ALGA Update_v2.no7.1995.10.pdf
- Title
- ALGA Update_v2.no7.1995.10.pdf
- extracted text
-
Propc•rty of th e c,mtt r
~rillo
Ltsbia
Volume 2, Number 7
tflenls Calendar
Queer Dinner Club
Thursday, October 5
Washington Square
7:30 p.m.
Everyone Invited
P-FLAG
(Parents Family & Friends Of
Lesbians and Gays)
Meeting
Tuesday, October 10
7:30 p.m.
Call 358-4810 or 373-5885
for details
National Coming Out Day
Wednesday, October 11
Queer Dinner Club
Thursday, October 19
Italian Delights
7:30 p.m.
Everyone Invited
Amarillo Lesbian Gay Alliance
Presents
A fundraiser for the
Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas
with special guest,
Dianne Hardy-Garcia,
Executive Director of LGRL
Saturday, October 28
4409 Baltus, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets $25 ($30 at the door)
Dianne Hardy-Garcia will speak on
Texas Hate at the Amarillo Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship
Sunday, October 29
11 a.m.
4901 Cornell
ALGA Information Une: 373-5725
October 1995
Supreme Court to Hold Hearings on Colorado's
Amendment 2
(Washington, October 10) - On October 10, 1995, the United States
Supreme Court will hear argument in Romer v. Evans, the challenge to
Colorado's 1992 anti-gay ballot initiative. The case is brought by Lambda
Legal Defense and Education Fund, along with the American Civil Liberties
Union and several Colorado attorneys, and it marks the first time in nine
years that the high court will hear a case that directly presents questions
concerning the application of constitutional protections to lesbians, gay
men and bisexuals. Former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Jean Dubofsky
will argue for the plaintiffs.
"Amendment 2 is an outrageous violation of the Constitution," said
Suzanne B. Goldberg, staff attorney at Lambda Legal Defense and Education
Fund.
"By banning laws that would prohibit discrimination against
lesbians, gay men and bisexuals, it changes the political playing field, but
only for people who are gay," Goldberg added.
Beatrice Dohrn, Lambda's legal director, added: "In erecting its
special barrier for lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals, Amendment 2 violates
a most basic tenet of our constitution. Voters in a majority group cannot
change the rules of participation for members of a minority because they
are unpopular. It is the most fundamental principle of our constitution that
you can t do that and still have a democracy."
Under Amendment 2, most Coloradans retain their ability to seek
redress from their elected representatives. However, under the amendment,
lesbians and gay men cannot seek redress for discrimination or even antigay violence legislatively. Lesbians and gay men would be forced to seek
amendment of the state constitution before government can provide to us
what it remains free to provide to anyone else. Amendment 2 imposes upon
gay people a much more burdensome set of rules than those which apply
to all other citizens who have full access to the ordinary political process.
By doing so, Amendment 2 violates the Fourteenth Amendment's
Equal Protection Clause, which guarantees all citizens the fundamental
right to participate in the political process on an equal footing with others.
"Although Amendment 2 does not literally bar gay people from the voting
booth, the right to cast a vote is a hollow right if government cannot act
on the voter s behalf because of who that voter is," said Goldberg.
Although this case represents the first time such a measure will be
examined by the high court, Amendment 2 and similar ballot initiatives have
been invalidated repeatedly by courts around the country.
What's Inside
News Briefs
Take Action
Washington Square
Rex Wockner
2
3
3
4
Solidarity Sunday
GLB Organizations
HRCF Letter
4
5
6
Page2
MUGABE HIT WITH PROTEST
by Rex Wockner
Zimbabwean President Robert
Mugabe was met by hundreds of
protesting gays and lesbians as he arrived
in Johannesburg, South Africa, Aug. 26
to attend a summit of the Southern
African Development Community.
They were responding to the strong
insults he has hurled at homosexuals on
four occasions since Aug. 1.
"We are gathered here to be a
voice against a fallen hero of African
liberation," said Kevan Botha of the
National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian
Equality. "Mugabe needs to be reminded
of the lesson of Africa that he has
forgotten, and that is that the struggle
for liberation has been a struggle for
equality for all."
