Church of Scientology Seeking BAN on HIV+ Protesters

The Church of Scientology is urgently trying to push through a law that would ban HIV+ protesters from approaching its buildings.
Scientology also obtained the 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 (California) protest ordinance in order to virtually ban HIV+ gay activists and others from free speech.
The litigation is covertly aimed at preventing human rights protest group Anonymous from protesting Scientology human rights abuses at Scientology’s 500 acre Gold Base world HQ 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 has been arranged.
“Anonymous’” 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.
They were anti-Scientology attorney Graham Berry, Scientology critic and comedian “Angry Gay Pope” and former Scientology staff member “Happy Smurf”.
Kelly was astonished that no sooner had the group gathered than five police cruisers descended on the site. Some of the 500 Gold Base staff members had called 911 to complain that their security was being threatened by the three gay protesters.
Graham Berry noted, “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 head of PR, Muriel Dufresne, noted for purchasing gifts for – and corrupting – Riverside officials.
Apparently, Dufresne 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).
The Police Sergeant in charge was polite and adamant that they were not looking to interfere with the protesters 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.
From time to time, various deputies would come out and engage the protesters. First, they demanded - and then took - all of the protesters driver's licenses, recording the details and passing them onto the “church” officials.
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.
The three Anonymous members continued to do that while Scientology's representatives, the five Sheriff's deputies and the Los Angeles Times reporter went inside the Scientology compound.
Then came the shocking revelation regarding the protesters' HIV status. Scientologist Muriel Dufresne provided the Sheriff's deputies with the personal private medical records of Angry Gay Pope and Happy Smurf.
Happy Smurf and Angry Gay Pope were forced to confirm that they are both HIV+.

This is an utterly outrageous breaking of First Amendment rights and aptly shows that L Ron Hubbard was - and the Church of Scientology is – homophobic.

Moreover, the “church” claims that homosexuality is a physical illness and that it can cured with vitamins, saunas and auditing (talking about it).

The gay community should be livid over all of this.

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.