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Terrorism Targets Everyone!

© Claudia McCreary

In the space of a few hours yesterday, the world changed for many people. Even those not directly affected by the tragedy can’t help but feel a deep sense of fear and loss. Terrorists attacked the United States and together we lost a collective innocence that made us feel we were safe just living in this country.

However, there are many to whom this was a reminder of past terrorism in their own lives right here in the USA. We can’t forget that there are hate groups out there who will bomb, rape, hang and abuse others because of the color of their skin, their religion or whom they choose to love. For many of these people, there has never been a feeling a safety. Instead, some of them live with the specter of terrorism following them everywhere!

As gays and lesbians we have been on the firing line providing targets for people motivated by the same hate that the terrorists who attacked on Tuesday were probably feeling. Here are some of their stories.

Rev Mary Merriman, retired pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church, related a story about a time period in Florida when anti-gay feelings ran wild. It was the heyday of Anita Bryant, a singer and spokesperson for Minute Maid Orange juice, who jumped on an anti-gay bandwagon.

By quietly organizing money and votes, gay activists had succeeded in electing a majority of the Metro-Dade Commission in November 1976. It had been a demonstration of the growth of homosexual influence in urban politics. In 1977 the commission passed a gay rights ordinance.

Ms. Bryant felt threatened. She said. "I will lead such a crusade to stop it as this country has not seen before." Her reasons were that "The recruitment of our children is absolutely necessary for the survival and growth of homosexuality."

Because she had celebrity and access to the media she was able to spread her fear and hatred of gays and lesbians, even at one point calling for their death. She did manage to influence the overturning of that gay rights ordinance, but it cost her career and marriage and made her the object of acrimony and scorn.

Pastor Mary was trying to start an MCC Church in the area. MCC churches have a primary outreach to gay, lesbian, bi and transgendered people. At that time it was not safe to be out and about in Florida. Telephoned death threats to the Pastor were common, especially at odd hours of the night. Pastor Mary and other brave strong gay and lesbian Christians were marching between some of the towns to help get the church known and hopefully get enough people that they could begin having Sunday meetings.

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