Ugandan 'Gays' Charge Speech is 'Crime Against Humanity' -International Case Puts Bull's-Eye on Americans' First Amendment Rights

 

Bob Unruh / WND

Critics of President Obama long have accused him, not without considerable evidence, of wanting to make the United States and its Constitution subservient to international precedents and practices on issues like guns, marriage, gender orientation, the use of fossil fuels, “clean” energy and more.

Now a fight is developing that could determine whether international law can be used to torpedo the First Amendment of the United States’ founding document.

For Americans.

On American soil.

The case is Sexual Minorities of Uganda (SMUG) vs. American minister, speaker and advocate Scott Lively, of Abiding Truth Ministries, and specifically charges that Lively’s comments about homosexuality are “crimes against humanity” and are forbidden under international law.

The result could hit hard at the freedom Americans have under the First Amendment.

“And not just for Americans traveling overseas,” explained Harry Mihet, an executive for Liberty Counsel and the attorney coordinating the fight against SMUG.

Under SMUG’s demands, there would be penalties “for engaging in First Amendment free speech right here at home,” he said.

“SMUG claims any effort to deprive homosexuals of ‘fundamental rights’ amounts to crimes against humanity under their so-called laws,” he told WND. “Their claim is that international law trumps the U.S. Constitution.”

Everything you think you know about Nazis and homosexuals is wrong. Read Scott Lively’s controversial bestseller “The Pink Swastika.”

SMUG is demanding punishment for Lively for advocating on behalf of family values as part of his ministry, simply through speech, he said.

“If this court can do that, then there would be nothing [that could prevent] courts from punishing any American who is engaged in a petition to place a marriage amendment on a state ballot, or in opposition to a bill, for example, in Congress expanding protections for homosexuals in the area of employment.

“A whole host of advocacy here in the United States is at risk of being criminalized under the bizarre theory that SMUG is advancing,” he explained.

The next move in the case will be depositions for Lively over the next few days. Eventually there could be discovery and even a trial, if the agenda is not thwarted sooner by the judiciary.

“Scott Lively has done nothing other than to exercise his First Amendment right to free speech … which protects Americans not only in the United States but anywhere they happen to be in the world. Americans don’t check their constitutional rights at the airport to be lost with their luggage. It travels with them and the First Amendment traveled with Scott Lively to Uganda,” Mihet said.

WND previously has reported on the circumstances that gave rise to SMUG’s challenge to America’s First Amendment. Lively had visited Uganda and exchanged ideas about homosexuality with leaders there. SMUG sued.

Then a year ago, U.S. District Judge Michael Posner let continue the case in which SMUG alleges the Alien tort Statute in the U.S. allows them to bring their complaint.

Posner took nearly 80 pages to say that he thought SMUG’s allegations were substantive and needed to be adjudicated.

Read more at WND:

http://www.wnd.com/2015/06/ugandan-gays-charge-speech-is-crime-against-humanity/