From: ez000281@hamlet.ucdavis.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.latin-america
Subject: Gay and Lesbian Affirmative Action
Date: 7 Jan 93 17:18:06 GMT
Organization: Computing Services, UC Davis

In <1993Jan7.073905.15107@cs.brown.edu> David O'donnell writes:

>Subject: Re: Specil or equal rights?
>Summary: (Hopefully) correcting yet-another-phobe

>In article <1993Jan6.204624.17742@wam.umd.edu> aap@wam.umd.edu (Alberto 
Adolfo 
>Pinkas) writes:
[...]
>>As far as I understand, Gays and Lesbians are asking for equal protection
>>under the law and not for special rights.
>>Also, I understand that it has nothing to do with Affirmative Action 
>>programs.

>The latter paragraph is correct. Bisexuals, gay men and lesbians are NOT out
>to "grab" any rights other than those which should be accorded every human
>being: life, liberty and the pursuit if happiness are among them. We pursue
>the right to a job, and the right to not be fired -solely- based on our sex-
>uality. We pursue the right to a place to live, and the right not to be 
>ejected -solely- based on our sexuality.

And I, agree totally with such rights, in fact they are protected by the 14th 
amendment of the Constitution and the Section 1983 of the Unites States Code, 
so I don't see why you need any special statute on the matter, unless, of 
course you are asking for ADDED (not equal) protection under the law; and BTW 
I'm getting sick and tired of hearing everyone who dissents from politically 
correct positions regarding gay rights to be immediately labeled a homophobe.  
I have consistently denounced homophobic practices in my University, and in 
Latin America, particulary in Cuba, where there are prisons especially built 
for gays.  However, once ther is dissent from Gay and Lesbian PC you 
immediatlely get labeled a homophobe.  In the recent Irish parade in NYC, the 
organizers wold permit gays to march as gays but instead they had to march as
Irish.  So, what was the response, well they pissed  (literally) and excreted
on top of Jesus.  And if someone dare complain, he is immediately tagged as 
homophobic.  What are we getting to?

>        We pursue the right to be protected under the law =equally= with other
>human beings. Today, law enforcement agencies and the government ignore crimes
>against gay men, lesbians and bisexuals. Homicides which would normally be
>investigated and prosecuted vigorously are looked into only in passing and
>barely, if at all, prosecuted. Men and women who are so much as -perceived- as
>being gay or bisexual or lesbian *can be* and *are* ejected from their places
>of residence and jobs =solely= because the landlord or employer is a bigot
>against sexual orientation/preference.

No, they are evicted or harrassed because in such cases (which you have easily 
avoided documenting) legal actions haven't been brought up against the proper 
authorities, not becuase we as a society currently allow for people to be 
murdered on account of sexual preference.  In addition to the cases which you 
avoid to talk about, you can also find a myriad of cases in which 
convicitions/penalties against hatemongers have been reached. So any comparison 
between the rights of Gays in the U.S., and those in other parts of the planet 
will leave you with stark contrasts.  


>        We do not seek preferential treatment: we seek EQUITY.

Well, then use the 14th amendment and USCA 1983 to get it, unless of course 
you want to get quota bills and preferential legislation passed in order to 
seek equity.

Edelmiro Salas