Know
Thy Enemy: Marriage Backlash Quotes Released
Task Force Compilation Exposes Those Who Would Deny LGBT Equality
National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force, July 29, 2003
Media Release
Media Contact:
Sheri A. Lunn
media@ngltf.org; 323-857-8751
“This is a 9/11, major wake-up call that the enemy is at our doorsteps.
This will redirect the stream of what is morally right and what is morally
wrong into a deviant kind of behavior. There is no way that homosexuality can
be seen other than a social disorder.”
—Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, Traditional Family Coalition
Today the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force released the first in a
series of reports exposing the vitriolic reactions of those who would deny
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people equal rights under the
law.
“Know Thy Enemy: Quotes about the Sodomy Ruling and the Same-Sex Marriage
Backlash,” compiles quotes by everyone from Jerry Falwell to George W. Bush
to Rick Santorum and will be updated online on a regular basis.
“We had no doubts that if the sodomy ruling came down in favor of equal
rights that the anti-gay extremists would blast our community with propaganda
and mistruths aimed at scaring otherwise fair-minded people into believing
that legalizing discrimination is okay,” said National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force Executive Director Matt Foreman. “What we didn’t expect was how
hateful and out of touch with most people, some of their comments would be.”
Polls conducted in the last few months, for example, show majorities in
Massachusetts and Hudson County, New Jersey support same-sex marriage. And a
poll by Peter D. Hart Research Associates found that the anti-gay Federal
Marriage Amendment (which would amend the United States Constitution to
recognize marriage as between one man and one woman) was opposed by majorities
or pluralities of several important electoral groups, including women, voters
under age 35, college graduates, voters residing in large or medium sized
cities, and suburban voters. Additionally, pluralities or majorities of voters
in three of the country’s four demographic regions—the Northeast (43%
favor, 50% oppose), Midwest (46%, 49%), and West (41%, 56%)—oppose amending
the Constitution in this way.
Foreman added, “The Task Force is committed to not only exposing these
anti-gay extremists for what they are, but as our 30 year history of creating
positive social change will show, we will fight every step of the way to
ensure that those who seek to discriminate against our community will not
succeed.”
To access “Know Thy Enemy,” log on to the Task Force publications
library [http://www.ngltf.org/library].
NOTE: The Federal Marriage Amendment (HJ Resolution 56) was introduced by
Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) with original co-sponsors Rep. David Vitter,
(R-LA), Rep. Collin Peterson, (R-MN), Rep. Mike McIntyre, (D-NC), Rep. Ralph
Hall, (D-TX), and Rep. JoAnn Davis (R-VA). The Task Force urges all
fair-minded people to call their elected representatives to register their
opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment. If you do not know who your
representative is, log on to the House Web site.
According to her official Web site, Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave
encourages the people in Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District to take a
moment to write her and share their comments: 1208 Longworth HOB, Washington,
DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-4676 or Fax: 202-225-5870. Also, for those outside of
her district who wish to write Rep. Musgrave, you may send an email to: rep.musgrave@mail.house.gov.
Please be sure to include your full name, address, telephone number and email
address.
Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is the oldest
national organization working to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice
against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people at the local, state and
national level. The Task Force trains activists and leaders and organizes
broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-gay referenda and advance pro-GLBT
legislation. The Task Force Policy Institute, the community’s premiere think
tank, researches and reports on critical policy issues. As part of a broader
social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, the Task Force is
creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human
expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society.
[Home] [News] [Lawrence
v. Texas]
