Tuesday, June 17, 2003

There have been many news stories about AG Ashcroft’s position on the Gay Pride thingy at the Dept of Justice this month. He’s allowing it to occur, but the members of the group have to pay for it themselves rather than the Department. That seems fair to me, I don’t want my tax dollars paying for any group’s party, no matter who they are.

Bryan McAnally (permalink seems to be working, it’s the post called “From Ken’s Perspective") has posted a good essay on the subject.

An Excerpt:

David Smith, spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, and other activists are up in arms, criticizing both Bush and Ashcroft and claiming that their “callous” indifference to Gay Pride Month is an enormous setback for human rights. “Sponsorship sends an important message to the employee group that their work is valued.” What? Isn’t that what a salary is for? The fact is, and John Ashcroft would confirm it, the work of homosexuals is valued exactly the same as heterosexuals. What the activists are obviously seeking are special recognition and privileges.

The DOJ doesn’t set aside other months to affirm married people or mothers or singles. Besides, one would think that, with the ongoing war against terrorism, homeland security concerns and plain old street crime, the government would have better things to do with taxpayer dollars and federal employees’ time than to celebrate personal sexual preferences.

The fact that these are government employees makes it even more maddening...because they’re talking about spending The People’s Money™.