is not wasted.
The Family Policy Institute of Washington (FPIW), a local affiliate of Focus on the Family and Family Research Council, has been broadcasting a weekly half-hour radio show since at least May of 2009. The show has largely been used to promote FPIW's anti-gay agenda. According to their broadcaster, the American Christian Network, the show's Wednesday time slot is now FOR RENT.
The show's hosts were Joseph Backholm (above, right) and Russell Johnson (below, right). Backholm is FPIW's executive director. Johnson used to be FPIW's director of governmental affairs but is not longer named on FPIW's "Who We Are" page. He was most recently listed as the executive director of Youth Revolution, an organization that appears moribund.
Backholm began the last-aired (January 27, 2010) show with a plea for financial support, something I'd never heard him do before. Apparently the situation was more dire than he let on. Emphasis mine.
And I would like to start off today's message with a small public service announcement, brought to you by the Family Policy Institute of Washington, and remind you that this is listener-supported radio. Not the other kind of listener-supported radio. We do bring you a different perspective. But this is listener-supported radio.
And we appreciate those of you who are with us and listening on a regular basis, or checking us out online, but we would like to make you aware of the fact that this program has been made possible and is made possible by the donations of generous people who think that this information matters and appreciate this service in their community and in their homes.
So if you would like to help keep family policy radio on the air, if you'd like to help keep our message going out to the eastern Washington area through the American Christian Network, we would greatly appreciate your support to make that happen.
And in order to do that, you can always call our offices at... Again we love doing this. We think this is an important message that Washington state needs to hear about what is happening to families in Washington state. And if you agree with us and want to support that and make sure it continues to happen, we'd love to hear from you.
Apparently not enough people "think that this information matters" enough "to help keep our message going out". With only 177 visits registered at the show's web page, I wonder if anyone even heard the plea?
It would be a mistake to think we've heard the last of Joseph Backholm, Russell Johnson or FPIW. On the contrary, they are still very much dedicated to hurting lesbian and gay families and controlling women's bodies. However, it seems likely that after their crushing Referendum 71 defeat, the organization is facing donor fatigue and is having to make some tough resource allocation choices.
For a bar-certified attorney and self-described Christian, Joseph Backholm sure can play it fast and loose with the facts sometimes. Still, I was surprised that Backholm would invite the legal attention of a major news corporation like NBC Universal by using their The More You Know logo without, presumably, permission.
The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning The More You Know has been NBC Universal's public education campaign for over 20 years. NBC Universal itself puts great store in diversity. Unfortunate, then, that this laudable program and pro-diversity company is having its image tarnished by Backholm and his rabidly anti-gay Family Policy Institute of Washington, a local affiliate of Focus on the Family and Family Research Council.
FPIW is using the The More You Know logo in a video aptly titled "Todays (sic) Bad Idea", a screed against a bill currently under consideration by the Washington legislature.
In the show's spirit of raising public awareness, and out of respect for private property, I decided to share what I know. →
In a blog post subtitled "Cold-Hearted Lawlessness", radical-right cleric Joe Fuiten has put on his Jesus Decoder Ring and divined a connection between domestic partnerships, marriage equality and the recent murder of several Washington police officers. His ultimate goal seems to be to exploit these murders in an effort to entice secular people to support his theocratic goals.
Here is Fuiten's basic outline. The details are after the fold.
Jesus said "increased wickedness" is a sign of impending End Times.
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Domestic Partnerships and marriage equality are examples of such wickedness.
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This wickedness causes cold-heartedness.
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Cold-hearted people kill police and kill children.
I'm not much into people with negative personalities, but I realize that several man-centric readers have expressed an appreciation for Joseph Backholm's look and twinkitude. Thus I feel it only fair to inform you that he's got a new video up inviting folks to "poke around". I'm sure it is entirely coincidental that he also is featuring a "report" on porn on Family Policy Institute of Washington's main page. No indication yet whether he uses the Peter LaBarbera method of field research, but he did muse aloud about his little buddy Russel Johnson's ability to keep his own wife satisfied (Dec. 9 podcast).
