Ridiculous: PA lawmaker says domestic violence awareness bill has a "homosexual agenda"

Sometimes the right-wing nonsense gets to the point where it's just ridiculous. So it is here in Pennsylvania these days.

HR105 was proposed to recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. But the measure was halted by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (a Republican).

According to Keystone Progress, Metcalfe's explanation (per his remarks on the House floor) amounted to this:

"I protest, this is not non-controversial, and if you read the language it has a homosexual agenda."

Well, I did read the language, and it says nothing about gays or homosexuality. It simply recognizes that domestic violence "is a pattern of abusive behavior used to establish power and control over an intimate partner" and that it "often causes emotional harm to victims, their children, other family members, friends, neighbors, and coworkers," and affects "men and women in all racial, ethnic, religious, educational, social, and economic backgrounds."

It goes on to note that domestic violence "takes many forms, whereby victims are often subjected to abuse, harassment, threats, vandalism, trespassing, burglary, theft and stalking," and that it is "often escalated, causing victims to suffer physical and emotional trauma, anxiety, stress, sleep deprivation, loss of confidence, fear and, in some cases, injury and death by suicide or homicide."

It then lists some alarming statistics underscoring the pervasiveness of domestic violence in our society, and notes that domestic violence "is one of the most chronically underreported crimes."

"Therefore, be it resolved," the bill concludes, "That the House of Representatives recognize the month of October 2009 as 'Domestic Violence Awareness Month' in Pennsylvania."

That's it.

No mention of gays, lesbians, or homosexuality at all. Just some recognition of the suffering of victims of domestic abuse regardless of who they are.

But wait: There is some good news. On the same day, the House was preparing to vote on increasing marriage license fees from $3 to $28, with difference going to a fund for victims of domestic abuses. Metcalfe also opposed that measure, calling the funding of domestic violence programs "a slap in the face to family values."

That bill passed anyway.

Take action:

>> If you live in Pennsylvania -- or even if you live elsewhere and want to give Rep. Metcalfe a piece of your mind -- click here to send an email asking him to apologize and allow a vote on the resolution recognizing October as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month".