For Immediate Release
October 12, 2001
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 servicemembers, 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 in 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 anti-gay statements, violence and sentiment every day, however, it
is the context of this instance that is so chilling."