Robert Talton: Understanding the Texas Theocrats !
Talton must have had Brownwood Texas in mind when he tagged on his last-minute ammendment to prevent Gays and Lesbians from being Foster Parents. Mr Talton is surely aware that Gays & Lesbians in Texas are the second most targeted group in the State (behind Blacks) according to Texas Department of Public Safety Hate Crime Statistics. Mr Talton must then deduce that placing foster children in a Gay and Lesbian Household would increase the chances of that child being attacked, harrased, bullied etc. by community members (adults and kids) who are not members of their household. Has Mr Talton's comments (see: Who is Talton) played a role in creating a hostile enviroment for these children and their foster parents ! Was that his goal or was he simply pondering President Bush's comments to the UN ? We agree with the President and that is why we discuss these issues in the light of day.
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" Eventually, there is no safety in looking away, seeking the quiet life by ignoring the struggles
and oppression of others. "
President G.W. Bush-United Nations-Sept. 21, 2004
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“ The focus of this statement is on hate crimes related to 9/11. We wish not to dismiss other acts of hate that have been leveled against people of color and the gay and lesbian community in Texas.
For one example, the ACLU, with local concerned citizens, is currently investigating a rash of hate crime in Brownwood, Texas. We suspect at least 10 hate crimes in that town alone-including murders and even murders of witnesses to those hate crimes. Local officials have repeatedly refused to investigate or prosecute these crimes according to the mandates of the the Hate Crimes Act. In one instance, a field officer drafted a crime report which clearly documented race as the motive of the violent crime. Nevertheless, the local District Attorney's office still refused to prosecute this at all, much less as a hate crime. Our conclusion is that the law alone is not enough. The Texas Attorney General, or some external body, must be vested with full authority to prosecute these crimes or at least monitor the law's enforcement in some meaningful way. ”
William Harrell, Esq. Executive Director, ACLU of Texas
To the House Judicial Affairs Committee Regarding
The Committee's Oversight of the Texas Attorney General's Office
August 15, 2002 San Antonio, Texas
source: House Judicial Affairs Committee
[PDF/Adobe Acrobat]
... the ACLU, with local concerned citizens, is currently investigating a rash of hate crime in Brownwood,. Texas. We ...
archive.aclu.org/news/2002/harrell_statement.pdf
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Background on Tarlton amendment:
House OKs CPS bill, bans gay foster care
GOP lawmaker tacks on measure late; joint talks with Senate ahead
10:39 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 19, 2005
By ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – The Texas House approved a sweeping overhaul of protective services for children and adults Tuesday, including a last-minute amendment that would ban gays, lesbians and bisexuals from serving as foster parents.
The amendment, tacked on by Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena, was deemed "unworkable" by Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, R-Lampasas, sponsor of the overall House bill. But Ms. Hupp voted with the majority as the amendment was approved, 81-58.
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Who is Talton
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