Copied from the Annex's Gay_Issues conference.

The Douglas County Sentinel

                                                August 14, 1993

By Robert Whatley

              HOW WILL DOUGLAS RESPOND TO GAY RIGHTS ISSUES?

  The man is not exactly prejudiced, bigoted, intolerant, fanatic, or
dogmatic.  His personal and family heritage will attest to that fact.
His family has faced martyrdom to stamp out this very thing.  Yet, when
he went to give a speech one day, he was called these very things.  Who
was this man and what did he say to cause this whiplash reaction?

  The man's name was Martin Luther King III, commissioner in Fulton
county and son of the civil rights legend.  His statement to a group of
college students:  "There is something wrong with boys who like boys and
girls who like girls."  Immediately he was given some labels which
placed him in the all-of-the -above classification.

  The extensions of this statement in various form have caused hurricane
force reactions in city after city and state after state as the issue
has wreaked havoc on the political landscape all across the county.
Some vehemently oppose the concept of gay-lesbian rights and pass
measures condemning the matter.  Other political entities have issued
approval by granting "partnership" rights and blessing the union.

  A new presidency was severely tested by the issue.  Atlanta government
is rocking over the matter.  And just a few days ago, Cobb County was
caught up in the vortex and is churning over the merits of the
once-taboo but now fashionable current event.

  And soon, this storm may be coming around the mountain to Douglas
County.  Actually, it has been here before in the form of a smaller
thunderstorm.  Three times in fact.

  The issue arose over the hiring practices of Cracker Barrel
restaurant.  Then it hit some years ago when a Douglas County law
enforcement officer applicant was questioned with one who had worked for
a local institution stained by sexual corruption.

  The third time was costly.  A teacher was initially hired and then her
contract rescinded when it was learned she had taught at the same
institution.  She sued.  She won.  We paid dearly.

  What then will be our response if it hits with larger fury?  Reason.
Stonewall.  Acceptance.  Bigotry.  Protest.  Apathy.  Mediation.
Understanding.  Hatred.  Reconciliation.  Moderation.  Compromise.
Rejection.  All of the above.  None of the above.  Some of the above.
"Other."

  Coming, ready or not.  Are we prepared to extend county benefits to
same-sex "spouses?"  Are we prepared to debate giving cultural county
grants to forms of expression that are not our moral cup of tea?  Is our
judicial system prepared to deal with custody issues involving the
"marriage" of a custodial mother to another woman?  Do our local
corporate institutions have the resources under the new Family Leave Act
to keep open positions and maintain insurance for 12 weeks while a same
sex "partner" attends to the illness of his "spouse?"

  This is not the type of thing that can be dealt with when it happens
and the issue is forced.  Some forethought and planning is necessary to
avoid the stormy tumult our municipal counterparts have weathered.  We
can learn from them how to handle and not handle this trigger-sensitive
issue.  We have a little breathing room for now.  But we must not tarry.

  I have checked "Other" in my opinion of the way we will handle it.
And, I must confess, I borrowed it from the Georgia flag:  "Wisdom,
Justice, Moderation."

(Whatley is an attorney from Douglas County)