LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Speak Out |
I was so glad to find your web site! My wife and I are a straight couple who love Rehoboth Beach and visit there several times a year. Rehoboth offers a laid-back atmosphere to enjoy shopping, the beach, and great food. But what I find very disheartening is many (hetero) peoples reaction when I mention that my wife and I prefer Rehoboth to any other beach resort. They say something along the lines of, "Oh, the queer beach," or "are you a little funny?"
No, I dont think it is funny at all! So what if my gay brothers and sisters have adopted Rehoboth as their beach of choice? Im glad that they have found a place to enjoy the camaraderie of being around people of the same sexual orientationa privilege that so many heterosexuals take for granted everyday! CAMPs existence is one step in the right direction towards the utopia of all people enjoying Rehoboth togetherwithout regard to ones race, age, sex, or orientation. I know its a long way off, and there is a lot to do, but keep in mind there are two "straight-but-not-narrow" people who enjoy EVERYONES company when we are in town! Brian and Stacy Sallerson I live in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and I have been a gay man all of my life. I came out to family and friends about five years ago at the age of 24. What I am writing about is something that I have been faced with here recently, that has given me a "Reality Check!" I have not faced any type of discrimination in the past five years as an outed gay man up and until now. I have enjoyed the new false freedom of the Gay 90s. I was recently dating a gentleman who was divorced from his wife for about 3 years. They had children from their marriage, two daughters. His ex-wife found out about his being gay and threatened his visitation rights to see his daughters. This outraged me. I began to do some research into Delaware Family Court Law. I also contacted lawyer friends, as well as state representatives. The outcome was very shocking. His ex-wife does have the right to have his visitation rights taken away because of his homosexuality. Being gay is a moral issue not favorably looked upon in the Delaware Family Courts. I am very concerned about the outcome of my research and also the legal advice that my friend had received. He was instructed to live his life discreetly until his daughters reach the age of 18. My friend is an outstanding father, meets all of his financial obligations to his children, and is actively involved in their educational and emotional development. He is not like some of his straight counterparts who do not do sohence the name "Deadbeat Dads!" What is wrong with this picture? He is gay and if he gets caught by his ex-wife his visitation rights are revoked. I could not describe to you the pressure my friend is facing right now. After discussing this case, we both chose to terminate our relationship. We fear his losing the right to see his daughters, because we were enjoying a normal, healthy relationship. I strongly encourage lawmakers and gay rights activists to review these types of cases and work to change the laws. Homosexuality should not be a factor in determining if someone should lose the right to see his or her children. I have taken on a new attitude and approach toward Delaware gay politics myself. I plan on becoming more involved to see laws changed or created to give gay persons protections given any other citizen. Dont get comfortable with the way things are now. We will all face some type of discrimination in our lives related to housing, insurance, work, social clubs, or even our own families. We need to get involved for change in Delaware and the nation. In the upcoming Delaware Gay Pride, instead of lots of drag shows, we need more speeches on political awareness. We need a strong gay civil rights leader we can rally behind and support. Richard W. McGinnis I am aware of the anti-hate crime efforts of CAMP Rehoboth and the Rehoboth Beach Police Department, but I am sure there are folks in smaller towns who could use this information. If your city does not have its own Anti-Violence Project and you need help with an anti-gay hate crime or similar situation, contact LAMBDAs GLBT Hate Crimes Hotline, toll-free, at 800-616-HATE. TTY users please call 800-735-2989 and ask to be connected to 915-562-GAYS. You may also confidentially report incidents online and get help and information at http://lambda.org. LAMBDA provides support, information, and assistance to victims of anti- LGBT hate crimes and same-gender domestic violence. Lambda is a longitime steering committee member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. Rose Akerman Right-wing political and religious types are proving shameless and tireless in their ongoing agenda of scapegoating gay people. To hear them tell it, Tinky Winky is an invention designed to entice children to become gay; heterosexual marriage is somehow being threatened by gay activists; and gay people want to enter the military just to take advantage of shower-room opportunities. And so on. It seems clear that gays have replaced communists as the Right Wings enemy du jour. But consider the greatest criminals of our century: Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Milosevic. These persons who wrought the greatest crimes against humanity in our time and have characterized this as an extremely violent century were all heterosexual males. Now if we were to descend to the stereotyping tactics of our homophobic opponents, we would suggest that rather than gays, it is straight men who are the real threat in our world and should be reined in. It would be nice to see America ignore the anti-gay hatemongering so in vogue among right-wing extremists and instead try the experiment of not demonizing other Americans. In so doing, we just might find that we are all more alike than otherwise. Douglas and Corey Marshall-Steele |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 6, June 4, 1999 |