MORMON NOM BOARD MEMBER ADVOCATES OVERTHROW OF GOVERNMENT

Orson Scott Card is a best-selling science fiction writer, english professor and public speaker.

He is also an extreme homophobe who is calling for the criminalization of homosexuality and the overthrow of the American government if he and his cohorts don't get their way.

As an official representative of the Mormon church, he was recently installed as the newest and most prominent board member of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). Which, by the way, is the group that brought you the infamous and much ridiculed "Gathering Storm" TV commercial.

Michael Keegan, President of People For the American Way issued the following statement in a recent press release:

“If the National Organization for Marriage wants to make the comments of a gossip columnist and a beauty queen the subject of a national debate, then it should answer for the bizarre and troubling remarks of its most prominent board member – best-selling science fiction writer Orson Scott Card.

The NOM has argued that it is not a homophobic organization, but Card’s remarks suggest otherwise. Card, who represents the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the board and received an effusive welcome last week from NOM president Maggie Gallagher, supports criminalizing sex between same-sex adults.

Keegan goes on to quote Card directly from his own writings:

Laws against homosexual behavior should remain on the books…to be used when necessary to send a clear message that those who flagrantly violate society's regulation of sexual behavior cannot be permitted to remain as acceptable, equal citizens.

Keegan also cites Card's own words in advocating the overthrow of the government if same-sex marriage is permitted:

How long before married people answer the dictators thus: Regardless of law, marriage has only one definition, and any government that attempts to change it is my mortal enemy. I will act to destroy that government and bring it down, so it can be replaced with a government that will respect and support marriage, and help me raise my children in a society where they will expect to marry in their turn.

Biological imperatives trump laws. American government cannot fight against marriage and hope to endure. If the Constitution is defined in such a way as to destroy the privileged position of marriage, it is that insane Constitution, not marriage, that will die.

Now, of course, Card has a right to say whatever he wants about gays, homosexuality and overthrowing the government no matter how disgusting or alarming. But when a national, politically oriented organization like NOM endorses those views by giving him such a prominent position on its board, that is, to me, dancing very close to the edge of outright treason.

I totally agree with Michael Keegan in challenging NOM to categorically reject Card’s radical statements.