Why is HRC calling the Family Research Council a hate group? Because it is one.

Washington Post publishes Chad Griffin op-ed expressing condemnation for shooting, detailing FRC’s history of hateful rhetoric

Today the Washington Post published an op-ed column by HRC President Chad Griffin expressing condemnation for the shooting that occurred at the Family Research Council’s headquarters last week and detailing the virulent rhetoric that has earned them the designation of a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The piece can be viewed at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/calling-out-hate-when-we-see-it/2012/08/20/0f9725cc-eb02-11e1-a80b-9f898562d010_story.html.

FRC Shooting: Blame Guns Not Gays

The American Family Association(AFA), a conservative pro-marriage organization just issued a statement on the shooting that occurred at the headquarters of the Family Research Council.(FRC)

"Yesterday’s shooter, who was a homosexual activist who volunteered at a D.C. lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community center, took the argument to a whole new and ugly level.

Disagreement is not hatred. We don’t hate anyone. In fact, we love homosexuals enough to tell them the truth about the risks involved in their lifestyle choices. But for those who hate the truth, the truth will seem to be hate.

We acknowledge the many homosexual activist groups who issued a statement condemning yesterday’s violence, and we commend them for doing so."

In turn, they also blame the Southern Poverty Law Center for listing both the AFA and the FRC as hate groups.

"However, the Southern Poverty Law Center must be called to account. The SPLC argues incessantly that the use of inflammatory and incendiary language when talking about homosexuality promotes violence, and is quick to blame FRC and other organizations such as AFA for every act of violence they possibly can."

Let's not use this unfortunate and tragic incident as fodder to inflame our disagreements on same-sex marriage. The actions of the shooter, Floyd Lee Corkins II,  at FRC are not a part of the LGBT movement towards equality.

Over 25 LGBT organizations responsibly issued statements the other day condemning the actions of Corkins.

With all of the recent devastating shootings occurring recently in the U.S., it's time for our country to really start looking at gun control and how easy it is to acquire arms by the likes of anyone. Until better safeguards are in place, statements like that of the AFA could cause more harm than good.