From: thom@access.digex.com (The Elf-Lad)
Subject: Re: Colorado Amendment 2
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, Maryland USA
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 20:18:55 GMT

elesatz@diana.cair.du.edu (Eric LeSatz) writes:

>>In the meantime, let's all get together and list special
>>legal rights that heterosexuals enjoy.  I'll start:
>>
>>1)  marriage

>Ain't marriage defined as the joining of man and woman? Sure, there
>ought to be some kind of bonding, but watever you want to call it it
>ain't marriage!

You just made Melinda's point. Marriage entitles heterosexuals to
financial (tax) and societal benefits. Homosexuals do not have equal
rights.

>>2)  freedom from employment discrimination based on
>>    sexual orientation

>Hmm...seems to me that many gays have been fired merely for the fact
>that they are homosexual. But they also receive large cash awards from
>the courts when they do. I know of one case where the guy got $5
>million...

"Fired merely... that they are homosexual." This, then, is 
discrimination, no? What do their settlements ahve to do with it?
They were still fired. In Colorado, they will no longer have 
recourse even to the financial settlements that you seem so
concerned about.

>>3)  freedom from housing discrimination based on
>>    sexual orientation

>I'll admit I really don't know much about this issue, but HOW would
>someone know if you are gay or not????? It's not like race where
>the various races are easily recognized.

There are many ways in which people think they can tell, and some in
which they can. What if they ask is you're gay or not? What if they
just perceive you are? Many straight men that share apartments are
often assumed to be gay, for example. What if your picture is on
the local news because you work for a gay cause, and your landlord
sees it?

>Finally I would just like to add one comment. One of my best friends
>in High School turned out to be homosexual. We still do stuff together
>and all that...to me it is no big deal. He also agrees that those
>'special' rights are not needed.

<giggle> Some of my best friends are heterosexual, but they're still
intelligent enough to see that special rights are not at issue.
Equality is.

>Furthermore, I would like to ask this question...If homosexuals are
>being discriminated against then how come the median income for the
>group is far ABOVE that for heterosexual males. When we enacted job
>rights for women and minorities it was because it was quite clear that
>they were being discriminated against since they were making far less
>than the average.

Only homosexual males have a median income higher than heterosexual
males. Lesbians actually make the lowest median income of all groups.
Besides, median income is not the point. It doesn't matter how much
gays are making on average if at any time one can be fired for no
other reason than their orientation. It's happening already in Colorado.

Thom


-- 
Thom Watson, the Elf-Lad         elf-lad@access.digex.com <-----preferred
                                 elflad0@aol.com         elf-lad@glib.org
                                 GEmail=T.WATSON7
"What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy?"--U.K.LeGuin