Oh btw, not only has Backholm swapped the gray button-down blouse he wore in his most recent videos for an all-black ensemble, but he has deleted those videos. Guess he caved to the criticisms leveled here and at the SLOG. Anyhow, good thing I kept some screen shots so you can compare his new look and decide which you like better! They're after the fold.
The anti-gay Family Policy Institute of Washington has posted a video called "BY PROHIBITING GAY MARRIAGE, AREN'T WE VIOLATING THE SEPERATION (sic) OF CHURCH AND STATE?". It features FPIW's Executive Director Joseph Backholm and appears to be one of a series (in progress) of video responses to each of the FAQs posted on the FPIW website.
The question he is answering in this video is irrelevant. The real question is "By prohibiting marriage equality, aren't we violating the equal protection of the laws clause in the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution?" Backholm's approach is to introduce religion into the discussion of civil law where it is irrelevant to the discussion, then claim anti-religious discrimination when reminded of its irrelevancy. That's twisted, sister.
The monologue begins with Backholm saying "No" as if in answer to a question from the viewer. This is an appropriate opener for someone who literally promotes discrimination against LGBT people. (See Backholm's July 13, 2009 "Monday Minute", and "Isn't it bad to discriminate?".)
No, the phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear anywhere in the United States or Washington State constitutions. Regardless, the fact that people of a particular religious faith share common ideas does not mean that those ideas are necessarily unconstitutional because they are religious.
To the contrary, our laws against stealing, killing, lying, perjury, incest, rape, battery and destruction of property were all religious tenants long before they were laws. Now no one wants to repeal the criminal code because its major themes were first recorded in the Bible.
Now the idea that a preference for heterosexual marriage is unconstitutional is [sic] simply because it is consistent with religious doctrine is legally and constitutionally unsupportable.
Now our Founding Fathers wanted to avoid a situation where a religious organization wrote the laws for the county. However, they did not intend to create a country in which citizens and elected officials were forbidden from reading, discussing, thinking about or even legislating ideas that happen to be religious in nature.
A new organization called Youth Revolution popped up in Washington recently. I've written a bit about them here. YR's Executive Director is none other than Russell Johnson, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Focus on the Family/Family Research Council affiliate Family Policy of Institute of Washington. FPIW is the local organization that helped funnel over $200,000 of James Dobson's Colorado money into Washington's Referendum 71 campaign. YR, a youth recruiting tool, has posted the following video on their front page. Without comment, I give you "The Government Can".
Microsoft made a big splash a few weeks ago by donating $100,000 to the Approve 71 campaign. Indeed it was a significant and much-needed contribution by a major Washington employer. But the really big story is that Microsoft's gift was only one of 4,175 donations made by Washingtonians from across the state (see map). In fact, 85% of all cash donations to Approve 71 have been made by Washingtonians for a total of $1.16 million. Excluding the Microsoft gift, 89% of WA donations were for amounts below the average donation of $253. In the main, the Approve 71 campaign has been funded by small Washington donors.
In stark contrast, only 34% of donations to the anti-domestic partnership campaign totaling $104,233 have come from Washingtonians. The other 66% comes from James Dobson's Colorado-based Focus on the Family (FOTF) and National Organization for Marriage. FOTF made two cash dumps into Washington state. The first was $200,000 into the PAC Vote Reject on R-71 via the local FOTF affiliate Family Policy Institute of Washington (FPIW). The second was last-minute direct independent spending of $91,852 on radio ads, etc. by Focus on the Family Action. Is it fair to say that James Dobson is the reject campaign?
The anti-domestic partnership campaign has also received an undisclosed amount of in-kind assistance from the undisclosed entity that paid for Protect Marriage Washington's signature gatherers.
