From: holcomb@sylvester.cgd.ucar.edu (Katherine Holcomb)
Subject: More thoughts on CO-2
Organization: Climate and Global Dynamics Division/NCAR, Boulder, CO
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 17:03:04 GMT

I have been following the discussion about CO-2, and would like to throw
in another 2c worth.  The discussions on local newsgroups (to which most of
you probably lack access) have also been interesting, and quite illuminating.

I have been playing with some numbers.  No doubt they are highly inaccurate,
but they are a starting point.  So, to start off, I recall seeing surveys in
the past which indicate that approximately 15% of the US population identifies
itself with the religious right.  These are the "fanatics" and there is no
hope for them.  Now, I will make a blind guess that another 20--25% makes up
what we may call the "redneck" contingent, i.e. people who hate GLB's from
ignorance, stupidity, thoughtlessness, extreme cultural bias, etc.  They are
probably also out of reach of reason.  I assume that these two groups more or
less add up to the approximately 35--40% of people in both Colorado and Oregon
who were willing to admit to pollsters that they supported OR-9 or CO-2. 
Now, in Colorado the amendment was approved by 54% of the voters.  (This 
automatically biases my estimates, of course, because not everyone eligible
voted.  But I will perservere.)  This leaves, in Colorado, approximately 15%
of the population in the "Joe Braindead" category.  Joe Braindead does not
think of himself as a bigot. ("Joe Braindormant" might be a better term, since
many of these people are quite intelligent.)  He did not bother, however, to
think about the ramifications of CO-2, but voted on his gut reaction that 
THOSE PEOPLE should not have "minority" status or job quotas.  I would guess
that the typical Joe Braindead is a white hetero male who cannot comprehend
the concept of discrimination.  But he is damned sure that THOSE PEOPLE 
(women, people of color, now GLB) are getting "special rights" that he, a 
white hetero male, does not enjoy.  

It is the Joe Braindeads who must be convinced, to the greatest extent
possible, that what they did *was* wrong.  First, their attention must be
obtained.  (There is an old joke about a man whacking his mule with a 2x4.
"Why did you do that?"  "First I have to get his attention.")  I am not sure
that a general boycott would be effective, or could be made to stick.  For
instance, many posters have mentioned the subscription service in Boulder.
This company (its name, by the way, is Neodata; I drive past its main processing
facility, which is east of Boulder, every workday) handles something like 75%
of magazine subscriptions.  However, I might point out that its main 
competitor is located in Iowa.  Iowa, you may recall, recently voted down
an equal rights amendment to its constitution, partly due to activities of
the religious right, and was a major power base for Pat Robertson.  Moreover,
Neodata is located entirely within Boulder County, which voted 2-1 against 2.
Furthermore, it may be difficult to boycott companies such as HP, etc., which
merely have facilities in Colorado.  And I doubt that Joe Braindead would
very much notice a boycott of computer companies.

What *might* get Joe Braindead's attention?  Well, what are the most *visible*
products of Colorado?  To me, two items come to mind--tourism and Coors.
Someone suggested that Coors be considered innocent until proven guilty, but
I would argue that firstly, this issue is not in a court of law (yet), and
moreover, the support of the Coors family for right-wing causes has helped
to create the climate in which organizations such as Coloradans for Family
Values has flourished.  So I am suggesting that the most effort and energy
should be devoted to the most visible products of Colorado.  

It is especially important that as much support as possible be obtained 
outside the GLB community.  Joe Braindead must realize that there are *other
straights* who think him bigoted and hateful, because that is *not* part of
his self-perception, and he is not likely to accept this judgement from GLB's.
If any of you can influence professional organizations, etc., try to 
persuade them to cancel conventions, conferences, etc.   

One thought I had, which I believe I have seen suggested by others, is that
GLB's, not just in Colorado but everywhere, be less reluctant than many are
to identify themselves.  I was thinking about why it is that I care so much
about this issue, and, in addition to the fact that I am a bleeding-heart
fellow-traveler liberal, I believe a major factor is that I have personally
known, and liked, many gays/bisexuals (I do not *know* whether any of my 
personal acquaintances have been lesbians).   I do not recall the Civil Rights
movement of the 60's very clearly, but I believe that some of the most
effective tactics used by blacks were those which forced their opponents to
see them as human beings.  (This may be more problematic for GLB, as Joe
Braindead is firmly convinced that this is merely a "lifestyle issue."  Of
course, as many have pointed out, religion is *definitely* a matter of personal
choice, and we have laws prohibiting discrimination based on religious belief.)
But it is clear that Joe Braindead harbors many stereotypes about GLB people,
and perhaps it would be useful to confront and confound those stereotypes.
Of course, good judgement is called for; no one should put him/herself into
physical danger or economic jeopardy.

Speaking of economic jeopardy, I have a coworker (who posts rather aggressively
to local newsgroups) who simply cannot believe that an employer would fire
someone merely because he is gay.  I have not personally witnessed anyone
being fired for such a reason, but I am convinced that I have seen someone 
whose career was stymied for that reason.  Can anyone send me counterexamples
to my coworker's claim?  No hearsay, please, only incidents personally
witnessed or experienced.   I *won't* post anybody's name to any newsgroup, but
I assume that anyone who sends me e-mail would be willing to have his/her
name attached if I am compelled to produce proof (plus you don't know me, so
you have to trust my word that I won't post names :^)

-kah
--
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Katherine Holcomb                      |  You don't need a weatherman 
Climate and Global Dynamics Division   |  to know which way the wind blows
NCAR, Boulder, CO                      |                -Bob Dylan
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