Press Release
For Immediate Release
June 27, 1994

NEW REPORT REVEALS TIES BETWEEN COBB COMMISSIONER AND RELIGIOUS EXTREMISTS
Group Advocates Death Penalty for Homosexuals

Atlanta-June 27-  A report released Tuesday morning documents alleged ties
between Cobb County Commissioner Gordon Wysong and an extremist group that
advocates the death penalty for homosexuals and other sexual "perversions."
 The report, "HIDDEN AGENDA, The Influence of Religious Extremism on the
Politics of Cobb County, Georgia," was prepared by Neighbors Network, a local
organization that monitors hate crime and hate groups.  The report ties
Commissioner Wysong as well as other prominent politicians, including
Congressional candidate Bob Barr, to a radical group within the religious
right known as the Christian Reconstructionist Movement (CRM).  Largely
unknown outside of conservative Christian circles, the report states that the
movement is growing in national influence and has played a major role in
supporting the Cobb Commission's controversial anti-Gay and Lesbian
resolution.  According to the report, the CRM advocates the abolition of
secular government, to be replaced by a Christian theocratic republic.  The
report identifies resolution proponents Gary DeMar of Marietta and Ralph
Barker of Smyrna as major leaders of the Georgia CRM, and documents their
activities in support of the resolution offered by Wysong.  Further, the
report documents Wysong's aiding Barker and DeMar in fund-raising efforts for
their publishing firm, American Vision.
Neighbors Network Co-Chair for Education and Outreach Walter Reeves stated
that "the Christian Reconstructionist Movement has operated in Cobb County in
the manner common to hate groups.  They have selected an unpopular minority
and have repeatedly incited public prejudice against them in order to build
their movement's influence.  Their advocacy of the death penalty for Gays and
Lesbians makes clear that their ultimate goal in the suppression of civil
rights of gays and lesbians as a class of citizens.  This is the operating
definition of a hate group."

A press conference to release the report is scheduled for 10 am Tuesday
morning , June 28 on the Square in Marietta. 

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This release sent as a service of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation/Atlanta.  Internet: glaadatl@aol.com