~~~Reminder from WAFST: Only 20% of voters have mailed their ballots. Your vote and those of your friends can make the difference. Don't hold onto your ballot, mail it today. Remind your friends. VOTE APPROVE ON REFERENDUM 71
Good news and bad news from Washington State. The good news is that a federal judge in Tacoma denied the attempt of the local Focus on the Family affiliate Family Policy Institute of Washington (via its Family PAC) to gut Washington state's campaign finance laws a week before the election. From the Washington Families Standing Together press release (link added).
In denying the Reject 71 campaign's motion, the judge said "The State has a real and vital interest in showing the money trail...I do not believe it is in the public interest for the court to intervene and change the rules of the game at the last minute."
Judge Leighton, who was appointed by former president George W. Bush, added, "I do not believe there is a real emergency. The constraints imposed upon the plaintiff are self-inflicted."
The emergency suit was filed by Family PAC, a new political action committee formed to challenge the law and accept money from out of state special interests. It has the same board of directors and address as the Family Policy Institute of Washington, and its only contributor is the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). On the same day Family PAC filed its motion in Washington, NOM filed a nearly identical lawsuit in Maine, challenging the constitutionality of that state's financial reporting requirements. NOM is also the single largest contributor to a pending ballot initiative in Maine, where they are trying to overturn Maine's civil marriage equality law.
This is a real victory for the good guys, and prevents NOM, FotF and local anti-gay organizations from pooling their money for such things as giant media buys.
The bad news is that NOM, FOTF or other organizations can still legally spend money in Washington in an effort to kill Referendum 71 and strip senior citizens and gay and lesbian domestic partners of vital legal protections. Well, not just can spend. The operative word is actually is spending. More on that below.
The Referendum 71 broadcast media campaign is on in Washington! There is MUCH more to come, but I can't tell you about it yet. In the mean time, have a listen to this new radio ad. Which voter cohort do you think is the target?
Recently I listened in on a different radio broadcast - the weekly show put on by Family Policy Institute of Washington. FPIW bills itself as a Focus on the Family/Family Research Council affiliate, and it has been a key player in the anti-domestic partnership campaign. FPIW clearly understands the game. It was curious to hear them agree almost to the word with Washington Families Standing Together about what will tip the win on Referendum 71.
Joseph Backholm: In an off-year election [as opposed to the big presidential election last year] the turnout this year is going to be much, much lower, and we know that. We're probably be looking at maybe 50%, and that's probably optimistic. And so the key here is not actually convincing everyone that you're right, the key on this is having more of your people vote than their people vote.
There's more below the fold. We have a question to face: are we going to let them beat us at our own GOTV game? NO! Donate to the Approve 71 campaign so that we can continue to motivate our voter base!
UPDATE: A transcript of the debate portion of the video is below the fold. The debate starts about 5:43 minutes into the video.King 5 News is running this 19 minute Up Front Video about Referendum 71 over the weekend. The video isn't embedable, but you can watch it on the King 5 website. The second half of the video features Anne Levinson opposite Josheph Backholm in a point-counterpoint Q & A. Levinson (right) is Chair of Washington Families Standing Together, the organization running the Approve 71 campaign. Backholm is the Director of Family Policy Institute of Washington, a Focus on the Family Affiliate.
You might say I'm a slightly biased observer, but I think Levinson's calm ability to stay on-message left Backholm looking like someone always grasping for the next straw. She made a solid case for voters choosing to protect all Washington families equally. Backholm was clear on one point: he hates gays and will toss any red herring available to recruit others to that animus.
Btw, Backholme is the guy who advocates kicking the walker out from under from grandpa.
In the course of this debate, we are also going to learn something about Washington's senior citizens. Specifically, we will learn whether or not they can be bought....
[O]nly 500 heterosexual senior couples have registered since the opportunity was created in 2006. However, it does allow same-sex marriage advocates to claim that those who vote against the redefinition of marriage are also voting against grandma. Who in good conscience can do that? Hopefully, lots of people can. In fact, seniors should be leading the charge...
[F]or those [seniors] who have not been swept away by the tyranny of tolerance, I trust they will recognize this effort to buy them.