The protesters kissed and chanted,
"Two, four, six, eight, is Mugabe really
straight?" reported the Reuter news
service.
Mugabe left the airport through a
back door and took a back road into
town, Reuter said.
Mugabe's tirades since Aug. 1
have included:
* "What we are being persuaded
to accept is sub-animal behavior and we
will never ever allow it here. If you see
people in your areas parading themselves
as lesbians and gays, arrest them and
hand them over to the police."
* "I find it extremely outrageous
and repugnant to my human conscience
that such immoral and repulsive
organizations, like those of homosexuals
who offend both against the law of
nature and the morals and religious beliefs
espoused by our society, should have
any advocates in our midst and even
elsewhere in the world."
* "I don't believe (homosexuals)
have any rights at all."
DUTCH GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZES
GAY GAMES
by Rex Wockner
The Dutch government has
provided Amsterdam's 1998 Gay Games
with a $62,000 subsidy, reported De
Gay Krant.
The money came from a fund for
organizers of large sporting events.
A spokesman for Secretary of State
Eric Terpstra said he hoped that "more
The ALGA UPDATE
than before, attention will be given to
sport for homosexuals, which in turn
will promote sporting participation in
general."
Meanwhile, organizers of the
1998 Games have hired the
professional lobbying group AEF
European Affairs to seek money from
the European Community.
"We're counting on ...
$625,000," said Gay Games
spokesman Marc Janssens. "To
achieve that we have to submit a lot of
applications."
ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO
MEETS WITH GAY GROUPS TO
DISCUSS CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES
Washington, DC -- September 1 3,
1995 -- The National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force (NGL TF) coordinated a
meeting today at the Department of
Justice between gay organizations and
Attorney General Janet Reno. NGL TF
Executive Director Melinda Paras and
Public Policy Director Helen Gonzales
were part of a contingent of
organizations working on gay-related
civil rights issues who met with top
Justice officials.
The discussion focused on hate
crimes, anti-gay ballot measures, and
pending and potential legislative
attacks on gay, lesbian and bisexual
people. NGL TF requested that the
Department seek ways to use the
office of Attorney General and the
Department as a whole to advance fair
and equal treatment of all citizens,
regardless of sexual orientation.
Today's meeting was held in response
to a request by NGLTF and other
groups to meet directly with the
Attorney General.
That request
followed the decision by the Attorney
General against filing an amicus brief
in the pending U.S. Supreme Court
case involving Colorado's anti-gay
initiative, Amendment 2.
"We wanted to express our
disappointment with the Department's
decision in the Colorado case, and
explore opportunities for the Justice
Department to weigh in on future civil
rights issues related to gay citizens,"
said Helen Gonzales, NGLTF Public
Policy Director. "By meeting directly
with the Attorney General, we can
elevate the Department's awareness of
critical civil rights issues facing the gay
community.
The Attorney General
seemed genuinely moved when we
discussed the issue of hate crimes, and
interested in using her office as a bully
pulpit in condemning hate violence."
"As we enter the Presidential primary
season, we can expect that anti-gay
rhetoric and legislative attacks will only
get worse before they get better," said
Melinda Paras, NGL TF Executive
Director. "We need allies who support
justice and fairness to be vigilant in
defending basic civil rights principles.
The Justice Department should be one
of those allies. Our allies must not miss
a single opportunity to speak out on
behalf of fair and equal treatment for
gay men, lesbians and bisexuals."
NGLTF has been meeting with the
Justice Department on various issues,
and worked regularly with the
Department in 1993 and 1994 while
NGL TF was advocating federal
mediation in the crisis involving Camp
Sister Spirit in Ovett, Mississippi. Early
in 1993, NGLTF met with then Attorney
General-designate Janet Reno about
hate violence and victim advocacy
issues, and discussed other civil rights
issues in a separate meeting that spring.
