Gay Groups Speak Out Against Pro-Violence Messages
Prominent gay-rights organizations in Omaha, Neb., have spoken out, condemning statements that encourage gay students to respond to bullying with violence.
"Any web site statements that suggest violence as an option in responding to injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are absolutely inappropriate, unconscionable and beyond the pale," according to a joint statement on Thursday by Citizens For Equal Protection of Nebraska (CFEP); the Omaha Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); and Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
The joint statement was in response to concerns over recent messages that have appeared on several websites owned by Brian Wyant, coordinator at the Rainbow Outreach Metro Omaha GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) Center. The messages, which have been removed as of Wednesday, justified violent retribution as far as killing classmates who bully gay and lesbian students and also offered students the option of starting a "Jesus is Gay Club" at their schools and to suing on the basis of discrimination if the club is disallowed.
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While Wyant has not returned e-mail and calls over the last week from several individuals probing the case, leaders of the local gay-rights groups have reacted in alarm, fearing someone might confuse the violent messages as something officially sanctioned, according to David Roberts, a gay-rights advocate and editor of Ex-Gay Watch, which monitors ex-gay organizations.
"Michael Gordon [of CFEP] was quite concerned and acted very fast to deal with it," said Roberts.
While Wyant may not be connected with any "legitimate" organizations and seems to have just purchased a number of website domains, the concern raised is Wyant's involvement with youth as a coordinator at the GLBT community center in Omaha.
"The GLSEN Omaha and PFLAG Omaha Chapters and CFEP have worked hard for many years to end bullying in our K-12 schools, and particularly to end bullying and harassment based on real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. We believe in safe schools for ALL students, faculty, staff and patrons," said the statement by the three organizations. "Our groups always have advocated staying within the rule of law and wouldn't dream of deviating from that principle."
The well-known gay-rights groups have met with the developer-owner of the websites, including GayLibrary.com, who has since "cleansed" the sites of the violent language.
"We will help the developer-owner stay vigilant to make certain that no such language reappears. We are discussing what further action we might take such as contacting other groups to relay our concerns," stated the three groups.
Meanwhile, Wyant continues to remain silent and has not issued a personal statement.
