Posted on 04/13/2002 3:05:08 AM PDT by Buffalo Bob
April 12 — A Mississippi judge has come under fire from gay rights groups after he wrote a letter to a local newspaper saying that gays and lesbians "should be put in some type of mental institute" rather than be given the right to marry.
Equality Mississippi, a statewide gay rights group, with the support of Lambda Legal, a nationwide gay rights organization, filed an ethics violation complaint today against George County Justice Court Judge Connie Wilkerson, arguing that the letter is evidence that the judge cannot be impartial.
"The letter is a clear statement of prejudice against gays and lesbians that calls into serious question whether the judge can decide cases fairly and impartially," Greg Nevins, a staff attorney in Lambda Legal's southern district office, said.
"In my opinion, gays and lesbians should be put in some type of mental institution instead of having a law like this passed for them," Wilkerson said in a letter to the George County Times that ran on March 28. The letter was referring to a California law that gives gay partners the same rights to file wrongful death suits as spouses or other family members have.
Wilkerson, 65, who has been a Justice Court judge for six years, said he was sorry his comments about gay people have stirred up so much controversy, but maintained that his views do not affect his performance on the bench.
"I wish somebody that's been offended would come up and let me show them what I think of them, the individual. I have no feelings against them," Wilkerson said. "I don't ask a fellow if they're a homosexual or a lady if she's a lesbian when they come in front of me. That has nothing to do with my judging."
‘I’m Trying to Help’
Wilkerson said he meant no harm with his letter.
"I've wrote letters throughout my life, and I probably just wasn't thinking about the problems that it might cost my fellow man," he said. "I'm sorry it's caused anybody any problems. I'm trying to help."
He said gay people should look for help with their "disease" in the Bible.
In his letter, Wilkerson wrote, "You need to know as I know, that God in heaven is not pleased with this, and I am sounding the alarm."
Jody Renaldo, the executive director of Equality Mississippi, said that Wilkerson should have kept his opinion to himself. Now that he has gone public with his feelings about homosexuals, he has violated the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct, which says judges should avoid "expressions of bias or prejudice," Renaldo said.
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but there's a line that you just do not cross, especially when you're holding a judicial position," Renaldo said. "Because we pay his salary to sit on that bench, I think we deserve a little more respect than what he's giving us."
Invoking the Bible
As for Wilkerson's contention that he can serve on the bench fairly, Renaldo said the judge's words are ample evidence of the strength of his opinions, and make it inconceivable that he could be impartial on any case that involved sexual orientation that came before him.
"He's already given his opinion in advance about how he feels about gays and lesbians and how he feels about these rights issues," Renaldo said.
Wilkerson referred to a section from the Bible, Romans 1:31 and 1:32, where it says that those who break God's law and those who approve of those people are "worthy of death."
"The fact of the Bible scripture that he quotes in his letter really scares a lot of us," Renaldo said. "He's basically saying that we should be put to death, and those who approve of it should be put to death. … Here's a judge using scripture to promote the death of gays and lesbians."
In the face of the criticism, Wilkerson said he considers himself a fair and honest judge, but he said he probably made a mistake by writing the letter.
"I probably wouldn't write it, seeing as much trouble as it's caused people," he said. "I didn't know it was going to cause problems."
The filing of the ethics complaint comes on the eve of the first state gay pride rally in Mississippi since 1979. The event, organized by Equality Mississippi, was scheduled to be held in Jackson on Saturday.
The state has no law against discrimination based on sexual orientation, and there are no local ordinances barring such discrimination.
For the same reason that cockroaches scurry when the light is turned on.
Drug dealers, murderers, robbers, rapists, and pedophiles also by proxy of public interest pay his salary. Guess they "deserve" more "respect" than he gives them too...
No, it's plainly called SIN and the soul that sins without repent will DIE, if not physically, then surely spiritually.
Lev. Ch 20 V 13 "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
Your getting your strawman agrument mixed up here.
He said in the article he does ask a person their sexual preferences.
I think you are correct, I don't recall any such association. I do remember, however, several passages which refer to homosexuality as sinful, evil, and worthy of death. Imagine the homosexual outrage if the judge would have made those associations. If anything, he was gentle with his assertion.
The judge isn't making a moral claim. The judge is making a medical diagnosis.
You may be right on this one. I think he was making a clear case of their disease being just what most folks know it to be, a mental illness. One that has been shown to be treatable.
You're categorizing people with criminals merely because they're homosexual (and breaking no laws or harming anyone). This seems reasonable to you?
Yes, the judge did overstep the bounds with the "medical" opinion from scripture, I agree.
Had he held an opinion from medical personnel, that would have been helpful to his arguement, but then based on the support of scripture stating homosexuality is detrimental to society, he offered an opinion for those to seek help - same as if an alcoholic or drug abuser would come before his bench and be told to seek help with their problem....
Az
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.