Other Justice Department officials at
the meeting were Deputy Attorney
General Jamie Gorelick, Assistant
Continued on next page
The ALGA UPDATE is published
monthly by the Amarillo Lesbian/Gay
Alliance. P.O. Box 9361, Amarillo, TX
79105-9361. Anyone wishing to
contribute, please call 374-2907 and
leave the information on the machine, or
mail information to the Editor. Deadlines
will be the 15th of the month for the next
Iof theTheOffice
ALGA UP_DATE
of Polley Development.
Page3
Marsha Scott, Deputy Assistant to the
President for Political Affairs, also
participated in the meeting.
students, particularly, stopping
them from committing suicide.
That is not true and we must
expose the lie in it.
In addition to NGLTF, other
organizations participating in the
meeting included the Human Rights
Campaign Fund; Lambda Legal Defense
and Education Fund; the American Civil
Liberties Union; the National Advocacy
Coalition on Youth and Sexual
Orientation; LLEGO -- the National
The foremost authority on
homosexulaity, Dr. Charles
Socarides, says, "Kids are not
committing suicide because of
actions against homosexuality but
because they know within
themselves that is it not normal. "
Latino/a Lesbian and r.========:~=~~=;===jl We can not allow
Gay Organization; Gay
Important Phone Numbers this type of
and Lesbian Victory
testimony to go
Fund; Servicemembers
Senator Phil Gramm (R)
unchallenged or
Legal Defense Network;
202-224-2934
for "our side to
Parents, Families and
(FAX) 202-228-2856
not
be
Friends of Lesbians and
represented.
Gays; and People for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) mental
health, The
the
the American Way.
202-224-5922
(FAX) 202-224-0776
very lives, of a
future generation
Congress to hold
of queer people is
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-13th)
anti-gay hearings
202-225-3706
at stake.
(FAX) 202-225-3486
On October
Congress must be
13, Congress will be
Rep. Larry Combest (R-19th)
deluged
with
holding testimony on
202-225-4005
messages
"the
homosexual
(FAX) 202-225-9615
indicating that
agenda in our public
America does not
schools". These hearings are the result
have the view that kids should be
of lobbying by Lou Sheldon and the
allowed to kill themselves because
Traditional Values Coalition and seek
programs that would provide them
to have congress deny federal funding
positive support are contrary to
to any public school system that
American Family Values.
promotes any type of lesbian/gay/bi
ACTION:
supportive kind of program. The LA
Call Subcommittee Chair
Unified School District and its Gay and
Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI), 202-225Lesbian Education Commission are
4401 and ranking Democrat Rep.
Sheldon's #1 target.
Thomas Sawyer (D-OH) 202-2255231 . Let them know that you
Currently the testimony that will
are concerned for the safety and
be presented to Congress is incredibly
education of all youth, and that
one-sided. Provided below is a direct
the programs targeted by the
quote from a Sheldon mailing that should
Radical Right are necessary to
provide a good idea of what we can
save all of America's youth.
expect:
Demand that these hearings be
unbiased and not used as a pulpit
The Congressional Subcommittee
for Lou Sheldon's dangerous hate
hearing is so important. Previously we
propaganda.
had the nhigh moral groundn in
explaining how they are promoting
homosexuality. This shows they are
nafter our kids. n Now, they are using
the idea of nsafety nfor gay and lesbian
1607 S. Washington , 373-5885
October 13 & 14
Washington Square 1
Year Anniversary Party!
II
Friday, October 1 3
Stew
modd
Saturday, October 14
~ofemnwru
Saturday, October 21
2k11or-.Xrog,er
Friday, October 27
mikeJ-u!tr
Don't forget to give us
your new address/
The ALGA UPDATE
Page4
~~
by Rex Wockner
"I did have some interesting
responses from people who
thought that Rebecca, Randy's
aunt, was a stereotype
because she's a butch dyke,
and they ask me why I had a
butch dyke in my film, and I
said, 'Because I think butches
are hot--and that's actually the
only reason. I think she's hot.
And I think butch women are
hot. So too bad.'"
--Filmmaker Maria Maggenti of
"The Incredibly True
Adventures Of 2 Girls
In Love."
"I don't hate homosexuals. I
don't even know any
homosexuals."
--Sen. Jesse Helms on the floor
of the U.S. Senate. We rest
our case.
