Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Breaking: Scientology international headquarters seeks ban on HIV+ protesters
The Church of Scientology is urgently trying to push through an ordinance revision that would bar HIV+ protesters. Scientology also obtained private medical records of two protesters, who happened to be HIV+, and disclosed their status publicly.
The Church of
Scientology has requested an urgent revision of a recently revised
Riverside County protest ordinance in order to virtually ban HIV+ gay
activists and others from the free speech and human rights protest
group Anonymous
from protesting Scientology human rights abuses at its sprawling 500
acre Gold
Base world headquarters at Gilman Hot Springs near Hemet,
California.
Last Tuesday, January 6, the Riverside Country Board of Supervisors approved a revised protesting ordinance Scientology had hoped would effectively prevent Anonymous from protesting. However, the revision preserved Anonymous' right to protest in its usual position across from the main gate. Controversy is on going about interpretation of some ordinance provisions. and a six month review is specified.
The first protest under the new ordinance was called for Thursday, January 8. It was attended by LA Times reporter David Kelly and just three protesters from Anonymous, all of whom happen to be gay: Scientology lawfare veteran and attorney Graham Berry, Scientology critic and comedian Angry Gay Pope (AGP), and former Scientology staff member Happy Smurf.
Kelly was astonished that no sooner had the group gathered than five police cruisers descended. Some of the 500 Gold Base staff members had called 911 to complain that their security was being threatened by the three gay protesters. In his important account Graham Berry writes:
And now comes the shocking revelation of the protesters' HIV status:
Happy Smurf and AGP have confirmed they are both HIV+.
This is an utterly outrageous turn in a struggle for peaceful first amendment protest against the unscrupulous power of organized Scientology so aptly described by Time as "The thriving cult of greed and power." Hubbard's Scientology doctrines are homophobic, and it claims its reparative therapy will cure homosexuality. The Church of Scientology San Diego supported anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 in November.
The gay community should be livid over all of this.
Constitutional free speech and church-state religious issues have caught the attention of the respected UCLA professor Eugene Volokh of the Volokh Conspiracy and Scientology critic and attorney Scott Pilutik.
The issues are serious and have been heightened by the filing last week of Marc Headley vs Church of Scientology International. Headley was Executive Producer of Golden Era Studios which produces Scientology promotional materials working at Gold from 1990 - 2005. He is directly challenging Scientology's claim that Sea Org staff are members of a religious order and therefore do not need to be paid a minimum wage. He is claiming compensation under California Labor law for the meager 39 cents an hour wages he was paid. The suit is potentially devastating to Scientology and may become important in the interpretation of constitutional law.
Important sources:
Last Tuesday, January 6, the Riverside Country Board of Supervisors approved a revised protesting ordinance Scientology had hoped would effectively prevent Anonymous from protesting. However, the revision preserved Anonymous' right to protest in its usual position across from the main gate. Controversy is on going about interpretation of some ordinance provisions. and a six month review is specified.
The first protest under the new ordinance was called for Thursday, January 8. It was attended by LA Times reporter David Kelly and just three protesters from Anonymous, all of whom happen to be gay: Scientology lawfare veteran and attorney Graham Berry, Scientology critic and comedian Angry Gay Pope (AGP), and former Scientology staff member Happy Smurf.
Kelly was astonished that no sooner had the group gathered than five police cruisers descended. Some of the 500 Gold Base staff members had called 911 to complain that their security was being threatened by the three gay protesters. In his important account Graham Berry writes:
Outside Scientology's sailing
ship perpetually moored in the desert sands, cackled a parrot. I
thought to myself, if that parrot starts imitating AGP and squawking,
"Tax the cult," it would very soon be a dead parrot. It quickly became
evident to me that the entire Gold Base was on lock down. All of the
blinds and shutters were drawn. The only people visible were the
silhouettes of the two security officers in the guard house and the
public relations in-charge, Muriel Dufresne, the woman who had become
so well acquainted with Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone and his
family. I have been told that Muriel Dufresne has had store accounts
for purchasing gifts for public officials that Gold Base needs to
co-opt and corrupt. Apparently, Muriel has also been observed
surreptitiously recording Hemet City Council meetings. Additionally,
she has sat on the Hemet library committee (as a sort of de facto
Scientology censor).
