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by Rip Naquin-Delain

Why Boycott HRC?

How can you support a boycott of the Human Rights Campaign? ENDA can pass protecting lesbians and gays in the work place. Transgenders would endanger passage. They'll be protected later. Your actions are divisive! You're turning your back on real progress! Judge not!

These are some of the comments I received via phone calls and letters to the editor, since the endorsement of the HRC Boycott in the last edition of Ambush. Yes, it was a hard and drastic choice to participate in this boycott! How can I justify the boycott of HRC, one of the organizations that has done so much for the lesbian and gay community?

The non-inclusion of bisexuals and transgenders in the Mission Statement of HRC and in the wording of ENDA made the choice clear. For me, this is very personal.

Ambush has, from its inception in 1982, included all aspects of the glbt community. The transgender community was promoted and acknowledged in this publication long before it was the "socially acceptable" thing to do.

How could I turn my back on the very segment of the community which made Ambush complete? The transgender community has played a key role in the success of this publication, entertaining and educating the public on their role in our culture.

After all, it was the transgender, hustler and diesel dike community that stuck its neck and livelihood on the line at Stonewall. These sometimes forgotten individuals paved the way for the politically correct segment of our society today. They have done it for us, let us; now do it for them.

Transgenders are not just drag queens, they include pre and post op transsexuals, both gay/lesbian or straight. They come from every walk of life, and yes, "transgenders are human too!"

If I chose to wait until the climate was better to add transgenders in mission statements and legislation, then I would be turning my back on my life partner of almost 24 years, Marsha Delain. It would be okay for me to be protected in the workplace, but not Marsha, because she is a transgender! How could I in good conscience, support any action that would discriminate against my lover, my confident and my best friend? When we took our vows for better or worse, it was a commitment, and luckily for us, it was a commitment for a lifetime.

During the last 8 months, our commitment has been put to the test since Marsha broke her leg [a compound fracture] in July, '97. It has been a tough time, with Marsha in and out of the hospital, enduring 5 operations, and 6 week periods of IV antibiotics at home. Marsha just got out of the hospital last week after two more operations. The infection, now in the bone, persists, and it is now another 6 weeks of IV antibiotics at home.

I believe everything happens for a reason. The last 8 months have brought us even closer together. Not being able to participate in many of our regular obligations, has given us more quality time to enjoy each other.

The boycott gains momentum with the majority of responses overwhelming voicing support, versus 4 against the boycott. The HRC Boycott web site @ www.ambushmag.com/boycott, is bringing in support from around the country. In its first week online, the site scored 544 hits. More exposure is expected since this new web site has made its way to the #1 position on Alta Vista and Infoseek search engines under HRC Boycott.

Every opinion/letter/E-mail on both sides of this issue is important. Please send to Ambush, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 or via E-mail @ ripna@ambushmag.com. All responses must be typewritten for publication.

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