Scientology international headquarters seeks ban on HIV+ protesters

Quote :

"The Church of Scientology is urgently trying to push through an ordinance revision that would bar HIV+ protesters. Scientology also obtained private medical records of two protesters, who happened to be HIV+, and disclosed their status publicly. The Church of Scientology has requested an urgent revision of a recently revised Riverside County protest ordinance in order to virtually ban HIV+ gay activists and others from the free speech and human rights protest group Anonymous from protesting Scientology human rights abuses at its sprawling 500 acre Gold Base world headquarters at Gilman Hot Springs near Hemet, California. Last Tuesday, January 6, the Riverside Country Board of Supervisors approved a revised protesting ordinance Scientology had hoped would effectively prevent Anonymous from protesting. However, the revision preserved Anonymous' right to protest in its usual position across from the main gate. Controversy is on going about interpretation of some ordinance provisions. and a six month review is specified. The first protest under the new ordinance was called for Thursday, January 8. It was attended by LA Times reporter David Kelly and just three protesters from Anonymous, all of whom happen to be gay: Scientology lawfare veteran and attorney Graham Berry, Scientology critic and comedian Angry Gay Pope (AGP), and former Scientology staff member Happy Smurf. Kelly was astonished that no sooner had the group gathered than five police cruisers descended. Some of the 500 Gold Base staff members had called 911 to complain that their security was being threatened by the three gay protesters. In his important account Graham Berry writes: Outside Scientology's sailing ship perpetually moored in the desert sands, cackled a parrot. I thought to myself, if that parrot starts imitating AGP and squawking, "Tax the cult," it would very soon be a dead parrot. It quickly became evident to me that the entire Gold Base was on lock down. All of the blinds and shutters were drawn. The only people visible were the silhouettes of the two security officers in the guard house and the public relations in-charge, Muriel Dufresne, the woman who had become so well acquainted with Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone and his family. I have been told that Muriel Dufresne has had store accounts for purchasing gifts for public officials that Gold Base needs to co-opt and corrupt. Apparently, Muriel has also been observed surreptitiously recording Hemet City Council meetings. Additionally, she has sat on the Hemet library committee (as a sort of de facto Scientology censor). Muriel Dufresne was literally running back and forth between a nearby building and the guardhouse. Meanwhile two more people arrived to observe us. One was a reporter and the other a photographer from the Los Angeles Times. The reporter had been at the Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting on January 6, 2009. His report would appear in the LA Times.com blogs section on Friday January 9, 2009. At about 1:45 P.M., five Riverside County Sheriff's vehicles responded to multiple calls from Scientology to deal with two picketers and a photographer. The Sergeant in charge was polite and adamant that they were not looking to interfere with our First Amendment rights. However, for most of the next hour all five Sheriff's deputies were huddled inside the Scientology compound with Muriel and her assistant. We were excluded and just kept going on about our picketing. From time to time, various deputies would come out and engage us. First, they demanded and then took all of our driver's licenses, recording the details for a cult anxious to obtain all such information for its own highly questionable purposes. Although this is unlawful, it is constantly done by Los Angeles and Riverside Police when called to pickets outside Scientology locations. It was the first time in twenty years of journalism that the Los Angeles Times reporter had been asked for identification by the police. At one point, the Sheriff's Deputies emerged and their Sergeant informed us that Scientology and the Riverside County's Legal Counsel had worked out an interpretation of Ordinances 884 and 888. Provided we did not use the name of any living Scientologist specifically, and only protested Scientology generally, we could protest up and down both sides of Highway 79. And so, AGP and I continued to do that while Scientology's representatives, the five Sheriff's deputies and the Los Angeles Times reporter went inside the Scientology compound. And now comes the shocking revelation of the protesters' HIV status: Later, we would learn that Scientologist Muriel Dufresne then provided the Sheriff's deputies with Scientology "Dead Agent" packs on the "crimes," as alleged and manufactured by Scientology, of AGP, Happy Smurf and I. Outrageously, Scientology had obtained and distributed personal medical information from the private health records of AGP and Happy Smurf. Deceptively, they also used the recanted Cipriano declaration to try and discredit and slime me. Apparently, Muriel Dufresne had gloated over their success in having me declared a vexatious litigant. However, that provides some of the factual basis for my picket sign and statement, "$cientology: Cult of Blackmail, Bribery and Fraud. http://www.xenu.net." Of course, the Riverside Sheriff's Deputies do not know that this is part of Scientology's "Fair Game" policies for the "handling of Suppressive Persons." They have not seen the Scientology scripture that reads, "The only way to control someone is to lie to them." Happy Smurf and AGP have confirmed they are both HIV+. This is an utterly outrageous turn in a struggle for peaceful first amendment protest against the unscrupulous power of organized Scientology so aptly described by Time as "The thriving cult of greed and power." Hubbard's Scientology doctrines are homophobic, and it claims its reparative therapy will cure homosexuality. The Church of Scientology San Diego supported anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 in November. The gay community should be livid over all of this. Constitutional free speech and church-state religious issues have caught the attention of the respected UCLA professor Eugene Volokh of the Volokh Conspiracy and Scientology critic and attorney Scott Pilutik. The issues are serious and have been heightened by the filing last week of Marc Headley vs Church of Scientology International. Headley was Executive Producer of Golden Era Studios which produces Scientology promotional materials working at Gold from 1990 - 2005. He is directly challenging Scientology's claim that Sea Org staff are members of a religious order and therefore do not need to be paid a minimum wage. He is claiming compensation under California Labor law for the meager 39 cents an hour wages he was paid. The suit is potentially devastating to Scientology and may become important in the interpretation of constitutional law."