"When Jesse Helms talks
about movies that embrace
family values, he most
definitely is not speaking of
'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'
(although one would need to
look hard to find a movie that
does more to address the very
issue of what a family is and
what real values are)."
-- King Features Syndicate
columnist Linda Ellerbee.
"An engineering professor is
treating her husband, a loan
officer, to dinner for finally giving
in to her pleas to shave off the
scraggly beard he grew on
vacation. His favorite restaurant
is a casual place where they
both feel comfortable in slacks
and cotton/polyester-blend golf
shirts. But, as always, she wears
the gold and pearl pendant he
gave her the day her divorce
decree was final. They're
laughing over their menus
because they know he always
ends up diving into a giant plate
of ribs but she won't be talked
into anything more fattening than
shrimp. Quiz: How many biblical
prohibitions are they violating?
Well, wives are supposed to be
'submissive' to their husbands (I
Peter 3:1 ). And all women are
forbidden to teach men (I
Timothy 2: 12), wear gold or
pearls (I Timothy 2:9) or dress in
clothing that 'pertains to a man'
(Deuteronomy 22:5). Shellfish
and pork are definitely out
(Leviticus 11 :7, 10) as are usury
(Deuteronomy 23:19), shaving
(Leviticus 19:27) and clothes of
more than one fabric (Leviticus
19:19). And since the Bible
rarely recognizes divorce, they're
committing adultery, which
carries the rather harsh penalty
of death by stoning
(Deuteronomy 22:22). So why
are they having such a good
time? Probably because they
wouldn't think of worrying about
rules that seem absurd,
anachronistic or--at best-unrealistic. Yet this same
modern-day couple could easily
be among the millions of
Americans who never hesitate to
lean on the Bible to justify their
own anti-gay attitudes."
--From lesbian columnist Deb
Price's new book, "And Say Hi
To Joyce."
SOLIDARITY SUNDAY
by Rev. Dr. Alex Nagy
Religious Spokesperson for Beyond
The Closet, Ben.d, OR
"Let us stop the emotional,
religious and physical bashing of these,
God's children!"
In an attempt to counteract the
violent rhetoric and actions of some,
Dignity/USA has named Sunday October
8, 1995, as Solidarity Sunday. This is
the day when Catholics, other Christians,
Jews amd all religious people who seek
justice and fairness accross the United
States are invited to show support for
God's lesbain, gau, bisexual and
transgendered children .
Participation in this important
event is easy! That sign of solidarity is
simply the wearing of a small piece of
ribbon in the colors of the rainbow
throughout the day.
This is a nationwide outreach to
invite bishops, priests, ministers and lay
people - the whole church - to counteract
the words and actions of those who
would harm any of God's children .
Emotional, religious and physical bashing
must end.
The Radical Right targets people
on the basis of their sexual orientation or
gender identity for passage of state
laws denying them their basic civil rights.
Radio and television preachers
continuously use gays, lesbians and
others to raise money for their
"ministries." As a result many are
emotionally scarred, some are
physicacally injured . Some have been
killed.
It is time to say, "Enough is
enough." Let us end the hatred and
violence. Let us stand together as God's
people.
It may be very difficult for you
to consider wearing the Rainbow Ribbon.
But consider, too, how important it
might be for someone in your family,
your neighborhood, your parish, your
community to see that you are willing to
be public about the fact that you believe
gay people should be treated with the
same respect as everyone else, that
they should not be subject to violence
because of who they are, and that they
should be able to worship God as full
members of their Church.
The ALGA UPDATE
tudent rganizations
Lambdas of West Texas A&M
Box WT 335, Canyon, TX 79016
Saul Reyes, Co-Chair, 37 4-3054
Becky Cavitt, Co-Chair 655-5769
Pink Triangles Student Group
Amarillo College
Contact Rob Mills, 371-5300
Religious Organizations
Metropolitan Community Church
2123 S Polk, Rev. Bob Finch
Office hours M-F 9 AM 1 PM 372-4557
Sunday Services 10:30 AM & 6 PM
Children's Sunday school during service
Monday 12 Noon, Brown Bag Prayer
Wednesday 7 PM , Discussion Group
St Andrews Episcopal Church
1601 S. Georgia, Father Bill Nix
376-6316
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
4901 Cornell
Sundays, 11 am (Summers, 10 am)
355-9351
Services
Family Support Services
Domestic violence, rape crisis, counseling
services. Fees charged on a sliding scale.
