Thanks to Free Times for this comprehensive investigation into city and county law enforcement (Cover story, “When the Sheriff Comes to Town,” July 21). I can say I definitely learned a lot about the town I proudly call home. Allow me to share one other angle to this story — the gay community’s perspective.

Say what you want about Leon Lott, but that “rural sheriff” has been more progressive on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues than most police chiefs in major cities and counties across the nation. Several years ago, Sheriff Lott appointed a liaison to the LGBT community — a special investigator who attends community events, meets with community leaders, works beside us and listens to our concerns. Only a handful of cities in the nation and even fewer cities in the South can boast this special interaction between law enforcement and the gay community. Often marginalized by society, gay and lesbian individuals sometimes feel unsafe in their hometowns because they do not know if they can trust law enforcement to serve their needs without bias. I know for a fact that in Richland County, bias against someone who is LGBT is not tolerated. Additionally, Richland County has a number of proud LGBT officers who work for the sheriff and can attest to his tolerance and support.

Mayor Bob Coble and now Mayor Steve Benjamin both know that one sign of Columbia’s future is how our great city cares for its minority populations. They have supported the gay community and we in turn have supported the city, volunteering and participating in many levels of local government, neighborhood associations and community events. Each September, SC Pride brings thousands of tourists into Columbia, spending money at local hotels and businesses, which in turn generates tax revenue for the city. Being gay-friendly isn’t just the right thing to do; it can be profitable, too.

Sheriff Lott also recognizes how important it is to support every element of a diverse community, as can be seen by his donning drag for Trustus fundraisers. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was known to drag it up for a good cause, too. I think Shakespeare would be proud! (Don’t get the reference to drag? Google it.)

On a personal note, I’ve had the honor of working with Sheriff Lott for many years, and I applaud him and personally applaud the idea of contracting with him to help make sure the City of Columbia Police Department also shares those ideals of inclusion and support of LGBT residents of Columbia.

Ryan C. Wilson
Former president, SC Pride Movement
Columbia


Opposing the Gay Agenda

Thanks to Eva Moore for her article “The New Gay Agenda” (Cover story, July 14) and her interview of Christine Johnson. Thanks also to Miss Johnson for coming back to her home to deal with discrimination among neighbors. We, as locals, must answer the question together.

However, I am concerned that the new agenda of South Carolina Equality jeopardizes individual freedoms inherent to Americans. For instance, Miss Johnson promotes activity on the local level to “ensure nondiscrimination” in “housing and public accommodation” while educating public officials, students and communities. A scary proposition here is the potential brainwashing of and proselytizing to helpless high-schoolers, who are at the mercy of something of an intellectual eminent domain, as the government schools’ curriculum can be altered like a glass of water by a drop of dye by special interest groups like the GLBT.

The issue of hate crimes was addressed, and Miss Johnson knows her stuff because she eschewed the puritanical fervor behind the support for hate-crime legislation. According to supporters of hate-crimes legislation, it can’t just be illegal to do wrong — they need to shut down institutions that permit thinking that isn’t in line with the cultural Marxism to which they have resorted. It should not be against the law to include or exclude someone based on his or her behavior. I’m not in favor of discrimination, but [hate-crimes laws are] an unfortunate backlash to constitutional freedom. This is America! People should be free to make decisions based on what they think is best for their business, community, neighborhood, etc.

Another interesting topic addressed by Miss Johnson is the prohibition of second-parent adoption. She asserts, “The GLBT members of the community want desperately to be parents.” With all the GLBT rights rhetoric devoted to science and nature, you would think that there wouldn’t be such a lack of recognition of one glaring reality — it’s not natural for GLBTers to bear or have children.

With all the chic posture of progressivism, this new gay agenda also teaches those who oppose the gay movement how to riposte. Miss Johnson tells her opponents that she will target schools, communities, legislators, housing communities, etc. Her opponents can use these same measures. To “ensure nondiscrimination” in a free community, freedoms must be compromised and suppressed. Maybe some of Miss Johnson’s opponents could form the Anti-Cultural Marxist Alliance (ACMA) encouraging individual freedom of uncensored opinion and belief, sustained and conserved.

Rieppe Moore
Columbia