February 21, 2008 | Sex & Society

Gays cause earthquakes!

Shlomo Benizri, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish MP in the Israeli parliament, claims recent tremors through the Holy Land were caused by a growing acceptance of gays and lesbians. Four earthquakes shook the area in November and December, and two more struck this past week.

Shlomo raised the issue of gays while speaking to parliament (also known as the Knesset) on how to deal with the earthquakes. "We are looking for earthly solutions, how to prevent them," he said. "I have another way to prevent earthquakes. The Gemara says that one of the reasons earthquakes happen - which the Knesset [Parliament] legitimizes - is homosexuality. 

"God says you shake your genitals where you are not supposed to and I will shake my world in order to wake you up," he added.

Israeli court rulings in recent years have recognized same-sex marriages performed abroad and afforded inheritance rights to gay couples. Israel's attorney general has also stated that same-sex couples could adopt.

Shlomo may be right this time; after all, love is a pretty powerful thing.