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Hate Crime/Murder Update
A group of Slavic men picnicking with their families at the lake allegedly noticed that, Satendar Singh did not have a female date, and he danced with both women and men in his party. Witnesses reported that the attackers began hurling anti-gay and racist invectives. As things escalated, the attackers sent their families home and called for backup. When a new group of Russian speaking men showed up, the party tried to leave, but were blocked by the attackers. One of the men struck Satendar, who fell unconscious, his head bleeding profusely. As the attackers went to their cars to get away, they hurled bottles at the members of Satendar’s party. One member of this party was a petite and young woman who is 6-months pregnant. Satendar later died on July 5th.
A young man is dead, the victim of hate and intolerance.
After many years of relative safety in the Sacramento area, the last several have seen virulent protest from radical fundamentalists including many Slavic church groups. Over the 4th of July weekend, the homophobic hatred turned deadly. Satendar Singh was killed in an attack at Lake Natomas on Sunday by a group of Russian-speaking men after they perceived him as gay. Satendar was a recent immigrant to America from Fiji, having won a lottery for a green card. Satendar earned the nickname "The Lucky One" among his family and friends.
A group of Slavic men picnicking with their families at the lake allegedly noticed that, Satendar did not have a female date, and he danced with both women and men in his party. Witnesses reported that the attackers began hurling anti-gay and racist invectives. As things escalated, the attackers sent their families home and called for backup. When a new group of Russian speaking men showed up, the party tried to leave, but were blocked by the attackers. One of the men struck Satendar, who fell unconscious, his head bleeding profusely. As the attackers went to their cars to get away, they hurled bottles at the members of Satendar’s party. One member of this party was a petite and young woman who is 6-months pregnant.
Satendar was taken to Mercy San Juan hospital. Tests indicated no brain activity due to the severe brain injury. Singh died on July 5th, 2007. His family and friends numbered over 100 at the hospital. Singh's parents live in Fiji with no way to come to Sacramento, so the painful decision to unplug his body from life support fell on his aunt and uncle. Singh’s body will be transported back to Fiji for burial.
A fund is being setup to help Satendar’s family with expenses. Information will be available shortly at http://www.satendar.com
Memorial services for Satendar are being planned by the family, details to be released soon. The family asks that people show up to express their support of the family and opposition to violence and intolerance.
Several investigators have warned the Sacramento community for years about the fact that American fundamentalists have been stoking the fires of homophobia in new immigrants from Russian and the Ukraine, in order to use them for political agendas.
A small number of Russian-speaking preachers presiding over huge congregations are allegedly spreading the message that it’s their God given right to kill homosexuals, among other radical interpretations of the Bible. Protests against homosexual events and others have been organized within a number of these churches. Over 80 of these churches exist within the Sacramento area; some have over 5,000 members.
Not all of these churches are intolerant and preach hate, but a small handful of politically and financially-influenced preachers are capable of moving vast numbers of faithful followers. A growing number of these churches are becoming organized along the West Coast of the United States. The result is a growing threat to our safety and freedom. Sadly these congregations are being manipulated and used as foot soldiers to promote complex political and financial agendas that they will never be told about.
The following video link is to Sacramento’s Pride Parade that shows some of the radical fundamentalist protestors. This video was shot on June 16th only 3 weeks before the tragic murder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-6hCMVvVbI
Before this crime took place, the LGBT and other minority communities had already begun planning a West Coast Diversity Summit to take place on the 21st of July in Sacramento. The focus of this summit will be the growing number of hate crimes and threats generated from radical groups. To become involved visit http://www.OutSacramento.com
If you have information involving a Hate Crime please report it to your local authorities.
When doing so, be certain you demand the incident is filed as a hate crime, even if you meet resistance. Often the authorities may try to talk a victim out calling an incident a hate crime due to the increased amount of paperwork.
If you have information concerning the murder of Satendar Singh, please call the Sacramento Sheriffs Department at (916) 874-5115
For updates and more information as it becomes available, visit http://www.Satendar.com
After many years of relative safety in the Sacramento area, the last several have seen virulent protest from radical fundamentalists including many Slavic church groups. Over the 4th of July weekend, the homophobic hatred turned deadly. Satendar Singh was killed in an attack at Lake Natomas on Sunday by a group of Russian-speaking men after they perceived him as gay. Satendar was a recent immigrant to America from Fiji, having won a lottery for a green card. Satendar earned the nickname "The Lucky One" among his family and friends.
