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Pen Points
Letters to Gay Today |
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The Jenny Jones Verdict a Mistake
Homophobia has been victorious. The verdict against the Jenny Jones Show and
it's producers is a tragic mistake, and can only be seen as the jurors'
attempt to voice an opinion of talk show culture.
But that shifting of blame from the actual, admitted killer and trying to establish some mitigating factor ---in this case a TV show--- is rooted in homophobia, as was the strategy to make the case against them. We are also distressed when we consider the upcoming re-trial in the criminal matter. Our fear is that in making the case against the talk show, the family has written the script for Jon Schmitz's team to follow, virtually insuring that the killer of Scott Amedure will walk.
Gay people should take note of this verdict. Mr. Fieger should be ashamed. He has won the point, for now, that if you're gay go and hide. You risk being killed if you let anyone know. It's a shameful verdict. A shame for us all.
Jeffrey Montgomery,
Jerry Falwell's Posturing
Rather than letting this go as a clever, "ain't Jerry stupid" dig, I have to go on to say that being tangled up in hatred makes him say stupid and revealing things. While it is true that the men in the ad are posing to generate a carefully thought out commercial image (and paid for it too, I hope!), Jerry would seem to be projecting his own career upon them. How many of the things he does can be called "posturing"? How many can't? How much money does he get to play with as a result? Meanwhile, we might ask just what sort of relationship Baptists think they are supposed to have to beer. While I'd rather cook with it than drink it, and I'm sure some Baptists don't have much of a problem with it, there are plenty of others for whom beer and wine are "gateway drugs" as in "the fatal glass of .." Jerry's rush to criticize the ad discloses his problematical lust to control even folks he might wish to separate himself from. It is relevant to notice here that Jerry is back on the national scene only because somebody put up $70 million to clean up the mess he made handling the money at his "Liberty" University. Jonathan Justice Historic News from Brazil! How You Can Help Brazilian Activists Request Letter of Support for Progressive Decision of the Federal Council of Psychology
The resolution is groundbreaking in that it goes beyond depathologizing homosexuality to requiring psychologists to uphold non- discriminatory practices and promote the same in society. Furthermore the resolution prevents psychologists from participating in curative therapies. This highly ethical call on the part of the Federal Council is urgent in light of all the current attempts to frame homosexuality as a "pathology" that can be "cured". A translation of the resolution appears below for your review. The resolution has met with a certain degree of resistance and criticism from more conservative psychologists. Brazilian activists would like to ask your support by sending an E-mail congratulating/supporting the Brazilian Federal Council of Psychology on the issuing of the resolution:
federal@rudah.com.br
Copies should also be sent to:
Text of the Brazil's Federal Council of Psychology's
Dated: March 23, 1999 Establishes professional conduct standards for psychologists with regard to Sexual Orientation THE FEDERAL COUNCIL OF PSYCHOLOGY, by means of its legal and regulatory attributions, Whereas a psychologist is a health professional; Whereas in professional practice, regardless of the area in which the psychologist works, he/she is frequently questioned about matters relating to sexuality; Whereas the way in which each individual lives their sexuality is part of their identity and that this identity must be understood in its entirety; Whereas homosexuality is not a disease, disturbance or perversion; Whereas there is concern, in society, about sexual practices which differ from the socially and culturally established norm; Whereas Psychology can and must contribute through its knowledge towards the enlightening of issues of sexuality, thereby enabling the overcoming of prejudice and discrimination; RESOLVES: Article. 1 - Psychologists shall undertake their activities in accordance with the ethical principles of the profession, in particular those which govern non discriminatory practices and the promotion of the well-being of individuals and that of humanity. Article. 2 - Psychologists shall contribute, by means of their knowledge, towards a reflection about prejudice and the eradication of discrimination and stigmatisation against those people who have homoerotic behaviour or homoerotic practices. Art. 3 - Psychologists shall not undertake any action which favours homoerotic behaviour or homoerotic practices being considered pathologies, nor will they adopt coercive actions which tend to incline homosexuals towards unrequested treatment. Paragraph One - Psychologists shall not collaborate with events or services which propose to cure the various manifestations of homosexuality. Article. 4 - Psychologists shall not make pronouncements, nor shall they take part in public pronouncements, in the mass media, in such a way as to reinforce existing social prejudices in relation to homosexuals as sufferers of any kind of psychological disorder. Article 5 - This Resolution comes into force on the date of its publication. Article 6 - All provisions to the contrary are hereby revoked. BrasĖlia, March 23, 1999. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission IGLHRC: iglhrc@iglhrc.org |
Who do we call to crit Jerry F.'s abuse of our local language? What
sort of substance does one have to be abusing to come up with such
laughable phrases as, "a hand holding posture," to describe the
Anhauser-Busch graphic? Could it be that the guy does not even speak
English at home?
On March 23rd 1999 the Brazilian Federal Council of Psychology issued a
resolution concerning the professional conduct of all Brazilian
psychologists in relation to sexual orientation and in particular
homosexuality.
© 1997-99 BEI