This is from the July,1994 issue of the New Liberal Review.
	SCLP Joins Coalition to Oppose Anti-Gay Initiatives

The Spokane, WA county Libertarian Party Executive Committee on June 20 
voted unanimously to lend its support to Hands Off Washington, a 
coalition of over 100 organizations around the state formed to oppose 
anti-gay initiatives 608 and 610.

Measure 608, if passed, would forbid the legislature to add sexual 
orientation to the list of "protected classes" and would prohibit public 
school teachers fron portraying homosexuality as a "positive, healthy, or 
appropriate behavior." I-610 would, in addition, require libraries to 
assure that books discussing homosexuality are not made available to 
minors; compel prospective foster parents, adoptive parents, and 
custodial parents(following a divorce) to prove in court that they do not 
"participate in" homosexual activities, and forbid any agency of the 
state or its subdivisions to recognize or acknowledge same sex domestic 
partnerships.

in oopsing the measures, the SCLP adopted s resoultion worded last August 
by the Libertarian party of Washington state which declares, in part, 
that "intolerance and bigotry should not be part of the laws of the state 
of Washington."

Of course, Libertarians do not favor conferring "protected status" upon 
gays or anyone else. Citizens of a free society in their private affairs 
may associate-or refuse to associate--with pthers on any basis they 
please, no matter how objectionable their selection criteria may appear 
to third parties."protected classes"--a spurious legal basis upon which 
certain individuals may now bring suits or criminal complaints for 
"discrimination" against other persons who have declined to enter into 
business relationships with them--have nor more place in a nation 
ostensibly committed to the principles of free association and equal 
protection of the laws than an "untouchable" class.

But the two antigay iniatives are plainly not motivated by concern for 
individual liberty. Instead, they seek to invade the liberties of 
parents, teachers, librarians, and others by prying into their sexual 
affairs and then imposing legal handicaps and scarlett letters upon those 
whose preferences and opinions in that sphere are deemed "inappropriate."

Deciding which kinds of sexual activities among consenting adults, and 
which opinions on contemporary social questions, are "appropriate" is 
well beyond the legitimate ken and competence of the State. Hence the 
SCLP opposes I-608 and I-610.

Keith Barber
keithb@comtch.iea.com