In article <AWERLING.92Mar16012814@dante.nmsu.edu> awerling@nmsu.edu (WERLING) writes:

	. . .

   >   One religion's sinner is another
   >   religion's saint.  There is no reason why one religion's
   >   views should become part of our laws.  This is true of
   >   abortion; this is true of homosexuality.

   I agree that religion should be kept out of the law.  I was not
   talking about religion.  I was not even talking about my own views.
   I'm simply saying that I don't see that the two issues can be
   connected.  I guarantee you that there are bi/homosexuals who just
   might be opposed to abortion, and that does not necessarily weaken
   their right to stand up for queer rights.

Here are some of the points already covered about the
connection between acceptance of homosexuality and a women's
right to choose an abortion:

	1.  The legal basis for the right to privacy is
	based on decisions concerning birth control and
	abortion.  The right to privacy has been used to
	declare sodomy statutes unconstitutional in many
	states -- most recently Texas.

	2.  The most common form of unwanted pregnancy among
	lesbians is due to rape.  Lesbians in such
	circumstances should be free to terminate the
	pregnancy.

	3.  There is no widespread agreement that abortion
	is a moral or ethical issue.  Accepting the
	doctrines of some religions which oppose abortion
	violates separation of the church and state; many of
	these same religions condemn homosexual behavior.

	4.  Both abortion and gay rights involve the right
	of people to engage in sexual activity without
	having to bear children.

I see these as clearly showing why lesbians and gay men
should support a woman's right to choose.  You have not
given any reasons why lesbians and gay men should deny this
right.  Do you have any?

There are probably gay people who would like to make
abortion illegal.  There are also gay people who don't favor
extending civil rights protections to lesbians and gay men,
who probably think that rape victims are usually "getting
what they deserve," and who work for Pat Buchanan and David
Duke (yes, there really are).  I don't think that gay people
are necessarily more reasonable than anyone else.  I welcome
anyone who wants to support gay rights (although I might not
support other issues they support).

No one is claiming that you have to be pro-choice to support
gay rights, although I find such a stance to be
inconsistent, if not hypocritical, for the reasons outlined
above.

As a gay activist, I have to work with politicians who are
pro-gay and anti-choice.  Regardless of their stand on
abortion, I want them to vote for gay issues!  Similarly,
Planned Parenthood -- as pro-gay as they might be as
individuals -- wants politicians to support choice,
regardless of their views on gay people.

--gordon

   --
   Andrew Werling     awerling@nmsu.edu
   "Oh, doctor!  What are we gonna do to stop this fiendish tit?"
   --from Woody Allen's EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEX