PO Box 13184 St.

Petersburg, FL 33733 (813) 870-3735

April 18th, 2013 Statement From Equality Florida Deputy Director, Stratton Pollitzer, to the North Miami City Commission

As a resident of North Miami I could not remain silent as my city chooses to give its seal of approval to a man who makes life more dangerous for me and my family and all gay people in this city. As a human rights activist, I am appalled that North Miami would provide a platform for someone who consistently dehumanizes gay people. This is a man who calls gay people negative and degenerative. Who equates us to pedophiles, calls his critics the "gay mafia" and says my husband and I along with all gay couples are "inherent evil". This is the voice North Miami has chosen to amplify? It is outrageous to anyone who believes in equality and fairness. I live walking distance from this press conference. By your vote, my taxes are being used to legitimize and assist someone who spouts his contempt for gay people openly and frequently. While the 1st amendment gives each of us the right to speak our minds it does not compel the city to give hatred a megaphone and legitimize that voice. On behalf of Equality Florida I'm here to call on city council to rescind the invitation, stop this event from expanding the audience for divisive and hateful remarks. Live up to the values espoused in our charter and in our policies. Do not amplify the voice of someone who attacks the LGBT community. Bigotry, even when it is cloaked in religious rhetoric is still bigotry.

Stratton Pollitzer Deputy Director, Equality Florida 954-682-6094 Cell

Equality Florida is a statewide education and advocacy organization dedicated to building a state of equal rights for all Floridians inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

A sampling of Pastor Jacks Anti-Gay Remarks: For electronic version email Stratton@eqfl.org

VIDEO: Hear Pastor Jack call homosexuality "negative" and "degenerative" (1:43 mark), as well as a "distortion of human love." http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded& v=y0H-CwKWg8s Preaches that gays "can and should change:" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rLYadLtpKE&feature=pl cp Click here to listen to Pastor Jack link gays to drug abuse and witchcraft. (You can fast-forward to the 7:15 mark if it saves you time) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv4GZdSqW04&featur e=share Hear him equate the GLBT movement to pedophiles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyOsjKw6h7E&featu re=relmfu Says that gay couples have "inherent evil:" (Mark 41:15 44) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taguB_R0L24&feature=player _embedded PRINT: July 2012 interview w/ South Florida Gay News: http://southfloridagaynews.com/articles/north-miami-pastorjack-hakimian-says-hes-not-anti-gay/106411 Says a "gay mafia" in North Miami is out to get him (with link to his video statement): http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2012-10-11/news/north-miamipastor-jack-hakimian-thinks-a-gay-mafia-is-out-to-get-him/full/

Equality Florida is a statewide education and advocacy organization dedicated to building a state of equal rights for all Floridians inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities.