DirectoryxCalendarxJobsxPersonal HomepagesxAIDS & Health InfoxSearchxChatxMessage BoardxGaywire Network News
Support GayOKC.com! Donate here!		Joe Quigley: Our votes are important but we're not?

The following is an e-mail from Joe Quigley, sent on Monday, Nov 12
(Posted 11-13-01)

Today I spoke with Ted Metscher, President of the local AFT. He told me he
had been "attacked" by the school district's Board because of my letter that
appeared in the October 1 issue of the GAYLY that was not in favor of MAPS.
According to his account, they called it a "recent" letter.
I explain to him, as I had to the director of the MAPS for KIDS campaign in
her office a few weeks ago, that the letter gave MAPS for KIDS ample time to
rebut, and perhaps address the Gay community, but they, however, chose to say
and do nothing. They had two issues of the GAYLY in which they could have
rebutted me, or at least written to explain MAPS for KIDS to our community.
He said that their concern was that the Gay and Lesbian Community was a large
voting bloc, and they needed our vote.
I found this a little more than insulting as they ignore what we have been
trying to do for GLBT Kids in our schools while the Mayor, the MAPS for KIDS
front man, compares us to the KKK, Nazis, and what is negative in our city,
yet they find our votes essential.
We as people are dismissible, but our votes are wanted, and they have no
compunction about stating their anger that my letter (as if I had such power)
may result in the Gay and Lesbian Community opposing MAPS for KIDS.
I think there may be more than just myself who find this more than
dismissive.
I wrote the following letter to Ted to explain this.
Where MAPS for Kids Committee has contacted all the local media, it is
unfathomable to me that they did not contact the local Gay media while
expecting, and hoping for our votes.
If they were aware of the letter and where it appeared, then should have been
aware that the Gay press should have been contacted and the community
addressed
Joe Quigley

<< Ted,
Just so you know.

The letter to which they referred was in the October 1 edition of the Gayly.
As I told the lady at MAPS office that gave the MAPS people an oppportunity,
if not excuse to put something in the Gay press. They put things in every
other outlet in this city, but in spite of their recent acknowledgement of
the Gay community, why did they not put somehing in the Gay press? Also, if
they are so concerned about the size of our vote, WHY DON'T THEY ADRRESS THE
ISSUES I HAVE RAISED PROPERLY? Are they only interested in us for our
impersonal votes while ignoring us as people? Their concern as expressed to
you is the very illustraton of the bigotry that we experience in this city
and district every day. When we benefit them they want us, when we need them
or simply want to be equals, they spit on us.

I found it interesting that they expressed a concern for our votes.(our
banners come down, our lives are reduced to the word "abomination", but they
want our vote. and WE get......?)I know the facilities will be cleaner and
more up to date, but the concern is that Gay and Lesbian kids will be
physically and verbally abused, while being reduced to second class
citizenship in a much cleaner environment.Think about that. Obviously the
district hasn't until the last minute and they want our votes.

That is why I wrote the letter, and that is why many people I have spoken to
have told me they are voting NO. They do not want to be used by a system that
has given them no assurances that Gay and Lesbian kids will be better treated
(unless they remain invisible-which is abuse in itself), but a system that
wants their votes. We have been burnt in too many elections by friends who,
once in, forget we got them there.

You need to understand that even if you do not accept it. The MAPS people
IGNORED the Gay Community even when they were given the opportunity to call
me (a nobody) liar, and present their case to our community as they have to
the Black, Asian, Hispanic etc.

The city, most recently has told us we are not positive for the city in no
uncertain terms, and it was the Mayor who spoke thus.He is the front man.
MAPS ignored our community. Do the math.

joe quigley

>>

What do you think? Post your opinion on GayOKC.com's Message Board!

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO FRONT PAGE