A group of Slavic men picnicking with their families at the lake allegedly noticed that, Satendar did not have a female date, and he danced with both women and men in his party. Witnesses reported that the attackers began hurling anti-gay and racist invectives. As things escalated, the attackers sent their families home and called for backup. When a new group of Russian speaking men showed up, the party tried to leave, but were blocked by the attackers. One of the men struck Satendar, who fell unconscious, his head bleeding profusely. As the attackers went to their cars to get away, they hurled bottles at the members of Satendar’s party. One member of this party was a petite and young woman who is 6-months pregnant.
Satendar was taken to Mercy San Juan hospital. Tests indicated no brain activity due to the severe brain injury. Singh died on July 5th, 2007. His family and friends numbered over 100 at the hospital. Singh's parents live in Fiji with no way to come to Sacramento, so the painful decision to unplug his body from life support fell on his aunt and uncle. Singh’s body will be transported back to Fiji for burial.
A fund is being setup to help Satendar’s family with expenses. Information will be available shortly at http://www.satendar.com
Memorial services for Satendar are being planned by the family, details to be released soon. The family asks that people show up to express their support of the family and opposition to violence and intolerance.
Several investigators have warned the Sacramento community for years about the fact that American fundamentalists have been stoking the fires of homophobia in new immigrants from Russian and the Ukraine, in order to use them for political agendas.
A small number of Russian-speaking preachers presiding over huge congregations are allegedly spreading the message that it’s their God given right to kill homosexuals, among other radical interpretations of the Bible. Protests against homosexual events and others have been organized within a number of these churches. Over 80 of these churches exist within the Sacramento area; some have over 5,000 members.
Not all of these churches are intolerant and preach hate, but a small handful of politically and financially-influenced preachers are capable of moving vast numbers of faithful followers. A growing number of these churches are becoming organized along the West Coast of the United States. The result is a growing threat to our safety and freedom. Sadly these congregations are being manipulated and used as foot soldiers to promote complex political and financial agendas that they will never be told about.
The following video link is to Sacramento’s Pride Parade that shows some of the radical fundamentalist protestors. This video was shot on June 16th only 3 weeks before the tragic murder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-6hCMVvVbI
Before this crime took place, the LGBT and other minority communities had already begun planning a West Coast Diversity Summit to take place on the 21st of July in Sacramento. The focus of this summit will be the growing number of hate crimes and threats generated from radical groups. To become involved visit http://www.OutSacramento.com
If you have information involving a Hate Crime please report it to your local authorities.
When doing so, be certain you demand the incident is filed as a hate crime, even if you meet resistance. Often the authorities may try to talk a victim out calling an incident a hate crime due to the increased amount of paperwork.
If you have information concerning the murder of Satendar Singh, please call the Sacramento Sheriffs Department at (916) 874-5115
For updates and more information as it becomes available, visit http://www.Satendar.com
For more information:
http://www.BeingGayToday.com
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First and foremost on behalf of all my pagan brothers and sisters let me apolgize for allowing this senseless hate crime murder of Satendar Singh to happen within the borders of CA. Prevention of escalating homophobia and bigotry is required to put an end to this violence. We need to look further into the sources of homophobia as coming from religious doctrines and recognize that Christian evangelicals preaching messages of hatred and bigotry are indeed influential..
Since we're supposed to be a "happiness pursuing multicultural nation of immigrants" we need to address the recent influx of Eastern European Christians and their tendencies towards homophobia (Not ALL, just MOST). We're all entitled to bring our share of baggage from the "old country", though not when it includes hatred and bigotry. We're best off leaving those misleading dogmas behind..
In other countries people are wise enough to demand the deportation of the hatemongering Christian missionaries when they show their ugly heads BEFORE the tragedy of religious induced hate crime murders can occur;
"KOCHI: The Kerala unit of the VHP on Thursday demanded the state government deport foreign missionaries in the state who are "indulging in widespread religious conversion, with the help of foreign aid."
Speaking to reporters here, Kummanam Rajasekharan, Organising Secretary, VHP Kerala, alleged that about 150 missionary workers under tourist and business visas are camping in various parts of the country and engaging in conducting conversions, violating existing visa regulations.
Alleging that five foreign missionary workers from USA were camping in Kerala for the last three years, holding religious conventions and that they had converted about 2,000 people, he demanded that action be taken against them.
