Public Comments City of North Miami Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Good evening.

Im Jack Doren, and I am the LGBT Representative on the Broward County Democratic Partys Executive Committee, and also a Board member of the Dolphin Democrats, a Broward County LGBT Democratic Club. I am not here to raise a concern about anyone speaking anywhere. Thats a freedom of speech issue. Nor am I here to object to a person having whatever beliefs they have. In America, everyone has, and should have, that right. Instead, I am here to raise concern that an estimated 5000 tax dollars and other cityprovided benets, such as a free stage, sound and light equipment, and city staff time, are being offered to a gentleman who has publicly expressed seriously derisive statements about a community of citizens, many of whom live in North Miami. In other words, the issue is how tax dollars and taxpayer-paid resources are being proposed to be given to an individual for him to hold a prayer vigil on May 2nd. Rather than my opinions or interpretations, let me offer the Council some examples of some of the things Pastor Jack Hakimian has publicly said, so you all can make a more knowledged decision on this issue. In an interview in July of 2012, he said: Homosexuality if a distortion of human love and human sexual expression. and The practice of homosexuality has a slow degenerative consequence when it comes to morality, when it comes to the way that it begins to spread and compete with heterosexual intimacy. From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y0H-CwKWg8s In a talk in a video published on May 27th, 2012, this pastor said: I dont think homosexuality is any more of a greater [sic] sin than [unintelligible fornication?], drug abuse, idolatry, witchcraft. The reason why Im dealing with it so much is because theres an aggressive approach by gay Christians, which is an oxymoron. From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv4GZdSqW04&feature=share In another talk in a video published on May 24th, 2012, this pastor posited what members of Congress should be asked:

Why are you sitting here voting based on the Constitutions ethics, which is law, but its not the real law. Thats the oxymoron. All of us have limits in how far we can go with equal rights. Like the pedophile. Oh no! But ten years from now, a movement begins to grow: Pedophiles of America Association. From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyOsjKw6h7E&feature=relmfu So hes making an association of same-sex love and rights to pedophilia, an act that causes such psychological destruction and pain, certainly, by denition, not consensual between two adults. In a talk on May 13th, 2012, this pastor said that gays can repent. They can, through the spirit of God, subdue their tendencies. From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rLYadLtpKE&feature=plcp These quotes are available and can be viewed and heard online. I have handed out a copy of my talk to the Councilmembers with the link to the video, so the quotes can be veried as a matter of public record. As a Clinical Psychologist, I ask the Council members, as the political leaders of your city elected to protect the welfare and best interests of its citizens, to think about what your bestowing this honor of public support and funding to this pastor, will mean to a gay or lesbian child, a child struggling to come to terms with his or her same-sex feelings. Or to the parent of such a child, coming to terms with having a gay son or daughter. Or to the fellow classmate of such a child, who may feel a sanctioning to bully this child. And think of the offense to gay and lesbian adults, your constituents, who, like you, are simply living their lives trying to deal with lifes everyday challenges. I came here tonight to ask you for your leadership, and the courage to do what I know you know, in your heart, is right. Thank you. Jack Doren, PsyD