OPINION

CONTENTS

Communal Homophobia
And Our Gay Jews

MORRIS H. ARNOWITZ

A

s a parent of a gay
son, I wish to corn-
- mend The Jewish
News
for publishing
Elizabeth Applebaum's "True
Colors" and Kim Morrison's
"A Synagogue With A Mis-
sion"in the Aug. 18 issue. You
have done a great service to
the community by educating
them about homophobia.
I fear, though, it will take
more than one lesson before
people will learn that gays
and lesbians have no choice in
their sexual orientation, and
therefore should not be con-
demned for something they
cannot control.
To the critical rabbis, I say
without truth religion is
meaningless. Have they
bothered to investigate why
some men and women are
homosexuals? Did it ever oc-
cur to them that the same
God that created us created
bisexuals, gays, transvestites
and lesbians?
Here are some truths that
we all should be aware of:
• In 1972 and 1973 the
American
Psychiatric
Association and the
American Psychological
Association deleted homosex-
uality as a disease from their
diagnostic handbooks.
• "Homosexuality is deep
seated and not something
that one chooses to be or not
to be." — Dr. Alan P. Bell,
1981.
• Family fears of "catching"
homosexuality, or of being
"recruited" at school or
elsewhere are ". . . utterly
without scientific founda-
tion." — Dr. Jack Weinberg,
president of The American
Psychiatric Association, Oc-
tober 1977.
My wife and I are members
of P-FLAG (Parents & Friends
of Lesbians and Gays). Our
Detroit Chapter belongs to
the national organization, the
Federation of Parents &
Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
The federation publishes
educational booklets such as
"About Our Children' and
"Why Is My Children Gay?"
These booklets not only give
facts about gays and lesbians
but recommend books for ad-
ditional information. We
would be most happy to send
these booklets, to anyone in-
terested, by calling (313)
478-8408.
In Elizabeth Applebaum's
article, Rabbi Elimelech
Goldberg said, "We must offer
them (gays and lesbians) corn-

fort and solace and we don't
cast stones."
Comfort and solace are for
the sick and dying, the AIDS
victims. The great majority of
the gay community is alive
and well. What the gay com-
munity and the parents of gay
sons and daughters need from
our rabbis and our Jewish
community is love and
understanding which will
lead to acceptance. But more
than that, the community as
a whole will benefit from the
varied talents of our gay sons
and daughters, for they have
much to offer.
We also need supprt in our
fight for civil rights for our
gay children. They are not
protected by law against loss
of job, or housing, gay bashing
by police as well as by thugs.
There is only one state,
Wisconsin, which protects the
rights of gays. Wouldn't we be
proud if Michigan would
become the second state to
pass a human rights law for
all its citizens?
To the parents of Marc and
Sandy and to other parents
who have gay children, we
would welcome you to P-
FLAG for we are a parent sup-
port group. We also support
lesbian and gays, gay spouses
and last, but not least,
parents whose children who
have AIDS. The experience of
attending a P-FLAG meeting
is a rewarding one. Your
privacy is preserved and you
don't even have to give your
name. We break up into
groups where a person can
talk or just sit and listen,
whatever makes one feel
comfortable.
P-FLAG meets the second
Sunday of every month at the
Lutheran Church of the
Master, 3333 Coolidge, Troy,
from 2 to 5 p.m.
"In summary, being lesbian
or gay is part of one's total
personality — like being
athletic, artistic, or left
handed — a personality mold-
ed since conception by
genetic, prenatal, psycho-
logical and cultural factors.
Through their unique
characteristics, gays and les-
bians add a special diversity
to the rich fabric of human
life, as did Michelangelo,
Leonardo da Vinci, Tchaikov-
sky, Oscar Wilde and
thousands of other artists,
scientists, politicians,
lawyers, physicians, mathe-
maticians, and others of
genius, whose being gay was
inherent to their achieve-
ments." (From "Why Is My
Child Gay?")

❑

CLOSE-UP

24

Jews On TV

ALAN D. ABBEY
Keeping a low profile and
stereotypes are the norm.

28

`Chicken Soup'

45

SUSAN SALTER
Jackie Mason's new show
draws mixed reactions and reviews.

.

BACKGROUND

40

Losing A Haven?

HELEN DAVIS

There is growing pressure on Syria
to extradite Nazi killer Alois Brunner.

SPORTS

50

Long-Snapper

RICHARD PEARL
Mark Shapiro's ultimate dream
can put him flat on his back.

center

Our monthly family section
has Simchat Torah activities.

ENTERTAINMENT

63

Comeback Time

STEVE RAPHAEL
Mort Meisner relishes the battle
he faces at Channel 2.

GENERATIONS

63

81

Challah-Day Rush

Zeman's was swamped as customers
lined up for their kosher baked goods.

DEPARTMENTS

32
45
46
54
58
60

Inside Washington
Community
Synagogues
Business
Fine Arts
For Women

76
82
88
90
95
122

Cooking
Engagements
Births
Single Life
Classified Ads
Obituaries

CANDLELIGHTING

81

Friday, October 13, 1989
6:37 p.m.
Succot ends Oct. 15 7:34 p.m.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

7

•

