Re: ZIMBABWE BANS GAY & LESBIAN FREE SPEECH (fwd)

Ruby Rohrlich (rohrlich@GWIS2.CIRC.GWU.EDU)
Sat, 12 Aug 1995 21:56:16 -0400

l688 New Hampshire Ave. N.W., not New Hemisphere Ave. This is very
important information. Many thanks. Regards. Ruby Rohrlich

On Sat, 12 Aug 1995, Robert Johnson wrote:

> Please join this effort of protest for our friends in the Gay
> and Lesbian community.
>
>
>
> >From: "Ryan Goodman - Intern for CALS." <125RY3GO@solon.law.wits.ac.za>
> >Organization: Law Faculty, Wits University
> >
> >********************* ************ ************ **************
> > ZIMBABWE BANS GAY & LESBIAN FREE SPEECH
> > ************************* ******************* ****************
> >
> > August 1: Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has expelled the Gays and
> >Lesbians of Zimbabwe organization from participating in the Zimbabwe
> >International Book Fair.
> >
> >President Mugabe then officially opened the Book Fair with a
> >speech filled with wild vituperations:
> >
> > "I find it outrageous and repugnant to my human conscience that
> >such immoral and repulsive organizations like those of homosexuals,
> >who offend both agents of the law of nature and the morals and
> >religious beliefs espoused by our society, should have any advocates
> >in our midst or even elsewhere in the world."
> >
> > "If we accept homosexuality as a right, as is being argued by the
> >association of sodomists and sexual perverts, what moral fibre shall
> >our society ever have to deny organised drug addicts or even those
> >given to bestiality the rights they might claim and allege they
> >8possess under the rubrics of individual freedoms and human rights,
> >including freedom of the press to publicize literature on them?"
> >
> >When asked about the rights of gays, Mugabe reported: "We don't
> >believe they have any rights at all."
> >Coincidently?, the Zimbabwe International Book Fair's theme is
> >devoted to international human rights and justice.
> >
> >
> >WHAT INFLUENCE DO YOU HAVE?
> >
> >It is vital that this hatred does not go unanswered. Mugabe
> >has laid challenge to worldwide advocates of nondiscrimination. His
> >attack on freedom of expression should be addressed appropriately.
> >Namely, FAX, phone, or write to the Zimbabwe Embassy to express your
> >outrage:
> >
> >Zimbabwe Embassy
> >1608 New Hemisphere Ave, NW
> >Washington, D.C. 2009
> >
> >FAX: (202) 438-9326
> >Tel: (202) 332-7100
> >
> >*also, if possible, please "CC" a copy of your protest to the South
> >African-based organization, National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian
> >Equality via email: coalgr@aztec.co.za
>
>
>
>
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