Speaking out against homosexuality can lead to harassment, report says

WASHINGTON (BP)-- In a recent column, Frank Rich of The New York Times lamented a hold-up in Senate confirmation of James Hormel as ambassador to Luxembourg because of his homosexuality.

The syndicated columnist accused three Republican senators of pandering to a far-right hysteria over a "gay agenda." He also quoted the chairman of a homosexual Republican group as saying an intolerant few were defining the GOP's stands.

Concluding with excerpts from a letter from Hormel's ex-wife commending him and urging a vote, Rich asked, "How often does anyone write a testimonial like this about a former spouse? In the battle between James Hormel and the homophobic right, just who has the family values and who is the queer?"

Ken Irvin, a research assistant at the Family Research Council, isn't surprised by such media coverage. He called it evidence that homosexuals are succeeding in a clever campaign to portray themselves as victims.

That is one point outlined in a 1990 book, "After The Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the '90s," by Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsden, he said.

The section reads, "Portray gays as victims, not as aggressive challengers. In any campaign to win over the public, gays must be portrayed as victims in need of protection so that straights will be inclined by reflex to adopt the role of protector."

"They don't call it a propaganda campaign, but that's what it is," Irvin said. "It's incredible. It's public persuasion tactics."

Irvin compiled "The Other Side of Tolerance," a 32-page report released last year. It details a variety of incidents of people fired from their jobs or facing other hostilities for challenging the acceptance of homosexuality as normal.

One case involves Ron Greer, a veteran of the fire department in Madison, Wis., who lost his job earlier this year after an extended battle over his views on homosexuality.

In 1996, after he gave some co-workers and friends a pamphlet titled, "The Truth About Homosexuality," the fire chief ordered an investigation of whether he had violated the city's non-discrimination policy.

In addition, both his church and home were targeted by homosexual-rights activists. Last year World magazine carried photos of banners left at the home, adorned with such sayings as "Wisconsin Queers Against Greer" and "Dyke Power."

Another person who lost her job was Betty Sabatino, a personal trust administrator for Texas Commerce Bank in San Antonio. The bank fired her for questioning the addition of sexual orientation to the bank's non-discrimination policy, the report said.

The change was mentioned in a session on fair employment practices, part of a management orientation seminar. After being encouraged to ask questions, Sabatino asked why the company would give someone special consideration based solely on the person's sexual behavior.

Three days later her boss expressed concern about her question and less than a month later she was fired.

Among other instances the report reviewed are:

-- John Farrell, a San Fernando, Calif., Superior Court judge, had to fight for his job after another judge objected to his participation as a Boy Scout leader. The second judge, a homosexual, called Farrell's Boy Scout activities "unethical" because of the organization's policy against accepting homosexual members or leaders.

-- Debra Kelly, a hospice coordinator in the Philadelphia area, lost her job after her supervisor complained her Christian views made her "intolerant" and unsuitable for the position. Kelly filed a lawsuit alleging religious discrimination, but the case was settled out of court.

-- Larry Phillips, a Christian who worked for the Kansas City, Mo., Department of Family Services, was harassed after objecting to distribution of a sexually explicit brochure on "safe sex" to teens. According to the report, he was later fired after refusing to attend a "diversity" training session.

Irvin is working on an updated version of the report. Among the incidents he plans to investigate is a complaint filed earlier this year with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission by Tim Wilkins.

Wilkins is a former Southern Baptist pastor and director of an ex-gay ministry in Raleigh, N.C. Wilkins alleges he was fired three weeks after a story about his ministry work appeared in the Raleigh News & Observer, where he worked.

The council researcher said these types of cases are increasing as more cities, states and companies implement non-discrimination policies running counter to Christian standards.

While the popular perception is homosexuals need job and civil rights protections, it is often those who speak out against homosexuality who suffer, Irvin said.

"It's nuts is what it is," he said of homosexuals' alleged mistreatment. "I won't say it never happens, but I don't think it happens nearly as much as they'd like people to think. It's more a propaganda tactic."