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/01/12/18562376.php

[Edited on January 13, 2009 at 3:40 PM. Reason : Link]

1/13/2009 3:38:58 PM

Typically I try not to post Gay issues, but this amazed me. Peaceful protesters in front of the Church of Scientology were not only hassled, but two of the men, who were HIV+, had their HIV status disclosed publicly.

I'm not 100% certain on the legality of it all, but it states clearly that the "Church" found their status illegally.

This is only a case of two men, but now, not only have they publicly announced their HIV status, they are seeking a ban on the protesters due to being HIV+.

First amendment anybody?

1/13/2009 3:39:37 PM

Yeah, this should have hit Soap Box sorry, I'll wait on the move to prevent a double post.

1/13/2009 3:44:23 PM

Do I smell a law suit?

1/13/2009 3:46:08 PM

What amazes me is how some people think of those with HIV as second class.

Just change HIV+ to Black and the headline would spark so much interest and action from people.

I hope this blows up in the media, and I feel sorry for those two guys.

1/13/2009 3:49:00 PM

eh, the difference between being black and having hiv+ is the fact that people are born black. its possible that they were raped and got HIV, but you can't really make that comparison in general.

your argument has failed.

I'm Big Business and i approved this message.

1/13/2009 3:50:57 PM

^
BECAUSE ANALOGIES ONLY WORK IF EVERYTHING IS EXACTLY THE SAME!!!!.....
.....THEREBY DEFEATING THE PURPOSE OF MAKING ONE IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!!!111

(analogies were removed from the SAT because people like you are too stupid to learn how they work.)

1/13/2009 4:01:42 PM

bait taken

I'm Big Business and i approved this message.

1/13/2009 4:03:17 PM

1/13/2009 4:06:11 PM

disclosing personal health information...well hell, thats why clinton signed HIPAA

those two need to sue scientology

1/13/2009 4:07:17 PM

Quote :

"Just change HIV+ to Black and the headline would spark so much interest and action from people."

Are you sure?

Yes, I'm HIV positive.

1/13/2009 4:08:00 PM

care

I'd love to hate on scientology but you've got to give me more than this

1/13/2009 4:17:35 PM

^^ have you actually read there beliefs etc. in details. seriously bat shit crazy people.

I wonder if there are any scientologists on tww.

