Date: Wed, 04 Dec 1996 16:50:19 -0700 From: Barry Wick Subject: FACES comments on anti-gay actions at Chadron State College Free Americans Creating Equal Status of South Dakota, Inc. today condemns the actions of a few students at Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska who forced our friend, Matt McNeil, to leave the path of his higher education in favor of his personal safety. Such choices should not exist in modern society for persons perceived to be gay or lesbian. FACES demands Chadron State College officials and City of Chadron police look into these threats without any further delay to indentify and question those who have perpetrated these incidents, to develop charges against those who have perpetrated these incidents and to take the appropriate action to assure this kind of harassment and intimidation does not occur again. Chadron State College is responsible for maintaining the safety of their students while on campus and responsible for the continuance of an atmosphere of intolerance. Matt McNeil, 18, has been forced by anti-gay epithets, threats of violence and violent actions against his property which included "keying" of his automobile among other actions to leave his higher education behind. Matt McNeil has been featured in articles in the Chadron State College Eagle. Here is an excerpt from the November 21st article: "Matt found a passage from the Bible taped to his door one day, and whenever he left, or entered his room, he would always get piercing looks from other students that said, in Matt's eyes, "I want to kill you." "The death threat happened one night when he want to get gas. As he was getting out of his car he saw a group of guys approaching him. They were guys who had harassed him the night before. "Instead of getting into a fight, Matt immediately got back into his car and went to a friend's house to see if she could get gas for him. When his friend, Kris King, went back to get gas, the guys were waiting. "He followed me and cornered me in a parking lot. He then asked me where my faggot friend was. He was very mad and had so much hate in him," King said." FACES further urges the State of Nebraska to pass legislation to outlaw such intimidation, to include sexual orientation in hate crime statistics, in civil rights protections and to work towards a future when such intimidating actions can never be thought of as approved by a civilized society. McNeil is a volunteer for FACES of South Dakota, Inc. Chadron, Nebraska is less than 100 miles from Rapid City, South Dakota. A complete version of the story is available on the internet at http://www.critpath.org/action-project/chadron.html#news. FACES is South Dakota's largest organization for bisexuals, gays, lesbians and transgendered persons. FACES internet address is http://www.rapidnet.com/~facessd/. Contact: Barry Wick, Executive Director, 605-343-5577 Barry Wick, Executive Director South Dakota Alternative Library Free Americans Creating Equal Status of South Dakota, Inc. FACES of South Dakota, a publication 13121 South Creekview Road Rapid City, South Dakota 57702-8503 Phone 605-343-5577,FAX 605-394-8962 ALL NEW WEBPAGES!!! http://www.rapidnet.com/~facessd/ email: facessd@rapidnet.com