From: WAND_M@gold.colorado.edu
Subject: Ministry threatens to sue gay activist
Followup-To: amend2-discuss@cs.colorado.edu
Originator: doherty@ucsu.Colorado.EDU
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 04:41:24 GMT

Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs
January 20, 1993

Focus on the Family ministry in Colorado Springs is threatening to sue a Denver 
lesbian activist over comments she made on a national radio talk show, in which 
she suggested Focus was trying to collect information about gay teachers.

However, an attorney representing the woman said his client has done nothing 
illegal, and that Focus on the Family is trying its case in the news media in 
order to pressure her into a retraction.

Linda Fowler, who chairs Denver Mayor Wellington Webb's Gay and Lesbian 
Advisory Committee, said on a Dec. 7 CBS radio program that Focus on the Family 
had requested lists of single teachers in E Paso County schools, supposedly as 
a way of discovering which teachers were homosexual.  (Note: a transcript of 
this show was put on this network, for those interested in looking at her exact 
words.  Wand.)

Two weeks later, Focus on the Family attorneys wrote Fowler, accusing her
of defaming the organization and threatening to sue unless she etracted her 
comments.  Focus has denied rumors that it is checking on teachers; school 
districts have confirmed they've received no such Focus inquiries.

"It is clear that (Fowler's) intent was to attack Focus on the Family falsely, 
challenge its alleged conduct, place it in a false light and hold it up to 
scorn, (censure) and hatred," wrote Stephen Reed, a Pasadena, Calif.-based, 
attorney representing Focus on the Family.

Reed's letter requests that Fowler issue a written apology to the ministry, 
unless she can prove her accusation.  Focus also wants Fowler to request that 
her apology be read on the CBS radio show where she made her comments, as well 
as KOA radio in Denver, which picked up her comments. If Fowler refuses, Fowler 
faces a lawsuit, the letter states.

Reed could not be reached Tuesday to elaborate on his letter.

But Ed Kahn, a Denver lawyer repreenting Fowler, said his client's comments 
were not malicious, and therefore, not defamatory.  Fowler never said that 
Focus had done anything illegal--and therefore cannot be accused of defaming 
the organization, Kahn said.

Besides, under Colorado law, it is impossible to defame an entire organization, 
Kahn said.

"They claim they've been harmed, so they republish the alleged harm" Kahn said.  
"They're republishing the rumor.  If it harms them it seems like they're 
harming themselves by repblishing the allegation."

"It looks like they have a policy of trying their case in the press," Kahn 
said.  "I can understand, because I don't think they have a legal leg to stand 
on."

focus on the Family is a $77 million national Christian ministry that moved to 
Colorado Springs from Southern California.  Its founder and president, James 
Dobson, has a half-hour, five-day-a-week radio program broadcast on 3,000 radio 
stations.

Focus believes that homosexuality is condemned in the Bible.  The group 
supported Amendment 2, the anti-gay rights protection law passed by Colorado 
voters in November.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corrections, new info, and requests for info: amend2-info@cs.colorado.edu
Administrative comments                     : amend2-mod@cs.colorado.edu
General Discussion                          : amend2-discuss@cs.colorado.edu
Boulder/Denver area local meetings/events   : amend2-local@cs.colorado.edu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe to a list, send mail to Majordomo@cs.colorado.edu, with
        subscribe <list-name>
in the BODY of the message.  For multiple lists, use multiple lines.

Newsgroups: co.politics.amend2.info