Date: Sun, 27 Nov 1994 15:38:57 -0500 From: db477@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Cliff Pearson) Cliff Pearson (db477@cleveland.freenet.edu), Tyler, TX COME OUT FIGHTING: TYLER TEXAS ONE YEAR LATER Cliff Pearson East Texas Stonewall Association Tyler, Texas November 30, 1994 One year ago, on November 30, 1993 three thugs met Nicholus Ray West at a Tyler Texas park, kidnapped him, robbed him, stripped him, beat him, and drove him twenty miles away to a desolate road. They shot him nine times and left him to die, which he did. The gang admitted they killed him because he was gay. The police apprehended the gang and their leader, Donald Aldrich, received a death sentence. This outrageous event was a source of conversation all over Texas for months. East Texan gay and lesbian activists, in conjuction with the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance, held a memorial and "Stop the Hate Rally" in Tyler on December 11, 1993 getting national media coverage. It's now one year later and where are we? Outraged gay and lesbian East Texans have formed the East Texas Stonewall Association to fight the discrimination, homophobia, and heterosexism coming largely from the Religious Right. But most gay, lesbian, and bisexual East Texans have not changed despite the murder. People are still too scared to get involved, and many have internalized the rhetoric of the Religious Right. (They dismiss most of the homophobia, but they keep the racist, anti-Semitic, sexist, or classist dogma). When the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance rode through East Texas last June on their "Freedom Ride," not only did no East Texan gay, lesbian, or bisexual people show up at any of the cities where they stopped, but the DGLA faced severe opposition from religious fanatics in Gilmer Texas--alone. Their "Freedom Ride," designed to increase gay, lesbian, and bisexual visibility in East Texas, only reinforced how invisible we are. With the recent Right Wing victory sweep in elections across the country, one might wonder if anything is ever going to change. But now is not the time for cynicism, now is the time for action. Straight people, even our well-meaning allies, often do not see how deeply affecting the heterosexual cultural bias is to us. Even after the brutal murder of a gay brother here in our hometown, many East Texan gays, lesbians, and bisexuals are content to remain quiet saying their sexuality is "no one's business." It would be true that a person's sexuality is "no one's business" under ideal circumstances, but we do not live in an ideal world. Straights make their sexuality known to us almost constantly. We know people are heterosexual every time they mention spouses, ex-spouses, in-laws, dates, marriages, bridal showers, dances, romantic interests, engagements, boyfriends, girlfriends, who they want to sleep with, etc. It is very difficult not to know a straight person is straight, and it is nearly impossible to escape the heterosexuality of the larger society. If we avoid discussing our social lives, we accept a second class citizenship that unconsciously reinforces the idea that we do not belong. Silence about our orientation says being gay, lesbian, or bisexual is something to be ashamed of. What about discrimination against us? People are dying. Our teens are killing themselves. Thirty percent of teen suicide is gay-related, according to United States Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders. We are the last legally discriminated against minority, the only minority that is hated because of who we love. And with overwhelming Right Wing victories across the country, legalized prejudice is likely to increase. We cannot get married in any state or U.S. territory. We face difficulty in having or adopting children, or keeping the ones we already have. People believe we are child molesters or want to recruit their children. In most religious traditions we cannot be ordained to the clergy. Openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual teachers face extreme hardship. We get denied mortgages, loans, or leases because our partner is of the same gender as ourselves. If we publicly show affection for our partner people accuse us of flaunting it (even though they do it themselves). We cannot visit our partner in the hospital if he or she is in critical condition because we are not family. We cannot get our partner on our insurance in the vast majority of organiza- tions. We cannot get bereavement leave when our partner dies. And we can be fired because we are gay, lesbian, or bisexual with little or no legal recourse available. Nationally, and in most cities, counties, and states there is no civil rights protection for us. In many states, such as here in Texas, it is technically illegal to be homosexual. Open hostility to lesbians, gays, and bisexuals is not only tolerated in elected officials, it is encouraged, and even required. The campaign rhetoric of the overwhelmingly victorious Right Wing made this clear. In most places in the United States, media coverage of us is inaccurate, and often stereotypical. The same goes for film and television portrayals (with rare exceptions). Many of us do not experience all these forms of discrimination, but the vast majority of us do. Ask yourself, how much you will tolerate? Are you complacent like so many of the East Texans? What does it take for you to proudly add your voice to others? Is the hateful murder of our brothers, like Nicholus Ray West, enough? Going to the bars once a week or hanging out with gay or lesbian friends while remaining secretive everywhere else changes nothing. Do not be afraid to be angry any longer. It has been a year, but it is not too late to get involved. Fight for your civil rights and your place in the larger society. Come out fighting. -30-