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Permission granted by author for anyone to distribute this
writing free of charge (including translation into any
language)...under condition that no profit is made therefrom,
and that it remain intact and complete, including title and 
credit to the original author.

Ezekiel J. Krahlin
http://surf.to/gaybible
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LOVE THE SINNER, NOT THE SIN (A Queer Perspective)

© 2002 by Ezekiel J. Krahlin
(Jehovah's Queer Witness)

This message is a follow-up to one I posted to Gaynet on Sept.
28, entitled: "Censored from another pro-gay list"...about a
Queernet list manager, who started refusing my messages, if
they continue to include the URL to my website, in my
signature or anywhere else. (A copy of my original comments
may be read at the end of this latest message.) I prefer to
answer my conclusions in this matter, in the public venue of
Gaynet and other queer political lists/newsgroups; for I
believe my observations are important to the Queer Family at
large. The list manager's identity is not revealed in this
message, or in any other; I use a fake name.

---begin message to a Queernet list manager:

Hey, Vernon! I was hoping we could discuss this matter over
the phone, to spare me the exhaustion of typing it all out.
However, I now have some time to do this. Here's the important
part of why your censoring my URL is a bad idea, IMO:

It is obvious to me, that the person who started complaints
against me, is the very kind of arrogant bisexual that I
criticized in the essay in question ("Bisexual Politics =
Vampires On Gay Rights"). And the reason why you have MORE
than one complaint against me, is that this one bisexual
ragged all over the place about me, to his or her bisexual
"pals". IOW: they "ganged up" on me!

It's very interesting to examine weekly, what kind of searches
visitors make, to my own website search engine. One search was
for "bisexual"...just a few days before you confronted me. So
I believe Mr. (or Ms.) Arrogant-Bi, landed on my title page,
and the first thing s/he did there, was to search for word
"bisexual"...saw the title of that essay, and then went
ballistic. Ahhhh, yes...I know the type all too well. They
wouldn't hesitate to spread gossip about me that could lead to
my own destruction, even unto homelessness and/or death.

Since you claim to understand PERFECTLY my activist tactics,
and agree with me, that I am NOT promoting violence...then you
have an ethical obligation to correct those who complain of me
due to their own ignorance. Otherwise, you grant them
permission to spread gossip about me, that I preach violence
against heterosexuals. This gossip can lead to complete
censorship of my writings, everywhere, the shutting down of my
website, and even possibly my imprisonment, or suffering
violent attacks at the hands of crazed 'phobes.

I know this first-hand, for gossip in the streets about me,
has led to numerous ugly cycles where I've had to walk through
the Castro for months, with my life in danger. In fact, my
life is presently in danger, in this recent cycle...thanks
once more, to one malicious homeless person who is trying to
stir up hatred against me, and drive me out or get rid of me
another way.

Whether gossip against me is in the streets, or on the
Internet, it is an evil thing to do, or to allow. And you,
Vernon, are ALLOWING hate to spread against me, that is quite
wrongful. We are not talking simple disagreement here, but the
nature of homophobia when mixed with gossip a.k.a.
"slander"...a VOLATILE combination against whomever is the
target!

You have the MORAL DUTY to educate members of your list, as to
the vital difference between aggressive activism that pushes
the envelope (as I do), and real violence. Else, you allow
them to IMPRINT an image of violence in their minds, whenever
my name is brought up. And such imprinting doesn't stop
there...it stimulates some to take further action, to spread
the gossip even further, and to find ways to sabotage my
access to public forums...whether online or on the streets.

You need to answer to your conscience re. defining my politics
as "violent". I find this stance abhorrent, yet in most other
issues, I think you excel. So while I am glad to maintain a
tentative alliance with you, I don't really see you having
made that important sea-change since our initial confrontation
over the subject of "spiritual violence" (which definition I
find severely fascist and totally anti-gay). And such
failure to do so, leaves a weak spot in your spiritual armor,
for the enemy to influence you to influence those who respect
you, to turn a wrongful face of hate in my direction...and in
the direction of most other left-wing queer activists.

I guess there's also a lesson in all this, for me, too. And I
believe I've found it:

Now I know what "loving the sinner and not the sin" really
means! (From a queer perspective, of course.) I love you
Vernon, but not your sins against another devoted queer
activist!

---quote from original post:

From: Ezekiel Krahlin 
To: A Queernet list manager
Subject: Re: Please remove your URL
Date: 9/28/02 7:19:34 PM

9/28/02 12:30:44 PM, list manager wrote:

> I can approve your posts IF the URL is
> removed. Or, if that is unacceptable to you,
> I can reject them (regretfully).

My URL to my activist website?

I assume you have read the material in question. I am no more
anti-bi than I am anti-hetero. I am DEFINITELY anti-
heterocentric...and it is only fair that I describe the dark
side, as well as the bright side of those sexual minorities I
am familiar with.

Knowing the responsible person you are, I am sure you have
read the material yourself, before posting to me.

I think it's kinda OUTRAGEOUS that my URL should be censored
on a pro-gay list. You are allowing others' erroneous opinions
to usurp my very  considerate and intelligent voice.

By all means, I am out of your hair. I won't ever upset your
cozy list again.

---end of my reply

This is the third queenet list I've been rejected or censored.
Another was a left-wing list...imagine that! And yet another
is supposed to be "radical",  but the severe censoring of what
few messages of mine that do get through...are as a result,
totally gelded. All I can say is: I'm glad that Gaynet is not
afraid of its own shadow (or those of its regular
participants).

---end quote from original post

---
Ezekiel J. Krahlin (formerly Gene Catalano)
In service to our Gay Community since 1973
Lavender-Velvet Revolution: www.gay-bible.org

---end of message to a Queernet list manager



---finis