900 S. Lincoln
372-3202
1-800-749-9026 hotline/helpline
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
1734 14th St. NW
Washington, D.C., 20009
(202) 332-6483
National Gay & Lesbian Teen Hotline
1-800-347-8336
Open 6 PM to 11 PM Central Time
Northwest Texas Public Services
HIV Counselor
Terry Arnold, 371-1106
Panhandle AIDS Support Organization
(PASO)
604 W. 8th, 372-1050
1-800-388-4879 Hotline/Crisis number
Parents & Friends of Lesbians/Gays
(P-FLAG), Amarillo Chapter
Parents and friends, you have a support
group, too! Call Washington Square for
times and dates.
Page5
The Pavilion
Northwest Texas Healthcare
System
Intensive Outpatient Program/
Addictive Disorders
354-1835
Amarillo Bowl
4100 Wolflin
352-5681
Shepherd House (call PASO)
MWF 11:30-1:30
Home cooked meal services for
HIV/AIDS individuals
Hastings Books and Video
2001 S Georgia - Gay/Lesbian book
section & magazines
4301 W 45th - Lambda book section
Sisters (Women's Discussion
Group)
MCC 2123 S Polk
Every Sunday 7 PM
Kinko's Copies
3801 Olsen Blvd
Open 24 hours
Speak Out! Human Rights
Campaign Fund Information
1-800-777-HRCF
Italian Delights, Inc.
2710 W 10th Ave
Queer Dinner Club (QDC) meets
7:30 PM on the third Thursday of
the month. Everyone is welcome!
Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas
P.O. Box 2579
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 474-LGRL
People For The American Way
2000 M Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
Parents, Family & Friends of
Lesbians & Gays (P-FLAG)
Travis McBride 358-481 O or
Wash. Square 373-5885
Bars
Alexander's Lounge
1219 W 10th Ave
372-7414
Maggie's Disco
1515 S Harrison
371-9312
The O.P.
500 W 16th Ave
379-9613
The Ritz
322 W 10th Ave
372-9382
Sassy's
309W6th Ave
374-3029
The Classifieds
519 E. 10th St.
374-2435
Gay Friendly
Businesses/Organizations
Valley Lodge Family Motel &
The Hole Thing Donut Shop
PO Box 304 - Main Street
Red River NM 87558
Reservations: 1-800-951-2262
Information: (505) 754 2218
Via Veneto
1108 N Pierce
Same owners as Italian Delights,
open for lunch only.
Gay Owned Businesses
Washington Square Cafe &
Bookstore
1607 S. Washington
373-5885
Teas, coffees, light dining, books,
magazines, entertainment and art.
Closed Sunday.
French & Co. Realtors
Paul D. French, Owner
4200 Ridgecrest, Suite A-5
356-9086
This listing is a service of the
Amarillo Lesbian/Gay Alliance.
Please send corrections/additions
to ALGA Update, P.O. Box 9361,
Amarillo, TX 79105-9361.
Page 6
The ALGA UPDATE
Think you have a problem with Alcohol?
Try Lambda AA.
Wednesdays & Saturdays at 8 p.m. in the MCC Educational Annex.
Call 351-1574 or 376-5190 for more information.
Don't forget about the Costumed Gay-La on Saturday, October 29!
$25/person or $30/person at the door.
Mail reservations to:
ALGA
P.O. Box 9361
Amarillo, TX 79105
( make checks payable to LGRL - donations are not tax deductible)
The Amarillo Gay/Lesbian Alliance (ALGA) Membership Application
~
ALGA seeks to provide an organization that will encourage healthy acceptance of our lifestyle both
within our community and the population at large. Our annual budget is funded solely by your membership
fees. Membership guarantees reduced rates for future ALGA-sponsored events. Those same fees pay
for printing and mailing of this newsletter, sponsors the annual ALGA Gay Pride Picnic, camping trips,
future workshops and our hotline costs. All mailings are discrete, and our mailing list will never be provided to any other agency.
