Date: Sun, 27 Nov 1994 15:36:34 -0500
From: db477@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Cliff Pearson)

Cliff Pearson (db477@cleveland.freenet.edu), Tyler, TX

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER PATRIOT

January 25, 1994

Fry the bastards!"  No, we're not talking about chickens.  This
was a statement made by the Rev. Dr. David Galloway at the
recent "Stop the Hate" rally held at Bergfeld Park in Tyler.
Galloway called this the natural reaction to news that four thugs
abducted Nicholus Ray West, shot him nine times, and killed him,
solely for being gay.  He then pointed out that we must temper
such feelings, and not answer hate with hate.

East Texas gay and lesbian activists held this rally Saturday,
December 11th not only to memorialize West, but to support Texas'
new Hate Crimes law.
 
Like all issues involving homosexuality, there are places where
the prejudice is clear.  More dangerous though are the people
that seem to hold a reasonable position, yet don't recognize the
bias of their opinions.  Business and political concerns over gay
and lesbian domestic partnership issues best exemplify this.
Putting aside the usual moral and religious objections, a typical
question is, "what about cost?"  But this seemingly innocent
question is biased.  

According to the National Institutes of Health, the average
lifetime cost for a person with AIDS is $75,000, as compared to
one-time costs of $30,000 for heart disease, or $250,000 for
organ transplants.  Many insurance companies do not classify
AIDS as catastrophic because they consider the cost minimal.
This issue also ignores women.  Lesbians are a low-incidence
group for AIDS.  Reports on cost issues for homosexual
partnership coverage do not cover cases such as breast
cancer.  Neither do they cover pregnancy.  Many lesbians are
opting for artificial insemination and co-parenting
arrangements.  Maternal and neo-natal care is among the most
expensive items in employer-paid health coverage.  The question
of cost reflects the secret prejudice that many have against
same-sex partnerships and homosexuality generally.  This is the
kind of my-way-is-the-best-way and everyone-should-be-like-me
bigotry that led to West's death.

The State legislature passed the Hate Crimes law because killing
people for being different is wrong, but the issue is more than
killing.  Despite any religious or moral objections one may have,
homosexuals must be guaranteed a place in society that is not
second-class.  We must not legislate our religious beliefs.  If
we sanction that kind of inequality, then everyone's equality is
threatened, and we send a subtle message that killing the
different is alright.  The time has come for the Hate Crimes
law's message to be realized.  Let's stop the hate.