Press Release

12/18/98

San Antonio Equal Rights Political Caucus

P.O. Box 12571

San Antonio, Texas 78212

Media Contacts:

Dan Castor 210-828-2723

Robert Blanchard 210-828-4092

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Equal Rights Group Responds to Anti-Gay Police Statement

Friday December 18, 1998 (San Antonio, TX) Citing passages from the Old Testament, an article in the San Antonio Police Officers Association Newsletter criticizes the city government and the police department for including homosexuality in its sensitivity training program.

"Presumably someone at City Hall, the police department or the federal government is pushing the homosexual agenda on us," the December 1998 issue of The Centurion states.

The article, entitled "Homophobia", cites Genesis, Leviticus and the Apostle Paul, arguing that the San Antonio Police Department "should be on the side of God" and that God hates the homosexual lifestyle.

Gay leaders in San Antonio are responding to the Police Officers Association in measured terms.

"We applaud the San Antonio Police Department and the City of San Antonio for including the discussion of lesbians and gays in the Police Department's sensitivity training program," states Dan Castor, Chair of the San Antonio Equal Rights Political Caucus (SAERPC).

"While we respect the right of the Police Officers Association to exercise their First Amendment Rights, we disagree with the article and its reasoning," Castor added.

The group is requesting a meeting with the president of the Police Officers Association and newsletter editor to establish dialogue and clarify policy. The Equal Rights Political Caucus intends to examine the SAPD training program and determine how well the training program is operating.

"We respectfully request a meeting with the San Antonio Police Officers Association and we would like to have a presence at the training program," states Bryan Derrick SAERPC chair-elect.

The gay-rights group is also calling for a coalition with other civil rights groups to promote an Independent Citizens Review Board for the city. An Independent Citizens Review Board has been opposed by the Police Officers Association in the past.

"The religious reasoning and Biblical citations in the Police Association newsletter expose a larger problem within the SAPD," states Ted Switzer, SAERPC secretary. "We support the U.S. Constitution's separation of church and state. We disagree that public servants should operate under the rules and laws of any religion."