---

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, April 12, 1993                   TAG: 9304120250
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

---

REPUBLICANS SHOWED THEIR BIASES

HOW CAN state Sen. Warren Barry and Lt. Col. Oliver North expect their bigoted comments against homosexuals (and in Barry's case, Negroes as well) to be dismissed as innocent jokes? While the offensive remarks may have been intended as light humor, they reflect a typically Republican bias against all minorities. We cannot overlook this behavior as we would similar talk from a comedian. They are not comedians but our leaders - as well as example-setters.

Our Constitution guarantees each American equal justice, whether we are straight, gay, black, white, rich, poor or any other classification. When these Republicans show that they think of minorities as objects of ridicule, how can we expect them to treat all people with equality? Racism, homophobia, sexism and all other forms of discrimination are never acceptable. MITCHELL BRATTON ROANOKE

---