We are happy to provide the ALGA UPDATE to people who cannot afford to purchase a subscription;
however, we ask that anyone who can afford to subscribe, do so to keep the exchange of information flowing, our
community informed, and allow for more activities in the future.
□ $50 Silver membership (3 year membership, and 36 issues)
□ $35 Household annual membership for 2 adults (with 12 issues)
$25 Individual annual membership (with 12 issues)
$10 Student/PWA/Low Income membership (with 12 issues)
□
□
Name(s):
Address:
State/Zip:
Phone:
Date:
Please make all checks payable to ALGA
PO Box 9361, Amarillo, TX 79105-9361
The ALGA UPDATE
Page 7
I
nation's gay and lesbian communities.
to distinguish between what is personal
Open Letter to Christian Coalition
What's
more,
there
are
hundreds
and what is professional. But my appeal
Members
of
thousands
of
Christians
among
us
-is
sincere. I am convinced that if we
The following letter was read by
the Human Rights Campaign Fund Christians of all traditions, including those cannot find ways to respect one another
as human beings, and therefore to respect
Executive Director Elizabeth Birch at the represented in the Christian Coalition.
And,
like
it
or
not,
we
are
part
of
one
another's rights, we will do great
hotel where Pat Robertson's Christian
your
family.
And
you
are
part
of
our
damage
not only to each other, but also to
Coalition was having its annual "Road To
community.
We
are
neighbors
and
those
we
say we represent.
Victory" conference. Over 300 people
colleagues,
business
associates
and
I
recognize
that it is not easy for
cam to listen to Elizabeth Birch during a
friends.
More
intimately
still,
you
are
us
to
speak
charitably
to each other. I
lunch break on September 8.
fathers of sons who are gay and mothers have read fundraising letters in which
Dear Members of the Christian Coalition: of daughters who are lesbians. I know people like me are assigned labels which
An Open Letter was not my first many of your children very, very well. I summon up the ugliest of dej,umanizing
choice as a way of reaching you. I would work with them. I worry with them. And stereotypes. Anonymous writers have
have preferred speaking to all of you I rejoice that they are part of our hidden under the title of "Concerned
Christian" to condemn me with the fires
directly, and in a setting where you would community.
Part
of
what
I
want
you
to
know
of
God and to call on all of you to deny me
be most comfortable.
is
that
many
of
your
children
who
arc
gay
an
equal opportunity to participate in the
That was my motivation, some
I have
weeks ago, when I asked your executive and lesbian are gifted and strong. Some whole range of American life.
are
famous;
most
of
them
are
not.
But
heard
of
political
agendas
calling
not
director, Ralph Reed, for the opportunity
many
are
heroic
in
the
way
they
have
merely
for
the
defeat
of
those
I
represent,
to address the Christian Coalition's "Road
to Victory" Conference. It is still my conquered barriers to their own self- but for our eradication.
Such expressions of hatred do
motivation today. And it is supported by respect and the courage with which
they've
set
out
to
serve
a
higher
good.
All
not,
can
not, beget a spirit of trust. Nor
a single, strong belief that the time has
were
created
by
God.
And
you
have
do
they
pass
the test of either truthfulness
come for us to speak to each other rather
every
right
to
be
proud
of
each
of
them.
or
courage.
They bear false witness in
than past each other.
I begin by noting the worthiness boldface type. And I believe that they
It took Mr. Reed very little time to
reject my request.
Perhaps he of the gays and lesbians in your family must embarrass those who, like me, heard
misunderstood my motivation. But I can and our community for a reason: it's hard of another gospel -- even the simple
assure you that what has driven my to communicate with people we do not gospel taught me as a child in Sunday
request is this: I believe in the power of respect. And the character of prejudice, School.
