letters tothe editor

A message for 'Dr. Laura'

To the Editor:

Radio personality "Dr. Laura” Schlesinger has been viciously attacking homosexuality in general and gays and lesbians in particular during recent segments of her show. Her buttons are being pushed by followers of [Focus on the Family leader] Dr. James Dobson, and other ultra-conservatives who are extremely well organized about making phone calls and writing letters.

Dr. Laura's statements continue to link homosexuality to pedophilia, and she uses details from NAMBLA (North American Man Boy Love Association) for support. She condemns same-sex parenting, as well as single parenting. She condemns same-sex unions, scoffs at the idea of sensitivity training for schools in support of students who have a

same-sex orientation, and trashes excellent videos like It's Elementary while lifting up Exodus International and similar organizations that try to reverse sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. This ignorant spewing of such venom is intolerable.

Poet Audre Lord's statement, "Your silence will not protect you" and Pastor Martin Niemoller's message that ends with: "then they came for me---and there was no one left to speak out" ring loud and clear.

Therefore, at our next meeting, P-FLAG Lorain County will compose a letter of protest that will be sent to Dr. Laura. We parents are ticked! Please join us in our effort. Go to her web site at www.drlaura.com and let her have it.

Justice and peace,

speakout

Mary Miller Amherst, Ohio

Letters to the Editor

letters@chronohio.com.

Ohio's hate crime bill must be passed

by Eric Resnick

In 1997, this newspaper issued a “call to arms" to Ohio's GLBT community to defeat a bill in the state legislature which sought to specifically prohibit same-sex marriages, and deny recognition of them if they become legal in another state.

Until our opponents argue that they should not be protected on the basis of their religion, we need to take the moral high ground in this debate over 'special' protections.

We rose to that challenge and called it what it was a mean-spirited effort by conservative lawmakers to do some fundraising while engaging in anti-gay rhetoric-and defeated the bill.

Today, that call sounds again-louder than before, to pass the revision to Ohio's ethnic intimidation law introduced in the House by Rep. Otto Beatty, D-Columbus. Beatty's bill, H.B. 277, would add "sexual orientation" and "gender" to the current law.

It is always more difficult legislatively for minority groups to get something new rather than block attacks. This time, everyone must be counted.

Given the high-profile events of the past year-like the murders of Matthew Shepard and Billy Jack Gaither-and the undeniable fact that hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are on the rise, one would think such legislation would be fairly easy to pass. Unfortunately, those opposed to this bill began their counterattack long ago.

Across the country, similar bills have failed in every state that has attempted to pass them, most recently in Colorado. Following Shepard's murder, Wyoming was unable to pass a hate crime bill. Alabama's similar attempt appears to be failing, even after the horror and outrage that followed Gaither's brutal killing. We have the opportunity to either follow the trend or make history of our own in Ohio. It's up to us.

It should come as no surprise that opposition the addition of “sexual orientation" and "gender" to hate crime legislation is coming mainly from conservative Christians. It should also come as no surprise that they are willing to lie and deceive legislators and the public in order to defeat us. They know the truth is on our side. Therefore, we must learn the truth about hate crime laws and speak it loudly enough to drown out their lies.

Openly lesbian California Assembly Speaker Pro-Tempore

Sheila Kuehl told participants of the White House Conference on Hate Crimes, "Violence is a tool used very purposefully to ratify that a victim is unworthy of saving or somehow a less than human second class citizen who has somehow offended simply by existing; like being thought of as 'different' by people who want to be thought of as 'better'."

Hate crimes, unlike other violent crimes, strike 'universal fear' in members of the targeted population. Hate crimes are about violence. Hate crimes are about committing

a violent act on one individual to "set an example" to teach others like him or her not to get too comfortable with their status, or strive for better.

The fear produced is to serve as a reminder to others. That is why the reaction to the murders of Gaither and Shepard were far different from reaction to simple assaults, even ones when the victim dies. This element of fear causes each of us -as well as those who love us a moment of pause each time one of our own is gay bashed.

The first arrow in our enemies' quiver of lies and deception is to attempt to make the case that all violent crimes should be punished more severely and that “to single out groups for 'special' protection is socially divisive."

This is a smoke-screen argument designed to hide the fact that they just don't want us to be protected. The fact is, Ohio law already provides hate crime protection based on race, Continued on facing page

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GAY PEOPLE'S-

Chronicle

Volume 14, Issue 45

Publisher: Martha J. Pontoni Business Manager: Patti Harris Managing Editor: Doreen Cudnik

Associate Editor: Brian DeWitt

Senior Staff Writer: Dawn E. Leach Reporters & Writers:

Mubarak S. Dahir, Beren deMotier, Bob Findle, John Graves, Mark J. Huisman, Kaizaad Kotwal, M.T. Martone, Tim Nasson, Jeffrey Newman, Harriet L. Schwartz, Kirk Read, Eric Resnick, Bob Roehr, Rex Wockner, John Zeh

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