Heterosexuals Organized
for a Moral Environment
Founded1990; 34 years ago (1990)
FounderWayne Anthony Lela
TypeNonprofit[1]
FocusOpposing homosexuality
Location
MethodWeb site and flyers
Key people
John McCartney
Websitehome60515.com

Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment (HOME) is an American pro-heterosexuality, anti-homosexuality organization founded by Wayne Lela and based in Downers Grove, Illinois. The organization's aim is "to use science, logic, and natural law to expose all the flaws in the arguments homosexuals (and bisexuals) use to try to justify homosexual activity".[2] The organization has been designated an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center[3][4] "based on their propagation of known falsehoods".[5][6]

Background

HOME's main goal is to foster heterosexuality, oppose LGBT rights, and to criminalize homosexual relations. The group claims that if homosexuality remains legal, then "necrophilia and pedophilia may become legal activities".[6]

According to their web site, the group supports the idea that "penalizing people for engaging in homosexual behavior is clearly not discrimination, just like penalizing people for exhibitionism or incest is not discrimination", adding that "heterosexual activity is not illegalizeable ... while homosexual activity is definitely illegalizeable". HOME believes that gays should apologize "for all the STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) they've spread, and all the money those STDs have cost."[7] HOME also makes a connection between Freemasonry and homosexual sex, positing that Masons may be using their power and influence to spread homosexual values, and linking Masonic rites with homosexual sex.[8]

History

Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment (HOME) was founded in 1990 by Wayne Lela, a former Catholic and now self-described agnostic.[7]

Activism

Since 2002, Elgin Community College (ECC), in Elgin, Illinois has permitted HOME to set up a booth on the campus once each semester. The college in no way supports or agrees with the message delivered by this group. It is in direct opposition to the shared values of the college[9]

In 2004, their presence on the campus caused mixed reactions from students and faculty. In response, Carole Akeman, managing director of planning and marketing for ECC, said that it is likely that the college will revisit the decision to allow HOME to continue setting up a booth on the campus, "as the school's primary concern is to provide a safe environment for its students. This is obviously in conflict with our zero-tolerance policy on discrimination."[10]

In 2005, Weissman Jordan of the Daily Northwestern wrote that HOME distributed flyers on the Northwestern University campus, and that most students accepted the fliers and threw them in a nearby trash can.[11]

In 2006, Joliet Junior College required HOME's founder, Wayne Lela, to use a remote free speech zone. Lela commented that "you could be standing out there with all kinds of fliers and you're not going to see anybody unless they go significantly out of their way."[12]

In 2007, students at the University of Chicago protested against Lela, who was distributing flyers denouncing homosexual behavior.[13]

Hate group designation

On November 22, 2010,[14] the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) designated the Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment (HOME) as an anti-gay hate group[3][4] "based on their propagation of known falsehoods".[5][6] According to the SPLC, Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment "is entirely focused on the alleged evils of homosexuality [and] attacks gay people on a wide variety of levels".[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Corporation File Detail Report". State of Illinois. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  2. ^ Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment. "Why H.O.M.E.?". Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Sturges, Jenette (March 28, 2010). "Web site called hateful by civil rights group". The Sun. Naoerville, IL. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Konecky, Gary (December 14, 2010). "2010: A year of religious hate". Newark Examiner. Newark, NJ.
  5. ^ a b Southern Poverty Law Center. "Active Anti-Gay Groups". Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c Wertheimer, Aaron (December 24, 2010). "Crimes target gays". Chicago Jewish Star. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2012. Intelligence Report compiled data in the same issue on 18 anti-gay groups, two of which are located in Illinois: Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment (HOME, in Downers Grove) and Illinois Family Institute (IFI, in Carol Stream). Both groups are classified by the SPLC as hate groups, 'based on their propagation of known falsehoods'.
  7. ^ a b c Schlatter, Evelyn (2010). "18 Anti-Gay Groups and Their Propaganda". Intelligence Report. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  8. ^ Goldwag, Arthur (2012). The New Hate: A History of Fear and Loathing on the Populist Right. Pantheon. pp. 57–58. ISBN 978-0307379696.
  9. ^ https://elgin.edu/about-ecc/mission/
  10. ^ Elejalde-Ruiz, Alexia (October 27, 2004). "Group against homosexuality stirs students". Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, IL. Retrieved September 9, 2012.[dead link]
  11. ^ Jordan, Weissmann (May 17, 2005). "Week's start colored by debate at Northwestern U." Daily Northwestern. Evanston, IL. Retrieved September 9, 2012. [dead link]
  12. ^ Blesch, Gregg Sherrard (December 10, 2006). "Free Speech – If a speaker gives a spiel on camus, and nobody's around to hear, does that speaker make a sound?". Daily Southtown. Chicago, IL.
  13. ^ Hassan, Ali S. (April 3, 2007). "Students picket anti-gay protesters". The Chicago Maroon. Chicago, IL. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  14. ^ Hurst, Evan (November 22, 2010). "SPLC Designates American Family Association, Family Research Council, Illinois Family Institute As Hate Groups". Truth Wins Out. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2012.

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