1/13/2009 4:24:41 PM

their, THEIR, goddamnit woman the word is THEIR.

1/13/2009 4:29:30 PM

I love Scientology

[Edited on January 13, 2009 at 4:31 PM. Reason : ]

1/13/2009 4:30:38 PM

Quote :

"no one is going to read that shit."

i read every word of it

1/13/2009 4:31:53 PM

ALkatraz I think so... people tend to write off HIV+ issues as gay only still. However the disease can infect anybody (though this issue is gay oriented).

GoldenGirl, that they are, that they are! Seriously, makes you question a friendship when you find out somebody is a Scientologist.

gunzz you are awesome +1!

Aficionado the kicker is that Scientology is not a health provider, I don't know if HIPAA applies here. I know it would apply to the medical offices that provided the information to the Church.

1/13/2009 4:46:21 PM

Quote :

"I'd love to hate on scientology but you've got to give me more than this"

there are plenty of reasons to hate on Scientology.....
one recent item - Scientologists don't believe in mental illness or disease. They think all mental illnesses are just psycological problems that can be overcome. Therefore, even though Scientologists aren't necessarily anti-medicine (like Christian Scientists), they don't treat mental illnesses with medicines.

John Travolta's son, who died 2 weeks ago when on vacation, was said to have a neurological problem that gave him seizures. When he was young, he was treated for the seizures, but when he got older he started having side effects, so they stopped medication. John was more into Scientology at that time, and they decided forego any additional medicinal treatment for his condition besides "natural remedies" that the Church approved of, and he was taken out of the care of doctor's supervision. While on vacation, when John and the mother were away and the son was under the care of 2 other non-medically trained believers, the son had a seizure and is now dead. A seizure which could have been prevented with several other available medicines.

1/13/2009 4:53:28 PM

Quote :

"Aficionado the kicker is that Scientology is not a health provider, I don't know if HIPAA applies here. I know it would apply to the medical offices that provided the information to the Church."

agreed.

however, it would be easier to sue the "church" to get the information about the people that provided the protected health information rather than sue all the different offices those people could have gone

1/13/2009 10:59:51 PM

[Edited on January 14, 2009 at 1:59 PM. Reason : []

1/14/2009 1:59:16 PM

even though they've never actually done the slightest harm to me or my family/friends.

i don't think i could possibly despise the Church of Scientology any more than i already do.

i wonder why? it's so irrational.

Don't get me wrong: i have plenty of scorn and ridicule for, say, Mormons and other goofy cults ... but the CoS? man, they just damn near infuriate me.







[Edited on January 14, 2009 at 6:59 PM. Reason : ]

1/14/2009 6:55:49 PM

Southern California is a really fucked up place. This is hardly a Scientology issue. Seriously, it's a SoCal issue. It's just not a place that should exist, in its current state. It drags down the rest of California, it drags down humanity. I propose a reverse civil war -- can we voluntarily "secede" them?

1/15/2009 4:22:20 AM

wut?

1/15/2009 3:07:57 PM

Fun fact: The Church of Scientology (tm) threatened to sue me for buying http://www.scientlology.com because the word "Scientology"(tm) is a registered trademark. I hope they don't threaten to sue me for telling people that they threatened to sue me.

1/15/2009 3:12:08 PM

interesting. as in "it's interesting that you would attempt such a thing"

because you know, you can't appropriate someone else's registered trademark. they have every right to sue over that.

I mean, why not just register a site, "www.wal-mart.com" and post a bunch of anti walmart propaganda?

theres literally a ton of shady practices that the Church of Scientology engages in that should be ridiculed. But this is not one of them.

So I'm kind of annoyed to be in the position to defend the CoS

:-\




[Edited on January 15, 2009 at 3:18 PM. Reason : ]

1/15/2009 3:15:22 PM

More like if you registered walolmart.com....

But then there's the issue of a "religion" trademarking the name of the religion, copyrighting every piece of written information associated with said religion, and suing the pants off of anybody who so much as makes a peep about it.