Muriel Dufresne was literally running back and forth between a nearby building and the guardhouse. Meanwhile two more people arrived to observe us. One was a reporter and the other a photographer from the Los Angeles Times. The reporter had been at the Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting on January 6, 2009. His report would appear in the LA Times.com blogs section on Friday January 9, 2009.
At about 1:45 P.M., five Riverside County Sheriff's vehicles responded to multiple calls from Scientology to deal with two picketers and a photographer. The Sergeant in charge was polite and adamant that they were not looking to interfere with our First Amendment rights. However, for most of the next hour all five Sheriff's deputies were huddled inside the Scientology compound with Muriel and her assistant. We were excluded and just kept going on about our picketing. From time to time, various deputies would come out and engage us. First, they demanded and then took all of our driver's licenses, recording the details for a cult anxious to obtain all such information for its own highly questionable purposes. Although this is unlawful, it is constantly done by Los Angeles and Riverside Police when called to pickets outside Scientology locations. It was the first time in twenty years of journalism that the Los Angeles Times reporter had been asked for identification by the police.
At one point, the Sheriff's Deputies emerged and their Sergeant informed us that Scientology and the Riverside County's Legal Counsel had worked out an interpretation of Ordinances 884 and 888. Provided we did not use the name of any living Scientologist specifically, and only protested Scientology generally, we could protest up and down both sides of Highway 79. And so, AGP and I continued to do that while Scientology's representatives, the five Sheriff's deputies and the Los Angeles Times reporter went inside the Scientology compound.
Muriel Dufresne was literally running back and forth between a nearby building and the guardhouse. Meanwhile two more people arrived to observe us. One was a reporter and the other a photographer from the Los Angeles Times. The reporter had been at the Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting on January 6, 2009. His report would appear in the LA Times.com blogs section on Friday January 9, 2009.
At about 1:45 P.M., five Riverside County Sheriff's vehicles responded to multiple calls from Scientology to deal with two picketers and a photographer. The Sergeant in charge was polite and adamant that they were not looking to interfere with our First Amendment rights. However, for most of the next hour all five Sheriff's deputies were huddled inside the Scientology compound with Muriel and her assistant. We were excluded and just kept going on about our picketing. From time to time, various deputies would come out and engage us. First, they demanded and then took all of our driver's licenses, recording the details for a cult anxious to obtain all such information for its own highly questionable purposes. Although this is unlawful, it is constantly done by Los Angeles and Riverside Police when called to pickets outside Scientology locations. It was the first time in twenty years of journalism that the Los Angeles Times reporter had been asked for identification by the police.
At one point, the Sheriff's Deputies emerged and their Sergeant informed us that Scientology and the Riverside County's Legal Counsel had worked out an interpretation of Ordinances 884 and 888. Provided we did not use the name of any living Scientologist specifically, and only protested Scientology generally, we could protest up and down both sides of Highway 79. And so, AGP and I continued to do that while Scientology's representatives, the five Sheriff's deputies and the Los Angeles Times reporter went inside the Scientology compound.
And now comes the shocking revelation of the protesters' HIV status:
Later, we would learn that
Scientologist Muriel Dufresne then provided the Sheriff's deputies with
Scientology "Dead Agent" packs on the "crimes," as alleged and
manufactured by Scientology, of AGP, Happy Smurf and I. Outrageously,
Scientology had obtained and distributed personal medical information
from the private health records of AGP and Happy Smurf. Deceptively, they also used
the recanted Cipriano declaration to try and discredit and slime me.
Apparently, Muriel Dufresne had gloated over their success in having me
declared a vexatious litigant. However, that provides some of the
factual basis for my picket sign and statement, "$cientology: Cult of
Blackmail, Bribery and Fraud. www.xenu.net." Of course, the Riverside
Sheriff's Deputies do not know that this is part of Scientology's "Fair
Game" policies for the "handling of Suppressive Persons." They have not
seen the Scientology scripture that reads, "The only way to control
someone is to lie to them."
Happy Smurf and AGP have confirmed they are both HIV+.
