Rainbow flags, chants and honks of approval from spectators driving by dominated the "March of Justice," a demonstration calling for an end to hate crime against gays and lesbians.
A group of about 30 anti-gay protesters greeted marchers at the gates of the capitol building, holding up signs that said, "God hates fags" and "All fags will go to Hell."
As gay-rights advocates gathered on front of the capitol building, politicians, organization representatives and a minister addressed the crowd, encouraging marchers to support proposed state legislation that would enhance penalties for crimes motivated by the victim's sexuality, race, ethnicity or religion.
The church minister said religion-based homophobia is a perversion of faith. "Those of the radical right who use religion to justify their violence are society's perverts," he said.
The Ku Klux Klan has been involved in dozens of documented gay and lesbian-bashing incidents in Georgia and Texas, he added.
Jeanne Sommerfeld, president of Texas NOW, said a lesbian night club in Atlanta was bombed recently by a group called the "Army of God," who vowed, "We will target sodomites."
Equality for women cannot be achieved, Sommerfeld said, until gays and lesbians achieve equality. "When [the laws] prevent gays from getting rights and women from having abortions, they are attacking our entire community," she said. North Carolina, South Carolina and Atlanta have passed laws banning same-sex marriage. California, among other states, has anti-gay legislation pending.
Hordes of people came to the march from Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Marcos, Waco, and San Antonio. Dozens of groups, including the Texas Civil Rights Project, Mexican American Legal Defense, Family Planning Association, NOW, churches, community organizations and student groups from University of Texas at Austin, Southwestern University and University of Houston, arrived to show their support for gay rights.
Alejandra Rincón
Houston, Texas
Don't use `Jim Crow'
The editorial in issue #12, "Oppose racism, sexism in
army" contains a minor factual error. The last sentence in
paragraph 3 says, "Military units were subject to official
Jim Crow segregation until 1954, and de facto segregation
for much longer." Official Jim Crow segregation was ended by
executive order of President Harry S. Truman on July 16,
1948. (Source: Young Reader's Companion to American History,
p. 221) The de facto segregation was, of course, around much
longer. As an aside, it is my opinion that a majority of
readers of the Militant today, especially new readers, do
not know the term "Jim Crow." It should be retired from all
but historical articles.
Michael Pennock
Minneapolis, Minnesota
`Militant' is unsurpassed
The Militant represents a standard of excellence that
remains unsurpassed in both the independent and mainstream
media.
W.C.
Freehold, New Jersey
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