NATIONAL COALITION OF ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAMS
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Contact: Jeffrey Montgomery
NATIONAL
COALITION OF ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAMS (NCAVP)
RESPONDS TO
EVIDENCE OF HOMOPHOBIA IN AFGHAN BOMBING MISSION
"We have
seen an Associated Press photograph of a bomb being loaded onto the
USS Enterprise,
one
of the ships involved in the current U.S. attacks
in Afghanistan.
In the photo,
graffiti written on the bomb, apparently destined for an Afghan target,
is appalling. The
warhead is scrawled with the message "Hijack this Fags." The U.S.
Navy must address
this very serious and dangerous demonstration of homophobia.
It's not enough to
excuse this because of the heightened crisis facing the country.
Homophobia is wrong
during war or during peace," said Richard Haymes, NCAVP
Board Member
and
Executive Director of the New York City Gay & Lesbian
Anti-
Violence Project.
"The message equates gays with the 'enemy,' it places gay,
lesbian and bisexual
service members, who are serving as honorably
as anyone else at this time at risk
and dishonors them. It also denigrates gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender
Americans who perished in the attacks on the World Trade
Center and Pentagon,
fought to save others over Pennsylvania on doomed United
Airlines Flight 93,
and who valiantly rushed to assist those after the attacks on
their roles as firemen,
police officers, emergency personnel, and
private citizens. All of this at a time of
alleged national unity, " Haymes concluded.
"In the last weeks, Jerry Falwell and Lou Sheldon have been
criticized for their
ridiculous comments that tried to cast
lesbians and gays, among others, as being
responsible for the attacks on September 11,
and for statements that gay and
lesbian survivors should not receive aid and assistance. They
were, appropriately,
cast as foolish, offensive and contemptible," said NCAVP Board
member, Jeffrey
Montgomery, Executive Director of the Triangle Foundation in
Detroit. "The warhead
on the USS Enterprise is as contemptible and a
far more serious instance of gay-
bashing because it comes from those charged with our protection
and defense. We
deal with antigay statements, violence and sentiment every day,
however, it is the
context of this instance that is so chilling."