He said if the government failed to take steps to stop the "illegal functioning" of missionaries, the VHP would organise a "march" to the convention centres and residential places of the missionaries."
article @;
http://www.crusadewatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=797&Itemid=67
There's no reason that the people of CA or any other state in the US are required to accept the presence of ANY hatemongering immigrant populations. We certainly welcome the refugees of other lands seeking greater stability, though under the condition that said immigrants abide by our community's laws and do not promote violence, hatred and/or bigotry. Spreading hatred, homophobia and other reactionary filth will not be tolerated here. Deportation of homophobic Christian hatemongers of ANY ethnicity is always an option. If these murderous Christian hatemongering fools persist in promoting homophobia, self defense is also always an option and they can be returned to their lands of origin in coffins if needed. Even there the indigenous soils of Russia may revolt and reject the vile bodies of these toxic hateful people. We know that liberals and gays both detest ANY violence, though self defense may become a needed reality if this problem persists. We urge the entire Russian Christian community to take this warning seriously and protect themselves by distancing themselves from homophobia and other forms of bigotry..
Since we're on topic of immigration to North America, let's pause and recognize the human rights of indigenous nations of this land. A majority of pre-European contact indigenous North American nations recognized that individuals who display an alternative sexuality lifestyle are unique and were treated with respect. Since the influx of European dominated Christianity, (British, French, Spanish, etc..) indigenous peoples adopted Christian beliefs following coercion, and often lost some of their culture's earlier acceptances of homosexuality and bisexuality. It is/was also recognized among many indigenous healers that bisexuality can open the doors to both realms of male/female duality of energy in the Universe and help open healing channels. However, there are also many misconceptions about the term "two-spirit" and indigenous communities object to misuse of this term;
"Historically, Native communities have thought of Two-Spiritedness as a gift. It was not necessary to define or impose roles on members of the community. Rather than imposing strictly binary gender roles, it was more important that everyone perform their specific role in relation to the overall survival of the community. This social philosophy led to a respect for T-S people, which allowed them to have unrestricted relationships—a respect which was spoiled by colonization. As Sue-Ellen Jacobs, a professor at the University of Washington, explains: "North Americans fit into their own varying categories of sexual identity until the strict social and gender structure of the colonies imposed a gender hierarchy rather than a continuum." Unfortunately, negative treatment of T-S people still occurs both inside and outside of Native communities. Whether Two-Spiritedness is a genetic or a psychological state of being is still a topic of debate. This thinking arises from the Western social values and discrimination that have been normalized through the North American colonization and assimilation of First Nations People. Eurocentric values tend to be black and white—a person is assigned one of two genders at birth, determined by their physiology. In doing so, the predetermined identity of female or male is expected to become reality. However, in Native communities that have maintained their unique philosophies on gender, these rigid concerns are not important. The role of T-S people in Native communities was at one time respected but, upon colonization, this respect was largely destroyed. - A place of honour: Two-Spirited people in our communities N/A (This article was once available online from: Metis Voyageur magazine)"
found @;
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~ptrembla/aboriginal/two-spirited-american-indian-resources.htm
The folks coming here from Russia should learn about their own oppressed indigenous cultures of Asia and Siberia, how Christian Czardom, Athiest Communism and now Christian Capitalism ALL took their toll on the indigenous cultures of Russian Asia..
"What is especially valuable about this book is that it discusses different manifestations of Russian and Soviet national policies and their impact on peoples of very different cultures. The detrimental effects of sovietization are illustrated on civilized nations with their own well-established literary traditions (like the Ingrians) as well as on people living in their natural state (like the Saame Lapps of the Kola peninsula). Entries show that the disappearance of a people can be slow and relatively smooth (as with the metamorphosis of the Itelmens into the Kamchadals), but also sudden and all the more brutal (the Siberian Eskimo). Usually, a clear point or period of breakdown can be discerned. The turning-point tends to be especially noticeable in the case of primitive peoples as their self-image differs from that of nations with a literary tradition. The identity of a primitive tribe can be extinguished by the mere destruction of their natural environment, entailing no open display of hostility."
RED BOOK of the Peoples of the Russian Empire @;
http://www.eki.ee/books/redbook/foreword.shtml
Seems like some of the more violent Russian Christian homophobes are more in character with the colonial New England Puritans and other Christian witch hunters who would just as soon burn people accussed of witchcraft at the stake in a modern Inquisition than open their minds to any Earth-centered traditions that are inclusive of homo/bisexuality. We will not allow any modern Inquisitions to happen here!!
Education is key to eradicating the ignorance that allows homophobia and other bigotry to flourish. We applaud any school that attempts to dispell myths by promoting an inclusive cirriculum and distancing themselves from homophobia. Seems like Christian bigots both here in in the "old country" of europe are having the toughest time deciding on who represents the biggest threat to their insular theocracy; is it the Gays or the Pagans??
"Is Homophobia a Sacrament?
Marc Horne from Scotland on Sunday looks at a growing controversy taking place at the University of Edinburgh. It seems that a local Christian group is up in arms after a campus Pagan group was given approval to hold a conference there.
