Re: Ex-gays, non-discrimination, and rental concerns

["Archie" <archie@moscow.com>]

Thank you for your thoughtful, considerate replies.  I appreciate it.  The V is serving well in
providing a forum for this discussion.  I am pleased "the Dougs" have decided to also participate,
as I have learned from them also.
-Archie

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joan Opyr" <auntiestablishment@hotmail.com>
To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 9:47 AM
Subject: Ex-gays, non-discrimination, and rental concerns


> Hello all--
>
> It's Monday morning, and I'm still not getting any work done on my book.
> Wonder why?  Ah, well, here goes:
>
> 1) In enacting non-discrimination legislation, it doesn’t matter if
> homosexuality is a choice or not.  Religion is a choice, and yet it’s a
> federally protected category.  You might feel as if you were born a
> Catholic, a Mormon, or a Muslim, but you chose/choose that ongoing
> affiliation.  And a landlord with a yen to discriminate might well argue
> that some religious practices are inherently dangerous: perhaps my North
> Carolina roots are showing, but snake handling and drinking poison leap to
> mind.  If these seem a little remote, then how about the Christian Scientist
> who won’t be seeking medical treatment for that mysterious pain in his side?
>   And perhaps a Jewish tenant is a little more likely than a Baptist to find
> that her home (i.e., your property) has been vandalized?
>
> Neither the "it's a choice" nor the "inherently dangerous lifestyle"
> argument will wash.  No, homosexuality is not comparable to race, but if
> you're reasoning that we should extend protection to people of color because
> they didn't "choose" to be black, isn't the implication that they would be
> white if they could?  Not an argument I'd care to be making.
>
> 2) Before contacting any of the ex-gay groups John Harrell cites in his
> post, I’d strongly recommend renting a documentary called "One Nation Under
> God."  It’s about the founders of Exodus International, two gay men who left
> the group when they realized they’d fallen in love with one another.  It
> offers some interesting insight into the "methodology" of many conversion
> groups (i.e., make-overs for lesbians and football lessons for gay men).
>
> As for Anne Heche, Sinead O’Connor, and Julie Cypher—-with the exception of
> Ms. Heche, who claims to have spent her lesbian years under the control of a
> space alien named Celestia, none of these women have described themselves as
> "coming out of homosexuality," and none have denounced or repudiated their
> time in same-sex relationships.  As all three were involved with men before
> they became involved with women, I think Brad is correct when he says that
> it might be more accurate to call them bisexual rather than ex-gay.
>
> Here again, though, Ms. Heche is a potential exception: her autobiography is
> entitled "Call Me Crazy."
>
> Growing ever more skilled in work avoidance,
> Auntie Establishment
>
>
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