letters
Alarmed and watchful
To the Editor:
In the editorial [“New Trouble,” Just Out, Aug.
19, 1994J Ariel Waterwoman writes that the anti
abortion movement is “moving on to bigger and
better causes,” and shifting to anti-gay activities.
She is justified in her concern that anti-gay mobi
lization will escalate, but there are several miscon
ceptions in the editorial which we’d like to ad
dress.
As pro-choice activists working inside clinics
which provide abortion, we’re not aware of any
decrease in anti-abortion violence—in fact, quite
the opposite. It is true that large, national anti
abortion groups such as Right to Life are attempt
ing to distance themselves from the “justifiable
homicide” activists who have now assassinated
four people (Dr. David Gunn, Dr. John Bayard
Britton, escort James Barrett, and Dr. Wayne
Patterson) and attempted to kill two others (Dr.
George Tiller and escort June Barrett). However,
the rhetoric of violence runs thick through the
movement as a whole, and the contingent which
believes murder of providers is justifiable and
sanctioned by God is growing, not dying out.
Waterwoman suggests that “these murders may
prove to be the last gasp for the anti-abortion
movement.” We disagree. Federal law enforce
ment has notified us that Oregon is a growing
“epicenter of anti-abortion violence.” Portland-
based Advocates for Life has harassed area clinics
since 1985 and publishes Life Advocate, a national
magazine for anti-choice extremists. In August, a
new national organization, the American Coali
tion of Life Activists, was launched from Portland
by some of the most powerful and frightening
leaders of the anti-abortion movement. While the
“mainstream” national anti-abortion groups’ talk
may officially oppose the strategy of murdering
abortion providers, the extreme end of the move
ment is drawing support, membership and money
into its fold.
As a result, our clinics are still devoting valu
able staff time and energy to security strategies to
keep ourselves and our clients safe. In fact, with
several attempted and successful clinic bombings,
arsons, and death threats following closely on the
heels of the Pensacola murders, we’re convinced
that the most dangerous elements of the anti
choice movement are on the rise. At our clinics,
we’re alarmed and very, very watchful.
One of the biggest—and strangest—presump
tions in Waterwoman’s editorial is that “the abor
REPORT H0M 0PH0RIC VIOLENCE
tion protesters are now going to pool their re
sources and join with other hate groups to try to
destroy our queer communities.” She asks if anti
abortion activists can “make the switch to a new
target group.” Guess what?They don’t need to link
to other groups, or switch focus—these are the
same people! Before the OCA targeted Spring-
field for anti-gay organizing, their primary issue
was pushing anti-abortion legislation. It shouldn’t
be news to any pro-choice or gay-rights activist
that the folks on the other side of these issues are
the same people, involved in the same organiza
tions.
It is worth noting that the religious right has
been successful at organizing and fund-raising
simultaneously around both anti-gay and anti-
abortion issues. Both are sensationalized to an
extreme degree by the religious right, and they are
linked continuously. More importantly, both is
sues are part of a larger platform: Christianizing
the United States government and codifying into
law a morality which not even all Christians agree
on. If you have any doubts, watch the immensely
popular 700 Club', its goal of a right-wing Chris
tian takeover of our national government is bla
tant.
We urge both the gay community and the pro
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choice community to understand the depth of the
changes sought by the religious right. This power
ful and well-funded movement doesn’t simply
want to eliminate abortion, or eliminate basic
rights for gays and lesbians. These are merely
particular issues in a much larger agenda for social
transformation which includes a return to strictly
defined nuclear families as the only viable option
in our society, complete support for sexism and
heterosexism, the utter subjugation of women to
men, and, of course, right-wing Christian values as
the basis for all local, state and federal governance.
Watch out. Though we disagree that the anti
abortion movement has had the wind knocked out
of it, we do agree with Waterwoman that the
radical right is mobilizing against the gay commu
nity. Everyone who values freedom and diversity
in our society needs to band together to fight the
religious right.
335-7649
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