I would not ask that you, as
the word and the value of honest of stereotype, of demagoguery, is to tear
down
the
respect
others
might
otherwise
members
of a Christian group, or as
communication. During my years of work
enjoy
in
public,
even
the
respect
they
supporters
of a conservative political
as a litigator at a major corporation, I was
often amazed at what simple, fresh and would hold for themselves in private. By cause, set aside either your basic beliefs
truthful conversation could accomplish. taking away respectability, rhetorically or your historic commitments . The
And what is true in the corporate setting as well as legally, we justify the belief churches which many of you represent is also true, I'm convinced, in our that they are not quite human, not quite - Baptist, for example, and Pentecostal communities. If we could learn to speak worthy, not quite deserving of our time, - were also the churches I attended as a
young woman. In those days, I heard
and listen to each other with integrity, the or our attention, or our concern.
And
that
is,
sadly,
what
many
of
sermons
about justice and sang songs
consequences might shock us.
Although your podium was not your children and colleagues and neighbors about forgiveness. My greatest hope is
available to me, I am grateful for those who are gay and lesbian have feared is not that you will give up your faith, but
who have come today and will give me the intent of the Christian Coalition. If it that it will work among all of us.
Neither of us should forsake our
"the benefit of the doubt" and be willing were true, of course, it would be not only
regrettable,
but
terribly
hypocritical;
it
fundamental
convictions. But we could
to consider what I have to say. I will be
would
not
be
worthy
of
the
true
ideals
hold
those
convictions
with a humility
pleased if you are able to hear me without
and
values
based
in
love
at
the
core
of
that
allows
room
for
the
lives of others;
prejudging either the message or the
what
we
call
"Christian."
neither
of
us
may
be
the
sole
possessors
messenger. And I will be hopeful, most of
The reason I have launched this of truth on every given issue. And we
all, if you respond by joining me in finding
new ways to speak with honesty not only conversation is to ask that you join me in could express our convictions in words
about one another, but also to one another. a common demonstration that this is not that are, if not affectionate, and if not
If I am confident in anything at true. I make my appeal as an individual, even kind, then at least decent, civil,
all, it is this: our ·c ommunities have more as Elizabeth Birch, and also as the humane. We need not demonize each
in common than we care to imagine. This executive director of the Human Rights other simply because we disagree.
I came to my task in the campaign
is not to deny the many differences. But Campaign Fund, America's largest policy
organization
for
gay
men
and
lesbian
for
human
rights with this conviction: if
out of our sheer humanity comes some
women.
we, in the name of civil rights, slander
common ground.
This is such a basic appeal -- to you, we have failed our own ideals, as
Although the stereotype would
human
communication and common surely as any Christian who slanders us in
have us believe otherwise, there are many
decency
-- that I do not even know how the name of God has failed the ideals of
conservative Americans within the
I
The ALGA UPDATE
Page 8
Scripture.
Some of those who asked me to
serve at HRCF may believe that I am
naive, that it is foolish to appeal to "the
enemy" for common decency, let alone to
ask for trusting conversations. But those
who wonder about my ideals may not
know my childhood.
I am an American, born on
American soil, but raised in Canada
throughout my formative years. Even
from a distance -- perhaps especially from
a distance -- the American ideal and the
centuries-old American dream captured
my imagination and my spirit. When I
saw America, I saw responsible freedom
being exercised everywhere from the
picket line to the voting booth. When I
learned of the values rooted at the heart
of the American Spirit, I felt undying
hope. That hope is also rooted in the
Judeo-Christian tradition of this nation.
From my vantage point on the Canadian
prairies, the promise of America tugged
at my soul. I could fight it, but I could not
win, and America quite literally won my
heart.
More remarkable still, all this
happened during my adolescence, when
we are most subject to peer pressure, and
in the 1960's during the height of Canadian
nationalism. It was, in those days, as
daring to publicly acknowledge your love
for America as it was to come out of the
closet as a lesbian.
But I could not hide my affection
for my homeland, even though I saw its
obvious failings and shortcomings.
I
believed then, and I believe no less
staunchly today, that no other nation in
the world offers all its citizens such
promises of fairness and equality,
principles that are equally reflected in the
Christian tradition and the American
Constitution.