This is an utterly outrageous turn in a struggle for peaceful first amendment protest against the unscrupulous power of organized Scientology so aptly described by Time as "The thriving cult of greed and power." Hubbard's Scientology doctrines are homophobic, and it claims its reparative therapy will cure homosexuality. The Church of Scientology San Diego supported anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 in November.
The gay community should be livid over all of this.
Constitutional free speech and church-state religious issues have caught the attention of the respected UCLA professor Eugene Volokh of the Volokh Conspiracy and Scientology critic and attorney Scott Pilutik.
The issues are serious and have been heightened by the filing last week of Marc Headley vs Church of Scientology International. Headley was Executive Producer of Golden Era Studios which produces Scientology promotional materials working at Gold from 1990 - 2005. He is directly challenging Scientology's claim that Sea Org staff are members of a religious order and therefore do not need to be paid a minimum wage. He is claiming compensation under California Labor law for the meager 39 cents an hour wages he was paid. The suit is potentially devastating to Scientology and may become important in the interpretation of constitutional law.
Important sources:
- Graham Berry's account of the Thursday, Jan 9 protest
- Graham Berry's Letter to the Riverside County supervisors regarding the protest ordinance
- Angry Gay Pope's website: There is lots of info here
- Scientology opponents bristle at protest limits in Riverside County - Los Angeles Times
- Scientology foes blast new Riverside County law - Los Angeles Times
- Eugene Volokh: Unconstitutional Residential Picketing Ban
- Scott Pilutik: Scientology's new anti-picketing ordinance in Riverside County
For more information:
http://anonforgreatjustice.blogspot.com/
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
You're kidding...how can they do this?
By breaking the law, threatening doctors, or possibly even breaking in to the doctors' offices after hours and stealing the records themselves.
Not possible? Google "Operation Snow White" and you'll read about how the "Church" of Scientology successfully infiltrated the US government in the 70s.
Successfully, that was, until 11 people, Including Mary Sue Hubbard ("Church" founder L. Ron. Hubbard's wife) were convicted and sent to prison for 5 years.
Not possible? Google "Operation Snow White" and you'll read about how the "Church" of Scientology successfully infiltrated the US government in the 70s.
Successfully, that was, until 11 people, Including Mary Sue Hubbard ("Church" founder L. Ron. Hubbard's wife) were convicted and sent to prison for 5 years.
Scientology and it's front groups have a history of using illegally gained private information in attenpts to squash the cries of it's victims and critics and. There is documented proof that Narconon in California repeatedly violates the HIPAA confidentiallity laws by revealing private medical information without authorization, particularly when trying to defend itself in credit card charge back claims it's victims have made against the organizations. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIPAA
California has additional strict laws related to drug treatment facilities and confidentiality of patient & medical record information, and Narconon repeatedly violates these laws, as well so reading about the cult's attempt to smear the protesters by use of illicitely gotten medical information is no surprise to me.
In the article "Who says Narconon isn't Scientology? Narconon Psych Waiver" you can see can see a true but redacted document Narconon of Southern California made one young victim sign called the the Narconon "illegal PC" Waiver ;It's a form I have seen forced upon 'students' of Narconon's drug program.
http://free-from-scientology.blogspot.com/2008/08/who-says-narconon-isnt-scientology.html
Private information in documents such as this are repeatedly used by Narconon in their fight against loved one's attempting to get a refund of monies paid, usually in the form of a credit card charge back for services promised but not delivered. Each submission by Narconon of private medical information unrelated to the victim's rehabilitation services received or lack of, in attempts to discredit the victims and get away with deceptive trade practices on the payers was a violation of CA regulations and Federal HIPAA law. The intent is to discredit and destroy. Fortunately, the banks have been quick to catch on and charge backs have been obtained for the payers and victims of this scam.
I appreciate reporter David Kelly writing about this in his LA Times article, and you for expounding upon it. This is a cult without a conscience and it needs to be reined in for good.
California has additional strict laws related to drug treatment facilities and confidentiality of patient & medical record information, and Narconon repeatedly violates these laws, as well so reading about the cult's attempt to smear the protesters by use of illicitely gotten medical information is no surprise to me.
