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Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s recent statement that Iran
has no homosexuals was so ludicrous as to elicit widespread laughter in
his Columbia University audience. Lacking Ahmadinejad’s anti-gay agenda,
these collegians are aware that homosexuality is not a western construct.
Indeed, scholars have found that the percentage of
homosexuals over the last five millennia and in every culture, no matter
how persecutive, is consistent: something under 10%. (See for example
Chandler Burr, “A Separate Creation.”)
Of course Ahmadinejad might want to believe there are no
homosexuals in Iran, where homosexuality is actually a capital offense.
Similarly, right wing extremists right here in Delaware have no room in
their perfect world for gay and transgender persons, and thus oppose the
most basic civil rights for us. Sneering
at the 69% of Delawareans polling in favor (Hickman-Brown, 2002) and Jack
Markell’s 2007 petition containing over 900 signatories, Dixiecrats in
the Delaware senate have prevented S.B. 141 and all previous equality
legislation.
Do our Delaware lawmakers really want to align themselves
with President Ahmadinejad’s mindset?
Towards equality,
Douglas Marshall-Steele
On behalf of Delaware Pride, thank you for helping to
make the eleventh annual Delaware Pride festival a great success!
Without the generous support of individuals, organizations,
vendors, entertainers, volunteers, and the local GLBT community and its
allies, this year's Delaware Pride Festival, held on September 15 in
Rehoboth Beach, would not have been such a wonderful event for the our
community.
Also, we extend much gratitude to this year's Equality
Sponsors: CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, Diamond State Financial Group,
ID Lube, and Safeway.
We're already
looking forward to next year's festival! If you would like to become
involved in Delaware Pride or learn more about the organization, please
visit our www.delawarepride.org.
Gene Edmund
President, Delaware Pride
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