National Coming Out Day Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit ------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the October 16, 1997 issue of Workers World newspaper ------------------------- EDITORIAL: NAT'L COMING OUT DAY As revolutionaries battling sex and gender oppression, we take pride in National Coming Out Day, celebrated on Oct. 12. More than a quarter-century of mass struggle by lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and trans people has made it possible for a new generation to bust down closet doors and swell the ranks of the movement. Millions of heterosexual workers have been deeply influenced by the resolve and steadfastness of these struggles. Among the evidence is the popular support that has enabled the television sitcom "Ellen"--with its out-of- the-closet star and in-your-face lesbian theme--to withstand right-wing challenges. Diverse audiences have warmly received the movie "In and Out," which defends a gay high school teacher. But a tug-of-war for the hearts and minds of working people still rages. The reactionary capitalist establishment and its media continue to spread slander and fear of lesbians and gay men. In New Jersey, a 15-year-old boy is accused in the strangulation killing of an 11-year-old. Sensational front- page headlines on Oct. 3 blared that the teenager accused of the killing had sex with an adult male last year. On Oct. 7, a 10-year-old boy from Cambridge, Mass., was found dead near Portsmouth, N.H. Two gay men now stand charged with his death. The media have sensationalized a "gay connection" in these tragic cases. Case closed, as far as the news industry is concerned. The case for what? The right-wing lie that lesbians and gay men are murderous "child molesters"? It should be unbelievably difficult to promote this fabrication--because reality keeps getting in the way. Newspaper editors know that every study shows that the vast majority--nearly all--of those who carry out sexual and other violent abuses against children are heterosexual. In fact, all too often it is the parents. The media also know that most murders--and every other crime--are committed by heterosexuals. Yet they never headline them as "straight murders." They also know that in fact lesbian, gay and bisexual youths are themselves at terrible risk--for anti-gay violence from bigots and cops, for drug and alcohol abuse in response to desperate oppression, and for suicide. So where is the editorial alarm about the staggering rate of suicide among lesbian, gay and bisexual youths? The corporate media don't give a damn about children's lives. It's an industry concerned with defending capitalism, fomenting divisiveness and turning a fast buck. An anti-capitalist movement prepared to combat every vicious form of racism, sexism and gay bashing must defend the precious lives of youths of all sexualities. On National Coming Out Day, as we celebrate the splendid courage of everyone who breaks down the closet door, we rededicate ourselves to that movement. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted if source is cited. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: ww@workers.org. For subscription info send message to: info@workers.org. Web: http://workers.org) ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytsxp-10.09.97-13:52:33-31555