Monday, January 13, 1997
DIALOGUE:
Policies that discriminate, not free speech, threaten
libertiesBy Philip Hoskins
While certainly empathetic to the pain, humiliation and anger
that was a result of the boorish behavior described in "Incident of
homophobia …" on Jan.9, Marlon Morales is wrong on one point
 one’s right to free speech does not end "When your words and
actions in a public place become blatantly mean spirited and even
hateful."
At least according to a long line of court decisions, that right
includes rude and boorish behavior, even when mean-spirited and
hateful. The right to speech ends when it amounts to an incitement
to fight or riot. It is doubtful that the university’s policies
regarding speech are legal, at least outside the context of the
university. There is even substantial doubt that "hate speech" laws
can pass constitutional muster.
That aside, the writer’s response was the right one  meet
speech with speech. Air it out, have your say and then move on. As
a gay man who came out many years ago, I have suffered, observed
and contested the same kind of unthinking bigotry and am quite sure
it will not end no matter what rules and laws are passed.
In part, it is important to face this because in the rest of the
world, gay men and lesbians will have to face that and much worse
throughout their life. It is in the nature of humans to behave this
way. What is more important is to continue the fight to make
certain that their speech does not take the form of action Â
that these views cannot be enforced as policy and that
discrimination is outlawed and defeated at every level.
Each of us has dark thoughts  about ourselves as well as
others. It may be a healthy sign that one expresses them, even if
others are hurt. It is far more dangerous to suppress the thoughts
only to see them acted out in some other way, a way that is likely
to be far more dangerous and hurtful.