[lbo-talk] For Those Who Think I Am Crazy . . .

Wojtek Sokolowski sokol at jhu.edu
Tue Jul 6 14:25:33 PDT 2004



> Brian Dauth
> Queer Buddhist Resister
quoted:
> http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?id=13002&sd=07/03/04-07/06/04


> Wilkerson expressed his opinion about a California law that grants gay
partners the same
> right to sue as spouses or family members. "In my opinion, gays and
lesbians should be put
> in some type of mental institute instead of having a law like this
passed for them,"
> Wilkerson said in the letter. Wilkerson said then that the letter
represented his feelings as a
> human,!
> not as a judge. He said he didn't mean to offend anyone.
>
> In its 5-2 decision on Friday, the high court said it would not punish
Wilkerson for the
> remarks. Justice Jess Dickinson, writing for the court, said the
statements made by
> Wilkerson constituted religious and political/public issue speech
specially protected by the
> First Amendment.

And I agree with the court's ruling. Mr. Wilkerson's view may be unpopular or offensive to some, and I find them scary - but I find it even more scary when an institution is given the authority and the right to punish those who express unpopular, offensive or scary views.

Wojtek



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