The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.60/No.27           July 22, 1996 
 
 
Defend Civil Rights For Gays  

As the Militant goes to press, activists are gearing up to attend the Gay Pride festivities in New York City. Hundreds of thousands have joined such mobilizations over the years, combating discrimination against gays and lesbians and transforming the consciousness of millions of working people on this question. These actions have been instrumental in winning recent gains, such as the Supreme Court ruling overturning an antigay law in Colorado.

This year's parade comes at a time when the Clinton administration is leading the bipartisan drive against gay rights. Recently, President William Clinton said he would sign the Defense of Marriage Act, which would bar same-sex marriages. His administration also crafted the latest ban on gays and lesbians in the military. These attacks - along with "anti- terrorist," "anti-crime," curfew, and "sexual predator" laws - are part and parcel of the employers' assault on the rights of working people.

The capitalist rulers need to hold up scapegoats for the social and economic devastation that their system generates. Hence the bipartisan chorus for "family values" and against affirmative action, abortion rights, and civil rights for gays. Discrimination against gays and lesbians is founded on the oppression of women and the institution of the family. Attempts to push back women's rights and affirmative action, like the Defense of Marriage Act, are attacks that aim to increase divisions within the working class as a whole.

Unions should take up the fight for democratic rights for gays and lesbians, along with demanding equal rights for immigrants, women, and Blacks. Any discrimination hinders working people's democratic rights.

As Washington beats the war drums in Yugoslavia, Asia, and the Middle East, there is political polarization and a rise of rightist groups around the world. We urge our readers to join in events like Gay Pride, and link up with other fighters who want to end discrimination and oppression.  
 
 
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