(WASHINGTON,
D.C., April 22, 2000) --- The
president of an organization of gay and lesbian libertarians today condemned
the pre-dawn raid in which heavily armed federal agents "extracted"
Elian Gonzalez from his Miami home, only to have him placed in isolation from
his American relatives at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
"The photos and video we saw today looked more like events from Nazi
Germany, the Soviet Union, or Communist Cuba than like anything we might expect
in a free country like the United States," said Richard Sincere, president
of Gays and Lesbians for Individual Liberty (GLIL). "Janet Reno has once
again demonstrated her disdain for the god-given liberties of Americans and
for those who seek refuge in this country from tyranny abroad."
Sincere explained: "As attorney general, Reno has shown lack of respect
for economic freedom, as evidenced by her persecution of Microsoft and other
companies that help grow the economy and raise our living standards. She has
shown lack of respect for religious freedom, as demonstrated in her assault
on the Branch Davidians seven years ago this week, which led to the deaths
of several small children as well as dozens of adults. Her dogged pursuit
of the misguided War on Drugs' has resulted in many similar home invasions,
some ending in the deaths of innocent people. And now she has shown her lack
of respect for the freedom of families to settle their disputes peaceably,
in domestic courts, without the interference of the federal government."
If Elian goes back to Cuba, as the Clinton administration wants him to do,
he will face a life of oppression and poverty caused by the Cuban government.
Noted Sincere, a long-time opponent of the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba:
"Gay people, as much as anyone in Cuba, have been imprisoned and tortured
by the Castro regime over the past 40 years. According to the April 23 New
York Times Magazine, the Cuban government has tried to smear Lazaro Gonzalez
(Elian's great-uncle) for his alleged association with homosexual elements.'
Because they are homosexual, gay Cubans are routinely denied jobs, housing,
and the means to live a normal life. Their sexual lifestyle' makes them unfit
and sub-human under the standards set by the Communist Party. No gay rights
groups exist in Cuba, because Castro's government forbids the formation of
_any_ civic organization independent of the state. These are additional reasons
why gay and lesbian Americans should be disturbed about today's events in
Little Havana, and why we in GLIL have chosen to speak out."
"We want Elian and his family to know that Americans of goodwill are
sickened by the actions of their government this morning," Sincere concluded.
"We hope that the rule of law will prevail and that Elian and his family
are permitted to remain in the United States, in freedom, rather than forced
to return to Cuba's island prison."
Gays and Lesbians for Individual Liberty was founded in February 1991 to advance the ideas of economic and personal freedom and individual responsibility. It has members across the United States and in several foreign countries. For more information, visit http://www.glil.org or telephone 202-903-5555.
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