"Two ancient religions have locked horns in a bizarre "freedom of speech" row that is echoing around the corridors of one of Scotland's oldest academic institutions. The University of Edinburgh has granted permission to the Pagan Society to hold its annual conference - involving talks on witchcraft, pagan weddings and tribal dancing - on campus next month. Druids, heathens, shamans and witches are expected to attend what is a major event in the pagan calendar. But the move has enraged the Christian Union, which accuses the university of double standards after banning one of its events on the "dangers" of homosexuality."
The school felt that the Christian Union's anti-gay chat violated its anti-discrimination policy, and in the end offered a compromise where posters offering different views would be displayed at their class if it was to be held. That no such measure has been applied to the Pagans has infuriated local Christians.
"The Union has won strong backing from the Catholic Church in Scotland, whose spokesman, Simon Dames, felt that allowing the pagan festival to go ahead while barring the Union meeting was an example of "Christianphobia". "This appears to be a clear case of double standards," he said."
But is this a double standard? I suppose you could make that argument if the school had interfered with a general conference on the religion of Christianity and then not done the same for the Pagans. But the Christian course was specifically on the moral "dangers" of homosexuality and was not a general conference on the faith itself. Last time I checked, while many Christians morally oppose homosexual behavior due to their reading of the Bible, the moral opposition to homosexuality isn't in itself a requirement for admission into the ranks of Christendom."
article @;
http://www.wildhunt.org/labels/Christianity.html
We will fight ignorance and hatred of homosexuality with the same force as the misled Christians who promote it..
Since we're supposed to be a "happiness pursuing multicultural nation of immigrants" we need to address the recent influx of Eastern European Christians and their tendencies towards homophobia (Not ALL, just MOST). We're all entitled to bring our share of baggage from the "old country", though not when it includes hatred and bigotry. We're best off leaving those misleading dogmas behind..
In other countries people are wise enough to demand the deportation of the hatemongering Christian missionaries when they show their ugly heads BEFORE the tragedy of religious induced hate crime murders can occur;
"KOCHI: The Kerala unit of the VHP on Thursday demanded the state government deport foreign missionaries in the state who are "indulging in widespread religious conversion, with the help of foreign aid."
Speaking to reporters here, Kummanam Rajasekharan, Organising Secretary, VHP Kerala, alleged that about 150 missionary workers under tourist and business visas are camping in various parts of the country and engaging in conducting conversions, violating existing visa regulations.
Alleging that five foreign missionary workers from USA were camping in Kerala for the last three years, holding religious conventions and that they had converted about 2,000 people, he demanded that action be taken against them.
He said if the government failed to take steps to stop the "illegal functioning" of missionaries, the VHP would organise a "march" to the convention centres and residential places of the missionaries."
article @;
http://www.crusadewatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=797&Itemid=67
There's no reason that the people of CA or any other state in the US are required to accept the presence of ANY hatemongering immigrant populations. We certainly welcome the refugees of other lands seeking greater stability, though under the condition that said immigrants abide by our community's laws and do not promote violence, hatred and/or bigotry. Spreading hatred, homophobia and other reactionary filth will not be tolerated here. Deportation of homophobic Christian hatemongers of ANY ethnicity is always an option. If these murderous Christian hatemongering fools persist in promoting homophobia, self defense is also always an option and they can be returned to their lands of origin in coffins if needed. Even there the indigenous soils of Russia may revolt and reject the vile bodies of these toxic hateful people. We know that liberals and gays both detest ANY violence, though self defense may become a needed reality if this problem persists. We urge the entire Russian Christian community to take this warning seriously and protect themselves by distancing themselves from homophobia and other forms of bigotry..
