Date:         Wed, 23 Nov 1994 09:19:55 -0500

[ Send all responses to dtaylor@ksu.edu only. Any responses to the
list or list-owners will be returned to you. ]

Dear Friends,

We need your help!  Two gay men have been murdered in Mississippi and a
black 16-year-old is being falsely accused of the crime.  A gay man and
lesbian from nearby Biloxi, Mississippi have been working on this case and
their lives are threatened each time they go to Laurel.  I spent time with
them (they are Todd and April) a few weeks ago in Dallas, and they have
informed me that they have been strongly encouraged by the Laurel Police
that they are not welcomed in Laurel.  The entire g/l/b/t and black
communities in Laurel are scared to death!

In Manhattan, Kansas, many of us have already sent the following letter
off to the Governor of Mississippi, letting him know that we (yes-Kansas!)
are aware that something wrong is going on and that we would like to see
justice win out over prejudice.  We do not know how much good the letter
will accomplish; at the very least, however, perhaps no more hate crimes or
false accusations will occur in the near future. Perhaps we can help to
ensure the safety of April and Todd.

Please help us send a message to Mississippi by sending this letter to
the Governor's office.  In Manhattan, KS, we have already sent out over
fifty letters from our l/g/b/t and straight friends.  We are sending a
copy to Janet Reno, and also to the Clarion Ledger, which is the Jackson,
Mississippi newspaper.  We hope to send over 200 letters from Kansas by
December.

Please help us end the hate!

Send all inquiries in this matter to dtaylor@ksu.edu

Deb Taylor
The Flint Hills Alliance
Manhattan, Kansas

===========================CUT HERE======================================

________________________

________________________

________________________


Governor Kirk Fordice
State Capital
PO Box 139
Jackson, MS  39205

Dear Governor Fordice,

I am writing to inform you that I am aware of the murders of two gay men
and the ensuing murder charge to a black minor in Laurel, Mississippi in
October of 1994.

The following information distresses me:
1.  The Jones County Judge has agreed to test the bodies of the two
murdered gay men for HIV; he states that if they are HIV+, then the
murderer was justified in killing the two men because, in the Judge's
words, someone who is HIV+ is the same as a person "pointing a loaded gun
at someone."
2.  Jones County Sheriff Maurice Hooks has made repeated offensive
comments towards gays and lesbians; he infers that they should all be killed.
3.  Given the fact that the murders were execution-style, and that the
robbery motive is very suspect, I am appalled that Mississippi has never
investigated this murder as a hate crime.
4.  Given the fact that the evidence suggests that this type of murder
was physically impossible for a young man to commit alone, I am concerned
that the black youth is being framed for a crime he did not commit.

The overall failure of Laurel, Mississippi to conduct a thorough
investigation of these murders and to find the real murderer, makes me
question the value system of the State of Mississippi.  To whom are civil
liberties and human rights extended in Mississippi?

I urge you to stand up for the spirit of our constitution and seek
justice for the two murdered men and their families by supporting an
outside and thorough investigation into this matter.  I would like to
know that you are personally looking into this investigation.

At present, I see Mississippi as a state of violence, hate, harassment,
and intimidation.  Is this true, or can I soon see some evidence that it
is still a state which values all of its citizens and recognizes a
person's right to be human, and alive?

Sincerely yours,