What surprised me when I first
became active in America's gay and
lesbian communities was that, in this
idealism about America, I was not alone.
Gay men were beaten with baseball bats,
and they went off to find justice, confident
that the American ideal would protect
them. Lesbians were fired from their
jobs, and they said to one another, "We'll
be protected by the law." So keen was
confidence in the American hope that it
took the gay and lesbian communities
decades to conclude, regretfully, that
civil rights are as likely to be withheld as
granted, despite the Constitution; and
that true believers are as likely to engage
in cruel discrimination as in compassion,
even in the name of Christ.
Many of us in this community
have a long history with the church.
Gay men I have loved deeply and
lesbians I've known well have talked long
into the night about their love for God and
for God's church. For some of them, the
church had provided the one message of
hope they knew as children. The promise
of good news was seized gladly by
adolescents who did not understand why
they were different, or what that
difference would mean.
For some, the deepest agony of
life is not that they risk physical abuse or
that they will never gain their civil rights,
but that they have felt the judgment of an
institution on which they staked their
lives: the church. What they long for
most is what they once believed was
theirs as a birthright: the knowledge that
they are God's children, and that they can
come home.
And it is not only those of us who
are gay or lesbian who have suffered on
the doorstep of some congregations.
Parents, fearing what others at church
might whisper, choose to deny the reality
that their son is gay or their daughter is a .
lesbian. Brothers and sisters suffer an
unhealthy, and unwarranted, and unChristian shame. They bear a burden that
cripples their faith, based on a fear that
cripples us all.
This means, I think, that we are
still a long way from realizing the ideal of
America as a land of hope and promise,
from achieving the goal of religion as a
healing force that unites us, from
discovering that human beings are, simply
by virtue of being human beings, deserving
of respect and common decency.
And so, I have come today -- in
person, bearing this letter, and in writing
to those who will only receive it -- to make
three simple, sincere appeals to those of
you who are members of the Christian
Coalition.
The first appeal is this: please
make integrity a watchword for the
campaigns you launch. We all struggle to
be people of integrity, especially when
we campaign for funds. But the fact that
we are tempted by money is no excuse.
We need to commit ourselves to a higher
moral ground.
I do not know when the first
direct-mail letter was issued in your name
that defamed gay men and abused gay
women, that described us as less than
I
human and certainly unworthy of trust.
Neither do I know when people discovered
that the richest financial return came
from letters that depicted gays and
lesbians with intentionally dishonest
images. But I do know -- and I must
believe that you know too -- that this is
dishonest, this is wrong.
I can hardly imagine that a money
machine is being operated in your name,
spinning out exaggerations as if they
were truths, and that you do not see it.
But perhaps you do not. In which case, I
ask that you hear my second appeal: I ask
that, as individuals, you talk to those of
us who are gay or lesbian, rather than
succumb to the temptation to either avoid
us at all cost, as if we are not a part of
your community, or to rant at us, as if we
are not worthy of quiet conversation.
We are, all of us and those we
represent, human beings. As Americans,
you will have your political candidates;
we will have ours. But we could, both of
us, ask that our candidates speak the
truth to establish their right to leadership,
rather than abuse the truth in the interest
of one evening's headline. We may work
for different outcomes in the elections,
but we can engage in an ethic of basic
respect and decency.
Finally, I appeal to you as people
who passionately uphold the value of the
family. You have brothers and sons who
have not heard a word of family affection
since the day they summoned the courage
to tell the simple truth. You have sisters
and daughters who have given up believing
that you mean it when you say, "The
family is the basic unit of society," or
even, "God loves you , and so do I."
Above all the other hopes with
which I've come to you hovers this one:
that some member of the Christian
Coalition will call some member of the
Human Rights Campaign Fund and say,
"It's been a long time, son" -- or, "I'm
missing you, my daughter" -- and before
the conversation ends, someone will hear
the heartfelt words, "Come home. Let's
talk to each other."
In that hope, I appeal to each of
you.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Birch,
executive director
Human Rights Campaign Fund
P.O. Box 1396
Washington, DC 20013