In the article "Who says Narconon isn't Scientology? Narconon Psych Waiver" you can see can see a true but redacted document Narconon of Southern California made one young victim sign called the the Narconon "illegal PC" Waiver ;It's a form I have seen forced upon 'students' of Narconon's drug program.
http://free-from-scientology.blogspot.com/2008/08/who-says-narconon-isnt-scientology.html
Private information in documents such as this are repeatedly used by Narconon in their fight against loved one's attempting to get a refund of monies paid, usually in the form of a credit card charge back for services promised but not delivered. Each submission by Narconon of private medical information unrelated to the victim's rehabilitation services received or lack of, in attempts to discredit the victims and get away with deceptive trade practices on the payers was a violation of CA regulations and Federal HIPAA law. The intent is to discredit and destroy. Fortunately, the banks have been quick to catch on and charge backs have been obtained for the payers and victims of this scam.
I appreciate reporter David Kelly writing about this in his LA Times article, and you for expounding upon it. This is a cult without a conscience and it needs to be reined in for good.
For more information:
http://free-from-scientology.blogspot.com
Funny how screwed up the logic of this article is. They can't protest because they have AIDS? Nope, rather they can't protest because having three screaming adult man in front of your bedroom window qualifies as harassment.
Bedroom window?
One; it's the middle of the day. Who's asleep at that time?
Two; Golden Era productions isn't a residential area, Lou. Why would anyone be living there?
Perhaps then you can explain HOW Muriel obtained those medical records. It's illegal to share someones private medical information with a third party. I'm sure you can come up with SOME reasonable explanation.
One; it's the middle of the day. Who's asleep at that time?
Two; Golden Era productions isn't a residential area, Lou. Why would anyone be living there?
Perhaps then you can explain HOW Muriel obtained those medical records. It's illegal to share someones private medical information with a third party. I'm sure you can come up with SOME reasonable explanation.
"Provided we did not use the name of any living Scientologist specifically, and only protested Scientology generally, we could protest..."
But Scientology can release an individuals private medical information, curry political favor in order to get special regulations for themselves and illicit official police records (the information taken from the IDs) for their own use... I do hope they police there realize they're going to be eventually pulled into court and asked to explain themselves. And if they are culpable in this, they should expect to face charges.
But Scientology can release an individuals private medical information, curry political favor in order to get special regulations for themselves and illicit official police records (the information taken from the IDs) for their own use... I do hope they police there realize they're going to be eventually pulled into court and asked to explain themselves. And if they are culpable in this, they should expect to face charges.
Others helping others. Sigh.
"Louanne" and "LL" are screennames used by Scientology apologist Louanne Lee (real name available through Google). She is sent by the cult to post in articles such as these. She and other pro-Sci commenters post in the same pattern:
- The first few comments say the article is full of lies, no matter how sourced it is.
- They will call anyone who makes a rebuttal an "idiot" or any other childish name
- They will say something like "Scientology helps people" or "Scientology has (insert statistic here)" or "Why are you attacking a religion?"
- Then they will continue to attack the comments, the article poster, and the site itself with thinly veiled ad-hominum attacks.
- If this doesn't work, they will try to steer the comments off-topic, by ranting about Phyciatry, or nit-picking one statement in someone's comments
- The first few comments say the article is full of lies, no matter how sourced it is.
- They will call anyone who makes a rebuttal an "idiot" or any other childish name
- They will say something like "Scientology helps people" or "Scientology has (insert statistic here)" or "Why are you attacking a religion?"
- Then they will continue to attack the comments, the article poster, and the site itself with thinly veiled ad-hominum attacks.
- If this doesn't work, they will try to steer the comments off-topic, by ranting about Phyciatry, or nit-picking one statement in someone's comments
Louanne will never answer a sensible article/question intelligently because scientology osa posters (which is what she/he is) are only able to post to distract from the article/question.....obfuscate and attack-never defend; that`s what they are taught by scientology. Those gulag slave labor barracks at gold are hardly anywhere close to a bedroom window and that horrid 110 decibel organ note that they play over 10 loud speakers that surprise drivers on Hwy 79 is MUCH worse than any other noise coming in their fortified razor-wired (on the INSIDE, no less!) compound! The poor parrots being kept there are louder than any protester can hope to be! Parishioners are brainwashed and scientology lies!
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$210.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network