Since we're on topic of immigration to North America, let's pause and recognize the human rights of indigenous nations of this land. A majority of pre-European contact indigenous North American nations recognized that individuals who display an alternative sexuality lifestyle are unique and were treated with respect. Since the influx of European dominated Christianity, (British, French, Spanish, etc..) indigenous peoples adopted Christian beliefs following coercion, and often lost some of their culture's earlier acceptances of homosexuality and bisexuality. It is/was also recognized among many indigenous healers that bisexuality can open the doors to both realms of male/female duality of energy in the Universe and help open healing channels. However, there are also many misconceptions about the term "two-spirit" and indigenous communities object to misuse of this term;
"Historically, Native communities have thought of Two-Spiritedness as a gift. It was not necessary to define or impose roles on members of the community. Rather than imposing strictly binary gender roles, it was more important that everyone perform their specific role in relation to the overall survival of the community. This social philosophy led to a respect for T-S people, which allowed them to have unrestricted relationships—a respect which was spoiled by colonization. As Sue-Ellen Jacobs, a professor at the University of Washington, explains: "North Americans fit into their own varying categories of sexual identity until the strict social and gender structure of the colonies imposed a gender hierarchy rather than a continuum." Unfortunately, negative treatment of T-S people still occurs both inside and outside of Native communities. Whether Two-Spiritedness is a genetic or a psychological state of being is still a topic of debate. This thinking arises from the Western social values and discrimination that have been normalized through the North American colonization and assimilation of First Nations People. Eurocentric values tend to be black and white—a person is assigned one of two genders at birth, determined by their physiology. In doing so, the predetermined identity of female or male is expected to become reality. However, in Native communities that have maintained their unique philosophies on gender, these rigid concerns are not important. The role of T-S people in Native communities was at one time respected but, upon colonization, this respect was largely destroyed. - A place of honour: Two-Spirited people in our communities N/A (This article was once available online from: Metis Voyageur magazine)"
found @;
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~ptrembla/aboriginal/two-spirited-american-indian-resources.htm
The folks coming here from Russia should learn about their own oppressed indigenous cultures of Asia and Siberia, how Christian Czardom, Athiest Communism and now Christian Capitalism ALL took their toll on the indigenous cultures of Russian Asia..
"What is especially valuable about this book is that it discusses different manifestations of Russian and Soviet national policies and their impact on peoples of very different cultures. The detrimental effects of sovietization are illustrated on civilized nations with their own well-established literary traditions (like the Ingrians) as well as on people living in their natural state (like the Saame Lapps of the Kola peninsula). Entries show that the disappearance of a people can be slow and relatively smooth (as with the metamorphosis of the Itelmens into the Kamchadals), but also sudden and all the more brutal (the Siberian Eskimo). Usually, a clear point or period of breakdown can be discerned. The turning-point tends to be especially noticeable in the case of primitive peoples as their self-image differs from that of nations with a literary tradition. The identity of a primitive tribe can be extinguished by the mere destruction of their natural environment, entailing no open display of hostility."
RED BOOK of the Peoples of the Russian Empire @;
http://www.eki.ee/books/redbook/foreword.shtml
Seems like some of the more violent Russian Christian homophobes are more in character with the colonial New England Puritans and other Christian witch hunters who would just as soon burn people accussed of witchcraft at the stake in a modern Inquisition than open their minds to any Earth-centered traditions that are inclusive of homo/bisexuality. We will not allow any modern Inquisitions to happen here!!
Education is key to eradicating the ignorance that allows homophobia and other bigotry to flourish. We applaud any school that attempts to dispell myths by promoting an inclusive cirriculum and distancing themselves from homophobia. Seems like Christian bigots both here in in the "old country" of europe are having the toughest time deciding on who represents the biggest threat to their insular theocracy; is it the Gays or the Pagans??
"Is Homophobia a Sacrament?
Marc Horne from Scotland on Sunday looks at a growing controversy taking place at the University of Edinburgh. It seems that a local Christian group is up in arms after a campus Pagan group was given approval to hold a conference there.
"Two ancient religions have locked horns in a bizarre "freedom of speech" row that is echoing around the corridors of one of Scotland's oldest academic institutions. The University of Edinburgh has granted permission to the Pagan Society to hold its annual conference - involving talks on witchcraft, pagan weddings and tribal dancing - on campus next month. Druids, heathens, shamans and witches are expected to attend what is a major event in the pagan calendar. But the move has enraged the Christian Union, which accuses the university of double standards after banning one of its events on the "dangers" of homosexuality."
The school felt that the Christian Union's anti-gay chat violated its anti-discrimination policy, and in the end offered a compromise where posters offering different views would be displayed at their class if it was to be held. That no such measure has been applied to the Pagans has infuriated local Christians.
"The Union has won strong backing from the Catholic Church in Scotland, whose spokesman, Simon Dames, felt that allowing the pagan festival to go ahead while barring the Union meeting was an example of "Christianphobia". "This appears to be a clear case of double standards," he said."
But is this a double standard? I suppose you could make that argument if the school had interfered with a general conference on the religion of Christianity and then not done the same for the Pagans. But the Christian course was specifically on the moral "dangers" of homosexuality and was not a general conference on the faith itself. Last time I checked, while many Christians morally oppose homosexual behavior due to their reading of the Bible, the moral opposition to homosexuality isn't in itself a requirement for admission into the ranks of Christendom."
article @;
http://www.wildhunt.org/labels/Christianity.html
We will fight ignorance and hatred of homosexuality with the same force as the misled Christians who promote it..
IF you look across to new Muslim communities, you see the same type of homophobia. It is something that must be fought.
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