| Carol Wise of the Brethren Mennonite Council For LGBT Interests harshly criticized Sen. John Eichelberger for his recent comments about gay and lesbian couples and his refusal to either further explain or apologize for saying "we're allowing them to exist." The bigot from Altoona also claimed that LGBT people have the same rights as everyone else and he doesn't want us having "special rights."
I have news for Sen. Reichelberger. Gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people do NOT have the same rights. Secondly ALL rights are special. GLBT people cannot automatically inherit under the law because we cannot wed. His proposed state constitutional amendment bill would guarantee this right be denied and this discrimination written into our founding document. He knows we can't do what every other Pennsylvanian can do because he is the person trying to disallow the rights.
Any right bestowed upon the people, from our own efforts overthrowing tyranny, are special. No one is requesting "special rights" we're demanding "equal rights." Right wing talking points on this issue claim that hate crime laws bestow "special rights." We have hate crime laws because of intolerant bigots like John Himmler Eichelberger. Because of him gays and lesbians are murdered, assaulted, harassed, fired, evicted and subjected to second class citizenship. When other prejudiced people witness people in power like State Senators sanctioning discrimination against a group they feel free to attack these people. Attacks and discrimination against gays and lesbians is up significantly because of such rhetoric.
There are real consequences to real people when idiots like Eichelberger say such things then stand behind them. I know because I was one of them once. These aren't "special rights" they are fundamental rights of liberty. The Brethren Mennonite community understands this and issued this statement:
Statement in Response to Senator Eichelberger
July 2009
Senator Eichelberger brings shame to himself and to the Church of the Brethren, his religious affiliation, through his ill-informed and disrespectful comments about gay and lesbian individuals and families. In addition to significant misinformation about the realities of gay and lesbian relationships, it appears that the Senator's imagination and fantasy life have gone into overdrive as he anticipates polygamy and child marriage emerging from same sex marriage. Indeed, we would gently remind him that such practices are most generally advocated in cultures that are quite punitive of same sex relationships, not affirming of them.
Senator Eichelberger comes from a Christian denomination that, while not supportive of marriage equality, specifically calls upon its members to "challenge openly the widespread fear, hatred and harassment of homosexual persons" as well as "advocate the right to jobs, housing and legal justice." It is disheartening to hear his disregard of such directives by calling gay and lesbian relationships "dysfunctional;" by his casual dismissal of the needs of the children of lesbian and gay couples; and especially by his disturbing comment that gay and lesbian people are "allowed to exist," as though our very lives depend upon his generosity.
We urge Mr. Eichelberger to educate himself and cease his assault upon gay and lesbian people. His uninformed and callous remarks do little to promote understanding and serve only to foster an atmosphere of fear that gives rise to acts of violence and discrimination. Our families, and all families, deserve better.
Carol Wise
Executive Director
Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests
Box 6300
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-343-2060
www.bmclgbt.org
I asked Senator Eichelberger directly if he means he also has the right to deny my existence. I continue awaiting his response. Do not turn your back on me you bigot, face me and answer my question. |
