(This press release appeared in OutNOW! - The Gay Newspaper of Silicon Valley & The Bay Area on June 27, 1995:)
The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group of Boston was warmly applauded today by Gays and Lesbians for Individual Liberty (GLIL). The decision, delivered by an unanimous Court, states that the organizers of Boston's annual St. Patrick's Day parade may exclude the participation of a gay and lesbian organization. The Court argued that for the government to force the parade organizers to include the gay group would amount to coerced speech, something forbidden by the First Amendment.
"The Supreme Court today unanimously affirmed our fundamental freedoms to associate with whomever we wish and to say whatever we want without the interference of the government," said David Morris, president of Gays and Lesbians for Individual Liberty, a Washington-based organization.
"On Sunday, I was privileged to march in the annual Lesbian and Gay Freedom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C. Thousands of other people participated. It was an exhilarating experience," said Morris. "But what would happen if the Supreme Court ruled that organizers of gay pride festivals around the country had to include groups that disagreed with lesbian and gay pride? What would happen if a homophobic 'ex-gay ministry' wanted to march in our pride parades chanting: 'Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Barney Fag Has Got to Go'? Would we let the government force us to include that hateful message in our celebrations? I don't think so."
Morris said he expected many of his gay and lesbian friends and associates will disagree with his position. "On such a fundamental issue -- freedom of speech and association -- we must set aside our personal feelings and stand up for what is universally right. GLIL members know that the First Amendment protects gay and lesbian Americans, but only if it also protects those who disagree with us or those who wish to exclude us. True freedom means we respect the rights of others as much as our own rights."
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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