1/15/2009 3:22:50 PM

Scientology makes me wish there was such a thing as BATMAN

1/15/2009 6:01:28 PM

Quote :

"I hope this blows up in the media, and I feel sorry for those two guys gays."

but seriously, where is SaabTurbo? he has got more hate for scientologists than anyone else. and he can drop mad facts and info about them to back it up.

so how are supposedly smart people (travolta, cruise) believing in this stuff?

1/15/2009 7:17:18 PM

who says John Travolta and Tom Cruise are smart?

Although....., I hear Beck is into it.
..... maybe I'll give it a try

1/15/2009 7:32:33 PM

^^^^ aha... i missed the LOL

you're right. i agree with you.

1/15/2009 8:12:42 PM

^^^ The majority of the scientology "lore" that's out there regarding the crazier things (like the B52 bombers) I don't think has ever been officially confirmed. For all we know, that might be completely false, and the Scientologists just don't care to correct it. It is puzzling though how otherwise reasonable people could buy that, if that is what the actual beliefs are.

1/15/2009 8:22:01 PM

we dont need to have the B52s.

Lord Xenu hiding in the volcano is enough.

1/15/2009 8:23:39 PM

Lord Xenu isn't hiding in the volcano, he dropped his alien prisoners into the volcano, and now their spirits are flying around making people feel sad feelings.

[/what scientologists actually believe]

1/15/2009 8:31:17 PM

Quote :

"Scientologists don't believe in mental illness or disease. They think all mental illnesses are just psycological problems that can be overcome."

I thought that was Christian Scientists...

1/19/2009 9:54:02 AM

^ that is correct. whoever said that is confusting the two .

Scientologists don't belief in "psychological problems"... for them, everything is due to aliens in volcanoes.

1/19/2009 11:11:40 AM

^, ^^ - the two of you are agreeing on contradictory statements. Here was my original quote (in full)

Quote :

"Scientologists don't believe in mental illness or disease. They think all mental illnesses are just psycological problems that can be overcome. Therefore, even though Scientologists aren't necessarily anti-medicine (like Christian Scientists), they don't treat mental illnesses with medicines."

that statement is correct with regards to both Scientologists and Christian Scientists:
1) Christian Scientists generally reject medicinal treatment in favor of prayer and divine healing. I am not aware of any of their stances on mental illness (as to whether they exist or not), but I would suppose that even if they do believe in real mental illness, they would still choose to eschew medical treatment for them.

2) Scientologists are not anti-medicine, like CS's are, for phyisical problems. However, they don't believe in mental illness or psychological problems, and therefore don't take medicine for such problems - it's not because they don't believe in medicine (like CS), but that they don't believe in the condition that the medicine purports to fix.

1/19/2009 6:19:19 PM

Quote :

"mental illnesses are just psycological"

don't you mean,

psychlo-logical?






[Edited on January 20, 2009 at 12:22 AM. Reason : ]

1/20/2009 12:21:06 AM

^ lol

1/20/2009 12:47:19 AM

Quote :

"Don't get me wrong: i have plenty of scorn and ridicule for, say, Mormons and other goofy cults ... but the CoS? man, they just damn near infuriate me. "

hmm listen to some tracks on tool's aenima, it might make you feel a little better

1/21/2009 4:59:25 PM

that's an awesome album.

i should pirate buy a replacement copy for my CD that was stolen.

1/21/2009 7:00:27 PM

i'll side with Vince from ShamWow over Scientology any day

even though they both sell crap

1/21/2009 7:06:27 PM

what about Spence?

1/21/2009 7:14:37 PM

Spence is in the executive branch

1/21/2009 7:15:41 PM

touche

1/21/2009 7:28:52 PM

Quote :

"the free speech and human rights protest group Anonymous"

Since when did 4chan /b/tards become classified as human rights activists? They're doing it for the lulz and nothing more.

[Edited on January 21, 2009 at 9:50 PM. Reason : .]

1/21/2009 9:50:02 PM