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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 9, 1994                   TAG: 9403100025
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: EDWARD L. STRICKLER JR.
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GAYS UNPROTECTED

I WAS targeted by the KKK. I received hate literature after an editorial I wrote appeared in a Chalottesville newspaper.

As former chairman of the Charlottesville Social Development Commission, I had written about appropriate community responses to violence targeting sexual-minority communities. As chairman of the (Episcopal) Diocese of Virginia Commission on AIDS and as an instructor at Piedmont Virginia Community College, I had written and spoken about appropriate community responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Receiving hate literature anonymously was a frightening experience. I wondered if someone would try to hurt me or my family, or vandalize my property. The fellowship of my faith community awakened strength to fight these fears and to forgive the hatred directed against me. My faith community also empowers me to speak out against recent actions of the General Assembly regarding hate crimes.

In the assembly, House Bill 889 was introduced to make hate crimes based on the victim's ``race, religion, color, disability, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry'' offenses requiring additional jail or prison time and an additional fine. The language of this bill - now being considered by the Virginia Senate - has been changed to exclude ``sexual orientation.'' This change apparently was made without appropriate public disclosure or opportunities for public comment.

The silence of the amended bill regarding hate crimes against sexual-minority communities is deafening. KKK and neo-Nazi groups routinely target victims because of sexual orientation just as they target victims because of race, religion and national origin or ancestry. The July 1992 Klan newsletter, ``Crusade Against Corruption,'' has equally hateful and filthy articles against African-Americans, Jews and gay men and lesbians. The newsletter talks about ``the political alliance of Jews, Negroids and Queers,'' and calls each of these communities ``AIDS-prone groups.''

A recent Associated Press report from a small city in Montana reported on neo-Nazi hate crimes. A minister who was quoted said: ``First the homosexual community was harassed, then the black community, [then] the Jewish community.'' The Center for Democratic Renewal in Atlanta, a leading international organization that monitors KKK and neo-Nazi activities, reports that many people are being recruited to join or to contribute to KKK and neo-Nazi activities through preaching hatred against lesbians and gay men.

Virginians for Justice in Richmond has collected information on hate crimes targeting sexual-minority communities in Virginia since 1991. Physical assaults and vandalism targeting victims just because they are gay or lesbian have been reported in every region of the state. Call Virginians for Justice, (804) 643-4816, for more information and to offer your support.

I believe that Virginians want cooperation among communities against KKK/neo-Nazi hatred; that Virginians oppose hate crimes targeted against any community; and that Virginians require our laws to be tough against all hate criminals. The General Assembly's handling of House Bill 889 does not fulfill this mandate from Virginians. Here's what Virginians can do to let the General Assembly know that our mandate opposes all hate crimes and all hate criminals. Call or write your local state senator and delegate. You may also call or write the Senate sponsors of the original House Bill 889, Sens. Robert Calhoun and Janet Howell. Let them know that you want the original House Bill 889 passed without any changes. You might say specifically that you want ``sexual orientation'' included in the law along with ``race, religion, ... '' Tell them that hate crimes are hate crimes no matter what community is targetted. Legislators' address in Richmond is General Assembly Building, Richmond, VA 23219. You may call in your opinion about House Bill 889 to members of the General Assembly. The tollfree number is (800) 889-0229. This service operates 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tell the operator the name(s) of the senator(s) and delegate(s) you are calling. You may call anonymously, or you may leave your name and address.

\ Edward L. Strickler Jr. of Charlottesville is chairman of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia Commission on AIDS and an instructor at Piedmont Virginia Community College.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994

by CNB