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Organization: Argus Consulting, Tucson, AZ
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Date:         Sun, 20 Dec 1992 13:26:35 -0700
From:         "Gordon C. Zaft" <zaft@CARITAS.COTDAZR.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Gay Civil Rights

On Dec 18, 12:17pm, SAMUEL M ANDRUSKO wrote:
} Subject: GAY CIVIL RIGHTS
}                In reply to the post on  Gay Civil Rights, allow me  to make
}           the following points:
}                 1)  Gays  are  not  demanding  "special"  rights--they  are
}           demanding the rights enjoyed by everyone else.  Gays work
}           hard, they pay taxes just like everyone else and  they expect the
}           same  rights  as everyone else.  No  gay  person expects "special
}           rights." You  are lying through your yellow teeth  if  you  claim
}           this.

        It seems to me that they are demanding we recognize them based on
their sexual orientation.  Since I don't know of any other group that
is recognized based on this, this sounds like a demand for special rights
to me.  Sorry, my teeth aren't yellow.
}
}                2) Minority status is not limited to just race.  Usually the
        This is true.
}
}                3) Jews also enjoy high income, high educational status, and
}           high professional status  in  this country--far higher  than  the
}           "average" citizen--so do Asians.  Does this mean it is then ok to
}           discriminate against a Jew or an Asian just because he  is  a Jew
}           or Asian??
        Of course not.  I think the person's point (which I haven't really
thougth about) was a sort of an empirical "as a class, they obviously
aren't discriminated against since they have a high income, etc."

}                4) Any group which is the victim of physical attack deserves
}           protection in my opinion.  Gays and lesbians in this country have

        Agreed 100% that using physical violence is abhorrent and evil.

}                5)  Any  group which  is discriminated against in hiring  or
}           housing without good cause deserves protection--this has happened
}           to  single  people  or  divorced people  as  well  as handicapped
}           people.  They  have  been discriminated against not because  they
}           were not qualified, but  just because they happened to  be single
}           or divorced or handicapped.  The same applies to gays--qualified,
}           able people have been fired  or  not hired  or evicted from their
}           apartments, not because they were unqualified or  bad people, but
}           just because they happen to be gay.  This is not just.

        Well, there's the rub.  Those who feel that there are instances
in which it is justified to discriminate feel that there IS a good cause.
Therefore, you aren't disagreeing in principle, just in implemenation
specifics.
}
}                5)  I  find it appalling that "christians" who claim they do
}           not hate gays, but hate the sin,  do  not stand up  and speak out
}           against violence and discrimination against gays.  Am  sure  most

        If it helps any, the Catholic bishops to whom I owe my loyalty
have repeatedly stated that violence and *unjustified* discrimination is
wrong.  I'm sure that won't satisfy you, though.
}-- End of excerpt from SAMUEL M ANDRUSKO



--
* Gordon Zaft     Argus Consulting  4500 E. Sunrise #N-6, Tucson, AZ 85718
* zaft@caritas.cotdazr.org | noao.edu!coyote!caritas!zaft
                 Semper fidelis Christi et Vicarii sui.
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