While voting to give yourself more of other people's money is always tempting, it is my hope that this attempt will be more insulting than effective.
This rightfully won him the jeers of the Federal Way Mirror's editorial board, which said:
"Jeers to the Family Policy Institute of Washington for inflicting its dogma of intolerance upon this state. ...
The Family Policy Institute has called this legislation a "threat to religious liberty" as well as a "bribe" for seniors. In reality, this legislation is a threat to deeply-ingrained prejudices and a fear of change. Throughout history, any attempts to expand the rights of marginalized people have been met with resistance. Examples include women's suffrage and the desegregation of schools. Americans treasure their right to maximum personal freedom and independence. In this case, the institute asks voters to reject the legislation - and limit personal freedom and independence for a small slice of the population. That way of thinking is counterproductive to American values."
The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC), which "represents the Catholic Bishops of the State of Washington on issues of public policy", has posted a link to this notice on the main page of their website (hyperlinks are mine).
Passed by the 2009 Legislature, SSB 5688 granted all of the rights of marriage to same-sex couples in Washington State. Referendum 71 seeks to overturn SSB 5688, known as the "all but marriage" law...
WSCC opposed SSB 5688 because proponents publically (sic) stated that this legislation was intended to extend existing marriage rights to same-sex couples as a precursor to legalizing gay marriage in Washington State. While opposing all unjust discrimination against any individual, WSCC upholds marriage as a union between a man and a woman, which is the foundation of our civil society.
Opposing "unjust discrimination" implies that some discrimination is justified, that it can be just to discriminate. According to the bishops of Washington, it is just to destabilize and undermine LGBT families. The bishops believe it just to disadvantage children by preventing their LGBT parents from protecting them to the fullest extent of the law via domestic partnerships or marriage.
How do these people have the nerve to show their faces in public after spouting such anti-family nastiness?
Only a month until those outsized petition sheets need to be back in Larry's sweaty hands, and Referendum 71 heavyweights Cindy Honcoop and Joseph Backholm are heading out on vacation.
Referendum board member and director of WA Eagle Forum Cindy Honcoop tweeted 3 hrs ago
Destination - the Westin in Portland. Yes!
No great surprise I suppose, since Honcoop has never taken an active role in the referendum.
Anyone keeping tabs on legislative hearings will know that their schedules frequently get changed. Lawmaking is a dynamic process and not always amenable to strict timelines. The WA legislature acknowledges this by placing "subject to change" notices next to scheduled dates.
But as usual, reason be damned; these guys like to play the persecuted christian martyr. It's good for meeting fund raising goals. Check out Mr. Johnson's HILARIOUS lie-encrusted email below. For clarity, I've numbered his fabrications and provided a rebuttal in green.
On Monday, March 23rd, the Washington State House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on SSB 5688, the Domestic Partnership Expansion Bill of 2009.
Not surprisingly, delegates from The Washington Hate Coalition repeated their same tired lies and distortions. As I listened to their testimony, I decided that we need to produce a sheet of concise responses to these lies, because we all know that they will keep repeating them until people accept them as the unquestioned truth. Below is my transcript of the testimony of the two main Hate Coalition members to testify. I have numbered their statements to facilitate our responses. My responses are embedded within the transcript and are in green typeface. I look forward to your comments.
The Family Policy Institute of Washington (FPIW), a local affiliate of Focus on the Family and Family Research Council, has been broadcasting a weekly half-hour radio show since at least May of 2009. The show has largely been used to promote FPIW's anti-gay agenda. According to their broadcaster, the American Christian Network, the show's Wednesday time slot is now 
Backholm began the last-aired 
For a bar-certified attorney and self-described Christian, Joseph Backholm sure can play it 
FPIW is using the The More You Know logo in a 
In a blog post subtitled "Cold-Hearted Lawlessness", radical-right cleric 
Anyhow, good thing I kept some screen shots so you can compare his new look and decide which you like better! They're after the fold.
Referendum board member and director of WA Eagle Forum Cindy Honcoop 
I got emails Monday from 
