The Daily Background

Think Progress brings us the excellent news that the American Public Health Association has come out against President Bush’s nomination of the fringe ultra-conservative homophobic James Holsinger for Surgeon General. The APHA has issued a letter to Senators urging them to reject Holsinger’s nomination for the top medical officer of the United States:

APHA is very concerned with Dr. Holsinger’s past writings regarding his views of homosexuality, which put his political and religious ideology before established medical science. We have long opposed discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation. At a time when one of our association’s top priorities is to eliminate disparities in health, including disparities in the gay and lesbian community, we cannot support a nominee with discredited and non-evidence-based views on sexuality.

We are hopeful that the Senate will reject his nomination and urge the president to put forth another nominee.

The APHA is absolutely right. And Focus on the Family on the other hand is (as usual) absolutely wrong (and Republican Senate Minority Leader is too). Among the many reasons to oppose Holsinger’s nomination:

- Holsinger oversaw “substandard care” for veterans while VA Chief under Bush Sr.

- Holsinger has tried to mislead people into thinking homosexuality can be “lethal“

- Holsinger founded a church which promotes the backward, bigoted and unscientific myth that homosexuality is a disease

You can email the Senate Committee in charge of Holsinger’s nomination hearings, and urge them to reject Holsiger’s nomination at help_comments@help.senate.gov.

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