Speak Out

Karin Kinney

The Rehoboth Beach Library would like to thank Kathy Weir, Beth Fitton, Mike Cesario, Chris Sampson, Jeff Moore, John McDonough, Loree Arnold, Mary Morgan, Margaret and Harry Palm, Kristin Tucek, Sandra Skidmore, and the members of CAMP Rehoboth who generously donated their time, energy and materials to help with a very successful book sale on Saturday, May 15.

Marge LaFond
Director Rehoboth Beach Library

Editor’s note: Thanks to everyone who once again donated items for the book sale. CAMP Rehoboth raised $784.25 for the Library!

Should the people’s elected officials in the Delaware Senate have the right to debate and vote on HB99, the anti-discrimination measure already passed twice by the (Delaware) House? On Tuesday, May 4, I had the privilege of being part of an effort to encourage the Judiciary Committee of the Delaware Senate to release HB99 for consideration by the whole Senate. The gathering on the steps of Legislative Hall in Dover and the subsequent conversations with legislators were a testament to the freedoms for which our Armed Services personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan daily put their lives on the line. One of those conversations was with Senator Vaughn, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where the bill languishes. Three of us introduced ourselves to Senator Vaughn and asked him when HB99 would be released for consideration by the full Senate. The Senator told us it was "unlikely" to be released. Asked what his concerns with the bill were, he replied, "I don’t like what is happening across the country. I don’t know that we need to be part of that circus." He was unwilling to explain what he meant by "circus." He then told us the conversation was "over" and dismissed us with the wave of his hand, rather like King George dismissing the petitions of the American colonists. Please note that we did not ask Senator Vaughn to support the bill, only to allow it to be debated and voted upon by the full Senate.

Whatever Senator Vaughn’s feelings about the merits of equal access to public accommodations, employment, and housing for all of Delaware’s citizens, how can the prevention of debate by the full Senate further the cause of justice and freedom for which our young men and women are fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan? It is time for Senator Vaughn to release HB99 from the Judiciary Committee so that the people’s elected representatives may debate it and either vote it up or down.

(The Rev.) Al Holland

Bunni Casey’s recent letters (published in Delaware newspapers) have advised those who do not support HB99 to take action, but she left out the most important way to do so, boycotting. It may be old-fashioned, but it works.

I suggest that those who do not support HB99 not use MCI, Sprint, or AT&T for phone calls, because all prohibit discrimination against gays in the workplace. Also, make sure not to eat any Kraft, Hormel, Nabisco, or Dole foods; Campbell’s Soup; General Mills, Quaker Oats, or Kellogg’s cereal; and Nestle chocolate, and not to drink any Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Starbucks, or Coors. Don’t wear Levis, Gap clothes, Nikes, Reeboks, Avon, or Estee Lauder, and make sure not to drive a Ford, GM, Subaru, or Harley-Davidson (and not to gas up at a Shell, Texaco, or Exxon-Mobil). IMPORTANT: Do NOT use a Macintosh, Dell, or IBM computer; do not use Microsoft programs, and don’t get AOL, Verizon, or Earthlink internet service. Don’t shop at Costco, Safeway, Giant, Sears, Toys R’ Us, or Staples. Don’t eat at McDonald’s, The Olive Garden, TGIFriday’s, or Red Lobster. Don’t let your kids read Scholastic books, see Disney films, or play with Hasbro toys. Don’t deal with State Farm, Kaiser Permanente, or MetLife. Don’t fly Delta, American, United, or USAir! Don’t smoke Phillip Morris cigarettes! Don’t use any drugs by Pfizer (yikes)! And last, but not least, never use a Xerox machine again!

If you find eliminating any of the above from your life difficult, just remember: we need to send the message that we cannot be forced to treat gays like normal people. ALL of these companies do so. Start boycotting today!

Emily Lloyd

It is with great pleasure that I am ordering my copy of Fay’s book! I am probably the only hopelessly heterosexual Southern-conservative middle-aged guy who religiously follows her CAMP Rehoboth column, but her writing and humor provide me with many hours of enjoyment and, more importantly, understanding.

In my area of the world, she has been instrumental in breaking down the (stupid, as in really stoopid) barriers of gender and sexual orientation and I only wish I had become acquainted with her, Bonnie, the pooches, the lawnmower, and her many other daily outlooks on life many years ago. My life would have been much richer.

Thanks, Fay! I’d love to meet you someday and stroll the boardwalk (which would definitely cause talk among your friends and mine...but who really cares, huh?)

Jimmy Cochran